AI to propel India’s entertainment future, says Mukesh Ambani at WAVES 2025

Ambani stated that India’s media and entertainment sector, valued at $28 billion, could exceed $100 billion in the next decade, driven by AI-powered creativity, new content formats, and India’s growing cultural influence on the global stage

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani believes artificial intelligence (AI) will redefine India’s media and entertainment landscape, taking the sector far beyond its current trajectory. Addressing the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai, Ambani said AI tools are rapidly collapsing the boundary between imagination and reality.

“What AI is doing to entertainment is exponentially more disruptive than what cameras achieved in cinema’s early years,” said Ambani during his keynote. The summit, hosted at the Jio World Centre from May 1–4, brings together global leaders in content, creativity, and technology, as India looks to expand its footprint in the global entertainment economy.

According to Ambani, India’s media and entertainment sector, currently valued at $28 billion (₹2.5 lakh crore), has the potential to scale up to over $100 billion within the next decade. This growth, he stressed, will be driven by AI-powered creativity, new content formats, and India’s cultural influence.

“Mumbai is already India’s entertainment hub. The next leap is to make it the entertainment capital of the world,” Ambani declared. He called WAVES 2025 a pivotal step in that journey and predicted the summit would soon become a landmark event on the global creative calendar.

AI-powered content revolution ahead

Ambani outlined four key priorities to fuel India’s media growth: building advanced content production clusters across the country; developing skilled talent in fields like animation, VFX, and AI; fostering intellectual property creation; and creating a regulatory environment that rewards innovation and inclusivity.

He also emphasized the strategic value of culturally rooted AI. “We must train AI on our rich linguistic and cultural heritage. This will ensure digital sovereignty and give India a competitive edge globally,” he said.

India’s strengths in mobile internet, digital payments, and affordable connectivity make it uniquely positioned to unlock the next wave of creative entrepreneurship. Ambani encouraged public-private partnerships and international collaborations to help Indian creators thrive on the global stage.

Concluding his remarks, Ambani reiterated the role of the creative economy in shaping India’s future. “With the support of the Prime Minister and the collective efforts of our industry, India can emerge as the modern-day capital of content and storytelling.”