Film Production
Banijay Asia and Collective Artists Network collaborate to script India’s biggest creator-led universe
MUMBAI: In a major move to redefine the creator economy in India, Banijay Asia, one of India’s leading content powerhouses, has joined hands with Collective Artists Network, the country’s premier talent and creator company, to launch a first-of-its-kind creator-led content and IP engine.
This landmark collaboration will conceptualize, develop, and produce creator-first and creator-controlled properties across scripted, unscripted, branded, and digital-first formats — spanning long-form shows, short-form skits, micro-dramas, and vertical social content.
At the heart of this alliance lies the powerful convergence of creators, content, and commerce — leveraging Collective Artists Network’s expansive creator and brand network, and Banijay Asia’s expertise in content creation and production at scale.
The collaboration has already onboarded leading creators like Aisha Ahmed, Dolly Singh, and Kashish to develop brand-friendly content. Collective is also in active conversations with large FMCG and E-commerce advertisers to co-create high-impact, culturally resonant content that merges entertainment with brand purpose.
Deepak Dhar, Founder & Group CEO, Banijay Asia &EndemolShine India said: “This partnership marks a bold new chapter in content creation — where creators are no longer just participants but become the driving force behind the narrative. By joining forces with Collective Artists Network, we’re building a powerful ecosystem at the intersection of content, creators, and brands. Together, we’re setting the blueprint for the future of entertainment.”
Mrinalini Jain, Group Chief Development Officer, Banijay Asia &EndemolShine India added: “We see this as a creator-powered revolution. The future lies in content that’s authentic, scalable, and culture-shaping — and creators are at the center of it. With Collective Artists Network’s unmatched access to talent and brands, and Banijay Asia’s storytelling DNA, we’re launching a next-gen engine that’s built for today’s platforms and tomorrow’s audiences.”
DhruvChigopekar, Co-Founder, Collective Artists Network, said: “This partnership marks a meaningful step forward for both traditional and new-age content. Banijay has built some of India’s most iconic shows, and to see that scale and storytelling depth now extend to the creator space is exciting. What’s changing is how stories are being told, creators are becoming part of the process instead of just the output. This collaboration allows us to explore that shift thoughtfully, combining structure with spontaneity, and legacy with a fresh lens. We believe it’s a strong foundation for what the next decade of entertainment could look like.”
What this collaboration unlocks:
– Launching a new destination for Collective Artists Network’s creators to tell their stories spanning scripted, unscripted, and branded formats, which are genre and platform-agnostic.
– Talent integration into Banijay Asia’s existing IPs, opening new doors for creators to host, act, write, or contribute creatively to Banijay Asia’s broad content slate.
– Co-creating digital-first, short-format content, micro-dramas, skits, sketches, vertical stories, and social-first formats specifically with Collective Artists Network creators.
– Leveraging Collective Artist Network’s expertise to lead brand integration and sponsorship across all joint content initiatives.
– Developing a creator-driven content universe across Instagram, YouTube and Facebook, which then potentially expands into other platforms.
The partnership reflects Banijay Entertainment’s global vision of aligning with creators to modernise brands, bridge the gap between creators and creatives, and reach new audiences through culturally-resonant formats.
Film Production
Arka Mediaworks onboards 88 Pictures as animation studio partner on ‘The Eternal War – Part 1’
Arka Mediaworks announces that 88 Pictures, the acclaimed animation and visual storytelling studio known for its cutting-edge CGI and cinematic artistry, is on board as the animation partner for the highly anticipated Baahubali: The Eternal War, a groundbreaking two-part 3D animated feature film set in the globally beloved Baahubali universe.
Baahubali: The Eternal War represents a bold new chapter in the Baahubali saga envisioned for national and international audiences and crafted with the ambition of delivering one of India’s most ambitious and globally benchmarked animation projects to date.
88 Pictures will execute the animation production, bringing to life the film’s richly detailed worlds, epic battle sequences, and larger-than-life characters with its signature blend of artistic vision, performance-driven animation, and advanced production pipelines. Working closely with the film’s creative leadership and technical partners, the studio aims to set new benchmarks in animation quality, cinematic storytelling, and global scalability.
This animated epic follows the successful re-release of Baahubali: The Epic (the combined theatrical version of the original live-action films) on 31 October 2025 across India and the USA. During the film’s interval, legendary creator and director S.S. Rajamouli (Baahubali 1 & 2, RRR) stunned audiences with a surprise teaser for The Eternal War – Part 1. The video immediately went viral, garnering widespread national and international acclaim across LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for its ambitious visual style and scale.
Produced by Arka Mediaworks and led by co-founder and CEO Shobu Yarlagadda – producer of the iconic Baahubali duology, The Eternal War brings together fantastic storytelling and cutting-edge animation.. The film is directed and written by acclaimed animation filmmaker Ishan Shukla (Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust, Star Wars: Visions – “The Bandits of Golak”) and screenplay by Scott Mosier (The Grinch). Mihira Visual Labs, the studio co-founded by Yarlagadda anchors the film’s animation, visual development, and execution.
The partnership with 88 Pictures brings significant pedigree to the project; the studio is well-regarded for its work on high-profile international titles including DreamWorks’ series Trollhunters, the HBO Max original series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, Disney’s animated short An Almost Christmas Story to name a few.
Yarlagadda shared, “We are happy to onboard 88 Pictures as the animation studio partner for our prestigious and most expensive animated film from India. We believe that their expertise and capabilities will allow us to produce a first-of-its-kind, world-class animated feature film from India.”
88 Pictures founder & CEO Milind D. Shinde said, “Baahubali changed the way cinema is perceived and became a defining milestone that turned the tide for Indian live-action filmmaking. Expanding the franchise into an entirely new universe—at a never-seen, never-done scale—through an animated feature created in India for a global audience is set to redefine how the world views Indian animation. We are truly thrilled to be part of this landmark project and to bring it to life under the visionary direction of Ishan Shukla, guided by the experience and leadership of acclaimed producer Shobu Yarlagadda.”
Shukla expressed, “Eternal War requires a level of visual and emotional precision that can only come from teams who truly understand both craft and intent. Working with 88 Pictures, alongside Mihira Visual Labs, has been a deeply collaborative experience. This association brings together technical excellence and creative sensitivity, enabling us to translate an ambitious vision into a compelling cinematic reality.”
Baahubali: The Eternal War – Part 1 is scheduled for release in 2027
