In this episode of The Media Room, Vanita Kohli-Khandekar sits down with Sameer Nair, CEO of Applause Entertainment and one of India’s most influential media executives. From shaping Indian television in the 2000s with Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Kaun Banega Crorepati, to leading India’s streaming revolution with Scam 1992, Tanaav, and Gandhi, Nair reflects on three decades of transformation in entertainment. He explains why quality, not affordability, is the key to scaling India’s storytelling economy, and why “there is no bottom of the pyramid in entertainment.” The conversation spans the business of streaming, the evolution of storytelling formats, and the role of technology and AI in creative work. Nair opens up about Applause’s greenlighting philosophy — stories that start with an “audience of one” — and why attention, empathy, and curiosity remain the timeless principles of great storytelling. Tune in for insights from one of the architects of India’s screen culture.
Chapters
(00:00) Introduction
(01:00) From Television to Streaming
(05:40) How Applause Built India’s Studio Model for the OTT Era
(09:25) Why “Just Because Someone Is Poor Doesn’t Mean You Give Them Crap”
(12:50) The IPL Lesson
(16:45) Why Streaming Hasn’t Yet Reached a Billion Indians
(19:10) On Democratizing Access
(22:40) The Business Case for Quality: Why Pricing Matters More Than Affordability
(26:15) From KBC to Scam 1992 — Lessons from Three Decades of Storytelling
(29:00) On Technology and Creativity
(33:20) Attention Span or Attention Quality? How Writing Must Adapt to New Formats
(37:00) Inside Applause’s Greenlighting Process: “It Starts with an Audience of One”
(40:10) The Making of Gandhi: Finding Mohan in Ramachandra Guha’s Books
(43:00) On Detail in Production
(45:00) From the Idiot Box to OTT Epics: The Continuum of India’s Screen Story
(48:30) The Potter’s Touch: Keeping Hands in the Clay
(49:30) Sameer Nair’s Optimistic View of the Future
(50:30) Reflections on India’s Storytelling Moment
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