Ramayana: Part 1 has landed a timely theatrical advantage in West Bengal, where the Ranbir Kapoor-led mythological epic has been granted tax-free status ahead of its Diwali release. For a film built as a large-scale family event, the decision strengthens its box office prospects in a key market where festive turnout can significantly shape opening-week momentum.
The announcement was made by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during Vijayadashami celebrations in Kolkata. Speaking to ANI, he said, “The Ramayana film has been made tax-free. The Kerala Story, The Kashmir Files and The Bengal Files, all of these will be or have been made tax-free, and the same will apply to ‘Ramayana’. In the days to come, we will see films on Shri Krishna and Arjuna, as well as the Mahabharata.”
The commercial significance is straightforward. A tax exemption can help make tickets more affordable for audiences and improve accessibility across centres, especially for a holiday release that is likely to draw family crowds across age groups. For a title aiming for broad theatrical penetration, that kind of state-level support matters.
West Bengal Tax-Free Boost Ahead Of Diwali Release
As of October 21, 2026, Ramayana: Part 1 is scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film launches a planned two-part adaptation of the ancient Indian epic and stands among the most closely watched Hindi releases of the year.
Ranbir Kapoor stars as Lord Rama, with Sai Pallavi playing Sita and Yash stepping into the role of Ravana. Rather than relying only on star casting, the film has been assembled as a full-scale mythological ensemble, with key parts played by Ravi Dubey, Sunny Deol, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal and Arun Govil, whose return to the world of Ramayana brings an added layer of audience recall.
Cast, Crew And Why This Film Matters For Ranbir Kapoor
Produced by Namit Malhotra, with Prime Focus Studios and DNEG backing the project, Ramayana: Part 1 is mounted as a high-ambition visual spectacle. Nitesh Tiwari has co-written the screenplay with Shridhar Raghavan, while A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer have teamed up for the music, giving the film a rare blend of mainstream reach and international scale. The story focuses on Prince Rama’s exile and the emotional upheaval that sets the epic conflict in motion.
For Ranbir Kapoor, the film arrives at an especially important point in his career. His last releases, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar and Animal, both came in 2023, with Animal emerging as the biggest commercial success of his career. Ramayana: Part 1 now marks his return after that phase, but in a very different register, replacing contemporary intensity with mythological gravitas and positioning him at the centre of one of the biggest event films on the 2026 calendar. He is next set to appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, scheduled for January 21, 2027.
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