Amazon Prime Video has commenced 2025 on a positive note, with productions such as Paatal Lok and The Mehta Boys receiving favorable reviews from both critics and viewers. In an open discussion with HT, Nikhil Madhok, the Head of Original Content India at Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios, shares his feelings of apprehension regarding the second season of Paatal Lok.

On surprises, good and bad

When inquired about any shows or films that took him by surprise upon their release, Nikhil chuckles, stating, "We have indeed experienced both types of surprises." He continues, “We anticipated that our show Call Me Bae would perform well, but its significant impact on pop culture was an unexpected delight. It exceeded our expectations. We reintroduced Paatal Lok earlier this month after a considerable hiatus, and there was a sense of anxiety about whether audiences would still resonate with it as they did with the first season. The feedback has been remarkable.”

However, he acknowledges that there have also been disappointing surprises when certain titles did not meet expectations. "It would be inappropriate for me to specify the shows that caught us off guard, but such occurrences are part of the industry," Nikhil remarks. He emphasizes that these setbacks provide significant learning experiences. "The shows that do not succeed often offer more insights, prompting a thorough examination of where improvements could be made. In contrast, when a show is successful, the excitement can propel you forward, and the real lessons are often realized when preparing for a second season. Failure imparts far greater lessons," he elaborates.

On anxiety of new releases never leaving

While the majority of creators and directors typically manage only two or three projects annually, the programming executives at streaming platforms are responsible for overseeing the release of one or two new titles each week. Nikhil expresses that the anxiety associated with each release remains constant. "One might think that the frequency of our launches would alleviate the pressure, but it never truly does," he remarks, adding, "I found myself awake until 5 am on the day Paatal Lok premiered. That sense of anxiety persists. On one hand, it reflects the organization's investment in the title, but on the other hand, it becomes challenging to sustain this level of intensity every Friday throughout the year. Achieving a sense of balance is a skill that must be cultivated over time."

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