Excel Entertainment has expanded its entertainment portfolio with the launch of Excel Music, a dedicated music label backed by Universal Music Group (UMG) as a strategic shareholder and its marketing and distribution partner. The move positions the production house to own and monetise music intellectual property alongside its film and streaming businesses.
The label will debut with the soundtrack of Mirzapur: The Movie, scheduled for a theatrical release on September 4, 2026. Its first single, featuring Haryanvi singer Dhanda in his Bollywood debut, is set to release this week, marking the label's first commercial offering.
Building a Long-Term Music IP Business
While Excel Music will initially release original soundtracks and background scores from Excel Entertainment's own productions, the label also plans to collaborate with films from other production houses across India. The strategy broadens its addressable market beyond in-house content and creates opportunities for long-term music catalogue ownership.
Founders Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar described the label as a natural extension of Excel's creative journey, while Universal Music Group's India and South Asia managing director Sanujeet Bhujabal highlighted Excel's two-decade legacy in shaping contemporary Hindi cinema.
From Studio to Music Label
For media and entertainment companies, owning music rights is increasingly becoming as valuable as producing films themselves. As streaming, short-video platforms and creator ecosystems continue to fuel music consumption, proprietary catalogues offer recurring revenue beyond theatrical releases.
The Last Word
In India's evolving entertainment economy, the next competitive advantage may not be making more films—but owning the music that keeps those stories alive long after the credits roll.