Finding the right funding partner is one of the biggest challenges for filmmakers in India. From big-budget Bollywood productions to regional and independent films, financing plays a crucial role in bringing stories to life.
Today, India’s film financing ecosystem is more diverse than ever, with established studios, government-backed bodies, private investors, and new-age platforms offering multiple options. In this article, we list the top 10 film financing companies in India that are helping creators turn scripts into successful screen projects.
Top 10 Film Financing Players in India
1. National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC)
As a central agency under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, NFDC has been pivotal in financing, producing, and distributing independent and regional cinema since 1975. Its legacy includes over 300 films, including contributions to internationally acclaimed works like Gandhi.
2. Reliance ADA Group (Reliance Entertainment)
One of the industry heavyweights, this studio-backed financier has backed blockbuster films such as 3 Idiots. Their model includes equity investment, platform pre-sales, and international licensing.
3. Dharma Productions & Dharmatic
Moving beyond pure creativity, Dharma now operates as a financier, especially via its OTT-focused division, Dharmatic, partnering strategically with platforms like Netflix India.
4. RSVP Films & Anand Pandit Motion Pictures
Key players in private equity–backed mid-budget financing. RSVP (from Ronnie Screwvala) and Anand Pandit often bridge gaps with OTT co-productions and family-office financing.
5. Drishyam Films (Independent Content Fund)
This boutique production house manages a dedicated $20 million fund aimed at backing “meaningful cinema”—films and series rooted in substance over spectacle.
6. Xcel Film Studios
Emerging as a modern film investment enabler, Xcel connects storytellers with angel and private investors. They fund scripts from development through release, across commercial and documentary formats.
7. Itihāsa – FIN (Film Investor Network)
A novel investment platform where independent investors can directly invest in movies and studios; they facilitate syndication, investment tracking, and legal structuring for film projects.
8. AYA Media
Rather than traditional loans, they offer strategic financial support tied to rights acquisition. Their selective model funds only high-potential film and web projects without requiring collateral or interest.
9. Six Sigma Films & Fundmedia
Fundmedia: A matchmaking platform connecting filmmakers and investors, functioning like a social network for project funding.
Six Sigma Films: Mumbai-based, they fund projects based on proposal strength, offering amounts from ₹10 lakh to ₹10 crore.
10. Regional Studio Financiers
KVN Productions & Vendhar Movies: Big names in Tamil & Kannada cinema, leveraging star power and distributor pre-sales for financing.
Eskay Movies (West Bengal) & Abi Abi Pictures (South India): Known for regional co-financing with local broadcasters or OTT platforms targeting language-specific audiences.