Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos: India’s Fan-Centric Culture Fuels $2 Billion Economic Surge

Unknown Apr 02, 2026 1,100 Views

At the inaugural WAVES 2025 conference in Mumbai, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos revealed that the investments by the streaming giant in India have generated over USD 2 billion of economic value since the COVID-19 pandemic. While participating in a fireside chat with actor Saif Ali Khan, Sarandos sa...

Sarandos emphasized the commitment of Netflix towards the Indian market and noted that the platform has produced 150 original titles and shows filmed in more than 100 towns and cities in 23 states in India and hired over 25,000 local cast and crew. Netflix productions in India have given jobs to about 20,000 cast and crew, he revealed.

Its Co-CEO also cited the international popularity of Indian content on Netflix, reporting that in 2024, Indian titles represented 15% of the platform's Top 10 non-English international titles, with a minimum of one Indian title in the international Top 10 every week. Three billion hours of Indian content were watched internationally last year.

Sarandos lauded India's strong engagement with cinema and fan-driven strategy, especially the nation's quick adaptation to streaming in addition to traditional theatrical releases. Sarandos characterized India as being on the verge of a big world-wide breakout in storytelling like Korea's breakout prior to the world-wide success of "Squid Game."

Actor Saif Ali Khan, who joined Sarandos on stage, described how streaming has liberated artists and creators, allowing them more freedom and more depth in storytelling. He credited platforms like Netflix with democratising access to stories and new opportunities for India's creative economy. The news says a lot about growing influence of Netflix in India and how it is transforming the Indian entertainment sector in the post-pandemic period.

Source: The Hindu Business Line

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