Exporting Bollywood: Strategy, Scale, Survival

From Lagaan to RRR, Indian cinema has gone truly global. But behind the glitz of overseas premieres and record-breaking box offices lies a fast-changing battlefield. In this explosive conversation, Host Rajesh Naidu talk to veteran overseas distributor Pranab Kapadia to unpacks the billion-rupee world of international film distribution: how Bollywood grew from 300 screens in 2003 to 60+ countries today, the diaspora’s unmatched influence, and why the U.S. alone powers up to 50% of overseas revenues. But a perfect storm is brewing. Trump’s 100% tariff on foreign films, the rise of streaming platforms, and shifting audience behaviour could redraw the cinematic map. Will the next Rocky Rani or RRR find its audience in theatres or on OTT? And can Indian cinema keep expanding into untapped markets from Africa to Eastern Europe?

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