Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra shares his journey from editing in a garage to winning 8 Oscars

Economic Times

03-07-2025

Namit Malhotra, from a film lineage, is the producer behind the ambitious ₹835 crore Ramayana adaptation, directed by Nitesh Tiwari. Despite a star-studded cast including Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, Malhotra's name takes precedence, highlighting his global film industry influence.
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Who is Namit Malhotra, the Force Behind Ramayana?
Malhotra's Vision for Ramayana
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Cast, Music & Release Plan
Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana is being touted as India's most ambitious film, backed by an estimated ₹835 crore budget and a star-studded lineup including Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, Sai Pallavi, and Sunny Deol. Despite the big names, the film's title card notably highlights producer Namit Malhotra, rather than the cast or even the director. While Malhotra may not be a household name in India, his influence in the global film industry is undeniable.Coming from a film lineage, Namit Malhotra is the son of producer Naresh Malhotra and the grandson of renowned cinematographer MN Malhotra. After studying computer graphics, he launched Video Workshop, a post-production company he co-founded with three of his teachers. The studio, originally set up in his father's garage, handled editing work for popular TV shows like Boogie Woogie and Gaatha, and later partnered with Channel V.In 1997, Namit merged Video Workshop with his father's business to form Prime Focus , which initially focused on technical services for television and film. Prime Focus expanded into movie production, working on titles like The Hurricane Heist and Brahmastra Part One.A major turning point came in 2014, when Prime Focus merged with UK-based VFX giant Double Negative (DNEG). The merged entity has since delivered stunning visual effects for films like Blade Runner 2049, Tenet, and the Dune series. Over the past decade, DNEG has won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects seven times, cementing its place in Hollywood.Namit revealed in an interview with Hindustan Times that he began conceptualizing Ramayana for the big screen as early as 2015, though filming officially began in 2023. His vision goes far beyond just making a big-budget Indian movie.'I want to make India proud and inspire the world with Indian storytelling. Just as we're moved by films like Oppenheimer or Forrest Gump, I believe Ramayana has the same universal appeal. I'm fortunate to bring this story to life,' Namit shared.Ramayana will be released in two parts, with Part 1 expected during Diwali 2026 and Part 2 following in Diwali 2027. The film features:Ranbir Kapoor as Lord RamSai Pallavi as SitaYash as RavanaSunny Deol as HanumanRavie Dubey as LaxmanaThe film's music is another high point, with a collaboration between AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer, marking the latter's Bollywood debut.