iWorld
ZEE5 presents “Lal Bahadur Shastri’s death – An unfinished story” India’s biggest cover-up
MUMBAI: ZEE5, India’s largest and most comprehensive digital entertainment platform for language contentannounce the launch of “Lal Bahadur Shastri’s Death – An Unfinished Story”, ZEE5’s first docudrama. It shows you what exactly took place after the Tashkent declaration was signed. The infamous truth of how our 2ndPrime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri died and how the last chapter to his life till remains an unsolved mystery.
The docudrama throws lights on some elements such as the possible meeting with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, involvement of an external agency or that he was poisoned by someone from his own delegation. Promising to expose some uncomfortable truths on the mysterious death of the former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri in Tashkent, the docudrama premieres on 15th August.
ZEE5’s docudrama will see Shastriji’s son Sunil Shastri and his grandsonSidharth Nath Singh take us through what happened that fateful night. Kuldeep Nayyar- a veteran Indian journalist and ex-High Commissioner of India to United Kingdom also shares his view of how he suspects the involvement of TN Kaul, then foreign secretary in Shastri’s death.
Sunil Shastri, Shastriji’s son commented, “The first thing my grandmother said after looking at my father’s body was, “It’s surprising that a country’s Prime Minister is dead and nobody raised a question on it?? There is still a big question mark, on how Shastri died. When my father called from Tashkent, my family informed him that people here were very upset with his decision of signing the treaty. However, he had full faith that when he comes back and explains, everybody will be very happy; but as fate had it, they never let him reach or speak to anyone!
Cook Jan Mohammed was the prime suspect in my father’s death. He is believed to be the one who poisoned him. Strangely, he was hired just after the Tashkent declaration and was also the cook to Ambassador TN Kaul, further fuelling our suspicions. His meeting with Subhas Chandra Bose fuels more rumours as to what had exactly happened. 52 years after his death, the family lives in a hope that we will someday know the truth.”
Sidharth Nath Singh, Shastriji’s grandson says,“The fateful day when we get a call, my mother told me that the telephone operator started crying saying that Shastriji is no more. When his body came to India, it had cut marks all over and his face had blue marks. It was a clear indication of poison – till date there we do not have a death certificate, nor there was any post-mortem done.
Is it a coincidence that, Shastriji who was a heart patient – wasn’t staying at the pre-decided place? The room he is put up in, has no buzzer- oddly his house help and his doctor’s room was very far! It’s almost like an unbelievable story, the Prime Minister of a country goes to sign a very important treaty and never comes back- all these things build up suspicion. The family and in fact India also wants that the last page in Shastri’s life doesn’t remain a BIG COVER UP!”
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.
