WAVES 2025 Day 1 Kicks Off With A Star-Studded Bang, SRK, Mohanlal, Alia, And More Grace The Event

The city of Mumbai is bustling with excitement as it kicks off the first-ever World Audio, Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) on May 1, 2025. The event is bringing together visionaries, creators and global industry leaders for a four-day spectacle that celebrates India’s creative economy and cultural heritage. On Day 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the summit, underlining India’s ambition to emerge as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation. He was joined by high-profile attendees.

Shah Rukh Khan welcomes the esteemed guests

Bollywood’s biggest star, Shah Rukh Khan, graced the stage at the beginning of the event, looking dashing in a black suit. On the inauguration of this historic event, King Khan personally welcomed the Prime Minister and other high-profile attendees, including Maharashtra Governor, C P Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Deputy Chief Ministers, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, among other dignitaries. 

Celebrities who attended the event

WAVES 2025 brought in industry stalwarts from across India, welcoming Bollywood A-listers, veterans and regional legends. We spotted some renowned faces, from Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan to Deepika Padukone, Akshay Kumar, and regional legends like Rajinikanth, Mohanlal and Chiranjeevi. Veterans such as Anil Kapoor, Hema Malini, Jackie Shroff, Mithun Chakraborty and Anupam Kher added a timeless charm to the event. Filmmakers like Farhan Akhtar, Karan Johar, and Oscar-winner Guneet Monga were also present.

Among the many celebrities gracing the event, Alia Bhatt stood out in a radiant pink and orange nauvari-inspired Paithani saree featuring rich gold zari work and intricate motifs. Her deep plunge blouse with subtle makeup perfectly balanced her look. She was accompanied by Ranbir Kapoor, who looked sharp in a green bandhgala jacket over dark pants. Another one to steal the show was Deepika Padukone, who made a striking appearance in an ivory-toned ensemble with fine embroidery work, diamond earrings and soft glam makeup.

A grand cultural opening

The summit opened on a spectacular note with a soul-stirring invocation by Academy Award-winning music composer, M.M. Keeravani. This was followed by a cinematic journey into India’s heritage of storytelling through the performance of Sutradhar Reinvented, a 30-member orchestra led by Sharad Kelkar. 

About WAVES 2025

WAVES 2025 is the first edition of this summit in India, organised by the Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. This year’s tagline is, “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries.” The four-day event will see participation from over 90 countries, including 1,000 creators, over 10,000 delegates, more than 300 companies and over 350 startups. 

The event consists of 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses. It will help participants explore how technology, culture, and commerce intersect. The government seeks to elevate India’s role in the global entertainment industry through the WAVES event.

With three more days to go, WAVES 2025 will be more than just an event. It’s a declaration to the world that India is ready to lead the creative revolution on a global scale.

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