Why GAFX Must Ignite India’s Leap into New Creative Arenas

By Pickle  March 5, 2026

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India’s creative industry stands at a crossroads—GAFX isn’t just a milestone, but a launchpad for immersive storytelling, global collaboration, and a new era of experience-driven innovation. The leap begins now. By Mike Madhav Reddy

GAFX isn’t just another industry conference — it’s a rallying cry for transformation.

For years, the AVGC-XR sector in India has been viewed as a patchwork of projects: a film here, a game there, a VFX assignment or a television series. That perspective is now outdated. The future isn’t about isolated projects — it’s about building robust creative ecosystems.

Today, creative content refuses to be confined to traditional screens. While cinemas and TV remain important and continue to grow in ambition, the boundaries of storytelling are expanding rapidly. We are entering an era defined by immersive experiences at scale.

Imagine media parks where entire worlds unfold, immersive museums that bring history to life, projection domes that envelop audiences in narrative, and environments where stories are explored rather than merely watched. “Larger-than-life” is no longer just a phrase — it’s becoming a reality. India must play a leading role on this grand stage.

From Projects to Platforms

It’s time to recognize AVGC-XR as the foundation of an experience-driven economy. With audiences worldwide saturated by content, what stands out is not just quality, but the magnitude of imagination and excellence in delivery. We must look beyond episodic content and envision entire environments.

Picture Indian mythology reimagined within immersive domes. Visualize our history unfolding in interactive museums. Envision theme parks built around India’s rich universes. This isn’t fantasy — it’s already happening globally. Countries like Dubai, Singapore, South Korea, and China are investing heavily in experiential media infrastructure. India possesses unmatched storytelling depth; now, we must scale our production and exhibition capabilities to match.

Karnataka Leads the Way

Karnataka deserves recognition for its visionary policies and steadfast backing of AVGC-XR, notably through GAFX. Thanks to the leadership of ABAI and the tireless advocacy of Biren Ghose, AVGC-XR has become a serious economic driver and not just a creative pastime.

Importantly, inter-state collaboration is gaining momentum. Telangana and TVAGA have joined forces with Karnataka, broadening the narrative beyond state lines. Initiatives like TVAGA’s India Joy have demonstrated the power of convergence platforms. This spirit of alignment, rather than rivalry, is how industries scale. India must now function as a connected creative economy.

Scaling Up: Evolving the Centre of Excellence (COE) Model

Centres of Excellence have been instrumental in skill-building and innovation. But to truly lead, we must think bigger. COEs should grow from academic or pilot projects into world-class innovation hubs — capable of delivering massive immersive installations, global co-productions, and cutting-edge R&D.

This evolution demands:

Greater infrastructure investment

Public-private partnerships

International technology collaborations

Dedicated venues for immersive exhibitions

If India wants to compete on the world stage, our ambition — and our infrastructure — must be unmistakable.

Coordinating a National Creative Calendar

India now boasts several influential platforms:

GAFX

India Joy

WAVES

FICCI Frames

Big Picture

— with more on the horizon.

Rather than competing for attention, these events should be harmonized within a strategic, annual creative calendar. By aligning dates, avoiding clashes with major international events, and building a cohesive narrative, India can ensure it remains top-of-mind for global studios and investors. Consistency is the foundation of credibility.

Bolder Stories, Bigger Ambitions

As an operator in Hollywood, I see the global trends firsthand. Films are becoming grander in scope, streaming platforms seek cinematic quality, and Asian content is climbing global charts. Korea, Japan, and China have all made their mark. Now, it’s India’s turn.

But our metrics must shift from quantity to quality. It’s not about how many titles we produce, but how globally competitive they are.

The future belongs to:

High-production-value series

Immersive storytelling ecosystems

Games with international reach

Esports with global audiences

That’s where true growth lies.

Asia’s Moment: India at the Forefront

The world’s appetite for Asian stories is growing, but global recognition isn’t automatic — it takes vision and strategy. India has scale, talent, and a deep well of stories. What we need now is coordinated ambition.

AVGC-XR should not be seen merely as an outsourcing hub, but as a source of original creative power. GAFX signals that our policy, industry, and ambition are converging. Now is the time to accelerate.

The Moment Is Now

The world is rapidly moving toward immersive economies. Media parks will proliferate. Experiential installations will multiply. Interactive storytelling will redefine audience engagement.

India has the talent, vision, and resources to lead — all that’s missing is hesitation.

Let’s ensure GAFX is remembered not just as a celebration, but as the turning point when India decided to build on a global scale.

Congratulations to ABAI, to Biren Ghose, and to Bengaluru GAFX for lighting the way.

Now let’s dream — and build — even bigger.

AVGC-XR is not a project pipeline. It is an experience economy waiting to scale.

It’s time to recognize AVGC-XR as the  foundation of an experience-driven economy