Women are increasingly taking charge of the entertainment industry, shaping creative decisions, leading production houses and challenging conventional storytelling, leading industry professionals said during a special session at NewsX Mumbai Podium 2026’s We Women Want edition and Shakti Awards. The panel brought together writer-producer Kanika Dhillon, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment CEO Deepshikha Deshmukh, Alchemy Films founder Sapna Malhotra and Ashi Dua, founder of Flying Unicorn Entertainment.
Moderated by Uday Pratap Singh, the discussion explored women’s inner strength, leadership, representation in films and the evolving relationship between theatrical releases and streaming platforms. Asked where they drew their inner strength from, the panelists highlighted family support, female friendships, personal resilience and the determination to overcome professional challenges. Sapna Malhotra said women’s ability to multitask and the support they receive from their families can become important sources of strength. Deepshikha Deshmukh echoed the sentiment, explaining that knowing someone will stand by you even when decisions go wrong provides confidence to take risks.
Ashi Dua credited the women around her, including friends, colleagues and ordinary women whose experiences inspire her. She emphasised that inspiration does not necessarily come from famous personalities but can be found in everyday stories of perseverance. For Kanika Dhillon, strength is an inward journey. Drawing on the symbolism of Saraswati, Durga and Kali, she described creativity and imagination, the ability to overcome obstacles, and the courage to transform established narratives as essential elements of her professional life. The writer-producer also stressed the importance of replenishing one’s own strength before extending support to others, particularly while balancing the responsibilities of motherhood, family and work.
A central theme of the discussion was the growing presence of women in decision-making positions across the entertainment business. Dhillon argued that having more women producers changes not only the stories being told but also the opportunities available to women across departments. Greater representation at the decision-making table, she said, can help create more inclusive workplaces, improve conditions on film sets and bring previously marginalised female experiences to the screen.
She pointed to the success of the Haseen Dillruba franchise as an example of how unconventional stories can find an audience, challenging assumptions about which narratives are commercially viable. Ashi Dua said the industry had moved beyond simply allowing women to express opinions towards women actually leading studios, production houses and creative teams. She added that stronger gender balance can help filmmakers approach characters and projects with greater sensitivity, benefiting stories intended for audiences of all genders.
