Amazon's Head of India Originals, Aparna Purohit, resigns
Aparna Purohit, the key figure behind Amazon Prime Video's Originals division in India and Southeast Asia, has resigned from her position. Having joined Amazon in January 2016, Purohit has been instrumental in shaping the company's popular original content in India. Rumors are circulating that she might be appointed as a high-ranking executive at Aamir Khan Productions, but no official confirmation has been made by either party. Nikhil Madhok, Head of Original Hindi Content, might be her successor.
Purohit was 'driving force behind diversity initiatives at Prime Video'
A Prime Video spokesperson lauded Purohit's efforts in a statement, "Over the past eight years, Aparna has played a key role in developing some of the most-loved and popular Amazon Originals for India. She's championed authentic, rooted, and diverse narratives that made Prime Video's local Original content resonate with audiences." "She was also the driving force behind the diversity initiatives at Prime Video, significantly increasing female participation in storytelling in front of and behind the camera."
Purohit's previous roles in the film industry
"Aparna will now be returning to her entrepreneurial roots and continue to work on bar-raising stories," the statement added. Before joining Prime Video, Purohit held several significant roles in the industry. She served as the creative head of production at Cinestaan Film Company and worked at Mumbai Mantra Media Ltd, a subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra. Purohit managed projects for the National Film Development Corporation's Film Bazaar, and was employed at BIG Pictures, Reliance Big Entertainment, and UTV Motion Pictures.
Amazon Prime Video's growth in India will go unabated
One can hope Purohit's exit will not leave any dents in Amazon Prime Video's growth in India, which has seen a steady graph over the past few years. Mike Hopkins, who leads Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, stated during his visit to India that the nation was among the fastest-growing and largest markets for the streamer. He also revealed that the subscription base in India has grown more than any other region outside the US in recent years.
'The Family Man,' 'Mirzapur': Indian titles have been globally popular
In 2023, Indian content on Prime Video was viewed in over 210 countries and territories worldwide. Indian shows consistently ranked in the top 10 on Prime Video globally for 43 out of the 52 weeks of the year, per Hopkins. With an estimated user base of over 30M paid subscribers in India, original series like The Family Man, Mirzapur, Panchayat, Paatal Lok, and Made In Heaven have been successful.
