Universal Music India to Acquire Minority Stake in Excel Entertainment

By siliconindia  |  Tuesday, 06 January 2026, 06:55 Hrs


Universal Music India to Acquire Minority Stake in Excel Entertainment
  • Universal Music India (UMI) acquires a significant minority stake in Excel Entertainment
  • UMI gains global distribution rights for all future Excel soundtracks
  • Partnership includes a dedicated Excel music label and exclusive publishing tie-up

Universal Music India (UMI) has entered into a strategic agreement to acquire a minority stake in Excel Entertainment, the Indian film and digital content studio founded by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar. The deal values Excel at around  Rs 2,400 crore, though financial details and the exact stake were not disclosed.

Under the partnership, Universal Music Group (UMG), UMI’s parent company, will hold global distribution rights for all future original soundtracks created for projects owned or controlled by Excel. The collaboration also includes the launch of a dedicated Excel music label, to be distributed worldwide by UMG. Additionally, Universal Music Publishing Group will become Excel’s exclusive music publishing partner, creating new opportunities for UMI and UMG artists in Excel’s productions.

Devraj Sanyal, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music India & South Asia, will join Excel’s board of directors, while Sidhwani and Akhtar will continue to oversee creative direction. Sanyal described the partnership as a way to expand UMG’s footprint in India’s fast-growing music and entertainment market, where original soundtracks are increasingly popular.

Founded in 1999, Excel Entertainment has produced over 40 films and original series, including hits like Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Sidhwani and Akhtar said the alliance will unlock fresh opportunities for artists, music, and storytelling, taking culturally rooted content to a global audience.

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UMI recently re-entered the film soundtrack segment in 2025, partnering with Maddock Films, and is now focused on long-term strategic alliances rather than single-project deals. The tie-up with Excel marks a significant step in strengthening UMG’s presence in India, which ranks as the 15th-largest recorded music market in the world.

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