India’s entertainment and cinema sector is ready to go global. This was the key learning at the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, which was hosted at Jio World Centre, Mumbai. The brains of the film industry leaders had all come here to share knowledge, ideas, and a great vision for the future.
Aamir Khan Demands World Distribution Plan
Actor Aamir Khan asked Indian producers to go beyond the border. He did this while making a panel address at “Studios of the Future: Putting India on World Studio Map.” In his opinion, Indian producers have to build strong distribution chains in other countries. This will enable more Indian films to touch people all over the globe.
Aamir also underlined a huge challenge. He pointed out that the minimum time gap between theatrical and OTT release is impacting theatre visits. “People wait for digital release instead of visiting theatres,” he said. He underlined revising this schedule in a bid to save the theatre business.
Panel of Industry Giants Share Insights
The session saw some of the biggest names of the film industry. The highly rich discussion was led by critic and moderator Mayank Shekhar. On the panel were Ritesh Sidhwani, producer Dinesh Vijan, Prime Focus’s Namit Malhotra, Ajay Bijli of PVR, and Charles Roven of America, the producer.
Charles Roven, the producer of Oppenheimer, was a cinema theatre enthusiast. “The theatrical experience cannot be beaten,” he would always believe. Even with the advent of OTT, he believes the emotional connect of watching a film in a cinema theatre cannot be replaced. He asked Indian studios to shift their mindset. “Don’t think about domestic success only. Think global from day one,” he advised.
Aamir Praises Government Support
Aamir Khan also praised the government’s new involvement in the media industry. “This is the first time I’ve seen such active participation,” he noted. He called the WAVES summit a “bridge to policy,” adding that he hoped the discussions would turn into real government action.
Mukesh Ambani’s Bold Vision
Shri Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, delivered the summit’s keynote address. His talk, “Building the Next Global Entertainment Revolution from India,” resonated with a motivational tone
He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for driving change. “WAVES is a historic step toward India’s global creative leadership,” he said. Ambani called India’s media strength not just soft power, but real power. He defined that there are two fundamental transitions: the economic rise of the Global South and the role of technology. He defined that 85% of the world population is located in the Global South. The region will be dominating content production and consumption shortly.
AI: The Game Changer
Ambani highlighted the extent to which Artificial Intelligence is transforming business. “AI is revolutionizing entertainment more than the camera did when it was invented a hundred years ago,” he described. Technology is transforming the game from narration to delivery.
Nita Ambani on India’s Cultural Power
Mrs. Nita Ambani also addressed the summit. Her session, “Taking Indian Culture to the World,” was a salute to the country’s artistic and spiritual heritage. She stressed turning Indian music, film, art, and philosophy into global players. “India’s culture is a global bridge,” she asserted.
Mrs. Ambani hailed the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) for setting the example. She invited the industry to come together by bringing together tradition and innovation.
Her message in brief: India’s age-old values and latest technology can bring the world together to build a shared future. Get breaking news, top headlines, Entertainment updates, and Bollywood buzz, along with WAVES 2025 news coverage and more.
