THE PRODUCERS' ROUNDTABLE

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THR INDIA PRODUCERS' ROUNDTABLE — FEATURING THE FINEST FILM PRODUCERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY

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IN AN INDUSTRY WHERE the line between artistic vision and commercial viability grows increasingly blurred, four powerhouse producers gather to dissect the state of Indian cinema in 2025. Dulquer Salmaan, Rana Daggubati, Archana Kalpathi and Vikramaditya Motwane represent the beating heart of production across Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi cinema — each bringing their own unique perspective and united by common challenges.

As 2025 emerges as potentially the highest-grossing year for Indian cinema, these producers refuse to simply celebrate the numbers. The discussion cuts deep into uncomfortable truths — from the bloated entourage costs crippling budgets to the use of artificial intelligence in cinema-making and the vanishing theatrical culture that once defined cinema-going. Yet, amid the pragmatism about budgets, distribution nightmares and the precarious indie film ecosystem, one can feel the passion.

These aren't just producers protecting their investments; they're guardians of a craft, believers in the communal magic of darkened theatres, and champions of the stories that deserve to be told — profitable or not.

WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE THEY WATCHED IN THE THEATRE?

VIKRAMADITYA MOTWANE: Lokah. And One Battle After Another.

DULQUER SALMAAN: F1. I said, 'I have to watch this in a theatre.' I masked up and I went and watched it.

ARCHANA KALPATHI: I watch all my movies in [the theatre]. I watch almost every film that is released, like F1 and Lokah. My son, his friend and I went to watch Mission Impossible.

RANA DAGGUBATI: Sinners.

That was a film that I was really excited [about].

Because I didn't see the trailer and just saw the movie, I didn't know it was about vampires. I lost my mind in the theatre, thinking, 'Okay, that's a genre shift to a totally different degree.'

VANITY VANS & ENTOURAGES