Jyoti Deshpande

Biography

President – Jio Studios (Media & Content Business – Reliance Industries Ltd)

Jyoti Deshpande is one of India’s foremost media and entertainment leaders, with over 30 years of experience across content creation, distribution, media strategy, and digital transformation. As President of the Media & Content Business at Reliance Industries Limited, she spearheads the vision and operations of Jio Studios, India’s No.1 content studio and a market leader she built from inception. Her ability to blend creative instincts with business acumen has made her a pioneer in consolidating India’s fragmented content industry, often referred to as the “Jiofication” of Indian entertainment.

Under her leadership, Jio Studios has delivered unprecedented box office success, led by the blockbuster Dhurandhar duology that has grossed over ₹3000 crore ($330 million) worldwide, setting new global benchmarks, securing a place among the top 10 highest-grossing films worldwide in 2026. Jio Studios also holds the rare distinction of producing India’s highest-grossing Hindi films for three consecutive years—Stree 2 (2024), Dhurandhar (2025), and Dhurandhar The Revenge (2026), cementing its leadership in theatrical entertainment.

This sustained momentum extends across a diverse and culturally resonant slate of films, including Laapataa Ladies (India’s official entry to the Oscars 2025), Stree, Article 370, Shaitaan, and Singham Again, among others. In under a decade, Jio Studios has produced over 200 films and web series in multiple Indian languages, with over 60 titles winning more than 500 awards reflecting Jyoti’s commitment to scale, inclusion, and storytelling with cultural impact. Beyond theatrical success, Jyoti has driven Jio Studios’ strong expansion into the digital ecosystem. In 2025 alone, the studio delivered a robust slate of 12 OTT releases across genres, including Mrs., Dhoom Dhaam, Bhagwat, Saali Mohabbat and Baramulla, reinforcing its platform-agnostic content strategy. The acquisition of a majority stake in Oscar-winning Sikhya Entertainment further strengthens Jio Studios’ global ambitions and its ‘Make in India, Show the World’ vision.

Beyond creative vision, Jyoti brings unique perspectives on navigating media convergence, strategic investments, and digital disruption in emerging markets. As former CEO of Viacom18, she remains the only woman to have led a ‘Big 4’ Indian media company. Her extensive leadership experience spans board roles at Network18, Balaji Telefilms, JioSaavn, and Sikhya Entertainment.

A respected industry voice, Jyoti has also played a pivotal role in policy and advocacy as Chairperson of FICCI Media & Entertainment Committee. A BAFTA member, she consistently features among Fortune India and Business Today’s Most Powerful Women in Business. With her multi-functional experience from nurturing content to global platform partnerships, Jyoti brings a rich, hands-on industry perspective to conversations on leadership, storytelling, media & entertainment value chain, gender and diversity, and the future of media.