FICCI FRAMES 2026, 1: ContAIntelligence is King
FICCI FRAMES 2026, 1: ContAIntelligence is King
In its 26th edition of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce Industries (FICCI)’s FRAMES, the overwhelming focus was on the NEXT BIG THING, Local is Global (rooted content) and how much of the media and entertainment industry Artificial Intelligence (AI) is out to affect, and how. It was held over two days, September 29 and 30, at the Grand Hyatt, Santa Cruz East, suburban Mumbai. Now a 2-day annual event, truncated from the 3-days it earlier occupied, FICCI still has a lot on its plate, and one is spoilt for choice when it comes to attending sessions. India’s Media Moment: Creating Value in an Age of Infinite Content was the theme, and the sessions scheduled to address various aspects of this vastly spread out subject were tackled in various sessions, some in the Grand Ballroom, others in the smaller Ballroom and there was an enclosure for Waves, where buyers and sellers could meet could meet, in 12 partitioned cabins. There were several stalls/booths, mainly promoting Indian states as destinations for shooting content.
FICCI FRAMES's Brand Ambassador is Ayushmann Khurrana.
I reproduce here the Schedule/Itinerary that was sent by email to participants two days before the event started.
September 29-30, 2026 | Grand Hyatt, Mumbai
India’s Media Moment: Creating Value in an Age of Infinite Content
DAY 1 | SEPTEMBER 29, 2026
0900 – 0945 HRS REGISTRATION
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 INAUGURAL
1000 – 1100 hrs
GRAND BALLROOM
India’s Media Moment: Creating Value in an Age of Infinite Content
India is emerging as one of the world’s most dynamic media and entertainment
economies, powered by rich storytelling traditions, a young and diverse creative
workforce and the world’s largest connected audience. Across television, streaming,
films, gaming, sports and creator ecosystems, India is redefining how entertainment is
created, distributed and experienced at scale.
Lighting of the Lamp by the Dignitaries on the Dais
Welcome Address:
Anant Goenka, President, FICCI and Vice Chairman of the RPG Group
Industry Address:
Kevin Vaz, Chair, FICCI M&E Committee and CEO, Entertainment, JioStar
Ambassador Remarks:
Ayushmann Khurrana, Acclaimed Actor and FICCI FRAMES Ambassador
Special Address:
Shri Prabhat, Additional Secretary (I&B), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting,
Government of India
Inaugural Address:
Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Minister of Tourism & Culture.
Government of India. But such a large presence of Tourism promoting stalls and sessions, it is not surprising that the Union Minister of Tourism & Culture took centre-stage. One cannot be blamed for expecting the Information and Broadcasting Minister to attend.
FICCI Felicitation Ceremony:
FICCI FRAMES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD presented to Shri Uday Shankar, Past
President, FICCI, and Vice-Chairman, JioStar
Acceptance Speech and Special Address by:
Uday Shankar, Past President, FICCI, and Vice-Chairman, JioStar
Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks:
Arjun Nohwar, Co-Chair, FICCI M&E Committee, and Managing Director – South Asia,
Warner Bros. Discovery
Presence on the Dais:
● Anant Swarup, Secretary General, FICCI
● Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI
● Dr. Ashish S. Kulkarni, Chief Mentor, FICCI FRAMES 2026 and Frame Your Idea
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1100 – 1145 hrs
GRAND BALLROOM
The CEO’s Perspective: Reinventing Media for the Age of Infinite Content
As content abundance becomes the norm, scarcity shifts to attention, trust and
relevance. This flagship CEO conversation will explore how media leaders are reinventing
their organisations, business models and strategies to thrive in an era where content is
infinite, but audience attention is finite.
Opening Presentation: India’s Screen Economy - The Next Wave
Moderator: Vivek Couto, Co-Founder, CEO and Executive Director, Media Partners Asia
Panellists:
● Kevin Vaz, Chair, FICCI M&E Committee, and CEO, Entertainment, JioStar
● Punit Goenka, Chief Executive Officer, ‘Z’
● Gaurav Gandhi, Vice President & Head Prime Video, Asia Pacific & Australia-New
Zealand
● Gaurav Banerjee, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Sony Pictures
Network India
● Rahul Kanwal, Chief Executive Officer & Editor-in-Chief, NDTV
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1150 – 1210 Hrs
GRAND BALLROOM
Cinema at Crossroads - The Rules of the Big Screen
As theatrical cinema navigates changing audience preferences, evolving economics and
the rise of streaming, the rules of the big screen are being rewritten. This conversation
brings together voices from acting, filmmaking and the business of cinema to examine
what makes a film connect with audiences today. From the creative choices behind a film
to its journey into theatres and the changing economics of the theatrical ecosystem, the
session will explore how the industry can continue to create compelling reasons for
audiences to experience stories on the big screen.
Moderator: Rajeev Masand, Chief Operating Officer, Dharma Collab Artists Agency
(DCAA)
Panellists:
● Ayushmann Khurrana, Acclaimed Actor and FICCI FRAMES Ambassador
● Sriram Raghavan, Indian film director and screenwriter
● Denzil Dias, VP and Managing Director - India Theatrical at Warner Bros Discovery
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 FIRESIDE CHAT:
1215 - 1235 hrs The New Fandom: How Reels, Creators and Communities Are Rewiring What India
Loves
Fandom in India used to be about who was famous. Now it's about what content people
connect with, and who they find on the other side of it. Reels has pushed this further —
more people watching, more people making, and the energy shifting out of the metros,
out of English, and away from "how many followers do you have" toward "does this
actually land."
Arun and Kusha get into fireside chat on how that's changed the way people find
creators, why community ends up mattering more than reach, and how creators are
turning that into actual businesses. The session will also witness the launch of Meta
playbook.
GRAND BALLROOM
Arun Srinivas, Country Director – India, Meta
With
Kusha Kapila, Digital Content Creator, Actress, and Co-Founder
1240 - 1250 hrs Interactive Session
Rishad Chindamada, Vertical Head - Media, Services & Ecosystem Partners, Meta
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026
1145 hrs - 1245 hrs
MADHYA PRADESH ROUNDTABLE - Closed Door by Invitation (PARALLEL)
Madhya Pradesh: Building a Future-Ready Creative Economy – Film, AVGC-XR &
Digital Innovation
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 Keynote Address:
1250 - 1300 hrs MoU Signing: From Screen to Destination: Building Film Tourism Ecosystem
Between Maharashtra Film City and Tourism, Government of Maharashtra
GRAND BALLROOM Special Address: Smt. Swati Mhase Patil, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Film,
Stage and Cultural Development Corporation (MFSCDCL)
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 FIRESIDE CHAT:
1300 – 1320 hrs One Game, Many Screens: Where Is Sports Viewing Headed?
GRAND BALLROOM This conversation will explore the changing relationship between television, streaming,
mobile and emerging viewing formats.
Ishan Chatterjee, Chief Executive Officer, Sports, JioStar
In conversation with
Vivek Couto, Co-Founder, CEO and Executive Director, Media Partners Asia
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 KEYNOTE ADDRESS: The Future of Entertainment: AI, Scale & Storytelling.
'1320 - 1330 hrs Saurabh Pandey, Founder & CEO, Eloelo Group
GRAND BALLROOM
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026
1330 - 1400 hrs
LUNCH
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION
1400 - 1440 hrs The New Mainstream: Why Rooted Stories Are Winning Audiences
GRAND BALLROOM In an era of abundant content, audiences are increasingly gravitating towards hyperlocal
narratives deeply rooted in their culture, and communities are finding audiences far
beyond their place of origin. As authenticity increasingly becomes a driver of scale, this
conversation brings creators, writers, producers and platforms to explore how rooted
storytelling has become one of the greatest strengths and shares the creative choices
behind some of India's most enduring and beloved narratives
Moderator: Naman Ramachandran, Asia Editor, Variety
Panellists:
● Mrinalini Jain, Group Chief Development Officer, Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India
● Tanya Bami, Series Head, Netflix India
● Amogh Dusad, Director and Head of AVOD Content, Prime Video India
● Mukesh Chhabra, Casting Director, Director, Actor
● Anant Singh, Creative Director, The Viral Fever (TVF)
● Rasika Dugal, Actor
● Amol Parashar, Actor
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 FIRESIDE CHAT:
1445 - 1500 hrs
GRAND BALLROOM
Prasoon Joshi, Chairman, Prasar Bharati.
Advertising genius, lyric-writer, novelist, Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), and a man who has a way with words. He held forth, basking in the limelight, completely overshadowing his interviewer, with incidents from his youth, as well his approach to rooted communication.
With
Mehak Kasbekar, Country Manager & Editor-in-Chief, BRUT India
1500 - 1510 hrs
GRAND BALLROOM
MoU Exchange:
Madhya Pradesh Tourism MOU with The Viral Fever (TVF)
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
1510 - 1520 hrs
GRAND BALLROOM
Shilangi Mukherji, Director & Head, SVOD Business, Amazon Prime Video India, Prime
Video & Amazon MGM Studios
With
Raghav Anand, Partner, EY
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1520 - 1600 hrs The Great Content Race: Artificial Intelligence and Copyright
GRAND BALLROOM As AI transforms the creation and consumption of content, policymakers, creators and
technology companies are navigating new opportunities and questions around
intellectual property. This session will explore how India's copyright framework can
support both innovation and creativity and examine emerging approaches to licensing,
transparency, attribution, consent and remuneration in an increasingly AI-driven content
ecosystem.
Keynote Address: Shri Prabhat, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information &
Broadcasting, Government of India
Moderator:
Mihir Rale, Partner, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas
Panellists:
● Anil Lale, Executive Vice President - Legal and Regulatory, Jiostar
● Uday Singh, Managing Director, Motion Picture Association India
● Kaushik Moitra, Partner, Practice Lead – Regulatory, IP, TMT, Bharucha and Partners
● Manasvi Sharma, Senior Vice President - Technology, Gracenote
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 IN CONVERSATION:
1600 - 1625 hrs Cricket’s Next Growth Frontier: Fans, Media & Markets
GRAND BALLROOM As cricket expands into new markets and reaches new audiences, what will drive its next
era of growth? A conversation on how media innovation, evolving fan behaviours,
technology and global events are reshaping the future of the sport.
Keynote Address: Sanjog Gupta, Chief Executive Officer – International Cricket Council
Sanjog Gupta, Chief Executive Officer – International Cricket Council
with
Jatin Sapru, Sports Broadcaster
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1630 - 1700 hrs
GRAND BALLROOM
The Next Big Story: What audiences want, what creators are imagining and how
bold programming choices are shaping what comes next
As audiences become more diverse, adventurous and open to stories across languages,
genres and formats, what does it take to keep surprising and delighting them? A
conversation on the creative bets, emerging voices and distinctive stories that are
shaping Netflix’s next chapter of programming. And why, in a world with more choice
than ever, the stories that feel authentic and unexpected have the power to travel far
beyond where they began.
● Monika Shergill, Vice President- Content, Netflix India
● Siddharth, Actor & Producer
● Suresh Triveni, Filmmaker & Director
● Abhijeet Singh Parmar, Writer, Creator & Showrunner
● Farah Khan, Filmmaker, Choreographer, YouTuber & Television Personality
● Riteish Deshmukh, Actor, Director, Producer & Host
In Conversation with: Prajakta Koli, Actor, Author & Content Creator
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 KEYNOTE ADDRESS:
1700 - 1715 hrs The 100M Living room: Unlocking the Shared Attention Economy
GRAND BALLROOM Bhaskar Ramesh, Business Head, Entertainment Sales, JioStar
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1715 - 1755 hrs Microdrama, Mega Business: The Next Content Disruption
GRAND BALLROOM As audience attention fragments across platforms, short-form entertainment has
emerged as one of the industry's fastest-growing opportunities. From snackable short
fiction and microdramas to creator-led series and platform-first originals, new formats
are reshaping how stories are written, produced and consumed. Driven by changing
audience behaviour and mobile-first consumption, short-form entertainment is
redefining how stories are developed, distributed and monetised. This session explores
the creative and commercial opportunities driving the next wave of digital entertainment
Moderator: Stutee Ghosh, Film Critic and RJ
Panellists:
● Rishad Chindamada, Vertical Head - Media, Services & Ecosystem Partners, Meta
● Azim Lalani, Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer, BULLET Microdrama, Zee
Entertainment Enterprises Ltd
● GSN Aditya, Chief Operating Officer, Eloelo Group
● Jhoomer Sinha, Senior Vice President – New Initiatives, Kuku
● Maahi, Actor and Singer
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1800 – 1840 hrs Sold Out, Scaling Up: Why India’s Live Events Need to Rebuild from the Fan Up
GRAND BALLROOM India’s live events economy is at an inflexion point, with unprecedented audience
demand, sold-out concerts and a growing presence of global artists. Sustaining this
momentum will require the ecosystem to evolve across infrastructure, technology, talent
and the end-to-end fan experience, supported by an enabling policy and regulatory
environment. This session brings together industry and government voices to examine
the capacity-building, investment and collaborative frameworks needed to scale India’s
live events economy.
Keynote: Shri Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary - Broadcasting, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting, Government of India
Special Address: Avarna Jain, Vice Chairperson, Saregama India Ltd
Discussion led by:
Kunal Khambhati, Chair, FICCI M&E Live Events Forum and Founder & COO - Events,
District by Zomato
Panellists:
● Shri Prithul Kumar, Joint Secretary - Broadcasting, Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting, Government of India
● Shri Kumar Padmapani Bora, Commissioner & Secretary, Information & Public
Relations Department, Govt. of Assam and Managing Director, Assam Tourism
Development Corporation, Government of Assam
● Sabbas Joseph, Founder - Wizcraft Global
● Siddharth Anand Kumar, Exec Vice President - Films & Events at Saregama India Ltd
● Priyanka Khimani, Founder, Khimani & Associates, Billboard India
SEPTEMBER 29, 2026 Screening of Dupahiya Season 2
1845 hrs onwards Introduction by: Mr Vijay Vikram Singh, Actor and Voice-over Artist
Moderator: Mr Abhimanyu Mathur, Deputy Editor - Entertainment, Hindustan Times
GRAND BALLROOM ● Shilangi Mukherji, Director & Head, SVOD Business, Amazon Prime Video India,
Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios
● Nikhil Madhok, Director and Head of Originals (SVOD)
● Shubh Shivdasani, Creator & Producer
● Salona Bains Joshi, Creator & Producer
● Sonam Nair, Director
● Gajraj Rao, Actor
● Sparsh Shrivastava, Actor
● Bhuvan Arora, Actor
Entertainment Evening by Mika Singh Presented by District by Zomato
Followed by Networking Dinner
DAY 2 | SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1030 - 1110 hrs Lighting Up a Billion Screens
GRAND BALLROOM Reaching 1.2 billion screens during TATA IPL 2026 proved that live sports broadcasting
achieves peak scale when massive distribution meets hyper-localized, interactive fan
engagement. This panel explores what it takes to achieve this scale, how it is only the
beginning of true engagement, and how personalisation is kickstarting a new era of
sports viewership.
Moderator: Mayanti Langer, Sports Journalist & Broadcaster
Panellists:
● Ravi Kishan, Member of Parliament and Actor
● Irfan Pathan, Former Indian Cricketer
● Akash Saxena, Chief Technology Officer, JioStar
● Sheeladitya Mohanty, Head of Marketing, OpenAI India
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 Stories of India - Virtual Bharat
1030 - 1115 hrs
BALLROOM 2
(PARALLEL Ballroom)
Virtual Bharat is an immersive, global-facing repository of stories rooted in India and its
people—narratives that remain largely unseen, unheard and untold. Our mission is to
bring these stories to light through a bold creative vision that transcends borders and
speaks to hearts around the world. This special showcase presents two films from the
Virtual Bharat archive: Ramnami, winner of the National Film Award for Best
Documentary, and screening of “Ta Dhom” where Mumbai’s Hip-hop’s beats, bars, and
street energy meet the intricate rhythmic cycles of Konnakol, Carnatic music. The films
will be followed by a conversation with filmmaker Bharatbala on memory, preservation
and the power of storytelling.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 FIRESIDE CHAT:
1125 - 1155 hrs From Screen to Society: Rewriting Women’s Stories of Independence
GRAND BALLROOM A woman devotes her life to building, maintaining and sustaining a home, yet she remains
legally vulnerable at every stage of life. Mainstream media holds a powerful mirror to society
and broadcasters have a unique opportunity and responsibility to reshape some of these
cultural taboos.
FICCI Frames brings to the forefront a crucial conversation on how prime-time storytelling can
influence social change. Right from creating greater awareness of women’s rights and their
rightful place in society to championing financial independence and empowering Indian
women to take greater control of their lives. Through the lens of Anupama, Rupali Ganguly
and Rajan Shahi will directly address the quiet reality of financial insecurity and
co-dependence among women. They will talk about how mass media has the potential to turn
everyday screens into a catalyst for genuine societal evolution and challenge structural norms,
inspiring women to view their independence and rights as the necessary goal rather than
privilege.
Rupali Ganguly, Lead Actor, Anupama
Rajan Shahi, Director & Producer
In conversation with
Abira Das, Journalist & Writer
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1115 - 1200 hrs Operation Sindoor
(PARALLEL Ballroom) Operation Sindoor, a two-part docuseries by Discovery, brought together India’s military
leadership and defence experts to recount the behind-the-scenes operation during the
88-hour conflict. Through powerful first-hand accounts, the series resonates deeply with
audiences owing to its unparalleled access to individuals who were directly involved with
the operation. Since its premiere on 15th August, the series has been dominating
national conversations, becoming part of a wider geopolitical discourse, a rarity for any
documentary in India.
Step behind the scenes of this landmark docuseries with the people who made it
possible. An insightful fireside conversation exploring the creative vision, storytelling
choices and commitment to authentic and compelling narratives that helped bring a
defining chapter of recent history to audiences.
Moderator: Naman Ramachandran, Asia Editor, Variety
Panellists:
● Ritika Sabharwal, Original Productions Lead, Factual & Lifestyle, Warner Bros.
Discovery
● Prabhu Asgaonkar, Filmmaker
● Manika Berry, Filmmaker
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1140 - 1220 hrs From Folk to Future: State Ecosystems Driving India’s Creative Economy
(PARALLEL Ballroom) From folk traditions, stories and distinctive local expressions to film, content and new
creative enterprises, India’s states hold a wealth of possibilities for shaping the country’s
next phase of creative growth. As these strengths find new expression through
contemporary storytelling, production, tourism and media, the opportunity lies in
building ecosystems that connect them with policy, infrastructure and industry. Bringing
together state representatives and voices from across film, storytelling, content and
creative businesses, this conversation will explore how India can translate its diverse
creative inheritance into new economic opportunities and build future-ready ecosystems
across its states.
Special Address: Shri Suneel Anchipaka, Managing Director & CEO, Delhi Tourism &
Transportation Development Corporation Ltd., Government of NCT of Delhi
Moderator: Lohita Sujith, Sr. Director - Copyright & Digital Economy, Motion Pictures
Association (India)
Panelists:
● Shri Pawan Kumar Jain, Addl. Director, Rajasthan Tourism
● Shripad Ashtekar, Founder and Managing Director, Signpost India Limited.
● Tejkarran Singh Bajaj, Business Head - Zee 5 India and AI & Innovation
● Bharatbala, Acclaimed Filmmaker
● Ranveer Brar, Celebrity Chef, Author and Actor
● Yatindra Mishra, Author, Poet & Music Scholar
● Gaurav Dwivedi, Film Policy Architect, Media Strategist, Cultural Policy Leader
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 IN CONVERSATION:
1155 - 1215 hrs Who Can We Trust? Preserving the Sanctity of News in the Age of Digital Disruption
GRAND BALLROOM In an age of digital disruption, the boundaries between news, opinion and
misinformation are increasingly blurred. This conversation will explore how trusted news
institutions can preserve credibility, editorial integrity and public trust in a rapidly
evolving media landscape.
Shri Gaurav Dwivedi, Chief Executive Officer, Prasar Bharati
With
Anuradha Sengupta, Journalist
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1215 - 1255 hrs Reality - The Hit-Making Engine: Moments that turn into Cultural Phenomena
GRAND BALLROOM Reality reflects life as it is: unscripted, unfiltered, unmediated - and that authenticity is
exactly why reality entertainment scales. As a genre, it travels across every language and
into every home, speaking to the whole audience driving resonance across age groups
and a true family watching experience, which makes it the most universal and most
durable format in Indian entertainment. It is also where reach, engagement and new
revenue are converging fastest. Join the makers and talent building it and dive deep into
what goes behind creating the shows India can't stop watching. The session will witness
the launch of a reality playbook.
Keynote Address: Alok Jain, Head - Hindi & English Entertainment Business (Streaming,
TV and Studios), JioStar
Moderator: Delshad Irani, Editor, Storyboard18
● Deepak Dhar, Founder & Group - Chief Executive Officer, Banijay Asia & Endemol
Shine India
● Ekta Kapoor, Founder & Joint Managing Director, Balaji Telefilms Limited
● Vipul Shah, Founding Chairman & Managing Director, Optimystix Entertainment
● Nikul Desai, Founder & Producer, Eevaan Films and Story Weaver Collective
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1220 - 1300 hrs Inside the Illicit Streaming Ecosystem: Technology and Enforcement
(PARALLEL Ballroom) A 10-minute live demonstration will illustrate how modern digital piracy operates
(without identifying any specific platform) followed by a panel discussion.
Piracy has evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise, fuelled by illegal IPTV services,
hacked set-top boxes, unauthorised signal redistribution, rogue streaming platforms and
increasingly organised syndicated piracy networks. Far from being a victimless crime,
piracy undermines investment in premium content, causes significant economic losses,
distorts legitimate markets and is increasingly linked to organised crime, money
laundering and other illicit activities. As India seeks to strengthen its position as a global
content hub, this session will examine whether the current legal and regulatory
framework is equipped to tackle modern piracy and what policy, enforcement and
cross-sector collaboration are needed to disrupt criminal networks, protect consumers
and safeguard India's creative economy.
Moderator: Sneha Jain, Partner at Saikrishna & Associates
Panellists:
● Neil Gane, Vice President and Head of Asia Pacific for IP House
● Dawn Barriteau, Vice President, Content Protection, Motion Picture Association
APAC
● Rajkumar Akella, Managing Director - Rentrak - India & Chairman - Anti Video Piracy
Cell, Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce
● Anil Malhotra, Head - Public & Regulatory Affairs and CRO Affiliate Sales, Zee
Entertainment Enterprises Limited
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION
1300 - 1330 hrs Drishyam: The Conclusion
GRAND BALLROOM Moderator: Madhureeta Mukherji, Editor, Bombay Times
Panellists:
● Ajay Devgn, Acclaimed Actor
● Kumar Mangat Pathak, Film producer
● Abhishek Pathak, Filmmaker
● Alok Jain, Head - Hindi & English Entertainment Business (Streaming, TV and Studios),
JioStar
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1300 - 1340 hrs From Bollywood to RioWood: Creating Stories Without Borders
Ballroom 2 From stories to destinations, this conversation brings together Indian and Brazilian
creative, technology and investment leaders to explore how Riowood and India’s creative
industries can co-create films, television, animation, VFX, gaming, immersive experiences
and entertainment destinations.
The panel will examine opportunities in co-production, shared IP, talent exchange, AI,
financing and global distribution, positioning Rio de Janeiro as a home for international
stories, technologies and partnerships, and as a springboard into the Brazilian and Latin
American markets.
Moderator: Ashish S. Kulkarni, Chief Mentor, FICCI FRAMES and Founder – Punnaryug
and Founding Director, Indian Institute of Creative Technologies
Panellist:
● Ravi Velhal, Founder, RioWood, Brazil
● Maximino Cavalcante Leite, Co- Founder, RioWood, Brazil
● Lindalia Sofia, Co- Founder, RioWood, Brazil
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
1330 - 1400 hrs
LUNCH
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1400 – 1440 hrs From India to the World: Creating IP that transcends Borders
GRAND BALLROOM India’s rich heritage and diversity have long shaped its stories, ideas and creative
expression. Today, the growing international resonance of Indian storytelling reflects the
country’s expanding cultural presence and the ability of its creative voices to connect
across geographies and contexts. This conversation brings together leading voices from
across the creative ecosystem to examine what is driving this momentum and how India
can build on it to create enduring IP, deepen cultural influence and strengthen its soft
power on the world stage.
Keynote Address: Create in India, Create for the World: Building India’s Creative
Economy & Protecting IP by Shri Senthil Rajan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information &
Broadcasting, Government of India
Moderator: Naman Ramachandran, Asia Editor, Variety
Panellists
● Shoojit Sircar, Director
● Ram Madhvani, Filmmaker
● Vani Tripathi Tikoo, Actor & Producer
● Rima Das, Filmmaker
● Ranveer Brar, Celebrity Chef, Author and Actor
● Ruchir Tiwari, Chief Cluster Officer – Hindi Movie Channels, Zee Entertainment
Enterprises Ltd
● Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh, Director, Original Films, Netflix India
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1415 - 1500 hrs Future of AVGC-XR: Creating the Next Billion Experiences
Parallel BallRoom As AI, real-time creation, immersive technologies and interactive storytelling reshape the
entertainment landscape, the boundaries between animation, VFX, video gaming, comics
and XR & e-sports are rapidly disappearing. The next decade will be defined by
experiences that are personalised, participatory and globally scalable. This session brings
together industry leaders across AVGC-XR & e-sports to explore how technology, talent
and original IP can power the next billion experiences and position India as a leading
force in the global creative-tech economy.
Keynote : Dr. P. Anbalagan, Principal Secretary (Industries,Investment & Services) at
Government of Maharashtra (GoM)
Moderator: Sameer Pitalwalla, Head of Gaming - APAC, Google Cloud
Panellists:
● Munjal Shroff, Chair, FICCI AVGC-XR Forum, and Co-Founder & COO, Graffiti Studios
● Rajiv Chilaka, Co-Chair, FICCI AVGC-XR Forum, and Founder & Managing Director,
Green Gold Animation Pvt. Ltd.
● Ankit Gokani, Director - Production, Netflix India
● Charlie Chowdrey, CEO, JioBlast
● Bejoy Arputharaj, Founder/CEO/VFX Supervisor, PhantomFX
● Aman Srivastava, CEO, Amar Chitra Katha
● Dr Sanjana Kiran, Board Member and CEO, Arohan Innovation and Technology
Foundation
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1445 - 1530 hrs Madhya Pradesh’s Next Creative Frontier: From Production to Pixels
Grand Ball Room Madhya Pradesh has emerged as one of India's most film-friendly states. As filmmaking,
animation, gaming, VFX and immersive entertainment increasingly converge, Madhya
Pradesh's new AVGC-XR policy complements the and Film Tourism frameworks create an
opportunity to bring talent, technology, infrastructure and intellectual property into one
connected ecosystem. This session explores how policy, infrastructure, talent and
industry collaboration can turn these parallel opportunities into a connected media and
entertainment ecosystem.
Moderator: Samir Sarkar, CEO, Magic Hour Films and National Awardee
Panellists:
● Dr Ilayaraja T., Secretary - Chief Minister & Tourism, Government of Madhya
Pradesh; and Managing Director, Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board
● Shri M. Selvendran, Principal Secretary, Science & Technology Department,
Government of Madhya Pradesh and Chairman, Madhya Pradesh State Electronics
Development Corporation
● Vani Tripathi Tikoo, Actor & Producer
● Richie Mehta, Filmmaker
● Vishal Jethwa, Actor
● Sunita Rajwar, Actor
● Arpit Dubey, Co-Chairman, MP AVGC-XR Association, Co-Founder & CEO, Kayra
Animation Pvt. Ltd.
● Monisha Advani, Producer - Emmay Entertainment
Followed by
Musical Notes by Suneel Lodhi
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 Meta MasterClass
1500 – 1530 hrs What’s New @ Instagram
MAHOGANY ROOM Kamal Awatramani, Partnerships & BD Leader, Meta India
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 FIRESIDE CHAT:
1530 - 1545 hrs
GRAND BALLROOM
Fireside Chat
Mr Deepak Dhar, Group Chief Executive Officer, Banijay Asia and Endemol Shine India
with
Ms Vanita Kohli-Khandekar, Author & Columnist, Business Standard
GRAND BALLROOM
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1530 - 1600 hrs India's Esports Decade: From Players to Global Powerhouse
India's esports industry is entering a defining phase. India stands at the forefront of an
esports revolution, with competitive gaming emerging as a powerful intersection of
technology, entertainment, sports and youth culture. The session will bring together
policymakers, industry leaders and athletes to discuss talent development, investment,
infrastructure and the pathways needed to position India as a leading force in global
esports and the digital creative economy
Keynote Speaker:
Shri Ashish Shelar, Hon'ble Minister of Information & Technology & Minister of Cultural
Affairs, Govt. Of Maharashtra & President, Esports Games Federation (ESGF)
Moderator: Dr. Ashish S. Kulkarni, Chief Mentor, FICCI FRAMES and Founder –
Punnaryug and Founding Director, Indian Institute of Creative Technologies & Core
Member of ESGF
Speakers
● Nandan Jha, Founder, Esports Games Federation (ESGF)
● Gautam Virk, Co- founder, Nodwin Gaming
● Abhijeet Andhare, Founder, Trident Gaming *
● Nipun Agarwal, Owner, Majhi Mumbai*
MoU with IICT: Exchange of MoU ( On the side lines ) BAF Awards
● Dr. Vishwas Deoskar, Chief Executive Officer, Indian Institute of Creative
Technologies (IICT)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1545 - 1625 hrs Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of Content Creation
GRAND BALLROOM AI is ushering in a new era of content creation, challenging established models of
creativity, production and audience engagement. This session will examine how AI is
transforming the creative process, unlocking new possibilities for storytelling and
creating new opportunities across the Media & Entertainment ecosystem. The
conversation will also explore the evolving role of creators, the balance between human
imagination and machine intelligence, and what it will take to build a future where
technology amplifies rather than replaces creativity.
Moderator: Vivan Sharan, Partner, Koan Advisory Group
Panellists:
● Bharath Ram, Chief Product Officer, JioStar
● Gaurav Jeet Singh, Director - Agencies & VC Partnerships, Meta
● Phil McKenzie, Co-Founder, Goldfinch, UK
● Sagar Gaonkar, Chief Technology Officer, Eloelo Group
● Kunj Sanghvi, Senior Vice President-Content, Kuku
● Naren Kachroo, Head GTM AI, Google Cloud India
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 FICCI BAF Awards Ceremony
1600 hrs onwards Keynote Speaker:
Shri Ashish Shelar, Hon'ble Minister of Information & Technology & Minister of Cultural
Affairs, Govt. Of Maharashtra
BAF Awards Flow
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 IN CONVERSATION:
1630 - 1700 hrs From Storytellers to Studios: Reshaping the Next Generation of Indian Cinema
GRAND BALLROOM Dinesh Vijan, Founder, Maddock Films
And
Rajkummar Rao, Acclaimed Actor
With
Anupama Chopra, Editor - The Hollywood Reporter India, RPSG Lifestyle Media
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1700 - 1730 hrs The Value of Attention: From Eyeballs to Enterprise
GRAND BALLROOM In today's media landscape, attention is more than a metric—it's a business asset. This
session will explore how companies are transforming audience engagement into
sustainable growth through smarter monetisation, stronger loyalty and diversified
revenue models.
Moderator: Arjun Nohwar, Co-Chair, FICCI M&E Committee, and Managing Director –
South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery
Panellists:
● Sushant Sreeram, Head - SVOD Business and Chief Marketing Officer, JioStar
● Mukund Galgali, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Zee
Entertainment Enterprises Limited
● Ranjana Mangla, EVP & Head of Ad Revenue, YouTube Growth Strategy & Revenue,
Sony LIV
● Sekhar Samiappan, Head of MediaCo Partnerships, YouTube
● Vivek Krishnani, Chief Executive Officer, The Epic Studios (Films)
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
1730 Hrs
Tea/ Coffee
SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 PANEL DISCUSSION:
1730 - 1810 hrs FROM REGULATION TO MARKET FORCES: Is it time for tariff forbearance in
broadcasting?
India's broadcasting sector faces rising content, technology, and distribution costs
alongside evolving consumer preferences. Yet, extensive tariff regulation continues to
limit pricing flexibility and investment in high-quality content. This session will explore
whether greater market-driven pricing can support industry growth, competition, and
consumer choice.
Keynote Address: Shri Ashok Kumar Jha, Principal Advisor (B&CS), Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India (TRAI)
Moderator: Vanita Kohli Khandekar, Author & Columnist, Business Standard
Panellists:
● Krishnan Kutty, Head – Entertainment Business, South Cluster, JioStar
● Anil Malhotra, Head - Public & Regulatory Affairs and CRO Affiliate Sales, Zee
Entertainment Enterprises Limited
● Rahul Vatts, Director Corporate Affairs & Group Chief Regulatory Officer, Airtel
