PM Modi,Ted Sarandos discuss India's global content creation plans

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Netflix Co-Chief Executive Officer Ted Sarandos on Wednesday to discuss the growing global appeal of Indian storytelling and ways to position India as a global hub for content creation, coinciding with the launch of the Netflix India Storytelling Initiative, a multi-phase investment aimed at strengthening the country's creative talent ecosystem.The meeting underscored Netflix's long-term commitment to India's creative economy and its efforts to nurture the next generation of storytellers through strategic partnerships with leading Indian institutions,according to agency reports.
According to the company, the Netflix India Storytelling Initiative seeks to create a robust talent pipeline by equipping aspiring creators with industry-relevant skills across animation, visual effects (VFX), gaming and comics—key segments of India's expanding Orange Economy. The initiative also aligns with the Government of India's Viksit Bharat @2047 vision by promoting education, industry collaboration and creator capability development.
Speaking about the initiative, Ted Sarandos said India has long been one of the world's greatest storytelling nations and that Indian stories have increasingly found audiences across the globe over the past decade."As we begin our next decade here, we believe our greatest investment is in the people who will tell India's next generation of stories. The Netflix India Storytelling Initiative reflects our long-term commitment to strengthening India's creative ecosystem by creating more opportunities for emerging creators, because investing in creators is investing in India's creative future," he said.

Glad to have met Mr. Ted Sarandos. Discussed the immense potential of India’s media and entertainment sector.

India has a rich tradition of storytelling and an extraordinary pool of creative talent, which can be leveraged to strengthen our nation’s position as a global hub for… https://t.co/8ufUEddPTv

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 5, 2026

Netflix announced that the first phase of the initiative will focus on youth skilling through two strategic partnerships with Indian institutions.The first collaboration is with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) to co-develop an industry-ready curriculum in Visual Effects Mastery and Media Technology Workflows, ensuring students graduate with skills aligned to the evolving demands of the entertainment industry.As part of the partnership, Netflix will provide 100 scholarships to Indian students for in-person programmes in emerging creative disciplines, including Interactive Comics and Sequential Art, Virtual Art Department Content Creation, Art of Character Animation, E-Sports and Gaming Management.
Partnership with NFDC for inclusive storytelling
Netflix has also partnered with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) to develop a talent pipeline supporting new opportunities created under the Prime Minister's accessibility agenda.The collaboration will train audio description writers and voice artists to make films and series more accessible to audiences with visual and hearing impairments. Netflix said the programme will follow international accessibility standards while incorporating Indian storytelling traditions, advancing the shared vision of the Government of India and Netflix to promote inclusive storytelling.The company said the two partnerships would open new pathways for emerging creators while reinforcing India's position as a global centre for entertainment production and creative innovation.Netflix added that the initiative builds on its broader investment in India's creative ecosystem through talent development, production capabilities, industry collaborations and skilling programmes. It also cited productions such as Operation Safed Sagar as examples of the global-quality content that Indian creators, technicians and production professionals are capable of delivering.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism partnered with Netflix India to promote India's cultural heritage and tourism through authentic storytelling. Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat launched a new "As Seen on Netflix" section on the Incredible India portal, enabling global audiences to explore the real-life locations, cultural traditions and travel experiences featured in Netflix India's films and series.Speaking at the launch event marking a decade of Netflix in India, Shekhawat said India's stories, monuments and traditions have the power to strengthen the country's global cultural presence, while Ted Sarandos reaffirmed Netflix's commitment to showcasing India's diverse cultures and destinations to international audiences. The collaboration aims to boost cultural tourism, preserve India's heritage and support the growth of the country's creative economy.