Star Studio18 Explained

Star Studio18
Predecessor:UTV Motion Pictures (2017)
Viacom18 Studios (2025)
Former Names:Fox Star Studios (2008–2022)
Star Studios (2022–2025)
Type:Subsidiary
Location City:Mumbai, Maharashtra
Location Country:India
Key People:Ajit Andhare
Industry:Motion pictures
Footnotes:[1] [2]

Star Studio18 (formerly known as Star Studios and Fox Star Studios) is an Indian motion picture production and distribution company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of JioStar (a joint-venture between Reliance and Disney India). The studio produces Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and other South Asian language films through acquisitions, co-productions and in-house productions for worldwide distribution.

Star Studio18 was one of the 21st Century Fox and Star India film production companies that was acquired by Disney on March 20, 2019. The studio's current name was adopted in August 2025.

Starting with the international release of (2022), all of Star Studios' films are now handled in the United States, Canada and internationally (outside of India) by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.[3] [4] [5] [6]

History

The studio was founded in March 2008 as a joint venture between 20th Century Fox and co-owned by Star India. In 2009, the studio acquired the rights for My Name Is Khan, the studio's debut film as distributor.[7] [8]

In 2011, Fox Star Studios entered the Tamil film industry with Engaeyum Eppothum, as co-producing and distributing partner for AR Murugadoss's AR Murugadoss Productions. In 2013, the studio released Tamil-feature Raja Rani, which won four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.[9] In 2015, the studio entered a 9-film deal with Dharma Productions as a co-producer and distributor.[10] In 2016, Kapoor & Sons was released as the first film under the arrangement.[11] The same year, the studio won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi for its in-house production Neerja. The studio also released , the biopic of then Indian Cricket captain MS Dhoni. In 2017, the studio entered a three-film deal with Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.[12] In May 2018, the studio entered a multi-film deal with Akshay Kumar's Cape of Good Films and had set Mission Mangal with Kumar attached to star.[13] In 2019, the studio released Chhichhore which it co-produced with Nadiawala Grandson Entertainment had won National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi 2019.

In early 2020, the studio had released Chhapaak starring Deepika Padukone, sports-drama Panga starring Kangana Ranaut and Vidhu Vinod Chopra's Shikara all of which are lukewarmly received by the audience.[14] [15] [16] The studio had released Baaghi 3 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the film ended its box-office run as the second-highest grossing Hindi-film of 2020.[17] In June 2020, Star India, the parent company of the studio decided to release the rest of the 2020 slate directly on the sister streaming platform Disney+ Hotstar under Disney+ Hotstar Multiplex Initiative. The films released on the platform were Dil Bechara, Lootcase, Sadak 2, and Laxmii.[18] In late 2020, several reports indicate The Walt Disney Company's was not going greenlighting newer films with the studio ceasing its operations after the releases of Tadap and Brahmāstra as the studio's CEO Vijay Singh has resigned.[19] [20] In December 2021, the studio released Tadap.[21] In February 2022, the studio ended speculations of ceasing operations by announcing Babli Bouncer starring Tamannaah Bhatia, co-produced with Junglee Pictures.[22] In March 2022, the company announced the release of Kaun Pravin Tambe? on Disney+ Hotstar.[23] Soon after the studio started production on Manoj Bajpayee starrer Gulmohar.[24] Later that month, the studio along with Dharma Productions had acquired the remake rights for blockbuster Malayalam film Hridayam in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu.[25]

On 27 May 2022, Fox Star Studios was renamed Star Studios, as part of the removal of the "Fox" name from studios that had been acquired from 21st Century Fox by Disney.[26]

After the 2024 merger of Viacom18 with Disney Star formed JioStar, it was announced in August 2025 that the studio would be renamed to Star Studio18, following Viacom18 Studios being absorbed into the new company.[27]

Logo and fanfare

Based on the original 20th Century Fox fanfare composed by Alfred Newman and adapted by David Newman, the current Star Studios fanfare retains a similar composition with added Indian instruments such as sitar, sarod, tambura, sahnai, sarangi, and tabla.[28]

Filmography

See main article: List of Star Studio18 films.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 15 November 2024 . Ajit Andhare to head the combined studio business at JioStar – Exchange4media .
  2. https://www.cci.gov.in/combination/order/details/order/1434/0/orders-section31
  3. Web site: Tartaglione . Nancy . 27 April 2022 . Disney Adds Bollywood Epic 'Brahmastra Part One: Shiva' To Domestic Slate, Sets Release Date – CinemaCon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220427225541/https://deadline.com/2022/04/brahmastra-part-one-shiva-release-date-united-states-1235010988/ . 27 April 2022 . 28 April 2022 . . en-US.
  4. Pandey . Ashish . 9 May 2022 . Alia-Ranbir's Brahmastra, Thor Love and Thunder, Black Panther 2 in Disney's global release slate: report . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220613211532/https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/bollywood/story/alia-ranbir-s-brahmastra-thor-love-and-thunder-black-panther-2-in-disney-s-global-release-slate-1947115-2022-05-09 . 13 June 2022 . 14 June 2022 . India Today.
  5. Web site: 27 November 2020 . Brahmāstra official credits . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210613163656/https://www.dneg.com/show/brahmastra/ . 13 June 2021 . 11 December 2020 . . en.
  6. Web site: 7 May 2022 . Ranbir-Alia starrer Brahmastra to get a global theatrical release . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220908085833/https://english.madhyamam.com/india/ranbir-alia-starrer-brahmastra-to-get-a-global-theatrical-release-996774 . 8 September 2022 . 23 August 2022 . . en.
  7. News: Bhushan . Nyay . 7 August 2009 . Fox to distribute 'Khan' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20151212005547/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-star-distribute-khan-87375 . 12 December 2015 . 5 September 2009 . The Hollywood Reporter . 8.
  8. Web site: 7 August 2009 . Fox buys Khan rights for Rs 90 cr . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241120020053/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/media/fox-buys-khan-rights-for-rs-90-cr/articleshow/4865753.cms . 20 November 2024 . 7 March 2022 . The Economic Times.
  9. News: 14 July 2017 . TN Govt. announces Tamil Film Awards for six years . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180615081711/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tn-govt-announces-tamil-film-awards-for-six-years/article19273078.ece . 15 June 2018 . 7 March 2022 . The Hindu.
  10. Web site: Bhushan . Nyay . 3 June 2015 . Fox's Star India and Bollywood Studio Dharma Productions Announce 9 Film Deal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241120020226/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/fox-s-star-india-bollywood-800028/ . 20 November 2024 . 7 March 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter.
  11. Web site: 13 August 2011 . Kapoor & Sons . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160217154404/http://www.bollywoodhungama.com/moviemicro/cast/id/6283126/Befikre . 17 February 2016 . 3 July 2023 . Bollywood Hungama.
  12. Web site: Laghate . Gaurav . 6 March 2017 . Fox Star Studios, Sajid Nadiadwala sign a three-film deal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241126162419/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/media/entertainment/fox-star-studios-sajid-nadiadwala-sign-a-three-film-deal/articleshow/57493011.cms . 26 November 2024 . 7 March 2022 . The Economic Times.
  13. Web site: 5 November 2018 . Akshay Kumar signs 3-film deal with Fox Star Studios, to star in Mission Mangal . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241127124802/https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/akshay-kumar-fox-star-studios-mission-mangal-5434369/ . 27 November 2024 . 8 March 2022 . The Indian Express.
  14. Web site: 7 February 2020 . Shikara Box Office . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241204152141/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/shikara/box-office/#bh-movie-box-office . 4 December 2024 . 22 February 2020 . Bollywood Hungama.
  15. Web site: 10 January 2020 . Chhapaak Box Office . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190409160206/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/chhapaak/box-office/#bh-movie-box-office . 9 April 2019 . 8 February 2020 . Bollywood Hungama.
  16. Web site: 24 January 2020 . Panga Box Office . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190418064840/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/movie/panga/box-office/#bh-movie-box-office . 18 April 2019 . 29 February 2020 . Bollywood Hungama.
  17. Web site: Bollywood Top Grossers Worldwide Bollywood Hungama . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200114170044/https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/box-office-collections/worldwide/2020/ . 14 January 2020 . 17 March 2020 . Bollywood Hungama.
  18. Web site: 29 June 2020 . Disney Plus Hotstar Makes Strategic Choice to Bypass India's Theaters, Give More Movies Streaming Premieres . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200629131556/https://variety.com/2020/streaming/news/akshay-kumar-ajay-devgn-hotstar-1234692525/ . 29 June 2020 . 29 June 2020 . Variety.
  19. Web site: Lack of Hollywood studio finance could impact Bollywood projects . 8 March 2022 . Livemint.
  20. Web site: 14 October 2020 . End of the road for Fox Star Studios? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222171247/https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/end-of-road-for-fox-star-studios-275642-2020-10-14 . 22 December 2022 . 8 March 2022 . Business Today.
  21. News: 24 August 2021 . Ahan Shetty and Tara Sutaria starrer 'Tadap' gets a new release date . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20250119102147/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/ahan-shetty-and-tara-sutaria-starrer-tadap-gets-a-new-release-date/articleshow/85587468.cms . 19 January 2025 . 27 October 2021 . The Times of India.
  22. Web site: The Hindu Bureau . 18 February 2022 . Tamannaah Bhatia to play female bouncer in 'Babli Bouncer' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220316172545/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/tamannaah-bhatia-to-play-female-bouncer-in-babli-bouncer/article65061758.ece . 16 March 2022 . 8 March 2022 . Google.
  23. Web site: 8 March 2022 . Pravin Tambe biopic starring Shreyas Talpade to release on Disney+ Hotstar . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221113192919/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/pravin-tambe-biopic-starring-shreyas-talpade-to-release-on-disney-hotstar/article65203985.ece . 13 November 2022 . 10 March 2022 . The Hindu.
  24. Web site: 12 March 2022 . Manoj Bajpayee begins shooting for film-maker Rahul V Chittella's 'Gulmohar' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222171247/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/manoj-bajpayee-begins-shooting-for-film-maker-rahul-v-chittellas-gulmohar/articleshow/90167826.cms . 22 December 2022 . 18 March 2022 . The Economic Times.
  25. Web site: 25 March 2022 . Karan Johar acquires the rights of 'Hridayam' in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221222171244/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/karan-johar-acquires-the-rights-of-hridayam-in-hindi-tamil-and-telugu/articleshow/90434803.cms . 22 December 2022 . 25 March 2022 . The Times of India.
  26. Web site: 27 May 2022 . Fox Star Studios rebrands to Star Studios . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220607090816/https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/fox-star-studios-rebrands-to-star-studios/article65466364.ece . 7 June 2022 . 28 May 2022 . The Hindu.
  27. Web site: 2025-09-10 . Star Studio 18 drops the trailer of Jolly LLB3, India's most celebrated courtroom Franchise . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20251013220852/https://celebmantra.com/star-studio-18-drops-the-trailer-of-jolly-llb3-indias-most-celebrated-courtroom-franchise/ . 13 October 2025 . 2026-02-12 . Celebmantra . en.
  28. Web site: 11 December 2022 . Star Studios . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20241216090653/https://www.avid.wiki/Star_Studios#Logo_(September_9,_2022-) . 16 December 2024 . 11 August 2024.

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