Twelve days before it reaches cinemas, Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana: Part One is already behaving like a festival release. Advance bookings for the November 5 film crossed Rs 10.14 crore in India by Sunday, October 25, with 1.81 lakh tickets sold across 4,339 shows in 134 cities, according to Sacnilk data cited in trade reports. In the top national chains alone, PVR INOX and Cinepolis, more than 1.07 lakh tickets had been sold by 9 am on Sunday.
The early rush matters because the film arrives just before Diwali, a window when families traditionally head to cinemas in large numbers. Trade watchers now expect the film to push toward Rs 70 crore on its opening day, with even a Rs 60 crore start seen as a strong result for a pre-Diwali release. The biggest phase of advance booking, from Wednesday, October 28, is still to come.
What the numbers say so far
Two different counts are doing the rounds, and both point in the same direction. The national-chain figure, 1,07,562 tickets, covers PVR INOX (96,645 tickets) and Cinepolis (10,917 tickets). The wider all-India figure, 1.81 lakh tickets worth Rs 10.14 crore, covers every tracked cinema, including single screens and regional chains.
The Hindi version is driving the surge. It accounts for Rs 8.89 crore, or nearly 88 percent of the advance gross so far. The Kannada version has collected Rs 96.37 lakh and the Telugu version Rs 28.11 lakh, with more shows being added as bookings pick up.
- Advance gross so far: Rs 10.14 crore across India
- Tickets sold: 1.81 lakh across 4,339 shows in 134 cities
- National chains alone: 1,07,562 tickets by 9 am on October 25
- Hindi share: Rs 8.89 crore, nearly 88 percent of the total
- Release date: November 5, just ahead of Diwali
Where demand is strongest
Delhi-NCR leads the advance chart with Rs 2.13 crore from 27,141 bookings, up 7 percent from the previous day. Mumbai follows at Rs 1.60 crore from 22,836 bookings, also up 8 percent. Bengaluru has recorded the sharpest jump, with bookings up 172 percent day on day to Rs 1.20 crore from 18,088 bookings.
Hyderabad (Rs 61.97 lakh) and Pune (Rs 45.57 lakh) complete the top five tracked markets. The spread is telling: this is not a one-city phenomenon.
The IMAX effect, and those Rs 3,170 tickets
Premium formats are doing much of the heavy lifting. IMAX properties are selling fastest, and premium pricing has become a talking point of its own. In Mumbai, recliner seats for select IMAX screenings are listed at up to Rs 3,170, with a 7 am show at PVR ICON, Phoenix Palladium in Lower Parel reported fully booked at Rs 1,850 for recliners.
Delhi-NCR is not far behind. Recliner seats for select IMAX 3D shows there are priced at Rs 1,550 for the 8 am show, rising to Rs 2,400 for the afternoon and evening shows. Prices vary by cinema, showtime and seat category, and they are for premium recliner seats, not standard tickets.
Why the opening matters so much
Ramayana is one of the most ambitious Indian films ever mounted. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, it adapts the epic in two parts. Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita and Yash plays Ravana, with Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman.
That scale is exactly why the advance numbers are being watched so closely. A film of this size needs a huge opening, and a strong pre-Diwali start would carry it into the peak Diwali period beginning November 9. Trade expectations are measured: anything north of 3.5 lakh tickets in the national chains on day one would count as a good pre-Diwali result.
What to watch in the final week
Three things will decide whether the film meets those expectations. First, whether the October 28 surge lifts daily sales well beyond the current pace. Second, whether single screens and smaller towns, which often book later, join the metros in strength. And third, whether premium-format capacity can keep up, since IMAX screens are already the tightest inventory.
For now, the early verdict is clear. The film has moved from curiosity to confirmed demand, almost two weeks before release.
Frequently asked questions
When does Ramayana release?
Ramayana: Part One releases in cinemas on November 5, 2026, just ahead of Diwali.
How much has Ramayana collected in advance bookings?
Advance bookings have crossed Rs 10.14 crore in India, with 1.81 lakh tickets sold across 4,339 shows in 134 cities, as reported on October 25.
Who stars in Ramayana?
Ranbir Kapoor plays Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi plays Sita and Yash plays Ravana. The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari.
Why are some Ramayana tickets priced at Rs 3,170?
That is the listed price for premium recliner seats at select IMAX screenings in Mumbai. Prices vary by cinema, showtime and seat category, and standard tickets cost less.
What opening is the trade expecting?
Trade watchers are eyeing a Rs 70 crore opening day, with Rs 60 crore also seen as a strong pre-Diwali start.
The countdown is now measured in days, not weeks. With Diwali crowds on the way and premium screens already filling up, Ramayana has given itself exactly the launchpad a film of its size needs.
