The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit 2025 (WAVES) kicked off in grand style at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC), Mumbai, and it’s already making headlines — thanks to a touching reunion between two of Indian cinema’s biggest stars.
Superstar Rajinikanth arrived at the summit accompanied by his daughter, filmmaker Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth, and was warmly greeted by his 2.0 co-star Akshay Kumar. The two icons shared a heartfelt hug upon meeting, a moment that was caught on camera and is now winning hearts across the internet.
The four-day summit, themed “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries,” is the first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at transforming India into a global hub for creativity and entertainment. The event was inaugurated with a musical invocation led by Oscar-winning composer MM Keeravaani and a 30-member orchestra, followed by Sharad Kelkar’s narration of Sutradhar Reinvented, a special segment celebrating India’s storytelling legacy.
The opening day promises an unforgettable lineup of performances by maestros like Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Yella Venkateswara Rao, and Ronu Majumdar, alongside contemporary stars such as Shreya Ghoshal, the Tetseo Sisters, KING x Alan Walker, and Anupam Kher.
WAVES 2025 boasts a star-studded guest list, including legends Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, and Kareena Kapoor Khan, as well as celebrated filmmakers like Karan Johar, SS Rajamouli, and Zoya Akhtar. Global tech leaders including Ted Sarandos (Netflix), Neal Mohan (YouTube), and Adam Mosseri (Instagram) are also in attendance, underlining the summit’s international scope.
As for Rajinikanth, the veteran actor is currently filming Jailer 2, with rumors suggesting Nandamuri Balakrishna may play a key role. He is also set to appear in Lokesh Kanagaraj’s highly anticipated Coolie, alongside Nagarjuna and others.
The emotional Rajinikanth–Akshay Kumar reunion has set the perfect tone for what promises to be a landmark event in the world of entertainment.