Feb 19, 2026 9:00am IST
Microdramas: Sharad Malhotra, Karam Rajpal, Chetan Hansraj Shed Light On Vertical Dramas That Offer Lucrative Opportunities (EXCLUSIVE)
“Tandoori Ishq,” “Genie Ka Contract,” “The Blind Billionaire,” and millions of such catchy titles have millions of Indians glued onto their mobiles. In the past two years, there has been an exponential rise in the number of people who consume entertainment through their phones or laptops. Production houses are focusing on the new genre of vertical dramas, which we know as ‘microdramas’. Indian vertical dramas have around 60 to 100 episodes with each one having a run-time of a minute. The format has gained immense traction in the lower-income groups in China and India. We have various platforms like KukuTV, StoryTV, Rocket Reels, Chai Shots and so on.
Rich in entertainment
TV actor Sharad Malhotra who has been a part of a few microdramas says he does not agree with this classist notion. He says, “I beg to differ that only those belonging to the lower-income class watch microdramas. This is an elitist thought. After all, art is art and creativity is creativity,” he opines. Sharad says that he has done a few so far, and took up “Galat” because it was made by Vikram Bhatt. As an actor, I wanted to work with him.”
He reveals that the fee he commands for a microdrama is similar to what he gets for a TV show (on a per day basis). “I have been very clear about this. To some extent, I am also fortunate to get what I ask for,” he adds.
In China, the average earning of an actor for a microdrama is around USD 300 a day. Indian actors too are getting a similar amount. Actor Karam Rajpal who has been on shows like “Mere Angne Mein,” “Ishani,” “Manmohini” and others tells us that microdramas fetch similar fees even in India. “We have a huge population, and microdramas are being produced in every part of the country. Yes, it is more popular in North India than in the South. A lot of daily wage workers do watch such shows during their lunch or tea breaks. But it appeals even to those in Tier 1 cities and semi-urban towns. We have very catchy titles as you need to hold viewers’ attention in seconds. But budgets allotted to microdramas have grown in the past one year. We have teams flying down to places like Dubai to shoot a microdrama,” he states.
Actress Shivangi Verma who has done six to seven daily serials says working in vertical dramas is a lot more fun. "It is quick content to binge on mobile and every episode ends on a cliffhanger. Job opportunities have opened up due to such dramas. Also, TV producers tend to repeat faces one an actor gets a hit show. Microdramas are a good option for young people/freshers who want to enter the industry. The welcome young talent with open arms. An established TV actor can earn upto ₹ 1.5 to 2 lakh a day. The payment starts from ₹ 10,000 a day for a younger star," she explains.
Related Stories
Exciting medium for creators
In a market, where TV producers think a million times before producing a serial for a GEC, microdramas are a much better option. “You do not need a huge budget for a microdrama. Many of my friends who have started out as producers prefer to invest in this category. With non-performing serials being taken off channels within months of release, this genre is much safer,” he says. While Rajpal refused to talk about the budgets of microdramas he worked on, he admits that producers are willing to spend on such projects,” says Karam. And unlike Indian TV shows, male actors have interesting characters in such microdramas.
Actor Abhishek Kapoor who was a part of “Kundali Bhagya” for seven long years believes that microdramas have opened up more opportunities for actors. “There is no denying that there is a lull in the market when it comes to daily soaps on TV. I have been doing successive microdramas for a few months. They do not take much time and pay well. Initially, when I did a microdrama my friends asked me what are you doing? Today, all of them are doing such shows for various reasons. Moreover, I got a variety of characters to play in microdramas. It helped me build a good portfolio to show casting directors,” he says.
The turnaround time of such shows is also a huge factor. An actor does not need to devote more than two to three days at a time. Abhishek states, “Yes, there is no breathing space when you shoot for a microdrama. You end up filming 10 pages of dialogues in a day. It is not difficult for us given our background on Indian TV. But it is not as disorganized as it is made out to be.”
At a brisk pace
Chetan Hansraj who has done many top shows for Indian TV and manages the AI department of Balaji Telefilms is also doing vertical dramas. “Honestly, they pay well and you do not need to take out more than three to four days for a shoot. If you have a few days in between to spare, a microdrama seems like a perfect option,” he says.
Sharad Malhotra reaffirms that he has been trying to do his best to choose between horizontal and vertical format dramas. “All of them need creativity and talent. I have seen people watching microdramas at airports. A good story engages irrespective of the medium.”
Karam says everyone is keen to dive into the world of vertical dramas. “It has given jobs to so many talented actors, directors and writers. I feel for producers in the current market. Not everyone has the resources to mount big shows or wait for months for a big show. I too would like to invest in this format,” he signs off.
Comments are moderated. They may be edited for clarity and reprinting in whole or in part in Variety publications.