For Indian cinema, taking a film beyond the country's borders is no longer an unfamiliar exercise. But getting audiences outside the Indian diaspora to turn up at theatres, engage with a story rooted in ancient Indian history or mythology, and embrace it as a cinematic event is an entirely different challenge.
With Ramayana: Rise of a Legend, director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra have attempted precisely that.The film has made a promising start at the global box office. On November 11, trade estimates by Sacnilk put its worldwide gross at Rs 823.5 crore within six days of release, with the overseas market contributing approximately Rs 297 crore.
That is a significant contribution from international territories, particularly for a film whose theatrical journey has just begun.But the numbers are only one part of the story. Ramayana was never positioned as a film that would simply travel to international markets after satisfying its domestic audience.
With a reported combined budget of around Rs 4,000 crore for its two parts, the ambition was to create an Indian cinematic spectacle capable of standing alongside major international productions. Its worldwide theatrical rollout, English-language version, international publicity campaign and association with global technical talent were all part of that ambition.After years of Indian cinema talking about going pan-India, Ramayana has made a serious attempt at going "pan-world".
The question now is whether the world is watching.A promising international opening: What the box office saysAccording to figures attributed to Variety by Sacnilk, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend collected an estimated $23.7 million (Rs 221.6 crore) overseas in its first four days. North America led the way, contributing approximately $12.2 million (Rs 114.1 crore) from the US and Canada.
The UK followed with $3 million (Rs 28 crore), while the UAE and Australia brought in $2.2 million (Rs 20.5 crore) and $1.9 million (Rs 17.7 crore), respectively. Germany, Thailand, Nepal, the Netherlands and South Africa also contributed to the opening.
The film reportedly set new opening records for an Indian film in Thailand, the Netherlands and South Africa. What makes these numbers interesting is that Ramayana isn't relying only on markets where Indian films already have a sizeable audience.
North America, the UK, the UAE and Australia are familiar territories for Indian cinema. But its performance in places such as Thailand, Germany and the Netherlands suggests that the film is finding an audience beyond the usual diaspora markets.The film has also made a strong start in premium formats.
It reportedly earned around $6 million (Rs 56 crore) worldwide through IMAX during its opening weekend, making it the biggest global IMAX opening for an Indian film. In North America alone, its 53 IMAX screens contributed approximately $2.5 million (Rs 23.3 crore).Ramayana beats Godzilla in the UK The UK numbers are worth looking at more closely, too.
According to Screen Daily's box-office chart for November 6-8, Ramayana: Rise of a Legend topped the UK and Ireland weekend chart with £1.7 million (Rs 17.9 crore). Including previews, its total stood at £2.2 million (Rs 23 crore).
It finished ahead of Japanese blockbuster Godzilla Minus Zero and other international releases. The Tribune reported that this was the first time an Indian film had topped the UK and Ireland box-office chart.By November 11, the film had collected Rs 440.45 crore nett in India, taking its domestic gross to Rs 526.5 crore.
Add its overseas gross of approximately Rs 297 crore, and its worldwide collection stands at Rs 823.5 crore.The Monday numbers need a little context, though. November 9 fell during the Diwali holiday period in India, which explains the sharp jump in domestic collections.
The film earned Rs 107.50 crore net in India on Day 5, up 91.5 per cent from Sunday's Rs 56.15 crore. Overseas, however, the collection was estimated at Rs 25 crore, reflecting the usual Monday dip in those markets.
So, while the domestic numbers received a festive boost, the overseas slowdown shouldn't be mistaken for a worldwide decline.The interest is particularly evident in the increased gross collections across overseas markets on Tuesday, with the film reportedly earning around Rs 37 crore, marking a sharp jump from Monday's figures.For a film based on one of India's most familiar epics, this is an encouraging start. But there's a bigger question here than whether Indians living abroad will turn up to watch it.
Can Ramayana draw audiences who aren't already familiar with Indian cinema and hold its own in a crowded international theatrical market? That's what will make this journey truly global.The path they took: Building an international identity before releaseThe international performance did not happen by accident.
The groundwork for Ramayana's global positioning began well before its theatrical release.The first major step was collaborating with Sony Pictures Entertainment to handle international distribution, giving the film access to an established global distribution network. The film's first official trailer was unveiled globally on July 30, 2026.
Its international introduction was further strengthened by a presentation at San Diego Comic-Con on July 24.The decision to release an English-language trailer was another important step, followed by the English version of the film, which was designed to be approximately 30 minutes shorter than the Hindi cut. It was an attempt to adapt the presentation of an Indian epic to audiences with different viewing habits.
The film's international campaign also had a strong technical component. The collaboration between Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman, alongside the visual effects work of DNEG, was repeatedly highlighted as part of its global appeal.To lay the groundwork for its global rollout, the film held a world premiere and exclusive early 3D screening on October 27 at the prestigious Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles.
The invite-only event reportedly brought together more than 945 select guests, including global critics. Attendees witnessed the debut of the English-language version.Its theatrical rollout reflected the same ambition.
The film reportedly opened across more than 130 countries, reaching audiences on over 10,000 screens in 17 dubbed languages. The scale of this distribution is significant, particularly when compared with the more limited international releases that several Indian films have traditionally received.Where does it stand against India's biggest overseas performers?An impressive opening does not automatically translate into a place among the biggest overseas performers in Indian cinema.
That is a much longer race, and Ramayana has some formidable benchmarks.Aamir Khan's Dangal remains the undisputed leader, with an overseas gross of approximately $233.8 million, largely driven by its extraordinary performance in mainland China. Secret Superstar, another Aamir Khan-backed production, follows with approximately $126.9 million.
Other notable performers include Bajrangi Bhaijaan ($75.76 million), Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (around $60.5 million), Andhadhun ($50.28 million) and RRR (around $44 million). Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan and Pathaan are also on the list.These films reached international audiences through different routes.
Dangal and Secret Superstar benefitted enormously from China, where their stories found an audience beyond the Indian diaspora. Baahubali 2 and RRR, meanwhile, demonstrated how large-scale storytelling, strong visual presentation and theatrical spectacle could travel across markets, particularly in Japan and North America.
China, the next big testThere is one market that could significantly alter the trajectory of Ramayana: mainland China.Nitesh Tiwari knows what it means to have an Indian film find an audience there. His Dangal became a cultural and commercial phenomenon in China, demonstrating that a story rooted in Indian society could resonate with audiences who had little familiarity with its original cultural context.
Its themes of family, ambition, sacrifice and the relationship between a parent and child found a connection with audiences across cultural boundaries.Could Ramayana achieve something similar?The possibility is certainly worth exploring. An epic built around duty, love, exile, sacrifice, loyalty and the conflict between good and evil has themes that are not restricted to one country or culture.
The story of Rama and Ravana also has an existing cultural footprint across several Asian societies, including those influenced by the Ramayana tradition.The makers have already explored a China-specific identity for the film under the title Ramayana: The Legend of the Prince. However, a confirmed mainland Chinese theatrical release date and screen allocation are still awaited.
Its scheduled Hong Kong release on November 12 should not be confused with a mainland China release.Has Ramayana made its mark on the world?There is another aspect to this international journey that cannot be measured entirely through box-office figures: critical attention.The film has attracted reviews from several mainstream international publications, including The Guardian, IndieWire, IGN and Screen Rant. This is significant because it indicates that the film has entered the broader international film conversation rather than remaining confined to publications catering primarily to Indian audiences.Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian described the film as an engaging, rousing and spectacular Indian epic, drawing comparisons with the scale and spirit of The Lord of the Rings and The Lion King.
Screen Rant's Brandon Zachary awarded it 7/10, praising its visual and technical achievement.Getting international audiences to notice an Indian film is one achievement. Convincing them to embrace it, recommend it and return for its next instalment is another.
The film seems to have achieved that on a small scale at the moment, moving positively towards larger aspirations.The upcoming releases in Indonesia, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil, Italy and other European and Latin American territories could provide another push. The film's international theatrical rollout is scheduled to continue through November 26.
There is, however, a difference between making an impact and creating a phenomenon. The initial numbers suggest that audiences across markets are willing to give Ramayana a chance.
The positive reviews from international critics, alongside its strong theatrical opening, have helped establish its presence.However, much like the journey of Lord Rama in the epic itself, this one will not be without its tests. Every new territory, every theatrical weekend and every audience response will determine how far the film travels.So, has Ramayana made it to the global stage?
The answer, at this point, is yes. It has secured the international visibility, distribution footprint and opening numbers to make that claim.But has it made a lasting, positive mark on the world?
That verdict is still not out. Curiosity has been created.
Now comes the real test: turning that curiosity into a global phenomenon.Ramayana: Rise of a Legend stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as the Demon King Ravana. The film has an exciting ensemble cast and has been directed by Nitesh Tiwari.
Namit Malhotra has produced the magnum opus under his banner Prime Focus Studios, in collaboration with Yash's Monster Mind Creations.- EndsMUST WATCH: