Hyderabad-based digital content powerhouse Chai Bisket has announced a game-changing $5 million seed funding round, led by Info Edge Ventures and General Catalyst, to roll out its ambitious mobile-only OTT platform, Chai Shots. This bold move signals a fresh chapter for Indian entertainment, promising to deliver snackable, high-quality microdramas tailor-made for the country’s rapidly growing Gen Z and Tier II–III audiences.
What Makes Chai Shots Stand Out?
Microdramas: The Next Big Thing
Chai Shots is not just another streaming app. It’s India’s first OTT platform focused entirely on fictional microdramas—two-minute, emotionally charged episodes designed for mobile viewing. The app debuts with original Telugu content and plans to quickly expand into Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada, catering to the linguistic diversity of India’s heartland.
Built for Bharat, Powered by Innovation
Mobile-Only Experience: Chai Shots is crafted for personal, on-the-go viewing, reflecting how young India consumes content today.
Regional Storytelling: With over 100 original shows promised in the first six months, the platform aims to deliver stories that resonate with local cultures and sensibilities.
Tech-Driven Vision: Krishna Mohan Varma joins as co-founder to lead the technology strategy, ensuring a seamless, user-friendly experience.
The Powerhouse Team and Stellar Backing
Chai Bisket’s founding trio—Sharath Chandra, Anurag Reddy, and Krishna Mohan Varma—bring deep expertise in content creation and digital strategy. The funding round also saw participation from an impressive lineup of angel investors, including:
Actor and entrepreneur Rana Daggubati
Swiggy co-founders Sri Harsha Majety and Nandan Reddy
RedBus founder Phanindra Sama
Darwinbox co-founder Rohit Chennamaneni
PhysicsWallah founders Alakh Pandey and Prateek Maheshwari
Rapido co-founders Aravind Sanka, Rishikesh SR, and Pavan Guntupalli, among others.
Why Microdramas Are the Future of Indian OTT
Changing Viewing Habits
With attention spans shrinking and smartphones becoming the primary screen, short-form fiction is emerging as the go-to format for daily entertainment. Microdramas—serialised, cliffhanger-driven stories—are already a massive hit in China and are now gaining serious traction in India. Platforms like Flick TV, Kuku TV, ShareChat’s QuickTV, and even legacy giants like Amazon and Zee Entertainment are experimenting with this format.
Market Momentum
India’s OTT market is projected to hit ₹5,000 crore in the next five years, with microdrama platforms clocking over 120 million daily episode views.
Chai Bisket’s content network already attracts over 50 million monthly video views and boasts more than 2 billion lifetime views across YouTube and other digital platforms.
What’s Next for Chai Shots?
Regional Expansion and Creator Empowerment
Chai Shots is set to launch with a bang, offering over 100 original shows within its first six months. The platform is also expected to empower local storytellers, providing a stage for fresh talent and culturally rooted narratives. As the microdrama wave sweeps across India, Chai Shots is positioning itself at the intersection of technology, storytelling, and regional pride.
Final Thoughts
Chai Bisket’s foray into the microdrama OTT space with Chai Shots marks a significant leap for regional entertainment in India. By blending tech innovation with authentic storytelling, the platform is poised to redefine how young Indians binge on fiction—one two-minute episode at a time.