Indian Reality TV Gets Korean Makeover as Kross Pictures Unveils Four-Format Slate at Busan Market (EXCLUSIVE)

Kross Pictures is making a strategic leap into India’s reality television space, unveiling a slate of four unscripted formats adapted from successful Korean originals, it was revealed at Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market.

The Seoul-Los Angeles-Mumbai production house, which has operated in India since 2015, is pivoting from its established track record in scripted content to tap what executives see as surging 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 a decade of collaborating with Indian storytellers, I truly believe these globally successful unscripted formats can find their most meaningful expression here.”

The company’s reality slate comprises two dating shows, a cricket-based competition and a survival reality series. Leading the dating formats is “Love After Divorce,” a seven-season Korean hit that follows 10 Indian divorcees seeking second chances at love and marriage. The format aims to destigmatize divorce while providing entertainment, addressing what producers see as evolving social attitudes in India.

The second dating entry, “Heart Signal,” adapts one of Korea’s most popular reality formats across its four-season run, with additional versions produced in China and Japan. The show places 10 young adults in a shared house for 30 days, with participants communicating romantic interest through subtle cues rather than direct expression, while a celebrity panel provides commentary.

Rounding out the slate is a cricket reality show based on a Korean baseball format and a survival competition that blends co-living dynamics with physical and mental challenges.

“Reality TV in India, an underserved sector, is at an inflection point,” said Sana Siddiqui, content head at Kross Pictures India. “The audience is no longer satisfied with formula-based drama or manufactured conflicts. They want shows that are authentic, sharp, and culturally rooted.”

Founded in 2004 and formerly a Kakao subsidiary, Kross Pictures has built its Indian presence through feature adaptations including “Te3n” with Amitabh Bachchan and Netflix’s “Jaane Jaan” starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, which became one of the platform’s most-watched Indian films in 2023.

The move into unscripted reflects broader audience trends, particularly among Gen Z and millennial viewers driving consumption of Korean content across India. The company is simultaneously maintaining its scripted development, with a Tamil-language web series based on a Korean webtoon set to begin filming in December for a major Indian streaming platform.

“At Kross Pictures, our vision is to create unforgettable stories that resonate and connect with audiences globally,” Kim said. “As we expand into the unscripted market, we remain committed to our mission of being a trusted production house that unites cultures and fosters meaningful East-West exchange through film, television, and digital media.”