New Delhi [India], July 31 (ANI): Maharashtra’s State Cultural Affairs and Information Technology Minister Ashish Shelar has called on Netflix, one of the world’s leading OTT platforms, to collaborate with Marathi content creators and the entertainment sector in Maharashtra. The appeal was made during his ongoing visit to the United States, reflecting the state government’s proactive push to globalize regional storytelling.
Since assuming office as Cultural Affairs Minister, Shelar has engaged in consultations with key stakeholders in the entertainment industry to better understand their challenges and aspirations. In his meetings with professionals from Marathi cinema, television, theatre, and web series, concerns were repeatedly raised over the lack of adequate representation of Marathi content on major streaming platforms.
In an effort to address this gap, Minister Shelar visited Netflix Corporation’s global headquarters in Los Angeles. While there, he reviewed Netflix’s ‘Motion Picture Creative Work Portfolio’, which includes the production frameworks for international hits such as Squid Game. He also discussed opportunities for content collaboration and explored the streaming giant’s broader role in shaping global entertainment.
During his interaction with Netflix officials and other industry leaders, Shelar urged the company to partner with Marathi creators to produce high-quality regional content. He assured them of the Maharashtra government’s full support in facilitating such collaborations.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Shelar shared, “Visited the Netflix Corporation headquarters in Los Angeles and reviewed their global motion picture creative work portfolio, including blockbusters like Squid Game. I appealed to Netflix to engage with our Marathi content creators and the entertainment industry to co-create Marathi content for global Netflix audiences.”
In addition to his meeting at Netflix, Shelar delivered the keynote address at the US-India Business Council’s (USIBC) LA Waves Summit, where he congratulated the organization on completing 50 years of fostering bilateral ties between India and the United States. He used the platform to promote Maharashtra as a hub for creative talent and to invite U.S. entertainment giants to invest in the state.
“Delivered the keynote address at USIBC LA Waves Summit to top industry leaders and government officials from the media and entertainment world at Netflix HQ. Highlighted top-quality Marathi entertainment industry talent and the partnership opportunity to take our content and stories to global audiences,” Shelar posted on X.
Meanwhile, actress Shriya Pilgaonkar, who began her career in Marathi cinema and has recently starred in the Hindi-language Netflix series Mandala Murders, expressed her gratitude for the positive response to her role as ‘Rukmani’. Speaking at Indian Couture Week, where she supported designers Shantanu & Nikhil, Shriya said she was “grateful” for the love her performance has received.
Shelar’s initiative is part of a broader cultural diplomacy effort to elevate regional Indian content to the global stage and position Maharashtra as a leading center for creative innovation.
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