iWorld
Roadies co-creator Rajiv Lakshman takes charge at Infinitum as IP chief
MUMBAI: Rajiv Lakshman, one of the masterminds behind iconic reality TV juggernauts MTV Roadies and Splitsvilla, has joined Infinitum Network as group head of intellectual properties, bringing his 25-year creative arsenal to the rapidly expanding multi-channel network.
“I’m thrilled to share that I’ve joined Infinitum Networks,” announced Lakshman on his social media. The content veteran, who has spent over two decades crafting genre-defining shows across adventure, romance, culinary and startup territories, is set to inject his creative firepower into one of India’s fastest-growing digital content stables.
Already a heavyweight in the digital arena, Infinitum boasts a staggering global footprint that would make even tech giants blush:
• 200+ influencers with a combined following of 24 million+
• 400+ shows across 10+ platforms
• Content in 100+ languages reaching 160+ countries
• A whopping 4 billion+ followers across platforms
• 60 million+ subscribers across 400+ YouTube channels
The MCN has made content for platforms such as aha, Star, Disney Hotstar (JioHotstar), Zee5, Asian Cinemas, Moj, Geetha Arts, facebook, ShareChat and YouTube.
The network’s talent pool reads like a who’s who of digital fame, featuring influencer powerhouses such as Srishti Shukla (6 million followers), Deepthi Sunaina (4.2 million), and Shanmukh Jaswanth (2.7 million). Its YouTube portfolio includes NBK Originals with a jaw-dropping 10 million subscribers.
Looking beyond traditional MCN boundaries, Lakshman’s vision for Infinitum includes creating cross-platform franchises that can travel globally while nurturing emerging talent from tier two and tier 3 cities.
“What excites me most about Infinitum is their hybrid approach,” Lakshman explained, highlighting the network’s impressive track record of producing 275+ web series and educational content across multiple languages.
His bullish strategy aims to establish Infinitum as the launchpad for creators transitioning from social to mainstream media while developing sustainable economic models that fairly reward talent – a refreshing approach in an industry often criticised for exploiting creative minds.
As traditional media continues its digital metamorphosis, Lakshman’s move signals a seismic shift in how content powerhouses are positioning themselves in the creator economy’s gold rush.
iWorld
Subedaar puts Indian original cinema on the global map with record-breaking Prime Video debut
MUMBAI: Prime Video has a runaway hit on its hands. Subedaar, the gritty action drama starring Anil Kapoor, has stormed to become the most-watched Indian original movie on the platform in its opening weekend, cracking the Top 10 across 31 countries and landing in 91 per cent of India’s pin codes within days of its March 5 premiere.
The film, a visceral, emotionally-charged story of a retired soldier, Subedaar Arjun Maurya, wrestling with civilian life amid crime and corruption, has struck a nerve. Directed by Suresh Triveni and co-starring Radhikka Madan, Mona Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Aditya Rawal, Faisal Malik, and Khushboo Sundar, the film is already being hailed as a showcase for what Indian original storytelling can achieve on the world stage.
“Subedaar’s success is a reflection of the growing scale and global resonance of Indian storytelling,” said Nikhil Madhok, director and head of originals at Prime Video India. “The film’s emotional narrative, its rooted portrayal of a soldier confronting his toughest battles beyond the battlefield, has struck a chord. Anil Kapoor delivers an acting masterclass, while Suresh Triveni’s solid direction and great performances from the ensemble cast have resulted in love and appreciation from customers across the world.”
Kapoor, 62, has been here before, but rarely at this altitude. Written by Triveni and Prajwal Chandrashekar, with dialogues by Triveni, Saurabh Dwivedi, and Chandrashekar, the film is a production by Opening Image Films in association with Anil Kapoor Film & Communication Network (AKFCN), produced by Vikram Malhotra, Kapoor, and Triveni.
Subedaar streams exclusively on Prime Video in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu across India, and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide.
For Prime Video, the numbers tell the real story: one weekend, one film, a global footprint, and a very loud signal that Indian original cinema is no longer just travelling well. It’s arriving.
