India’s inaugural vertical‑only streaming service, Rocket Reels, has moved from soft‑launch to full‑scale debut, opening a fresh chapter in digital entertainment. After a quiet rollout on 1 August featuring 15 original series, the app amassed more than 350 000 downloads on Android and iOS within a few weeks. The formal launch took place on 21 August, and it was celebrated with a gala that also marked the birthday of the company’s visionary founder, Kranti Shanbhag, adding extra sparkle to the occasion.
Launch Line‑up: New Vertical Originals
The ceremony also introduced Rocket Reels’ eagerly awaited slate of vertical‑format originals, spanning a wide array of genres and showcasing standout talent:
Zamanat – starring Khesari Lal Yadav, directed by Vikram Bhatt
Betrayal – featuring Sunny Leone, directed by Vikram Bhatt
Blackmail – headlined by Mugdha Godse, directed by Shadab Khan
Instant Insaaf – starring Rahul Dev, directed by Rayan Rajdhan
Jhukega Nahi Saala – a reality series hosted by Suresh Menon, directed by Gyani Lall Sharma
Bawal Unlimited – with Rahul Bagga, Vivek Shukla and Anhaita Dhondy, directed by Vishal Verma
Web Crime – starring Rishabh Chaddha, directed by Ankush Bhatt
Scam Alert – directed by Ankush Bhatt
These projects signal Rocket Reels’ confident leap into premium, vertical‑first storytelling designed for today’s on‑the‑move audience.
Why Rocket Reels Is Different
Built from the ground up for a mobile‑centric generation, Rocket Reels delivers bite‑sized, vertically oriented episodes that are quick to consume yet emotionally rich. The catalog covers thrillers, romance, crime, mystery, sci‑fi, horror, comedy and more—each series crafted to be “snackable” while retaining the depth of traditional narratives. The platform’s mission goes beyond mere entertainment; it aims to reshape how stories are told for a fast‑paced digital lifestyle.
Multilingual, Multinational Reach
Content is offered in six Indian languages—Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali and Gujarati—ensuring accessibility for a broad domestic audience. Rocket Reels is also available internationally, streaming in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, the UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Nepal and South Africa, thereby catering to both Indian expatriates and global viewers.
Star‑Studded Celebration
The launch night featured a constellation of Indian entertainment personalities, including Divya Agarwal, Arti Singh, Kriti Chaudhary, Kapil Jhaveri, Nikii Daas, Sharad Malhotra, Nidhi Shah, Yogesh Lakhani, Rajiv Roda, Kishori Shahane, Navpreet Kaur, Kangana Sharma, Priyanka Sibal, Siddharth Sibal, Vikas Verma, Riva Arora, Dipak Chauhan, Prashant Virendra Sharma, Sachin Shroff, Karishma Shetty and many others.
Founder’s Vision
“Rocket Reels was conceived to match the speed, mobility and global reach of today’s lifestyle,” said Kranti Shanbhag, Founder of Rocket Reels. “We wanted stories that fit into a pocket—whether it’s a pulse‑pounding thriller, a heart‑warming romance, or a high‑energy reality show. Rocket Reels isn’t just another OTT service; it’s the next evolution in how we consume narratives.”
Creative Perspective
Director and creative lead Vikram Bhatt added, “The shift to vertical isn’t merely a change in screen orientation; it’s a fundamental rethinking of narrative structure. With Rocket Reels we’re experimenting with immersive, fast‑moving storytelling that grabs viewers from the first frame. Upcoming titles like Betrayal and Zamanat are designed to push the limits of short‑form content.”
Rocket Reels is now live, inviting audiences worldwide to experience stories crafted for the thumb‑scroll generation.
