Reliance Industries–backed Jio Studios has acquired a 50.1% stake in award winning production house Sikhya Entertainment for ₹150 crore, marking a strategic push to strengthen its presence in creator-led and globally recognised cinema.
The investment has been executed through Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited (RSBVL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, via a mix of primary and secondary transactions.
Strengthening Premium Content Play
Founded by producers Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain, Sikhya Entertainment has carved a distinct position in Indian cinema with its focus on independent, story-driven films that have achieved both critical acclaim and global visibility.
Sikhya is the only Indian production house to have won two Academy Awards, for Period. End of Sentence. and The Elephant Whisperers. Its portfolio also includes multiple National Film Award winning titles such as Masaan, Soorarai Pottru, and Kathal. Other notable films from its slate include The Lunchbox, Pagglait, and Kill.
Strategic Fit for Jio Studios
For Jio Studios, the acquisition aligns with its strategy of blending scale-driven distribution with high-quality storytelling. The studio has previously backed mainstream successes such as Stree, along with content-centric films including Laapataa Ladies and Dhurandhar.
Jyoti Deshpande, President of Jio Studios, said the partnership brings together Sikhya’s creative excellence with Jio’s distribution strength and platform reach, with the aim of expanding the global footprint of Indian cinema.
Creative Independence Retained
Sikhya’s founders said the partnership would allow the company to retain creative autonomy while benefiting from Jio Studios’ ecosystem, including wider theatrical, digital, and international distribution. The production house plans to continue supporting emerging filmmakers and producing content across languages and formats.
Why It Matters
The deal underscores a growing trend among large media conglomerates to invest in creator first studios with proven global credibility. As streaming platforms and theatrical releases increasingly converge, partnerships such as this are expected to play a key role in exporting Indian stories to international audiences while maintaining creative depth.
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