iWorld
Bigg Boss 15 to premiere on VOOT on 8 August, Salman Khan unveils promo
Mumbai: The 15th season of Viacom18’s high prized entertainment property Bigg Boss is all set to launch on VOOT on 8 August, announced Bollywood actor and Bigg Boss host Salman Khan in the show’s latest promo released on Wednesday. The makers have pitched the promo of the special edition titled ‘Bigg Boss OTT’ as Khan’s special gift for his fans on Eid.
In an industry-first move, Viacom18 had announced early this month, that it will launch the reality show Bigg Boss, first on VOOT for six weeks, before it’s telecast on Colors TV.
Arey bhai bhai bhai, ye kya ho raha hai?
Nahi samjhe? Machane loot, aa raha hai BB OTT on #Voot
Hoga itna over the top, entertainment chalega non – stop
Tell us, kitne excited ho aap?
Starting 8 August on Voot.#BBOttOnVoot #SalmanKhan @BeingSalmanKhan @VootSelect pic.twitter.com/VSSK0VHhID
— Voot (@justvoot) July 21, 2021
The promo shows Khan bursting with joy as he declares and warns the audience to gear up for the “craziest, most sensational season ever”. The ‘janta’ factor this time will be Over the Top by giving the common man uncommon powers. It will give the audience a chance to enjoy direct and deeper engagement, connection, and indulgence in the comings and goings of the house. “Overall, the show promises a unique experience with a lot of drama, entertainment, and emotions,” Khan promises. “So, BIGG BOSS OTT Ke Mazze Loot, pehli baar starting only on VOOT.”
Commenting on this all-new Bigg Boss OTT, Salman Khan said, “It’s great that this season of Bigg Boss will have a digital-first with Bigg Boss OTT, six weeks ahead of television. The platform will see unparalleled interactivity where the audience will not only get entertained but also participate, engage, give tasks and more – It’s truly for the people and by the people. My advice to all contestants is to be active, entertaining and conduct themselves well in the BB house.”
iWorld
YRF, Red Chillies explore micro dramas as format gains ground
Short-format boom grows, 71 per cent users rely on UPI autopay.
MUMBAI: Big stories are getting shorter and Bollywood’s biggest studios are starting to think small to stay big. Yash Raj Films and Red Chillies Entertainment are independently evaluating entry into the micro drama space in 2026, signalling a strategic pivot as legacy players chase the fast-growing demand for bite-sized storytelling.
At YRF, the recent appointment of Saugata Mukherjee is being read as more than just a leadership shuffle. Industry insiders view the move as a deliberate step towards building a sharper, digital-first content pipeline. Mukherjee, who previously played a key role in shaping premium originals at SonyLiv, is known for backing narrative-led shows that helped the platform stand out in an increasingly crowded OTT market. His experience in scaling differentiated content is now expected to anchor YRF’s next phase of expansion.
While YRF’s plans appear relatively advanced, conversations around micro dramas are also picking up at Red Chillies, albeit at an earlier stage. Insiders suggest the studio is exploring the format as part of a broader rethink of content strategy in a market where attention spans and distribution formats are rapidly evolving.
The timing is hardly accidental. India’s micro drama ecosystem is already taking shape, with platforms such as JioHotstar (“Tadka”), Zee5 (“Bullet”), Amazon MX Player (“Fatafat”) and Tata Play (“Shots”) experimenting with mobile-first, episodic formats designed for binge consumption. Alongside these, niche players like Kuku TV, QuickTV and StoryTV are also building early traction.
What is driving this surge is not just format novelty but consumption behaviour. Data from Redseer indicates that content velocity and freshness are emerging as key engagement drivers, with users responding strongly to frequent releases and evolving story arcs. Interestingly, pricing is not a major friction point audiences are willing to pay, provided the content offers novelty and quality.
User feedback also points to a shift in taste. There is growing appetite for genre diversity beyond familiar tropes, opening up space for experimentation in storytelling formats. This creates an opportunity for both incumbents and new entrants to differentiate in what is quickly becoming a crowded segment.
Monetisation, however, remains tightly linked to ease of access. Around 71 per cent of users rely on UPI autopay for subscriptions, underlining the importance of seamless payment systems even as platforms explore diversified revenue models.
The rise of micro dramas is part of a larger shift in India’s digital entertainment landscape, where interactive media including audio streaming, social discovery and niche formats such as devotional and astrology-led content is gaining momentum. This broader segment is projected to grow into a $3.1–3.4 billion market by FY30, with micro dramas expected to be among the fastest-growing categories, outpacing traditional short-form video.
For studios like YRF and Red Chillies, the message is becoming clear: in a market where attention is fragmented, storytelling may need to shrink in size but not in ambition.
