Netflix teams up with Shah Rukh Khan for a new multilingual original series

Video streaming service Netflix has announced a partnership with Shah Rukh Khan's banner Red Chillies Entertainment to bring a multilingual series based on the book Bard of Blood penned by Indian author Bilal Siddiqi.

"We have always tried to create world class content and entertainment from India. Netflix has shown that Indian stories have a global audience and we would love to use this platform and its reach to tell more stories," Shah Rukh said in a statement.

To drum up more business in the India's growing online streaming market, both Amazon and Netflix are focusing on original regional content. Though the Seattle-based e-commerce giant went local immediately following the introduction of Amazon Prime Video in India, announcing plans last December to produce over a dozen Indian original shows, Netflix is adopting a more gradual approach.

Reed Hastings, Netflix Founder and CEO, said he was excited about expanding its slate of originals in India. "We are thrilled to work with a brilliant, young writer like Bilal Siddiqi and take his gripping, inventive storytelling to Netflix members worldwide," said Hastings.

Last month, Netflix said it will significantly increase investments in development and production of local original content in India in the coming months. Including the latest Red Chillies' deal, the company has announced five original series so far, including Sacred Games, Selection Day, Again and an animated series based on Chhota Bheem.