MAM
Content India 2026 set to gather global media heavyweights in Mumbai
Dish TV and C21Media summit to spotlight commissioning, AI and global partnerships in India’s booming content industry
MUMBAI: Content India 2026 is gearing up to bring the country’s media powerbrokers under one roof. The three-day summit, organised by Dish TV India in partnership with C21Media, will run from March 16 to 18 at Taj Lands’ End, positioning itself as a high-octane meeting ground for broadcasters, streamers, studios and digital-first companies shaping the next phase of India’s entertainment economy.
The event aims to capture the accelerating global momentum around Indian content, bringing together industry leaders from across India and overseas to debate trends, forge partnerships and examine the future of the entertainment ecosystem.
Manoj Dobhal, ceo and executive director of Dish TV India, said the industry has reached a crucial inflection point. “Indian content has reached a pivotal point in the global market. As creators, platforms and studios focus on building stronger intellectual properties and forming international partnerships, the need for in-depth, results-driven dialogues is more crucial than ever. Content India 2026 will unite these voices to chart the next phase of the industry’s growth.”
Over three days, the summit will dive into commissioning strategies, production trends, monetisation models, cross-border collaborations, technology shifts and the growing importance of intellectual property in global entertainment.
A flagship session titled “State of the Indian Entertainment Nation” will explore the challenges and opportunities reshaping the content landscape. Speakers include Shilangi Mukherji, director and head of svod business at Prime Video; Anuj Gandhi, chief business officer for digital entertainment services at Reliance Jio; Deepak Dhar, founder and group ceo of Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine Asia; and Ashish Sehgal, ceo of Times TV Network.
Another highlight is the “Content India Co-Pro Pitch”, where early-stage scripted and unscripted projects seeking global partners will be showcased. Two winning projects—one scripted and one unscripted—will receive a £10,000 marketing prize. The judging panel includes Frank Spotnitz, ceo and founder of Big Light Productions; Fiona Campbell, director of factual at BBC Content; Rashmi Bajpai, evp Asia at Banijay Rights; Bal Samra, chairman of Big Deal Films; and Rachel Glaister, evp international brands and press at All3Media International.
Commissioning strategies will also come under scrutiny in a session examining what Indian buyers want from new content. Speakers include Sahira Nair, head of Hindi scripted series at Prime Video India; Rajaraman Sundaram, chief content officer south at Sony Pictures Networks India; Sai Abishek, head of factual entertainment at Warner Bros. Discovery South Asia; and Vishnu Mohta, co-founder of Hoichoi.
Production veterans will also dissect the mechanics of getting shows made and funded, with insights from Sunder Aaron, managing partner at Locomotive Global; Parveen Dusanj-Bedi, founder and md of CreativeNation; Roopak Saluja, founder of BANG BANG TV; Tarun Sawhney, president apac at ShortsTV; and filmmaker Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury.
Technology, particularly generative AI, will also dominate discussions. A dedicated panel on using AI to supercharge content creation will feature Dipankar Mukherjee, ceo and co-founder of Studio Blo; Prateek Arora, vp of development at BANG BANG TV; Anshul Vikram Pandey, founder and chairman of PanScience Group; Saiteja Alampally, founder and ceo of One Immersive; and Vipul Agrawal, founder and ceo of Mugafi.
The summit will also feature a fireside chat with Sameer Nair, managing director of Applause Entertainment, focusing on the evolution of Indian storytelling, intellectual property and AI-driven production.
Ashish Sehgal said the gathering arrives at a critical moment for the sector. “Content remains the core currency of our industry, and as discovery, distribution and monetisation evolve rapidly, the real opportunity lies in forging stronger partnerships and scalable models that power the next phase of India’s content growth.”
Anuj Gandhi echoed the sentiment. “Content India 2026 comes at a pivotal moment for our industry. As content creation, distribution and consumption evolve at scale, platforms like this play a critical role in aligning the ecosystem, encouraging collaboration and unlocking the next wave of growth in India’s content economy.”
With decision-makers, creators and investors converging in Mumbai, Content India 2026 is positioning itself as more than a conference. It aims to be a deal-making arena where ideas collide, partnerships form and the next chapter of India’s global entertainment rise begins to take shape.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI: Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
