iWorld
Order in the court Kajol returns with fiercer fight in The Trial Season 2
MUMBAI: Justice may be blind, but this courtroom is about to see fireworks. The much-awaited trailer of The Trial: Pyaar, Kaanoon, Dhokha Season 2 has dropped, and Kajol’s return as Noyonika Sengupta promises a performance that is more fiery, vulnerable, and emotionally charged than ever before.
Directed by Umesh Bist and produced by Banijay Asia, the new chapter premieres 19 September 2025 on JioHotstar. It picks up after Season 1, where Noyonika, once a timid housewife, re-entered law following her husband’s corruption scandal. Now she stands transformed into a razor-sharp lawyer and resolute mother yet Season 2 unravels her world piece by piece.
Her husband Rajiv’s political ambitions (played by Jisshu Sengupta) threaten to tear the family apart, the law firm she depends on is riddled with rivalries, and a tangled love triangle clouds her judgement. In the dock is Noyonika herself torn between duty and desire, trust and truth.
The series boasts a formidable cast, including Sonali Kulkarni, Sheeba Chaddha, Alyy Khan, Kubbra Sait, Gaurav Pandey, and Karanvir Sharma. Kajol teased, “This season is darker, deeper, and more personal. Noyonika isn’t just fighting in court, she’s fighting to keep her world from collapsing.”
Bist revealed that Season 2 deliberately raises the stakes, balancing the intensity of legal duels with Noyonika’s internal unraveling. “It’s a layered story about power, identity, and the personal cost of standing up for oneself especially as a woman,” he said.
Backing the show’s cinematic ambition, Alok Jain of JioStar positioned it as part of a bold content universe that challenges ideas of choice and identity, while Sushant Sreeram highlighted how international adaptations like The Trial (based on CBS Studios’ The Good Wife) are reimagined for Indian audiences. Banijay Asia CEO Deepak Dhar promised “a gripping ride with higher stakes, more intense emotions, and powerful performances.”
Jisshu Sengupta added that Rajiv’s arc would shake viewers: “His ambitions have grown, but so has the cost. It’s love, regret, resentment and redemption colliding at once.”
The original U.S. series The Good Wife, created by Robert and Michelle King, set the global bar for courtroom drama. Now, its Indian counterpart seems poised to go beyond the gavel blending betrayal, ambition, and raw humanity into a season that could very well be Kajol’s fiercest role yet.
Order in the court: judgment day arrives 19 September.
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.
