At the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a dynamic panel titled ‘Taking the Leap: Storytelling from India, by India, for the World’ brought together some of the country’s leading filmmakers and creative minds, including Vikramaditya Motwane, Nikkhil Advani, Sudip Sharma, Shubh Shivdasani, Salona Bains Joshi, and key executives from Prime Video, for an engaging conversation on how Indian stories are increasingly resonating with audiences across the globe.

The session, packed with fresh insights and future-facing ideas, was held as part of a press release issued by Prime Video, highlighting its role as a platform committed to nurturing homegrown content that can travel worldwide. India’s leadership, including Gaurav Gandhi (Vice President – APAC & MENA) and Nikhil Madhok (Head of Originals, India), joined the panel to shed light on how streaming has transformed both the possibilities and reach of Indian content.

Filmmaker Vikramaditya Motwane, known for his critically acclaimed series Jubilee, spoke about how platforms like Prime Video are giving creators the kind of artistic freedom that traditional formats couldn’t offer. “With streaming services like Prime Video, filmmakers now have creative freedom and can think beyond just that two hours in a movie theater,” he said, adding, “We aren’t there yet, but it’s only a matter of time before we get there.”

Sharing his thoughts, Mumbai Diaries creator Nikkhil Advani, who is currently working on his next series The Revolutionaries, emphasized the importance of research in creating gripping, period-led narratives. “It’s the source material and the research which matters the most,” he said, noting that compelling storytelling must balance historical accuracy with engagement for younger viewers. “If we start giving history lessons, the audience will lose interest.”

Sudip Sharma, whose Paatal Lok made waves for its raw storytelling and memorable characters, described the organic evolution of character development. “A character evolves over a period of time over multiple criteria. Then the actor comes in and brings his or her own thing. Then on the set, some other magic happens.” He cited protagonist Hathiram as a case study in authenticity, saying, “He’s not trying to be anyone else… That authenticity and ability to surprise is what really stood out.”

Newer voices like Shubh Shivdasani and Salona Bains Joshi, creators of the comedy Dupahiya, also shared their experiences, offering a fresh perspective on the so-called ‘female gaze’. “We come from different backgrounds and more than female gaze, it was about small town and city audiences. We wanted everyone to be able to enjoy the story we want to tell,” said Joshi.

Explaining Prime Video’s genre choices, Nikhil Madhok stated, “In India, it’s the themes which are really important. I would say the theme is like the soul and the genre is the body, and that combination is what we look for.” He cited Khauf, Mumbai Diaries, Shershaah, and The Family Man as examples of stories that bring together genre and purpose — from horror to humour to heroism.

Gaurav Gandhi took a broader view, explaining how the platform’s multi-language approach has helped break down linguistic silos. “Earlier, everybody was locked into their own language. Today, almost 60 percent of the customers on Prime Video India stream content in four or more Indian languages,” he said, pointing to the audience’s evolving habits and growing appetite for diversity.

Wrapping up the session, Gandhi called for a higher appetite for risk — both from creators and streaming platforms — and said the future depends on bringing in diverse voices, new perspectives, and storytelling rooted in Indian soil but ready for global screens. “Good shows raise the standard for the industry,” he concluded. “And the customers are guiding us with their love that’s the real metric.”