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Mona Singh's Netflix show ‘Kaala Paani’ set for October 18 debut

Kaala Paani marks the third series outing for Singh in 2023 after she featured in Made in Heaven season two and Kafas.

Mona Singh's Netflix show ‘Kaala Paani’ set for October 18 debut

Streaming service Netflix on Wednesday announced that Kaala Paani, a survival drama series that marks filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker’s return to acting, will premiere on its platform on October 18.

Set in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the series is described as “a grounded story about the fight for survival and questions audiences on how far they would go to survive”, a press release stated.


The cast also includes Mona Singh, Amey Wagh, Sukant Goel, Arushi Sharma, Radhika Mehrotra, Vikas Kumar, Chinmay Mandlekar, and Poornima Indrajith.

Kaala Paani marks the second collaboration between Netflix and Posham Pa Pictures after the 2022 film Jaadugar.

The show comes from Sameer Saxena, who had directed Jaadugar. He serves as a showrunner and co-director on the project alongside Amit Golani. It is penned by Biswapati Sarkar, Golani, Sandeep Saket, and Nimisha Misra.

Gowariker, who as an actor starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan in the television series Circus as well as the movies Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, and Chamatkar, said he is excited to be a part of the streaming project.

"Kaala Paani is a world of its own and I’m really excited to be a part of an intriguing Netflix project like this. Sameer, Amit, and Biswapati have created a Series with a genre that will breathe new life into our audience's viewing experience.

"I am hoping that audiences will be just as intrigued as I was, and enjoy it as much as I did performing in it," Gowariker, the director of Lagaan, Swades, and Jodhaa Akbar, said in a statement.

Kaala Paani marks the third series outing for Singh in 2023 after she featured in Made in Heaven season two and Kafas.

"Kaala Paani is a show that will immerse you in a world where every moment, decision, and heartbeat holds the key to survival in an unforgiving environment. Participating in a project that keeps you perpetually on the edge is an absolute rush," Singh said.

"With a groundbreaking plot supported by the creative minds of Sameer, Amit, and the Netflix team, this show provided me with the opportunity to stretch my limits as an actor, resulting in an incredibly exhilarating journey," she added.

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How Southeast Asian storytelling became one of Netflix’s fastest-growing global pillars

Highlights:

  • Netflix says global viewing of Southeast Asian titles rose almost 50% between 2023 and 2024.
  • Premium VOD revenue in the region reached £1.44 billion (₹15,300 crore) last year, with 53.6 million subscriptions.
  • Netflix holds more than half of the region’s total viewing and remains its biggest investor in originals.
  • New rivals, including Max, Viu and Vidio, are forcing sharper competition.
  • Local jobs, training and tourism are increasing as productions expand across the region.

Last year, something shifted in what the world watched. Global viewership of Southeast Asian content on Netflix grew by nearly 50%, and this isn't just a corporate milestone; it’s a signal. Stories from Jakarta, Bangkok, and Manila are no longer regional curiosities. They are now part of the global mainstream.

The numbers tell a clear story. Over 100 Southeast Asian titles have now entered Netflix’s Global Top 10 lists. More than 40 of those broke through in 2024 alone. This surge is part of a bigger boom in the region’s own backyard. The total premium video-on-demand market in Southeast Asia saw viewership hit 440 billion minutes in 2024, with revenues up 14% to £1.44 billion (₹15,300 crore). Netflix commands over half of that viewership and 42% of the revenue. They have a clear lead, but the entire market is rising.

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