Excel Entertainment launches 'Excel Origins' to back Indian filmmakers under 30

Excel Entertainment co-founders Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar launched "Excel Origins," an initiative to discover, develop and financially back Indian filmmakers under 30, marking the company's 25th anniversary (Variety, 10 August 2026). Sidhwani and Akhtar were 26 when they founded Excel in 2001 and began work on "Dil Chahta Hai." The programme will scout emerging directors and writers, prioritising original material over proven formats.