Last updated on August 15th, 2026 at 04:06 am
Last updated on 15 August 2026.
If you love movies, you must be familiar with IMAX. Nowadays, you can see an IMAX logo on almost every major movie poster, and our cinema industry has started catching up with this cinema technology. Let’s take a look at how it all began, along with a list of all Indian films released in IMAX.
A Brief History of IMAX
IMAX began as a big-format film and projection system in 1970. For a long time, it was just a nice attraction, slowly building movie theatres around the world, with special nature and space documentaries.
But in the early 2000s, IMAX started showing many popular movies like Star Wars Episode II and Spider-Man 2. What they actually used at that time was DMR (Digital Media Remastering). The company has its own proprietary DMR process that up-converts movies to look better on their giant screen.
This went on for a while until Christopher Nolan decided to take matters into his own hands.
Christopher Nolan shot some scenes of The Dark Knight (2008) with IMAX film cameras, making it the first movie to be shot in this format.
And that started a new era!
Watching such movies on a giant IMAX screen with a taller 1.43:1 aspect ratio and crystal-clear sharpness was an experience of a lifetime. India also once had many 70mm IMAX screens.
Still, most movies were just shot digitally and converted with DMR technology. This is because IMAX film cameras are expensive and difficult to use. Then, they also had to convert the film into physical prints. It was a costly and time-consuming process.
This was happening at a time when cinema was going “Digital”. Movies were now shot with digital cameras, and cinema chains also started adapting digital projectors.
So, IMAX also moved to Digital. This became an affordable option for filmmakers worldwide, including in India. Digital IMAX screens were smaller, and the aspect ratio is 1.90:1.
There are new IMAX screens installed in India every year that bring this format to different parts of the country, making it more popular.
The company has also made the whole process for an IMAX release easier with the Filmed for IMAX program. They certified many of the high-end digital cameras, and most Indian filmmakers have started using them to get their movies on IMAX screens too.
List of Indian Movies in IMAX
IMAX is a premium technology for shooting and watching movies. A lot of Hollywood and Chinese films are now usually released in this format, but Indian cinema is not far behind.
This is the full list of Indian movies released in IMAX:
| Name | Year | Expanded Aspect Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Dhoom 3 | 2013 | No |
| Bang Bang! | 2014 | No |
| Baahubali: The Conclusion | 2017 | Yes |
| Padmaavat | 2018 | No |
| Gold | 2018 | No |
| Thugs of Hindostan | 2018 | No |
| Saaho | 2019 | Yes |
| Bigil | 2019 | No |
| RRR | 2022 | Yes |
| KGF: Chapter 2 | 2022 | No |
| Shamshera | 2022 | No |
| Laal Singh Chaddha | 2022 | No |
| Brahmastra | 2022 | No |
| Ponniyin Selvan Part 1 | 2022 | No |
| Pathaan | 2023 | No |
| Bholaa | 2023 | No |
| Ponniyin Selvan Part 2 | 2023 | No |
| Jawan | 2023 | No |
| Simhadri (re-release) | 2023 | No |
| Leo | 2023 | No |
| Tiger 3 | 2023 | No |
| Animal | 2023 | No |
| Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire | 2023 | No |
| Captain Miller | 2024 | No |
| Fighter | 2024 | No |
| Maidaan | 2024 | No |
| Bade Miyan Chote Miyan | 2024 | No |
| Kalki 2898AD | 2024 | No |
| The Greatest of All Time | 2024 | No |
| Devara: Part 1 | 2024 | Yes |
| Kanguva | 2024 | No |
| Pushpa 2: The Rule | 2024 | No |
| Game Changer | 2025 | No |
| Sky Force | 2025 | No |
| Chhaava | 2025 | No |
| L2 Empuraan | 2025 | No |
| Sikandar | 2025 | No |
| Thug Life | 2025 | No |
| War 2 | 2025 | No |
| Kantara A Legend – Chapter 1 | 2025 | Yes |
| Thamma | 2025 | No |
| Baahubali The Epic | 2025 | Yes |
| Dhurandhar | 2025 | No |
| Border 2 | 2026 | No |
| Dhurandhar: The Revenge | 2026 | No |
| Peddi | 2026 | Yes |
The upcoming IMAX releases from India are Toxic, Ramayana: Part 1, Varanasi, and Ramayana Part 2.
Rajinikanth’s 2.0 (2018) was also scheduled for an IMAX 3D release, but that got cancelled. Production company LYCA failed to submit the movie to IMAX offices within the given time (2 weeks before release).
Let’s now talk about those IMAX releases from Indian cinema that made an impact with this premium format.
Dhoom 3 (2013)
Dhoom 3 was the first Indian movie to be released in IMAX.
The movie was remastered using the DMR process, like almost all Hollywood films were at the time. It increased the overall quality of the movie’s visuals to improve the experience on an IMAX screen.
The ticket prices for Dhoom 3 went up to ₹1,000 in Mumbai. But the audience was happy to pay for it, which showed PVR bringing more of these screens.
Prasad’s 70mm film projector in Hyderabad was also active during this time, but it couldn’t show Dhoom 3 because there were no physical prints made for Dhoom 3.
Yash Raj Films also had plans to release their ambitious project, ‘PAANI’, in this format, but it got stuck in production limbo.
Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017)
After the massive success of Baahubali (2015), everybody knew the sequel was going for a wider release worldwide. So, IMAX partnered with Arka Media Works to make it the first Telugu movie to be presented in their premium format.
Baahubali 2 was the first time an Indian movie used the 1.90:1 aspect ratio specially formatted for the IMAX screens.
It was shot with Arri Alexa SXT cameras. Here’s how different it looked in the expanded aspect ratio:
It means that you could have gotten 26% more footage in IMAX from start to end.
Here’s what director Rajamouli has to say about this format:
“A major factor for the wide appeal of the Baahubali films is the scale and immersive nature with which we designed and filmed them. So it is very exciting that Baahubali 2: The Conclusion will be released in the IMAX format, which best showcases this and gives the viewer a great experience.”
-SS Rajamouli
Marvel and DC movies are known to use this larger ratio for most of their new films during this period, and S. S. Rajamouli became the first person to take advantage of this taller screen size for this epic.
Rajamouli also wanted an IMAX release for the first part.
At the time of Baahubali: The Beginning, the producers met with IMAX executives. They were asked to shoot it in a 1.90:1 aspect ratio, and they did, but negotiations broke down later. The expanded version was only shown at Hyderabad’s PCX screen at that time.
Padmaavat (2018)
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat became the first Indian movie to have an IMAX 3D release.
Bigil (2019)
Bigil was the first Tamil film to be screened in IMAX.
RRR (2022)
RRR is the first Indian movie to be officially shot with IMAX-certified cameras. It was presented in a 1.90:1 aspect ratio entirely.
RRR was shot with Arri Alexa LF cameras. These are the same cameras used in Marvel’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), Dune (2021), and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).
RRR was released in both IMAX 3D and 2D formats.
K.G.F. Chapter 02 (2022)
‘KGF Chapter 02’ became the first movie from the Kannada industry to get an IMAX release.
Pathaan (2023)
Pathaan will be the first Shah Rukh Khan film to be shown in IMAX. There were rumours that it might have scenes in 1.90:1 AR, but that was ultimately not true.
Pathaan is a spy thriller in the YRF Spy Universe, with Deepika Padukone and John Abraham in supporting roles.
Kalki 2898 AD (2024)
Cinematographer DStojiljkovic used Arri Alexa 65 cameras to shoot Kalki 2898 AD, the same ones used for Avengers: Endgame. He said that the decision to use the Alexa 65 was to capture lifelike images for the larger scope at its best.
However, the aspect ratio for Kalki remained 2.39:1 as usual.
Devara Part 1 (2024)
Jr NTR’s Devara was the first Indian movie to use the expanded aspect ratio for only some scenes. Most scenes are in 2.39 AR, with some in 1.90:1 AR.
L2: Empuraan (2025)
L2 Empuraan was the first-ever Malayalam movie to be released in IMAX.
Kantara The Legend Chapter 1 (2025)
The aspect ratio for Kantara The Legend Chapter 1 opened to a 1.90:1 aspect ratio for about 30 minutes of scenes.
Note that for many of the South Indian movies, the taller aspect ratio has not been exclusive to IMAX screens. Other premium formats like PCX Prasads and EPIQ also got the expanded version.
Baahubali: The Epic (2025)
Baahubali: The Epic is a recut and remastered version of Baahubali, combining the best scenes from both parts (The Beginning & The Conclusion). This is happening at the 10th anniversary of this iconic blockbuster.
Now, what makes it more special is that along with the 1.90:1 version of Baahubali: The Conclusion, you will also get the 1.90:1 version of Baahubali: The Beginning. This will be the first time both films can be experienced in their full glory.
Ramayana Part 1 (2026)
Ramayana Part 1 (2026) is also filmed for IMAX and will be entirely presented in a 1.90:1 aspect ratio.
Namit Malhotra’s Ramayana Part 1 premieres on Diwali 2026. Ranbir Kapoor stars as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. It promises grand visuals and high-end VFX (with DNEG involved) for a large-scale mythological spectacle.
Varanasi (2027)
SS Rajamouli’s next project, Varanasi, will be the first Indian movie to be made in the 1.43:1 IMAX aspect ratio.
Rajamouli confirmed it at the film’s “Globetrotter” event in Hyderabad. Varanasi is being shot with IMAX-certified digital cameras (not film cameras like The Odyssey), with Rajamouli aiming to take full advantage of the taller frame.
The taller 1.43:1 frame provides more vertical image space, making large landscapes and architecture feel more immersive.
The film could potentially encourage Indian cinema chains to introduce an IMAX GT screen before its planned 2027 release.
India’s First IMAX Movie That Got Cancelled
Before even Nolan thought of using this premium tech, there was an Indian filmmaker who had the same dream.
Bharat Bala and Kanika Myer, co-founders of Bharatbala Productions, were making ‘Taj Mahal – The Heart of India’ with IMAX cameras in 2002.
The production budget was going to be about $10 million, with a runtime of about an hour.
The lead actress was Aishwarya Rai as Mumtaz Mahal. Amitabh Bachchan was also reportedly part of it, with a Hollywood actor in the role of Shah Jahan. AR Rahman was going to be the music composer.
They got permission to shoot inside the Taj Mahal premises, and about 50% of the filming was completed as well.
Here’s a screenshot from its production promo, showing that the 1.43:1 aspect ratio was captured by IMAX film cameras:
But sadly, some dreams never come true!
Mystic India (2004) is also in IMAX
There is a movie called Mystic India, produced by BAPS (an International NGO). It is also a large-format IMAX movie filmed in India.
Looking at its original trailer in a 1.43:1 aspect ratio, this confirms the claim.
But since it is neither a Bollywood nor a South Indian film, it cannot be considered a conventional commercial movie.
Mystic India follows the true story of an 11-year-old child yogi named Nilkanth, whose message is “unity in diversity”.
The movie continues to have screenings on the giant screen at Akshardham, New Delhi.
Takeaways
So now you know about all the Indian movies that were released in IMAX.
I really hope some big Indian director tries their hand at 70mm film cameras someday. But for that, we need a big GT theatre. Hope that also comes to fruition. There is a lot we can do with this technology, as our movies are now moving towards more VFX-heavy screenplays.
And if you don’t know who I am? I am Ranish Chauhan, a.k.a. Fulmino Fan, and I love Marvel & DC Superheroes and Sci-Fi movies. You can also check my YouTube channel for amazing videos in Hindi.