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Forbes
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
How Namit Malhotra Is Building the Future of AI Content Creation
DNEG Founder & CEO Namit Malhotra In an era where content is king and scale is everything, Namit Malhotra is rewriting the playbook—merging Oscar-winning artistry with generative AI, proprietary IP, and global production infrastructure. As Chairman and CEO of DNEG—the eight-time Academy Award®-winning visual effects giant behind Dune, Oppenheimer, and Tenet—Malhotra is building not just a studio, but a blueprint for the future of storytelling and AI content creation. "We've always been a creative-first company," he says. "But the way we deliver creativity has to evolve." That evolution is now playing out across continents and sectors, anchored by a singular vision: position India not just as a services hub, but as the world's most advanced engine for content creation. Through a series of strategic acquisitions—from London-based VFX leader Double Negative to AI powerhouse Metaphysic (Forbes)—and the launch of his own content production and financing arm Prime Focus Studios, Malhotra has scaled his company into a global juggernaut operating in 24 cities across four continents. He's layered on deep technical innovation through Brahma's AI product suite, and paired it with a bold infrastructure-first mindset—building not just tools or studios, but a full-stack ecosystem to control every stage of storytelling, from data to distribution. His ambition isn't to serve the global entertainment industry. It's to redefine it. At just 18, Namit Malhotra turned his father's garage in Mumbai into ground zero for what would become a global media empire. It was 1995, and a computer graphics course had shown him the future: entire films, made on a single Mac. While others scoffed, Malhotra moved fast. He recruited three instructors from the graphics school where he studied, launched Video Workshop, and began editing shows and music videos for India's top networks. To fund it, he bet everything, securing a loan against the family home. "Digital tools were going to transform cinema—I could feel it. I just had to move first." During the '90s boom in Indian pop culture, Video Workshop built early momentum producing dance-offs, music countdowns, and youth entertainment for mainstream pop culture shows and networks, including Channel V, India's equivalent of MTV. Behind the headlines is a rare advantage: Malhotra's fluency across capital markets, creative storytelling, and deep tech. He's one of the few founder-operators to take a company public, raise hundreds of millions in private equity, execute global M&A, and simultaneously lead creative production and technology development. From acquiring Double Negative—a top-tier British VFX studio known for Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, and Harry Potter films—to raising hundreds of millions from investors such as Novator Capital and United Al Saqer Group, and leading the development of an enterprise AI platform now valued at $$1, Malhotra has consistently used his financial savvy to fuel platform innovation and his creative instinct to give it cultural resonance. Legendary Hollywood producers Charles Roven and Namit Malhotra on set. Roven is involved as a ... More producer, alongside Namit Malhotra, for the live-action Ramayana film. His producer credits through Prime Focus Studios span both Hollywood and Indian blockbusters, reflecting a global vision for storytelling at scale, including: "The biggest challenge lies in navigating three moving targets: ever-evolving technology, unpredictable creative processes, and a rapidly shifting financial model. Understanding business, tech, and creative gives me a 360-degree view," Malhotra says. In 1997, Malhotra merged his Video Workshop with his father's equipment rental company to form Prime Focus. By 2006, he had taken the company public on the Indian stock exchange (Forbes) and expanded operations to London, Los Angeles, New York, and Vancouver. Prime Focus gained prominence by pioneering theatrical 3D conversion for major franchises like Harry Potter and Star Wars, backed by institutional investors including Standard Chartered PE, Macquarie and Aid Capital. But the game-changing move came in 2014, when Prime Focus acquired Double Negative, an acclaimed London-based VFX studio. The merger formed DNEG, combining Prime Focus's global scale with Double Negative's creative pedigree. Renowned Hollywood stunt director Guy Norris with Namit Malhotra on the set of Ramayana. Norris is ... More collaborating with actor and producer Yash to choreograph the action sequences for the movie. The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and is being produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios and Yash's Monster Mind Creations. The result was a global powerhouse that bridged Hollywood studio relationships with a scalable production platform. Under Malhotra's leadership, DNEG has since won eight Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, partnering with some of the most visionary directors in the world: (Forbes) While a planned SPAC deal fell through in 2022, momentum never slowed. DNEG now builds the underlying infrastructure of visual storytelling. From cloud-based workflows and real-time rendering to virtual production and AI content creation, it enables scalable creative delivery. "Technology isn't the product—it's what enables the experience," Malhotra says. In February 2025, Brahma, the content-tech venture backed by Malhotra, acquired Metaphysic, the generative AI startup known for its photorealistic neural performance toolset as used in feature films such as HERE, Furiosa and Alien: Romulus. The deal values Brahma at $1.43 billion, with support from Abu Dhabi's United Al Saqer Group. With 800+ engineers, Brahma is building AI-native products across video, image, and audio—bringing together DNEG's industry-leading VFX tools, Metaphysic's groundbreaking AI technology, Ziva's award-winnning technology for the creation of digital human and character simulations, and CLEARⓇ's purpose-built enterprise AI platform - and opening up new sectors beyond film & TV, including advertising, gaming and sports. 'This isn't about chasing AI trends,' Malhotra says. 'It's about building foundational infrastructure.' "We're moving from bespoke productions to modular storytelling," Malhotra says. "You don't need to fly a crew across five countries. Brahma lets you simulate the entire experience in high fidelity." This modular model opens up new frontiers—from immersive brand campaigns with AI ambassadors to personalized mental health therapy powered by emotional modeling. Brahma's infrastructure enables creators to generate, license, and monetize synthetic content at scale. Think: AWS for storytelling. Smart contracts and on-chain IP rights management ensure transparency and trust as AI reshapes media ownership. Malhotra's strategy isn't to chase features. It's to build a vertically integrated platform platform that future content runs on, spanning from pre-production to post, from data to distribution. "Whoever owns the pipes, wins," he says. "Features fade. Infrastructure lasts." Namit Malhotra In May 2025, Malhotra and the State Government of Maharashtra in India announced a $400M entertainment complex in Mumbai, combining: world-class production studios to facilitate high-end content creation, supported by a state-of-the-art digital infrastructure; live entertainment facilities, including theme parks and experience centres; and lifestyle experiences, including shopping and dining destinations. All in one global destination. 'We're creating the most advanced content hub in the world—rooted in Mumbai, made for the world,' says Malhotra. 'This new site will be a best practice example of what India can deliver in technology, creativity, and entertainment, and will become a worldwide leisure destination, right at the heart of one of the world's oldest filmmaking industries. We are bringing India to the world by bringing the world to India.' Malhotra's vision is to own the entire pipeline—from the tools to the platforms, from training to monetization. And it's global. "We're not just telling Indian stories," he says. "We're building Indian systems that can scale globally." Streaming put Indian content on the global map. DNEG, Prime Focus Studios, and Brahma aim to make India the world's content creation engine. As streaming plateaus and AI hype gives way to infrastructure wars, Namit Malhotra isn't waiting to be disrupted—he's building the infrastructure, controlling the platforms, and shaping the future of content creation. "The world doesn't need more content," he says. "It needs better systems to create it--AI content creation. That's what we're building."
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Yash collaborates with Hollywood stunt director Guy Norris for Nitesh Tiwari's ‘Ramayana'
The work on Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has been going on in full swing, with actors undergoing intense training for action sequences. Actor Yash, who will be seen donning the role of Ravana in the magnum opus, is currently working with popular Hollywood stunt director, Guy Norris, to shoot massive action sequences. Recent images from the set show Yash in peak physical form -- ripped, intense, and battle-ready. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios and Yash's Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana Part 1 is slated for release on Diwali 2026, and the second part on Diwali 2027. Reportedly, Ranbir Kapoor will play the role of Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita. In Novemer, Namit Malhotra, who has previously worked on several high-profile Hollywood projects including Dune and Inception, announced on his official X handle, expressing his excitement for the project. ALSO READ:Ranbir Kapoor, Yash and Sai Pallavi's 'Ramayana Part 1 and 2' officially announced; first poster out In a heartfelt message accompanying the film's first poster, he wrote, "More than a decade ago, I embarked on a noble quest to bring this epic that has ruled billions of hearts for over 5000 years to the big screen. And today, I am thrilled to see it taking shape beautifully as our teams work tirelessly with only one purpose: to present the most authentic, sacred, and visually stunning adaptation of our history, our truth, and our culture - our RAMAYANA--for people across the world."
NDTV
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Yash Collaborates With Mad Max Stunt Legend For Action Sequences In Ramayana
Mumbai: Yash has teamed up with Mad Max stunt maestro Guy Norris for the action sequences in the upcoming epic Ramayana. The actor has begun principal photography on Ramayana. The project has brought in Guy Norris, the stunt director behind Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Suicide Squad, to choreograph elaborate action sequences tailored specifically for the massive scale of this mythological adaptation, reported Variety. Norris is currently in India working closely with Yash to craft set pieces that could redefine Indian cinema's approach to large-scale spectacle. The epic narrative follows Prince Rama's 14-year exile, during which the demon king Ravana abducts his wife Sita, leading to a climactic battle. What A massive addition to the crew of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, as Mad Max stunt expert Guy Norris will be choreographing action sequences in the film. Guy Norris is the man behind the stellar action acts in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Suicide Squad. Norris is currently busy working with Yash to build set pieces that would be a massive step ahead for Indian cinema. Yash will play the role of Ravana in the epic, he has begun with the principal photography for the film. About Ramayana The two-part film is being directed by Nitesh Tiwari, whose Danga l is the highest Indian grosser of all time. Yash's Monster Mind Creations and producer Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios have partnered on the adaptation of the Indian epic. The actor is best known for the K.G.F. action film franchise, the second part of which is also the fifth-highest grossing Indian film of all time. Malhotra is the global CEO of visual effects company DNEG, which has worked on seven VFX Oscar winners in recent years, including Dune: Part One and Tenet. The first images from the production reveal Yash preparing to embody Ravana. Yash is committed to a substantial 60-70 day shooting schedule for Ramayana Part 1. The epic has been adapted numerous times for screen, notably in Ramanand Sagar's iconic 1987 television series Ramayan, the 1993 anime Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama, and more recently in 2023's Adipurush starring Prabhas. Ramayana's Release Schedule Ramayana Part 1 is slated for release during the 2026 Diwali holiday frame, with the second instalment following on Diwali 2027. The film will be led by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram and Sai Pallavi as Sita. In A Nutshell Yash gets excitement soaring as he joins hands with Mad Max stunt hero Guy Norris. Yash who will be essaying the role of Ravana in Nitesh Tiwari's upcoming epic is currently working closely with Norris to build incredible set pieces for the film, that would be revolutionary for Indian cinema.
Pink Villa
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Yash brings Hollywood flair to Ramayana as Mad Max and The Suicide Squad stunt director joins, BTS pics break internet
It doesn't get more epic than this! Ranbir Kapoor 's Ramayana is shaping up to be one of the most eagerly awaited cinematic experiences in Indian film history. The excitement continues to build as actor and producer Yash begins shooting for the grand project, helmed by visionary producer Namit Malhotra. Known as the Rocking Star, Yash is set to portray the mighty Ravana in an action-packed narrative crafted with the expertise of acclaimed Hollywood stunt director Guy Norris, famed for his work on Mad Max: Fury Road and The Suicide Squad. With cutting-edge visual effects, massive sets, and a powerhouse cast, the film aims to redefine mythological storytelling on the big screen. Norris is currently in India, choreographing elaborate, high-octane action sequences tailored to match the epic scale of Ramayana, with Yash's character at the heart of the storm. Renowned for his hands-on approach to every aspect of his projects, Yash is actively collaborating with the team to craft a visual spectacle that pushes the boundaries of Indian action cinema. He is expected to shoot for 60–70 days for Ramayana Part 1. Recent images from the set reveal Yash in peak physical form, ripped, intense, and battle-ready. His transformation hints at a fierce, reimagined Ravana and a performance that could redefine how Indian action heroes are viewed globally. Crafted to elevate Indian storytelling for a global stage, Ramayana brings together an extraordinary vision, a stellar ensemble, and world-class talent. With Yash not just leading from the front with Ranbir Kapoor, but also contributing as a co-producer, this is more than just a film, it's a cinematic milestone in the making. He has been involved with the project from the start, lending his creative insight every step of the way. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Namit Malhotra's Prime Focus Studios and Yash's Monster Mind Creations, Ramayana Part 1 is slated for release on Diwali 2026, and the second part on Diwali 2027.
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
Yash vs Ranbir: grand action begins in the epic 'Ramayana'
The mythological film Ramayana, now hailed as one of the most prestigious projects in Indian cinema, has entered an exciting new phase. Acclaimed actor and producer 'Rocking Star' Yash is set to portray the powerful character of Ravana in this massive undertaking, and has begun working on intense action sequences alongside renowned Hollywood stunt director Guy Norris. Norris, celebrated for his work on Hollywood blockbusters such as Mad Max: Fury Road and The Suicide Squad, has travelled to India to design and choreograph high-octane sequences specifically for Ramayana. The film aims to bring the legendary Indian epic to life on a truly global scale. Yash is involved in the film not only as an actor but also as a co-producer. Since the beginning of production, he has taken a hands-on approach in shaping the creative vision of the project. His role as Ravana is said to be action-heavy, and Yash is reportedly putting in immense effort to present the character in a powerful and refreshing new light. Recently released on-set photographs show Yash in a striking, battle-ready look that has left fans impressed. His dramatic physical transformation is being praised for doing full justice to the role of the ten-headed demon king. Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the magnum opus is being jointly produced by Namit Malhotra of Prime Focus Studios and Yash under his banner Monster Mind Creations. Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor will also feature in a lead role. Ramayana – Part 1 is slated for release during Diwali 2026, with the sequel expected to follow in Diwali 2027. The film is poised to become a landmark in Indian cinema, promising audiences a grand visual spectacle.
