Sameer Nair’s career trajectory is co-terminus with the average millenial’s consumption of Indian television and media.

From bringing international shows like Street Hawk and Knight Rider to national television in the late 80s to making us come of age with American soap operas The Bold and The Beautiful and Santa Barbara as programming head of Star TV in the late 90s; from reinventing prime time entertainment with Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, and Kaun Banega Crorepati as Star India chief to bringing Balaji Telefilms to the OTT space as its Group CEO…and finally telling stories he wants as managing director of Aditya Birla Group’s Applause Entertainment which gave us Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story, it’s been quite the journey for Nair.

Joining him in today’s conversation is Vikramaditya Motwane, one of Bollywood’s rare auteurs with a remarkable body of work: from Udaan and Lootera to Sacred Games and the most recent Netflix show Black Warrant, produced by Nair’s Applause.

Motwane and Nair talk about their latest show and upcoming projects; contemporary history and book adaptations; why the experience of cinema needs to change and why the entertainment industry needs disciplined fund raising; on Amar Chitra Katha and mafia; and why the Indian entertainment industry is looking at a positive 2025 after two difficult years.

Tune in. 

Credits: MacPhoenix82, NBC Classics, Star Middle East and Africa, rt, Rj Motivation, Harshil Agarwal, Sony LIV, Manmarziyaan, Plexus Motion Pictures, Netflix India (1), Netflix India (2), Motwayne