From One Film to a Universe: What Ajay Devgn’s Lens Vault Move Signals for Hindi Cinema

By Akash Dubey

Ajay Devgn and Danish Devgn’s recent move under Lens Vault Studios is not just about launching a new project. It reflects a growing interest within parts of Hindi cinema in thinking beyond individual films and toward long-term intellectual property.

By expanding the world of Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior into a planned extension, Lens Vault is positioning the film less as a one-time historical hit and more as a foundation that could support multiple formats and narratives over time.

What was actually announced

On 19 January 2026, Lens Vault Studios introduced its first original IP as an expansion of the Tanhaji world. Rather than announcing a direct theatrical sequel, the studio framed the project as an origin-style narrative that exists within a broader universe.

The move is being positioned by the studio as an early step toward building a reusable story world, designed to work across platforms and formats instead of being tied to a single release cycle.

Alongside this, Lens Vault Studios has highlighted its in-house creative and technology capabilities, with visual development and world-building being handled internally through its creative-tech unit.

Why this matters as a business decision

For much of Hindi cinema’s history, films were treated as standalone events. Even successful titles largely earned through theatres, satellite rights and music, after which their commercial life slowly tapered off.

Positioning Tanhaji as an expandable IP reflects an attempt to move away from that one-film economy, allowing a single narrative world to potentially generate value through spin-offs, digital extensions or format-specific adaptations.

Instead of relying only on opening weekends, this approach places more emphasis on repeatability, ownership and extended use.

From star-led films to IP-led thinking

Traditionally, many Bollywood projects were built around stars first, with stories closely tied to an actor’s image. Once that cycle ended, the film’s commercial relevance often faded as well.

The Lens Vault approach suggests a gradual shift in emphasis. Here, the universe is presented as the core asset, with star presence functioning as one component rather than the sole driver. In theory, this allows future narratives within the same universe to exist at different scales or in different formats.

Ownership, control and longevity

Another important aspect is ownership. By keeping creative development, technology and narrative planning within the same company, Lens Vault is aligning itself with a studio-style model that values control over both content and process.

In a market where OTT platforms and distributors increasingly value libraries and long-term rights, such ownership can offer stability beyond individual film cycles. 

What this could mean for Hindi cinema

This does not mean every Hindi film will become a universe, nor does it signal an immediate industry reset. Only a limited number of franchises have successfully sustained multi-project story worlds so far.

However, moves like Lens Vault’s suggest that some producers are beginning to plan cinema with longer horizons in mind, where films are part of broader IP strategies rather than isolated bets.

This move is significant, because it encourages Hindi cinema to plan for the long term and think in terms of IP, not just single films.