India’s biggest mythological spectacle is already redrawing the rules of distribution. Ramayana: Part One, headlined by Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, will not follow the usual subscription-led OTT path once its exclusive cinema window ends. Instead, JioHotstar will offer the film as a pay-per-view title, turning its digital debut into a premium purchase event rather than a routine streaming drop.
Ramayana Takes The Pay-Per-View Route
The move marks a notable play for a tentpole Indian release of this scale. Ramayana: Part One is scheduled to release in cinemas worldwide on November 5, 2026, and its digital rollout is now being positioned as a standalone on-demand event for viewers in India.
Nita M. Ambani, Chairperson, JioStar, said, “Ramayana is one of India’s greatest civilisational treasures, a story that has shaped our conscience, inspired our imagination, and guided the way we live for centuries. As India enters a new era of storytelling, we have an extraordinary opportunity to carry our cultural legacy forward. At JioHotstar, our vision is to use technology to bring the finest stories within reach of every Indian. It is our privilege to present this grand cinematic vision of Ramayana to families across the country, and introduce a new generation to its eternal values of duty, love, courage, and goodness.”
Producer Namit Malhotra added, “I believe Ramayana should be experienced on the biggest screen possible, in IMAX 3D. But our country’s cinema infrastructure cannot reach everyone who holds this epic close. Ramayana belongs to every Indian, and our ambition must reflect that. JioHotstar has time and again shown how technology can bring a nation together through its sports and entertainment offering. That made them a natural partner to take Ramayana into people’s hands and living rooms, after its theatrical run.”
Cast, Scale And Release Details
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana: Part One is produced by Prime Focus Studios in association with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The two-part adaptation reimagines Valmiki’s epic for a large-format theatrical experience, with Sony Pictures handling the film’s international release and Dharma Productions distributing it across North India’s Hindi-speaking markets.
The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The wider ensemble also includes Arun Govil, Lara Dutta, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor and Kajal Aggarwal. The first instalment will release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and English.
That star pairing is central to the film’s market ambition. Ranbir Kapoor arrives on Ramayana after the massive theatrical success of Animal in 2023, while Yash continues to carry formidable pan-India box office weight after K.G.F: Chapter 2 and his 2026 release Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. Their casting gives Ramayana a rare blend of Hindi heartland pull and southern mass appeal, which also explains why its JioHotstar launch is being framed as an event in its own right.
Why The Digital Rollout Matters
For JioHotstar, the pay-per-view decision places Ramayana: Part One in a premium bracket usually reserved for must-watch spectacles rather than catalogue additions. For the film itself, the strategy extends its event status beyond multiplexes and into homes without diluting its blockbuster positioning. With advance bookings already open from October 20, 2026, the messaging around the film is unmistakable: Ramayana is being sold not simply as a release, but as an experience audiences will be asked to actively show up for on every screen.
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