Adar Poonawalla-led Serene Productions has acquired a 50% stake in Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and its sister company, Dharmatic Entertainment, for ₹1,000 crore. This partnership brings together one of India’s most iconic film production houses with Poonawalla’s business acumen and resources. Karan Johar will remain Executive Chairman of Dharma, ensuring that the creative direction of the company stays aligned with its established legacy. Apoorva Mehta will continue his role as CEO, overseeing operations.
The alliance is positioned to leverage the growing demand for high-quality content, driven by India’s increasing digital penetration and evolving audience preferences. The collaboration aims to blend Dharma’s storytelling prowess with Poonawalla’s strategic insights to scale new heights, focusing on meeting the needs of today’s digital-first viewers. Poonawalla expressed his excitement about partnering with Johar, emphasizing their goal to expand Dharma Productions’ influence and success in the coming years.
This partnership signals a shift in the entertainment industry, where traditional cinema merges with streaming platforms to cater to a global audience. Together, Serene Productions and Dharma intend to push creative boundaries and explore new formats and platforms to engage wider demographics. Johar highlighted Dharma’s long-standing commitment to emotional storytelling that captures Indian culture while emphasizing that this partnership will enable them to blend artistic vision with forward-looking business strategies.
Apoorva Mehta reflected on Dharma’s growth into a multi-faceted content powerhouse and sees this partnership as a significant step towards realizing their vision for the future. By collaborating with Serene Productions, Dharma is set to explore new opportunities in content creation and distribution, ultimately strengthening India’s entertainment ecosystem.
The Raine Group served as the exclusive financial advisor to Dharma Productions in the transaction, while AZB & Partners and JSA provided legal counsel to Dharma and Serene Productions, respectively. This partnership marks the beginning of a new era, where cinema, streaming, and global content converge to shape the future of Indian entertainment.
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