Excel Entertainment is celebrating a quarter-century milestone by introducing Excel Origins, a new program designed to nurture emerging filmmaking talent. Co-founders Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar established the initiative to identify, develop, and support Indian directors under the age of 30, reflecting the company’s enduring commitment to fresh creative perspectives.
When Sidhwani and Akhtar founded Excel Entertainment at age 26, they brought an unconventional approach to Indian cinema, beginning with their debut film that became influential for its generation. The pair emphasized that their success stemmed from believing in original storytelling and maintaining the courage to take creative risks. Excel Origins extends this founding philosophy to the next wave of filmmaking talent.
The program will scout emerging writers and directors across multiple genres and formats, offering them resources and artistic freedom to develop original projects. Beyond directing talent, Excel plans to identify early-career actors and other creative professionals. The company frames this as a comprehensive talent pipeline rather than a limited slate, positioning the initiative as a strategic investment in unproven voices during an industry period dominated by established names and formulaic content.
Excel Entertainment’s two-and-a-half-decade track record includes acclaimed films and pioneering streaming series. Through Excel Origins, the company aims to shape its creative direction for the coming years while celebrating its origins by investing in cinema’s future.
Originally reported by Variety →
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