Ananya Birla forays into films with launch of Birla Studios
Mumbai: Entrepreneur Ananya Birla has launched Birla Studios, marking the Aditya Birla Group’s entry into film production at a time when India’s film business is growing in scale but becoming increasingly concentrated around a handful of big hits.
While overall box office collections are at an all-time high, revenues are increasingly driven by a limited number of tentpole and sleeper hits, squeezing mid-budget films and accelerating consolidation across the industry. This has led large corporate groups to step up investments in the entertainment sector.
The Aditya Birla Group already has a presence in the content segment through Applause Entertainment, the studio behind popular shows such as Scam 1992 and Criminal Justice.
“Cinema is one of the most powerful mediums through which those stories are told. At its most powerful, cinema creates an immediate connection while leaving a lasting resonance. At Birla Studios, our focus is on curating a slate of films that balance cultural significance with strong entertainment value and a conscious stand to nurture new talent, while exploring genres, amplifying fresh voices and diverse perspectives," Birla said.
Birla Studios is developing a multi-language slate spanning Hindi, Gujarati, Malayalam and other regional languages, along with international English-language cinema. The studio will be genre-agnostic and plans to back films with strong commercial potential while nurturing emerging talent and bold ideas.
“As we put this slate together, we’ve been deeply encouraged by the kindness and receptiveness of everyone across the industry. It would be a privilege to play even a small part in taking Indian cinema forward,” Birla said.
In 2025, India’s gross box office collection stood at Rs 13,415.21 crore across 1,572 films, while total net collection was Rs 11,371.82 crore, according to Sacnilk.
Beyond films, Birla is the founder and chairperson of Svatantra Microfin. Last year, she launched beauty brands Contraband and LOVETC under Birla Cosmetics, with a focus on aspirational positioning, differentiated consumer insights and product excellence.
She also plays an active strategic role within the Aditya Birla Group, serving on its apex strategic body, ABMCPL, and on the boards of Hindalco, Grasim and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail.
While overall box office collections are at an all-time high, revenues are increasingly driven by a limited number of tentpole and sleeper hits, squeezing mid-budget films and accelerating consolidation across the industry. This has led large corporate groups to step up investments in the entertainment sector.
The Aditya Birla Group already has a presence in the content segment through Applause Entertainment, the studio behind popular shows such as Scam 1992 and Criminal Justice.
“Cinema is one of the most powerful mediums through which those stories are told. At its most powerful, cinema creates an immediate connection while leaving a lasting resonance. At Birla Studios, our focus is on curating a slate of films that balance cultural significance with strong entertainment value and a conscious stand to nurture new talent, while exploring genres, amplifying fresh voices and diverse perspectives," Birla said.
Birla Studios is developing a multi-language slate spanning Hindi, Gujarati, Malayalam and other regional languages, along with international English-language cinema. The studio will be genre-agnostic and plans to back films with strong commercial potential while nurturing emerging talent and bold ideas.
“As we put this slate together, we’ve been deeply encouraged by the kindness and receptiveness of everyone across the industry. It would be a privilege to play even a small part in taking Indian cinema forward,” Birla said.
In 2025, India’s gross box office collection stood at Rs 13,415.21 crore across 1,572 films, while total net collection was Rs 11,371.82 crore, according to Sacnilk.
Beyond films, Birla is the founder and chairperson of Svatantra Microfin. Last year, she launched beauty brands Contraband and LOVETC under Birla Cosmetics, with a focus on aspirational positioning, differentiated consumer insights and product excellence.
She also plays an active strategic role within the Aditya Birla Group, serving on its apex strategic body, ABMCPL, and on the boards of Hindalco, Grasim and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail.
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