WAVES 2025, the inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit, is taking place in Mumbai from May 1 to 4 at the Jio World Convention Centre. Organised by the Government of India, the summit is being pitched as a major moment for India’s creative industries—bringing together filmmakers, musicians, tech innovators, producers, and policymakers from around the world.
Here are some of the most anticipated sessions and experiences from the four-day summit.
An opening session that brings together legends on one stage
One of the most anticipated moments of the summit is the session titled Legends and Legacies: The Stories That Shaped India’s Soul. It brings together six of Indian cinema’s most enduring stars—Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Mohanlal, Mithun Chakraborty, Chiranjeevi, and Hema Malini. The conversation, moderated by Akshay Kumar, will reflect on their individual journeys, the evolution of cinema over the decades, and the stories that continue to resonate across generations.
A rare one-on-one with Shah Rukh Khan
In a more personal session, actor Shah Rukh Khan sits down with director and producer Karan Johar. The two will discuss Khan’s early years, his rise in the film industry, and what it has meant to forge a path without industry connections. Titled The Journey: From Outsider to Ruler, the session is expected to offer a candid look at the actor’s legacy, along with insights into the evolving nature of stardom in India.
A panel that explores Indian cinema’s global momentum
Director SS Rajamouli, known internationally for RRR, joins actors Anil Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, and composer A.R. Rahman for a conversation about how Indian storytelling is expanding across borders. Moderated by Karan Johar, the session titled The New Mainstream will explore what it takes for Indian content to succeed globally, and how actors, musicians and filmmakers are building cross-cultural connections.
Technology and the future of OTT content
In a special panel discussion in association with Rolling Stone India, thought leaders from across the spheres of content, technology, and policy will come together for a session themed around OTT & Digital-Driven Democratization. Curated as a thematic exploration across three key sessions, the discussions aim to drive actionable collaborations and offer new perspectives on India’s evolving digital entertainment ecosystem.
The event will kick off with a session on Scaling Indian Media for Global Markets, moderated by Sajan Raj Kurup, Founder of Creativeland Asia and Creativeland Studios, alongside keynote speaker David Unger, CEO of Artists International Group (AIG). Panellists include author Amish Tripathi, actress Kriti Kharbanda, Mahima Kaul, Director of Public Policy at Netflix India, Soumya Mukherjee, COO of Hoichoi, and Aditi Shrivastava, CEO of Pocket Aces.
This will be followed by a session on Public–Private Collaboration for Developing Indian OTT and Hyperlocal Content, featuring Gaurav Dwivedi, CEO of Prasar Bharati, as keynote speaker, and a discussion moderated by Avinash Pandey, former CEO of ABP News Network. Panellists will include Richard Nicolas, COO and CFO of Ridley Scott Creative Group, actress Rituparna Sengupta, actor, producer and singer Sachin Pilgaonkar, and William Pfeiffer, Executive Chairman and Co-Founder of Globalgate Entertainment. The final session will focus on Emerging Technologies and AVGC in Optimising the OTT Landscape, with a keynote address by Nicolas Granatino, Chairman of Novaquark, and a discussion moderated by Rolling Stone India’s Executive Editor, Shamani Joshi. Panellists will include Roland Landers, CEO of AIGF; Syed Raza, GM of Content at Vodafone; Vaibhav Modi, Founder of Victor Tango Entertainment; actress Isha Talwar; and more.
The event will culminate in the release of a special report on the OTT ecosystem, jointly published by Rolling Stone India, Amazon Web Services, and Primus Partners.
Global voices join the conversation
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos will be among the international speakers at the summit, sharing his perspective on India’s role in the platform’s global growth. His session is expected to highlight what the international market is looking for in Indian content and how platforms are evolving their strategies to serve multilingual, multicultural audiences. Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, will also shed light on the trends and virality shaping Gen Z content in a conversation with actress Shraddha Kapoor.
A dedicated showcase of India’s creative diversity
The Bharat Pavilion at WAVES, themed “Kala to Code,” will spotlight the intersection of culture and technology across India’s states. From traditional storytelling and crafts to innovations in animation, gaming, and digital arts, the pavilion will present how different regions are adapting their cultural identity to contemporary formats.
A landmark concert by A.R. Rahman
As part of the summit’s cultural programming, composer and musician A.R. Rahman will present The Wonderment Tour at DY Patil Stadium on May 3. Presented as one of the headline cultural events of WAVES 2025, this marks Rahman’s first stadium concert in Mumbai in eight years. Touted as a show that merges tradition and innovation, this concert is designed as an immersive tribute to his 32-year journey in global music. The performance will feature Rahman’s most iconic songs across languages and eras, with appearances by artists such as Sukhwinder Singh, Jonita Gandhi, Neeti Mohan, The Yellow Diary, Anubha Bajaj, and Riday. The show is choreographed by Shiamak Davar and will blend music, movement and visual storytelling into a large-scale celebration of Rahman’s legacy.
Get tickets here.
A spotlight on emerging electronic music
WAVES will also feature Resonate: The EDM Challenge, a platform created for upcoming electronic music producers and DJs to perform and gain visibility. With India’s electronic music scene growing steadily, the showcase aims to support emerging talent while expanding the summit’s musical scope beyond film and playback.
