Universal Music Group acquires stake in Excel Entertainment
Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment is set for a major global leap, with Universal Music Group (International) acquiring a minority stake in the acclaimed Indian studio. Farhan and Ritesh will continue to retain majority ownership, ensuring creative control remains firmly with the founders.
According to industry sources, discussions between the two companies had been underway for several months. One insider revealed, “Universal Studios has been keen on becoming a force in the Indian film market. The deal has finally gone through.”
The partnership is expected to significantly bolster Excel’s ambitions. Another source added, “Excel wants to expand the scale of its productions going forward. There are big ideas in the pipeline.” An official announcement is anticipated on 5th January.
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Founded in 1999, Excel Entertainment made an iconic debut with ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ in 2001 and has since delivered some of modern Bollywood’s most celebrated films, including ‘Lakshya’, ‘Don’, ‘Rock On!!’, ‘Luck By Chance’, ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’, ‘Fukrey’, and ‘Gully Boy’.
The development follows a wave of consolidation in the Indian entertainment industry. Only last year, Karan Johar sold a 50 per cent stake in Dharma Productions to Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India.
