Mumbai, November 13, 2026: Bollywood films have enjoyed some extraordinary runs in Karnataka over the years, but getting audiences to watch them in Kannada has been a different challenge altogether. Even the biggest Hindi blockbusters have generally drawn most of their business from the original Hindi version. Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana is now changing that equation, becoming the first Bollywood film to reach the ₹50 crore net milestone through its Kannada-dubbed version alone on Day 9.
The Nitesh Tiwari directorial finished its extended opening week with ₹48.95 crore Kannada net, leaving barely a crore to enter the club. Friday’s final advance bookings have already provided the necessary business, with ₹1.33 crore gross registered across 887 shows, including ₹1.08 crore excluding block seats. Around 35,065 tickets were booked without blocked seats, giving the film enough of a head start to secure the milestone during its second Friday. With spot bookings still to come, its collections have room to climb further.
Why Ramayana’s Kannada Record Stands Apart From Earlier Bollywood Blockbusters
Ramayana has also crossed ₹100 crore gross in Karnataka, taking its state-wide collection to ₹101.35 crore across all languages. It is only the second Bollywood film to achieve the milestone after Dhurandhar 2, marking a considerable jump from the records held by earlier Hindi blockbusters. Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, for instance, had collected a over ₹56 crore gross in the state by late September 2023, having already moved ahead of Pathaan and Dangal. Within just nine days, Ramayana has nearly doubled that figure.
What makes Ramayana’s performance particularly interesting is the contribution from its Kannada version. Despite Dhurandhar 2’s exceptional overall business in Karnataka, its Kannada-dubbed version managed just ₹3.87 crore net, while Animal earned approximately ₹64 lakh in the language. Ramayana has gone considerably further, showing that its appeal is not limited to audiences watching the original Hindi version. The local-language release has become a major contributor in its own right, setting a benchmark that could prove difficult for another Bollywood film to match.
Yash’s Popularity Gives Ramayana an Edge in the Kannada Market
Yash’s popularity following the KGF franchise has given Ramayana a strong connection with Kannada audiences, while its dubbed version allows them to enjoy the film in their own language. The interest was evident from Day 1, when Kannada advance bookings reached ₹5.40 crore gross, including ₹4.95 crore excluding block seats, with 1.48 lakh tickets booked across 1,240 shows. Unlike Hindi biggies such as Animal and War 2, which found stronger support in Telugu, Ramayana has seen Kannada emerge as its biggest South Indian language contributor.
The achievement also places Ramayana alongside some of Sandalwood’s biggest commercial successes. Only 13 films feature in ₹50 crore Kannada net milestone list, making the film’s entry particularly notable given that it is a Bollywood production.
Note: The table highlights selected Kannada-language ₹50 crore net milestones, with Ramayana’s Day 9 achievement based on final advance bookings.
How Much Further Can Ramayana’s Kannada Version Go?
The film has already established a record that could prove difficult for another Bollywood release to match without a similarly strong connection to the Kannada audience. However, the second weekend will be important in determining how much further Ramayana can extend its lead.
A finish beyond ₹60 crore now looks achievable, while ₹70 crore could also come into play if the film maintains strong holds over the next week. Films built around familiar religious and cultural stories often have the advantage of attracting family audiences beyond the initial rush, which can help sustain a longer theatrical run. Ramayana could benefit from that appeal, particularly in Karnataka, where the Kannada version has already established a strong connection with local audiences. The second weekend should give a clearer indication of how much further it can travel.
Follow Ramayana’s day-wise box office collections on Sacnilk for the latest language-wise figures and records.
