Entertainment · Indian Cinema · 13 hrs ago
Lalit Modi says Disney rejected Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan proposal
In a podcast, Lalit Modi said Disney rejected a proposal to finance Ramayan after its executives met filmmaker Ramanand Sagar.
Modi said Sagar and BR Chopra had approached him about financing Ramayan and Mahabharat, respectively, and he proposed co-productions through his Disney partnership.
He recalled that Sagar arrived at the meeting in shorts, and said communication was difficult because Sagar and the executives could not fully understand each other.
Modi said Disney wanted a formal presentation and did not see how a mythological show could succeed on Indian television.
The proposal was not approved, according to Modi, who said he could not override his Disney partner.
Ramayan later aired on state broadcaster Doordarshan from 1987 to 1988 and became one of India’s best-known television series.
Lalit Modi says Disney rejected a proposal to finance Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan after a meeting with the filmmaker.
Modi said he had urged Disney to co-produce the show and meet Sagar’s demand for ₹1 crore.
He said Sagar arrived at the meeting in shorts and struggled to understand the executives, who wanted a formal presentation.
Modi said Disney executives did not understand the potential of mythological programming on Indian television and he could not change their decision.
Ramayan first aired on Doordarshan in 1987 and became one of Indian television’s most popular shows.
- Who
- Lalit Modi says Disney rejected Ramanand Sagar’s proposal to finance Ramayan.
- What
- Disney declined the proposal after a meeting with Sagar, according to Modi.
- When
- The meeting date is not stated. Ramayan first aired in 1987.
- Where
- The meeting took place in India, according to Modi.
- Why
- Modi said Disney’s executives could not see the show’s potential and were unimpressed by the meeting; he also said Disney had raised concerns about a conflict of interest.
Lalit Modi
Disney executives
Reason for decision
Lalit Modi
Modi said Disney could not understand the potential of Ramayan because mythology had not been shown on Indian television on that scale.
Disney executives
Modi said Disney executives did not know whether the show could work and wanted a sophisticated pitch and presentation.
Proposed arrangement
Lalit Modi
Modi said he pushed Disney to co-produce the show and meet Sagar’s demand for ₹1 crore.
Disney executives
Modi said Disney’s position was that producing the show could conflict with its business of selling programming.
Modi said he urged Disney to co-produce Ramayan and meet Sagar’s demand for ₹1 crore.
Disney executives travelled to India to meet Sagar, according to Modi.
Modi said Sagar arrived in shorts and the executives struggled to understand his pitch.
Ramayan first aired on Doordarshan.
- Proposal
- Disney financing for Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan
- Requested amount
- ₹1 crore
- Broadcaster
- Doordarshan
- First aired
- 1987
- Modi’s partner
- Walt Disney Company
3 sources
What people are saying
Ramanand Sagar and BR Chopra both came to me and wanted me to finance it, and I was ready to finance it.
Disney came with a big entourage and private jets and Ramanand Sagar walked into that meeting in shorts.
He had some issues with his English as well.
Mythology had never been shown on Indian TV.