Meet Manoj Punjabi, owner of Rs 21000 crore film company, not in India or Hollywood, his net wort is Rs…., he is from….

Manoj Punjabi has transformed PT MD Pictures into a powerhouse of Southeast Asian entertainment.

Written by: Anirudha Yerunkar Edited by: Anirudha Yerunkar

Published: February 20, 2025, 4:03 PM IST

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https://www.india.com/business/meet-manoj-punjabi-owner-of-rs-21000-crore-film-company-not-in-india-or-hollywood-his-net-wort-is-rs-15000-crore-he-is-from-indonesia-7629080/ Copy

While Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cinema dominate the Asian entertainment landscape, an Indonesian film has recently made global waves. The 2022 horror movie KKN di Desa Penari (Dancing Village: The Curse Begins), produced by Manoj Punjabi, has changed the dynamics of Southeast Asian cinema.

This film’s extraordinary success has turned the spotlight on Manoj Punjabi, co-founder and CEO of PT MD Pictures, Indonesia’s leading film production company. Manoj’s ambition is to create a ‘new Hollywood’ in Southeast Asia and establish Indonesia as a major player in global cinema.

KKN di Desa Penari

Manoj Punjabi’s KKN di Desa Penari has become a cultural phenomenon in Indonesia. It is the highest-grossing Indonesian film of all time, selling over 10 million tickets, a milestone which no other local film has achieved. In fact, it surpassed the box office earnings of Hollywood blockbuster Avengers: Infinity War in Indonesia.

The success of the film skyrocketed the stock prices of PT MD Pictures. This surge significantly increased Manoj Punjabi’s personal wealth.

Manoj Punjabi Net Worth 

Reports suggest that Manoj Punjabi’s stake in PT MD Pictures has elevated his net worth to an estimated $1.8 billion (Rs 15,614 crore), positioning him as one of the richest filmmakers in the world. With PT MD Pictures valued at approximately Rs 21,000 crore, the company is Indonesia’s largest film production house and a cornerstone of its burgeoning entertainment industry.

Filmmaking Excellence

Manoj Punjabi’s success is rooted in a rich family tradition of filmmaking. Along with his father, Dhamoo Punjabi, and uncle, Raam Punjabi, Manoj has been instrumental in shaping Indonesia’s film industry. The trio is collectively referred to as ‘Indonesia’s Hollywood’ by the local media, reflecting their dominance and influence.

Gaining International Recognition

According to Jeffrey Bahar, Chief Operating Officer at Spire Research and Consulting, Manoj Punjabi’s achievements are now gaining international recognition. With the success of KKN di Desa Penari and PT MD Pictures’ rising prominence, Manoj is paving the way for Indonesian cinema to compete on the global stage.