Excel Entertainment has launched a dedicated music label, Excel Music, with Universal Music Group as a shareholder and partner in marketing and distribution, signaling a formal expansion into music for the studio.

Excel Music will host original soundtracks and scores from Excel’s slate and also feature music from other Indian filmmakers and production houses, expanding its catalog beyond its own projects.

Co-founders Sidhwani and Akhtar describe Excel Music as a natural extension of their long-standing music relationship, aiming to collaborate with top talent and create music that resonates across generations.

The move follows Universal Music India’s broader strategy in the Indian film ecosystem, including a previous collaboration with Maddock Films to create the label Mad For Mussic.

The launch reflects a industry-wide trend of studios strengthening ownership of music IP, prioritizing soundtrack rights and long-term catalogue value as strategic assets.

The first release from Excel Music will be the Mirzapur: The Movie soundtrack, which includes a track featuring Haryanvi artist Dhanda making his Bollywood debut, with the film arriving in cinemas on September 4, 2026 and the track releasing this week.

Dhanda Nyoliwala’s track marks his Bollywood debut and will be released in the week ahead of the film’s release.

The label’s flagship release is the Mirzapur: The Movie soundtrack, timed with the film’s September 4, 2026 release to bring the Mirzapur franchise to the big screen.

This move positions Excel to blend its distinctive sound with global distribution standards through UMG, potentially reshaping how filmmaker-label deals operate in India’s film music scene.