Bollywood producer whose net worth is a whopping Rs 9204 crore, began his entrepreneurial journey in a garage

The latest edition of the Hurun Global Rich List 2026 has highlighted a significant rise in the number of wealthy Indians joining the ranks of the world’s billionaires. The 2026 list features a total of 308 Indian billionaires, reflecting a surge in high-net-worth individuals from the country. Notably, 57 new Indian entrants have been added this year, signaling the rapid growth of entrepreneurial success across industries. Among the fresh faces included in the ranking is film producer and visual effects entrepreneur Namit Malhotra, who is currently producing the ambitious mythological film Ramayana starring Ranbir Kapoor and Sunny Deol.

A New Entrant on the Global Billionaires’ List

Namit Malhotra has emerged as one of the prominent newcomers in this year’s billionaire rankings. Positioned at number 3306 globally, he has built a fortune estimated at over ₹9,204 crore. His wealth largely stems from his pioneering work in film production and the global visual effects industry, where he has played a crucial role in shaping large-scale cinematic projects.

A Legacy Rooted in Cinema

Malhotra comes from a family deeply connected to the Indian film industry. His father, Naresh Malhotra, is a well-known producer associated with movies such as Duniya Meri Jeb Mein (1979), Shahenshah (1988), and Sahari Bagha (1985). The cinematic lineage extends even further to his grandfather, M. N. Malhotra, who worked as a cinematographer on Jhansi Ki Rani, a landmark production remembered as one of India’s earliest colour films.

Building a Global Visual Effects Empire

Malhotra’s entrepreneurial path began in 1995 when he set up a small video workshop inside his father’s garage. This modest venture eventually merged with his father’s production outfit, Video Works, leading to the creation of Prime Focus. Over time, the company expanded beyond India and established a global footprint with offices in major entertainment hubs such as London, New York City, Los Angeles, and Vancouver.

The company later joined forces with Double Negative (DNEG), a renowned visual effects studio based in the United Kingdom. The studio gained international recognition for its work on the Oscar-winning science-fiction film Dune. Currently, Malhotra serves as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DNEG, which has won six Academy Awards for its groundbreaking work on films like Inception, Interstellar, Ex Machina, Blade Runner 2049, First Man, and Tenet.

Working on India’s Most Expensive Film

At present, Malhotra’s attention is focused on the massive film project Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The movie is planned as a two-part epic and is reportedly being produced on an enormous budget of around ₹4,000 crore, which could make it the most expensive Indian film ever made. The star-studded cast includes Ranbir Kapoor portraying Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. The ensemble also features actors such as Sunny Deol, Ravi Dubey, Lara Dutta, and Vivek Oberoi. With its scale, budget, and cast, the film is already being regarded as one of the most ambitious cinematic ventures ever attempted in India.