Gautam Adani urges young filmmakers to reclaim Bharat’s narrative at Whistling Woods

Gautam Adani, chairman of the Adani Group, delivered a stirring address at Whistling Woods International (WWI) in Mumbai on 10 October 2025, urging young filmmakers to reclaim Bharat’s narrative through cinema and emerging AI technologies. Speaking at an event celebrating the centenary of cinematic legends Guru Dutt and Raj Kapoor, Adani linked storytelling to nation-building, warning that “silence is surrender” in an era where narratives shape markets and geopolitics. 

Reflecting on the 2023 Hindenburg attack that erased $100 billion from his group’s market value, he stressed the power of truth in countering false narratives.

Addressing WWI students, faculty, and dignitaries like Subhash Ghai and Rajkumar Hirani, Adani predicted a cinematic revolution where AI-driven cost reductions could democratise filmmaking, enabling instant global releases and hyper-personalised content. His call for a “Bharatiya” narrative resonated on social media, amplifying debates on India’s soft power.

Adani’s call to reclaim India’s story

Adani opened by invoking Raj Kapoor’s “Anari” lyrics—Kisi ki muskurahaton pe ho nisar—as a philosophy of India’s soft power, citing its Soviet impact post-World War II. He credited WWI founder Subhash Ghai for inspiring his speech, recalling Ghai’s story of an American immigration officer praising Attenborough’s Gandhi as India’s identity. “Why must a foreigner tell our Mahatma’s story?” Adani echoed Ghai’s question, urging students to ensure “never again” will India’s narrative be outsourced.

He shared personal reflections, noting how films like Don and Zanjeer shaped his journey from a 16-year-old in Mumbai’s diamond markets to building India’s largest trading house. Quoting Ghai—“To tell one’s story is not pride, but preservation”—Adani warned that silence allows others to rewrite India’s identity. On X, users lauded his passion, one posting: “Adani’s not just building ports—he’s building Bharat’s story.”

Lessons from the Hindenburg attack

Adani recounted the January 2023 Hindenburg Research report, which he called a “manipulated script” that wiped $100 billion from his group’s value in days. “Not because facts failed, but because a false story was weaponised,” he said, highlighting how global echo chambers amplified doubt. The Adani Group’s recovery, regaining market trust by mid-2024, taught him that “truth must be loudly told.”

He drew parallels to cinema, warning that narratives now move markets and geopolitics faster than facts. Citing Slumdog Millionaire as a Western lens on Dharavi’s poverty, he urged: “Our sorrow shouldn’t be their spectacle.” On X, a user echoed: “Adani nails it—Hindenburg was a hit job, Slumdog was a script job.”

Vision for AI-driven cinematic revolution

Adani predicted a 70-80% collapse in filmmaking costs within a decade, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), likening it to gene sequencing and solar energy revolutions. 

He outlined seven trends:

1. instant global releases,
2. AI-composed music,
3. real-time adaptive scripts,
4. hyper-personalised films,
5. AI-human studios,
6. digital “immortal” actors, and
7. movies as commerce gateways. 

“Every storyteller will become their own studio,” he said, urging students to wield AI as a “new sutradhar” for Bharat’s voice.

He cautioned about AI’s double-edged nature: “When algorithms shape meaning, who guards the truth?” The audience, including Karthik Aryan and Meghna Ghai Puri, applauded his call for “Bharatiya” storytelling.

Reactions from industry and students

Subhash Ghai hailed Adani’s vision as “inspirational,” urging WWI students to embrace AI ethically. Rajkumar Hirani, present at the event, noted: “Gautamji’s right—cinema is nation-building, and AI is our new canvas.” Students shared clips on X, one tweeting: “Adani’s speech = Satyamev Jayate for filmmakers. AI + Bharat = global stage.”

Critics, including Congress’s Jairam Ramesh, questioned Adani’s narrative control emphasis, tweeting: “Storytelling is freedom, not corporate dictate.” Tech analysts like Nasscom praised the AI focus, predicting a $10 billion boost for India’s creative economy.

Implications for Indian cinema

Adani’s speech aligns with India’s push for soft power, echoing PM Modi’s recent calls for cultural exports. With Bollywood’s global reach—$2.5 billion in overseas revenue in 2024—AI could amplify India’s voice, challenging Hollywood’s narrative dominance.