In this episode of The Media Room, Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with Nikkhil Advani, filmmaker and founder of Emmay Entertainment, for a wide-ranging conversation on storytelling, stardom, and the shifting economics of the Indian film industry.

Nikkhil reflects on his journey from films like Kal Ho Naa Ho to building a content studio that has delivered projects such as Rocket Boys, Mumbai Diaries, and Freedom at Midnight. He shares how the company is evolving as it marks 15 years, with a slate of ambitious new projects spanning streaming and theatrical releases.

The conversation dives into the realities of filmmaking today - from the continued dominance of star-led economics in theatrical releases to the challenges of scaling the Hindi film industry globally. Nikkhil explains why India still remains a relatively small player on the global stage, the importance of expanding screen infrastructure, and how subscription behaviour and platform strategies are shaping content decisions.

They also explore the creative process behind modern storytelling - how feedback loops with platforms work, why collaboration is essential, and how research-driven writing is shaping both historical and contemporary narratives. Nikkhil discusses the balance between creative instinct and data, and why understanding audiences has become more complex in a fragmented, content-heavy ecosystem.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & Nikkhil’s Journey

04:25 – Upcoming projects & Emmay Entertainment slate

06:36 – Scaling content: 15 projects and OTT focus

16:18 – Feedback loops, platforms & collaboration in OTT

21:57 – Theatrical comeback & audience behaviour

27:58 – Stardom vs acting & working with big stars

30:50 – Casting decisions & the economics of stars

34:40 – Film community, collaboration & industry conversations

38:47 – Size of the industry & global positioning

40:57 – OTT economics & subscription behaviour in India

42:52 – Advice to filmmakers & creative process

46:56 – Business model, funding & future ambitions

#TheMediaRoom #VanitaKohliKhandekar #NikkhilAdvani #Bollywood #IndianCinema #FilmIndustry #OTT #Streaming #ContentIsKing #Stardom #BoxOffice #WordOfMouth #Filmmaking #Storytelling #MediaBusiness #EntertainmentIndustry #Cinema #OTTvsTheatrical #DigitalContent #WebSeries #IndianContent #FilmBusiness #FutureOfCinema #PodcastEpisode

In this episode of The Media Room, Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with Vinit Karnik, Head of Entertainment & Sports at WPP Media, for a deep dive into the economics of India’s fast-growing sports ecosystem.

Vinit unpacks key insights from WPP’s Sporting Nation report, including India’s sports sponsorship economy crossing the ₹2 billion mark and the overwhelming dominance of cricket, which accounts for nearly 80% of the market. He explains how media rights, advertising, and athlete endorsements are driving growth, and why the IPL continues to be one of the most valuable sports properties in the country.

The conversation explores the challenges facing emerging sports like football, kabaddi, and badminton, from governance and infrastructure gaps to the difficulty of building consistent star power. Vinit also breaks down the evolving business of cricket - from rising franchise valuations and media rights economics to the long-term potential of new revenue streams such as non-live content and fan monetisation.

They also discuss the role of advertisers, the importance of grassroots investment, and why sports remains one of the few categories that can guarantee large-scale appointment viewing in an increasingly fragmented media landscape.

If you want to understand how India’s sports economy is evolving, where the money is coming from, and what the future of sports monetisation looks like - this episode is essential viewing.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction & Sporting Nation Report

01:26 – Sports Sponsorship Crosses ₹2 Billion

04:41 – What Makes Up the ₹18,800 Crore Economy

06:13 – Why Emerging Sports Are Declining

10:03 – Infrastructure, Governance & Athlete Development

13:46 – Why Leagues Like PKL & Badminton Struggle

15:53 – The Role of Federations & Star Power

17:35 – India’s Football Potential vs Reality

19:11 – IPL Rights, Losses & Valuation Debate

22:33 – Franchise Valuations & Investment Logic

25:42 – Can IPL Reach Global Valuation Levels?

28:36 – New Revenue Streams in Sports

30:01 – Key Takeaways for Advertisers & Marketers

31:49 – Closing Thoughts

#TheMediaRoom #VanitaKohliKhandekar #VinitKarnik #IPL #IndianPremierLeague #SportsEconomy #SportsBusiness #CricketIndia #SportsMarketing #SportsAdvertising #MediaRights #SportsIndustry #IndianSports #SportsTrends #WPP #SportingNation #KabaddiLeague #FootballIndia #BadmintonIndia #AthleteEndorsements #FanEngagement #OTT #MediaBusiness #AdvertisingIndustry #ContentEconomy #SportsAnalytics #PodcastEpisode

In this episode of The Media Room, Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with Ashish Pherwani, Head of Media & Entertainment at EY, for a deep dive into the latest FICCI-EY report and what it reveals about the state of India’s media and entertainment industry.

Ashish breaks down the key trends shaping the sector, from the industry crossing ₹2.7 trillion to digital media emerging as the first segment to surpass the ₹1 lakh crore mark. He explains how advertising growth, government-led consumption, and the rise of SMEs are driving momentum, while also unpacking the evolving balance between television, digital, and emerging formats.

The conversation also explores shifts in consumer behaviour, the rise of connected TV and short-form content, and the growing importance of live experiences—from cinema to large-scale events. They discuss how monetisation models are evolving across platforms, why innovation in ad formats and content formats is accelerating, and what this means for both legacy and digital-first media companies.

From investments and consolidation trends to India’s potential as a global back-end for media services, Ashish outlines where the next wave of growth could come from—and why content quality remains the industry’s most critical driver in an increasingly crowded, AI-driven landscape.

If you want to understand where India’s media industry is headed, what’s driving growth across segments, and how business models are evolving—this episode is essential viewing.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction

01:00 – India’s Media Industry at ₹2.7 Trillion

03:30 – Digital Media Crosses ₹1 Lakh Crore

06:00 – What’s Driving Ad Growth

08:30 – TV vs Digital: The Big Shift

11:00 – Rise of Connected TV & Short-Form

13:30 – Changing Consumer Behaviour

16:00 – Cinema, Events & Live Experiences

18:30 – Monetisation Challenges

21:00 – Innovation in Content & Advertising

23:30 – Investments & Industry Structure

26:00 – Future Outlook for Media in India

28:30 – Closing Thoughts

#TheMediaRoom #AshishPherwani #MediaIndustry #FICCIEYReport #IndianMedia #DigitalGrowth #AdvertisingIndustry #OTTIndustry #TelevisionIndustry #ConnectedTV #MediaBusiness #ContentEconomy #EntertainmentIndustry #StreamingTrends #MediaTrends #IndiaGrowth #ContentStrategy #MediaInnovation #PodcastEpisode

In this episode of The Media Room, Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with Toshit Panigrahi, CEO - Co-Founder of Tollbit, for a deep dive into how AI is reshaping the economics of digital publishing and content monetisation.Toshit explains how large language models and AI platforms are changing the way content is accessed, distributed and consumed - often without directly compensating the publishers who create it. He breaks down the growing disconnect between content creators and AI-driven platforms, and why this shift is forcing the industry to rethink long-standing models of attribution, traffic and revenue.The conversation explores how Tollbit is building infrastructure to help publishers regain control, enabling them to track, price and monetise their content in an AI-first internet. Toshit also shares insights on licensing frameworks, the evolving relationship between tech platforms and media companies, and why transparency and fair value exchange will be critical in the next phase of the internet.If you want to understand how AI will impact publishers, who really owns content in an algorithm-driven world, and what sustainable monetisation could look like going forward—this episode is essential listening.Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:12 - What Tollbit Does03:45 - How AI Is Changing Content Consumption07:20 - The Publisher vs AI Platform Problem11:05 - Who Owns Content in an AI World?15:30 - Monetising Content Beyond Traffic19:10 - How Tollbit Helps Publishers Get Paid23:40 - Licensing, Attribution & Fair Value25:15 - The Future of Digital Publishing26:27 - Closing Thoughts#TheMediaRoom #ToshitPanigrahi #TollBit #AI #ContentMonetisation #digitalpublishing #mediabusiness #AIandMedia #futureofmedia #ContentEconomy #publishingindustry #TechAndMedia #aiplatforms #mediainnovation #digitaleconomy

In this episode of The Media Room, Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with Monika Shergill, VP - Content at Netflix India, for a deep dive into the strategy, data, and creative thinking behind one of the world’s biggest streaming platforms.

Monika discusses key insights unveiled at Netflix’s Next on Netflix showcase, revealing how the platform is thinking about its upcoming slate, genre mix, and audience-first programming approach. She breaks down how viewer behaviour is evolving, why Indian stories are travelling globally, and what really drives decisions - from greenlighting shows to backing creators and identifying breakout hits.

The conversation also explores major titles and industry signals, from global phenomena like Squid Game and Money Heist to Indian successes such as Kohra and films like Laapataa Ladies - illustrating how content now travels beyond language, geography, and traditional market boundaries.

If you want to understand where streaming is headed, how platforms decide what gets made, and what the next wave of entertainment will look like - this episode is essential viewing.

00:00 — Introduction02:10 — Netflix Strategy & Next on Netflix Insights07:00 — Changing Audience Behaviour10:13 — How Shows Get Greenlit13:37 — Films vs Series Strategy16:07 — Global Viewing & Language Trends21:30 — The Real Competition for Streaming24:00 — Creator Myths vs Reality30:00 — The Future of Streaming in India

#TheMediaRoom #NetflixIndia #MonikaShergill #StreamingWars #OTTIndustry #NextOnNetflix #DigitalEntertainment #MediaBusiness #ContentStrategy #IndianContent #GlobalStreaming #OTTPlatforms #EntertainmentIndustry #StreamingTrends #BingeWatch #WebSeries #FilmIndustry #CreatorEconomy #AudienceInsights #PodcastEpisode

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In this episode of The Media Room, host Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with film historian, author and documentary filmmaker Nasreen Munni Kabir about her lifelong journey documenting, curating and championing Hindi cinema for global audiences. From introducing British viewers to Indian films through her landmark Channel 4 series Movie Mahal to serving on the board of the British Film Institute, Nasreen reflects on how cinema became a cultural bridge for diaspora communities long before the internet connected the world.

They discuss what makes Hindi cinema uniquely enduring, how film songs sustained identity for immigrants abroad, and why classic filmmakers like Bimal Roy and Mehboob Khan continue to shape storytelling today. The episode also explores her work documenting icons such as Shah Rukh Khan, Lata Mangeshkar and Zakir Hussain, her collaborations with artists like Gulzar and A. R. Rahman, and what studying film masters reveals about craft, emotion and longevity.

The conversation further dives into criticism, authorship, preservation, and why cinema remains one of the most powerful cultural connectors across generations and geographies. Nasreen shares insights on what today’s filmmakers can learn from the past, and why understanding film history is essential to shaping its future.

Like, share and comment with your thoughts on Hindi cinema, film history and global audiences, and subscribe to The Media Room for more deep-dive conversations at the intersection of media, culture, business and storytelling.

#TheMediaRoom #NasreenMunniKabir #VanitaKohliKhandekar #HindiCinema #FilmHistory #IndianCinema #GlobalCinema #MovieCulture #FilmMasters #CinemaStudies #BollywoodHistory #FilmLovers #MediaPodcast #CinemaTalk #FilmLegacy

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In this episode of The Media Room, host Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with Vishnu Mohta, Co-founder of Hoichoi and Executive Director at SVF Entertainment, about building one of India’s most successful regional OTT platforms. The conversation traces Hoichoi’s journey as a Bengali-only streaming service and how a deep focus on one language and audience has enabled sustainable, profitable growth.

They discuss why Hoichoi backed a subscription-first model early, how it reached profitability ahead of larger platforms, and what makes the Bengali market unique across India, Bangladesh and the global diaspora. The episode also explores Hoichoi’s scale of original production, genre trends, the role of SVF’s 30-year legacy, and why creating viewing habits matters more than chasing blockbuster hits.

The discussion touches on experiments with TV-plus formats, micro-payments, audio storytelling, micro-dramas and the use of AI in content creation, alongside candid insights on regional OTT economics, IP ownership, monetisation challenges and why disciplined growth beats rapid scale.

#TheMediaRoom #VanitaKohliKhandekar #VishnuMohta #Hoichoi #SVFEntertainment #RegionalOTT #BengaliCinema #IndianStreaming #OTTBusiness #MediaBusiness #ContentEconomy #IndianMedia #StreamingPlatforms #RegionalContent #FutureOfStreaming

Like, share and comment with your thoughts on the changing economics of Indian cinema, and subscribe to The Media Room for more deep-dive conversations at the intersection of media, business, data and culture.

Register for India Finance and Innovation Forum 2026

https://tinyurl.com/IFIFCORE

In this episode of The Media Room, host Vanita Kohli-Kandekar sits down with Shailesh Kapoor, Founder and CEO of Ormax Media, to decode what the numbers really say about Indian cinema in 2025. Drawing from the Ormax Box Office Report, the conversation unpacks a landmark year that saw the domestic box office cross ₹13,000 crore for the first time ever, alongside a sharp resurgence of Hindi cinema and a healthier, multi-genre mix of successful films.

They discuss why footfalls are falling even as revenues rise, how rising ticket prices and “event films” are reshaping movie-going habits, and what’s behind the stagnation in parts of South Indian cinema. The episode also explores the surprise growth of Gujarati cinema, the growing importance of franchise films, why audience habits have weakened post-pandemic, and how OTT has emerged as a parallel national market even as theatrical cinema remains language-driven.

The conversation further examines whether India truly functions as one national box office, why Hollywood has become the most pan-Indian theatrical player, and what these shifts mean for the future of film production, distribution and audience behaviour in India.

Like, share and comment with your thoughts on the changing economics of Indian cinema, and subscribe to The Media Room for more deep-dive conversations at the intersection of media, business, data and culture.

#TheMediaRoom #VanitaKohliKandekar #ShaileshKapoor #OrmaxMedia #IndianCinema #BoxOffice #FilmBusiness #HindiCinema #RegionalCinema #GujaratiCinema #SouthCinema #OTT #TheatricalCinema #MediaBusiness #EntertainmentIndustry