The Business of Film Making | Oscar Winner Guneet Monga | Inside Bollywood’s Economics

Learn the complete film production playbook from India’s Oscar-winning producer who revolutionized content creation.

In this episode of Founder’s Office, Sarthak Ahuja sits down with Guneet Monga, the Oscar-winning producer behind The Elephant Whisperers and founder of Sikhya Entertainment.

From understanding film financing and distribution models to navigating the economics of both commercial cinema and documentaries, this episode provides an insider’s view into the film production business.

Discover the strategies behind building a successful production house, the differences between commercial and documentary filmmaking, and the pathways to international recognition including film festivals and awards.

Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or interested in the entertainment industry’s business dynamics, this episode offers unprecedented insights from one of India’s most accomplished producers.
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Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction
1:24 -The Smart Way to Enter Film
03:39 - Film Financing: Risk, Return & Recovery
10:16 - Pre-Selling Films to OTT: How It Works
11:41 - From Script to Screen: How a Film Gets Made
17:26 - Breaking Down a ₹100 Crore Film Budget
20:00 - The Business of Oscar Success: Navigating Festivals, Distribution, and Campaigns
32:52 - Balancing Global and Local Markets
34:24 - Crafting a Sustainable Film Portfolio
36:56 - OTT Pre-Sales vs. Artistic Venture
37:31 -Expanding Indian Storytelling

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About the Host:
Sarthak Ahuja is an Investment Banker, Business Educator, and a Bestselling Author with over 2.5 Million followers across social media. He helps businesses in areas of capital structuring and M&A, and is on the advisory board of a number of startups within India and the Middle East.

About the Guest:
Guneet Monga is an Oscar-winning film producer and founder of Sikhya Entertainment. Her documentary “The Elephant Whisperers” won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film, making her the first Indian woman producer to win an Oscar. With dozens of acclaimed films across commercial cinema and documentaries, she has established herself as one of India’s most influential content creators.

Director & Producer:
Aditi Randev (  / randev_aditi  ) is a Marketing Consultant with over a decade of experience working in areas of branding and media. She has spent years working with Sony Music as well as Meta, after her formal education in Fashion Communication from NIFT Delhi, and MBA in Marketing from MICA.

She is a Director and co-founder of Niamh Ventures Pvt Ltd, where she heads Media and Content (https://www.niamhventures.com).

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The content provided in this video is for informational and educational purposes only. Views expressed by Sarthak Ahuja, and any other guests are their personal opinions and do not constitute professional advice.

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