As the year 2024 comes to a close, we take a look at how it fared for the streaming giant Netflix India. The platform had a number of shows series that stood out because of the quality of the content. Some of these include, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein Season 2, Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives Season 3, Mismatched Season 3 and Kota Factory Season 3. Bollywood Hungama got talking to the people who contributed to Netflix India’s success this year.
EXCLUSIVE: Netflix India’s Tanya Bami shares, “Indian films and series featured in the Global Top 10 for non-English lists every single week of the year”
Tanya Bami, series head Netflix India, said that it has been an unprecedented year for them. “Starting with the breakout success of Maamla Legal Hai. This series set the tone for the year ahead, only to be followed by the magnanimous response to The Great Indian Kapil Show worldwide. We have completed two successful seasons of the show, with the finale just having launched,” she said.
Bami is especially pleased with the response to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series debut Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. “It has officially become the biggest Indian series of 2024,” she said. “From conversations dominated by the ‘Gajagamini’ walk to fans discovering a new favorite in Taha Shah Badussha and recreating dance routines to ‘Sakal Ban’, the love for this title has been overwhelming. This great reception has firmly established Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar as our most watched and most successful Indian series to date.”
Bami added that later in the year, Anubhav Sinha’s hijack drama IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack became another binge-watch for the audience. She said that the final quarter was remarkable for them as it brought next seasons of the fan favourite shows like Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein, Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives, Mismatched and Kota Factory. She also pointed out how Netflix India’s Indian shows have found acceptance around the globe. “In fact, Indian films and series featured in the Global Top 10 for Non-English Lists every single week of the year,” she said.
Bami added how Netflix has also worked on expanding the reach of their titles through multi-language dubbing and that has significantly amplified their Indian content, making it accessible to a global audience. “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar was dubbed in 13 languages, out of which 8 were foreign languages. Similarly, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack was dubbed in 8 languages and Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein S2 in 7 languages,” she said.
Coming to Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein Season 2, its creator Siddharth Sengupta also got talking to us. Speaking about his basic motto for this season, he said, “I wanted to explore the various facets of this fascinating emotion called love. It’s the only emotion that arises without any reason—you can never pinpoint why one person feels so complete for you in the entire world. In the words of Pink Floyd, ‘It’s a momentary lapse of reason that binds one life to another.’ All other emotions—hate, sorrow, envy—stem from love. That’s why it’s so intriguing to examine the extent to which love can shape and transform a human life.”
The show is also based in a small town in north India. Despite that, it has a universal appeal. “I believe the best stories are those that transcend time and space,” said Sengupta. “In Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein, despite its fictional small-town Indian setting, the heart of the story is love, and love is universal. It’s the same no matter the where, what, or why. Perhaps that’s why the show has resonated with viewers across the globe.”
Despite Yeh Kaali Kaali Aankhein doing well, Sengupta doesn’t feel there are any key elements for ‘success’. “I don’t think you can approach writing a show by aiming for success,” he said. “Success is an outcome, and it’s honestly out of your control. What you can do is stay true to yourself, to what you’re writing, and to why you’re writing it. Of course, understanding the medium and audience is crucial—it will help you bring nuance to your storytelling and determine how you shape certain moments. But ultimately, the key is to remain authentic to the story you want to tell.”
Coming to Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, Prerna Singh, the CEO of the show’s producers Bhansali Productions, spoke about how close the story was with the show’s creator Sanjay Leela Bhansali all these years. “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has been Sanjay sir’s dream for over a decade—a story he’s carried in his heart and imagined on such an epic scale,” she said. “It’s inspired by the world of courtesans, their artistry, and the intense emotions and relationships that defined their lives. The show was always about capturing the beauty, complexity, and humanity of that world rather than following specific historical figures or events.”
About the reason for show’s success, she said, “A successful show needs to connect emotionally with its audience. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is a story of human emotions—love, betrayal, and survival—and those are themes that people everywhere can relate to. It’s not about recreating history but about creating a world that feels immersive and alive, where the audience can lose themselves in the story.”
Singh said that although visual storytelling is important, in which Bhansali is a master, the heart of the show was the story and characters. “If the audience feels for them, remembers them, and carries their journey with them, then you’ve achieved something special. That’s what makes a show truly timeless,” she said.
When asked what advice would she like to give to the aspiring storytellers, Singh said, “Follow your vision unapologetically and create from a place of passion. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has been a long journey, stories like these need time and commitment to come alive. Don’t focus too much on getting everything ‘perfect’; focus instead on creating moments that feel honest and deeply emotional.”
At the same time, she said, collaboration is key. “Every element—writing, performances, costumes, music—works together to create magic. Trust the team you build around you and give them the space to add their creativity. Most importantly, don’t be afraid of challenges. If you love what you’re creating, you’ll find ways to overcome them and bring your vision to life,” said Singh.
Also Read: Tahir Raj Bhasin on Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein season 3, “I am incredibly grateful that the show is green lit for third season”
More Pages: Heeramandi Box Office Collection , Heeramandi Movie Review
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