iWorld
‘Stolen’ steals the spotlight as Prime Video reveals its winning strategy
MUMBAI: At the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Mumbai, Prime Video hosted a lively deep-dive session on how Stolen transformed from a risky indie bet into a global breakout and, in the process, became a cinematic calling card for creators who dare to tell uncomfortable truths.
The panel brought together actor Abhishek Banerjee, writer-director Karan Tejpal, producer Gaurav Dhingra, and Prime Video India’s head of content acquisition Manish Menghani, with filmmaker Divyansh Jain steering the discussion.
The session opened with the story behind the story. Karan recalled the harrowing real-life incidents that inspired Stolen, many rooted in the wave of “WhatsApp lynchings” that swept across India between 2015 and 2020.
He said one incident from Assam stayed with him, “It wasn’t just the brutality, it was the laughter of unseen bystanders. I had to understand why this was happening in my own country.”
That urgency, he said, became the film’s spine.
For Prime Video, choosing Stolen wasn’t about scale, genre or commercial certainties. Manish explained that the platform’s content philosophy hinges on one question: Is this a story that must be told now? “This isn’t a film you simply watch. It confronts you and refuses to sit in a neat genre box. It’s rooted, raw and real and that’s what makes it powerful,” he said.
He added that the film’s execution sealed the deal. “It felt like someone telling me a story, not a film playing on screen. The performances were lived-in, the craft nearly global in standard, and the creators protected their vision all the way through, which is rare.”
Abhishek Banerjee spoke about the rigorous long-take sequences, rehearsed repeatedly with co-actor Shubham to maintain authenticity. “You’re acting, driving, staying in frame, keeping others unmasked , everything at once. It taught me the value of brutal rehearsal.”
When asked how the film might be remembered decades from now, Karan called it a “time capsule” of the country: a snapshot of a disturbing social moment that future generations could revisit to understand the times.
Manish highlighted the film’s thematic core: two brothers choosing between safety and moral responsibility. “That uncomfortable choice is what stays with you. It forces you to reflect on your own decisions.”
On supporting creator-driven films, he outlined three pillars: unwavering creative conviction, world-standard execution, and a strong team, with the business of cinema taken as seriously as the storytelling craft.
Producer Gaurav Dhingra echoed the importance of integrity in filmmaking, “Producing isn’t just spending money, it’s deciding what truly serves the film’s value.”
Prime Video’s presence at IFFI, the company said, reflects the growing role of streaming in elevating India’s creative economy and projecting homegrown stories onto a global canvas.
iWorld
JioStar revenue hits Rs 9,784 crore as cricket fuels 22 per cent growth
A surge in digital viewership and sports dominance fuels a blockbuster quarter for the media giant
MUMBAI: JioStar is batting on a flat pitch. The media titan’s fourth-quarter results for the financial year 2026 reveal a business scaling new heights, propelled by an unprecedented appetite for premium sports and digital-first storytelling.
Gross revenue for the quarter soared by 22.15 per cent to Rs 9,784 crore, up from Rs 8,010 crore in the third quarter. Operationally, the momentum was equally strong; revenue from operations climbed 21 per cent to Rs 8,372 crore. These figures underscore the firm’s successful integration following the Reliance and Disney merger, creating a dominant force in the Indian market.
The annual performance has been nothing short of a spectacle. Full-year gross revenue reached a massive Rs 36,248 crore, while annual profit after tax hit Rs 3,210 crore. This rapid expansion reflects JioStar’s ability to capture and monetise the massive growth in India’s media consumption.
Cricket proved to be the ultimate growth engine. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and TATA IPL 2026 delivered “record-breaking viewership” across both television and digital screens. The World Cup final alone drew a global peak concurrency of 72.5 million on JioHotstar, cementing its status as the nation’s premier streaming destination. On television, JioStar maintained a commanding 34.2 per cent viewership share, reaching a staggering 810 million viewers nationwide.
The digital numbers were just as impressive. JioHotstar averaged 500 million monthly active users, driven by consistent subscriber growth and innovative AI-led content discovery tools. These advancements are ensuring that JioStar remains at the cutting edge of the global “Race for Attention.”
With a firm grip on the country’s most valuable sporting rights and a rapidly growing digital footprint, JioStar is perfectly positioned for the future. It has built the ultimate content powerhouse—one that is ready to dominate the Indian living room for years to come.
