Indian Film Legend Gets Big Boost from Vaccine Mogul

A huge investment is hitting the Indian film scene! Pharmaceutical bigwig Adar Poonawalla is pouring around $119 million into celebrated filmmaker Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and Dharmatic Entertainment. This puts Dharma's value at about $238 million, with Poonawalla's firm seizing a 50% stake. Karan Johar will stay at the helm, looking after the creative side, while Apoorva Mehta continues as CEO, dealing with business operations. The goal? To mix Dharma's storytelling skills with Poonawalla’s business smarts and deliver massive, multi-language productions for worldwide audiences. Dharma is no small fish, bringing in $124 million last year, and with deals already in place with streaming giants like Netflix and Prime Video.Their recent hits include "Jigra, " "Kill, " and "Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. " Poonawalla, who leads the massive vaccine producer Serum Institute of India (SII), was key in distributing affordable vaccines globally during the COVID-19 pandemic. He continues to be a major player in India’s business landscape. After months of rumors about other big players looking to invest in Dharma, Poonawalla’s commitment was finally revealed. He expressed his excitement about the partnership, while Johar spoke of elevating Dharma's legacy. Mehta echoed the optimism, viewing the investment as a chance to diversify and grow bigger.