Film Production
Eros Media World clears $56 million debt, strengthens financial position
MUMBAI: Eros Media World PLC (EMWP) just hit a blockbuster financial milestone—becoming debt-free in India. Over the past three years, the global Indian film entertainment powerhouse has successfully repaid its outstanding bank debt, including principal and interest, totalling approximately $56 million at current exchange rates.
At its annual general meeting on 28 February 2025, the company’s Indian subsidiary, Eros International Media Ltd (EIML), confirmed to shareholders that the full repayment had been completed during Q3 of the 2024-25 fiscal year. This financial feat follows EIML’s successful implementation of its debt resolution plan under the Reserve Bank of India’s “Resolution Framework for COVID-19 Related Stress” circular, introduced on 6 August 2020. Notably, EIML had first announced the implementation of this plan on 22 June 2021, covering an aggregate debt of Rs 468.07 crore at the time.
This achievement isn’t just about numbers—it’s a game-changer for Eros Media World’s financial stability. With a clean slate, the company now has greater flexibility to invest in its strategic priorities, expand its global footprint, and double down on high-quality content production.
“With the successful repayment of our bank debt in India, we have significantly strengthened our financial health, reinforcing our long-term commitment to financial discipline. This achievement allows us to focus on growing our entertainment business and unlocking new opportunities for value creation,” said Eros Media World PLC director Kishore Lulla.
With India’s debt burden off its books, Eros Media World can now channel resources into growth, innovation, and content development. The company remains committed to producing premium entertainment and pushing boundaries in the global entertainment industry.
As streaming wars heat up and the demand for high-quality content skyrockets, Eros Media World stands well-positioned to leverage its strengthened financial footing for bold new ventures.
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
