Netflix has inked a new creative partnership with Balaji Telefilms Ltd., the Indian production powerhouse helmed by International Emmy Award-winning producer Ekta Kapoor.
The deal encompasses content development across multiple formats tailored specifically for streaming audiences. An untitled series is already in advanced stages of development as part of the initial slate.
The collaboration will be executed through Balaji Telefilms Ltd. and its divisions, including Balaji Motion Pictures and Balaji Telefilms Digital.
The partnership builds on Netflix and Balaji’s previous successful collaborations, which include acclaimed titles “Kathal,” “Pagglait,” “Jaane Jaan” and Busan selection “Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare.”
Balaji Telefilms, which was started by Kapoor and her parents Jeetendra Kapoor and Shobha Kapoor in 1994, is the single largest television content producer in South Asia. The company made a tremendous impact with mother-in-law, daughter-in-law soap “Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi,” which aired 1,833 episodes between 2000-2008 on Star Plus and was one of several in the genre produced by Kapoor. Under the Balaji banner, Kapoor has created and produced more than 18,000 hours of television and 45 films.
Kapoor and Monika Shergill, Netflix’s VP, content, India, are the only women from the Indian television market listed in Variety500 – an index of the 500 most influential business leaders shaping the global media industry.
“Ekta has been a force in shaping Indian entertainment with unforgettable stories and characters that made it to pop culture, even before hashtags existed,” said Shergill. “Her creative instinct and deep understanding of the audience’s pulse have consistently set her apart in shaping what India chose to watch and love for more than two decades. At Netflix, our focus is to serve audiences with very diverse tastes and this collaboration will bring unique stories in rooted ways, marking an exciting new chapter in our creative journey.”
“At Balaji Telefilms, storytelling has always been at the heart of everything we do — whether through cinema, television, or digital platforms,” Kapoor added. “Partnering with Netflix, the world’s leading storytelling platform known for its premium content and constant innovation, is a big moment for us. It allows us to bring powerful, culturally rooted, and emotionally resonant stories to a global audience. The beginning of this new collaboration marks an exciting new chapter where we continue to push creative boundaries and deliver content that entertains, inspires, and connects people everywhere.”
