The Ministry of Information Broadcasting's WAVES 2025 initiative includes a panel discussion, "Studios of the Future: Putting India on the World Studio Map," which focuses on strategies for Indian cinema's potential international expansion. Leading industry figures such as Aamir Khan, Ritesh Sidhwani, Namit Malhotra, Dinesh Vijan, Ajay Bijli, Charles Roven, and others contribute insights to this topic. The discussion emphasizes the need for creating distribution channels outside India, encouraging a global perspective from the start of film production.
Key points include:
1. Aamir Khan stresses that Indian filmmakers should shift their focus from domestic markets to global ones, considering the rich potential of Indian films on the international stage.
2. The OTT debate reveals concerns about the window between theatrical and online releases potentially affecting theatre audiences' interest, with suggestions to manage release windows more effectively for better monetization through both formats.
3. Charles Roven advocates for theatrical experiences’ enduring value compared to TV and online platforms.
4. Dinesh Vijan underscores the importance of authentic storytelling and international collaborations over merely increasing budgets.
Technology's role is highlighted particularly by Namit Malhotra, advocating its use in enhancing storytelling and improving content reach through AI for global audiences.
Ritesh Sidhwani points out potential growth from OTT platforms for Indian content visibility worldwide, while Ajay Bijli addresses the post-COVID decline in theatre footfalls, underscoring the importance of effective release strategies.
An opportunity is seen with technology like authentic lipsynctranslations to overcome language barriers and reach wider audiences. In relation to government support, Aamir Khan comments on its "promising start," indicating a potential shift towards policies from such discussions.
The tone is professional and informative throughout the document, providing factual summaries of the panelists' viewpoints without speculative elements beyond what's directly stated in the text.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Information Broadcasting WAVES 2025: A government initiative aimed at bringing together industry leaders to discuss strategies for the international expansion of Indian cinema.
Indian cinemas: Cinemas originating in India with a focus on international growth and viewership expansion through various distribution channels.
Studios of the Future: Putting India on World Studio Map: A session or topic discussed at an event aimed at advancing Indian film industries to global recognition.
World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit WAVES 2025: An event where industry stakeholders convene to discuss strategic topics affecting the media entertainment sector, with a focus on Indian cinema's international prospects.
Mumbai: The location of the mentioned panel discussion and Jio World center, featuring participants from various segments of the film industry.
Aamir Khan: Renowned actor known for his contributions to Indian cinema who also discussed strategies for international expansion at the WAVES 2025 summit.
Mayank Shekhar: A film critic moderating sessions at the WAVES 2025 summit, facilitating discussions with industry leaders.
Ritesh Sidhwani, Namit Malhotra, Dinesh Vijan, Ajay Bijli, and Charles Roven: Industry stalwarts who contributed diverse perspectives on cinema and entertainment at the WAVES 2025 summit.
OTT debate: A discussion concerning the role of streaming services in releasing films post-theatrical screenings, impacting theatre viewership.
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
WAVES 2025 brings together industry stalwarts to
discuss Indian cinema’s international expansion
This is the first time I’ve seen a government taking
such interest in our industry: Aamir Khan
WAVES is not just a dialogue—it’s a bridge to policy.
It’s a promising start: Aamir Khan
Posted On: 02 MAY 2025 8:42PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, 2 May 2025
Indian movie-makers and producers need to focus on creating distribution channels in different countries to
facilitate expansion of Indian film viewership, said renowned Actor Aamir Khan at a panel discussion titled
‘Studios of the Future: Putting India on World Studio Map’. The discussion was held at Jio World centre on
Friday, on the second day of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025.
The session, moderated by film critic Mayank Shekhar brought together a stellar lineup of film industry stalwarts,
including producer Ritesh Sidhwani, Namit Malhotra of Prime Focus Limited, Film Producer Dinesh Vijan, PVR
Cinemas’ Ajay Bijli, and renowned American producer Charles Roven.
Talking about the rich potential of Indian films, Aamir Khan emphasised on the crucial need to think global from
the beginning.On the OTT debate, Aamir pointed how the narrow window between theatrical and OTT releases discourages
theatre viewership.
Charles Roven, the producer of global blockbuster, Oppenheimer, emphasized on the enduring strength of
theatrical cinema. He stated, “Despite the rise of TV and OTT platforms, the theatrical experience remains
irreplaceable.”
Charles Roven advised Indian studios to shift from a domestic-only focus and to approach projects with
international reach in mind.
Dinesh Vijan talked about the importance of authentic storytelling and collaborations with international studios. “It’s
not just about budgets,” he said. “Smaller cities are more cinema-friendly. But to go global, we must focus on
quality content and cross-border partnerships.”
Namit Malhotra spoke about the pivotal role of technology, particularly the use of AI, in enhancing storytelling and
helping Indian talent reach global audiences.
Ritesh Sidhwani pointed out the expanding opportunities through OTT platforms. “OTT has given Indian content
global visibility,” he noted. “It allows us to experiment with format and narrative.”
Ajay Bijli raised concerns about declining theatre footfalls post-COVID. He stressed the importance of managing
release windows wisely to ensure monetization through both theatrical and digital platforms.
Dinesh Vijan also emphasized that technology could help overcome language barriers through authentic lip-synctranslations, enabling cultural specificity while reaching wider audiences.
The panel concluded with a discussion on how the government can support this transition. On WAVE summit,
Aamir Khan said: “This is the first time I’ve seen a government taking such interest in our industry. WAVES is not
just a dialogue—it’s a bridge to policy. It’s a promising start. I am sure our discussions will transform into policies,”
the actor said.
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PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Poushali/ Riyas/ Darshana | 156
(Release ID: 2126341)