India, July 16 -- Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra recently appeared on a podcast where he spoke about the ambitious film and its scale. While talking about the budget for the film, Namit said that when all production and marketing for both films is done (Ramayana is a two-part release), the budget will be $500 million (over Rs.4000 crore). The figure is seven times higher than any Indian production ever made, and twice what Dangal - the highest-grossing Indian film - earned at the box office. Naturally, it has raised more than a few eyebrows.

Speaking on The Prakhar Gupta Xperience podcast, Namit said, "When we set out to make it, 6-7 years ago, when we really got serious about mounting it, everybody called me a lunatic, because no Indi...