Digital
Ram Madhvani takes a virtual leap of faith with India’s first mythological AI-VR universe
MUMBAI: Ram Madhvani, the maverick behind Neerja and Aarya, is swapping film reels for headsets with the launch of Equinox Virtual — India’s first AI-powered spiritual and mythological VR content universe. Kicking things off is a jaw-dropping AI-driven adaptation of the Bhagavad Gita, already in private preview and promising to teleport audiences straight into the heart of the Kurukshetra battlefield, all without leaving their living room.
But this is no one-off experiment. With 24 more films in the pipeline and an audacious target of 100 VR titles by 2028, Madhvani is building what could be the most ambitious fusion of technology, tradition, and theology ever attempted in Indian entertainment.
“In theatres, we experience magic. At home, we have scale and comfort. But in personal viewing, we are often watching stories on split screens, sharing attention with emails, calls, or messages,” said Equinox Virtual co-founder Ram Madhvani. “With VR, especially powered by AI, we have a chance to restore the sanctity of immersive storytelling—even in a solitary experience. And what better canvas than our own epics that have lived through centuries—spiritual texts that remain culturally resonant to this day?”
The Equinox slate isn’t just myth for myth’s sake, it’s a meditative deep-dive into spirituality, devotion, and Indian culture, designed for the headset generation. Think cosmic narratives, AI-built temples, immersive meditations, and Gita verses wrapped in digital wonder.
Known for his Cannes Lions, National Awards, and a knack for turning ideas into impact, Madhvani is now scripting what may be his boldest chapter yet, one where Ram meets RAM, and dharma goes digital.
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Digital
OpenAI’s Stargate lead Peter Hoeschele exits with two senior leaders
Trio behind compute push set to join new startup amid leadership reshuffle
SAN FRANCISCO: Peter Hoeschele, a key figure behind OpenAI’s early Stargate data centre initiative, has exited the company, according to a report by The Information.
The departure is part of a broader leadership shift, with two other senior executives, Shamez Hemani and Anuj Saharan, also set to leave in the coming days. All three are expected to join the same new startup, although details about the venture remain under wraps.
The trio played a central role in OpenAI’s Stargate effort, an initiative aimed at building large-scale data centre capacity in-house to reduce reliance on external infrastructure providers. Their exits mark a notable moment for the company’s compute strategy as it continues to scale rapidly.
OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement to The Information, “We’re grateful for the contributions Peter, Shamez, and Anuj have made to OpenAI and wish them the very best in what comes next.” The company also pointed to the recent appointment of Sachin Katti to lead its industrial compute organisation, signalling continuity in its infrastructure roadmap.
OpenAI has indicated that it does not plan to directly replace Hoeschele’s role, suggesting a possible restructuring of responsibilities within the team.
As competition intensifies in the race to build next-generation AI systems, leadership changes in core infrastructure teams are likely to draw close attention. For now, the spotlight shifts to what this departing trio builds next, and how OpenAI adapts as it scales its ambitions.
