Big B to Aamir: A starry lineup for WAVES 2025

For the first time, India will host the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) in 2025 – a four-day event that’s set to bring together some of the biggest names in entertainment, from Shah Rukh Khan to Rajinikanth. The summit, happening in Mumbai from May 1-4, will also see OTT players, policymakers, and industry leaders from around the world come together to engage in exchanges, stories, and insights about the evolving media and entertainment landscape.
The summit, to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, will open with an invocation by Oscar-winner MM Keeravaani, who will lead an orchestra of 50 musicians. The concert, featuring a diverse mix of musical genres,
will have performances by Shreya Ghoshal (Bengali), Shankar Mahadevan (Sanskrit), Sonu Nigam (Hindi), Mangli (Telugu), KS Chithra (Tamil), and MM Keeravaani (Marathi and English). The concert will conclude with the WAVES Anthem. AR Rahman, Shantanu Moitra will also take the stage.
Headliners at WAVES 2025
Shah Rukh Khan will discuss ‘The Journey : From Outsider to Ruler,’ in a conversation moderated by filmmaker Karan Johar
Ted Sarandos will participate in a session titled ‘Streaming the New India: Culture, Connectivity & Creative Capital’
The panel ‘Legends & Legacies: The Stories That Shaped India’s Soul,’ moderated by Akshay Kumar, will feature legendary actors Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Hema Malini, Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, and Mithun Chakraborty
Aamir Khan will take part in multiple sessions, including ‘Studios of the Future:Putting India on the World Studio Map’ and ‘Indian Cinema, Oriental Look’ alongside Peter Ho-Sun Chan, Stanley Tong, and Prasad Shetty
The Rang De Basanti actor will also have a solo masterclass titled ‘Redefining Indian Cinema’
‘The New Mainstream: Breaking Borders, Building Legends’ session, featuring SS Rajamouli, AR Rahman, Alia Bhatt, Anil Kapoor, and Vicky Kaushal, will be moderated by Karan Johar
A session titled ‘Pan-Indian Cinema: Myth or Momentum?’ will feature Anupam Kher, Abhishek Bachchan, Nagarjuna, Karthi, and Khushbu
Nikkhil Advani, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Sudip Sharma will be part of a panel titled ‘Future of Entertainment: OTTs Fueling Innovative Storytelling, Tech Innovations, and Viewer Experiences.’
Major streaming platforms and channels will join a session titled ‘Stories That Touch Hearts Around the World.’
Creators’ Challenge
A special section at WAVES will spotlight winners of the Creators’ Challenge – a competition spanning reelmaking, cosplay, comics, and more. According to the Information & Broadcasting ministry officials, the winners will attend workshops during the summit and will showcase their skills to major players from the entertainment
industry.