iWorld
Disney+ Hotstar takes direct-to-digital film releases a step ahead with ‘Multiplex’
MUMBAI: Disney+Hotstar takes direct-to-digital film releases one step ahead as it announces the launch of 'Multiplex' – a new section within the Disney+ Hostar platform. Between July and October, it will be releasing a number of major Hindi films. The Walt Disney Company APAC chairman and Star and Disney India president Uday Shankar said as people are strangled at home, they are looking forward to something to cheer up.
“Our film industry will expand with direct-to-digital releases. Theatres, as well as digital screens, will grow and survive together. Even after when films started releasing on TV, theatres grew. Digital premiere will give a new life to the industry. We have 500 mobile screens in this country right now where films can be watched. If we can reach out to them, it will be a great outlet for the industry to showcase its creativity, tell stories. We should not see this as short-term tactical compromise, we should see as a big leap for our film industry,” Shankar said in a virtual press conference.
'Multiplex' will release 'Dil Bechara' as its first title as a tribute to late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Other films include Akshay Kumar and Kiara Advani’s Laxmi Bomb, the Ajay Devgn-Sanjay Dutt-starrer, Bhuj: The Pride of India, Alia Bhatt-Aditya Roy Kapur’s Sadak 2 , the Abhishek Bachchan-starrer, The Big Bull.
More to follow soon..
iWorld
Govt pushes live events sector to Rs 196 billion by 2028
LEDC roadmap targets 15–20 million jobs and global hub status by 2030
MUMBAI: India’s live events story is getting louder and this time, it’s policy turning up the volume. The fourth meeting of the Live Events Development Cell (LEDC), chaired by Chanchal Kumar, was held on 30 April 2026 at Vigyan Bhavan, bringing together representatives from nine Central Ministries, six States and 12 industry stakeholders to chart the sector’s next phase of growth. The numbers already tell a compelling story. India’s organised live events industry was valued at Rs 145 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow at 10 per cent to Rs 196 billion by 2028 making it one of the fastest-expanding segments within the media and entertainment ecosystem.
Set up in July 2025 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the LEDC is tasked with turning that momentum into a structured growth engine. Its long-term ambition is ambitious, position India as a global live events hub by 2030 while generating an additional 15–20 million jobs.
At the meeting, officials emphasised the sector’s multiplier effect spanning tourism, employment and allied industries while underlining the need for coordinated execution. A key update was the rollout of a single-window clearance system for live event permissions via the India Cine Hub portal, aimed at simplifying approvals and improving transparency.
States have been urged to adopt the system, alongside implementing the “Model Executive Order for Streamlining Licensing and Permissions for Live Events in India, 2026” by 31 May 2026. The framework seeks to standardise what has long been a fragmented and time-consuming regulatory process.
Beyond permissions, the discussion also turned to infrastructure and talent. A draft concept for greenfield venue development was tabled, alongside plans to build a skilled workforce. The Indian Institute of Mass Communication, in collaboration with industry bodies MESC and EEMA, is set to introduce certificate courses tailored to the live events sector.
Chanchal Kumar stressed that alignment across stakeholders is already in place, with the next challenge being execution at scale. The government, he noted, remains committed to creating a facilitative and transparent ecosystem for organisers.
For an industry once seen as fragmented and event-driven, the message is clear, India’s live events business is no longer just about the show, it’s about building an entire stage for growth.
