Ramayana Day 1 Tops Rs 125 Crore, Industry Raves

Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana has arrived with the kind of opening that makes a mythological epic feel like a genuine event. On Thursday, November 5, 2026, the film reportedly collected over Rs 125 crore across India and international markets, setting the stage for what could be a big first weekend.

But the number is only half the story. Within hours, some of Indian cinema’s most influential voices took to social media to tell fans exactly how the film made them feel.

Bollywood’s biggest names react

Karan Johar was among the first to post a lengthy tribute. He praised producer Namit Malhotra’s conviction and director Nitesh Tiwari’s confidence, and singled out the cast. In his words, he felt “deepest respect for each and every team member of Ramayana.”

He described Ranbir Kapoor’s take on Shri Ram as meditative, and called Sai Pallavi’s Sita heartening. For Yash’s Ravana, Johar used exactly the kind of caps-lock enthusiasm the moment deserves: “MESMERISING and POWERFULL.”

Rishab Shetty kept it simple, saying Tiwari and Malhotra had done “total justice to this timeless epic.” SS Rajamouli focused on the screen itself, calling the scale and visuals spectacular, and noting that Ranbir’s Rama is serene while Yash brings menace to Ravana.

From Stockholm to the big screen

Anupam Kher, who voices Jatayu in the film, watched it with a packed house of around five hundred people in Stockholm. His verdict was sweeping: among the finest films in Indian cinema, and visually the most spectacular he has seen. Sandeep Reddy Vanga added a direct nudge to audiences: go watch it, because Ranbir and Yash “nailed it bone-deep.”

Why the early reaction matters

When filmmakers like Karan Johar and SS Rajamouli post about a spectacle-heavy epic, the praise travels beyond their own followings. It gives audiences a simple frame: if the people who know scale are impressed, the big-screen experience may be worth the ticket. That matters for a mythological film that relies on visual power and emotional familiarity.

The opening-day collection gives Ramayana a cushion, but the social media chorus does something numbers cannot: it turns curiosity into an event. The next box-office update will reveal how much of that event feeling converts into repeat visits and walk-ins.

What the praise tells us

• Day one: Over Rs 125 crore worldwide, with the first weekend still to come.
• The chorus: Filmmakers are praising scale, visuals and the lead performances.
• The test: Whether the film holds beyond its opening-day momentum.

For fans, the next few days will be revealing. A strong opening is one thing; sustained theatrical legs depend on word of mouth, and right now the industry is supplying plenty of it. If you want to judge the scale and performances for yourself, the film is already in theatres.

Source: Filmfare