Ranbir Kapoor’s highly anticipated mythological epic, Ramayana, has taken the box office by storm. The film delivered a phenomenal performance in its extended opening weekend, raking in a massive Rs 175.25 crore nett in its Hindi version alone between Thursday and Sunday. According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, this performance marks the biggest-ever pre-Diwali business in cinematic history, setting a powerful precedent for the Nitesh Tiwari directorial.
The film’s box office journey saw a steady start with Rs 47 crore on Thursday, followed by Rs 38.25 crore on Friday. Saturday proved to be the standout day of the weekend, witnessing a significant jump to Rs 53 crore. While Sunday saw a slight dip in collections to Rs 37 crore, this was largely attributed to the auspicious Lakshmi Puja timings and the onset of Diwali festivities. Despite the brief Sunday slowdown, the film has cemented a formidable presence in theaters across the country.
As the film moves into a game-changing phase, expectations for Monday are sky-high. With extraordinary advance bookings and strong audience feedback, trade experts anticipate a colossal total for the holiday. The mass circuits, which have yet to unleash their full potential, are expected to contribute significantly as the Diwali celebrations gain momentum. If this upward trend continues, the industry is looking at record-breaking figures for the coming days.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part 1 is the opening installment of a two-part adaptation of the ancient epic. The star-studded cast features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The film also features Anupam Kher as the voice of Jatayu, alongside key performances from Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, and Rakul Preet Singh.