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Hans Zimmer agreed to compose Ramayana music without seeing pitch deck, says India's gods and traditions make it important for the West

A behind-the-scenes video offers a glimpse of AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer composing the music for Ramayana, bringing Indian and Western musicians together.

Updated on: Nov 3, 2026, 16:10:30 IST
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While much is being talked about Ranbir Kapoor and Yash's roles in Ramayana, the film also marks an epic collaboration between music maestros AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer. Recently, the makers shared a behind-the-scenes video offering a glimpse into how the film's music came together. In the video, producer Namit Malhotra revealed that Hans agreed to come on board Ramayana without even looking at the film's complete pitch deck.

How Hans agreed to compose music for Ramayana

AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer have collaborated for the first time for Ramayana.
AR Rahman and Hans Zimmer have collaborated for the first time for Ramayana.

The video shows Rahman and Hans working together on the film's music, with musicians from both India and the West coming together to create a symphony. Speaking about the film's music, Hans said, "Together we are setting off on a journey that has never been done before, to be able to make music that is thousands of years old about the Gods and traditions that make India so important for us in the West."

Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra spoke about how Hans agreed to compose music for the film without even seeing its pitch deck. He said, "I met Hans in New York. I had made my entire pitch deck and all the world-building. I ran six or seven slides, and he said, 'Namit, it is okay. I don't need to see it.'" Namit went on to talk about how musicians from India and the West came together for the project.

Speaking to Hindustan Times in a recent interaction, Rahman had opened up about his experience of working with Hans Zimmer on the film, calling it a blessing.

He said, “Usually I prefer solo work because I'm bad at being precious about my work. I'd just say, 'You do everything and I'll watch!' But in this case, him coming onto the project is such a blessing because it changes the narrative. If someone in New Zealand or Europe sees Hans Zimmer's name, they will watch. If they just see Indian names, they might think it's just another Indian movie, but they'll be curious to see what he has done collaborating on this. It's a great move by the producer.”

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana will release in theatres on November 5.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vibha Maru

Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through film reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, celebrity interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, celebrity features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema.

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