In this episode of The Media Room, Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with Monika Shergill, VP - Content at Netflix India, for a deep dive into the strategy, data, and creative thinking behind one of the world’s biggest streaming platforms.

Monika discusses key insights unveiled at Netflix’s Next on Netflix showcase, revealing how the platform is thinking about its upcoming slate, genre mix, and audience-first programming approach. She breaks down how viewer behaviour is evolving, why Indian stories are travelling globally, and what really drives decisions - from greenlighting shows to backing creators and identifying breakout hits.

The conversation also explores major titles and industry signals, from global phenomena like Squid Game and Money Heist to Indian successes such as Kohra and films like Laapataa Ladies - illustrating how content now travels beyond language, geography, and traditional market boundaries.

If you want to understand where streaming is headed, how platforms decide what gets made, and what the next wave of entertainment will look like - this episode is essential viewing.

00:00 — Introduction02:10 — Netflix Strategy & Next on Netflix Insights07:00 — Changing Audience Behaviour10:13 — How Shows Get Greenlit13:37 — Films vs Series Strategy16:07 — Global Viewing & Language Trends21:30 — The Real Competition for Streaming24:00 — Creator Myths vs Reality30:00 — The Future of Streaming in India

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In this episode of The Media Room, host Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with film historian, author and documentary filmmaker Nasreen Munni Kabir about her lifelong journey documenting, curating and championing Hindi cinema for global audiences. From introducing British viewers to Indian films through her landmark Channel 4 series Movie Mahal to serving on the board of the British Film Institute, Nasreen reflects on how cinema became a cultural bridge for diaspora communities long before the internet connected the world.

They discuss what makes Hindi cinema uniquely enduring, how film songs sustained identity for immigrants abroad, and why classic filmmakers like Bimal Roy and Mehboob Khan continue to shape storytelling today. The episode also explores her work documenting icons such as Shah Rukh Khan, Lata Mangeshkar and Zakir Hussain, her collaborations with artists like Gulzar and A. R. Rahman, and what studying film masters reveals about craft, emotion and longevity.

The conversation further dives into criticism, authorship, preservation, and why cinema remains one of the most powerful cultural connectors across generations and geographies. Nasreen shares insights on what today’s filmmakers can learn from the past, and why understanding film history is essential to shaping its future.

Like, share and comment with your thoughts on Hindi cinema, film history and global audiences, and subscribe to The Media Room for more deep-dive conversations at the intersection of media, culture, business and storytelling.

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In this episode of The Media Room, host Vanita Kohli-Khandekar speaks with Vishnu Mohta, Co-founder of Hoichoi and Executive Director at SVF Entertainment, about building one of India’s most successful regional OTT platforms. The conversation traces Hoichoi’s journey as a Bengali-only streaming service and how a deep focus on one language and audience has enabled sustainable, profitable growth.

They discuss why Hoichoi backed a subscription-first model early, how it reached profitability ahead of larger platforms, and what makes the Bengali market unique across India, Bangladesh and the global diaspora. The episode also explores Hoichoi’s scale of original production, genre trends, the role of SVF’s 30-year legacy, and why creating viewing habits matters more than chasing blockbuster hits.

The discussion touches on experiments with TV-plus formats, micro-payments, audio storytelling, micro-dramas and the use of AI in content creation, alongside candid insights on regional OTT economics, IP ownership, monetisation challenges and why disciplined growth beats rapid scale.

#TheMediaRoom #VanitaKohliKhandekar #VishnuMohta #Hoichoi #SVFEntertainment #RegionalOTT #BengaliCinema #IndianStreaming #OTTBusiness #MediaBusiness #ContentEconomy #IndianMedia #StreamingPlatforms #RegionalContent #FutureOfStreaming

Like, share and comment with your thoughts on the changing economics of Indian cinema, and subscribe to The Media Room for more deep-dive conversations at the intersection of media, business, data and culture.

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