Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor is preparing for a significant box office challenge with his upcoming epic, "Ramayana." The film aims to push Kapoor into an exclusive post-COVID club: lead actors whose films have collectively grossed over 2000 crore rupees worldwide since the pandemic. This milestone has been achieved by only a select few, notably Shah Rukh Khan.
Shah Rukh Khan's Dominance Post-Pandemic
Shah Rukh Khan set a high benchmark in the post-pandemic era. His 2023 blockbusters, "Pathaan" and "Jawan," delivered extraordinary global collections. "Pathaan" earned over 1050 crore rupees worldwide, while "Jawan" surpassed it with a global total of more than 1148 crore rupees.Together, these two films propelled Khan to be the first Indian star to achieve a cumulative gross of over 2000 crore rupees at the global box office post-COVID.This demonstrated a powerful resurgence for the industry after a challenging period.[indianexpress+5]
Ranbir Kapoor's Post-COVID Box Office Journey
Ranbir Kapoor has also seen considerable success since the pandemic. His biggest post-COVID hit, "Animal," released in 2023, garnered a worldwide gross of over 900 crore rupees.Domestically, "Animal" collected a net of 554 crore rupees.Other notable films include "Brahmastra" (2022), which earned 268 crore rupees net, and "Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar" (2023), with 146 crore rupees net.His earlier film, "Shamshera" (2022), however, was a commercial disappointment, collecting 43 crore rupees.Cumulatively, Ranbir Kapoor's post-COVID films have amassed a net total of 1011 crore rupees in India.This strong performance positions him well for the ambitious target set by "Ramayana."[livemint+5]
Ramayana's Grand Vision and Massive Investment
Nitesh Tiwari's "Ramayana" is poised to become India's most expensive film ever produced. The project, planned in two parts, boasts a staggering budget exceeding 4000 crore rupees, or approximately $500 million.Producer Namit Malhotra confirmed this scale, stating the aim is to create a global cinematic experience.The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, with Sunny Deol also in a key role as Hanuman.The music for this epic is a collaboration between renowned composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman.[indiatoday+14]
The teaser for "Ramayana" has already generated international buzz, with audiences in Los Angeles reportedly stunned by the preview.Part 1 of the film is slated for release on Diwali 2026, with Part 2 following in Diwali 2027.Ranbir Kapoor has also reportedly invested 20 crore rupees in Prime Focus Studio, the production house behind the film, highlighting his commitment to the project.[etnownews+6]
The Path to a 2000 Crore Cumulative Total
For Ranbir Kapoor to join the elite 2000 crore club, "Ramayana" needs to perform exceptionally well. With his current post-COVID net collection standing at 1011 crore rupees, he would need "Ramayana" to add approximately 989 crore rupees (net) to his total.This would make him the second lead actor in Bollywood to achieve this cumulative post-COVID feat.Ranveer Singh has already crossed the 2000 crore cumulative net mark with the success of films like the "Dhurandhar" franchise, reaching 2081.13 crore rupees.Sanjay Dutt and R Madhavan have also surpassed this figure through their combined post-COVID filmographies.[koimoi+4]
The stakes are incredibly high for "Ramayana," with Part 1 alone having a reported budget of 900 crore rupees.Trade analysts suggest the film has massive box office potential, with the possibility of earning 1000 crore rupees net in India alone if its content resonates with audiences.[koimoi+1]
Industry Perspectives and Future Outlook
Industry observers view "Ramayana" as a pivotal moment for Indian cinema. Trade analyst Komal Nahata emphasized the passion driving the project. "I'm not here to calculate the budget. I want to make Ramayana parts 1 and 2 out of shiddat ," co-producer Namit Malhotra reportedly told Nahata.Malhotra conveyed a vision to prove India's capability in creating global-scale stories.[republicworld+3]
The Indian box office has shown strong recovery and growth. In 2025, the total Indian box office crossed 13,000 crore rupees, with Hindi cinema contributing a record 5,504 crore rupees.A significant trend is the "long tail resurgence," with 37 films crossing the 100 crore rupee mark in 2025, a notable increase from 22 in 2024.This indicates a broader theatrical recovery and improved commercial viability beyond just tentpole titles. While big-budget event films like "Ramayana" remain crucial, a wider range of films are now finding success.[hollywoodreporterindia+4]
"Ramayana" represents a monumental effort to showcase Indian mythology on a global stage. Its success could not only solidify Ranbir Kapoor's standing as a top box office draw but also redefine financial benchmarks for the entire Indian film industry in the post-pandemic era. The ambitious project carries the hopes of many for a new chapter in cinematic achievement.
