For Immediate Release
India’s Pop Culture Moment is Now, Declares Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, As Bollywood Blockbuster "Dhurandhar" Dominates Global Charts
Mumbai, India – [Date of Publication] – Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos believes the long-anticipated global pop-culture moment for India is not a future event, but a current reality. Speaking at The Indian Express’ ‘Express Adda’, Sarandos highlighted the burgeoning international demand for Indian content, revealing a significant milestone achieved by a Hindi film on the streaming platform in 2026.
The 62-year-old executive announced that the Ranveer Singh-starrer, Dhurandhar, has emerged as the most-watched non-English film globally on Netflix for the year 2026. This pronouncement underscores a pivotal shift in global content consumption and the increasing influence of Indian storytelling on the world stage.
During his conversation with Anant Goenka, Executive Director of the Indian Express Group, Sarandos stated unequivocally, "Dhurandhar was the most-watched non-English movie in the world this year." He further elaborated on its unprecedented success, noting it was "bigger than every other English [movie] and second only to the US and the UK in terms of watching."
Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar, has enjoyed an extraordinary trajectory since its theatrical debut in December 2025. The success was further amplified by its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, released in March 2026. The initial installment alone amassed an impressive 37 million views on Netflix between January and June 2026, securing its position as the platform’s most-watched non-English film during that period and topping Netflix’s film charts in 22 countries.
The action-packed franchise, featuring an ensemble cast including Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt, has transcended its domestic box-office success to become a bona fide global streaming phenomenon. Industry reports indicate that the two films have collectively grossed over Rs 3,100 crore at the worldwide box office, solidifying their status as a commercial and critical triumph.
Sarandos addressed the frequent question of when Indian content would achieve a global breakout similar to Squid Game or La Casa de Papel. His response was insightful: "I hear a lot when I travel around the world, particularly in India, is like what happened with Squid Game, what happened with La casa de papel, when is India going to have that moment? And I say India has that moment all the time."
He suggested that Indian cinema, with its rich and extensive history, is more likely to be the primary driver of the country’s next significant global pop-culture export, rather than television. "It’s much more likely to be in cinema. I think, right now, because there is this enormous, beautiful, rich, long history of movies in India. I think when we came in and made Sacred Games, it was a whole different kind of television, so through most of the history and all that that’s coming through, it’s likely to come through in the form of cinema," Sarandos concluded.
The success of Dhurandhar on Netflix serves as compelling evidence of India’s growing influence in the global entertainment landscape, signaling a sustained period of international recognition and appreciation for its vibrant cinematic output.
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