India’s Abundantia Entertainment Unveils Ambitious Slate, Targets Younger Audiences (EXCLUSIVE)

Indian production powerhouse Abundantia Entertainment, known for hits including “Airlift,” “Shakuntala Devi” and the popular “Breathe” series, is gearing up for an expansive slate of projects aimed at capturing younger audiences both domestically and globally.

The company’s CEO Vikram Malhotra outlined its upcoming plans in an exclusive interview with Variety.

Leading the charge is “Daldal,” a Prime Video original series starring Bhumi Pednekar as Mumbai’s newly-appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police Rita Ferreira. Directed by Amrit Raj Gupta (“Gullak”), the thriller-drama pits Ferreira against a cold-blooded killer while navigating personal struggles.

The company is also readying “Chhorii 2,” a sequel to its 2021 horror hit. Nushrratt Bharuccha returns alongside new addition Soha Ali Khan in the Prime Video original film directed by Vishal Furia. The story follows Sakshi as she battles an evil cult to save her daughter.

Another project in the pipeline is “Laal,” a true crime feature film set in middle India. Directed by Jai Mehta (“Scam 1992”), the film promises to retell one of the most challenging cases ever handled by Indian investigative agencies.

Abundantia is venturing into new territory with “Subedaar,” an action-drama featuring Anil Kapoor as a former soldier adjusting to civilian life. Directed by Suresh Triveni (“Jalsa”), the film aims to tap into an underserved demographic with its age-appropriate action hero.

“With ‘Subedaar’, we want to tap into a newer segment that Hollywood has done very well with works like ‘Gran Torino,’ ‘Nobody,’ and to some extent ‘Homefront,’” Malhotra said, referencing films featuring older actors in action roles.

However, the company’s primary focus has shifted. “In 2025, 2026, and beyond, Abundantia is taking on a completely different perspective on storytelling. We’re focusing on stories with high novelty value, told by younger, more progressive minds and decidedly for a younger audience,” Malhotra said.

The CEO highlighted the company’s commitment to fresh storytelling. “Our focus has been on how we can tell different stories and not rely on the tropes and the clichés,” Malhotra said. “We’re asking ourselves: How can we tell differentiated stories that make people lean in and pay attention? How can we create worlds that haven’t been seen before that are relatively unfamiliar?”

Malhotra stressed the importance of authentic voices in their storytelling approach. “Frankly, a 45-50 year old’s gaze on what constitutes relevance to today’s 25-year-old is not something that flies with us anymore,” he said. “I may add, definitely not a 50-year-old’s nostalgia on when he or she was 25 – that’s out of the window. The world is moving way too fast for that kind of nostalgia to now cut through.”

He further emphasized the discerning nature of today’s audience: “The kind of access that OTT [streaming] has delivered means people are very protective of their time. If something is substandard, the stop button is hit ruthlessly,” he said.

Malhotra highlighted the company’s focus on partnering with emerging directorial talent. “We’re working with directors who have cut their teeth on long-form content for streaming platforms. Their experience is equivalent to having directed multiple feature films,” he said.

The slate includes projects from directors like Randeep Jha (Netflix’s “Kohrra”), Mayank Sharma (Prime Video’s “Breathe”), Bhav Dhulia (Disney+ Hotstar’s “The Freelancer”), Palash Vaswani (SonyLIV’s “Gullak”) and Himank Gaur (Disney+ Hotstar’s “Taaza Khabar”). Abundantia is also developing a business drama series with acclaimed filmmaker Hansal Mehta (Netflix’s “Scoop”).

“Our key focus is on younger, more progressive minds creating stories for the 25-30 age group,” Malhotra said. “We’re aiming to tell uniquely Indian stories that can resonate globally.”

The company is adapting to changing audience preferences by crafting a mix of theatrical and direct-to-digital releases. “Content has now become anything from 30 seconds to three seasons,” Malhotra said. “We’re building a slate that takes a significant portion of our feature films straight to streaming while also focusing on what will draw people to theaters.”

Abundantia is also exploring collaborations with social media influencers and digital-native talents. “Today’s stars aren’t just out-of-reach celebrities. They are relatable figures who’ve made it big and whose works are cool, inspiring and catchy,” Malhotra noted.

Addressing the performance of its recent theatrical release “Sarfira,” starring Akshay Kumar, Malhotra said, “The lower-than-expected numbers reflect the changing constituents of what makes people step out for a film. Genres like drama seem to have reducing appeal for theatrical viewing, mirroring patterns we’ve seen in Hollywood.”

“Post-pandemic, the theatrical market has undergone a drastic shift,” Malhotra said. “The competition is no longer just between Hindi films, but with content from across India and the world. We’re seeing increased contributions from South Indian and Hollywood films in the market.”