Karan Johar has sold a 50% stake in his iconic Dharma Productions and Dharmatic Entertainment to Adar Poonawalla’s Serene Productions for Rs 1,000 crore. The deal values Dharma at Rs 2,000 crore and establishes a 50-50 partnership between Johar and Poonawalla. Despite the sale, Johar will retain his position as executive chairman, overseeing the company’s creative direction, while Apoorva Mehta will continue as CEO, handling the strategy and operations.
The strategic investment will drive Dharma’s ambitions to expand into large-scale, multi-lingual productions, build franchises, and strengthen traditional entertainment formats. By combining Johar’s storytelling legacy with Poonawalla’s vision and resources, the partnership is poised to boost Dharma’s reach in both content creation and distribution for a global audience.
“From its inception, Dharma Productions has been synonymous with heartfelt storytelling that captures the essence of Indian culture. My father dreamed of creating films that would leave a lasting impact, and I’ve dedicated my career to expanding that vision. Today, as we join forces with Adar, a close friend and an exceptional visionary and innovator, we’re poised to elevate Dharma’s legacy to new heights. This partnership represents a perfect blend of our emotional storytelling prowess and forward-thinking business strategies,” Karan Johar, executive chairman, Dharma, said.
By leveraging advanced technologies and new formats, the collaboration seeks to meet the growing demand for high-quality content and push Indian entertainment further onto the global stage. This move signals a transformative step in the evolution of the Indian film and entertainment sector.
“Over the years, I’ve witnessed Dharma’s transformation into a multi-faceted content powerhouse. This partnership with Adar realizes our vision and marks a new era where cinema, streaming, and global content converge. It enables us to explore new avenues in content creation and distribution, elevating the Indian entertainment ecosystem. More importantly, this investment allows us to take bigger creative steps,” Apoorva Mehta, CEO, Dharma, said.