In October 2024, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions made headlines when it sold a 50% stake in the studio to Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII). The news was both surprising and significant. Now, another major Bollywood studio is making waves: Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment is reportedly partnering with Hollywood giant Universal Studios.
According to a report in Mid-day, Excel Entertainment and Universal Studios have been in discussions for some time, with the international studio eager to enter the Indian market. Universal Studios has reportedly acquired a minority stake in Excel Entertainment, while the majority remains with Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. A source added, “Excel wants to expand the scale of its productions going ahead. There are big ideas in the pipeline.”
Excel Entertainment made its debut in 2001 with Dil Chahta Hai and has since produced landmark films including Lakshya, Don, Rock On, Luck By Chance, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Fukrey, and Gully Boy. In 2025, the studio had three major theatrical releases—Reema Kagti’s Superboys of Malegaon, Emraan Hashmi’s Ground Zero, and Farhan Akhtar’s 120 Bahadur—though all three underperformed at the box office.
Looking ahead, Excel plans to adapt the beloved Mirzapur series for the big screen with Mirzapur: The Film. Meanwhile, two of its most anticipated projects, Don 3 and Jee Le Zaraa, remain in limbo, with no official updates. Don 3, originally scheduled to begin filming next month, has reportedly been delayed yet again.
Reflecting on Excel’s journey during the studio’s 20th anniversary, Farhan Akhtar wrote on Instagram, “20 Years Of Excel. And to think all we wanted was to just make Dil Chahta Hai. Thank you life for having other plans. Thank you to all actors, writers, directors, technicians, music directors, lyricists, and every single person from all creative departments and production teams that walked alongside and sometimes carried me on this journey. None of it was possible without you. And none of it was possible without the love of the audiences. It’s been your support that’s given wings to our dreams. Thank you.”
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