Ahead of the theatrical rollout of Nitesh Tiwari's cinematic spectacle Ramayana, producer Namit Malhotra has come under scrutiny as the Income Tax Department conducted searches at his company premises. The tax inquiry comes at a crucial juncture for the high-profile project, with the investigation connected to cross-border capital inflows and foreign funding channels. Specific transaction records and official findings from the enforcement authorities, however, have not yet been disclosed.
Prime Focus Stock Plunges on Search Action
The regulatory intervention immediately reverberated through the equity markets during morning trading on October 7, causing shares of Prime Focus to plunge by roughly 8 percent. Prime Focus commands an extensive footprint across the international media and entertainment ecosystem, operating across visual effects, animation, post-production, and diverse content creation verticals. Its specialized visual effects infrastructure provides pivotal support to the ongoing production of Ramayana.
Tax Action Follows Studio Fire Incident
The search proceedings unfolded shortly after an accidental fire erupted near the sets of Ramayana at the Prime Focus Studios facility in Mumbai. That incident resulted in zero injuries, and production schedules resumed swiftly once emergency responders brought the flames under control. The subsequent arrival of tax officials has now shifted scrutiny from physical set operations to corporate financial structures.
Star-Studded Ensemble and Massive Production Scale
Anticipation surrounding the cinematic saga remains high as the narrative is structured across two distinct feature installments. The casting lineup features Ranbir Kapoor portraying Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash stepping into the role of Ravana. The ensemble cast also includes Sunny Deol portraying Hanuman, Ravi Dubey as Laxman, Arun Govil as Dasharatha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, and Rakul Preet Singh appearing as Surpanakha.
Global Musical Collaboration and 4,000 Crore Budget
Visual effects responsibilities for the massive venture are being spearheaded by global VFX company DNEG. The production has drawn widespread attention for its reported financial scale, with figures indicating an overall budget of 4,000 crore rupees. Adding to the international pedigree, acclaimed composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman are collaborating on the soundtrack. The first chapter of Ramayana is slated to arrive in theaters on November 5, 2026, coinciding with the Diwali festival, while the concluding second chapter is planned for a Diwali 2027 theatrical release.
