Ramayana: Rise of a Legend is already making its box-office case, two weeks before the festive release.
Opening-day advance booking: Rs 8.16 crore with 13 days to go
Early figures reported by Sacnilk show the Nitesh Tiwari-directed epic has collected Rs 8.16 crore in advance ticket sales for its opening day, November 5. That total includes Rs 6.15 crore in gross collections after excluding blocked seats, built across 3,944 scheduled shows. No show has sold out yet, and around 95% of shows still have more than half their seats available, leaving room for the number to climb as Diwali approaches.
- NCR leads city markets with Rs 2 crore, roughly 24% of the opening-day gross.
- Mumbai follows with Rs 1.48 crore; Hyderabad is at Rs 46.68 lakh.
- Top 10 cities together account for 75% of advance gross.
- Maharashtra leads states with Rs 2.14 crore, about 26%.
Hindi 3D and premium formats are carrying the weekend
Hindi screenings dominate early sales with Rs 7.39 crore, or 91% of the total, across 3,737 shows. Within that, Hindi 3D is the single largest format at Rs 4.89 crore, or 60% of the opening-day gross. Premium formats such as IMAX, 4DX, Dolby, ICE and EPIQ contribute 29% of the gross despite accounting for only 6% of shows, a sign that audiences are choosing the big-screen experience and paying for it.
Ticket prices reflect that appetite. According to Bollywood Hungama, recliner seats in Mumbai are going up to Rs 3,170 for afternoon and evening shows on November 5, 6 and 7. Some IMAX 3D shows in Mumbai remain under Rs 1,000, while Insignia shows at INOX Insignia Worli are priced up to Rs 2,370.
What this means for your Diwali watch
Kannada screenings have contributed Rs 55.96 lakh across 180 shows, with Bengaluru leading at Rs 43.21 lakh. Morning shows are currently the most occupied at 18%, while afternoon shows are at 15%. The Hindi theatrical version is reported at 195 minutes, while the English version is shorter at about 165 minutes, reportedly because song and dance sequences are trimmed for international audiences.
For fans deciding where to watch, the early data points to one practical takeaway: if you want a premium-format seat in NCR or Mumbai on Diwali weekend, book sooner rather than later. The advance is still young, and the number is likely to move quickly in the final two weeks.
Source: The Times of India
