WAVES 2025 concluded in Mumbai with over ₹1,328 crore in B2B deals and ₹8,000 crore in MoUs. Featuring global speakers, cinema legends, and tech leaders, the summit spotlighted India’s media and entertainment power.
The inaugural edition of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) wrapped up on a high note in Mumbai, marking a significant milestone for India’s creative economy. Held over four days, the event attracted overwhelming participation from global industry leaders, startups, academia, policymakers, and artists, reinforcing India’s rising stature in the global media and entertainment sector.
One of the most impactful highlights was the ‘WAVES Bazaar’, where business transactions worth ₹1,328 crore were recorded through more than 3,000 B2B meetings in just three days. In addition, the Maharashtra government signed MoUs worth ₹8,000 crore, adding substantial business value to the summit. These included ₹1,500 crore deals each with the University of York and the University of Western Australia, and major partnerships with Prime Focus (₹3,000 crore) and Godrej (₹2,000 crore).
Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the summit served as a vibrant platform for innovation, collaboration, and dialogue. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the importance of technology in reshaping content creation, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called for synergizing tradition with innovation and upskilling the youth.
The Conference Track included over 140 sessions featuring 100+ international speakers. Held across eight venues, these sessions drew full attendance, showcasing immense interest in emerging trends like AI-driven production, OTT innovations, and virtual storytelling.
The plenary sessions were headlined by top global and Indian voices, including Ted Sarandos (Netflix), Neal Mohan (YouTube), Shantanu Narayen (Adobe), and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, offering insights into the evolving global entertainment ecosystem.
Indian cinema legends like Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Chiranjeevi, and Shekhar Kapur, many of whom are members of the WAVES Advisory Board, took part in visionary discussions on cinema’s future in the digital age.
The summit’s 40 masterclasses, including “The Art of Acting” by Aamir Khan and “Craft of Direction” by Farhan Akhtar, provided practical learning and industry knowledge. Additional sessions on generative AI in filmmaking, AR lenses, and virtual production equipped participants with future-ready skills.
The Global Media Dialogue 2025, with representation from 77 countries, highlighted India’s pivotal role on the global stage. Union Minister Dr. L Murugan unveiled five landmark reports charting the growth of India’s media and entertainment sector, further cementing WAVES as a catalyst for industry transformation.
