Farhan Akhtar and Universal Music Plot Bollywood’s Global Takeover – Is Hollywood Ready?

Mia Reynolds, 1/6/2026Universal Music India's investment in Excel Entertainment signals a new chapter for Bollywood, promising global collaborations and expanded creative horizons. This partnership aims to elevate Indian film music on the world stage, blending rich storytelling with catchy soundtracks that resonate globally.

Excel isn’t just any studio. Mention the name, and the images spring to mind—friends on a Goan road trip, tense silences broken by thumping bass, ensemble casts whose laughter seems unscripted. Co-founded by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar more than two decades ago, the brand stands for storytelling that wears its heart on its sleeve. Think of how *Dil Chahta Hai* captured a restless generation, or how *Mirzapur* cracks open a world where every decision counts double. Stories here aren’t set dressing—they’re lived-in, threaded through with the sort of music that refuses to fade from memory.

Now, take that energy and toss Universal Music Group (UMG) into the mix. The numbers behind the deal—Excel’s valuation climbing to about ₹2,400 crore (almost $290 million)—are impressive on a spreadsheet. But, truth be told, it’s not the decimal points that stick. What matters is chemistry: the promise that happens when a risk-taking film house teams up with the world’s mightiest music label. Adam Granite, UMG’s regional chief, pointed out that original soundtracks are still the heartbeat of India’s evolving music consumption. Is it any wonder? In India, a song is never just background noise; often, it’s the entire plot.

There’s a new entity on the horizon: Excel’s music label, crafted in partnership with Universal. Announcements will no doubt drip-feed in—2025’s festival season feels like a natural testing ground for a few collaborative efforts, if the rumor mill is to be trusted. More interesting, perhaps, are the implications. With Universal Music Publishing Group stepping in as Excel’s exclusive publishing partner, expect more than just increased output. Indian stories, already bright on the world stage, could soon be harmonizing with voices from across the globe—both literally and metaphorically.

Vishal Ramchandani, Excel’s CEO, spoke about widening creative horizons and global storytelling. Those are popular phrases in industry circles, but there’s a glimmer of genuine anticipation underneath. India’s nearly unrivaled pool of smartphone users—over 650 million and counting—paired with a ballooning streaming audience (nearing 375 million OTT viewers, last check) represents a landscape hungry for the next big thing. And here, music doesn’t just frame the scene. It’s the emotional compass, the secret ingredient that can elevate dialogue into legend. Family gatherings, traffic jams, cricket victories—so many milestones scored to a soundtrack with Excel’s fingerprints on it.

From Universal’s vantage point, the move feels both strategic and, perhaps, overdue. India continues its climb through the global music market rankings, a fact not lost on anyone reading the IFPI reports these days. But take a step back from the macro—financial consultants, legal specialists, multinational titles like “Senior Vice President, Strategy”—and the real story settles in with a quiet kind of power. Excel’s credits stretch from Goa to global festivals, but its currency remains an audience that hums its tunes long after the screen fades to black. Some numbers don’t get tracked on quarterly statements; they live on in wedding playlists and WhatsApp video soundtracks.

Logistics? The details, like new label names and official release slates, are still guarded with the secrecy of a monsoon blockbuster finale. Universal’s seat on Excel’s board is now occupied by Devraj Sanyal, a name familiar to industry insiders across Asia and Africa. Legal teams, advisory firms—the usual big-league suspects—have all signed off, leaving the creative teams to chase what comes next.

Is this a watershed or just another corporate footnote? Stepping away from the press releases, one thing stands out. Indian film music—those unforgettable hooks and soaring refrains—isn’t made to be ephemeral. Its greatest hits are replayed until the vinyl’s worn thin, tattooed onto collective memory. The bet being placed here is as simple as it is ambitious: that an Indian song, told true and wrapped in a global production bow, can sneak into hearts half a world away. For those of us with a finger on the market’s pulse, the question isn’t ‘if’ but ‘how soon?’—and perhaps, precisely which melody turns out to be the breakthrough.

Corporate collaboration, at its best, expands the terrain artists can play on. That’s the real test: Can this union spark something larger than a jump in quarterly reports? The expectation is for a handful of international collaborations—unexpected features, new voices, old sensibilities reframed for a broader ear. By 2025, it wouldn’t be a shock to hear a Mumbai-crafted refrain pop up in a festival set in Berlin or an indie film somewhere in Ireland.

All told, there’s a sense—difficult to quantify, hard to shake—that this isn’t just commerce, but the overture to something deeper. Indian film music has always been more legacy than novelty, braided into daily life in the way only true art can manage. By giving that art a bigger stage, Excel and Universal aren’t just merging companies; they’re amplifying the soundtrack of a nation, inviting millions more to sing along.

Whether that chorus will echo from Mumbai penthouses to New York coffee shops, only time will really say. But sometime next year, as another crop of film songs makes the leap from cinema hall to playlist staple, there’s every chance a few unfamiliar voices will be humming along too. And isn’t that the best kind of ending? Or maybe, better yet, a new beginning.

It isn’t every day that the tremors of a business handshake ripple far beyond glass-walled boardrooms, echoing through playlists and living rooms. Universal Music India’s recent investment in Excel Entertainment—nailing down a roughly 30% stake—has quietly nudged Indian entertainment into a refreshing new chapter. Headlines did the rounds, of course, but some stories tiptoe in and out of the news cycle; this one lingers, fueled by a different kind of electricity.Excel isn’t just any studio. Mention the name, and the images spring to mind—friends on a Goan road trip, tense silences broken by thumping bass, ensemble casts whose laughter seems unscripted. Co-founded by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar more than two decades ago, the brand stands for storytelling that wears its heart on its sleeve. Think of how *Dil Chahta Hai* captured a restless generation, or how *Mirzapur* cracks open a world where every decision counts double. Stories here aren’t set dressing—they’re lived-in, threaded through with the sort of music that refuses to fade from memory.Now, take that energy and toss Universal Music Group (UMG) into the mix. The numbers behind the deal—Excel’s valuation climbing to about ₹2,400 crore (almost $290 million)—are impressive on a spreadsheet. But, truth be told, it’s not the decimal points that stick. What matters is chemistry: the promise that happens when a risk-taking film house teams up with the world’s mightiest music label. Adam Granite, UMG’s regional chief, pointed out that original soundtracks are still the heartbeat of India’s evolving music consumption. Is it any wonder? In India, a song is never just background noise; often, it’s the entire plot.There’s a new entity on the horizon: Excel’s music label, crafted in partnership with Universal. Announcements will no doubt drip-feed in—2025’s festival season feels like a natural testing ground for a few collaborative efforts, if the rumor mill is to be trusted. More interesting, perhaps, are the implications. With Universal Music Publishing Group stepping in as Excel’s exclusive publishing partner, expect more than just increased output. Indian stories, already bright on the world stage, could soon be harmonizing with voices from across the globe—both literally and metaphorically.Vishal Ramchandani, Excel’s CEO, spoke about widening creative horizons and global storytelling. Those are popular phrases in industry circles, but there’s a glimmer of genuine anticipation underneath. India’s nearly unrivaled pool of smartphone users—over 650 million and counting—paired with a ballooning streaming audience (nearing 375 million OTT viewers, last check) represents a landscape hungry for the next big thing. And here, music doesn’t just frame the scene. It’s the emotional compass, the secret ingredient that can elevate dialogue into legend. Family gatherings, traffic jams, cricket victories—so many milestones scored to a soundtrack with Excel’s fingerprints on it.From Universal’s vantage point, the move feels both strategic and, perhaps, overdue. India continues its climb through the global music market rankings, a fact not lost on anyone reading the IFPI reports these days. But take a step back from the macro—financial consultants, legal specialists, multinational titles like “Senior Vice President, Strategy”—and the real story settles in with a quiet kind of power. Excel’s credits stretch from Goa to global festivals, but its currency remains an audience that hums its tunes long after the screen fades to black. Some numbers don’t get tracked on quarterly statements; they live on in wedding playlists and WhatsApp video soundtracks.Logistics? The details, like new label names and official release slates, are still guarded with the secrecy of a monsoon blockbuster finale. Universal’s seat on Excel’s board is now occupied by Devraj Sanyal, a name familiar to industry insiders across Asia and Africa. Legal teams, advisory firms—the usual big-league suspects—have all signed off, leaving the creative teams to chase what comes next.Is this a watershed or just another corporate footnote? Stepping away from the press releases, one thing stands out. Indian film music—those unforgettable hooks and soaring refrains—isn’t made to be ephemeral. Its greatest hits are replayed until the vinyl’s worn thin, tattooed onto collective memory. The bet being placed here is as simple as it is ambitious: that an Indian song, told true and wrapped in a global production bow, can sneak into hearts half a world away. For those of us with a finger on the market’s pulse, the question isn’t ‘if’ but ‘how soon?’—and perhaps, precisely which melody turns out to be the breakthrough.Corporate collaboration, at its best, expands the terrain artists can play on. That’s the real test: Can this union spark something larger than a jump in quarterly reports? The expectation is for a handful of international collaborations—unexpected features, new voices, old sensibilities reframed for a broader ear. By 2025, it wouldn’t be a shock to hear a Mumbai-crafted refrain pop up in a festival set in Berlin or an indie film somewhere in Ireland.All told, there’s a sense—difficult to quantify, hard to shake—that this isn’t just commerce, but the overture to something deeper. Indian film music has always been more legacy than novelty, braided into daily life in the way only true art can manage. By giving that art a bigger stage, Excel and Universal aren’t just merging companies; they’re amplifying the soundtrack of a nation, inviting millions more to sing along.Whether that chorus will echo from Mumbai penthouses to New York coffee shops, only time will really say. But sometime next year, as another crop of film songs makes the leap from cinema hall to playlist staple, there’s every chance a few unfamiliar voices will be humming along too. And isn’t that the best kind of ending? Or maybe, better yet, a new beginning.