Just one day after Amazon Prime Video launched in India, Netflix has announced a long-term deal with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.
The deal gives Netflix exclusive global SVOD rights to both new and library titles produced by Red Chillies and starring Khan. New titles include those that will hit Indian theatres within the next three years.
Netflix described the deal as “the beginning of a long-term relationship between both companies and the first of its kind with any Indian film production company.”
The first title under the deal to stream on Netflix is Gauri Shinde’s Dear Zindagi, which was released theatrically on November 25. Khan heads the cast of the film, which also includes Alia Bhatt. Red Chillies library titles to become available on Netflix include Happy New Year, Dilwale and Om Shanti Om.
“Shah Rukh Khan is the most sought-after actor in the Indian film industry, and has played a huge role in bringing Indian cinema to the world stage,” said Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos. “His monicker ‘King Khan’ speaks to his status as a cultural icon and to the incredible popularity of his films among audiences worldwide”.
Shah Rukh Khan said: “Red Chillies is surging ahead in global entertainment and for the first time, our great stories are going global on Netflix all at once and crossing all geographical barriers, waiting to be discovered over the world. No more waiting for our fans wherever they are.”
Netflix has been available in the Indian market since January 2016, while Amazon Prime Video went live in India yesterday. See story here: Amazon Prime Video now available in more than 200 countries.