Indian Filmmakers Accelerate Generative AI Use in $32 Billion Media Market
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jun 11
Indian Filmmakers Accelerate Generative AI Use in $32 Billion Media Market
2 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jun 11
Summary
JioStar’s 100-episode AI-made “Mahabharat” retelling drew 6.5 million views on launch day, underscoring how quickly generative AI is moving into mainstream Indian content production.
Studios are adopting AI to meet surging demand while coping with tighter budgets, with India’s media and entertainment market valued at $32 billion in 2025 and growing 9%, faster than the broader economy.
FirstAI Consultancy said an animation project that would normally cost a few million dollars and take six to 12 months can be produced with AI for a few hundred dollars in weeks.
Abundantia is preparing what local media call India’s first AI-generated feature film, while creators say AI-related production work has boomed over the past eight months, bringing 10-15 job offers a week.
The shift is also lowering barriers for newcomers in an industry long shaped by financing and relationship networks, giving small teams a cheaper path to make and digitally release films.
Will India's AI filmmaking boom create a new creative economy, or just make it a consumer of foreign technology?
As India's film industry pioneers AI, why does an 'anti-AI' reputation contribute to a record exodus of foreign investors?
From Bollywood to JioHotstar: The Economic and Creative Impact of AI on Indian Film and Streaming Markets
Overview
India is quickly embracing artificial intelligence in its film industry, unlike Hollywood, which is still debating AI’s impact on jobs and creativity. The lack of strong entertainment unions in India allows studios to adopt AI tools with fewer barriers, focusing on business efficiency and popular genres. This proactive approach is transforming production workflows, making filmmaking faster and more efficient by reducing timelines from years to months. As a result, Indian cinema is leveraging AI to stay competitive, streamline operations, and create new opportunities in a rapidly changing entertainment landscape.