Producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari have joined forces to create Ramayana: The Introduction, an epic cinematic retelling of the ancient Indian tale. Their team built the project on an IMAX-first vision and cutting-edge VFX. With the first teaser unveiled in July 2025, the film has already set new benchmarks in visual storytelling. Here’s a look at the confirmed filming locations and production hubs behind this grand mythological spectacle.
Prime Focus Studios, Mumbai – The Heart of the Production
- Primary Filming Location
The production team shot most of the movie at Prime Focus Studios in Mumbai. They constructed massive sets that replicate Ayodhya, Lanka, and forest regions central to the Ramayana narrative. - Designed for IMAX
The entire project has been developed with IMAX in mind. Scenes were constructed and shot on sets optimized for high-resolution digital capture, supported by DNEG’s award-winning visual effects work. - Creative Leadership
Set designs were helmed by renowned art directors like Ravi Bansal and Hollywood’s Ramsey Avery (production designer for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3), underlining the scale and detail involved.
DNEG & ReDefine – Global VFX Workflows
- VFX Locations
VFX teams at DNEG and ReDefine handled the film’s visual effects work across their studios in Mumbai, London, and Vancouver. These teams digitally extended physical sets and created immersive environments like Lanka and Dandakaranya. - Digital World Building
Artists and technicians used motion capture, volumetric lighting, and photorealistic CG to create massive mythological sequences — from flying vehicles to vanara armies — all integrated with live-action footage.
First Look Premiere at PVR IMAX, Mumbai
- On July 3, 2025, the filmmakers hosted an exclusive premiere of the film’s teaser at PVR ICON IMAX, Lower Parel, Mumbai. Although the team didn’t shoot the film there, this venue became the first space to screen the teaser to media and select industry insiders.
Cast Filming in Controlled Environments
- Lead actors Ranbir Kapoor (Rama), Sai Pallavi (Sita), Yash (Ravana), Sunny Deol (Hanuman), and Ravie Dubey (Lakshmana) filmed their scenes entirely in the Mumbai studio setups. The production team has not confirmed any outdoor or international location shoots as of July 2025.
Summing Up
The filmmakers built elaborate sets in Mumbai and used DNEG and ReDefine’s global VFX teams to digitally enhance every environment. Unlike traditional epics that rely on natural landscapes, this production focused on creating a controlled and visually elevated world that serves the IMAX format.
With Part 1 scheduled to release in Diwali 2026 and Part 2 in 2027, Ramayana: The Introduction promises to blend myth, technology, and cinematic ambition into a global spectacle rooted in Indian storytelling.
