Film Production
Dharma Productions steps into global film distribution with Bhumika Tewari
MUMBAI : Dharma Productions is set to make its mark in global cinema with the appointment of Bhumika Tewari as head of content acquisition and film distribution worldwide. Stepping into film distribution for the first time, the production house aims to broaden its reach and bring diverse Indian narratives to a wider audience.
Under Tewari’s leadership, Dharma will acquire high-quality films across multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Marathi, while independently distributing its own productions and third-party films. To streamline operations and strengthen ties with regional talent, the company will establish distribution hubs in key locations such as Delhi, Punjab, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
Commenting on the appointment, Dharma Productions chairman Karan Johar said, “Stepping into film distribution is a major leap for Dharma, and we are excited to have Bhumika lead this initiative. Her expertise in content acquisition and distribution aligns perfectly with our vision of expanding Indian storytelling to global audiences.”
Dharma Productions CEO Apoorva Mehta added, “Bhumika joins us at a crucial time as we evolve into an end-to-end content powerhouse. Her experience will be instrumental in shaping our journey as a key distributor of compelling stories worldwide.”
Expressing her enthusiasm, Tewari stated, “Joining Dharma Productions is an extraordinary opportunity to champion Indian cinema on a global scale. I look forward to expanding Dharma’s reach, fostering regional storytelling, and ensuring diverse narratives find their audience.”
Before joining Dharma, Tewari served as senior vice president of film acquisition & revenue at Zee Entertainment, overseeing the distribution of over 150 titles and managing content strategy across multiple platforms. Her appointment signals a bold new era for Dharma Productions as it strengthens its foothold in both national and international markets.
Film Production
Disney to cut 1,000 jobs under new chief executive
The entertainment giant’s freshly installed boss inherits a restructuring already in motion, with marketing and corporate roles bearing the brunt
CALIFORNIA: Walt Disney is preparing to slash up to 1,000 jobs in the coming weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported, as the entertainment giant’s freshly installed chief executive moves swiftly to trim fat and tighten the ship.
The cuts, less than 1 per cent of Disney’s global workforce of 231,000, will fall hardest on marketing and corporate roles. The planning, notably, began before D’Amaro formally took the top job in March, suggesting the new boss inherited a restructuring already in motion rather than one of his own making.
Driving the push is Asad Ayaz, Disney’s newly appointed chief marketing officer, who in January assumed command of a unified, company-wide marketing operation spanning film, television and streaming. His consolidation drive has been given a suitably cinematic internal name: Project Imagine.
The move is modest by Disney’s recent standards. Between 2023 and 2025, under former chief executive Bob Iger, the company eliminated roughly 8,000 positions across several brutal rounds of cuts, saving $7.5 billion, comfortably exceeding its own targets. As recently as June 2025, several hundred more jobs were axed across Disney Entertainment, hitting film and television marketing, publicity, casting, development and corporate finance.
Disney’s structural headaches are well-documented: shrinking streaming margins, a weakened box office, and fierce competition from Amazon and YouTube gnawing at its flanks. The company is merging its Disney+ and Hulu teams into a single app, has brought in consultants from Bain & Co to guide its broader cost strategy, and is betting heavily on digital growth.
The wider entertainment industry offers little comfort. Sony Pictures, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have all taken the knife to their workforces in recent years, and further cuts loom if Paramount’s acquisition of Warner goes through.
For D’Amaro, the message is clear: there will be no honeymoon period. The magic kingdom still has some cost-cutting spells left to cast.
