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Tag: Abundantia Entertainment

  • Abundantia writes a new script with AI in the director’s chair

    Abundantia writes a new script with AI in the director’s chair

    MUMBAI: Lights, camera, algorithm! Storytelling just got a digital co-writer as Vikram Malhotra’s Abundantia Entertainment takes a bold leap into the future with its brand-new division Abundantia aiON, dedicated to creating and producing stories powered by artificial intelligence.

    With a mission as cinematic as its name, aiON is built on one simple but stirring philosophy “Human First. AI Empowered.” The idea? To prove that technology can fuel imagination, not flatten it. The new division aims to bring together the best of human creativity and machine intelligence to craft films, series, characters and universes that stretch beyond traditional boundaries.

    “AI isn’t here to replace creativity, it’s here to magnify it,” says Abundantia Entertainment founder and CEO Vikram Malhotra “We want storytellers to think beyond the possible and tell stories that are emotionally richer, visually bolder, and globally relevant. We see AI as the ultimate collaborator, a force multiplier for human imagination.”

    Abundantia aiON will harness cutting-edge AI tools across ideation, world-building, visual development and production, working hand-in-hand with top tech platforms and creative talent. But at its core, the division remains committed to human authorship every story will begin with a human creator, a distinct voice and an original point of view.

    The new wing also aims to create opportunities for talent, not replace them. Writers, artists and filmmakers will be upskilled in next-generation storytelling, learning to use AI as a creative accelerator rather than competition.

    The announcement follows Abundantia’s recent partnership with Collective Artists Network to produce Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal, touted as India’s first Made-In-AI feature film, set for theatrical release in 2026. The new film is already making waves for its audacious ambition to blend mythology, emotion and machine learning in one frame.

    And this is just the beginning. The studio is gearing up to announce aiON’s first slate of projects soon, promising a lineup that fuses cutting-edge innovation with cinematic soul.

    The move adds another chapter to Abundantia’s growing repertoire of daring originals, which includes upcoming titles like Subedaar, an action drama directed by Suresh Triveni and starring Anil Kapoor; Daldal, an Amazon Original led by Bhumi Pednekar; an untitled comedy headlined by Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, Dharna Durga and Ravi Kishan; and a business drama directed by Hansal Mehta.

    For a studio known for redefining Indian storytelling, aiON marks a new age of cinematic creation where art meets algorithm, and every story begins with a spark of human imagination, amplified by a pulse of artificial intelligence.

    Because in Abundantia’s next act, it’s not man versus machine, it’s man plus machine.

  • Indian cinema turns to artificial intelligence for epic Hanuman film

    Indian cinema turns to artificial intelligence for epic Hanuman film

    MUMBAI: Indian cinema is preparing to push the boundaries of filmmaking with what producers claim will be India’s first theatrically released motion picture created entirely using artificial intelligence (AI), centred on the Hindu deity Hanuman.

    Chiranjeevi Hanuman – The Eternal, scheduled for worldwide release on Hanuman Jayanti in 2026, represents an ambitious fusion of ancient mythology and cutting-edge technology that could reshape how religious epics are brought to the screen.

    Abundantia Entertainment, the production house behind hits including Airlift and Ram Setu, is partnering with Collective Media Network’s Historyverse division on the project, which draws from the Ramayana and Puranic texts to create what they describe as a “visual odyssey.”

    The film is being developed by more than 50 engineers from Galleri5, the technology arm of Collective Artists Network, working alongside cultural scholars and literary experts to ensure narrative authenticity. Even the soundtrack will break new ground, composed by Trilok, billed as the world’s first AI-powered band that blends Indian spiritual traditions with contemporary sound.

    “We constantly push boundaries of storytelling possibilities, and I am delighted that we are partnering with Vijay and his amazing team at Collective to harness cutting-edge tech and tools to tell one of India’s most iconic stories,” said Abundantia Entertainment founder & CEO Vikram Malhotra.

    The project reflects growing confidence in AI’s creative potential within India’s entertainment industry, which has traditionally relied on star power and elaborate song-and-dance sequences to draw audiences. By choosing Hanuman—revered by hundreds of millions as a symbol of devotion, strength and faith—the producers are making a bold statement about technology’s role in preserving and reinterpreting cultural heritage.

    Collective Artists Network founder & chief executive Vijay Subramaniam emphasised the company’s commitment to “authenticity and cultural stewardship”, promising “complete transparency about the role of AI in the creative process.” This approach addresses potential concerns from religious groups about technological interpretation of sacred stories.

    The timing is significant, as India’s film industry grapples with rising production costs and increasing competition from streaming platforms. AI-generated content could potentially reduce expenses while enabling more spectacular visual effects than traditional methods allow.

    Abundantia, founded in 2013 by former Viacom18 Motion Pictures chief operating officer Malhotra, has built its reputation on “uniquely Indian stories”, from the patriotic thriller Airlift to the biographical drama Shakuntala Devi. The company’s upcoming slate includes Subedaar starring Anil Kapoor and collaborations with acclaimed directors including Hansal Mehta.

    Collective Artists Network has expanded rapidly through acquisitions including Under 25 Universe and Terribly Tiny Tales, positioning itself at what Subramaniam calls the convergence of “culture, creators, and technology”. The company operates Big Bang Social, a platform for brand-creator collaborations, and has launched Collective Media Network to broaden its content reach.

    The Hanuman project represents more than technological experimentation—it’s a test of whether Indian audiences will embrace AI-generated storytelling for their most cherished cultural narratives. Success could open the floodgates for similar projects, while failure might reinforce traditional approaches to mythological cinema.

    The 2026 release date on Hanuman Jayanti, the festival celebrating the deity’s birth, suggests producers are confident in their ability to create something worthy of such a significant cultural moment. Whether audiences agree will determine if this marks the beginning of a new era in Indian filmmaking or merely an expensive experiment.

  • Branquila takes flight as it lands in the UAE with full brand arsenal

    Branquila takes flight as it lands in the UAE with full brand arsenal

    MUMBAI: From building brands to breaking boundaries, Branquila is now boarding in the UAE. Branquila Brand Ventures, the creative brand management agency founded by Sandeep Dahiya in 2022, is charting international territory. The firm has officially launched operations in the UAE, bringing its full suite of brand-building offerings to one of the world’s fastest-growing business hubs.

    With services spanning brand positioning, creative execution, PR, social media, SEO, performance marketing, and licensing, Branquila isn’t arriving with baby steps, it’s jumping into the Emirates with both boots on.

    Best known for driving mandates for marquee Indian names like Endemol Shine India, Banijay Asia, Abundantia Entertainment, Madame Fashion, and Genes Lecoanet Hemant, Branquila now aims to replicate that impact in a market buzzing with entrepreneurial energy.

    “The UAE is brimming with ambition and ideas, it’s the perfect launchpad for our next chapter,” said Branquila Brand founder & CEO Ventures Dahiya. “With our core promise of making brands work for business, we’re excited to help UAE-based businesses scale, stretch, and stand out.”

    Adding firepower to the firm’s expansion is its newly announced advisory board, Brandwidth, a brain trust of industry veterans including Raj Nayak, Rajesh Kamat, Vishal Chaddha, Sudha Sarin, Jaydeep Shetty, and Anand Kumar. The council will help shape Branquila’s growth playbook while providing strategic insight to partners across sectors.

    As D2C, fashion, entertainment, and media brands look to break the clutter in the Gulf, Branquila is betting big that creativity with a little hustle travels well.

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  • Psych-ed up for scares as Abundantia and Furia forge horror pact

    Psych-ed up for scares as Abundantia and Furia forge horror pact

    MUMBAI: Get ready to sleep with the lights on, Chhorii is just the beginning. Riding high on the bone-chilling success of Chhorii 2, Abundantia Entertainment and horror maverick Vishal Furia are joining forces once again to craft a new wave of fright fests under the studio’s dedicated horror vertical, Psych.

    With critics and fans still reeling from Chhorii 2’s sinister twists and culturally grounded horror, the sequel has cemented itself as a standout in Indian horror both terrifying and thoughtful. Now, director Furia and Abundantia’s Vikram Malhotra are doubling down on the genre with a fresh slate of terrifying tales that go beyond shadows and jump scares.

    “Vishal’s storytelling is rooted, gripping and layered, he’s redefined horror for Indian audiences. Together, we’re not just making scary films. We’re building an entire universe of fear that mirrors the evolving Indian psyche,” said Malhotra, Founder and CEO of Abundantia Entertainment.

    Furia echoed the thrill: “Our journey with Chhorii has just scratched the surface. Psych is the next chapter, an incubator for stories that leave lasting chills, long after the screen goes dark.”

    The collaboration is already in motion with two films in development. One is inspired by a shocking real-life incident in urban India, while the second ventures deep into the spine-tingling realms of Indian cultural mythology.

    With Psych, Abundantia becomes one of India’s only content studios with a dedicated horror label aiming not just to entertain, but to transform how Indian viewers experience the genre. The productions will be platform-agnostic, promising edge-of-the-seat scares across OTT and theatrical screens alike.

    From emotionally intelligent hauntings to folklore-fuelled fear, this duo isn’t just raising the bar they’re raising the dead.

  • Why Abundantia’s Vikram Malhotra is looking to raise Rs 250 crore in 2025

    Why Abundantia’s Vikram Malhotra is looking to raise Rs 250 crore in 2025

    MUMBAI: It’s had an abundant share of hits. Now Abundantia Entertainment is gearing up to ramp up its slate further and is in the market to raise a nice little treasure chest of money to fund its future film and series projects. 

    Speaking to moneycontrol.com, its CEO Vikram Malhotra said that he was looking to raise Rs 200-250 crore in the first half of 2025, only one third of the investment of Rs 750 crore he has lined up for movies and series  for the company going forward.

    Abundantia has been behind some critically acclaimed  and commercially  successful films like Baby, Airlift, Toilet – Ek Prem Katha, Shakuntala Devi, Sherni, Chhorii, Jalsa, Ram Setu, Sukhee and Sarfira. Its series  Breathe which ran into three seasons and  Hush Hush which brought yesteryear super stars Juhi Chawla and Ayesha Jhulka onto streaming have got him hungry to do more. 

    “Out of the 23 titles in development actively at Abundantia right now, the next three years should see an output of 18 of them, starting with six releases in 2025,” he told Moneycontrol. “So far, we’ve had a tremendous five years in terms of creative and financial success and now the plan is to take it to the next level with the infusion of additional capital that allows us to exploit the opportunities that exist in the market.”

    Among the titles which are under developed or are on the production floor include: Amazon Prime Video’s Bhoomi Pednekar-starring Suresh Triveni-directed Daldal, the sequel to  the 2021 released Chhorii, and the Anil Kapoor-starring Suresh Triveni-directed Subedaar.  Many a talent have also been signed up by Abundantia, reveals Malhotra. Among them: Hansal Mehta (the director of the successful Scam series ) who is working on a multi season series, Gullak director Palash Vaswani who’s working on a film, Bhav Dhulia (the director behind Drishyam and Paan Singh Tomar)  who’s got a film project as well as Mayank Sharma (he directed Breathe’s three seasons) for a film. 

    Malhotra has been restructuring Abundantia and has built two verticals within it: psych for horror and paranormal stories and Filters for the young adult segment and is actively developing content under these.  

    A creative studio  called Opening Image has been launched with Suresh Triveni. The idea: focus on creating and developing differentiated content across mediums and aims at being an ecosystem for young writers and directors to flourish under Triveni’s guidance.

    This is not the first fund raise Malhotra’s attempting. He initially secured funding from Dalip Pathak’s Callista Capital and Ashok Wadhwa’s RW Media, who he later bought out. 

    Going by his track record (and despite the mixed response from movie goers that  the film industry has been receiving), Malhotra and his Abundantia should get the fund raise  through and  right – in the first take itself.

  • Abundantia Entertainment appoints Branquila

    Abundantia Entertainment appoints Branquila

    Mumbai – Abundantia Entertainment has appointed Branquila Brand Ventures (BBV) as its agency to manage the company’s corporate brand and communications mandate. Branquila will handle the brand’s comprehensive mandate, encompassing corporate brand communication strategy, digital marketing, public relations and creative communication.

    Abundantia Entertainment founder & CEO Vikram Malhotra shared his thoughts on the appointment, “We are at a pivotal moment in Abundantia’s journey. on the back of a creatively successful and financially solid last few years, we are now ready to enter a new phase of growth to expand our storytelling and business footprint. Branquila brings a fresh perspective and an innovative approach to brand marketing, and we are excited to work with Sandeep and team as we amplify Abundantia’s presence across the entertainment landscape.

    Echoing the sentiment, Abundantia Entertainment head – Marketing and Communications, Vasundhara Adukia added, “The Abundantia brand is built on the core of differentiated and progressive storytelling. Our vision for brand Abundantia is to be the preferred choice of creative and business collaborators and our work and values constantly need to reflect that. We are delighted to collaborate with Branquila, in who, we believe, we have found the right partners for the growth journey that lies ahead.”

    Branquila Brand Ventures founder & CEO Sandeep Dahiya commented, “We are excited to partner with Abundantia Entertainment, a brand known for bringing pathbreaking stories to life –  across screens, across geographies, and across genres. He further added, “Given Vikram’s vision, we’re looking forward to playing a role in Abundantia’s next phase of growth.”

  • Lionsgate, Abundantia Entertainment and EFAR Films join forces to co-produce two films in India

    Lionsgate, Abundantia Entertainment and EFAR Films join forces to co-produce two films in India

    Mumbai: Lionsgate, a global entertainment company, content development company EFAR Films and India’s leading content producer Abundantia Entertainment have come together to bring to Indian audiences two exciting movies. The first is a highly anticipated action-comedy motion picture that promises thrills and drama loaded with fun. The other film is a romantic comedy with lovable and memorable characters. Scripting is underway for both projects and exciting, top-of-the-line creative talent is being brought together to lead each title.

    Lionsgate Play Asia President Rohit Jain said, “We are delighted to collaborate with Abundantia Entertainment and EFAR Films on two exciting upcoming projects. The projects underscore our commitment to delivering innovative and culturally resonant films to audiences world over, and we are thrilled to bring this to life for our audiences in India. This is a testament to the power of gripping storytelling and the creative vision of our partners.”

    Abundantia Entertainment founder & CEO  Vikram Malhotra, said, “At Abundantia Entertainment, we are committed to producing high-quality and engaging content that is uniquely Indian and resonates with audiences globally. The two upcoming films perfectly align with this vision. We are delighted to collaborate with Global Major Studio Lionsgate and with EFAR Films to bring these stories to life in India.”

    Kavita Sharma Gandhi, Founder & CEO of EFAR Films, said, “We are delighted to be part of this exciting development alongside Lionsgate and Abundantia Entertainment. Our aim is to tell stories that are rooted in Indian ethos and culture with a universal appeal. We look forward to working together to create a memorable cinematic experience through these creative projects and this unique partnership.”

    Stay tuned for more updates on this collaboration as the production progresses.

  • Suresh Triveni launches his creative studio; Abundantia Entertainment to back the venture

    Suresh Triveni launches his creative studio; Abundantia Entertainment to back the venture

    Mumbai: Critically acclaimed director of films like “Tumhari Sulu” and “Jalsa,” Suresh Triveni on Thursday announced the formation of his creative studio and production house ‘Opening Image,’ in association with Vikram Malhotra-led Abundantia Entertainment. This alliance aims to create and produce content across mediums.

    Opening Image is set to partner with studios and platforms that share its vision of bringing high-quality stories to screens of all sizes and dimensions and is language and genre-agnostic. “The studio will be an end-to-end entity with an ability to work from idea to screen. An exciting slate of films and series is already under development at the newly-formed company and the list includes Suresh’s next directorial ventures as well as content that he’s set to showrun,” said the statement. “It will also host a first-of-its-kind script lab which will enable creators to develop their ideas with the best writers and creative minds available to collaborate with.”

    Triveni shot to fame with the popular ‘Mauka Mauka’ advertising campaign during the cricket World Cup matches between India and Pakistan. In 2017, he made his Bollywood feature film debut with the Vidya Balan-starrer “Tumhari Sulu,” a slice-of-life film, chronicling the life of an enthusiastic housewife who suddenly lands a lucrative job as a radio jockey. The film was an instant hit and swept most awards that year between the lead actor, the director and the film itself.

    “The idea of ‘Opening Image’ is to empower talent – writers, filmmakers, technicians. to offer fresh, exclusive and original stories tailored for viewers across the globe,” Suresh Triveni said. “The vision behind Opening Image is to curate disruptive stories and provide a platform for creators, especially fresh and young talent, to deliver their best. I am delighted to extend my partnership with Abundantia Entertainment and Vikram to the next level and in them, I have found the right backers for my vision.”

    The backing of Suresh Triveni’s venture is a further step in Abundantia Entertainment’s commitment to support and enable its creator partners and incubate high-potential talent, according to the statement.

    “Abundantia Entertainment believes in the power of stories and the vision of storytellers. This philosophy is strongly demonstrated in the body of work that team Abundantia has delivered in its young journey, highlighted by the recent success of ‘Jalsa,’” commented Abundantia Entertainment founder and CEO Vikram Malhotra. “Suresh has been a fabulous collaborator and friend and I am proud that we are now taking the next step in our relationship as he launches Opening Image. I am excited with the promise and potential of Opening Image and can’t wait for Suresh and the team to tell their brand of stories to the world.”

  • Abundantia Entertainment, Crypt TV partner to drive Indian horror content in 2020

    Abundantia Entertainment, Crypt TV partner to drive Indian horror content in 2020

    MUMBAI: If there is an unexplored genre in the Indian content space, it is definitely the horror genre. While movies like Stree and shows like Ghost Stories have attempted to change the space, there is room for more.

    Vikram Malhotra-headed Abundantia Entertainment is now focusing on the gap by forging a partnership with US-based Crypt TV. Under the collaboration, the partners will focus on creating new intellectual properties (IP) in India along with exporting Crypt TV’s international shows to be remade in local languages.

    Crypt TV CEO Jack Davis depicts the partnership as a goal to bring Crypt’s understanding of the genre in the country and mix it with Malhotra’s expertise of storytelling in different formats. For Abundantia, the partnership drives content strategy for 2020 and beyond.                                                         

    There is an active pipeline of digital content creation at Abundantia. Malhotra said, “We have our main feature film business, we have our streaming TV business that we are already creating content in but now the strategy is to focus on our new vertical ‘Psych’ and our largest manifestation of that in terms of the alliance with Crypt is our big drive moving forward. There is work already under development for both under feature and TV. One of the things that both the companies are aligned on is for stories to find their ways and platforms. Rather than force-fitting their content we will go where our audience is.”

    Crypt is known internationally for creating short-form horror videos such as SunnyFamily Cult, Ghosted, The Birch, and The Look-See for Facebook and YouTube. Crypt’s entry into the Indian market will be driven by creating feature films and long-form streaming content. Abundantia has made superhit movies like Airlift and Toilet: Ek Prem Katha and also web shows like Breathe in India.

    “Abundantia has always been paramount to understanding the progressive evolving Indian audience. We identify this genre containing significant native demand where the young audience is considered. We reciprocate Crypt’s understanding of this genre, their expertise in it and their belief in India and its size. So, the whole idea is taking our local context, our experience in telling stories out of India and match and marry that with the expertise that Crypt TV brings in of telling scary stories and to create locally relevant and contextually heavy insight-driven stories,” says Abundantia Entertainment CEO Vikram Malhotra.

    Davis who is ecstatic to partner with Abundantia hopes to create local stories and local versions of the characters and new stories that usually start local but end up becoming so successful that they become international themselves.

    “In India, there is an unbelievably rich tradition and passion for telling stories and there is a long history of unbelievable respect for storytellers, fantastic actors and directors. Earlier there was a barrier in the media industry. It was fragmented. That has changed now because of the streamers. It means new opportunity here in India. Also, combine the internet connectivity with the rich history and there is ample space for scary,” states Davis.

    While there is a surge of horror content in India, the challenge is to make it mainstream entertainment medium. Malhotra, who holds a track record of success and telling stories in TV and movies, believes that the best way to command the attention of potential and existing audience is to create stories that people relate to. They should able to see themselves or the people around them in that story. Today it’s not only about 2 hours or 10 minutes of consumption it’s also about what people take back and talk amongst themselves.

    “Nothing is driving my interest in the region besides respect for the stories here and the fact that I have found the right partner in Vikram. I am sure more people would want to invest in Crypt by seeing what we are doing in India. Our decision to come here is not at all based in the investors but because of the stories we can create,” Davis sums up.

    When asked about the change from creating content for movies to now creating it for web, Malhotra said, “Fundamentally what every Indian is looking for is entertainment that is intellectually stimulating. It could be scary entertainment or it could be a slice of life entertainment, but one of the things that we have seen consistently is that irrespective of the duration and manner of that story, what connects is the character and the emotion. When you are doing long format episodic content your ability to connect is that much higher. Therefore, the pressure to deliver is also higher.”

  • Akshay Kumar makes his digital debut with Amazon’s upcoming Prime Original series ‘THE END’

    Akshay Kumar makes his digital debut with Amazon’s upcoming Prime Original series ‘THE END’

    MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video today announced Indian Superstar, Akshay Kumar, as lead actor in Amazon’s upcoming action-packed Prime Original thriller series, THE END (working title). Coming from Abundantia Entertainment, the creators of critically acclaimed Prime Original Series, Breathe, the show, also the streaming debut of Akshay Kumar marks the second collaboration between Amazon Prime Video and Abundantia Entertainment. The new series will be a globe-spanning, latest offering to the actor’s fans across 200 countries and territories upon its release exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.

    The multi-season show, THE END (working title), is presently under active development and aims to appeal to fans of the action-thriller genre worldwide. Being envisioned at an unprecedented scale and cinematic experience, the show promises to bring in the next level of the action genre.

     Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said, “The scale at which THE END (working title) is being conceived is enormous and speaks of our passion for creating breakout programming across genres. The storyline and the action sequences have been brilliantly crafted to give viewers a thrilling experience. Our goal is to make Amazon Prime Video the powerhouse of talent, in front as well as behind the camera, and we are thrilled to have Akshay Kumar and Abundantia Entertainment anchoring the show for us. We will continue to bring distinctive, fresh and high quality content to our audiences and we believe, our Prime members across the world are going to absolutely love the show.”

    Amazon Prime Video India director and head of content Vijay Subramaniam said, “We are excited to bring Akshay Kumar to Amazon Prime Video, closer to millions of his global fans, to recreate his magic and offer something spectacular”.

    Abundantia Entertainment CEO and executive producer Vikram Malhotra said, “Akshay and I have successfully collaborated on multiple films over the last decade and his versatility in choice of roles is unmatched. We, now, mutually felt that it was time to take things to the next level. I am proud that he makes his digital debut with Amazon Prime Video & Abundantia in a genre-defining, edge-of-the-seat action drama series. Unafraid of taking risks, we are certain that he would be perfect for the character he plays on the show and his fans would be excited to see him back in an action packed role. This time, Akshay will take his action and stunts to a never-seen-before level. I am equally delighted to once again work with the wonderful team at Amazon Prime Video and take Abundantia’s high-quality story-telling to the next level.”

    Actor Akshay Kumar said, “I have always believed in bringing innovation to my work and throughout my career, have tried to tell unique stories, work with break-through talent and be part of disruptive and high quality story-telling.  Together, Abundantia and I have created some of my most memorable roles in films like Baby, Airlift and Toilet-Ek Prem Katha and their passion towards their films and projects is incredible. From the very concept of the show, I am working very closely with Vikram and his team as they create this compelling and highly intriguing story. I can’t wait to start rolling for this action adventure series that will be Amazon Original for global audiences. The digital world excited me and I am delighted to make my streaming debut with this show. And if I were to make a small confession here, it was my son Aarav who suggested that I make my digital debut as that’s what the youth is hooked onto. On this medium, I want to create something extraordinary and connect with them”.

    Amazon Prime Video has the largest selection of latest & exclusive movies and TV shows, stand-up comedy, biggest Indian and Hollywood films, US TV series, most popular Indian & international kids’ shows, and award-winning Amazon Prime Originals, all available, ad-free, with a world class customer experience. Besides Kannada, the platform also includes titles available in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Bengali.