Dharma Productions Buys Full Control of Talent Agency, Rebrands to DCAA

Dharma Productions has taken full ownership of its talent agency, previously a joint venture. The agency is now called Dharma Collab Artists Agency (DCAA).
By Newsroom | Business, Entertainment |

Dharma Productions has fully acquired Cornerstone's stake in their joint talent management venture, Dharma Cornerstone Agency (DCA), rebranding it as Dharma Collab Artists Agency (DCAA). The move, finalized on December 16, 2025, consolidates Dharma's ownership and establishes DCAA as its exclusive platform for artist representation across film, music, sports, digital media, and live entertainment. The strategic shift aims to deepen Dharma's influence within the "creative economy" by providing a structured platform for developing long-term artist careers and creating "meaningful pathways between talent and opportunity."

Orry moves out of Karan Johar’s DCAA, joins Collective Artists Network - 1

Uday Singh Gauri continues as CEO of DCAA, bringing over two decades of experience in talent management, music, and live entertainment. His focus will be on expanding the agency's reach, building new verticals, and identifying cross-platform opportunities for culturally influential talent. The agency represents a roster including Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Sara Ali Khan, Disha Patani, Aditya Roy Kapur, Rohit Saraf, Neeti Mohan, Jonita Gandhi, and Orry, among others.

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Orry moves out of Karan Johar’s DCAA, joins Collective Artists Network - 2

Agency Restructuring and Executive Commentary

The rebranding to Dharma Collab Artists Agency signifies a "strategic reset" for Dharma's talent vertical. CEO Apoorva Mehta stated the objective is to position DCAA as a long-term home for talent, emphasizing the need for "cultural understanding, business instinct, and the ability to move with—and ahead of—the industry." This consolidation also grants Dharma tighter control over its talent ecosystem, a crucial move as studios increasingly vie for influence with platforms, agencies, and global networks. The acquisition and rebranding were confirmed in multiple reports throughout December 2025.

Orry moves out of Karan Johar’s DCAA, joins Collective Artists Network - 3

Orry's Departure and Talent Agency Dynamics

Orry has since moved from DCAA to join Collective Artists Network. This shift comes amidst broader discussions surrounding talent loyalty within the industry. Reports in late February and early March 2026 highlight filmmaker Karan Johar's public commentary on actors exhibiting "insecurity" and a lack of loyalty, frequently switching agencies. His remarks were made in the context of actor Janhvi Kapoor's exit from DCAA to join Collective Artists Network. Johar expressed frustration over investing time and effort into talent only for them to move elsewhere, a sentiment echoed in interviews with SCREEN magazine and other media outlets around that time. He also later urged media platforms to avoid "clickbait culture" and present interview quotes within their proper context.

Read More: Orry Leaves Karan Johar's DCAA for New Agency on April 30

Orry moves out of Karan Johar’s DCAA, joins Collective Artists Network - 4

Background: Genesis of DCA

Dharma Cornerstone Agency (DCA) was initially a joint venture between Dharma Productions and Cornerstone. Reports from mid-December 2025 indicated a mutual end to the partnership between Karan Johar and Bunty Sajdeh, head of Cornerstone. This dissolution preceded Dharma Productions' full acquisition of Cornerstone's stake, reportedly occurring alongside a 50% stake sale in Dharma Productions to Adar Poonawalla. The agency's inception and the subsequent restructuring underscore a period of strategic realignment for Dharma Productions in managing its talent and creative capital. Kim Sharma, in an interview in March 2025, had previously described Orry's rise as a "successful social experiment" orchestrated by DCA, highlighting his strategic brand-building and integration into celebrity circles.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Dharma Productions fully buy the talent agency Cornerstone?
Dharma Productions bought Cornerstone's share in their joint talent agency, Dharma Cornerstone Agency (DCA), on December 16, 2025. This means Dharma now fully owns the agency and has renamed it Dharma Collab Artists Agency (DCAA).
Q: What is the new name of the Dharma talent agency and what does it do?
The agency is now called Dharma Collab Artists Agency (DCAA). It will be the only place Dharma uses to represent artists in movies, music, sports, online content, and live shows.
Q: Who are some famous artists represented by the new DCAA agency?
DCAA represents many well-known artists. These include Janhvi Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Sara Ali Khan, Aditya Roy Kapur, Rohit Saraf, Neeti Mohan, and Jonita Gandhi.
Q: Why did Orry leave the DCAA agency and where did he go?
Orry moved from DCAA to join Collective Artists Network. This happened around late February or early March 2026, during discussions about talent loyalty in the industry.
Q: What did Karan Johar say about actors switching agencies?
Filmmaker Karan Johar spoke about actors showing 'insecurity' and not being loyal by often changing agencies. He mentioned this around late February and early March 2026, especially after Janhvi Kapoor left DCAA.