Trailblazer Women | Jyoti Deshpande on content, power and box office

Jyoti Deshpande, President of Media and Content Business at Reliance Industries Ltd, is scripting more than just screenplays—she’s scripting a new chapter in Indian cinema. With a string of hits like Laapataa Ladies, Shaitaan, Mrs, and the much-anticipated Stree 2, Deshpande has made one thing clear: content is king, and story is queen.

Under her leadership, Jio Studios has moved beyond the star-driven formula that dominates Bollywood. “We choose stories over stars,” she says. From horror-comedies to socially rooted dramas, Deshpande and her team scour hundreds of scripts each year to greenlight just a select few—each diverse in genre, budget, and audience.

Power Through Empowerment

In an exclusive conversation with Hook, Deshpande defines power in simple yet profound terms: “Power means empowering others.” Her leadership style blends ambition with empathy, valuing emotional intelligence as much as strategic vision. “Being goal-oriented doesn’t mean you lack compassion,” she emphasizes.

Gut Instincts, Pop Culture & Box Office

What’s the secret to Jio Studios becoming a box office machine? It’s not just data, it’s gut feeling and cultural resonance. Deshpande looks for ideas that are “clutter-breaking” and characters that enter everyday conversations. “If your story doesn’t become part of a dinner table conversation, it won’t succeed,” she says.

Alongside these instincts are her 23 "thumb rules"—a toolkit combining creativity with strategic metrics, helping Jio pick not just hits, but stories that stick.

Trust Is the Constant

For all her blockbuster strategies, Deshpande says the one constant skill in her career has been people and trust building. In an industry built on glamour and risk, her equity comes from loyalty, relationships, and an unwavering focus on human connection.

Disclaimer: This article includes inputs from the “Most Powerful Women – 2025” list, originally published by Fortune India.

Read the original version here: https://www.fortuneindia.com/rankings/most-powerful-women/2025