THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 3, 2026

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has taken a decisive step to deepen its content and entertainment strategy, with Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited (RSBVL), a wholly owned subsidiary of RIL, acquiring a 50.1 per cent equity stake in Sikhya Entertainment Private Limited (SEPL), one of India’s most globally recognised and awarded production houses. The acquisition, completed on Monday, through a combination of primary and secondary transactions, involved an aggregate cash consideration of ₹150 crore and marks a significant expansion of Jio Studios’ creative and global footprint.

The strategic investment enables Jio Studios, the media and content arm of RIL, to further consolidate its pre-eminent position in India’s rapidly evolving media and entertainment sector. Over the years, Jio Studios has emerged as a powerful force in the content economy by backing films with strong creative and commercial conviction and connecting Indian stories with global audiences. Its portfolio includes landmark titles such as the highest-grossing Indian film Dhurandhar, Laapataa Ladies, and the hugely successful Stree franchise, underscoring its ability to identify defining narratives and scale them for mass appeal.

The collaboration between Jio Studios and Sikhya Entertainment is aimed at co-creating films and series for audiences in India and across the world. The partnership brings together Jio Studios’ scale, reach, focus on building enduring intellectual property, nurturing creator-led ecosystems and long-term vision with Sikhya Entertainment’s proven track record of culturally rooted storytelling that resonates globally.

Founded by Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain, Sikhya Entertainment has, over the past decade, redefined the possibilities of Indian storytelling on the world stage. It is the only Indian production house to have won both an Academy Award® and multiple National Film Awards, a rare distinction highlighting its global and domestic impact. Its Academy Award® wins include Period. End of Sentence. (Best Documentary Short Subject) and The Elephant Whisperers (Best Documentary Short Film). The company’s National Film Award-winning films include Masaan (Hindi), Soorarai Pottru (Tamil) and Kathal (Hindi), alongside widespread recognition across major Indian and international platforms. Sikhya has also been at the forefront of discovering and championing new talent, while delivering performance-driven storytelling across a multilingual slate that includes The Lunchbox, Masaan, Pagglait, Kathal and Kill.

Commenting on the partnership, Jyoti Deshpande, President – Jio Studios (Media & Content Business, RIL), said, “Sikhya Entertainment has consistently delivered stories that are deeply Indian yet resonate globally. This association reflects our long-term belief in partnering with creators who combine creative excellence with cultural authenticity. Over the last seven years, Jio Studios has built a strong track record of producing and championing some of the most successful box office winners and critically acclaimed films alike, from the most recent phenomenon Dhurandhar to Stree 2 and Laapataa Ladies which went all the way to the Oscars. I have known Guneet for a very long time and really admire her fire and tenacity. We are delighted to partner with Guneet, Achin and the Sikhya Entertainment team and by combining their distinctive storytelling legacy with Jio Studios’ scale, distribution, creative prowess and global ambition, we aim to give Indian stories the platform and pathways to reach audiences around the world.”

Sharing their perspective, Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain of Sikhya Entertainment said, “We have always believed that stories have the power to connect people across cultures, geographies, and languages. At the heart of Sikhya's work is a deep belief in storytelling and in the people who bring these stories to life. Over the past decade, we have collaborated with bold new directors, writers, actors, and exceptional creative teams who continue to push the boundaries of independent cinema with honesty and ambition. For independent producers like us, driven by dreams and the audacity to turn those ideas into reality, this journey has been deeply rewarding. Partnering with Jio Studios allows us to take these stories to audiences around the world, while empowering us to champion emerging talent from across the country, where stories exist in every fabric and every thread. Jyoti Deshpande’s commitment to innovation and her instinct for bold ideas and creative risk make this partnership especially exciting. Together, we celebrate a Rising India, confident in its voice, unapologetic in its stories, and ready to shape the next chapter of cinema.”

With this acquisition, Jio Studios reinforces its ambition to build a globally competitive content powerhouse, while Sikhya Entertainment gains the scale and distribution strength to take Indian stories to audiences worldwide, marking a new chapter in India’s creative and cultural export journey.