Kross Pictures has made a strategic leap into the Indian reality television space, unveiling four non-scripted slates adapted from the successful Korean original, revealed in Busan’s Asian content and film market.
Operating in India since 2015, Seoul, Los Angeles and Mumbai producers are pivoting from their established track record of scripted content, tapping what they believe is surged in demand for innovative reality programming across Indian streaming platforms.
“India is one of the most exciting and dynamic content markets in the world,” said Hyunwoo Thomas Kim, founder and CEO of Kross Pictures. “After working with Indian storytellers for 10 years, I really believe that these globally successful script formats can find the most meaningful representation here.”
The company’s reality slate consists of two dating shows: cricket-based competition and survival reality series. Leading the dating format is “post-divorce love.” This is a Korean hit of seven seasons following 10 Indian divorcees in search of a second chance of love and marriage. The format aims to stop divorce while providing entertainment, addressing what producers consider to be an evolving social attitude in India.
The second dating entry, “Heart Signal,” fits one of Korea’s most popular real-life forms over the four seasons of running, featuring additional versions created in China and Japan. The show places ten young adults in shared homes for 30 days, with participants conveying romantic interests through subtle clues rather than direct expression, while a panel of celebrities provides commentary.
Finishing the Slate is a cricket reality show based on a Korean baseball format and a survival competition that combines the dynamics of communal living with physical and mental challenges.
“A lackluster sector, India’s reality TV is at the inflection point,” said Sana Siddiqui, content head at Kross Pictures India. “The audience is no longer satisfied with formula-based dramas or manufactured conflicts. They want a show that is authentic, keen, and culturally rooted.”
Founded in 2004 and previously a subsidiary of Cacao, Kross Pictures became one of the most viewed Indian films on the platform in 2023, including “Te3n” with Amitabh Bachchan and “Te3n”, which includes Netflix’s “Jaane Jaan”.
The move to unscripted reflects a broader audience trend, especially among Gen Z Z and millennial audiences that drive the consumption of Korean content across India. The company is a Tamil web series based on the Korean webtoon set, and is simultaneously maintaining script development to begin filming on India’s leading streaming platforms in December.
“At Kross Pictures, our vision is to create unforgettable stories that resonate and connect with our audiences around the world,” Kim said. “As we expand into unscripted markets, we continue to be committed to our mission to be a reliable producer who integrates culture and encourages meaningful East-West exchanges through film, television and digital media.”
