Hans Zimmer referred to the Ramayana as transcending time and human imagination, according to Namit Malhotra

 Hans Zimmer’s connection with the upcoming Ramayana film has added a powerful layer of global reverence to the project. In a revealing podcast conversation with Prakhar Gupta, producer Namit Malhotra recounted his deeply philosophical interaction with the Oscar-winning composer. Zimmer, renowned for scoring The Lion King and Inception, showed immense respect for the ancient Indian epic, stopping Malhotra mid-discussion and asserting, "You don’t have to explain it to me... Something that has lived through thousands of years and generations clearly has a reason for its relevance today. It’s beyond us."

Malhotra, who is also the chairperson of DNEG and founder of Prime Focus, highlighted how Zimmer’s humility and spiritual openness aligned with the vision for Ramayana. He described the film not just as a story, but as a cultural reclamation: "Ramayana became that story for me... How do I take this and present something that is the evolution of the planet, that’s the first civilisation in the world?" He noted his motivation to challenge reductive Western views of India and showcase its rich civilisational legacy.

The film is being produced as a two-part epic. Ramayana Part One, slated for a Diwali 2026 IMAX release, stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravi Dubey as Lakshman. The second part will follow in Diwali 2027. The musical score — a rare and exciting collaboration between Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman — is one of the most anticipated aspects of the project.

The first glimpse featuring Ranbir and Yash has already garnered widespread acclaim, sparking immense anticipation for what could become India’s most ambitious mythological cinematic universe to date.