Ramayana advance booking stalls as distributors seek 60% first-week share

Advance bookings in India for Ramayana: Part 1, the big-budget film starring Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, were due to open on Dussehra, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, but opened only in a handful of cinemas in the morning because of a revenue-sharing dispute between the film's distributors and cinema owners. Trade reports say the distributors are asking for 60% of ticket revenue in the first week, against the 52.5% usually paid for big films. As of 9:30 am, INOX Korum Mall in Thane was reported to be the only cinema in the Mumbai region selling tickets, with AMB Cinemas Kapali in Bengaluru also open. The film is due in cinemas on November 5, 2026.

In Indian cinema, the money from a ticket is split between the distributor, who has bought the right to release the film in a territory, and the exhibitor, the cinema owner who shows it. The split changes week by week: the distributor takes the largest share in the opening week, when crowds are biggest, and less as the run goes on. These percentages decide how much of a film's box office reaches its makers and how much stays with cinemas to cover rent, staff and running costs.

A demand for 60% in week one is a sharp rise on the usual 52.5% for big releases, and it is a sign of how much is riding on Ramayana. The film's makers are counting on a very large opening. Exhibitors, for their part, worry that agreeing to higher shares for one film will set a precedent for every big release that follows. Reports say national multiplex chains may settle first, with single screens and smaller chains taking longer.

The dispute also shows how important advance bookings have become. Early sales build buzz, help cinemas plan how many screens and shows to give a film, and are watched closely by the trade as a signal of opening-day strength. Starting them on Dussehra was meant to tie the film's launch to the festival of Lord Rama's victory over Ravana. A delayed or patchy start makes the early numbers smaller, although trade reports say negotiations are continuing and the film still has more than two weeks before release.

Short-term: Fans in many cities may not be able to book seats until distributors and exhibitors reach an agreement. Bookings are expected to widen as each chain or cinema settles its terms.

Long-term: The final terms agreed for Ramayana could shape the revenue-sharing demands made for other big-budget Indian films, especially those planned as multi-part releases, such as Ramayana: Part Two, which is planned for Diwali 2027.

Who is affected: Moviegoers waiting to book tickets, multiplex chains and single-screen owners, the film's producers and distributors, and other films releasing around the same time that compete for screens.

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