Ritesh Sidhwani is an Indian film producer best known as the co-founder of Excel Entertainment, a Mumbai-based production company he established in 1999 with filmmaker Farhan Akhtar. Over more than two decades, Sidhwani has been associated with a string of commercially successful and critically appreciated Hindi films, as well as digital content for streaming platforms.
| Name | Ritesh Sidhwani |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Film and television producer |
| Company | Excel Entertainment |
| Co-founder with | Farhan Akhtar |
| Year founded | 1999 |
| Industry | Hindi cinema, streaming content |
| Based in | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
Sidhwani entered the film industry as a producer in the late 1990s. Together with Farhan Akhtar, who was then making his directorial debut, he set up Excel Entertainment to produce contemporary Hindi films aimed at urban audiences. The company's first release, Dil Chahta Hai (2001), directed by Akhtar, marked a stylistic shift in mainstream Hindi cinema and established Excel as a significant new banner.
Under Sidhwani's stewardship as producer, Excel Entertainment has backed a varied slate of films across genres including coming-of-age drama, action, biopic and crime thriller. Notable productions associated with him include:
In the streaming space, Excel Entertainment under Sidhwani co-produced Mirzapur, the crime drama series for Amazon Prime Video, along with other web originals.
Sidhwani is regarded as one of the producers who helped reshape the production model of mainstream Hindi cinema in the 2000s by combining youth-oriented storytelling with high production values. Excel Entertainment's films have figured prominently in industry awards, including multiple Filmfare Awards and National Film Awards recognitions for productions such as Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Gully Boy. His move into streaming content also reflected the broader transition of Hindi film producers into the over-the-top (OTT) ecosystem.