Ramayana’s LA premiere: Diwali red carpet, 945 guests, 3D

Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana is taking its first bow in Hollywood. The big-screen adaptation of the Indian epic will hold its world premiere at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on October 27, ahead of its worldwide theatrical release on November 5, 2026.

A Diwali red carpet in Los Angeles

The premiere is planned for the museum’s David Geffen Theater, with a 3D screening and an expected audience of 945 guests. Organisers are leaning into the season: the event is being styled as a Diwali-themed celebration, and guests have reportedly been encouraged to wear traditional Indian outfits on the red carpet.

As reported by Hindustan Times, the guest list is expected to include Hollywood personalities, filmmakers, international media representatives and members of the film industry. That turns the evening into a global launchpad rather than a quiet industry screening.

Why the Academy Museum matters

The Academy Museum is dedicated to the history, art and science of cinema, and it has become a prominent venue for major film events. Hosting Ramayana there gives the production an international showcase as it enters the final stretch before release.

For Hindi film fans, the choice matters because it places a desi epic in a space usually associated with Hollywood’s awards conversation. The red carpet is an early test of how the film’s scale and story translate beyond its core audience.

A two-part epic with a global plan

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is conceived as a two-part cinematic adaptation. Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios is producing in association with DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations.

• Release: Part one opens November 5, 2026; part two is slated for Diwali 2027.
• Languages: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam, with an IMAX release in the works.
• Distribution: Sony Pictures handles international markets outside India; Dharma Productions handles the Hindi market.

A cast built for scale

Ranbir Kapoor will portray Lord Rama, with Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. The ensemble also includes Ravi Dubey, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan and Lara Dutta.

The budget behind the spectacle

Yash recently confirmed that the combined budget for both instalments stands at Rs 4,000 crore. The actor, who is also producing through Monster Mind Creations, has spoken about the scale of the production and why the team has chosen to be open about its investment.

That transparency is rare for a big Indian production, where budgets often arrive as speculation. For viewers, the number sets expectations: this is being positioned as an epic built for IMAX, multiple languages and an international audience.

With the first part arriving in November and the second planned for Diwali 2027, the Los Angeles premiere is only the beginning of a long, high-stakes rollout.

Source: The Times of India