Netflix’s Second Act in India
Why Hyderabad Is Now the New Creative Capital
When Netflix first set foot in India, Mumbai was the natural starting point, the beating heart of Bollywood, packed with studios, storytellers, and streaming dreams. But in 2025, the streaming giant has chosen Hyderabad for its second Indian office, a 40,000 sq. ft. global capability centre (GCC) in HITEC City. And that one decision says a lot about how India’s entertainment and technology map is evolving.
This isn’t just another corporate expansion. It’s a signal that India’s creative future is no longer centered around one city.
From Tech Hub to Creative Powerhouse
For the longest time, Hyderabad was the IT capital of South India. Google, Amazon, Microsoft all set up massive campuses here. But in the past decade, the city quietly built another identity — as a hub for animation, post-production, and VFX. Studios like DNEG, Makuta, and Firefly have already put the city on the global map for world-class visual effects.
So, Netflix choosing HITEC City isn’t about cost-cutting. It’s about proximity to skill. Hyderabad offers a rare blend of technical infrastructure and creative talent — engineers who understand rendering pipelines and artists who know cinematic storytelling. That’s exactly what Netflix’s new centre will focus on: post-production, VFX, and global content workflows.
Why Hyderabad & Why Now
According to reports by The Times of India and Realty Plus, Netflix’s Hyderabad GCC will strengthen its backend operations and support projects across languages and regions. Officials close to the development note that Hyderabad’s ecosystem — fast internet infrastructure, lower operational costs, and supportive government policies — tipped the scales.
The Telangana government’s push to attract global tech-entertainment firms also played a major role. With incentives for animation and gaming studios, Hyderabad now competes not just with Bengaluru for tech talent, but with Mumbai and Chennai for creative dominance.
Mumbai Still Leads, Hyderabad Expands the Story
Let’s be clear — Netflix isn’t leaving Mumbai behind. Its Mumbai office remains the Indian headquarters, focused on content acquisition, marketing, and partnerships.
The Hyderabad base complements that setup — it’s the production brain to Mumbai’s business heart.
This dual-city approach lets Netflix scale faster. Mumbai keeps the storytelling pulse alive; Hyderabad powers the innovation and post-production that make those stories global-ready.
The South’s Storytelling Surge
India’s regional entertainment wave has become impossible to ignore. Telugu cinema’s RRR winning an Oscar wasn’t a one-off — it was proof that regional stories have international pull. From Malayalam thrillers to Tamil sci-fi dramas, South Indian industries are now global exporters of creativity.
By planting roots in Hyderabad, Netflix is positioning itself closer to that source. It’s a strategic bet — one that connects the world’s largest streaming platform with one of the world’s most dynamic regional storytelling zones.
What This Means for Hyderabad
Beyond the headlines, this move is a major boost for Hyderabad’s job and education landscape. The new centre is expected to create opportunities in VFX, animation, data analytics, and IT operations, giving local talent a global platform. Institutions across Telangana are also likely to introduce courses in post-production and creative tech — feeding directly into the growing entertainment ecosystem.
And it doesn’t stop with Netflix. As Warner Bros., Discovery, Amazon, and Disney+ Hotstar continue expanding in South India, Hyderabad could soon rival Mumbai as the go-to city for digital content creation and backend operations.
The Bigger Picture
On paper, it’s just a 40,000 sq. ft. office lease in HITEC City. But symbolically, it’s a turning point. It shows that India’s entertainment landscape is decentralizing — powered by a mix of talent, technology, and ambition spread beyond traditional borders.
Netflix’s first Indian home was Mumbai. Its second, now, is Hyderabad.
Between those two cities lies the story of a country rewriting how the world sees its content — diverse, rooted, and globally competitive.
Hyderabad isn’t just hosting Netflix’s next office; it’s hosting the next era of Indian entertainment.