The upcoming epic film Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, and Sunny Deol, has been making headlines for its massive budget and star power. But a new claim about its distribution rights has sparked confusion. Reports suggest that Karan Johar's Dharma Productions acquired the Hindi distribution rights for a record-breaking Rs. 350 crores. However, other sources say the deal was for Rs. 250 crores. Here is a fact check on what is actually known.
What the Reports Say About the Ramayana Distribution Deal
According to the original story, it was first revealed that the all-India distribution rights of Namit Malhotra's Ramayana were acquired by Dharma Productions for Rs. 250 crores. But later, reliable sources claimed the Hindi distribution rights alone were sold to Karan Johar for Rs. 350 crores. The story describes this as "the biggest theatrical deal of all time," defeating previous records set by other films like King.
However, multiple other news outlets have reported a different figure. The Times of India states that Karan Johar's Dharma Productions sealed a Rs. 250 crore deal for the distribution rights of the film. Similarly, Sunrise Radio also reports the deal at Rs. 250 crore. These reports do not mention any Rs. 350 crore figure.
Conflicting Numbers: Rs. 250 Crores vs Rs. 350 Crores
The key difference lies in what the deal covers. The original claim says the Rs. 350 crore figure is specifically for Hindi distribution rights, while the Rs. 250 crore figure was for all-India distribution rights. But the Times of India and Sunrise Radio both say the Rs. 250 crore deal is for all-India rights, not just Hindi. This creates a contradiction.
According to The Times of India, the deal was finalized at Rs. 250 crores. A social media post from a user named @aresthethird2 also mentions that reports claim the asking price was Rs. 500 crores before the deal closed at Rs. 250 crores, suggesting Karan Johar was not fully convinced at the higher price.
Our Take: The Numbers Need Clarity
In our view, the claim of a Rs. 350 crore deal for Hindi distribution rights is not yet confirmed by major, reliable sources. The Times of India and Sunrise Radio — both established outlets — report the deal at Rs. 250 crores for all-India rights. The Rs. 350 crore figure appears only in the original story and has not been corroborated by other mainstream media.
To put it plainly, readers should treat the Rs. 350 crore claim with caution. Until Karan Johar, Namit Malhotra, or the film's official team confirms the exact amount, the most widely reported figure remains Rs. 250 crores. This is still a massive deal, but it is not the record-breaking Rs. 350 crore figure that some are claiming.
The film Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is produced by Namit Malhotra on a budget of Rs. 1500 crores. The first part is scheduled for a Diwali theatrical release. With such a huge investment, the distribution deal — whatever the final number — is a major milestone for Indian cinema.
Sources & References
- The Times of India — Karan Johar's Dharma Productions seals Rs 250 crore deal for Ramayana distribution rights
- Sunrise Radio — Karan Johar's Dharma Productions Acquires Ramayana Distribution Rights For Rs 250 Crore
- Social media post on X — Reports claim asking price was Rs 500 crore before deal closed at Rs 250 crore
