The conversation around women-led storytelling in Indian entertainment took center stage again during the buzz around Maa Behen, as Vikram Malhotra opened up about his evolving approach to backing strong, character-driven narratives. As the Founder and CEO of Abundantia Entertainment, Vikram has been at the forefront of content-driven cinema in India, and his latest remarks underline why the studio continues to invest heavily in progressive storytelling.
Responding to a question about consistently championing women-led narratives, Vikram highlighted that for his team, storytelling always comes before labels. He said, “We have been very fortunate that some amazing storytellers have placed their trust in Abundantia and brought their terrific stories—especially those featuring women in the lead—to us. Whenever a good story comes our way, we do not judge it based on whether it is male-led or female-led, or by the labels the industry has coined—such as ‘female-centric’ or ‘female-oriented.’ For us, what matters most, first and foremost, is the storyteller and their vision.”
He further explained how the industry’s creative landscape has shifted over time, emphasizing that meaningful stories now naturally gravitate toward the right creators. “What matters is how far that story can travel with the audience. And when we set out with the objective of telling such stories, we realized that there was a huge gap regarding stories featuring women in the lead—not just in front of the camera, but behind it as well.”
Highlighting the growing pool of female talent in the industry, he added, “Powerful creators—such as the writer of this film, Pooja—have come our way. We have had the good fortune of working with six or seven directors who happen to be women and have delivered fantastic films for us. We believe that today, we stand at a juncture where, in the past, we used to go out and seek these stories; now, these stories seek us out. And we are truly grateful for that.”
Turning his attention specifically to Maa Behen, Vikram didn’t hold back in expressing his excitement. “As far as Maa Behen is concerned—if we have previously told unique and successful stories featuring women in the lead—then I can tell you this: Maa Behen will take the cake... in fact, it will take the entire bakery—and all of Adarsh Colony—along with it! This is the most refreshing take on comedy—specifically a crime comedy and a slice-of-life film—that you are ever likely to see. And from June 4th onwards, this film will be remembered for precisely this reason. So, we are thrilled and honored to be partnering with Netflix and, once again, joining hands with Suresh Triveni to tell this wonderful story.”
Vikram’s statement has further amplified anticipation, not just for the film, but also for the evolving space women-led narratives are carving in Indian cinema—where, as he puts it, “these stories don’t seek us anymore…we seek them.”
Directed by Suresh Triveni and backed by Netflix India, Maa Behen is already being seen as a bold mix of dark comedy and crime storytelling, driven by powerful female characters and chaotic family dynamics. With its eccentric tone and strong ensemble cast, the film is expected to push the boundaries of mainstream Hindi entertainment when it releases digitally on June 4, 2026.