The appetite for fandom has never been bigger: Bhavik Vora, co-founder of C.O.R.E
Culture Of Real Experiences ( C.O.R.E. ) - a two-day pop culture festival where gaming, anime, film, cosplay, creators and fandom converge into one immersive cultural universe, concluded on Sunday. Conceptualized by Fanthology Studios in collaboration with Black White Orange, the festival took place on June 20 and 21, at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Bombay Times attended a special preview on Friday evening before the fest opened to fans. The preview night offered guests a first look at the larger-than-life worlds, immersive experiences, performances, and attractions that defined the festival over the weekend. Punit Malhotra, Jackie Shroff, Ashnoor Kaur, Sayani Gupta, Tanuj Virwani, Sahi Godbole, Piyush Khati, Shweta Pandit, Sahil Salathia, and other notable personalities from the world of entertainment were seen at the fest.
Bhavik Vora , co-founder of C.O.R.E and Fanthology Studios, told Bombay Times: "C.O.R.E. is more than just an event. It is a celebration of communities, creativity, and shared passions." Excerpts from an interview.
How is C.O.R.E. different from other pop-culture events and conventions?
The simplest way I can put it is this -- C.O.R.E. is 70 percent experience and 30 percent of fans owning a piece of their favorite brand. Every IP, every brand, every booth has been built around three things: an immersive experience, a photo opportunity, and official merchandise. Not one of those. All three in most places. Where do you usually get to see Crunchyroll, TOEI, TOHO, Jujutsu Kaisen, Spider-Man, Jurassic, Minions, Nickelodeon, Care Bears, Baahubali, ISRO, Angry Birds, Toy Story, Moana, Indian Mythology, the Indian Navy, F1 Simulators, Universal, Sony Pictures, Amar Chitra Katha, and many more .. all under one roof? Each living inside its own themed street, each with its own world, its own energy. That is C.O.R.E. It is not a market with some experiences sprinkled in. It is a world you walk through, where everything is authentic, everything is official, and everything is designed to bring the fan closer to the universe they love.
Anime and Manga seem to be dominating the Indian market. What is your take on it?
Anime's rise in India is not a trend anymore. It is a cultural shift that I have watched happen up close, having been part of some of the biggest anime launches in India including Demon Slayer and Dragon Ball. An entire generation has discovered storytelling that is emotionally rich, visually unlike anything else, and deeply community-driven. But the bigger story is not consumption. It is fandom. Fans want more than a streaming subscription. They want official merchandise, community, cosplay, immersive experiences. That is exactly where India has had a gap and that is what C.O.R.E. is here to fill. We have brought together Dragon Ball, One Piece, Godzilla, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, Spy x Family and many more through official channels. The objective is simple, give Indian anime fans the experience they deserve.
There seems to be a decline in superhero films in India. How do you perceive it?
I would not call it a decline. I would call it a maturing. Indian audiences are more discerning than
they were a decade ago and that is a good thing. They are not abandoning superheroes. They are expanding their definition of what a hero can be. Look at the response to Baahubali, to Kalki 2898 AD, to Indian mythology-driven storytelling. Indian fans are absolutely willing to go deep on a franchise when the world-building is compelling. The appetite for fandom has never been bigger. What has shifted is that audiences now have more choices: anime protagonists, gaming icons, Indian mythological heroes. Superheroes are sharing the stage rather than owning it. At C.O.R.E. you will see all of those worlds sitting side by side, which tells you everything about where fandom is going.
How is C.O.R.E. going to activate fandom conversations in India?
The Indian fan has never been the problem. They have always shown up. They cosplay, they collect, they travel across cities for the things they love. The passion and the community have always been there. What has been missing is a platform that matches that energy with the right level of official, legitimate, immersive content across multiple fandoms simultaneously. Because here is the truth about the modern Indian fan: they are not one thing. The same person watching Jujutsu Kaisen
on a Friday night is watching Kalki on the weekend, following the Formula 1 championship standings, and queuing for concert tickets. Fandom today is multi-genre, multi-world, and C.O.R.E. is the only platform in India that is built to mirror that reality. Longer term, C.O.R.E. is about raising the bar for what Indian fans can expect and demand.
We heard about the SUMO Wrestling exhibit. What else is new at C.O.R.E.?
Bhavik Vora , co-founder of C.O.R.E and Fanthology Studios, told Bombay Times: "C.O.R.E. is more than just an event. It is a celebration of communities, creativity, and shared passions." Excerpts from an interview.
How is C.O.R.E. different from other pop-culture events and conventions?
The simplest way I can put it is this -- C.O.R.E. is 70 percent experience and 30 percent of fans owning a piece of their favorite brand. Every IP, every brand, every booth has been built around three things: an immersive experience, a photo opportunity, and official merchandise. Not one of those. All three in most places. Where do you usually get to see Crunchyroll, TOEI, TOHO, Jujutsu Kaisen, Spider-Man, Jurassic, Minions, Nickelodeon, Care Bears, Baahubali, ISRO, Angry Birds, Toy Story, Moana, Indian Mythology, the Indian Navy, F1 Simulators, Universal, Sony Pictures, Amar Chitra Katha, and many more .. all under one roof? Each living inside its own themed street, each with its own world, its own energy. That is C.O.R.E. It is not a market with some experiences sprinkled in. It is a world you walk through, where everything is authentic, everything is official, and everything is designed to bring the fan closer to the universe they love.
Anime and Manga seem to be dominating the Indian market. What is your take on it?
Anime's rise in India is not a trend anymore. It is a cultural shift that I have watched happen up close, having been part of some of the biggest anime launches in India including Demon Slayer and Dragon Ball. An entire generation has discovered storytelling that is emotionally rich, visually unlike anything else, and deeply community-driven. But the bigger story is not consumption. It is fandom. Fans want more than a streaming subscription. They want official merchandise, community, cosplay, immersive experiences. That is exactly where India has had a gap and that is what C.O.R.E. is here to fill. We have brought together Dragon Ball, One Piece, Godzilla, Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, Spy x Family and many more through official channels. The objective is simple, give Indian anime fans the experience they deserve.
There seems to be a decline in superhero films in India. How do you perceive it?
I would not call it a decline. I would call it a maturing. Indian audiences are more discerning than
they were a decade ago and that is a good thing. They are not abandoning superheroes. They are expanding their definition of what a hero can be. Look at the response to Baahubali, to Kalki 2898 AD, to Indian mythology-driven storytelling. Indian fans are absolutely willing to go deep on a franchise when the world-building is compelling. The appetite for fandom has never been bigger. What has shifted is that audiences now have more choices: anime protagonists, gaming icons, Indian mythological heroes. Superheroes are sharing the stage rather than owning it. At C.O.R.E. you will see all of those worlds sitting side by side, which tells you everything about where fandom is going.
How is C.O.R.E. going to activate fandom conversations in India?
The Indian fan has never been the problem. They have always shown up. They cosplay, they collect, they travel across cities for the things they love. The passion and the community have always been there. What has been missing is a platform that matches that energy with the right level of official, legitimate, immersive content across multiple fandoms simultaneously. Because here is the truth about the modern Indian fan: they are not one thing. The same person watching Jujutsu Kaisen
We heard about the SUMO Wrestling exhibit. What else is new at C.O.R.E.?
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