Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, highlighting India’s emergence as a global hub for the ‘Orange Economy’ – a term encompassing the creative sectors of content, creativity, and culture. ​

In his keynote address, PM Modi emphasized the transformative potential of India’s creative industries, stating, “We are witnessing the growth era of the Orange economy. The three pillars of the Orange economy are content, creativity, and culture.” He noted that India is rapidly becoming a center for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, music, and live concerts, contributing significantly to the nation’s GDP.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, projected a robust growth trajectory for India’s media and entertainment industry, estimating its expansion from the current $28 billion to over $100 billion within the next decade. ​

The event attracted a stellar lineup of Bollywood stars and industry leaders, including Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Rajinikanth, Deepika Padukone, and Akshay Kumar. “I still believe the call of the day is a lot more theatres, small theatres in small towns, cheaper theatres so that we can show more films to people in every corner of the country,” Said Shahrukh. Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone looked back at her 18-year-long entertainment journey and said, “Today, when I look back at the journey… For an 18-year-old to move to a big city… It was a big decision to make. Those little things, having to navigate life with trial and error. Overall, when I look back, I say not bad, well done. I am actually going to tell myself I have done pretty well. You don’t really sit back and look at the journey. I don’t celebrate the moments too much. I look at things in a straightforward way,” 

Global media and technology giants, investors, and policymakers also participated, all converging to celebrate and shape the future of the global creative economy under the theme “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries.” ​WAVES 2025 aims to foster partnerships, enhance intellectual property protection, encourage innovation, and strengthen industry collaboration, positioning India as a global leader in the media and entertainment sector. ​

The summit, running from May 1 to 4, 2025, serves as a significant milestone in India’s journey to becoming a powerhouse in the global creative economy.