In a landmark address at WAVES 2025, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani laid out a bold vision for India to lead the next global entertainment revolution on Thursday. Speaking at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, Ambani described the event as both “pioneering” and “historic”, capturing the optimism of a nation ready to take centre stage in the creative economy.

“This summit marks the start of a long journey,” Ambani said in his keynote titled Building the Next Global Entertainment Revolution from India. “The beginning has been fantastic and auspicious,” he noted, addressing a packed hall of leaders, creators and icons from India’s vibrant media and entertainment industry.

Ambani’s keynote address at WAVES 2025 — a newly launched summit that has quickly positioned itself as the flagship event for India’s entertainment sector. Organised in the heart of India’s film capital, the summit was inaugurated earlier in the day by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose vision, Ambani said, “inspired and guided us all.”

Ambani’s speech struck a deeply emotional and cultural chord, acknowledging the power of stories to transform lives. “Other industries produce material goods. But the creative industries—cinema, music, theatre—touch our minds, hearts and souls,” he said. He added that such content could “cross national, social and cultural boundaries effortlessly,” citing Indian cinema’s global ambassadors like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth, Gulzar, and Hema Malini, all of whom were present at the summit.

At the core of his address were two seismic shifts that, according to Ambani, are reshaping the media landscape: the rising economic power of the Global South and the disruptive impact of Artificial Intelligence. “AI tools are dissolving the barriers between dream and reality… making good content a thousand times more captivating,” he said. He called this moment “a million times more revolutionary than the advent of silent cinema a century ago.”

India, Ambani believes, is uniquely positioned to thrive in this new era due to three powerful advantages: rich storytelling heritage, young demographics, and technological prowess. He cited India’s timeless epics like the ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Mahabharata’ as foundational narratives, while pointing to the country’s 1.4 billion-strong population—with an average age of 29—as a vast base of both creators and consumers.

Further, he highlighted India’s leadership in digital infrastructure, especially through Jio’s high-speed internet and digital platforms like Jio Cinema and the newly launched Jio Hotstar. “Jio has made a leading contribution to India’s digital and entertainment revolution,” he stated, proudly noting their partnerships and record-breaking viewership.

During the 15-minute keynote, Ambani presented four actionable ideas to accelerate India’s global entertainment ambitions. First, he urged stakeholders not to miss this “humongous opportunity,” citing India’s potential to grow its $28 billion entertainment sector to $100 billion in a decade. He called for investments in content clusters, VFX training, IP innovation, and a supportive regulatory environment.

Second, he encouraged Indian creators—regional and mainstream—to develop content for global audiences, invoking legends like Raj Kapoor, Satyajit Ray, and the international success of films like ‘Dangal’.

His third suggestion focused on forging global collaborations. “The Prime Minister has given us this mandate—India should become the modern global centre for content and creativity,” he declared.

Finally, Ambani called for using creative industries to build a better, more harmonious world. Quoting the G20 motto given by PM Modi, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ the world is one family Ambani said, “People across the world are hungry for entertainment that brings hope and happiness. India can satisfy this hunger better than anyone else.”

At last he said, “May this newly created WAVES platform give the message of hope for a new world from a resurgent new India.”