Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana Gets U Certificate, Advance Bookings Cross Rs 17 Crore

Mumbai, Oct 31: Bollywood’s much-anticipated mythological epic Ramayana: Part One has received an unrestricted ‘U’ certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), while its advance ticket sales have crossed Rs 17 crore in India ahead of its worldwide theatrical release on November 5.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Goddess Sita and Kannada superstar Yash as Ravana. The certification and encouraging advance booking figures have added to the excitement surrounding the ambitious cinematic adaptation of the ancient Indian epic.

According to information available on the CBFC website, the Hindi version of the film has been cleared with a runtime of 195 minutes, or three hours and 15 minutes. The certification process was completed on October 30, with reports indicating that the examining committee approved the film without any cuts.

The U certificate means the film can be watched by audiences across all age groups, making it accessible to families during the festive season. The classification is particularly significant for a project based on one of India’s most widely recognised religious and cultural narratives.

The film’s advance booking performance has also attracted considerable attention from the trade. According to Sacnilk figures reported on October 30, Ramayana: Part One had collected approximately Rs 17.14 crore in opening-day advance bookings across India, including blocked seats. Excluding blocked seats, the figure stood at around Rs 14.29 crore.

More than 3.34 lakh tickets had been sold across approximately 6,780 shows, indicating considerable interest among moviegoers several days before its release.

International markets have also contributed to the film’s pre-release momentum. Overseas advance sales were approaching USD 3 million, with North America emerging as the strongest territory. The United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand have also contributed to the overseas bookings.

The domestic advance booking process, however, did not begin without challenges. A disagreement over revenue-sharing arrangements between distributors and cinema exhibitors had affected the rollout of ticket sales in certain markets.

The dispute created uncertainty over the availability of advance bookings, particularly as the release date approached. Discussions between the concerned parties subsequently helped resolve the immediate deadlock, allowing more theatres to open bookings.

Despite the delay, the film has managed to build considerable interest among audiences, with its international pre-sales providing an early indication of the scale of expectations surrounding the production.

Ramayana is being developed as a two-part cinematic project, with the first instalment focusing on the early chapters of Lord Rama’s journey, his exile, his relationship with Sita and the conflict that eventually brings him into confrontation with Ravana.

The official synopsis describes Ravana as a powerful ruler who conquers the three worlds before Lord Vishnu takes birth as Prince Rama. Bound by his father’s promise, Rama enters exile alongside Sita and his devoted brother Lakshmana. The story moves towards a larger conflict following Sita’s abduction by Ravana.

Ranbir Kapoor’s casting as Lord Rama has remained one of the most discussed aspects of the project. The actor, known for performances in films such as Rockstar, Barfi!, Sanju and Animal, takes on a character that occupies a central position in India’s cultural and religious imagination.

Sai Pallavi, who has earned appreciation for her performances in Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam cinema, portrays Sita. Her casting has generated interest among audiences familiar with her work in films such as Premam, Fidaa and Gargi.

Yash plays Ravana, marking a significant addition to his career following the enormous success of the KGF franchise. His portrayal of the antagonist has become another major talking point, particularly among fans eager to see the actor in a large-scale mythological production.

The supporting cast includes Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana, Arun Govil as King Dasharatha, Lara Dutta, Vivek Oberoi, Rakul Preet Singh, Kunal Kapoor and several other performers.

Arun Govil’s involvement has attracted particular attention because of his association with the character of Lord Rama in Ramanand Sagar’s iconic television adaptation of Ramayan, which aired in 1987. His casting in the new film creates a connection between the earlier television portrayal and the contemporary big-screen interpretation.

The production is backed by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, in association with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The project has been positioned as an international cinematic production, with significant emphasis on visual effects, production design and large-scale storytelling.

The involvement of DNEG, the visual effects company known for its work on major international productions, has further raised expectations about the film’s technical presentation.

The makers are aiming to present the epic to audiences beyond India, with plans for a broad international distribution strategy. The film is expected to be released in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam.

Its international release strategy is also intended to reach audiences familiar with Indian mythology as well as viewers encountering the Ramayana through cinema for the first time.

The film’s reported U certificate is an important development in this context, as it allows the production to appeal to a broad family audience without age restrictions in India.

However, the three-hour-and-15-minute runtime also places the film among the longer theatrical releases, reflecting the scale of the narrative and the filmmakers’ decision to devote considerable screen time to the story.

The Los Angeles premiere has already generated discussion among viewers, with the film’s visuals, performances and presentation attracting attention on social media. The event also provided an opportunity for the production to introduce the project to international audiences ahead of its Indian release.

With advance bookings continuing and the certification process completed, attention has now shifted towards the film’s opening-day performance and its ability to sustain audience interest beyond the initial release period.

The commercial expectations are particularly high given the scale of the production and the popularity of its leading cast. Trade observers will closely monitor ticket sales in major Indian cities and overseas markets as the release approaches.

For Ranbir Kapoor, the film represents one of the most significant projects of his career, while Yash’s involvement gives the production additional appeal among audiences across different regional film industries.

Ramayana: Part One is scheduled to arrive in cinemas worldwide on November 5, 2026, with the second instalment planned as the continuation of the epic cinematic adaptation.