India's media & entertainment industry to reach $100 bn within next decade, Says Mukesh Ambani

Billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani on Thursday estimated that India's media and entertainment industry could grow more than threefold in value to $100 billion over the next decade, unlocking millions of jobs and spurring growth in other industries.

Addressing the opening session of the WAVES 2025 conference, Ambani underscored that the intersection of storytelling and advanced digital technology is a potent economic and cultural force for the country.

"India's media and entertainment sector today is worth approximately $28 billion. This figure can increase to more than $100 billion in the next decade with continued innovation and investment," Ambani said, whose Reliance Group holds a significant majority in Network18 and other digital and streaming media.

He portrayed India as a world digital leader where content creation is flourishing due to an intersection of technology and tradition. "We are well-positioned—our storytelling heritage integrates perfectly with new tools such as AI and immersive tech, enabling our stories to travel faster, farther, and in more engaging ways than ever before."

Ambani asserted that India's next generation creators, who would be empowered through technology, will become world champions in entertainment. "With energy and imagination, they can give global blockbusters that have Indian spirit," he said.

In a world torn apart by uncertainty and division, he said, Indian tales provide a source of hope, unity, and meaning. "Our tales don't merely entertain—they inspire, heal, and bring us together. They embody timeless human values: compassion, courage, love, and a profound respect for nature."

Borrowing from India's ancient traditions of storytelling—ranging from epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata to the folklores in multiple languages—Ambani declared that there is no other nation with such a rich and emotionally charged storytelling pool. "India's storytelling is unparalleled, and confidently and creatively, we need to take these stories to the world.

He also added that today's India is experiencing a cultural renaissance driven by digital technologies. "We are seeing a dynamic fusion of our 5,000-year-old civilizational heritage with 21st-century innovation."

Addressing the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Ambani praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence at the summit, calling it a “powerful symbol of unity and resilience.” He offered condolences to the families of the victims and voiced strong support for the government’s counter-terror efforts. “You have the unwavering backing of 145 crore Indians, Modi ji. The enemies of peace will not succeed. India will prevail.”

Wrapping up his speech, Ambani brought up the global scale of the WAVES 2025 event, mentioning presence from 90 countries and 10,000 delegates. "This reflects the energy of a New India—bold in its ambitions, swift in execution, and determined to set benchmarks that the world will follow."