Sagar Pictures unveils global IP strategy, expands beyond films and television

MUMBAI: Sagar Pictures is turning the page on its next chapter. The veteran production house has unveiled a global studio strategy centred on intellectual property (IP), signalling its ambition to evolve from a traditional film and television producer into a diversified entertainment company spanning films, gaming, music, consumer products and immersive experiences.

The company said its next phase of growth will focus on creating original franchises that extend beyond the screen, with stories designed to live across multiple platforms and formats. The move reflects a broader shift in the entertainment industry, where studios are increasingly building long-term intellectual properties rather than standalone film and television projects.

Under the new strategy, Sagar Pictures Entertainment plans to expand into premium content, gaming, music, consumer products, theme parks and emerging media, alongside feature films and television. The company aims to create interconnected entertainment experiences that engage audiences across generations and international markets.

Sagar Pictures Entertainment chief executive officer Akash Sagar Chopra said India’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage offers an opportunity to create globally relevant stories while preserving their authenticity.

“India is home to some of the world’s most timeless stories, many of which remain underexplored in cinema. These narratives are not only entertaining but also carry profound spiritual and cultural wisdom. At Sagar Pictures Entertainment, our vision is to preserve their authenticity while reimagining them through world-class cinematic storytelling for audiences across generations and geographies,” he said.

He added that the company’s first major step under the new strategy would be Shrimad Bhagavatam, which he described as a project reflecting the scale and ambition of its future storytelling plans.

“Our focus is on creating stories that can grow beyond cinema into meaningful experiences across multiple platforms, while staying rooted in the authenticity and values that define India’s cultural heritage,” Chopra said.

Founded in 1954 by filmmaker Ramanand Sagar, the Sagar banner is among India’s oldest motion picture studios and is widely recognised for bringing epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata to television. Under chairman Moti Sagar, the company has produced more than 55 television series and over 25 feature films, building a strong presence in family, historical and spiritual entertainment.

According to the company, its productions have reached more than one billion viewers in India and overseas, citing audience measurement data from the Broadcast Audience Research Council India and other sources.

At the heart of the expansion is Shrimad Bhagavatam, a seven-film live-action franchise based on the Bhagavata Purana. Currently in production, the project is being developed as a premium large-format cinematic series and is positioned as the company’s first major global franchise.

Sagar Pictures said the films combine extensive textual research with contemporary filmmaking techniques and are intended to form the foundation of a broader entertainment ecosystem that will extend into consumer products and other media formats.

The announcement underscores a wider trend in India’s entertainment sector, where legacy studios are increasingly adopting franchise-led business models to unlock new revenue streams beyond theatrical releases. By placing intellectual property at the centre of its strategy, Sagar Pictures is looking to transform decades of storytelling heritage into globally scalable entertainment brands.