The anticipation surrounding filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s much-awaited Ramayana is reaching new heights, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressing strong confidence in the upcoming mythological epic and saying he would be “very disappointed” if the film failed to win an Oscar.

Speaking at the inauguration of Prime Focus Studios on 6 August, Fadnavis praised the scale and vision of producer Namit Malhotra’s ambitious project.

“I’d be very disappointed with the jury of the Academy Awards if Ramayana didn’t get an Oscar. It’s not a film of a decade; it’s a film of a millennium,” Fadnavis said at the event.

His remarks have further raised expectations for the film, which is already among the most anticipated Indian releases in recent years. Describing it as “the film of the millennium”, the Maharashtra chief minister said the project could take Indian storytelling and filmmaking to a global audience.

This is not the first time Fadnavis has spoken highly of the project.

At the four-day Waves Summit 2025 in Mumbai, the Maharashtra chief minister recalled being “amazed” after touring the pavilion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seeing the production quality of Ramayana firsthand.

“I think this is the way we need to tell our stories to the new generation, and I believe what you are setting up will be the best on the globe,” he said.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is a large-scale cinematic adaptation of the ancient Indian epic. The film features an ensemble cast led by Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash and Sunny Deol, alongside Ravie Dubey, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, Kajal Aggarwal, Vivek Oberoi and Arun Govil.

The film is backed by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios, DNEG and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. Its music has been composed by acclaimed composers Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman.

Ramayana will be released in two parts. The first part is scheduled to arrive in theatres on 6 November, while the second instalment is slated for a Diwali 2027 release.