WAVES 2025: Netflix’s Ted Sarandos and Saif Ali Khan Celebrate Streaming’s Role in Democratizing Indian Filmmaking

Mumbai: On Day 3 of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with actor Saif Ali Khan, shedding light on how streaming platforms have redefined India’s entertainment landscape. The session, held at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai, was titled “Streaming the New India: Culture, Connectivity, and Creative Capital” and offered deep insights into storytelling in the digital era.

Sarandos, reflecting on Netflix’s journey in India, emphasized how streaming has democratized filmmaking by breaking down traditional barriers. “It’s very difficult to predict where storytelling is headed. But what remains constant is the intent to connect with audiences,” he said. “Our investments in India have generated over $2 billion in economic impact post-COVID. That’s all the jobs created, skills developed, and infrastructure supported. We’ve filmed across 100+ towns and cities in India across 23 states, and collaborated with over 25,000 local cast and crew.”

The conversation touched upon the creative freedom that streaming has enabled. Saif Ali Khan, recalling his role in Netflix’s breakout series Sacred Games, described how streaming liberated actors and filmmakers from conventional formats. “Earlier, we had to conform to rigid structures. Streaming has freed us from those constraints. Now, people across the globe can watch our stories, which they might have missed in traditional cinema,” he said.

Khan noted that this digital shift has allowed for more inclusive storytelling. “Audiences can access diverse stories anytime, and creators have more freedom to tell them. It’s a continuous cycle of watching and making,” he said, praising the medium for empowering new voices.

Addressing the relationship between streaming platforms and traditional cinemas, Sarandos clarified that the two are not in conflict. “Cinemas are not outdated. Streaming and theaters are not competitors. They can coexist. The market before us is huge,” he said. Saif echoed this, adding that his most fulfilling projects are those rooted in Indian culture. “If someone abroad asks me about my films, I talk about Omkaara or Parineeta—films deeply connected to our heritage. There’s something incredibly thrilling about telling our own stories to the world.”

Both speakers applauded WAVES 2025 for creating a space that fosters dialogue and global collaboration in entertainment. “If the ideas presented here work, they’ll succeed beyond imagination. WAVES is a fantastic platform for that momentum,” Sarandos noted.

As the summit continues, WAVES 2025 remains a key global forum for shaping the future of storytelling, bringing together creative minds from across the world to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and explore new frontiers in media and entertainment.