November 1, 2026
For a film as large as Ramayana: Part One, getting audiences interested is only one part of the opening-weekend equation. The film also needs cinemas, showtimes and workable commercial terms. A reported disagreement between distributors and exhibitors over revenue sharing briefly complicated that process ahead of the November 5 release.
NDTV Profit reported on October 30 that the deadlock had reportedly eased, allowing more theatres to open advance bookings. The dispute had restricted ticket sales at some cinemas for several days. Bengaluru’s Victory Cinema, however, said it would not screen the film because of differences over the proposed terms.
What was the disagreement about?
According to the NDTV Profit report, which cited Sacnilk, distributors had reportedly proposed higher revenue shares during the first few weeks. One proposal sought 60% of earnings in week one, 50% in week two and 40% in week three. Another reportedly sought a flat 55% share for the first 11 days.
Exhibitors raised concerns about the economics of those terms. A cinema has operating costs and takes a risk when it allocates screens and showtimes to a film. The distributor, meanwhile, wants a larger share of the revenue during the period when demand is expected to be strongest. These negotiations can become especially important for a major release seeking a large number of screens.
Why this matters to moviegoers
For viewers, the immediate effect is practical: whether the film is playing nearby, how many shows are available and whether preferred seats can be booked. If more theatres join after an agreement, the number of available shows can rise, and that can change the advance-booking picture.
It also explains why ticket-sales totals should be read alongside show counts. A rise in bookings may reflect stronger demand, more screenings becoming available, or both. The two should not be confused.
What does it mean for the box office?
The reported October 30 snapshot put India opening-day advance gross at ₹17.08 crore including blocked seats and ₹14.23 crore excluding them. Overseas pre-sales were separately reported above $2.5 million. These numbers show early interest, but the final opening will depend on the number of screens, occupancy, walk-in sales and audience response after release.
The bigger picture
Large films often need wide theatrical access, but cinemas also need commercial terms that make sense for their business. The Ramayana dispute is a reminder that a film’s box-office performance is shaped not only by star power and marketing, but also by distribution and exhibition decisions.
Sources
- NDTV Profit — revenue-sharing dispute and theatre update
- The Indian Express — advance bookings and show counts
Reported commercial terms are attributed to the cited coverage and have not been independently confirmed by the parties.
