Hollywood film makers supporting Indian stories and joint productions that gather talent from various film industries are opening up new opportunities for Indian cinema in its presence on the global stage.
Indian cinema is increasingly taking on a role in the wider global discussion. Indian actors are now taking part in international films, Indian technicians are providing their expertise to major projects, and filmmakers from abroad are discovering new methods of working with India’s creative community.
What is so interesting about this change is that the collaborations are not just limited to casting Indian actors in international films; they are also appearing in the form of production partnerships, creative mentorship, music collaborations and international distribution strategies all aimed at helping Indian stories get before global audiences.
Since the boundaries between film industries are still developing, these partnerships lead to a significant question—that is, could international cooperation become one of the main factors in the next stage of growth of Indian cinema?
From Casting Choices to Creative Partnerships
For many years the presence of Indian talent in international cinema was generally linked to individual actors moving over to Hollywood. Nowadays, however, the situation is more diverse since international filmmakers and producers are increasingly getting involved with Indian stories, production companies and creative professionals.
A good example is the Russo Brothers, Joe and Anthony Russo, since they have worked with Indian actors Dhanush in The Gray Man and Randeep Hooda in Extraction; during their trip to India in 2022 the filmmakers spoke very positively about the country’s film industry and stated that they were interested in collaborating with more Indian actors, producers and directors.
Such collaborations provide an Indian performer with more than just the opportunity to take part in an international production; they can introduce the performer to different kinds of production settings, broaden their professional networks, and give Indian performers access to audiences who do not usually watch domestic cinema.
When International Filmmakers Back Indian Stories
A particularly interesting development is the fact that well-known filmmakers from around the world are now taking part in films produced in India.
The fact that Martin Scorsese acted as executive producer on Homebound, a film directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, is an instance of an internationally renowned filmmaker backing a story set in India. The movie, which features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor, drew international attention and was chosen as India’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
This shows a different way of carrying out international collaboration: instead of an Indian actor taking part in a Hollywood film, an established filmmaker from abroad can provide creative assistance, visibility or industry connections to a film created by Indian talent.
It is important to note that an executive producer’s credit doesn’t necessarily imply that the filmmaker directed the movie or had control over its creative decisions; rather, the specifics of each partnership vary according to the project and the responsibilities that the collaborators have agreed upon.
For Indian film makers such links might help to attract international attention, improve their chances of being shown at film festivals and provide opportunities for wider distribution. Yet final recognition among international audiences is going to depend on the film itself, on how it is carried out and on the audiences it succeeds in reaching.
Indian Talent at the Centre of International Productions
Indian performers are also accepting roles in films produced for international audiences.
The fact that Dhanush appeared in The Gray Man, a film directed by the Russo Brothers, shows that an actor from India can take part in a big international action movie without the film in question being presented as an Indian film.
The same applies to Extraction, which was directed by Sam Hargrave and included Randeep Hooda alongside Chris Hemsworth; through these films Indian actors have taken part in action films that are distributed internationally, enabling them to work within various filmmaking systems and gain access to audiences in different markets.
The importance of these appearances goes well beyond the amount of time spent on screen. International productions may employ different methods concerning stunt coordination, performance preparation, scheduling and large-scale production management. The experience gained by performers and crew members from working in such diverse environments can be carried over into future projects.
India’s talent is not only limited to acting. People such as cinematographers, editors, sound technicians, production designers, composers and those working in visual effects can also take part in international films, the specific credits and responsibilities of each individual depending on the project.
Monkey Man: An Indian Story With Global Ambitions.
A further important example is Monkey Man, which was released in 2024 and was directed by Dev Patel in his first time directing a feature film. Patel also served as co-writer, producer and lead actor in the movie.
The film, which was inspired by the legend of Hanuman and set in a fictitious Indian city, combined images from Indian culture with a revenge story that is well known around the world; it featured Indian actors such as Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikandar Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala and Makarand Deshpande.
The film was produced with Jordan Peele and others taking a part in it and was released to international audiences.
Even though Monkey Man is not a typical example of a foreign director working with an Indian cast, it does show an analogous trend whereby stories based on Indian settings and cultural references can be adapted for a global audience without losing their local character.
It also stresses the need for filmmakers who are able to work in both creative and cultural contexts, combining various cinematic influences for an international audience.
The Growing Importance of Cross-Border Production
International cooperation is also going beyond the usual Hollywood–Bollywood relationship.
Examples of cross-border projects that involve teams from India and other countries show that India can act not only as a source of actors and stories but also as a destination for film production. The country’s locations, technical workforce, studios and well-established filmmaking infrastructure are capable of supporting productions coming from various parts of the world.
Projects that involve more than one country can provide opportunities for local businesses, crew members and service providers. International producers might gain access to experienced teams and to locations appropriate for a wide variety of genres by working with partners in India.
Such collaborations can also combine different storytelling traditions and methods of production, enabling filmmakers to try out new creative approaches.
What we need to do is make sure that these partnerships develop into ongoing creative relationships rather than consisting of one-off productions.
What Indian Filmmakers Stand to Gain
International collaborations offer India’s film industry a number of opportunities.
1. Wider distribution opportunities
Having connections with international filmmakers or production companies can help a film gain notice from overseas distributors, streaming services, and festival programmers. While such exposure is valuable it doesn’t ensure a theatrical release in all markets.
2. The exchange of creative and technical expertise
By working in a variety of industries, filmmakers and members of the crew are able to share with one another their ideas on production design, cinematography, sound, action sequences, and storytelling methods.
3. New models of financing and co-production
International partnerships have the ability to bring together producers, investors and distribution networks from various territories. If they are properly organised, such arrangements can help projects obtain the resources which would otherwise be hard to get.
4. Increased visibility for stories from India
Films which are based on Indian experiences will be able to attract audiences abroad provided that their storytelling transcends cultural boundaries, and international support can help draw attention to these stories, although the filmmaking has to offer substance.
5. More chances for new talent
International productions can provide individuals such as actors, writers, technicians, and independent filmmakers with access to global projects that they would have had little or no opportunity to join otherwise. Such opportunities are often especially important for those who work outside the most well-established production networks.
The Challenges Behind Global Collaboration
Even though there are opportunities, international partnerships do not necessarily succeed.
Creative differences, together with production schedules, financing agreements, intellectual-property rights and expectations regarding distribution, can cause difficulties in international projects. In addition, filmmakers have to cope with different working methods, languages and cultural expectations.
There is one other important point to consider, namely that international recognition should not be the only criterion for judging a film’s value. Since Indian cinema caters to a wide variety of audiences, includes many different genres, and has various regional traditions, the success of a film should not be based completely on the involvement of a famous foreign name.
The collaborations which are most successful are probably those in which international experience supplements rather than masks the local creative leadership.
The Road Ahead: A More Connected Film Industry
The link between Indian cinema and the international film industry is growing in diversity with actors taking part in foreign productions, international filmmakers getting involved with Indian projects, and transnational teams looking for new methods to develop and produce films.
For India the chance is to transform these individual partnerships into solid professional relationships, by providing room for Indian writers, directors, technicians and producers to take an active part in international projects and at the same time allowing stories based on the country’s diverse cultures to reach a wider audience.
The future of global cinema might not see one industry affecting another, but rather filmmakers taking lessons from each other, sharing resources and creating stories that can have a widespread resonance.
Since these collaborations are still progressing, the issue is no longer just whether Indian talent can secure a position in international cinema, but rather how much that talent can contribute to determining the future of cinema worldwide.
