Jio Hotstar Expands South India Presence with ?12,000 Crore Investment Plan

Jio Hotstar has announced plans to invest Rs 12,000 crore in South India over the next five years. To formalize this, the company signed an agreement with Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. The signing ceremony saw the presence of renowned film stars including Kamal Haasan, Nagarjuna, and Mohanlal.

The streaming giant is set to expand its footprint significantly. Over the next five years, Jio Hotstar will allocate around twelve thousand crores to produce regional content across South India. The Tamil Nadu government has committed to an MoU valued at Rs 4,000 crore as part of this initiative. The launch event, named Jio Hotstar South Unbound, took place in Chennai and was graced by several film personalities. Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is also an actor, producer, and distributor, inaugurated the event.

Speaking at the occasion, Sushant Sriram, Business and Chief Marketing Officer of Jio Hotstar AVOD, stated, “Our plan is to invest twelve thousand crores across the four southern states in the next five years.” Earlier, the detailed proposal was shared with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K.M. Stalin. Udhayanidhi Stalin added, “This move by Jio Hotstar will create more opportunities for young creative talent in Tamil Nadu and generate new employment prospects.”

As part of this initiative, Jio Hotstar will organize workshops for filmmakers, writers, editors, and digital storytellers. These programs are expected to provide direct employment to approximately 1,000 individuals and create indirect employment for around 15,000 people. During the event, Jio Hotstar also unveiled a slate of 25 upcoming projects under the banner Blockbuster South Lineup.

Udhayanidhi Stalin reflected on Chennai’s rich cultural heritage, noting that the city has long been a hub for creativity, with Telugu and Malayalam films also being shot there historically. He praised iconic leaders like Anna Dorai and Karunanidhi for their transformative influence on Tamil cinema, emphasizing that art plays a crucial role in politics and life. He added that while OTT platforms are influential, they will not replace traditional cinema.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting M.P. Swaminathan. Prominent actors and Rajya Sabha member Kamal Haasan, along with Nagarjuna, Mohanlal, and others, were also part of the launch.