Starting next month, HBO, Max Original and Warner Bros content will be available on the streaming platform JioCinema after Thursday's Warner Bros Discovery and Viacom18 announced a new multi-year agreement to bring titles from the premium American studio to Indian audiences.
As per the deal, HBO Original, Max Original and Warner Bros. Television series will premiere on JioCinema on the same day as the U.S.
The development comes almost one month after all HBO content left its long-time home Disney+ Hotstar.
Current and upcoming seasons of HBO's most acclaimed shows such as "House of The Dragon" ("Game of Thrones" prequel spin-off), "The Last of Us", "Succession" and "The White Lotus", and returning seasons of "True Detective: Night Country", "Euphoria", "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" and "Perry Mason" will be available to Indian subscribers.
Also featured as part of the agreement are highly anticipated HBO Original series including "The Idol", "White House Plumbers", "The Sympathizer" and "The Regime". In addition, HBO’s esteemed series and documentaries, including "Game of Thrones", "Sex & The City", "Big Little Lies", "Chernobyl" and "Veep", will also be up for streaming.
Clement Schwebig, President, India, Southeast Asia, and Korea, Warner Bros. Discovery, said Warner Bros. Discovery’s brands are incredibly popular across India, and the company is pleased to partner with Viacom18 to bring premium HBO, Max Original and Warner Bros. content to local fans.
"This new agreement demonstrates our commitment to South Asia as we seek to entertain audiences across more platforms, and further strengthens the scale of our regional business as a whole," Schwebig said in a statement.
Ferzad Palia, Head - SVOD & International Business, Viacom18, said after live sport, JioCinema is on a mission to "build the most magnetic destination for entertainment for all Indians".
"The strategic partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery is a big milestone in our journey to offer the best of Hollywood content to our elite consumers. We believe that Warner Bros. Discovery sets the global standards for premium content and this partnership allows us to create the best and the most comprehensive destination for our users,” Palia added.
Max Original series including, "And Just Like That…" ("Sex and the City" spin-off sequel), "Peacemaker", and "The Flight Attendant", highly anticipated premieres of shows such as "Dune: The Sisterhood", "The Batman" spin-off "The Penguin", and "Duster", from J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, as well as much-loved Warner Bros. Television series such as "East New York" and "Gotham Knights" are also part of the slate.
Future Warner Bros. blockbuster movies and a vast film library including the "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings" film series and DC Universe movies, as well as kids’ animation titles such as "Dexter's Laboratory" and "Tom and Jerry Kids" will also be available on JioCinema.
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Stills from Andaz Apna Apna
Vinay Kumar Sinha
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.