Ramayana: Part 1, Nitesh Tiwari's big-budget retelling of the Hindu epic starring Ranbir Kapoor, crossed Rs 50 crore in gross day-one advance ticket sales across India on Thursday, according to the trade tracker Sacnilk. The figure placed the film among the strongest pre-release performers in Hindi cinema history.

The surge came a day after the film's premiere in Mumbai, which drew Alia Bhatt, Sunny Deol, Neetu Kapoor and Vivek Oberoi to the screening. Kapoor plays Ram opposite Sai Pallavi as Sita, with Yash as Ravana. The film arrives in the Diwali festival week, traditionally the most lucrative release window in the Indian calendar.

The production, backed by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios and Yash's Monster Mind Creations, is widely reported to be among the most expensive Indian films ever made. Its score pairs A.R. Rahman with Hans Zimmer. Bookings were strongest for premium large-format screens, with IMAX and other premium shows in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru largely sold out for the opening day, according to Sacnilk's data.

Cinema chains responded by extending schedules. Executives at PVR INOX, India's largest multiplex operator, said the chain had added pre-dawn screenings in several cities to meet demand. Trade analysts tracking the film said word of mouth from the premiere had accelerated sales in the final 48 hours before release.

The film's performance carries weight well beyond its own balance sheet. A second instalment is already scheduled for Diwali 2027, and the studios have framed the two-part project as a test of whether Indian cinema can compete with Hollywood tentpoles on scale. Opening-day collection estimates are expected from trade trackers within 24 hours of the film's release.