Jaipur | Rajshree Upadhyaya | By combining creative vision with emerging artificial intelligence technologies, Shivam Sharma and Akanksha Dubey established their AI-powered filmmaking venture, Cinefai Studios, in 2025 and carved out a unique space in the entertainment industry. As artificial intelligence began reshaping creative industries worldwide, the entrepreneurial duo recognized an opportunity to rethink how stories are created, produced, and consumed. Their answer was Cinefai Studios, a GenAI-powered content company launched in March 2025 with the goal of making high-quality visual storytelling faster, more scalable, and significantly more affordable than traditional filmmaking.
Cinefai Studios focuses on AI-powered filmmaking, episodic storytelling, vertical micro-dramas, short-form entertainment content, and AI-generated visual narratives. The company combines open-source AI tools with its proprietary storyboarding system to streamline content creation. This approach enables the team to produce cinematic-quality stories in a fraction of time and cost associated with conventional production methods.
Before gaining national recognition, the founders had already begun experimenting with AI-led storytelling formats and creating content for brands. Their vision extended beyond advertising projects to developing original entertainment properties and exploring AI-driven adaptations of culturally relevant stories. Despite operating with a small team, the company collaborated with multiple brands, demonstrating how AI can significantly enhance creative output without requiring a large workforce.
Showcased Their Capabilities Through an AI-Generated Superhero Film
Cinefai Studios gained widespread attention after appearing on the TV show Shark Tank India. Instead of delivering a conventional business presentation, Shivam Sharma and Akanksha Dubey showcased their capabilities through an AI-generated superhero film in which the Sharks themselves appeared as characters. The demonstration immediately captured attention and highlighted the studio’s ability to create visually compelling content using artificial intelligence. The unique presentation became one of the most talked-about moments of the season and helped the founders stand out among numerous startup pitches.
During their pitch, the founders revealed that the company had already generated nearly Rs. 50 lakh in revenue while maintaining an impressive profit margin of around 70 percent. They sought Rs. 1 crore in exchange for 5 percent equity, valuing the business at Rs. 20 crore. While the Sharks were impressed by the technology and creative output, they also raised questions about the long-term scalability of an AI-first content studio and whether the model could evolve into a sustainable entertainment business.
Significant Increase in Visibility and Credibility
Despite these concerns, the potential of AI-driven storytelling proved compelling. Ultimately, Ritesh Agarwal offered Rs. 50 lakh for 5 percent equity along with Rs. 50 lakh as debt at 9 percent interest for five years. The founders accepted the offer, securing a total commitment of Rs. 1 crore. The deal significantly enhanced Cinefai Studios’ visibility and credibility within the startup and entertainment ecosystems.
By 2026, Cinefai Studios appears to have established itself as a promising AI-powered storytelling and filmmaking venture. The company’s journey reflects a broader transformation taking place in the entertainment industry, where technology is increasingly becoming not just a production tool but a creative partner. For Shivam Sharma and Akanksha Dubey, Cinefai Studios represents far more than a startup, it is an effort to redefine how stories are imagined, created, and delivered in the age of artificial intelligence.
