Blue Ant’s Beach House expands in India with ex-Netflix docs chief

Raghav Khanna

Blue Ant Media’s Singapore-based Beach House Pictures has launched a new prodco with the former chief of Netflix’s documentary productions in Asia-Pacific, Raghav Khanna.

Riverland Entertainment is based out of Mumbai and will partner with local Indian talent to create shows for global and Indian audiences, using Beach House’s network and its post-production facility, Space Lion Studios.

Khanna will serve as MD at Riverland, working with Beach House founders Donovan Chan and Jocelyn Little.

The nascent firm will also provide line-production services to incoming international productions and assist with local talent, crews, permits and tax incentives.

Prior to Netflix, Khanna was writer and creative director of food series Raja Rasoi Aur Anya Kahaniyaan and was executive producer with Fox and National Geographic for series such as Masters Of Taste.

Little said: “Partnering with Raghav and entering India is critical to Beach House Pictures as we expand across Asia, but it’s also crucial that we work with the country’s most exciting storytellers to ensure our projects are truly authentic to the region and its communities.

“We have worked with Raghav for many years and have grown to admire his excellent leadership, experience and expertise. By joining forces with him, together with Blue Ant Media’s distribution network, we have an incredible opportunity to find a wider audience for our projects.”

Chan said: “Indian storytellers have been important players in the global film industry for decades and we believe India will continue to grow more prominent as it becomes a vital market for international and regional streamers.”

Khanna added: “India’s geographical diversity, robust entertainment industry and recently announced filming tax incentives make for an attractive destination for incoming international productions.”