Netflix inks exclusive deal with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan

Netflix inks exclusive deal with Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan


Netflix and Amazon’s battle for India’s streamers is heating up.

Netflix NFLX, -0.50%  said Thursday it has hitched up with one of India’s most popular film stars, Shah Rukh Khan, a day after Amazon AMZN, -0.68%  launched its video service globally and announced a robust slate of Indian original series.

As part of the deal, Netflix will exclusively stream all new films starring Khan worldwide, the beginning of a “long-term relationship” between the streaming juggernaut and Khan’s production company Red Chillies Entertainment, the companies said in a statement. The deal gives Netflix subscribers access to “dozens” of Khan’s library films as well as his new films coming to Indian theaters over the next three years. The first title coming to Netflix is “Dear Zindagi,” which will be released in theaters Nov. 25.

“Shah Rukh Khan is the most sought-after actor in the Indian film industry, and has played a huge role in bringing Indian cinema to the world stage,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos in the statement. Netflix also released a YouTube video teasing the deal with “King Khan.”