When audiences witness a spaceship tear through the sky, a futuristic city crumble, or a mythical world come alive on screen, much of that cinematic magic is crafted far from the camera. Behind some of the biggest spectacles of the last decade stands DNEG, the Oscar-winning visual effects studio now bringing one of India's most ambitious films, *Ramayana*, to life.
Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, *Ramayana* is envisioned as a two-part live-action epic, featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Raavan. Scheduled for a worldwide release on November 6, 2026, during the Diwali weekend, the film is produced by Namit Malhotra’s Prime Focus Studios and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. The visual world of this epic is being created by DNEG and its sister company, ReDefine, aiming for a global-scale cinematic experience designed for IMAX.
Origins and Global Expansion of the VFX Giant
DNEG, initially founded as Double Negative in London in 1998, solidified its position as one of the world's most recognized visual effects studios after its merger with Indian media services company Prime Focus in 2014. Today, the company excels in high-end visual effects, animation, and stereo conversion for films, television, and immersive content. It has collaborated with leading filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve, George Miller, and Bong Joon-ho.
Oscar-Winning Hollywood Portfolio
The studio's reputation is built on its work for technically demanding films, earning DNEG eight Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects since 2011. Christopher Nolan’s *Inception* (2010) brought DNEG its first Oscar, with the studio creating iconic sequences like folding cityscapes and gravity-defying hotel fights. Subsequent Oscar wins followed for its work on:
- *Interstellar* (2014), delivering scientifically detailed black holes and alien worlds.
- *Blade Runner 2049* (2017), contributing to its futuristic dystopia.
- *First Man* (2018), creating realistic lunar landscapes.
- *Dune* (2021) and *Dune: Part Two* (2024), where the studio crafted the vast deserts of Arrakis, massive spacecraft, and large-scale battle environments.
DNEG also contributed to Nolan’s *Tenet* (2020), designing its complex time-inversion sequences.
Growing Footprint in Indian Cinema
While maintaining a strong Hollywood presence, DNEG's Indian operations have become a crucial part of its global production network. The company operates studios across Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, Mohali, Patna, Kolkata, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, and Goa, employing around 3,000 individuals across its VFX and animation units. These Indian teams contribute to both international and domestic productions.
The studio has played a significant role in several major Indian visual effects-driven films:
- Ayan Mukerji’s *Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva* (2022), where it created complex fantasy environments and magical effects, earning a National Film Award for Best VFX.
- Siddharth Anand’s *Fighter* (2024), relying on DNEG’s expertise for realistic aerial combat and fighter jet simulations.
- Projects connected with S.S. Rajamouli’s globally acclaimed *RRR* (2022).
Ramayana: A New Visual Challenge
Mythological epics like *Ramayana* present unique challenges, requiring filmmakers to construct entire worlds, from ancient kingdoms and battlefields to divine elements that defy reality. For *Ramayana*, DNEG is tasked with creating the visual grandeur of Ayodhya, Lanka, mythical weaponry, and large-scale battles, all while ensuring a believable world for a modern global audience.
This project also signifies a unique link between Indian filmmaking and global VFX expertise, as Namit Malhotra, founder of Prime Focus and DNEG, is producing the film through Prime Focus Studios, uniting the company’s Indian roots with its international visual effects capabilities.