Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor’s upcoming, highly anticipated film, “Ramayana,” is currently making headlines for its massive budget and star cast. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra, the film’s total project budget is reportedly around ₹4,000 crore. As buzz around this mega-budget film grows, people are wondering what Ramanand Sagar’s “Ramayana” was when it aired on television 39 years ago. Comparing these two biggest projects of both generations reveals a stark difference in cost and technology.
The 1987 “Ramayana”‘s budget, episode cost, and impressive earnings
When Ramanand Sagar launched the “Ramayana” serial on Doordarshan 39 years ago, in 1987, it was considered the largest and most expensive project of that era. According to media reports, Ramanand Sagar’s timeless “Ramayana” had a total of 78 episodes, and the entire show cost approximately ₹7 crore to produce. At that time, each single episode cost approximately ₹9 lakh to shoot, while the makers earned a hefty ₹40 lakh per episode. Made with a total budget of only ₹7 crore, this religious serial grossed a staggering ₹31.4 crore during its broadcast.
Worldwide Records Unbroken
The popularity of Ramanand Sagar’s “Ramayana” wasn’t limited to India; this landmark show aired in over 55 countries worldwide. At that time, the serial’s total viewership reached 650 million, a record that remains unbroken. Furthermore, in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown and the re-broadcast of “Ramayana” on Doordarshan, a single episode was watched by a record 77 million people, or 77 million viewers, a global milestone in itself.
Why is the budget of the 2026 film starring Ranbir Kapoor so high?
While the 1987 film “Ramayana” became immortal in every household due to its simplicity, excellent dialogue, and lively performances by the actors, the 2026 film starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sai Pallavi is based on modern technology, international-level VFX, and grand sets. The makers aim to provide a global platform for Indian Sanatan culture and mythology on a Hollywood scale. This is the primary reason why the film’s total project scale and budget is increasing to ₹4000 crore, which is considered the largest financial venture in the history of Indian cinema.