Microdramas CRASH the OTT party! Short-drama apps occupy 6 of India’s Top 12 free entertainment apps; one BEATS Netflix and Prime Video

India's rapidly expanding microdrama ecosystem has just thrown up another striking indicator of how quickly the format is gaining ground. Short-drama apps are no longer merely competing with each other for attention. They are now rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest OTT and entertainment platforms in the country.

As per AppBrain's September 30 ranking of the top free Entertainment apps in India, VibeShort: AI Short Dramas occupied the No. 1 position, ahead of streaming giants Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, which were ranked No. 2 and No. 3 respectively. MX Player stood at No. 4, while BookMyShow rounded off the top five. But VibeShort topping the chart is only part of the story.

A closer look at the rankings reveals the sheer concentration of microdrama and short-fiction platforms within the upper reaches of the chart. StoryReel: Drama Shorts & TV was placed at No. 6, NetShort - Popular Dramas & TV at No. 7, DramaBox - Stream Drama Shorts at No. 9, FlickReels - AI Story & Drama at No. 10 and MVShort at No. 11.

In other words, including VibeShort at No. 1, six of the Top 12 free Entertainment apps on AppBrain's September 30 chart were platforms explicitly built around short dramas, drama shorts or AI-driven fictional content.

That means an astonishing 50% of the Top 12 positions were occupied by apps belonging broadly to the short-drama ecosystem.

The development is significant because the apps are competing for the same valuable smartphone attention presently commanded by long-established entertainment brands such as Netflix, Prime Video, ZEE5, MX Player and BookMyShow.

The rankings, of course, need to be viewed in the right context. Daily app charts can fluctuate significantly and are primarily an indicator of download momentum and app-store performance at a particular point in time. VibeShort ranking ahead of Netflix or Prime Video, therefore, does not mean that the platform has overtaken either streaming giant in terms of total subscribers, active users, viewing hours or revenue.

Nevertheless, the sheer number of short-drama apps appearing near the top simultaneously makes the trend difficult to ignore.

And there is another data point which reinforces the story.

According to The Ormax OTT Audience Report: 2026, microdramas emerged as the fastest-growing among the major emerging content formats highlighted in the report. The audience for microdramas grew by a staggering 50% over 2025, marginally ahead of K-Dramas, which registered 48% growth, while anime audiences expanded by 32%.

The larger Indian online-video universe itself has expanded considerably. Ormax estimates that India now has 664.9 million OTT viewers, up 11% from 601.2 million in 2025. The report defines an OTT viewer as somebody who has watched online video at least once in the previous month.

For microdrama companies, however, the next battle could prove more important than simply generating downloads.

As more platforms enter the category and acquisition spending intensifies, the real test will be whether these apps can convert their installation momentum into repeat viewing, strong retention and, crucially, paying consumers.

For now, though, the September 30 chart offers a revealing snapshot of just how dramatically India's mobile entertainment landscape is changing.

Also Read: Microdramas get STAR POWER! Kusha Kapila, Sheeba Chadha, Nikki Tamboli, Vishal Aditya Singh join the vertical wave

Alia Bhatt joins Rami Malek, Sachin Tendulkar and Simone Ashley for a star-studded Earthshot Prize 2026 night in Mumbai

Mumbai is gearing up for a glittering global night, and Alia Bhatt will be right at the heart of it. The actor, producer and entrepreneur will be among the leading names from the worlds of film, music, sport and entertainment at The Earthshot Prize 2026 Awards Night, where she will present one of the five Earthshot Prize awards.

The ceremony will bring together 5,000 guests to celebrate people and organisations working on solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Alia will share the stage with Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and British actress and musician Simone Ashley, among other presenters and special guests. The evening will be hosted by Karan Johar, with more names expected to join the celebrations.

For Alia, the night is a chance to applaud the people behind the ideas and solutions driving environmental action around the world. Speaking about the occasion, she said: "The Earthshot Prize is really about hope… but hope that comes with ideas, action and people who are finding new ways forward. That's what makes it so inspiring to be a part of. There are people across the world doing incredible work to protect and repair our planet, often in ways we may never have imagined. And to have Mumbai bring all these people together feels very special. I'm proud that India gets to be part of this moment, and I'm really looking forward to celebrating the people behind these solutions and the work they're doing for all of us."

The 2026 Awards Night will also mark the first time the event is streamed globally on Prime Video, with audiences in more than 240 countries and territories able to watch the celebration in more than 40 languages.

On the work front, Alia is preparing for the release of the highly anticipated Love & War, in which she stars alongside real-life husband Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the film will hit cinemas in January 2027. The actress also has Tumbbad 2 in the pipeline, where she will play a key role.

Speaking about The Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William, it is the world's most prestigious environmental award, created to identify, back and celebrate groundbreaking environmental leadership. Built around five challenges, it aims to discover 50 winners over 10 years with the power to repair the planet.

Also Read: Daughter’s Day 2026: Alia Bhatt quips daughter Raha “bosses everybody around,” as she talks about women’s empowerment at the Mijwan fundraiser

SCOOP: Love & War theatrical rights sold for Rs. 300 crores; Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, & Vicky Kaushal starrer sets records

Sanjay Leela Bhansali directed Love And War, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal is among the most awaited films of 2027. Scheduled to release on January 21, 2027, the film marks the reunion of Ranbir Kapoor with Sanjay Leela Bhansali after 20 years. There was a strong bidding war in the film fraternity to bag the distribution rights of Love And War, with players like Dharma Productions, Jio Studios, Anil Thadani, and Pen Marudhar in the race.

Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learnt that the theatrical rights of Love And War have been sold for a humongous sum of Rs. 300 crores. "It's a global deal, and Pen Marudhar is set to bring forward the biggest release of 2027 in January. There was a lot of bidding happening behind the scenes, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali has gotten the best value from Pen Marudhar," a source told Bollywood Hungama.

The source further informs that Pen Marudhar as well as the stakeholders of Love And War are confident of recovering the theatrical investment and make big profits from the film. "Ranbir Kapoor is among the biggest superstars of Indian Cinema, and with able support from Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal - Love And War is certainly the biggest ensemble ever pulled off by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It deserves the Rs. 300 crore theatrical number," the source tells us further.

Love And War posters were out last week, and have taken the digital world by storm. SLB is now planning to launch a teaser next, but that shall happen around Diwali with Ramayana.

Also Read: Love & War: Sanjay Leela Bhansali and others celebrate the birthday of Ranbir Kapoor with grand dinner

BREAKING: Shoot of Vicky Kaushal's Mahavatar to commence in January 2027; Stree 3 goes on floors in 2027-end; horror comedy expected to release on Independence Day or Christmas 2028

Rajkummar Rao and producer Dinesh Vijan attended the Day 2 of FICCI Frames 2026 to promote their upcoming film, Prahaar. Towards the end, they spoke about Stree and the horror comedy universe, and shared some exciting news.

Rajkummar Rao said, "Stree (2018) started as an independent small budget film. But we all had great faith in the story and in Amar Kaushik. He's hilarious. He's like us. So, we all were like laundas on the set! We would crack jokes and try to have fun with each other while shooting the scenes. That camaraderie and energy is very much visible on screen."

He continued, "Stree was Amar's first theatrical release. I haven't shared this with anyone. When it started collecting very well and earned Rs. 70-75 crores, Amar was very nervous. He asked, 'Film kuch zyada nahin kama rahi hai?'! I said, 'Arre, acchhi baat hai na?'. He replied, 'Arre nahin. Pehli film itna business kar rahi hai?'."

Stree 2 (2024), meanwhile, was a Rs. 500 crore plus grosser. When the host asked how Amar Kaushik reacted to the sequel's blockbuster business, Rajkummar Rao replied, "At that time, he was prepared. Then, he was like 'Aur kamaye'! In between, he delivered Bala (2019) and Bhediya (2022). As a result, he became a producer's friend!"

Dinesh Vijan then revealed, "Amar Kaushik is the most integral part of Stree and the entire horror comedy franchise. He directs our most ambitious film in January end, Mahavatar, which is Bhagwan Parshuram's story. He'll finish that in June and end of next year, we go on floors with Stree 3. It'll arrive in cinemas in 2028."

He also told viewers to expect the unexpected with Stree 3, "Anything you have thought, remove that from your mind. If I say anything more, you'll be very upset with me because he has just finished writing it. And he feels I give out too many spoilers! But everything you have loved about it, you'll get. However, where it starts and where it ends will be a complete revelation. So, it might be a nice Independence Day or Christmas day release in 2028!"

 

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Mahavatar stars Vicky Kaushal in the lead. Besides Rajkummar Rao, Stree 3 will star Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee. Akshay Kumar is also expected to play a key role.

Also Read: Vimal Elaichi row: FDA commissioner says Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff have responded to notice; two hearings held

CONFIRMED! Lock Upp returns for season 2, Netflix announces new chapter

The jail doors are set to open once again, allowing new inmates to assemble. Following a landmark season that became a cultural phenomenon and a constant source of conversation both on and off screen, Netflix announces the return of Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa for a second season. Produced by Ekta Kapoor, Shobha Kapoor and Manisha Sharma, and showrun by Malaya Pradhan, the new season promises to blur the lines between spectacle and vulnerability.

Centered on its distinctly Indian format, Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa resonated with audiences worldwide, with its most shareable moments driving 5 billion+ views across social and word of mouth. The series demonstrated how a homegrown reality format can become a shared cultural experience: one that audiences don't simply watch, but participate in and carry with them.

Inside the jail in Season 1, contestants were pushed to own their truth, confronting the perceptions and narratives that had long surrounded them. Confessions became talking points, confrontations became debates, unexpected relationships became turning points, and raw moments became what audiences remembered most. What viewers witnessed was more than captivity and competition; it was celebrities taking ownership of their personal stories.

The upcoming season builds on that world, bringing audiences back inside the jail for another chapter where personalities collide, dynamics shift, and every secret has the potential to change the game.

Monika Shergill, VP- Content, Netflix India said: "Lock Upp: Sach Yaa Sazaa became appointment viewing overnight. Viewers invested, debated, and kept coming back. It captured the zeitgeist - not just as entertainment, but also as a space where celebrities talked about topics they rarely do, owned their choices and confronted past trauma. Ekta’s bold homegrown idea and the scaled adaptation on Netflix led to entertainment maxxing. Season 2 will be about recreating the same Netflix effect with many new surprises for our audiences."

Ekta Kapoor, Joint Managing Director, Balaji Telefilms & Creator of Lock Upp said: “Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa on Netflix went far beyond what we imagined. The conversations, the inmates, and their most memorable moments continued to live with audiences even after the finale. That’s what makes the return of Lock Upp so exciting. The next season will take audiences back into a world they know, but with an entirely new set of stories, personalities, and surprises. And Farah and Riteish will continue to helm Lock Upp as the formidable jailer duo, bringing their own energy, unpredictability, and dynamic to the next chapter.”

As audiences wait to discover who will enter the jail this time, one thing is certain: the game, the inmates, and the tasks may change, but the conversations are about to begin all over again!

Also Read: Did Harshad Chopda accidentally reveal Lock Upp Season 2 winner? His comment on Shreya Kalra has fans convinced

Sparsh Shrivastava reveals how Govinda, Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit inspired Bhugol in Dupahiya Season 2

Sparsh Shrivastava’s character Bhugol in Dupahiya Season 2 carries more than just the aspirations of a small-town dreamer. As the character steps into a new phase of his life and begins navigating newfound fame, Bollywood and its iconic stars become an important part of how he expresses himself. Sparsh has now revealed how actors including Govinda, Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit influenced Bhugol’s personality in the upcoming season.

According to Sparsh, several familiar Bollywood references were consciously incorporated into Bhugol’s character, reflecting his fascination with films and stars. The actor particularly pointed to Govinda as an inspiration for a mandir sequence featured in the trailer of the second season.

Sharing the inspiration behind that scene, Sparsh said, “The inspiration for that was Govinda sir. There’s this moment in Raja Babu, I think, where he goes to his mother and says, ‘Itna pyaar diya tune mujhe, maa,’ so I was just trying to channel that feeling. There’s a little bit of Govinda in Bhugol, there’s a lot of Deewaar, and he’s also wearing Salman Khan’s jacket from Maine Pyar Kiya. So, in a way, everybody’s embodiment is in Bhugol. He’s everything. And then there’s Madhuri ma’am as well, of course, especially when it comes to the launda naach in his character. I loved bringing all these little references together because that’s how I see Bhugol. He’s this small-town guy who has absorbed so much from the films and stars he loves ”

The Bollywood connection also brought back a personal memory for Sparsh while filming the launda naach sequence. The actor recalled participating in a dance reality show in 2010, where veteran choreographer Saroj Khan was a judge. He remembered receiving ₹100 notes from her after good performances.

Reflecting on the experience, Sparsh said, “The choreographer was Kruti, and I remember this one specific moment from that launda naach. When I did a dance reality show back in 2010, Saroj Khan ma’am was the judge, and after every good dance, she would give you a ₹100 note. This time, when I did that shoot, Kruti came to me and gave me a ₹500 note, and I was so emotional.”

Directed by Sonam Nair, Dupahiya Season 2 is created and produced by Salona Bains Joshi and Shubh Shivdasani under Bombay Film Cartel LLP. The series is created and written by Avinash Dwivedi and Chirag Garg.

The second season continues the story established in the first instalment and brings back Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Sparsh Shrivastava, Bhuvan Arora, Shivani Raghuvanshi and Yashpal Sharma. Dinesh Lal Yadav (Nirahua) joins the ensemble for the new season.

Dupahiya Season 2 will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on October 1.

Also Read: Dupahiya Season 2 Trailer: Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Sparsh Shrivastava return as Dhadakpur faces new chaos

EXCLUSIVE: Karan Tacker to return as Gaurav Tiwari? Bhay Season 2 likely to go on floors in January 2027

Karan Tacker could be set to return to the world of the paranormal as Gaurav Tiwari. Bollywood Hungama has learnt that Almighty Motion Picture is gearing up for the second season of its supernatural thriller Bhay – A Gaurav Tiwari Mystery, with the new season expected to go on floors by mid-January 2027.

According to sources close to the development, the makers are currently working towards taking the franchise forward, with the second season expected to mount on a larger canvas. If the schedule stays on track, Bhay – A Gaurav Tiwari Mystery Season 2 could be ready for a late-2027 release. The first season, which premiered in 2025, was produced by Prabhleen Sandhu under Almighty Motion Picture and directed by Robbie Grewal. Written by Arshad Sayed, the series featured Karan Tacker as paranormal investigator Gaurav Tiwari, with the character's investigations and mysterious encounters forming the core of the narrative.

Unlike conventional horror outings that rely primarily on jump scares and supernatural spectacle, Bhay attempted to build its world around paranormal investigations, unexplained incidents and the psychological fear surrounding the unknown. At the centre of that world was Tiwari, a protagonist who actively pursued cases that others would rather stay away from.

Sources indicate that Season 2 is being planned to delve deeper into that universe, with the makers exploring new unexplained cases and paranormal investigations. Whether the new season will pick up directly from where the first chapter ended or introduce an entirely new case remains tightly under wraps.

The casting, too, is being kept under wraps for now. However, sources indicate that the makers intend to retain Karan Tacker as Gaurav Tiwari, allowing the actor to continue anchoring the franchise. An official announcement is awaited.

Interestingly, Bhay would also add to an increasingly notable pattern in Karan Tacker's OTT career. Several of the actor's streaming outings have returned for subsequent seasons, underlining the recall he has built with audiences on the digital platform. From stepping into varied characters to headlining returning franchises, Tacker has gradually established himself as an actor with a strong presence in the OTT space, where longevity often depends on a show's ability to bring audiences back for another season.

That trajectory makes a potential return to Bhay particularly significant, as the franchise itself appears to be moving into its next phase with Tacker once again at the headlining.

For now, the makers are keeping the door firmly shut on Season 2. But if the current plans stay on course, the world of Gaurav Tiwari could be back on screen sooner than expected with cameras potentially rolling from January 2027.

Also Read: Karan Tacker opens up on a ‘Bhay’ moment that forced him to confront mortality: “This scene changed me forever”