EXCLUSIVE: Mayur More and Ashlesha Thakur will star in the first AI-driven feature film from the pact between India‘s Abundantia Entertainment and video tech firm InVideo.
Beta Builder has InVideo’s Global Creative Lead, Hridaye A. Nagpal, attached to direct, with principal photography beginning today in Mumbai. The Indian city will, per the producers, serve “as both its home and creative starting point.”
Abundantia is producing through its Abundantia AiOn division, which was formed last year as an AI production division framed as “human-first and AI-empowered.” Last year, it partnered with Sanket Shah’s San Francisco-headquartered InVideo on a slate of five AI-powered films launched over three years with a ₹100 crore ($10.5M) commitment behind it.
Beta Builder will tell the story of Jai, a self-taught, genius architect from Dharavi, a densely populated area of Mumbai, who “gets a chance to realize his dreams in the world of virtual reality), only to discover that winning means far more than proving himself. An underdog in every sense, Jai must fight the system that holds him back, win the love of his life, and give his community a voice in shaping its own future.”
Producers say it is “rooted in one of India’s most iconic geographies and set against the limitless possibilities of a virtual world,” with the story exploring “ambition, belonging and what it truly means to build something that lasts.”
The film is being positioned as a hybrid production, “pairing full-blown, live-action filming with AI-driven production,” and More (Kotak Factory & Black, White & Gray: Love kills) is starring alongside Thakur (The Family Man).
“We are about to see a wave of fascinating films,” said director Nagpal. “With AI-assisted filmmaking, storytellers can dream much bigger, and backing a bold idea finally feels possible. The partnership between Abundantia and InVideo gives filmmakers the scale and creative support to take on ideas like this. Beta Builder is our bet on that future, with a live-action shoot and AI working side by side”
Last month, Abundantia founder and CEO Vikram Malhotra outlined his vision for using AI in production in an interview with Deadline, while revealing Abundantia AiOn was morphing into a fully native standalone AI studio. He has sought to find the balance between the opportunity of AI and the
“The capability needed to run AI at studio level will not be found solely within the conventional media and entertainment system,” he said at the time. “It is truly a confluence of technology and art.”
Today, he said in a statement: “In our partnership with InVideo and Sanket, our focus is to leverage AI and tell stories that are unique, impactful and entertaining. I am delighted that the first film in our slate is one that tells a story set in a relatable, young world and explores aspirational possibilities beyond.
“In Hridaye, we have a filmmaker who combines a strong creative vision with a deep command over technology, which makes him the ideal person to lead and bring Beta Builder to life. I am excited about how AiOn is enabling unique stories and storytellers to come to the fore and bring their best to fans all over the world.”
“At InVideo, our mission has always been to put powerful tools in the hands of storytellers,” added Shah, CEO of InVideo. “Beta Builder is where that mission takes the form of a full-length film, made with a partner of Abundantia’s calibre. It is a story about building something that lasts, which makes it the right film to begin this slate with.”
Abundantia is known for the likes of Prime Video series Breathe and Daldal, Netflix crime-comedy Maa Behen, Baby, Toiler – Ek Prem Katha, Chhorii and Subedaar, the action thriller starring Anil Kapoor.
InVideo, which is U.S.-based with offices in India, positions itself as a agnostic AI filmmaking platform with more than 50 million users. Its backers include Peak XV, Tiger Global, Greenoaks, RTP Global, Base Partners, and Hummingbird. The company’s original productions include Sony LIV’s Penumbra, Juicebox and Hachiko.
