Why Are Ranbir Kapoor, Yash's Ramayana Tickets Expensive

Ahead of Ramayana's much-awaited release, Zoom spoke to theatre chains to decode the film's premium ticket prices. Here's what we understood.

All eyes are now on Ranbir Kapoor and Yash's Ramayana. Based on the ancient Hindu epic about the much-revered deity Lord Ram, Nitesh Tiwari has put the retelling on a global platform. While Ramayana represents Indian culture internationally, the anticipation is equally high in the country. On Dussehra, the makers opened advance bookings in India. Metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai saw a massive percentage of audience interest. As soon as the booking windows opened, the ticket prices were revealed. Ramayana, being a big-scale film that is touted to break previous box office records, has premium ticket prices.

Ramayana ticket prices

In Mumbai and Delhi, ticket prices for Ramayana's 2D version start at a minimum rate of Rs 260, Rs 280 and go on till Rs 1800. Since the makers have been marketing it as a visually rich spectacle that accounts for a better experience in IMAX 3D, the ticket prices have swelled up to Rs 25000 and more at select premium multiplexes. In fact, a 3D show of Ramayana could also be an expensive affair since tickets are priced as high as Rs 2070, but that's for a more comfortable and luxurious experience.

For a common Indian family, with an average of four members in one, shelling out nearly Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000 for a movie could be a challenge. Like any recent highly anticipated film, Ramayana has also opted for a premium pricing strategy. But why are the tickets exorbitantly priced?

Zoom reached out to renowned theatre chains in India to understand the purpose behind premium tickets.

Why are Ramayana tickets expensive?

Ashish Misra, Head - Commercialisation, Cinepolis India, explained that Ramayana is releasing across multiple formats and hence, there isn't a single price for it. "The film is releasing across multiple formats such as 2D, 3D, 4DX, and large-format screens, in Hindi and other languages, with paid premieres and opening-weekend shows also commanding premium pricing. The fares people are referring to are usually at the top end of the range, such as 3D large-format screenings or recliner seats during peak evening slots. Standard 2D shows are priced much lower," he shared.

However, according to him, the film's massive scale and the unprecedented hype have led to a larger share of screenings being offered in premium formats, which naturally widens the pricing range. "Strong audience demand is also a factor, with advance bookings showing that large-format and 3D shows are among the first to fill up. As a result, the premium prices reflect both the enhanced viewing experience and the high anticipation surrounding the movie," said Misra.

On the other hand, Deepak Adwani, Executive Director, Miraj Entertainment Ltd, felt that expensive tickets belong to a very small part of the market. He highlighted that in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, Ramayana is priced in line with other tentpole releases.

According to Adwani, "Where premium pricing does apply, it reflects what that seat costs to deliver and what it offers. Ramayana is built for the big screen, with larger-than-life VFX and immersive sound design. Premium formats and recliner auditoriums need heavy capital investment, ongoing technology licensing and higher operating costs."

He also shared that the demand for Ramayana is 'very concentrated'. "Opening weekend and the festive window bring a sharp spike, and premium-format inventory is limited. Dynamic and festival pricing simply reflects that supply and demand, just as it does in airlines or hospitality during peak season," he explained.

Ramayana's target audience

Considering the frequency of Ramayana's show, despite its 3-hour-plus runtime, theatres are targetting a family audience along with students. Cinepolis India's Ashish Misra weighed in and said that the audience for a film comes first, and the range of shows and prices is built around it.

Calling cinema a mass medium in India, he said, "A family of four, a group of college friends and a couple on a date all sit in the same hall on the same evening, and for Ramayana that audience is as broad as it gets. The core of it is the middle-class family. They have grown up with this story, and they will come as a family."

Ahead of Ramayana's release, the theatre chain plans to ensure accessibility across budgets and viewing preferences. "This could mean a 2D afternoon show, a weekday screening, a show in a language audiences are most comfortable with, or a premium 3D experience in a large-format theatre for those who want to experience Ravana on the biggest screen possible. Premium pricing is simply one option within this wider range of experiences, not a prerequisite to watching the film," Ashish mentioned.

Format over price

Contrary to Misra's statement, Miraj Entertainment Ltd's Deepak Adwani feels premium formats, such as IMAX or 3D, are aimed at audiences who see the film as an event and want the best possible version of it. These include urban professionals, young working couples, film enthusiasts who specifically want the experience, and corporate or group bookings. According to him, these viewers usually book early, decide based on format and comfort rather than price, and often add premium food and beverage to the visit.

"The key point is that premium seats sit alongside a full spread of standard pricing. Exhibitors build a portfolio across formats, seat categories, and showtimes so movie-buffs and families can both find their show. A mythological epic like Ramayana is fundamentally a family film. Its long-term success depends on footfalls from families and audiences in smaller towns, not on a few premium-priced seats," Adwani shared.

As per Cinepolis India's Ashish Misra, convenience drives the audience's choice to watch a movie, and not its price. He explained that a viewer picks the format first, then the time that works for the family or the group, and the price follows from those two choices. He observed that for a film like Ramayana, the large format and the recliner seats go first on every day of the week, because the people who want that version of the film book early and take the best seat available. The weekend is no longer the only peak.

"Big films now open on a Wednesday or a Thursday, Ramayana opens on a Thursday with paid premieres the evening before, and the first few days play like one long weekend. Dhurandhar The Revenge and Spider-Man both ran at around 60 per cent occupancy at our cinemas on weekdays, not only on the weekend," Misra told Zoom.

Does price change audience's movie-watching pattern?

"Where price does change behaviour is mid-week in a regular week. Tuesday admissions have gone from about 9 to 10 per cent of our weekly footfalls to 15 to 16 per cent since we brought in value pricing on that day, and that audience is younger and comes more often. For the big film, people pay for the format and pick the time that suits them. For the rest of the month, value days decide when they come," he added.

Miraj Entertainment's Deepak Adwani also agreed that the current audience picks format first and then the price factor comes in. He revealed, "For Ramayana, IMAX shows are almost sold out for the first weekend, and premium formats are filling faster than standard screens. For a big-screen spectacle like this, people aren't just buying a ticket to the film, they're buying the best version of it. Many are willing to wait for an IMAX or premium seat rather than settle for a standard show on opening day."

At Miraj Cinemas, the first weekend is the strongest window for premium formats, especially Friday-to-Sunday evening and night shows. IMAX and premium-format viewers tend to be early adopters who want to see the film first, and in the best possible way. For a festive release like Ramayana, holiday dates behave like extended weekends.

"We also see a clear pattern after opening weekend. Weekday and morning shows pick up as more price-conscious viewers come in, and word of mouth draws families in over the second and third weeks. This layered demand is why flexible, tiered pricing works better for both the audience and the business than a single flat rate,' Deepak elaborated.

How can families watch with a limited budget?

Deepak suggests and encourages families and college-going audience seeking value for money to opt for weekday shows, morning and afternoon slots, and standard formats. "These offer the same film at a fraction of the peak price. Many exhibitors, including us, run family combos, weekday offers and loyalty benefits for this audience. The industry's challenge is to keep cinema an affordable habit for the mass audience while still investing in premium experiences for those who want them, and those two goals are not in conflict," he shared.

Looking at the discussion around tickets priced over Rs 1,000, Ashish noted that a Rs 1,000 ticket is a 'specific product'. It is a premium format seat, usually on a peak show, and it sits on a menu that starts with a standard 2D matinee and goes up from there.

"A family that wants to watch Ramayana does not have to buy that seat. They pick the format, the day and the time that fits their budget, and the film is the same film. Our own numbers back this up. Average ticket price at Cinépolis has grown at roughly 3 per cent a year, which is below inflation, and that is deliberate. Growth in this business comes from the same family coming back a second and a third time in the year," Misra mentioned.

Despite expensive tickets, Ramayana shows are going houseful in various pockets of the country, that also include non-metro cities. According to early data, the film has crossed Rs 24 crore in pre-sales. This is based on the initial online bookings. Spot bookings on November 5 could add more to its lifetime collection.

About Ramayana

The first part of Ramayana releases on November 5. The sequel's shooting is currently in full swing. Reportedly, Ramayana 2 might move from its Diwali 2027 release to early 2028.