India’s Ananya Birla Launches Birla Studios to Develop High-Concept Commercial Cinema (EXCLUSIVE)
Indian entrepreneur and business leader Ananya Birla has launched Birla Studios, a new production company dedicated to developing prestige-driven commercial cinema that bridges cultural relevance with broad audience appeal.
The venture aims to champion narratives that combine artistic distinction with commercial viability, focusing on stories designed to create emotional connections while achieving lasting impact. The studio plans to develop a multi-language slate encompassing Hindi, Gujarati, Malayalam and other regional Indian languages, along with international English-language projects.
“We are all stories. Cinema is one of the most powerful mediums through which those stories are told. At its most powerful, cinema creates an immediate connection while leaving a lasting resonance,” Birla said. “At Birla Studios, our focus is on curating a slate of films that balance cultural significance with strong entertainment value and a conscious stand to nurture new talent, while exploring genres, amplifying fresh voices and diverse perspectives. As we put this slate together, we’ve been deeply encouraged by the kindness and receptiveness of everyone across the industry. It would be a privilege to play even a small part in taking Indian cinema forward.”
The genre-agnostic studio emphasizes scale and storytelling ambition while backing emerging voices and promising talent. Birla Studios positions itself to engage audiences across geographic and cultural boundaries through content that balances cultural specificity with universal themes.
Birla brings extensive entrepreneurial credentials to the venture. She serves as founder and chair of Svatantra Microfin, India’s second-largest microfinance institution, and in 2025 launched beauty brands Contraband and Lovetc under Birla Cosmetics. She also holds strategic positions within the Aditya Birla Group, serving on ABMCPL and the boards of Hindalco, Grasim, and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail.
Beyond business, Birla achieved recognition as a musician, becoming the first Indian artist to chart multiple English-language multi-platinum singles in India and receiving an MTV Europe Music Awards nomination.
The studio plans to announce its initial slate of projects in the coming months.
The venture aims to champion narratives that combine artistic distinction with commercial viability, focusing on stories designed to create emotional connections while achieving lasting impact. The studio plans to develop a multi-language slate encompassing Hindi, Gujarati, Malayalam and other regional Indian languages, along with international English-language projects.
“We are all stories. Cinema is one of the most powerful mediums through which those stories are told. At its most powerful, cinema creates an immediate connection while leaving a lasting resonance,” Birla said. “At Birla Studios, our focus is on curating a slate of films that balance cultural significance with strong entertainment value and a conscious stand to nurture new talent, while exploring genres, amplifying fresh voices and diverse perspectives. As we put this slate together, we’ve been deeply encouraged by the kindness and receptiveness of everyone across the industry. It would be a privilege to play even a small part in taking Indian cinema forward.”
The genre-agnostic studio emphasizes scale and storytelling ambition while backing emerging voices and promising talent. Birla Studios positions itself to engage audiences across geographic and cultural boundaries through content that balances cultural specificity with universal themes.
Birla brings extensive entrepreneurial credentials to the venture. She serves as founder and chair of Svatantra Microfin, India’s second-largest microfinance institution, and in 2025 launched beauty brands Contraband and Lovetc under Birla Cosmetics. She also holds strategic positions within the Aditya Birla Group, serving on ABMCPL and the boards of Hindalco, Grasim, and Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail.
Beyond business, Birla achieved recognition as a musician, becoming the first Indian artist to chart multiple English-language multi-platinum singles in India and receiving an MTV Europe Music Awards nomination.
The studio plans to announce its initial slate of projects in the coming months.