Netflix India Boss Monika Shergill Eyes Global Format Adaptations After “Captive Reality” Series ‘Lock Upp’ Hits 50 Million Hours
Netflix India's VP of Content, Monika Shergill, has revealed the streamer is developing local versions of unnamed "big global" Netflix-owned unscripted formats, fuelling speculation about Indian adaptations of shows such as Love Is Blind or Too Hot to Handle (though those particular titles remain under different production deals). The disclosure came as Netflix touted the runaway success of Lock Upp, a Balaji Telefilms "captive reality" show it already owns the rights to, underlining how Indian unscripted content is becoming a growing part of the platform's global strategy.
Lock Upp, which follows celebrity contestants living in a jail-themed set-up and facing eliminations, launched on 27 June 2026 and runs until 5 August. Shergill said it has racked up 50 million hours viewed (described as "the equivalent of 5,700 years") and 2.5 billion social media interactions within three weeks, spending two weeks in Netflix's Global Top (Non-English) Series list and ranking as the platform's second most-watched series by hours. Originally launched in 2022 on the now-defunct ALTBalaji and MX Player, the revived version is hosted by Farah Khan and Riteish Deshmukh and features contestants including Dheeraj Dhoopar, Shivangi Joshi, Harshad Chopda and Shilpa Shinde; creator Ekta Kapoor credited its popularity to celebrities openly discussing personal struggles and "traumas".
In short
- Netflix India plans local versions of undisclosed global unscripted formats.
- Reality show Lock Upp hit 50 million viewing hours in weeks.
- Show ranks second-most-watched on Netflix, reflecting rising Indian unscripted content demand.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Global streaming platforms localising content for Indian audiences represents valuable investment in the Indian entertainment industry. It creates employment opportunities for Indian talent, production companies, and creators whilst meeting demonstrated audience demand—Lock Upp's extraordinary performance shows Indian viewers enthusiastically engage with quality locally-produced content. These adaptations, executed by Indian teams and featuring Indian talent discussing authentic personal stories, strengthen the industry's technical capabilities and global visibility.
The case against
Whilst investment is appreciated, the strategic focus on adapting global formats risks subordinating genuinely original Indian storytelling to international commercial templates. Rather than develop new formats conceived from Indian creative traditions and cultural perspectives, this approach positions Indian production as implementation of foreign intellectual property. True industry development requires platforms funding formats born from Indian creativity, ensuring Indian entertainment maintains distinctive cultural voice rather than becoming localised versions of global properties.
Explained simply
Netflix India has become a significant content producer for the platform's global strategy, developing unscripted television shows that appeal to audiences worldwide. Indian reality television programmes in particular have proven successful with international viewers, making India an increasingly important market for content creation. This expansion shows how streaming platforms now develop entertainment tailored for specific regions whilst still targeting global audiences.
Lock Upp is a reality competition series in which Indian television celebrities live in a jail-themed house and face challenges, with viewers voting to eliminate participants. The show originally aired on other Indian streaming services in 2022 before being revived and launched on Netflix in June 2026. It rapidly became a major success, attracting 50 million hours of viewing within its first three weeks and generating billions of social media interactions, ranking amongst Netflix's most-watched non-English language series worldwide.
The programme features established Indian television actors and is hosted by television and film personality Farah Khan alongside actor Riteish Deshmukh. Created by media producer Ekta Kapoor, the show focuses on celebrities discussing their personal experiences and challenges in detail. The series' strong performance demonstrates substantial audience interest in unscripted Indian entertainment on the global platform.