Reliance’s Jio Studios Acquires Stake in Oscar Winner Guneet Monga Kapoor’s Sikhya Entertainment (EXCLUSIVE)

Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited has acquired a 50.1% stake in Sikhya Entertainment, the Indian production house behind Academy Award-winning documentaries “Period. End of Sentence.” and “The Elephant Whisperers.”

The deal unites Jio Studios, India’s largest film studio and the media arm of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited, with the company co-founded by producers Guneet Monga Kapoor and Achin Jain. The partnership aims to develop films and series for loval and international audiences, combining Jio Studios’ distribution reach with Sikhya’s track record in globally resonant storytelling. Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited.

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Sikhya Entertainment stands as the only Indian production house to have won both an Academy Award and multiple Indian National Film Awards. Beyond its Oscar victories for documentary shorts, the company’s Indian National Film Award-winning slate includes “Masaan,” “Soorarai Pottru” and “Kathal.” Its multilingual portfolio also features “The Lunchbox,” “Pagglait” and “Kill.”

Jio Studios has produced more than 150 films and series across Hindi and other Indian languages. The studio’s recent slate includes the “Stree” franchise and “Laapataa Ladies,” India’s official submission for the international feature Oscar.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ The studio’s “Dhurandhar,” starring Ranveer Singh, has become the highest-grossing Hindi-language film of all time in India.

“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,” said Jyoti Deshpande, president of Jio Studios. “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.”

Monga Kapoor and Jain said they 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,” they said in a joint statement. “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.”

The producers said 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,” they added. “Together, we celebrate a rising India, confident in its voice, unapologetic in its stories, and ready to shape the next chapter of cinema.”