3 weeks ago
Netflix CEO lauds Dhurandhar as world's most-watched non-English movie
A very important leader at Netflix, named Ted Sarandos, said a movie called 'Dhurandhar' was watched by more people this year than any other movie that is not in English.
The movie stars a famous actor from India named Ranveer Singh.
Mr. Sarandos said people often ask him when India will make a huge worldwide hit like 'Squid Game' from South Korea or 'Money Heist' from Spain.
He says India has those kinds of big moments all the time.
He also thinks Indian movies are better placed than Indian TV shows to become famous around the world, because India has a long and rich history of making movies.
Netflix says an Indian movie or TV show has been among its top 10 most popular titles in the world every week since 2024.
People all over the world watched Indian shows and movies on Netflix for 3.5 billion hours this year.
'Dhurandhar Part 1' came out in movie theatres in December 2025 and started streaming on Netflix before the second part came out in March 2026.
People in India can watch 'Dhurandhar Part 2' on Netflix or on JioHotstar.
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos said 'Dhurandhar' was the most-watched non-English movie in the world this year, bigger than every other English movie and second only to the US and UK in viewing terms.
Sarandos said India already has global breakout moments 'all the time,' responding to comparisons with South Korea's 'Squid Game' and Spain's 'La casa de papel' (Money Heist).
He believes Indian cinema is better positioned than television for global impact because of India's 'enormous, beautiful, rich, long history of movies,' citing 'Sacred Games' as a new kind of television.
An Indian movie or series has been in Netflix's global top 10 every week since 2024, with 3.5 billion hours of Indian content watched worldwide this year.
'Dhurandhar Part 1' released in theatres in December 2025 and streamed on Netflix before Part 2's March 2026 release; Part 2 is currently streaming in India on Netflix and JioHotstar.
- Who
- Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos, speaking about the film 'Dhurandhar' starring Ranveer Singh
- What
- Sarandos said 'Dhurandhar' was the most-watched non-English movie in the world this year and praised India's regular global breakout hits
- Where
- Globally on Netflix; Part 2 is streaming in India on Netflix and JioHotstar
- When
- This year; 'Dhurandhar Part 1' released in December 2025 and Part 2 in March 2026
- Why
- Because Indian content is achieving worldwide success on Netflix, driven by India's long filmmaking tradition
Key facts
- Film
- Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh
- Milestone
- Most-watched non-English movie in the world this year
- Claim made by
- Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos
- Part 1 release
- December 2025 (theatres)
- Part 2 release
- March 2026
- Part 2 streaming (India)
- Netflix and JioHotstar
- Indian content watch time
- 3.5 billion hours on Netflix this year
- Global top 10 run
- An Indian movie or series every week since 2024
Quotes
Ted Sarandos
Chief executive officer of Netflix
“"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."”
businesstoday.in
“"We have had an Indian movie or series in the global top 10 every week since 2024. And this is the result of an algorithm that helps you find things, and that is unintuitive, that I am going to love."”
businesstoday.in
Sources
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