iWorld
ZEE5 unveils their biggest Bengali Original, ‘Sharate Aaj’ for Bangladeshi audiences on 21st February
MUMBAI: ZEE5 today unveils its third and biggest Bengali original web-series ‘Sharate Aaj’. Shot completely in London, the show traces the lives of a close-knit Bengali community getting set to bring in the festive cheer of Pujo when they are hit by a terror attack conspiracy. Will love and humanity triumph over hate and will the true spirit of Durga Puja prevail?
Renowned Actor Parambrata Chattopadhyay who also produced Kaali, ZEE5’s first Bengali Original web-series, is now directing Sharate Aaj and also acting in it. The power-packed star cast includes Payel Sarkar, Riddhi Sen, Surangana Bandyopadhyay and Joydeep Mukherjee. The show is also high on the music quotient featuring a mix of Rabindra Sangeet and folk songs.
Parambrata Chattopadhyay said, “It feels good to be associated with ZEE5 for the second time. Working with this platform gives me the freedom to think creative and try different concepts. Sharate Aaj is the story of identity crisis, cultural bonding and a terror threat, making the show an edge-of-the-seat thriller. The show is completely shot in London and showcases the vibrant Bengali culture present in the city. I am really excited that this show is available globally on ZEE5. I know that this will especially strike a chord with audiences in Bangladesh, a country I have a strong association with.”
“At ZEE5, we’re constantly pushing the envelope to create shows across languages that strike a strong chord with our audiences across the globe, and we have a fabulous line-up of 72 such shows over the coming year. ‘Sharate Aaj’ is a new marquee show that explores the strong cultural thread that connects Bengalis all over the world and brings them together. With its stellar star cast, we’re sure that it will resonate strongly with our audiences in Bangladesh.” said Archana Anand, Chief Business Officer – ZEE5 Global
Other Originals lined up for February by ZEE5 include The Final Call, starring Arjun Rampal in his digital debut as a suicidal pilot on duty and Abhay, starring Kunal Kemmu playing an investigative officer in the first procedural format crime thriller. ZEE5 Original Rangbaaz is also now available in Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi and Malayalam.
With over 1,00,000 hours of Indian TV Shows, Movies, Cineplays and Videos, ZEE5 offers the largest bouquet of content across 12 languages to South Asian audiences across the globe. ZEE5 also offers 60+ popular Live TV channels, including ZEE’s best loved channels.
ZEE5 is available on Google Play Store, iOS App Store, www.ZEE5.com as well as on Samsung Smart TVs, Apple TV, Android TVs and Amazon Fire TV.
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.
