iWorld
Eros International acquires film rights to best-selling author Ashwin Sanghi’s The Krishna Key
MUMBAI: Eros International, a leading global company in the Indian film entertainment industry has acquired the rights to adapt best-selling Indian author Ashwin Sanghi’s anthropological thriller The Krishna Key into a theatrical film and original series for their digital over-the-top (OTT) South Asian entertainment platform, Eros Now.
The acclaimed thriller set across timelines with its captivating plot, merging the mythological with the contemporary released in 2012. The book follows a history professor who must prove his innocence against a murder charge. Krishna Key, the third novel by Ashwin Sanghi, tries to unfold the secrets of the Mahabharata and establish Krishna as a historical character rather than a mythical character. The plot is dramatic and provocative, enthralling with its twists and turns creating a seamless opportunity to creatively showcase it in the world cinema. The series is in initial stages of development with talent to be finalised soon. Eros is planning its release in 2019.
Commenting on the development, Eros International, Chief Content Officer, Ridhima Lulla said, “We are gearing towards enhancing the premium content offering on Eros Now, that includes the launch of its originals. We want to offer a myriad content mix on our platform and have been particularly keen on adding Indian mythological themes which remain hugely popular. We are very excited to have acquired the rights to Ashwin’s bestselling book which delves beautifully into Indian history and mythology and at the same time blending well with the contemporary world and we anticipate it to be a perfect premise to explore for the big screen and an original series adaption”.
Author Ashwin Sanghi adds, “I am delighted that Eros International has acquired the rights to The Krishna Key. Eros has an incredible team that is exceedingly capable of adapting this action-packed thriller into a very interesting story for cinema. I am confident that the final product will be exciting and entertaining.”
Ashwin Sanghi ranks among India’s highest selling English fiction authors. He is considered one of the frontrunners in historical and mythological retelling. Popularly hailed as the Indian Dan Brown for The Rozabal Line and The Krishna Key, both of which were critically acclaimed. He has written several other bestsellers including Chanakya’s Chant, The Sialkot Saga and Keepers of the Kalachakra. In 2010, he won Vodafone-Crossword Popular Choice Award for Chanakya’s Chant. Additionally, the book Private India became the best seller in the United Kingdom. He was also included in the list of celebrity 100 by Forbes.
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.
