As India continues to assert itself as a cultural and economic powerhouse, the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 is set to bring together some of the country’s most influential voices across business, entertainment, and technology for a four-day celebration of creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation. Scheduled to be held in Mumbai from May 1–4, the summit promises to be a bold showcase of how India is redefining global narratives—both on-screen and off it.
This year’s edition reads like a power list. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, will deliver the keynote address on “Building the Next Global Entertainment Revolution from India”, underscoring how India’s entertainment economy is no longer just a domestic play. Following the JioHotstar merger, its IPL streaming success, and the acquisition of HBO content, Ambani has made it clear that storytelling is serious business. His presence at WAVES reflects how entertainment is rapidly becoming one of India’s fastest-growing sectors, cutting across telecom, tech, and media.
Nita Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of the Reliance Foundation and Director at Reliance Industries, will also headline a session titled “Taking Indian Culture to the World.” Through the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) and a series of global partnerships, she has been instrumental in globalising Indian art and culture, positioning soft power and storytelling as central to India’s global identity.
The scale of participation this year reflects how seriously India Inc. is now viewing entertainment and creativity as key growth frontiers. Industry leaders like Aman Gupta, Co-founder and CMO of boAt, and Anupam Mittal, Founder and CEO of People Group and Shaadi.com, will join a panel on “The Future of Indian Entrepreneurship”, exploring how content, creator commerce, and digital fame are reshaping business models.
Meanwhile, renowned creatives such as director S.S. Rajamouli, actors Anil Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, will come together for a panel titled “The New Mainstream: Breaking Borders, Building Legends.” The discussion will highlight crossover success stories and a new vision of mass appeal that extends beyond conventional borders.
WAVES 2025 will also feature global technology leaders, including Shantanu Narayen (CEO, Adobe), Neal Mohan (CEO, YouTube), and Richard G. Kerris (VP, NVIDIA), who will speak on a wide range of topics—from design and AI to India’s creator economy and the future of virality. From how Gen Z consumes content to how AI is transforming production pipelines, the summit will offer deep dives into the critical convergence of media and technology.
With India’s media and entertainment (M&E) sector projected to reach ₹3 trillion within the next few years—growing at a CAGR of 7%—WAVES Summit 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment. In today’s India, storytelling is no longer just cultural currency—it’s big business.
