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Women
in Entertainment
The Power List 2025

Women in Entertainment The Power List 2025

Festival

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER INDIA'S INAUGURAL WOMEN IN ENTERTAINMENT POWER LIST HONOURS SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN THE INDUSTRY WHO HAVE RESHAPED THE COUNTRY'S CREATIVE LANDSCAPE, DRIVING CHANGE, ONE STEP AT A TIME

By Team THR India

Methodology

01.

Identifying the Top Media Properties

To create the THR India List for the 50 Most Powerful Women in Indian Media & Entertainment, we first compiled a list of the top 200 media properties released in 2024, spanning various platforms and formats. These properties were selected based on viewership or footfalls.
Creative Direction
02.

Shortlisting Female Talent & Executives

Women actors, directors, technicians and corporate executives associated with these properties were identified. For actors, directors and technicians, this process was extended to two previous years, that is 2022 and 2023, to identify women who didn’t have a significant release in 2024, but have been associated with the top properties of the preceding years.
Entertainment Technology
03.

Impact Scoring & Rankings

Each talent or executive associated with these properties was assigned points from one to five, based on their impact on the property. For example, a supporting actor may be assigned one point, an editor may be assigned three points, while a director may be assigned five points.
This was also done in accordance with the content of the property itself, for example, the production designer of a historical film could be assigned more points than that of a romcom. The cumulative points of each such talents or executives were calculated, to identify the most powerful women in entertainment. The top 35 women from this list were selected.
Entertainment Production
04.

Expanding the List Through Influence Metrics

This list was thereafter supplemented with additional names identified through other aspects of work such as social media presence, brand endorsements, event appearances, news coverage, online search volumes, awards, and social impact, using data from online research tools, and Ormax Media research conducted over the last 12 months. These parameters were used to calculate a cumulative score for each name, and the top 15 women from this list were selected.
Combining these methodologies, an integrated list of the most powerful women in entertainment was curated. Presented below, in alphabetical order, is the 2025 power list of women in entertainment.
Brand Communications

Methodology

To create the THR India List for the most powerful women in the media and entertainment industry in the country, a list of the top 200 media properties released in 2024, across platforms and formats, was prepared, based on viewership or footfalls.
Women actors, directors, technicians and corporate executives associated with these properties were identified. For actors, directors and technicians, this process was extended to two previous years, that is 2022 and 2023, to identify women who didn’t have a significant release in 2024, but have been associated with the top properties of the preceding years.
Each talent or executive associated with these properties was assigned points from one to five, based on their impact on the property. For example, a supporting actor may be assigned one point, an editor may be assigned three points, while a director may be assigned five points.
This was also done in accordance with the content of the property itself, for example, the production designer of a historical film could be assigned more points than that of a romcom. The cumulative points of each such talents or executives were calculated, to identify the most powerful women in entertainment. The top 35 women from this list were selected.
This list was thereafter supplemented with additional names identified through other aspects of work such as social media presence, brand endorsements, event appearances, news coverage, online search volumes, awards, and social impact, using data from online research tools, and Ormax Media research conducted over the last 12 months. These parameters were used to calculate a cumulative score for each name, and the top 15 women from this list were selected.
Combining these methodologies, an integrated list of the most powerful women in entertainment was curated. Presented below, in alphabetical order, is the 2025 power list of women in entertainment.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Actor
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, one of Indian cinema’s most recognised global icons, has seamlessly balanced commercial blockbusters with critically acclaimed films. After winning Miss World in 1994, she swiftly transitioned into acting, delivering memorable performances in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Devdas (2002), Guru (2007), and the Panniyin Selvam films (2022, 2023). Her versatility extends beyond Bollywood, with acclaimed roles in Tamil, Bengali and international films like Bride &Prejudice (2004) and The Pink Panther 2 (2009). Known for her ethereal beauty and graceful screen presence, Rai Bachchan has portrayed a wide range of characters — from a historical queen in Jodhaa Akbar (2008) to a contemporary, independent woman in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016). Her enduring influence extends beyond cinema, making her a regular at the Cannes film festival, a global ambassador for major brands, and a celebrated cultural figure. Decades into her career, she remains one of India’s most revered actor, who has continuously enraptured audiences with her elegance and talent.


trivialogo
In 2003, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan became the first Indian actor to serve on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival.

Thank you

Thank you for celebrating the power and influence of women in entertainment with us. We hope this inspires conversations, recognition, and change. If this list resonates with you, share it and celebrate these incredible women with the world!

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The Hollywood Reporter India is published by RP - Sanjiv Goenka Group under license from The Hollywood Reporter, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Media Corporation.