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Universal Music Group<\/a> has opened 2026 with a significant investment in India\u2019s entertainment sector.<\/p>\n The company\u2019s division in the market has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 30%<\/strong> stake in Excel Entertainment<\/a>, in a deal that values the Bollywood production house at 24 billion Indian rupees (approx. USD $267 million).<\/span><\/p>\n Universal Music India confirmed the deal on Monday (January 5), saying the strategic partnership would give UMG<\/b> worldwide distribution rights for all future original soundtracks created for projects owned or controlled by Excel.<\/p>\n Excel Entertainment<\/b>, founded by producers Ritesh<\/b> Sidhwani<\/b> and Farhan<\/b> Akhtar<\/b> in 1999, produces Indian movies including titles such as Gully Boy,\u00a0<\/i>touted as India\u2019s first hip-hop film and the country\u2019s official entry to the Academy Awards in 2019.<\/p>\n The company is also behind Inside Edge,\u00a0<\/em>India\u2019s first original series on Amazon<\/a> Prime Video, which was nominated for the International Emmy Awards under the Best Drama category in 2018.<\/p>\n As part of the deal, UMG will roll out a dedicated Excel music label with global distribution capabilities. Universal Music Publishing Group<\/a> <\/b>will serve as the exclusive music publishing partner of Excel.<\/p>\n Following\u00a0Inside Edge\u2019s\u00a0<\/em>Emmy nomination, Excel produced Mirzapur, Made in Heaven, Dahaad\u00a0<\/em>and Netflix<\/a>\u2018s\u00a0Dabba Cartel.<\/em><\/p>\n Other titles include box office hits like Dil Chahta Hai, Don, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Talaash and Fukrey & Toofaan.<\/em><\/p>\n Following the investment, Devraj Sanyal<\/a> (Chairman and CEO of Universal Music India & South Asia and SVP of Strategy, Africa, Middle East and Asia), will join Excel Entertainment\u2019s board, while Sidhwani and Akhtar will remain in the company to oversee creative direction and content decisions.<\/p>\n Sanyal said: \u201cFarhan and Ritesh have built an exceptionally impressive business, and we\u2019re thrilled to be working with them on the next phase of their journey. The Indian film scene presents a hugely exciting opportunity for music and the music-led entertainment business, and Excel is the perfect partner for us to work with going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Indian film scene presents a hugely exciting opportunity for music and the music-led entertainment business, and Excel is the perfect partner for us to work with going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Devraj Sanyal<\/b>, Universal Music India and South Asia<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Commenting on UMG\u2019s investment, Sidhwani and Akhtar said:\u00a0\u201cIndia\u2019s entertainment landscape continues to grow from strength to strength, and this is the perfect moment to build meaningful global collaborations.\u201d<\/p>\n They added: \u201cWe\u2019re excited to partner with UMG in what we believe will be a truly creative and transformative alliance \u2013 one that unlocks fresh opportunities for artists and repertoire across music, film, and emerging formats. Together, we aim to take culturally rooted stories to the world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndia\u2019s entertainment landscape continues to grow from strength to strength, and this is the perfect moment to build meaningful global collaborations.\u201d<\/p>\n Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, Excel Entertainment<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Excel Entertainment CEO Vishal<\/strong> Ramchandani<\/strong> said: \u201cThis partnership with UMG marks a pivotal step in our journey to broaden creative opportunities and tell Indian stories with a global lens. With a shared vision for innovation and excellence, we aim to transform Excel into a creative global studio \u2013 one that brings clutter-breaking, original content to audiences across platforms and geographies.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam Granite<\/a>,<\/b> UMG\u2019s CEO of Africa, Middle East and Asia, said the move further bolsters UMG\u2019s presence in India, which he described as \u201ca dynamic and strategically important music market for the group globally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOriginal soundtracks remain at the heart of India\u2019s fast-growing music market, with Indian listeners showing a growing desire to access more music in that genre.\u201d<\/p>\n Adam Granite, Universal Music Group<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Granite added \u201cOriginal soundtracks remain at the heart of India\u2019s fast-growing music market, with Indian listeners showing a growing desire to access more music in that genre.<\/p>\n \u201cBy investing in and partnering with Excel Entertainment, UMG will be uniquely positioned to contribute from the earliest stage to Excel\u2019s future endeavours and throughout the creative process, providing huge benefits to both parties.\u201d<\/p>\n The investment marks UMG\u2019s latest strategic move in India, the world\u2019s 15th largest recorded music market by annual revenues, according to IFPI<\/a>. In March 2025, Universal Music India launched<\/a> a new label called Pentertainment<\/b> 0075<\/b> in partnership with superstar India-based rapper Badshah<\/b>.<\/p>\n UMG first\u00a0struck<\/a>\u00a0an exclusive global agreement with Badshah in 2021.<\/p>\n Separately, in 2022, Universal Music India took a\u00a0majority stake<\/a>\u00a0in India-based music and entertainment company TM<\/b> Ventures<\/b>, which manages a roster of artists that includes Badshah.<\/p>\n In August 2025, Universal Music India entered into a strategic partnership<\/a> with Maddock Films<\/strong>, one of India\u2019s most prolific Hindi film production studios, and its newly formed music label\u00a0Mad For Mussic<\/strong>, led by founder Dinesh Vijan.<\/p>\n In 2023, Universal struck a strategic partnership with India-based talent agency REPRESENT<\/a>\u00a0to help introduce Indian music culture to global audiences.<\/p>\n In 2021, Universal Music India launched<\/a> label VYRL Punjabi <\/b>in association with music composer Jatinder Shah. That same year, Universal Music India and Capitol<\/a> Records<\/b> teamed up<\/a> on Jason Derulo<\/b>\u2019s rework of Tesher<\/b>\u2019s global hit, Jalebi Baby,\u00a0<\/i>which was released in 2020.<\/p>\n\n
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