Netflix Launches NextGen India Writers’ Program to Mentor Emerging Storytellers

Netflix India has announced the launch of the NextGen India Writers’ Program, a talent development initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing emerging screenwriters who could shape the future of Indian entertainment.

Introduced in India for the first time, the program is open to writers with up to three years of professional writing experience. India becomes only the third country, after France and the Netherlands, to host Netflix’s global writers’ initiative, underscoring the streaming platform’s continued investment in local storytelling and creative talent.

Selected participants will undergo a two-month hybrid program featuring mentorship, writing workshops, and guidance from industry experts. Throughout the program, participants will develop original story ideas into professionally structured series bibles while gaining practical insights into the process of creating long-form content for the screen. Applications are open from July 1 through September 1, 2026.

Speaking about the initiative, Monika Shergill, Vice President – Content, Netflix India, said that every great story begins with a writer and that the program aims to discover talented storytellers who may not yet have had the opportunity to showcase their work. She emphasized Netflix’s belief that the next chapter of Indian entertainment will be driven by bold, diverse voices with fresh perspectives.

The initiative builds on Netflix’s ongoing efforts to support emerging creators through projects such as The Railway Men, The Ba**ds of Bollywood, and the upcoming Operation Safed Sagar, all of which feature relatively new creative voices. By providing structured mentorship and industry exposure, Netflix aims to strengthen India’s storytelling ecosystem while creating a pipeline of original content for future productions.

With the launch of the NextGen India Writers’ Program, Netflix is reaffirming its commitment to investing not only in Indian stories but also in the writers behind them, helping cultivate the next generation of storytellers for audiences in India and around the world.