iWorld
OTT releases this week feature Shahid Kapoor romance and Rani Mukerji cop return
From thrilling sequels and mystery dramas to a BTS reunion documentary, fresh releases offer something for every screen mood.
MUMBAI: This week’s OTT slate is serving up a perfect popcorn mix because when Shahid Kapoor romances and Rani Mukerji returns with her badge, even couch potatoes start feeling the adrenaline. Prime Video is bringing Shahid Kapoor in the action-drama O Romeo, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. The film, which also stars Tripti Dimri, Avinash Tiwary, Disha Patani, Farida Jalal, Tamannaah Bhatia and Nana Patekar, will be available for rent from 27 March before moving to subscription in the second week of April 2026.
JioHotstar is set to premiere the mystery thriller Muthu Alias Kaattaan on 27 March, headlined by Vijay Sethupathi. The series, also featuring Milind Soman, Sudev Nair and Muthukumar, will stream in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi and Bengali.
Netflix has a double treat on 27 March. First is the documentary BTS: The Return, directed by Bao Nguyen, which follows the global K-pop group – RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook – as they reunite in Los Angeles to create their fifth album Arirang. The same day sees Rani Mukerji back as ACP Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 3, directed by Abhiraj Minawala. The film explores a high-level child-trafficking syndicate and introduces Mallika Prasad as antagonist Amma and Janki Bodiwala as constable Fatima Anwar, with Indraneel Bhattacharya, Mikhail Yawalkar and Jisshu Sengupta in supporting roles.
Zee5 is releasing Projapati 2 on 27 March, reuniting Mithun Chakraborty and Dev. Directed by Avijit Sen, the story unfolds in a Bengali family’s restaurant and home during a festive period, focusing on Gour Chakrabarty’s wish to see his widowed son Joy remarry while balancing family and career. The film also stars Jyotirmoyee Kundu, Aparajita Auddy, Anumegha Kahali and Kharaj Mukherjee.
Finally, Netflix drops the psychological horror series Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen on 26 March. Created by Haley Z Boston, it stars Camila Morrone, Adam DiMarco, Sawyer Fraser and Mason McDonald, following a bride who senses something terrible will happen at her wedding.
Whether you are in the mood for romance, thrills, music or goosebumps, this week’s releases prove that sometimes the best entertainment is just a click away and the remote never had it so good.
iWorld
Youtube rolls out major creator and monetisation upgrades
New tools, bigger thumbnails and shopping perks aim to keep the platform ahead in the video race.
MUMBAI: Youtube has just turned up the volume on its creator tools because when the competition is fierce, even the biggest platform knows it needs to hit refresh. Neal Mohan, CEO of Youtube, has announced a wide-ranging set of platform updates designed to boost creator tools, open new monetisation avenues and enhance the overall user experience. The changes span content discovery, advertising solutions, safety features and global partnerships.
Among the most practical improvements, Youtube has increased the maximum thumbnail file size from 2MB to 50MB, allowing creators to upload higher-quality visuals for their videos. The platform has also expanded access to localised thumbnails, enabling creators to tailor video previews for different regions and audiences.
On the monetisation front, Youtube has widened access to its Shopping Affiliate programme, giving more creators the ability to earn through product recommendations. It has also introduced a unified advertiser and creator suite called Youtube Creator Partnerships, aimed at streamlining brand collaborations and campaign execution.
Creative tools are receiving a boost with expanded access to Effect Maker, a web-based platform that allows creators to build interactive effects. The tool now integrates with Veo 3, further advancing content creation capabilities.
Youtube is also investing in social impact with a $20 million global teen wellbeing programme in collaboration with Google.org, focused on supporting youth mental health and digital wellbeing.
For content discovery, the platform has introduced a new grid layout for Shorts in mobile search results, making it easier for users to browse short-form videos. New gifting features such as Gifts and Jewels have been rolled out for vertical live streams in South Korea, opening additional avenues for fan engagement and creator earnings. The company has also added NanoBanana to its Youtube Create app, continuing to expand its suite of mobile content creation tools.
On the safety side, Youtube has expanded likeness detection technology to include government officials, journalists and political candidates, aiming to prevent misuse of identity on the platform.
Finally, Youtube has partnered with FIFA for the FIFA World Cup, signalling a continued push into sports content and global event collaborations.
From bigger thumbnails to smarter shopping tools and safety upgrades, Youtube is clearly playing to stay on top proving that even the biggest video platform knows when it’s time to hit the refresh button.
