CM Fadnavis Inaugurates Prime Focus Studio Phase 1 at Film City Mumbai
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated Prime Focus Studio Phase 1 at Film City Mumbai on 6 August 2026, fulfilling a WAVES Summit 2025 MoU with Prime Focus. The facility integrates AI, VFX, and virtual production, advancing Maharashtra's bid to lead India's Orange Economy.
Key Takeaways
Prime Focus Studio – Phase 1 was inaugurated at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, Mumbai on 6 August 2026 by CM Devendra Fadnavis .
The project fulfils an MoU signed between the Government of Maharashtra and Prime Focus at the WAVES Summit 2025 , completed within one year.
The studio integrates AI, VFX, virtual production, and immersive technologies into Film City's existing infrastructure.
Namit Malhotra (Founder, Prime Focus; Global CEO, DNEG) and Niraj Sanghvi were congratulated by the Chief Minister for the achievement.
CM Fadnavis positioned the project as central to Maharashtra's role in building India's Orange Economy under PM Modi's vision.
Further phases of the Prime One development at Film City are planned, with potential for new investment and employment targets.
A year after a handshake at the WAVES Summit 2025, concrete has replaced promise. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, 6 August 2026, inaugurated the Prime Focus Studio – Phase 1 at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari, Mumbai — a milestone that signals the state's serious intent to position itself as a global capital of creative technology.
From MoU to Milestone: What Phase 1 Means for Film City
Exactly one year ago, the Government of Maharashtra and Prime Focus signed a memorandum of understanding at the WAVES Summit with a shared ambition: build a world-class media and entertainment ecosystem in Mumbai. The completion of Phase 1 of Prime One within that single year is the first visible proof that the partnership is delivering. Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari — India's storied film-city complex — now hosts infrastructure built around AI, VFX, virtual production, and immersive technologies, layering cutting-edge tools onto a site that has anchored Indian cinema for decades.
The Orange Economy Play — and Maharashtra's Defining Role
CM Fadnavis framed the inauguration within a larger national narrative, invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to grow India's Orange Economy — the cluster of industries rooted in cultural heritage, creativity, and intellectual property. Maharashtra, he argued, is not a passive beneficiary of that vision but an active engine driving it. The state's PPP model at Film City — pairing government infrastructure with a globally networked private player — mirrors a broader Central government strategy of linking content creation with AI-enabled, export-oriented services.
Namit Malhotra, Founder of Prime Focus Limited and Global CEO of DNEG — one of the world's leading visual-effects studios — was present at the inauguration alongside Minister Ashish Shelar and other dignitaries. Fadnavis specifically congratulated Malhotra and Prime Focus CEO Niraj Sanghvi on the achievement.
What Comes Next at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari
Phase 1 is the opening act. The broader Prime One development envisions subsequent phases that would deepen the facility's capacity for high-end post-production, virtual production stages, and talent development. The Chief Minister underscored that the continued transformation of Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari into a world-class entertainment destination would accelerate Maharashtra's bid to attract global investment and generate high-value employment for young creative professionals. Phases 2 and 3 — and any new incentive frameworks tied to them — are the next markers to watch.
Point of View
Globally competitive production hub — a model that aligns state-level PPP ambition with Central government messaging on the Orange Economy. By completing Phase 1 within a year of the WAVES MoU, the Fadnavis government demonstrates execution speed that can credibly attract the next tier of global studios and streaming platforms. The invocation of DNEG — a studio with deep Hollywood and global streaming credits — signals that Maharashtra is not pitching to domestic players alone. The real test will come with Phases 2 and 3: whether the investment and employment numbers materialise at the scale the policy narrative implies.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Prime Focus Studio Phase 1 in Mumbai?
Prime Focus Studio Phase 1, also called Prime One Phase 1, is a newly inaugurated media and entertainment facility at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari (Film City) in Mumbai, built by Prime Focus Limited. It integrates AI, VFX, virtual production, and immersive technology infrastructure.
What is the WAVES Summit 2025 MoU between Maharashtra and Prime Focus?
At the WAVES Summit 2025, the Government of Maharashtra and Prime Focus signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a world-class media and entertainment ecosystem in Mumbai. Phase 1 of the Prime One facility is the first deliverable under that agreement.
Who is Namit Malhotra and what is his role in Prime Focus?
Namit Malhotra is the Founder of Prime Focus Limited and the Global CEO of DNEG, one of the world's leading visual-effects and post-production companies. He was present at the Phase 1 inauguration in Mumbai.
What is India's Orange Economy?
The Orange Economy refers to industries built on cultural heritage, creativity, and intellectual property — including film, music, design, gaming, and digital content. The Central government has promoted it as a high-growth sector where India's cultural depth gives it a competitive global advantage.
What are the next phases planned for Prime Focus at Film City Mumbai?
Following Phase 1, further phases of the Prime One development at Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari are planned, aimed at expanding capacity for high-end post-production, virtual production stages, and creative talent development. Specific timelines and investment figures have not been officially confirmed.
