The Indian film trade is currently witnessing a tectonic shift, as two massive updates have sent shockwaves across Bollywood and global exhibition markets.
On one hand, global VFX pioneer and producer Namit Malhotra has officially confirmed a mind-boggling worldwide release scale for Nitesh Tiwari’s historical magnum opus, Ramayana: Part1.
On the other hand, legendary banner Yash Raj Films (YRF) is breaking a 50-year convention by officially entering the horror genre and signing superstar Varun Dhawan for a high-concept feature film directed by Rocket Boys creator Abhay Pannu.
PART 1: THE MAGNUM OPUS – Namit Malhotra Confirms Historic Strategy & 60,000-Screen Release For Ramayana
In an exclusive interaction with NDTV, visionary producer Namit Malhotra, frequently hailed as the man bridging the gap between Hollywood technology and Indian storytelling, unveiled the staggering release strategy for Ramayana: Part 1.
The Dual-Date Global Release Strategy: In a move designed to maximize global box office revenues, the makers have opted for a staggered multi-territory rollout. The film will officially begin its theatrical journey across international markets on Friday, November 6, 2026, aligning with the standard overseas Friday distribution tradition.
Meanwhile, the makers will release the epic cinematic saga in India on Diwali, November 8, 2026, capitalising on the peak festive weekend. This strategic alignment ensures that overseas audiences—particularly in North America, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region—get an uninterrupted three-day weekend run before the massive Indian domestic box office explosion begins on Diwali day.
Unprecedented Distribution: 50,000 International Screens: The single biggest revelation from Namit Malhotra’s interaction was the sheer scale of global distribution. The producer confirmed that Ramayana: Part 1 will release across 50,000 screens internationally. Crucially, this figure does not include Indian screens.
When combined with the projected 10,000 screens across India, the film’s total worldwide screen count will touch an unprecedented 60,000 screens. To put this into perspective, this will become the largest screen footprint ever assembled for a Hindi or Indian production, surpassing the international release footprints of global Hollywood blockbusters like Avatar: The Way of Water and Avengers: Endgame.
“Our dream from day one was not just to make a film for domestic viewers, but to present our foundational epic to the entire world on a scale never attempted before,” a source closely associated with Prime Focus Studios noted.
“Partnering with global distribution networks allows us to secure 50,000 screens outside India alone. Namit Malhotra is executing a global vision that positions Indian cinema at the absolute center of world pop culture.”
PART 2: YRF EXPLORES UNCHARTED TERRITORY – Varun Dhawan Headlines Banner’s First-Ever Horror Film
While Ramayana prepares for global box office history, studio powerhouse Yash Raj Films (YRF), under the leadership of Aditya Chopra, is officially expanding its slate into uncharted cinematic waters. YRF has formally greenlit its first-ever horror feature film and brought superstar Varun Dhawan on board to headline the ambitious project.
Acclaimed filmmaker Abhay Pannu, who earned universal praise for writing and directing the hit biographical series Rocket Boys, will direct the untitled horror feature. Pannu has also written the screenplay for the film.
For over five decades, Yash Raj Films has remained synonymous with pathbreaking romantic dramas, commercial action franchises such as the Spy Universe, high-octane thrillers and family entertainers. However, the banner has never produced a dedicated horror feature until now.
According to sources close to KBO REVIEW, YRF Chief Executive Officer Akshaye Widhani has strategically championed the initiative as part of a broader mandate to diversify the studio’s portfolio.
“Varun has officially signed on as the lead for YRF’s maiden horror venture,” an industry insider exclusively confirmed to trade reporters. “YRF has made films across practically every genre over the last fifty years except horror. Come 2027, the banner will finally step into this space with a high-budget, narrative-driven horror spectacle that treats the genre with mainstream, big-screen scale.”
For Varun Dhawan, this project marks his second major collaboration with Yash Raj Films following the critically acclaimed and commercially successful Sui Dhaaga: Made in India (2018). After demonstrating his versatility across comedy (Judwaa 2), dark thrillers (Badlapur), romantic dramas (Bawaal) and creature-comedy (Bhediya), Varun now enters the pure horror genre under the YRF banner, further cementing his status as one of the most versatile leading men of his generation.
The makers will begin production in late 2026 after completing pre-production and set-building, and the studio is targeting a grand theatrical release in 2027.
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