Film Production
Priyanka Kaur Dhillon joins SVF Entertainment as lead for music distribution
A seasoned content dealmaker with 16 years in digital and satellite media joins the Bengali entertainment powerhouse as it pushes into the pan-India music market
Mumbai: Priyanka Kaur Dhillon has made her move. The content acquisitions and commercials veteran, most recently commercial manager at Sony Pictures Networks India, has joined SVF Entertainment as lead for music distribution, stepping into one of the more interesting briefs in regional entertainment right now.
SVF is no ordinary regional label. Over 30 years it has built a formidable legacy in Bengali cinema and music, driven by culturally resonant storytelling and a catalogue that consistently punches above its weight. Its recent success with Chiraiya underlines the point. But the Kolkata-based powerhouse now has its sights firmly set beyond Bengal, most visibly through Legacy, a rap reality series produced in collaboration with hip-hop label Kalamkaar that signals a deliberate push into the pan-India music ecosystem.
Dhillon brings precisely the kind of muscle SVF needs for that expansion. At Sony Pictures Networks India, she led film acquisition and commercials and handled music licensing across the entire satellite network. Before that, she spent nearly 15 years at Hungama, rising to assistant general manager and leading strategic content licensing for the platform’s digital entertainment business, with a particular focus on international markets. Her label relationships span the full roster: Sony Music, Universal Music, Warner Music, Believe International, Tunecore, The Orchard and a clutch of smaller aggregators. She has negotiated and closed deals with Hollywood studios, Bollywood production houses and regional content players alike, building pricing models and deal structures off data analysis rather than instinct.
Announcing the appointment, Dhillon said she was “thrilled to begin this journey with an iconic Bengali music label and content powerhouse,” adding that SVF’s “constant drive to push boundaries” was what drew her to the role.
SVF has spent three decades proving that regional does not mean limited. With a sharp commercial operator now steering its music distribution, its bid to go national just got a good deal more serious.
Film Production
Lionsgate Play to bring Hollywood blockbusters to Indian cinemas before streaming
The American studio bets that Indian audiences will pay for the big screen before settling for the sofa
CALIFORNIA: Hollywood is coming to Indian multiplexes. Lionsgate Play announced it will release 10 to 12 major Hollywood films in Indian cinemas every year starting September 2026, before moving them to its streaming platform. The message is simple: see it on the big screen first, or wait.
The opening theatrical slate is starry. Russell Crowe leads Billion Dollar Spy, Gerard Butler fronts Empire City, Robert Pattinson stars in Primetime, and Mark Wahlberg leads By Any Means. A creature feature, Titan (Snake), rounds out the early titles. None are small bets.
The platform is also bringing back one of its signature series. Heated Rivalry, which built a strong following after its debut, returns in 2027. The show, noted for its character-driven storytelling, will continue exploring its central relationships in a second season drawn from Reid’s follow-up novel.
Rohit Jain, founder of Lionsgate Play Asia, said the theatrical-first approach gives films the cinematic scale they deserve while creating a cleaner transition to streaming. “We’re embracing a more integrated approach across theatrical and digital windows,” he said. “From big screen experiences to premium streaming, this is our most ambitious chapter yet.”
The ambitions stretch well beyond a dozen titles. Jain says more than 100 premieres are lined up for 2026 on the platform. The broader catalogue already carries crowd-pleasers including John Wick, Den of Thieves 2 and The Beekeeper, alongside series such as Normal People and Paris Has Fallen. Regional content also features, with titles including Dakshina, Eleven, Soothravakyam and Racharikam.
The upcoming pipeline is equally loaded. Greenland 2: Migration brings Butler back, Jason Statham leads Mutiny, Angelina Jolie stars in Couture, Zac Efron fronts Famous, and Matthew McConaughey heads The Rivals of Amziah King. The Has Fallen franchise is also expanding, with new instalments and returning series adding bulk to the slate.
For Indian audiences weaned on Bollywood spectacle, Lionsgate is making a straightforward pitch: Hollywood blockbusters deserve a darkened hall, a large screen and overpriced popcorn. With a roster this deep, it is hard to argue otherwise.
