Jyoti Deshpande

Jyoti Deshpande

Jyoti Deshpande is a highly influential Indian businesswoman and film producer, recognized for her significant contributions to the media and entertainment industry. Born in 1972 in Mumbai, she earned a Bachelor of Commerce and Economics from Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics and an MBA from Mumbai University's SP Jain Institute of Management and Research.Her career spans over three decades, marked by leadership roles in major media organizations. She served as the Group CEO and Managing Director of Eros International, where she was instrumental in the company's growth and its foray into the OTT space with Eros Now. In 2018, she joined Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) as President – Media & Content Business, reporting directly to Mukesh Ambani. In this pivotal role, she has been responsible for architecting and executing RIL's media strategy across various content and distribution channels. She has been credited with incubating Jio Studios from the ground up, transforming it into a leading Indian content studio with a vast portfolio of films and web series in multiple languages.In 2021, she was also appointed as the CEO of Viacom18, making her the first woman to hold a CEO position in a "Big 4" media company in India, with a focus on integrating synergies across broadcast and digital platforms. Deshpande's work involves overseeing RIL's media investments, including Network18 Group, Balaji Telefilms, and JioSaavn. She is also the co-chair of the Media & Entertainment Committee, FICCI, and has been consistently featured in lists of powerful women in business by publications like Fortune India and Business Today. Her notable productions include films like Laapataa Ladies, Shaitaan, Article 370, and the recent Maa (2025).

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