Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries, delivered a keynote address at the inaugural WAVES 2025, a global media and entertainment summit held in Mumbai, proclaiming India as the future epicenter of the world’s entertainment industry. Titled “Building the Next Global Entertainment Revolution from India,” Ambani’s speech outlined a bold vision for India to lead a transformative era in global storytelling, driven by its rich heritage, dynamic demography, and technological prowess.
“India is not just a nation—it is a civilization of stories, where storytelling is a way of life,” Ambani said, invoking Mark Twain’s description of India as “the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great-grandmother of traditions.” He emphasized that storytelling, from timeless epics to mythological tales, is woven into India’s cultural fabric, making it uniquely positioned to dominate global entertainment. “Content is king—and good stories always sell,” he declared, underscoring the universal appeal of compelling narratives.
Ambani credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership for setting the stage for this transformation, describing the WAVES Summit as a historic milestone. He challenged the notion that media and entertainment represent merely India’s “soft power,” asserting, “It’s India’s real power,” reflecting the country’s growing influence in shaping global culture and creativity.
The business tycoon highlighted two major forces reshaping the creative landscape: the rise of the Global South and the advent of transformative technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). With 85% of the world’s population residing in the Global South, Ambani noted the region’s increasing role in content creation and consumption. He also praised AI’s revolutionary impact on entertainment, stating, “What AI is doing for entertainment today is a million times more transformative than what the silent camera did for cinema a century ago.” AI, he said, is erasing boundaries between imagination and execution across the entertainment value chain.
Ambani outlined three pillars driving India’s potential to lead the global entertainment revolution: compelling content rooted in its storytelling heritage, a dynamic demography fueling aspiration and ambition, and technological leadership exemplified by India’s digital revolution. “India’s digital revolution is not just a story of scale—it is a story of aspiration, ambition, and transformation,” he said.
In a world marked by polarization and uncertainty, Ambani struck a hopeful note, emphasizing entertainment’s role in fostering joy, connection, and inspiration. “India will answer this global hunger for entertainment,” he affirmed, concluding with a call to action: “Let WAVES be the message of hope from a resurgent new India to the world.”
