WAVES 2025: Saif Ali Khan discusses content transformation with OTT emergence, calls it a 'gift for artists'

Saif Ali Khan

Has OTT become the boon every content creator ever wanted? Well, Saif Ali Khan believes so. As per the Jewel Thief star, streaming platforms have given actors the opportunity to explore content in a very different way, and for him, the coming of OTT is actually a "gift for an artist."

Today, at a session for the WAVES Global Summit 2025, Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos and celebrated actor Saif Ali Khan came together for a conversation on Streaming the New India: Culture, Connectivity & Creative Capital.

Saif Ali Khan on streaming platforms

The discussion explored how storytelling is fuelling India's rise as a global creative force. During the discussion, Saif Ali Khan expressed how streaming has transformed the creative landscape, saying, "Thanks to streaming, we can explore characters in a very different way. There is a kind of intimacy on the platform - because there is a detail you can get into when it is long-format storytelling. The kind of longevity that streaming offers is a gift for an artist - it is a creative playground with no school bell."

When asked what his message is for Indian creators who try to take their content to a global audience, Ted said, "If you try to engineer something to be global, you end up making it for no one. The stories that travel the farthest - the ones that truly resonate beyond borders - are always the most locally authentic. Nothing will work outside of India if it isn't loved within India first."

Saif Ali Khan's work front

Saif Ali Khan is currently seen in his recently released heist film Jewel Thief. During the film's promotions, the actor confirmed that he has signed a new project with acclaimed filmmaker Priyadarshan, where he will be portraying the role of a blind man. Known for remaking several Malayalam films in Hindi, Priyadarshan's next project is also speculated to be a remake of Oppam.

About WAVES Summit

WAVES will integrate films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting, and emerging tech, and seeks to present itself as a comprehensive showcase of India's media and entertainment prowess.

The summit, being held at the Jio World Convention Centre, aims to unlock a USD 50 billion market by 2029, expanding India's footprint in the global entertainment economy.