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live events sector was valued at over ₹20,800 crore in 2024, reflecting a 15% year-on-year and is expected to double by 2030, according to a report by Deloitte India, released last week. “Events of this scale involve a wide ecosystem: organizers, venues, ticketing platforms, security agencies, local authorities, licensing agencies, partners and multiple vendors for various aspects.

Marvel, into spin-offs and cross-format storytelling across platforms.Industry experts say this is a capital-efficient way for IP owners to extend the universe and monetize catalogues without the production risk of large-scale formats. For new-age platforms such as those hosting micro-dramas, it accelerates adoption by new users without much marketing expense. “Taking a known IP into formats like audio or micro-drama is about unlocking new value from existing storytelling equity.

Dhurandar: The Revenge hit the theatres on Thursday, and expectations are high after the massive success of the first part. While audiences are excited, the release holds greater significance for PVR Inox Ltd and its shareholders.The film is estimated to garner net domestic box office collection of around ₹100 crore on day one, supported by advance bookings and strong demand. The movie’s lifetime collections are estimated at ₹1,000-1,300 crore, which is no mean feat.For PVR, a film of this scale pushes occupancy levels and average ticket prices higher.

Ram Lakhan have failed to take off, while Tiger vs Pathaan—a much-hyped spy film starring Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan—has been deemed unviable for now by Yash Raj Films.In contrast, Tamil cinema continues to mount such collaborations with tighter budgets and stronger studio backing, often anchored in compelling storytelling.Trade experts say such ensemble projects are a near-guarantee at the box office, as combined fan bases drive theatrical footfalls and ensure recovery through ancillary rights.“Financially, assembling two major Hindi film stars can dramatically inflate production economics before filming even begins. Actor remuneration in Bollywood is structured around either large upfront fees or profit participation models.

Hollywood is known for its short memory, but David Ellison has been testing the aphorism’s limits. Ellison, who merged his Skydance studio with Paramount seven months ago and is in the process of acquiring Warner Bros Discovery, has a payroll that includes several names lodged in the collective memory of observers for the wrong reasons.First, there’s Jeff Shell, president of Paramount Skydance, who was fired as CEO of NBC Universal in 2023 following an allegation of sexual harassment. Then there’s John Lasseter, Paramount’s head of animation, who left Walt Disney in 2018 after allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

Dhurandhar: The Revenge was, like its first edition, is anyway unlikely to release in the territory given its patriotic and anti-Islamic theme, other titles scheduled for the coming weeks could bear the brunt, given the unpredictable timeline of disruption.Over the coming weeks, Akshay Kumar’s horror comedy Bhooth Bangla, Telugu film Dacoit, and Malayalam titles Aadu 3, Drishyam 3 and Pallichattambi would have ordinarily looked to West Asia for box-office returns. Indian film buffs are now unlikely to make it to theatres to watch these films under present circumstances even if cinemas are technically functional.The region is among the top five overseas markets for Indian films along with the US, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.Industry experts said most Indian film producers are in a wait-and-watch mode, with only Kannada star Yash’s Toxic moved to June, citing tensions in the region.To put it in perspective, a big hit like Shah Rukh Khan's 2023 release Jawan had earned nearly ₹150 crore from the UAE alone and trade experts estimate that 25-30% of overseas box office comes from West Asia.“There will definitely be a big impact.

₹100.A PMS requires a minimum of ₹50 lakh.An AIF demands ₹1 crore.An SIF sits between these options, with a minimum investment of ₹10 lakh per asset management company (AMC) at the PAN level.The intended audience is therefore clear: experienced retail investors and emerging high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) who understand risk and can absorb volatility without panic.Structurally, SIFs operate within the mutual fund regulatory framework. They maintain transparency and reporting standards similar to mutual funds, and liquidity can be daily or periodic depending on the scheme.If equity exposure exceeds 65%, taxation applicable is similar to an equity mutual fund.However, within this framework SIFs enjoy far greater strategic flexibility—including up to 25% unhedged short exposure via derivatives.SIFs are permitted to run strategies that would be impractical or impossible within a traditional mutual fund framework.Managers can take long positions in stocks expected to rise while simultaneously shorting stocks expected to fall through derivatives.

A Japanese maker of high-tech toilets has been causing a splash in the world of artificial intelligence (AI). Activist investor Palliser Capital recently called on the management of Toto, best known for its Washlet bidets, to highlight that the firm is a growing AI play, thanks to its advanced ceramics segments. Toto is the “most undervalued and overlooked AI memory beneficiary,” Palliser wrote.

Mumbai: Sexual wellness brand Bold Care’s first brush with virality was in 2024, when it released a saas bahu style soap opera ad starring actor (and investor) Ranveer Singh, along with adult entertainment star Johnny Sins, for its condoms and other products. Since then, it has been investing in a series of campaigns featuring celebrities and influencers best known for speaking their mind and, sometimes, courting controversy.

OTT (over-the-top) content and other entertainment options for audience attention, promotional campaigns have become a central part of a film’s release strategy, often with actors contractually required to participate.A recent dispute in the Malayalam film industry has brought that shift into focus. The Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA) has asked actor Biju Menon to pay a compensation of about ₹15 lakh to cover the alleged loss incurred by the producer of his movie Nadanna Sambhavam, after the actor allegedly failed to appear for promotions as required under his contract.Queries sent to the actor on Saturday requesting a comment remained unanswered.

streaming business is unsold inventory and falling acquisition prices, as studios are sitting on hundreds of crores of ready‑to‑release films and 40‑45 web series that no buyer wants.OTT revenues in India are estimated to be around ₹37,000 crore, in a mix of advertising and subscriptions.Meanwhile, the overall content spend has been halved and per‑episode costs are now benchmarked against TV rates, forcing producers to do more with less. Plus, the number of Indian originals has gone down, with many creators switching back to feature films, because a premium series can take over a year to develop.The rapid commissioning spree also created a shortage of experienced writers, directors and crew, hurting quality and making it difficult to scale new projects.Still, 2025 has witnessed intense licensing wars for theatrical releases.

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Two recent blockbusters—Dhurandhar and Border 2, which earned ₹894 crore and ₹354 crore at the box office, respectively—helped boost business for tier-two and tier-three town cinemas by at least 20 percent over last year. However, the big challenge for theatre owners in the smaller markets is whether Bollywood can supply mass-market movies that can sustain this momentum through the year.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Mass-market television shows that cater to families and universal audiences are topping OTT viewership charts, proving that streaming has now entered what experts refer to as a period of ‘massification’ with the medium no longer restricted to urban, upmarket audiences. According to media consulting firm Ormax, the list of top 10 most-watched OTT properties in India for the week ended 8 February included titles originally made for TV such as Naagin season seven on JioHotstar (4.5 million views), Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah on YouTube and SonyLIV (3.8 million views) and Pati Brahmachari on the YouTube channel of Dangal TV (3.1 million views).

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. A flurry of strategic deals in India’s film production business is set to swell the pipeline of small and mid-budget movies, even as structural constraints in theatrical releases raise questions about where those films will ultimately play. Multiplexes in major cities are more open to mid-budget and regional films, but tier-two and tier-three markets remain thinly served.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Despite the unexpected box office success of some small and mid-budget films, their lead stars are yet to gain social media visibility or see traction from brands. Actors who have featured in controversial but successful films such as The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story or those like Sunny Deol making a comeback via hits Gadar 2 and Border 2 prove that box office success and brand or social media traction are not necessarily linked.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Ever wanted to buy an outfit or accessory the minute you saw it on a streaming show? Such impulse purchases are now possible thanks to Shop the Look, an interactive e-commerce feature that lets you buy those items directly while watching a show. JioHotstar has launched an in-stream feature that allows viewers to explore and purchase what’s called on-screen looks in real time without interrupting playback or leaving the app.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Entertainment industry entities are launching new ventures and verticals that aim to either back films for the big screen or programming for streaming platforms even amid the risks of volatility in the movie business, plateauing OTT subscriptions and unsold content inventory. Entrepreneur Ananya Birla launched Birla Studios this month to produce films in Hindi, Gujarati and Malayalam, among other regional languages, and in English.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : Swiggy and IPO-bound Zepto's delivery operations inside the national capital's Bharat Mandapam on the inaugural day of the India AI Impact Summit were meant to showcase India's quick commerce prowess before a global audience. Instead, deliveries faltered and orders got cancelled through the chaotic day, with delivery executives as well as security personnel clueless on the hazy entry policies.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Retirement planning has always been about one deceptively simple question: how much is enough? Yet in today’s world of rising lifestyles, volatile markets and longer life spans, that question feels more intimidating than ever. At the Mint Money Festival in Mumbai, Aarati Krishnan, head of advisory at PrimeInvestor, unpacked the numbers and the anxieties around retiring comfortably.

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. At the Mint Money Festival in Mumbai on 14 February, an audience poll revealed that people are more concerned with the Union Budget creating jobs and improving the government’s fiscal health than delivering tax breaks. Monika Halan, founder of Dhan Chakra Financial Education, decoded Budget 2026 for households to explain what really matters for jobs, taxes, investments and long-term financial security.