Deepak Chopra’s Beacon Media eyes Hollywood merger, Middle East expansion

From left to right: Beacon Media’s Neil Cabral, Advisory Board Member; Dr. Deepak Chopra, Co-Founder; Ibrahim Sagna, Advisory Board Member; and Manoj Narender Madnani, Co-Founder and Chairman.

Global media and entertainment company Beacon Media, co-founded by world-renowned author and alternative medicine advocate Dr. Deepak Chopra, is in merger talks with a major Hollywood studio to set up a new ‘powerhouse’ that will be headquartered in the UAE. 

The potential merger aims to finance and produce over 50 films in the next ten years from the Global South, targeting regions such as Africa, Asia, India, Latin America, and the Middle East. Projects will include the adaptation of Dr. Deepak Chopra’s fiction works into diverse cinematic experiences for a global audience, according to a statement released by Beacon Media.

The collaboration is further targeting the management of film financing and projects worth over $500m, as well as proffering a “distinguished collection of feature films, and key partnerships with international celebrities to the table.” 

The name of the Hollywood studio partner has not been disclosed yet, but Gulf Business understands that discussions are at an advanced stage. 

Manoj Narender Madnani, who currently serves as Beacon Media’s Chairman and CEO, further told Gulf Business that the newly planned entity will aim to use artificial intelligence as part of its production processes. As part of the transition in the merger deal, Madnani will move to the chairman role.

“I am very clear on this. We will never use AI to create content, but we will use AI to produce content,” Madnani told Gulf Business.

“What is happening is that the cost of editing has been slashed significantly. Therefore, the production process goes through the regular production techniques, but you shorten the go-to-market strategy because you’re able to use AI in bringing down the costs of editing. This is not only for film editing but sound editing as well,” says Madnani.

He went on further to say that this approach is in line with his company’s philosophy on “1 + 1 = 11” to boost the efficiency of their processes. The Middle East will also play a key part in the strategy.

“The Middle East is becoming the centre of the world for media and entertainment. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will be playing a pivotal role in film production; we see a huge opportunity in cross pollination of the Global South’s content and talent to create epic films,” Madnani said.

Content distribution

Madnani — along with Gurpreet Chandhoke, who is the co-founder and president of Beacon Media — further said that digital technologies such as 5G and fast-growing social networks will be key in distributing the new entity’s content in large markets such as India. 

Madnani noted that social media platforms such as ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) and TikTok have seen a “shift” into content distribution. These, in combination with growing 5G footprints in emerging markets will play a key role in content distribution, Madnani said.

“India also has a huge Telegram usage. Therefore, we’ll be looking at all the various social media platforms and activations as they’re all expanding into content,” Madnani said.

In a statement, Beacon Media further said the company is also in the final stages of financing for a title highly relevant to the Middle East from its IP library, which consists of Dr. Deepak Chopra’s fiction works.

The planned merger is also backed by key figures of Beacon Media’s Advisory Board, including Ibrahim Sagna from Silverbacks Holding and Neil Cabral. 

Sagna, who is well known for being a key player in the likes of the African NBA basketball initiative, said, “This most strategic development will help produce more innovative content for Africa and the entire Global South. Such a platform could not come at a better time.”

Meanwhile, Cabral said, “The size of the Global South, namely India, Africa, and the Middle East, warrants dedicated focus, and this merger provides that platform. The macro winds are very strong.”