Event Coverage
Jackman, SRK share views on global reach of films
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MUMBAI: The Wolverine of X-Men, Huge Jackman, and the he-man of ‘Main Hoon Na’ Shah Rukh Khan – known for flexing their muscles – today shook a leg at the closing session of the 12th edition of the annual media and entertainment conclave FICCI Frames.
Jackman, who had came to India with his wife Deborra-Lee Furness, was earlier presented with a “Ganesha” memento by actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Later, Jackman and SRK discussed cinema in India and Hollywood and the gap between the two biggest film industries, in an animated discussion moderated by filmmaker Karan Johar.
While talking about the studio system in film industry, Jackman said his experience has shown that the studio system is supportive.
“I have mostly worked with Fox. Some creative people find the studio system intrusive and get very negative. But a studio which is putting in millions of dollars has the right to have a say. Studios are run by smart people. They make 18 to 20 films a year,” Jackman said.
Jackman adds that studio heads often advise him on what roles he should be taking and how he should approach a character. When asked about how Bollywood is perceived in Australia, he said: “Bollywood is cool.”
In fact a scene in the film Australia where Jackman and Nicole Kidman share their first kiss in the film was inspired by Bollywood, he added. “Over the past 10 years there have been 150 co-productions between India and Australia. So there is a lot of activity going on there.”
Khan agreed with Jackman that the studios in India do not interfere with the creative process. They focus on things like marketing while focuses on things like the storytelling.
With studios like Fox and Disney coming to India, Jackman feels the relationship between India and the US will grow. Both are film loving countries. There is awareness of Bollywood in the United States, although most Americans have never seen a Bollywood movie.
Khan felt that foreign studios setting up base in India will take Indian films to the next level. At the same time, he said it was up to Indian producers like Yash Raj to take advantage of the opportunity.
Khan was unsure whether he could actually make a film in Hollywood and whether he was talented enough to do so. “My dream is to make a Hindi film that is seen globally. I always give the example of Life Is Beautiful. This was a film that was made in Italian, won Oscars and was seen globally. Jackman noted that the global market for Hollywood films has tripled in the past decade.
He said Australia only made $50 million in the US but made $200 million overseas. Thus, one is seeing a change in the taste of films being made. This will contribute towards bringing the Indian and American film industries closer. A decade ago the international box office accounted for a third of the revenue of a Hollywood movie. Things have changed since then, Jackman added.
Event Coverage
Anime India announces Amazon MX Player as co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata 2026
MUMBAI: Riding high on the success of its blockbuster Mumbai debut, Anime India is accelerating its nationwide expansion with the announcement of Amazon MX Player as the co-presenting partner for Anime India Kolkata. The partnership marks a significant step forward in the festival’s mission to deliver large-scale, accessible, and fan-first anime experiences across the country.
Scheduled for 14 and 15 February 2026 at the iconic Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Anime India Kolkata will launch the first regional chapter of what is set to be a year-long, multi-city tour. As the curtain-raiser for the 2026 circuit, the Kolkata edition aims to fuse the energy of global Japanese pop culture with India’s fast-growing community of anime, manga, and pop-culture fans.
A household name in digital entertainment, Amazon MX Player brings unmatched reach and cultural relevance to the Anime India platform. With its expanding focus on anime and youth-driven content, Amazon MX Player’s involvement as co-presenting partner reinforces Anime India’s vision of making anime culture more inclusive breaking barriers of language, geography, and accessibility to connect with fans nationwide.
Anime India Kolkata 2026 will showcase cosplay competitions, interactive zones led by the Indian Gunpla Community, India-39 Vocaloid Community, The Japan Curry, and Adda-o-Otaku by The Otaku Guild. Fans can join tournaments across fighting games, Pokémon VGC, and more. Acclaimed Japanese director Susumu Mitsunaka (Haikyu!!) will attend as guest of honour, appearing in panels and live sessions. Positioned as an immersive celebration of fan culture and industry collaboration, the Kolkata edition marks the beginning of Anime India’s nationwide expansion.
Sharing their perspective on the partnership, Amazon MX Player director Aruna Daryanani expressed, “Anime in India has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream cultural movement, driven by an increasingly engaged and passionate fanbase. At Amazon MX Player, our focus is on expanding access by bringing anime to audiences across the country for free and in multiple local languages. Our association with Anime India reflects our commitment to supporting the growth of anime in India and deepening connections with fans, while continuing to build Amazon MX Player as a trusted destination for free, high-quality entertainment.”
“Anime India Kolkata is a celebration of how anime has grown beyond entertainment into a powerful cultural and creative force. By bringing fans, creators, and industry leaders onto one shared platform, the festival is helping define the future of pop culture in India,” said Anime India co-founder and director Neha Mehta.
The debut edition of Anime India 2025 in Mumbai attracted over 29,000 fans, quickly cementing its status as a landmark celebration of anime and Japanese pop culture. Riding on this overwhelming response, the Kolkata chapter is projected to draw more than 40,000 visitors across two days, positioning it as one of the biggest anime conventions ever held in eastern India.
Anime India is focused on bringing together fans from across the country to create a truly pan-India celebration of anime, manga, cosplay, gaming, and Japanese culture. With plans to expand into four key metropolitan hubs in 2026—east (Kolkata), north (Delhi), west (Mumbai), and south (Hyderabad)—the festival seeks to deliver globally benchmarked experiences while supporting and uplifting creators, artists, and fan communities throughout India.
