Nov 13, 2026 1:02pm IST
‘Ramayana’ Eyes China Release: Can Director Nitesh Tiwari Replicate the Success of ‘Dangal’?
Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi-starrer “Ramayana: Part 1” (“Ramayana: Rise of a Legend”) has broken several records in its first week at the global box office. Besides its impressive business in India, the film has done exceedingly well in the international markets, including the UK, North America, Ireland and Australia.
The film was released in Hong Kong on November 12 in its original Hindi language with Chinese and English subtitles, and speculation about its China release is making headlines, with some portals even reporting its theatrical debut date.
However, Sony Pictures, which is distributing the film overseas, including Hong Kong, has not shared any official update on the movie’s release in mainland China.
In early August, producer Namit Malhotra had shared his plan for the China release in his overseas marketing strategy, and said, “Of course, worldwide release includes China. We are in talks and the last few formalities are being done.”
The makers have since announced overseas release dates, including Brazil, Italy, Ukraine and Hungary (November 19), Poland (November 20) and Argentina, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Czechia (November 26).
When will makers announce the China release date?
The makers have not announced a release date for “Ramayana.” Various factors such as the country’s tight restrictions on religious content, limits on foreign film imports, and a phased release across international markets play a part in this.
With official updates yet to be shared, industry trackers are expecting a window in December 2026 or early 2027. Sreedhar Pillai, a prominent trade analyst from South, calls China a growing market for India, but shares his doubts about an early release there. “It’s an emerging market. But ‘Ramayana’ will take time to release there. They have no confirmed release date. When you have a China release, their government has to give it a green signal,” he says.
Sharing the process of how a foreign film releases in China, he adds, “China officially allows 34 revenue-sharing foreign films per year under its main import quota system. Your film also has to be included in that list. If Sony Pictures is going to release it in China, that becomes important because the film can be a part of the studio’s quota. ‘Ramayana’ is expected to be released there. If it does well, that’s good for Indian cinema. The film’s release in Japan is more important, as the animated Japanese movie ‘Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama’ enjoys a cult following there.”
Akkshay Rathie, director at Aashirwad Theaters Pvt Ltd and a prominent film exhibitor, also shares that it is currently a wait-and-watch situation. “China is something of a black hole because you don’t really know how wide a release you will get or how much in box-office collections you can anticipate. A lot of what happens when you get the opportunity to release a film in China depends on the Shanghai Film Corporation and various entities and agencies of the Chinese authorities, who decide the scale and reach of your release. Only when things are finalized will we know the potential of ‘Ramayana’ at the Chinese box office.”
Is China a crucial market for ‘Ramayana’?
Looking at examples of Indian hits like “Dangal,” “Secret Superstar” and “Andhadhun,” in China, veteran trade analyst Taran Adarsh says that this market can be a huge contributor to the collections of “Ramayana.” “It’s a huge market and Indian films have done remarkably well there,” he says.
Ramesh Bala, trade tracker from Chennai, echoes Adarsh’s sentiments and adds, “China is a very important market for ‘Ramayana,’ considering the scale, budget and global ambitions of the film. Indian films with strong emotional storytelling and universal themes have performed exceptionally well there in the past.”
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He opines, “‘Ramayana’ has the potential to connect with Chinese audiences through its mythology, emotions and spectacular visuals. If the film gets a wide release with strong local promotions, I believe ₹200–300 crore from China is a realistic target, with scope to go higher depending on word of mouth. A successful China run could significantly boost its worldwide collections.”
The Nitesh Tiwari Connection
Aamir Khan is considered the biggest Indian star in China due to the success of “Dangal” and “Secret Superstar” there. However, the master storyteller behind “Dangal,” the biopic of Mahavir Singh Phogat and his wrestler daughters Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari, which is the biggest Indian hit there, is also the director of “Ramayana,” which is expected to help the film get a good start in the Chinese market.
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