Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 15 : Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has backed producer Namit Malhotra’s ambitious financial strategy for ‘Ramayana: Rise of a Legend’, stating that the film could recover the combined production costs of both instalments through its first part alone. RGV further predicted that the second part of the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer could earn as much as 10 times more than the first instalment.
In a post shared on X, the filmmaker shared a long post defending the film's reported budget and responding to questions about its box office performance. Sharing a personal example of the film’s popularity, RGV revealed that even his mother had been buying tickets for people working in her residential complex.
He wrote, “Even for the best of my films she din’t do this , but my mother has been buying tickets of @malhotra_namit ‘s #Ramayana for the servants , watch men etc in the building complex she lives , and inspite of this kind of euphoria leading it to breaking all box office records and fast emerging as the BIGGEST HIT EVER in INDIAN CINEMATIC HISTORY, stil lot of noise is being made by many jealous that the collections are still not enough because it’s 2000 cr a piece making it 4000 for 2.”
Addressing the film’s reported budget, RGV said the actual cost of the first part was reportedly below Rs 800 crore. He also pointed out that financial deals, tax benefits and subsidies could bring down the final cost further.
“I got to know that the actual cost of part 1 is a little less than 800 and that includes mutually beneficial deals , global tax benefits , subsidy elements etc etc which all will eventually bring the cost to lesser than that .. And not only me but any reasonably experienced film maker by seeing the film can see the cost can’t be more than that ..,” he added.
https://x.com/RGVzoomin/status/2121808382932009332?a=9S-fJWFGRmEsX0kAPeU&s=20
The filmmaker also questioned the assumption that both instalments would have similar production costs. According to him, the second part could involve a different budget as several elements created for the first film would also be used in the sequel. Explaining his point, RGV said, “Also many are stupid to assume that both parts will cost same ..That’s like thinking the cost before interval and post interval will be same in a film ..I know of films where 50% of the cost was just climax”
“Also much of the cost will include costs of creating the world of Ramayana which becomes future assets for gaming and various other aspects including assets for part 2 , which are all a part of Namit’s visionary future outings .. And this part I frankly think , can’t even be understood by most Bollywood makers , traders and other self proclaimed experts," he added. 
RGV also predicted that the first part could recover the entire production cost, while the second instalment could bring in much higher earnings. Comparing the film’s possible performance with the ‘KGF’ franchise, he said he expects the sequel to earn significantly more than its first part.
“So going by how it’s bull running now , it is obvious that Namit Malhotra is going to cover the entire cost of part 1 or maybe both parts in part 1 itself and then there’s the non theatrical of part 1 and all revenue inflows of part 2 So in other words Namit Malhotra can build his own Pushpak vimaan and start dumping money into innumerable extraordinary ventures which all the biggest production companies from north to south couldn’t do till now and then he can surpass even the biggest of the biggest Hollywood biggies”
He also spoke about the action sequences expected in the second part, including Hanuman’s scenes, the Vaanar Sena, Ram Setu, Lanka Dahan and the battle between Lord Rama and Ravana. RGV said these sequences could make the sequel a much bigger theatrical success. “If KGF 2 did around 5 times more than KGF 1 , I am convinced that Ramayana 2 will do 10 times more than Ramayana part 1 ..If you disagree , we will talk in 2028”
‘Ramayana’ is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios along with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The film features Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. Sunny Deol will play Lord Hanuman, who was introduced in the post-credits scene of the first part.
The second instalment of the film is expected to release on Diwali 2028.