iWorld
Anurekha Bhagat shares her learning from State v/s Ahuja co-star Ashmit Patel
Mumbai: Actress Anurekha Bhagat, recognised for her roles in Khuda Haafiz: Chapter 2 – Agni Pariksha, Upnyaas, and the Shahid Kapoor starrer Farzi, portrayed her first central role in the recently released Watcho Exclusives series ‘State v/s Ahuja’ alongside Ashmit Patel. In the series, Anurekha takes on the character of Deepa Sawant, a maid who accuses Bollywood actor Ansh Ahuja (played by Ashmit Patel) of rape. Anurekha has shared insights into her working experience with Ashmit Patel, what she gleaned from him, and one of her most cherished memories from the series.
Describing Ashmit Patel as sweet, happy-go-lucky, grounded, and a thorough gentleman, Anurekha highlighted her key take away from him, and shared, “From Ashmit Sir, I learned the importance of giving space to your co-actor to perform. As actors, we often tend to seek all the attention, but during our scenes, Ashmit Sir generously allowed me the space to showcase my talents. He fully embraced his character, Ansh Ahuja, without any airs of stardom. This gave me the power and freedom to shine in scenes where Deepa needed to be seen.
Opening up about one of her most memorable scenes from the Watcho Exclusives series, “Firstly, getting the character was something truly memorable for me. As an artist, you always have the hunger to perform and to showcase your versatility. One unforgettable moment on the set that will be etched in my heart is my close scene with Ashmit sir. After the scene, Ashmit sir and I were still in the zone, and the set went silent. Suddenly, Tarun sir approached me with a hug and said, ‘Amazing. I’m speechless. It was a perfect shot, this was exactly how Deepa would have reacted,’ and that was truly priceless. The entire set started applauding, and Ashmit sir put his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘We got this.’ So, it was a very special moment for me.”
State v/s Ahuja explores the life of Ansh Ahuja (portrayed by Ashmit Patel), a Bollywood superstar whose world is shattered by scandal when his maid accuses him of rape. As the story unfolds, viewers are drawn into a gripping world of suspense, investigation, and courtroom drama, where unexpected twists keep them on the edge of their seats. The series raises a compelling question: Did Ansh truly commit the alleged crime, or is there a darker conspiracy at play? Produced by Suresh Thomas under the banners of Crescendo Films and Amicable Crew, the show features an ensemble cast, including Jaswinder Gardner, Sarika Singh, Swapnil Ralkar, Apeksha Verma, Drishti Patil, Manish Jaitley, Arjun Krishna, Vicky Baidyanath, and Harsh Gautam.
iWorld
Prime Video bets big on India with global originals, films and franchise expansion
Execs highlight scale, travelability and new IP bets as India anchors global strategy
MUMBAI: At Prime Video Presents 2026, the message was clear and confident. India is not just part of the plan, it is central to it.
In a lively fireside chat hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar, Kelly Day, vice president of prime video and amazon mgm studios international, Nicole Clemens, vice president of international originals, and Gaurav Gandhi, vice president for Apac and Anz, laid out an ambitious roadmap. Think bigger stories, wider reach and a sharper focus on building franchises that travel.
Kelly Day, a regular visitor to India, set the tone early. Calling the country “one of the most important markets globally”, she pointed to the sheer scale and diversity of audiences as a driving force behind Prime Video’s growth. Indian Originals, she said, are not just local hits but global engines powering subscriptions and engagement.
That global appeal is already visible. According to Clemens, around 25 percent of viewership for Indian content now comes from outside the country. Shows rooted deeply in local culture are finding fans worldwide, proving that specificity, when paired with universal themes, travels well. From gritty dramas to sharp thrillers, Indian storytelling is increasingly crossing borders with ease.
Clemens, who joined recently to lead international originals, was particularly upbeat about India’s creative range. She highlighted a growing slate of over 100 shows in development and production, with more than 60 percent returning for multiple seasons. For her, the formula is simple. Authentic stories, told well, resonate everywhere.
Adding to the buzz, she teased new and returning titles, alongside a fresh superhero universe, the Kalyug Warriors. It signals a push into new genres while doubling down on familiar fan favourites.
If content is king, distribution is the clever courtier. Day outlined Prime Video’s layered business model in India, which blends subscription, rentals, add on channels and ad supported viewing through Amazon MX Player. The idea is straightforward. Give viewers choice, whether they want premium, free or pay per view.
India, she noted, has also become a testing ground for innovation. Tiered pricing, mobile only plans and language diversity have all been sharpened here before being exported to other markets. In many ways, the India playbook is now influencing global strategy.
For Gaurav Gandhi, the next chapter is about scale with intent. He outlined four priorities. Making Prime Video more accessible, pushing Indian content globally, building stronger franchises and supercharging the films business.
On films, the platform is moving beyond licensing into co productions and now theatrical releases in partnership with amazon mgm studios. These films will eventually stream on Prime Video, creating a full circle from cinema halls to living rooms across 240 countries.
Franchise building remains another key pillar. With hits like The Family Man, Mirzapur and Panchayat already enjoying multi season success, the focus is now on creating the next wave of enduring IP. Newer titles are already lining up for second seasons, signalling a steady pipeline.
What stood out through the conversation was a shared belief. Streaming in India is still in its early innings, and the runway is long. With a mix of local flavour and global ambition, Prime Video is betting that stories from India will not just stay at home, but travel far and wide.
Or as the executives seemed to suggest, the world is watching and India has plenty more to show.
