Saif Ali Khan and Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos Discuss Streaming’s Impact at WAVES 2025:

Suspense crime, Digital Desk : At WAVES 2025 in Mumbai, actor Saif Ali Khan opened up about the changes brought in India’s entertainment sector with the advancements of streaming services, Netflix in particular. During a discussion with Netflix's CEO Ted Sarandos, Saif highlighted how the platform has fundamentally changed the creation and consumption of content in the country.

“It’s a very exciting time for the Indian entertainment industry, and Netflix plays a vital role in that change,” Saif said. “Netflix has revolutionized the way we watch content.”

More Opportunities for Actors Through Long Form Content

The Jewel Thief actor also pointed out how OTT platforms have provided actors with more creative opportunities. “In my opinion, streaming platforms have changed the game for actors in India and across the globe,” he said. “Scripts are sharper, and the aim of the format is more in-depth analysis of the characters along with tilted exploration of narratives.”

Saif supported his argument by explaining the existence of rich long-form Indian storytelling traditions like the Mahabharata, Ramayan, and Panchatantra. According to him, due to these streaming platforms, these stories are now ready to be shared with global audiences. He also noted, “The long-form format is perfect for epic Indian sagas,” highlighting the need for more cultural Indian stories to be told.

Ted Sarandos Reflects on Netflix’s Indian Journey

While discussing the India region, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos acknowledged the immense love for cinema, sharing, “India has a great cinema culture. People have loved talking about movies for decades. Its a very fan centric environment.”

“Ted's Netflix journey in India commenced with the 2019 release of Sacred Games and the rest is history. Sacred Games proved that authentic stories can transcend borders,” is something sarandos said. He further added “If content doesn’t work at home, it won’t work abroad. There’s no way around it. Stories have to be rooted where they come from.”

About Waves 2025

The summit WAVES 2025, is a gathering is scheduled to take place from May 1st to 4th at Jio World Centre in Mumbai, The summit will receive guests from all over the globe to discuss the future of audio visual entertainment.