Digital
SBI Life Insurance launches its very first ‘LifeVerse Studio’
Mumbai: In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the next generation of the internet- ‘metaverse’ represents a paradigm shift in the way people connect, interact and experience in the online world. SBI Life Insurance, one of the most trusted private life insurers in the country, recently launched its very first ‘LifeVerse Studio’, on Metaverse to connect with the next wave of young internet users and revolutionize consumer experience in an immersive virtual world. The objective behind the move is to connect, empower and engage with today’s new age consumers and reshape brand interactions. To further strengthen its commitment towards empowering both the employees & consumers at large, the company aims to launch its presence on metaverse in phases, SBI Life’s ‘LifeVerse Studio’ being the first phase.
By seamlessly incorporating a spectrum of technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and other innovative digital mediums, being available on metaverse continues to transform consumer its transformative journey across diverse industries. In this wave of innovation, the life insurance sector stands as no exception.
SBI Life’s ‘LifeVerse Studio’ is designed for the users to create their avatars to connect with a diverse set of audiences. The users can select from a wide range of interesting avatars and showcase their creative self on the platform through their avatars. This new initiative presents captivating content and stories featuring personalities such as Anshula Kapoor, Durjoy Datta, Anushka Rathod, and Tejas Joshi, allowing users to immerse themselves in inspirational narratives about these influential individuals and liberate them to fulfil their aspirations while they take care of their existing responsibilities. Furthermore, the Avatars can interact in real-time, fostering vibrant communities of like-minded individuals.
At the launch of SBI Life’s ‘LifeVerse Studio’, SBI Life Insurance chief of brand, corporate communication & CSR Ravindra Sharma said, “As a customer-centric organization, we, at SBI Life are committed to advancing digital innovations that enhances customer experiences. We have always been looking forward to take progressive steps to connect with our customers wherever they are present and available for interaction. Foraying into Metaverse by launching SBI Life’s very first ‘ LifeVerse Studio’, we embark on a new & transformative journey that not only reshapes perception towards life insurance but also redefines brand-consumer interactions. In the era of digital transformation, the metaverse emerges as a beacon of innovation, revolutionizing online engagement. SBI Life’s ‘LifeVerse Studio’ represents our enthusiastic foray into this innovative space, promising a positive impact on our valued customers and cultivate meaningful engagements.”
He further added, “Through SBI Life’s ‘LifeVerse Studio,’ we embrace the new platform to empower our customers, enabling them to connect, explore, and be inspired in a truly immersive manner. We also aim to transcend conventional boundaries, overcome geographical barriers and extend our reach to every corner of the country, employing imaginative and making a meaningful impact on consumer’s financial well-being.”
Dentsu Creative president digital experience Sahil Shah said, “Metaverse is not just a technological evolution; it’s a paradigm shift in how we connect and engage online. With SBI Life’s ‘ LifeVerse Studio’, we are stepping into the future of brand communication where passions unite and immersive interactions bring people together like never before. Phase 1, i.e. SBI Life’s ‘LifeVerse Studio’, is just the beginning of our journey to create a virtual space that fosters meaningful connections between passion chasers and our audience in the metaverse. It’s an exciting step towards building a community that thrives on shared interests and experiences.”
Digital
Content India 2026 opens with a copro pitch, a spice evangelist and a £10,000 prize for Indian storytelling
Dish TV and C21Media’s three-day summit puts seven ambitious projects before an international jury, and two walk away with serious development money
MUMBAI: India’s content industry gathered in Mumbai this March for Content India 2026, a three-day summit organised by Dish TV in partnership with C21Media, and it wasted no time making a statement. The event opened with a Copro Pitch that put seven scripted and unscripted television concepts before an international panel of judges, and by the end of it, two projects had walked away with £10,000 each in marketing prize money from C21Media to support development and international promotion.
The jury, comprising Frank Spotnitz, Fiona Campbell, Rashmi Bajpai, Bal Samra and Rachel Glaister, evaluated a shortlist that ranged from a dark Mumbai comedy-drama about mental health (Dirty Minds, created by Sundar Aaron) to a Delhi coming-of-age mystery (Djinn Patrol, by Neha Sharma and Kilian Irwin), a techno-thriller about a teenage gaming prodigy (Kanpur X Satori, by Suchita Bhatia), an investigative crime drama blending mythology and modern thriller (The Age of Kali, by Shivani Bhatija), a documentary on India’s spice heritage (The Masala Quest, hosted by Sarina Kamini), a documentary on competitive gaming (Respawn: India’s Esports Revolution, by George Mangala Thomas and Sangram Mawari), and a reality-horror competition merging gaming and immersive fear (Scary Goose, by Samar Iqbal).
The session was hosted by Mayank Shekhar.
The two winners were Djinn Patrol, backed by Miura Kite, formerly of Participant Media and known for Chinatown and Keep Sweet: Pray & Obey, with Jaya Entertainment, producers of Real Kashmir Football Club, also attached; and The Masala Quest, created and hosted by Sarina Kamini, an Indian-Australian cook, author and self-described “spice evangelist.”
The summit also unveiled the Content India Trends Report, whose findings made for bracing reading. Daoud Jackson, senior analyst at OMDIA, set the tone: “By 2030, online video in India will nearly double the revenue of traditional TV, becoming the main driver of growth.” He noted that in 2025, India produced a quarter of all YouTube videos globally, overtaking the United States, while Indians collectively spend 117 years daily on YouTube and 72 years on Instagram. Traditional subscription TV is declining as free TV and connected TV gain ground, forcing broadcasters to innovate. “AI-generated content is just 2 per cent of engagement,” Jackson added, “highlighting the dominance of high-quality human content. The key for Indian media companies is scaling while monetising effectively from day one.”
Hannah Walsh, principal analyst at Ampere Analysis, added hard numbers to the picture. India produced over 24,000 titles in January 2026 alone, with 19,000 available internationally. The country now accounts for 12 per cent of Asia-Pacific content spend, up from 8 per cent in 2021, outpacing both Japan and China. Key exporters include JioStar, Zee Entertainment, Sony India, Amazon and Netflix, delivering over 7,500 Indian-produced titles abroad each year. The top importing markets are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, the United States and the Philippines. Scripted content dominates globally at 88 per cent, with crime dramas and children’s and family titles performing particularly strongly.
Manoj Dobhal, chief executive and executive director of Dish TV India, framed the summit’s ambition squarely. “Stories don’t need translation. They need a platform, discovery, and reach, local or global,” he said. “India produces more movies than any country, our streaming platforms compete globally, and our tech and creators win international awards. Yet fragmentation slows growth. Producers, platforms, and tech move in different lanes. We need shared spaces, collaboration, and an ecosystem where ideas, technology, and people meet. That is why we built Content India.”
The data, the pitches and the prize money all pointed to the same conclusion: India is not waiting for the world to discover its stories. It is building the infrastructure to sell them.
