TOI Correspondent from Washington: Bela Bajaria's rise from her family's car-wash business to the top of Netflix was a classic immigrant success story. As chief content officer at the streaming giant, she knew how to keep millions of viewers eating up hours binge-watching. Keeping her own job, it turns out, was a series she couldn't renew.

Word in the industry is that Netflix has shown the door to the desi content queen, who oversaw an annual budget of close to $ 20 billion and turned the streaming platform into a global television powerhouse. The exit comes as Netflix faces mounting pressure to deliver bigger hits and keep viewers hooked. She is being replaced by former Disney and Fox executive Peter Rice in a shake-up that comes amid layoffs affecting about 1,000 employees, or 6% of Netflix's workforce.

Netflix has officially described Bajaria's departure as a leadership change, rather than announcing a dismissal, but the timing suggests that its bosses want a reset. Audience engagement has slowed, the company has struggled to reproduce the cultural impact of some of its biggest hits, and investors are scrutinising how effectively its vast content spending translates into viewing.

Netflix boss Ted Sarandos, who once credited Bajaria with transforming its global content operation, has indicated that the company wants to take its programming slate to the next level, particularly in the US and Canada. According to a report in the WSJ, he has been complaining internally for months that Americans are spending less time watching Netflix and the service was short on new hit shows.

Bajaria's own journey has been remarkable and worthy of a show. Born in London in 1970 to Indian parents, she moved to the US as a child and worked in her family's car-wash business before entering television as an assistant at CBS in 1996. She rose through CBS and NBCUniversal, eventually becoming president of Universal Television -- the first Indian to head a major studio -- where she oversaw productions including Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Mindy Project and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

She joined Netflix in 2016, initially handling licensing, co-productions and unscripted programming, before becoming head of global television in 2020 and chief content officer in January 2023. Her tenure coincided with global hits including Squid Game, Bridgerton, Beef, Adolescence, Lupin, Cobra Kai, KPop Demon Hunters, and Frankenstein, alongside reality programming and Netflix's expansion into live events and sports.

For India, her contribution went beyond having a desi face in Hollywood's executive suite. She championed the idea that distinctly local stories could travel globally, helping expand Netflix's Indian-language ambitions. Indian Matchmaking generated worldwide discussion, while Delhi Crime, Mismatched and films such as Amar Singh Chamkila helped diversify the platform's Indian offering. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's lavish period drama, became a major international showcase, entering Netflix's non-English television top 10 in 43 countries during its first week.

Yet her record was not unquestioned, with some critics panning her for “vanity linked projects” involving British royalty, and MAGA types finding her too “woke.” Netflix’ 2026 Primetime Emmy haul also fell sharply from the previous year, adding to questions about its creative momentum.

Bajaria has not announced her future plans, but her legacy is likely to rest on whether the global content model she helped build can keep delivering distinctive local stories with worldwide appeal -- and whether Netflix can turn that reach into sustained engagement.

At 19, fresh from winning the Miss Asia Pacific International crown in 2000, Dia Mirza made her Bollywood debut opposite R Madhavan in Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001). As the film, which initially failed at the box office before gaining cult status, completes 25 years this month, the 44-year-old actor reflects on being sidelined after her early films failed and how the experience shaped her career.

“When my films didn’t work at the box office, I was honestly bunked from feature films. And that can be a huge emotional setback to a young and aspiring actor,” she says.

By 2004-05, Mirza had stopped chasing stardom, choosing instead to focus on stories she believed in and work with people who made her feel respected. “I’ve pursued meaning over material. For me, what really matters and has continued to matter even more progressively through the years is what is the substance that I’m getting behind? What is the reason for telling a story? The why really matters to me,” she says.

That conviction also led her to venture into film production early in her career. “I had the audacity to turn film producer at the age of 24. I released my first independent film at 26 as a producer,” she says. Through her production house, which backed Love Breakups Zindagi (2011) and the Vidya Balan-starrer Bobby Jasoos (2014), she created space for stories she believed in. “If I’m not going to get a seat at the table, I’m going to build my own table. I am going to create space for what I truly believe in and what I believe I can add value to.”

Over the years, Mirza says, the industry’s perception of her has evolved. She credits the web series Kaafir (2019), in which she played Kainaaz Akhtar, with marking a turning point. “Up until then, I would hear people say, ‘You’re so beautiful, underutilised, you should be doing more.’ But Kaafir, I’ve not heard it. I’ve not heard it even once,” she says.

Her performances in Sanju (2018), in which she played Manyata Dutt, and as Maneka also opened up new opportunities. “I feel like Sanju was a major turning point. And playing Manyatta, because I think finally it kind of really opened up opportunities that hadn't opened up for a very long time,” she explains.

Mirza says she has never measured a role by its length or whether she gets to play the central character. “I’ve never pursued length. I’ve always pursued depth.” She is drawn to layered, flawed and complicated women, looking beyond characters who merely serve a limited purpose in a story. “What matters most to me is why does this character exist? What is this character trying to help the story navigate? And where does this leave us as people when we’ve experienced this character?” she says.

Reflecting on the portrayal of women in cinema, Mirza believes the understanding of patriarchy and misogyny has evolved considerably over the past 10 to 15 years. “Women are better informed and we’re able to make better choices,” she says, pointing to filmmakers such as Anubhav Sinha, whose Thappad explored these issues with sensitivity.

Having navigated professional setbacks and changing opportunities, Mirza believes longevity depends on an actor’s willingness to keep learning rather than chase visibility or stardom. Her advice to young actors entering the industry is clear: “There is no shelf life. You decide how long you want to work for. As long as you are willing to grow and work and learn and bring your best effort and your integrity to a path, you will always work.”

The cat's out of the bag! Days after filmmaker Priyadarshan's reunion with actor Akshay Kumar for another film was announced, we have exclusively learnt that actor Bhumi Satish Pednekkar has been signed as its leading lady.

The film will mark Akshay and Bhumi's reunion four years after their 2022 film Raksha Bandhan. Priyadarshan confirmed the casting when contacted by HT City.

Bhumi, who earned praise for her performance in Daldal earlier this year, was recently on a spiritual tour. The actor began her teerth yatra a few days back with a visit to Shirdi in Maharashtra, Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh followed by Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. No stranger to celebrating special occasions with a temple visit, Bhumi had also sought blessings at her Kul Devi temple in Goa on her birthday in July this year.

Addressing the issue actor Dia Mirza told us, “I have never charged any money for any public service campaigns. No idea who has been paid hefty amounts. The point is, celebrities are willing to work with civil society and governments if there is a priority to solve the very solve-able issue of pollution. Every time we speak up against cracker use we get attacked. I have been focusing on drawing attention on air quality for over a decade. It is a sustained effort to draw attention to the pollution and solutions. If you check my Instagram status you will see a daily update on AQI. UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) has made strategic efforts to mobilize and support efforts to combat air pollution. Something I have been a part of. The problem is government agencies don’t coordinate and work together."

Elnaaz Norouzi recently made a stride in her Hollywood career as she starred alongside Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi in the actioner The Fix. While it was released in India the past week, its US release happened in November, and the actor is ecstatic with the response.

“It feels very special. It isn’t something I expected but it happened and there’s nothing better than recognition for your work,” she says.

Having gotten the opportunity to work with a Hollywood legend like Liam Neeson, Elnaaz Norouzi says she learnt from him “the ease with which he is present on set”. She says, “It reflects in the way he talks, speaks, performs and behaves.”

But how are superstars in the West different from the ones in India? As per Norouzi, not much. “They are all very down to earth. If you meet a Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan or Hrithik Roshan, they have the same humility as a Gerard Butler or a Liam Neeson or Zachary Levi. We feel that superstars are untouchable, but they are the most humble people,” she insists.

Norouzi made her Hollywood debut with the 2023 release Kandahar, alongside actor Gerard Butler. Ask her whether navigating Bollywood has been tougher or Hollywood, and she says, “Indian industry has been more challenging. The West is still closer to what I am used to when I grew up in Germany. India was much harder for me to navigate, and it took me a lot of time to understand it.”

The actor, who comes from an Iranian-German descent and has been part of Hindi films like Tehran and Mastii 4 (both 2025), adds that Indian cinema often stereotypes foreign-looking actors in their films and give them superficial characters to play.

“There is not that much diversity in Indian films or series. The stories here are mostly about India, and if they go international, it’s mostly about England or Pakistan. In the West, so many more countries come in to make a movie. So, naturally, there is more diversity in the West than Indian cinema,” she says.

Veteran television producer and director B P Singh, best known for creating popular shows CID and Aahat, passed away on October 27 at the age of 77 following a massive heart attack.

“He was an important person in our lives. He is the creator of CID. He always took the team along whenever he moved ahead. We are about team of 200 members who worked with him for over 21 years. He was like the big umbrella. He made actors feel safe. We only had to focus on acting because he was the director, writer, and cameraman. He always portrayed us in the [best of light]. He was family. We’ve spent our prime years with him, and we are known because of him and CID. We were lucky that B P Singh happened in our life,” shares Aditya Srivastava who played Abhijeet in CID.

1995: Aahat (Creator, director, producer and cinematographer)

1998: CID (actor, producer, director, cinematographer)

2012: Adaalat (actor)

2012: Agent Vinod (actor)

2019: Abhay (producer)

2019: Divya Drishti (producer)

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Brijendra Pal Singh, referred to as B P Singh by the television industry, has died at the age of 75. He was known best for creating and directing one of the longest running TV shows in Indian history, CID.

He breathed his last on Tuesday morning. Speaking to HT City, Dayanand Shetty, who played the popular character of Daya in the crime investigation show, says, “B P Singh ji had no other life, other than making content. He was dedicated to his work, was very passionate about it. He was also one of the best cameramen we had. He had not been well for quite some time, and today morning he just did not wake up. It was age-related, he was not well.”

A recent video had also sparked concern some days ago, in which Singh appeared fragile, surrounded by some people from the cast of CID.

A student of FTII, Singh was also the creator of one of the best known horror shows in India, Aahat. CID came into existence in 1998, and ran for 20 years.

A little over a week after Tiger Shroff’s October 18 attack, where two men fired reportedly five to seven bullets injuring his driver and a bystander, the actor is considering returning to work. Sources have told mid-day that Shroff will film a short schedule of director Raj Mehta’s ‘Lag Jaa Gale’, his upcoming action offering co-starring Lakshya and Janhvi Kapoor.

“Some patch work of the movie is left, for which Tiger is needed. Raj and his team have been prepping for the 10-day schedule that will take place sometime in early November,” said a source.

Naturally, Shroff’s safety is the makers’ top priority. So, the details of the schedule, including the location, are being kept under wraps.

Another insider shared, “The team is careful to not disclose the shoot location to anyone, barring the core members. Tiger’s safety is paramount for the makers. He wanted to return to work because he didn’t want the film to suffer in any way because of the incident.”

Backed by Dharma Productions, ‘Lag Jaa Gale’ went on floors last December in Mumbai.

November rolling in means one thing for Shah Rukh Khan’s fans — getting the chance to meet the superstar on his birthday on November 2. But things will be different this year.

mid-day has learnt that the actor has cancelled his annual birthday meet-up as he shoots back-to-back songs for Siddharth Anand’s King. The action thriller, also starring Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, and Suhana Khan, is currently in its final stages of production ahead of its December 24 release.

Earlier this week, we reported that Khan and Padukone began filming a number in Vile Parle (A king-sized reunion, Oct 26). The track, choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant, will be followed by a short international leg, during which another song and the last few portions will be shot.

A source from the production revealed, “The team has planned two consecutive song shoots. One of them will feature Suhana, its prep is underway. With the release less than two months away, the priority is to complete the remaining portions on time.”

Naturally, the packed shooting calendar means the actor, who will turn 61 this year, will have to skip his annual interaction.

A source from one of the fan clubs told mid-day, “We have been informed that the birthday meet-up won’t happen because Shah Rukh sir is busy shooting for King. The plan is to hold the gathering mid-December, about a week before the film’s release.”

Meanwhile, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared two short video assets of the movie. The second promo, certified on October 26, runs 18 seconds and is expected to drop on the superstar’s birthday.

Two days ago, the makers of Om Chapter 1: The Blood Wood dropped the first look of Sai Pallavi as a cop from the Mammootty and Dhanush-starrer, promising another honest performance from the leading lady. Considering Pallavi has built a career on powerful performances, it’s strange to believe that she had almost turned down the chance to become an actor in favour of another profession.

Appearing on the upcoming episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 18, Pallavi reflected on her unusual path when host Amitabh Bachchan asked how she went from being a qualified medical graduate to an actor.

“I participated in a dance show when I was in the 12th standard. After that, I received calls [from producers] asking me if I wanted to act. But my parents wanted to send me [to Georgia] for my studies, where I pursued [medicine] for five years. In my fifth year, I received a call from a director who had seen me on that dance show. He asked me if I wanted to act, and I said yes. His name was director Alphonse Puthren, and the film was Premam [2015],” she smiled.

With that began Pallavi’s career as the leading lady, as she went on to give us movies like Gargi (2022) and Amaran (2024). Praising her work, Bachchan remarked, “Congratulations for leaving the medical profession and coming here. It’s our good fortune to see you in films.”

Sourav Ganguly and Rajkummar Rao, who will portray the former India cricket captain in the upcoming biopic Dada: The Sourav Ganguly Story, made their first joint appearance in Ganguly’s hometown of Kolkata. The festivities began at the cricketer’s residence before he took the actor pandal hopping during the Durga Puja celebrations on Maha Ashtami on Monday.

Reminiscing about his childhood, Sourav told BT in an exclusive conversation, “Whenever I think of Durga Puja, I’m transported back to my childhood, when the festival meant pure joy, family and unforgettable memories. The excitement would begin days in advance, with my father or grandfather taking all of us cousins shopping for pujo clothes. We would get matching outfits in the same colours and patterns, and wearing them together was always a special feeling.”

He added, “Some of my fondest memories are of spending nights at our pujo pandals with my cousins, staying up late, laughing and chatting before waking up early to offer prayers at the thakur ghor. I still remember my grandfather giving each of us Rs. 10 for pandal hopping. Back then, it felt like a fortune!

Recalling his association with the festival, Rajkummar said, “Since I was a kid, I used to fast for all nine days during Navratri in Gurgaon. When I came to Mumbai, I was introduced to Durga Puja and garba nights. Then, a few years ago, Patralekhaa took me to Kolkata during Durga Puja. Since then, I’ve been coming to Kolkata, and it’s always fascinating to be here, especially during the festival. The whole city lights up, and the colours and food are all so good.”

Rajkummar spoke about his special bond with Kolkata and its people. “My relationship with Kolkata and Bengalis is very special. I’ve always had friends from Bengal since my school days. My class teacher, who also paid my school fees at one point, was a Bengali and one of my favourite teachers. Then I met Patralekhaa, a true Bengali girl, and the rest is history,” he smiled.

The duo visited some of Kolkata’s prominent pujo pandals, including Maddox Square and Allen Park, soaking in the city’s festive spirit. Ganguly ensured that his guest got a taste of the city’s culinary delights, insisting that Rajkummar try the signature puchka and biryani. “I also made Rajkummar have the traditional Bengali sweets,” he said.

Having portrayed two legendary figures associated with Bengal in biopics – Subhash Chandra Bose and now Sourav Ganguly – Rajkummar feels a strong connection with the state. “I truly feel at home in Kolkata. And, as they say here, I am Kolkata’s jamai!” he shared.