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The Prime Focus Group unveils the first chapter of Namit Malhotra’s cinematic vision for Ramayana

The timeless story of Rama and Ravana has inspired generations across the world. Now, that story is being reimagined as a bold, cinematic universe for a global audience.

Ramayana: The Introduction marks the first glimpse of Namit Malhotra’s ambitious two-part live-action epic, produced by Prime Focus Studios in collaboration with Yash’s Monster Mind Creations. Filmed for IMAX and crafted for a worldwide audience, Ramayana will unfold across two chapters, with Part 1 slated for release in 2026 and Part 2 to follow in 2027.

Helmed by filmmaker and producer Namit Malhotra, the two-part series is directed by National Award-winning Nitesh Tiwari, and the stellar cast includes Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Yash as Ravana, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. Supporting the performances is an extraordinary crew. For the first time ever, Hans Zimmer and A. R. Rahman have joined forces to create a powerful original score. Action choreography is led by Terry Notary and Guy Norris, and the world of ancient India is being brought to life through stunning production design by Ravi Bansal and Ramsey Avery.

Watch the first glimpse here:

 

At the heart of this cinematic undertaking is the combined strength of the Prime Focus Group. Prime Focus Studios leads as producer, building the foundations of the universe. DNEG and ReDefine bring their visual storytelling expertise to the screen as VFX partners and Brahma AI supports the production through real-time virtual workflows and cutting-edge AI research. Together, these creative and technological forces are shaping a film that honours the legacy of Ramayana while setting new benchmarks in cinematic storytelling.

Producer Namit Malhotra, founder of Prime Focus and CEO of DNEG, shared:

“This is a cultural movement for every Indian around the world. With Ramayana, we’re not just retelling history; we’re introducing our legacy to the world. Bringing together the finest global talent allows us to tell this story with authenticity, emotion, and state-of-the-art cinematic innovation. We’ve seen Ramayana portrayed before — but this version reimagines its landscapes, creatures, and battles with the scale and splendour they deserve. As Indians, this is our truth. Now, it will be our gift to the world.“

Rooted in mythology and driven by collaboration, Ramayana signals the beginning of a new creative era for Indian cinema – one that is built to resonate across borders, generations, and screens worldwide.

Prime Focus Group and the Government of Maharashtra strike deal to develop a new global entertainment destination in Mumbai.

Prime Focus Group, in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra, announced today that it intends to develop a new global entertainment destination at the heart of India’s filmmaking industry in Mumbai.

The announcement outlines an investment of 3000crs (approximately $400m USD) in the development of a new entertainment ecosystem, creating a unique destination for content creators, tourists, and fans of entertainment from all over the world, and creating thousands of highly skilled jobs in the region.

The facilities proposed for the new site include:

• world-class production studios to facilitate high-end content creation, supported by a state-of-the-art digital infrastructure
• creation of a worldwide entertainment destination, with live entertainment facilities, theme parks, and experience centres
• and lifestyle experiences, including shopping and dining destinations, top-flight hotels, housing, and more.

The Prime Focus Group already owns and operates one of Asia’s largest production facilities in Mumbai, including eight Hollywood-designed soundstages in a 200,000 square foot studio complex. The Group’s post-production facilities, including its DNEG Mumbai studio, are located nearby.

The Honourable Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra said:

“Growth, infrastructure development, and a sustainable future are all vital to the development of Maharashtra. As we continue to lead the way in massive infrastructure projects – including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, the coastal road, and the Vadhvan Port – I am glad to add the creation of this next-generation entertainment hub to the list of projects that are transforming our state, keeping us at the forefront of India’s growth and development. I look forward to working with Prime Focus and DNEG to create a world-class production and tourism destination, securing Mumbai’s position as a filmmaking and entertainment centre of excellence.”

Prime Focus Group Founder Namit Malhotra said:

“My vision for this development, which is shared by the Honourable Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, is to honour the 100+ year legacy of our world-renowned movie industry by bringing together the combined might of the Prime Focus Group companies – including DNEG’s Oscar-winning creativity, Brahma’s AI technology, and Prime Focus Studios financing and production capabilities – to build the world’s most advanced and innovative centre of excellence for the creation of content, right at the heart of our filmmaking heritage, here in Mumbai.”

“Leveraging our country’s history of skilled craftsmanship and innovation, we are not just developing the world’s foremost content creation centre; we are also creating a destination that presents India’s culture, our history, and our capabilities to the world, with entertainment and lifestyle experiences that are second-to-none. This new site will be a best practice example of what India can deliver in technology, creativity, and entertainment, and will become a worldwide leisure destination, right at the heart of one of the world’s oldest filmmaking industries. We are bringing India to the world by bringing the world to India.”

Find out more in Variety.

‘Dune: Part Two’ wins the Oscar® for Visual Effects!

We’re thrilled to share that ‘Dune: Part Two’ has been honoured with the ‘Visual Effects’ Oscar^® at tonight’s 97th Academy Awards^® ceremony!

A massive congratulations to DNEG VFX Supervisors Stephen James and Rhys Salcombe – who accepted the award at the 97th Academy Award ceremony this evening alongside Paul Lambert (Production VFX Supervisor) and Gerd Nefzer (SFX Supervisor) – and to our incredibly talented team across the globe!

As lead VFX partner on Dune: Part Two, we were proud to deliver close to 1,000 VFX shots across the film. Building on the success of our Academy Award-winning work on Dune: Part One, our global teams meticulously crafted FX sequences with complex sand and pyro sims, large-scale CG environments, massive crowds, and detailed creature animation – from giant Sandworms down to tiny desert mice!

Namit Malhotra, Founder and CEO of the DNEG Group, said:

“For our team to be honoured with this year’s Oscar^® for Visual Effects for Dune: Part Two is an incredible achievement and another milestone in our journey. This recognition by the Academy – our eighth VFX Oscar^® since 2011 – is another endorsement of the creative and technical leadership of our teams here at DNEG. My heartfelt thanks to Denis Villeneuve for his vision and leadership, and to Paul Lambert, Greig Fraser and other key members of the filmmaking team. Special thanks also to Mary Parent and the team at Legendary, and to everyone at Warner Bros. for once again giving us the opportunity to be a part of bringing this incredible story to the big screen. And huge congratulations and thanks to the thousands of DNEG artists, technicians and support staff around the world, who all share this honour.”

DNEG VFX Supervisor for Dune: Part Two Rhys Salcombe added:

“I’m thrilled the team was able to take home the Oscar^® for Visual Effects this year. It’s a direct result of the passion and effort that went into the project and speaks to the skill and craft of the hundreds of artists and technicians around the world that contributed. This year’s competition was particularly strong and I congratulate the other nominees for their outstanding work – it was an honour to be in your company.”

And Stephen James, DNEG VFX Supervisor for Dune: Part Two, said:

“I’d like to thank everyone that played a part in making this incredible film. Together, we were able to create visuals that not only pushed boundaries, but also profoundly connected with audiences. It has been the highlight of my career to work with such a talented and passionate team on Dune: Part Two, and to have those efforts recognised by the Academy is an incredible honour.”

This marks the eighth time DNEG has been honoured with the Academy Award^® for Best VFX since 2011, and our third win for a Denis Villeneuve film, following previous wins for Dune: Part One (2022) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). Other DNEG Academy Award^® wins include: Tenet (2021), First Man (2019), Ex Machina (2016), Interstellar (2015) and Inception (2011).

The Oscar^® win follows DNEG’s success at the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards, where our work on Dune: Part Two was honoured with the award for Special Visual Effects.

DNEG’s VFX work on Dune: Part Two was also honoured with four awards across multiple categories at the 23rd Annual Visual Effects Society Awards last month. Other recognition includes this year’s Critics Choice Award for Best Visual Effects, as well as awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Film Visual/Special Effects at the Hollywood Creative Alliance Astra Awards and the Saturn Awards respectively. The studio’s work was also honoured in the Visual Effects category at this year’s American Cinematheque ‘Tribute to the Crafts’.

Huge congratulations to our global, award-winning ‘Dune: Part Two’ crew!

Brahma, a global AI and content technology company created by the DNEG Group, announced today the acquisition of Metaphysic, a leading developer of AI content creation technologies.

The acquisition will accelerate the development of Brahma’s AI-powered products for enterprise, IP rights-holders, and content creators across industries, empowering them to create the highest quality content at scale.

Brahma will develop foundational AI, data, and content workflow & management technologies as part of a comprehensive suite of AI-native products designed to create user-customized content across video, image, and audio.

Post transaction, Brahma’s global team will include more than 800 engineers and creative technologists, bringing together the award-winning innovation of the DNEG Group’s creative technology portfolio, including Ziva’s technology for the creation of digital human and character simulations (recently recognised with a 2025 SciTech Award by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences), with Metaphysic’s groundbreaking AI technology (recently honoured with a VES Award for Emerging Technology). This is combined with market-leading CLEAR^®’s purpose-built AI platform with its global client base, built over 8 years of research and development in content discovery, content creation, and content management.

Brahma’s executive management team comprises strong and experienced technology leaders headed by Executive Chairman Prabhu Narasimhan; Founder and CEO of the DNEG Group Namit Malhotra, who continues as interim CEO of Brahma; and Metaphysic CEO Thomas Graham, who also serves as President of Brahma. Upon integration of Metaphysic with Brahma’s technology and team, Thomas Graham will transition to become CEO of Brahma.

Other members of the Brahma executive leadership team include: Prime Focus Technologies CEO & Cofounder Ramki Sankaranarayanan, who will also serve as the President of CLEAR^®; DNEG Group CTO Paul Salvini, who will also serve as CTO of Brahma; and Ziva Director of Character Tools and Workflows Crawford Doran, who becomes Vice President of Ziva.

Prabhu Narasimhan, Executive Chairman, Brahma said: “With Brahma, we are taking DNEG’s multiple Academy Award^®-winning visual effects and animation toolsets and marrying them with the incredible power of generative AI to create a suite of AI content products, including what we believe will be the industry’s leading photorealistic AI video creator. I am excited to take Brahma from a niche user base focused on high-end movie and TV production to enterprise and content creators across every industry. If you have the imagination and a story to tell, we have the tools to bring your story to life faster, cheaper, and better.”

Thomas Graham, CEO of Metaphysic and President of Brahma added: “Brahma offers every business a strategy for generative AI content creation, from owning their data to delivering amazing, user-customized AI content across video, image, and audio. By bringing together the incredible teams at Brahma and Metaphysic, we can deliver an operating system for generative AI content that starts with securing your IP and ends with new revenue streams built on a suite of products that deliver Hollywood-quality content and experiences at unprecedented scale.”

Namit Malhotra, Founder and CEO of the DNEG Group and interim CEO of Brahma concluded: “Brahma’s acquisition of Metaphysic turbocharges the development of a truly game-changing suite of content creation and management products, fueled by the limitless potential of AI. IP rights holders and content creators across every sector—from media and entertainment, to retail, to healthcare, to education and beyond—will be empowered to create incredible content at a scale and fidelity that is currently reserved only for those with the highest budgets. Brahma will redefine how stories are told, through a platform that is purpose-built for the future of content creation.”

Prime Focus Studios Appoints Palak Patel

Prime Focus Studios was founded by our CEO Namit Malhotra to finance and produce films, TV series and other content at major studios, as well as independently. Leveraging the DNEG Group’s award-winning global capabilities, including soundstages, production facilities, visual effects, feature animation, and more, Prime Focus Studios is a new home to innovative filmmakers and a partner to studios and rights-holders.

Palak was previously EVP, Production and Development at Columbia Pictures where he helped to oversee the Venom trilogy, which grossed over $1.8 billion collectively, among other films. Before this, he was President of Production and Development at Roth Films and produced shows that have cumulatively grossed over $2 billion at the box office, including Oz the Great and the Powerful, Snow White and the Huntsman, Maleficent, Million Dollar Arm, In The Heart of the Sea, and The Huntsman: Winter’s War.

Speaking about his new role as Chief Content Officer at Prime Focus Studios, Palak said: “I’ve known Namit for over a decade, and we’ve worked together on many films through DNEG, arguably the best VFX company in the world. Prime Focus Studios and DNEG joining forces as one company to offer full studio capabilities is game-changing – from acquiring IP, to developing scripts, to assisting filmmakers maximize their creativity while minimizing financial risk – with all the resources provided, from our state-of-the-art soundstages to utilizing DNEG’s artists early in the development process to deliver across all formats and genres.”

Prime Focus Studios founder and DNEG Global CEO Namit Malhotra added: “Prime Focus Studios brings a new and entrepreneurial approach to the development and creation of the world’s biggest movies. Partnership and collaboration with studios and filmmakers are already part of our DNA, and this new venture pushes that partnership to the next level. I’m excited that Palak is joining us on this journey. His extensive production experience and understanding of the medium will help us to create a next-generation studio that will bring together the very best of cutting-edge technology, creative talent, and strategic investment, to create something truly unique.”

DNEG and ReDefine Honoured at 70th Indian National Film Awards

We are thrilled to announce that DNEG and ReDefine brought home two prestigious awards at the 70th Indian National Film Awards ceremony held on October 8, 2024, in New Delhi, India.

Our teams were honored with the awards for their exceptional work on ‘Brahmastra – Part One: Shiva’, bringing home:

• National Film Award for Best Film in AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics)
• National Film Award for Best VFX Supervisor: Honoring Jaykar Arudra, Viral Thakkar, and Neelesh Gore

The accolades, which were presented by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, celebrate excellence in the Indian film industry, honoring artistic and technical achievements that push the boundaries of filmmaking. Our VFX team, led by Jaykar Arudra, Viral Thakkar, and Neelesh Gore, alongside VFX Supervisors Alexander Seaman and George Murphy, were recognised for setting a new standard in Indian cinema with their work on ‘Brahmastra’.

Namit Malhotra, CEO and Producer of ‘Brahmastra’, shared his thoughts on this achievement: “Winning the National Award for Best VFX Film for Brahmastra is a defining moment for our team and the entire Indian VFX industry. This honor, presented by the President of India, highlights the innovative work that went into bringing Ayan Mukerji’s extraordinary vision to life. I am incredibly proud of how our teams at DNEG and ReDefine pushed creative and technical boundaries to deliver a visual masterpiece that competes on a global scale. This award is a true testament to our commitment to excellence and storytelling.”

Here’s to many more milestones for the DNEG and ReDefine VFX teams!

An Unprecedented Cinematic Weekend with Prime Focus: Crafting Magic for Four Blockbusters!

In a historic moment for the entertainment industry, Prime Focus Limited stands proudly at the epicenter of an extraordinary cinematic weekend. As the creative force behind the Digital Intermediate (DI) services of not one, not two, but four blockbuster Indian shows (Gadar 2, OMG2, Jailer, and Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani), we are honored to have contributed to this unparalleled milestone in Indian cinema.

The magic of storytelling comes alive through the lens of Prime Focus Limited, as we bring our expertise to the forefront of these exceptional projects. Our commitment to achieving cinematic excellence is etched into every frame we’ve meticulously crafted, leaving an indelible mark on each of these releases.

Reflecting on this monumental achievement, Niraj Sanghai, Business Head of Prime Focus, shares his thoughts: “At Prime Focus Limited, we stand humbled by the immense privilege of being part of this historic moment. Crafting the visual narratives of these exceptional shows has been a journey of collaboration, creativity, and relentless dedication. This weekend stands as a testament to the power of artistic synergy and the magic that unfolds when storytelling meets innovation.”

Adding another layer of distinction to this already remarkable weekend, Prime Focus Limited proudly claims a unique accolade. For the first time in our history, all four films gracing the theaters during this unprecedented cinematic extravaganza have entrusted their Digital Intermediate services to us. This collective achievement resonates deeply with us, reaffirming our commitment to being at the forefront of cinematic innovation.

As the curtain rises on this momentous cinematic weekend, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our collaborators, partners, and the audiences who have welcomed our work with open arms. We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of storytelling, making each frame a testament to the magic that unfolds when passion, technology, and creativity unite.

Join us in celebrating this monumental weekend of cinematic triumph, where Prime Focus Limited takes its place in history as a driving force behind not just one, but four, unforgettable blockbusters.

DNEG Opens New VFX and Animation Studio in Sydney

Located in Pyrmont near Darling Harbour, DNEG Sydney will be both a full service VFX house for film and episodic work, and home to a new studio for DNEG Animation.

In addition to this exciting expansion, we’re delighted to share that DNEG Sydney will be leading the VFX work on George Miller’s highly anticipated ‘Mad Max’ prequel, Furiosa!

Commenting on the expansion and upcoming collaboration with the acclaimed director, our CEO and Chairman Namit Malhotra said: “The opportunity to collaborate and partner with filmmakers of the caliber of George Miller, whose work I love and respect, is the driving force behind everything that we do. Extending our filmmaker-focused approach to a fourth continent and building a substantial and sustainable presence in Sydney that allows us to engage with Australia’s talented and experienced creative leaders, artists, technologists and production crews, marks another milestone in our mission to bring the very best VFX and animation services to filmmakers all over the world.”

Heading up the studio’s work as newly appointed Creative Director for DNEG Sydney is Andrew Jackson, Academy Award and BAFTA-winning VFX Supervisor (and Australian national!).

On his new role and DNEG’s expansion, Andrew Jackson said: “DNEG is leading the charge when it comes to supporting some of the most creative and visionary directors in the industry, and together we are creating groundbreaking, innovative and inspiring VFX and animation work. I am thrilled to take up this position at the new DNEG Sydney studio, and to be back on home turf, working once again with George Miller following our work together on ‘Fury Road’. DNEG’s entrance into the Australian market will provide us with access to a new pool of talented individuals, including some of the most imaginative minds in the industry, and I am delighted to be working with the new crew that we are building to deliver some truly inspirational effects.”

DNEG President, Global Production and Operations, Merzin Tavaria, added: “One of our core strengths here at DNEG is the strength and resilience of our integrated global operations, technology and pipeline, which underpin and enable the incredible collaborative creative work of our teams worldwide. I am thrilled to bring onboard Sydney as the latest addition to our global DNEG community, and excited by the opportunities that lie ahead. Thanks to the Australian State Government of New South Wales (NSW), to Investment NSW, and to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), for their help and support in establishing our tenth global studio in Sydney, and to the creative community in Australia for the warm welcome – we look forward to working with you on some amazing shows!”

Namit Malhotra honoured at the 2022 Asian Achievers Award

We’re delighted to share that DNEG CEO Namit Malhotra has been honoured at the UK’s 2022 Asian Achievers Awards in the Arts & Culture category!

Namit’s award was presented at a glittering ceremony in London last Friday evening, which was attended by prominent members of the UK’s South Asian community.

Beginning in 2000, the Asian Achievers Awards recognizes the outstanding work of those in the UK’s South Asian community that hold leadership positions across a wide range of fields, including politics, business and civil society.

The Asian Achievers ‘Arts and Culture’ category recognizes a leader who has made a significant impact within the field of theatre, cinema, art and culture. Nominated alongside Namit this year were Bridgerton’ star Simone Ashley, classical music singer Chandra Chakraborty and multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter Charli XCX.

Read more about the 2022 Asian Achievers Awards here.

DNEG Toronto Officially Opens Its Doors

DNEG’s North American expansion continues with the opening of our newest studio in Toronto’s King West district today.

As part of the official opening event, DNEG Toronto welcomed Mayor John Tory, CEO of Toronto Global Stephen Lund and other special guests to celebrate this momentous occasion.

The opening was also attended by DNEG leaders, including Paul Salvini (Global Chief Technology Officer), Gavin Graham (General Manager), Maggy Pelletier (Office Manager) and DNEG VFX Supervisor Brian Connor — with DNEG’s most recent Oscar, BAFTA, and VES Award for Dune in tow.

General Manager Gavin Graham shared: “I am thrilled with the progress DNEG has made over the past six months in establishing a strong presence in Ontario, with exciting career opportunities in visual effects work for film and episodic projects, feature animation, and technology. The welcome we have received from local trade associations, Toronto Mayor John Tory and his team, and of course the incredible talent pool in Toronto, has been overwhelming.”

Toronto Mayor John Tory said: “Toronto’s film and television production industry is second to none in the world, and I am delighted to welcome DNEG to be a part of this dynamic and thriving sector. DNEG will join industry leaders and our locally-based, globally-minded talent, to further grow and diversify the sector. We welcome DNEG to the Toronto Region and embrace its enhanced presence and partnership in original content production.”

Conveniently located at the corner of Spadina Avenue and Adelaide Street West, the bright and airy downtown space features city views and access to a rooftop patio. With over 150 hired so far and many openings still available to local talent, the DNEG Toronto team has opportunities for positions at all levels across VFX, Animation and Technology, with flexible working arrangements. Learn more about Toronto here.

A huge thank you to all those who helped make today’s event such a success, and welcome to our talented DNEG Toronto team!