When deep pockets met shallow returns - India's streaming platforms learned that throwing crores at content doesn't always guarantee eyeballs.

Here's the thing about Baahubali: Before the Beginning - nobody's seen it. Not a single episode. Netflix pumped ₹300 crore into this prequel series, went through two lead actresses (first Mrunal Thakur, then Wamiqa Gabbi), cycled through three directors, and still nothing.

Production started in 2018 with a ₹100 crore budget, got scrapped during the pandemic, rebooted with an additional ₹200 crore, and eventually shelved completely by 2024. That's more expensive than Pathaan. More than Pushpa: The Rise. And we got zero episodes for it.

When Bhansali's Magic Fizzled

Sanjay Leela Bhansali doesn't do small things. Heeramandi cost Netflix over ₹200 crore - the platform's biggest Indian original at the time. Grand sets? Check. Lavish costumes? Absolutely. Bhansali himself pocketed ₹60-65 crore as creator.

The show debuted at number 2 worldwide in Netflix's non-English category, which sounds impressive until you see the numbers: just 4.5 million global views over the opening weekend. Industry watchers quickly labeled it a "big-budget disaster". The issue wasn't the production value - those were stunning, predictably. Critics and audiences found the storytelling overly theatrical, every scene dripping with heightened emotions but lacking substance. Sometimes spectacle isn't enough.

Rohit Shetty's Streaming Stumble

Indian Police Force seemed like a sure bet. Rohit Shetty directing, Sidharth Malhotra headlining, Amazon Prime backing it with ₹110 crore. The series trended globally upon release in January 2024, landing in top 10 lists across multiple countries.

But trending doesn't equal triumph. The viewership numbers paint a different picture - 15.2 million views in the first week isn't catastrophic, but it's hardly the blockbuster Amazon hoped for given the investment. Shetty's signature action-heavy style works brilliantly in theaters; perhaps it doesn't translate quite the same way to living room screens.

The Cancelled Spin-off

Amazon's Citadel franchise represents one of the most expensive bets in streaming history - the Priyanka Chopra-led American series cost over $300 million. The Indian spin-off, Citadel: Honey Bunny, starring Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, premiered in November 2024 but got cancelled by Amazon in 2025 despite being part of this mega-budget universe.

What Went Wrong?

Money can't buy cultural resonance, apparently. Netflix discovered that Indian audiences prefer local, relatable content - around 60% on platforms like Amazon Prime - while Netflix's Indian library features only 12% regional programming. You can spend ₹300 crore on a show, but if it doesn't connect with what viewers actually want to watch? That's a very expensive lesson.

The math is brutal. These platforms are realizing that budget size and viewership don't share a linear relationship - not in India's diverse, price-sensitive market where competition is fierce and piracy remains rampant.