Mumbai: Kuku TV, India’s leading premium microdrama app, has launched Sabse Bada Dramebaaz, an acting reality microdrama co-presented with Meesho and powered by Tinder. The 50-episode series brings the reality competition format to vertical, mobile-first entertainment, with episodes running for approximately two minutes each.
The nationwide talent hunt received more than 2,000 audition entries, generating crores of views and lakhs of audience votes. The 100 most-voted entries progressed to the next stage, following which 11 finalists were selected by Kuku TV microdrama actors Eshaanya Maheshwari and Siddharth Sharma. A 12th finalist secured a wildcard entry through the Meesho Creator Club.
The competition subsequently moved to Mumbai, where the Top 12 contestants competed across four offline rounds before a live audience and a judging panel comprising veteran actor Rakesh Bedi and actors and digital personalities Jannat Zubair and Prince Narula.
The association marks the trio’s first involvement with a microdrama. Prince Narula and Jannat Zubair also feature as performers in the show.
Sabse Bada Dramebaaz combines romance, action, comedy, suspense and drama within a reality competition format, bringing together talent discovery, audience participation and Kuku TV’s short-form storytelling model.
The first three rounds, spanning nearly 30 episodes, are currently streaming on the Kuku TV app. The Grand Finale is scheduled to release on August 15, 2026.
At the end of the competition, two winners — one male and one female — will each receive a cash prize of ₹5 lakh and an opportunity to play lead roles in upcoming Kuku TV microdramas.
Commenting on the launch, Sachin Singh, Head of Kuku TV, said, “At Kuku TV, creator empowerment, content innovation, and audience entertainment are at the heart of what we do. We have built an ecosystem that empowers more than 50,000 creators, while continuing to take bold bets on new content experiences for microdrama, informed by our understanding of audiences and powered by our AI storytelling stack. Sabse Bada Dramebaaz brings these strengths together. We are also excited to bring Meesho and Tinder, two of India’s leading new-age brands, together for this first-of-its-kind format.”
Speaking about the partnership, Nikita Dawda, General Manager, Content Commerce, Meesho, said, “Creators today are shaping how millions of people discover products, ideas and culture, making the creator economy one of the most exciting shifts shaping India. At Meesho, we’ve seen this first-hand through our community of over 5 lakh creators across Bharat, where the Meesho Creator Club is helping creators access the right opportunities to grow and reach new audiences. We’re excited to partner with Kuku TV to nurture the next generation of creators and aspiring actors through this initiative, giving them a platform to showcase their talent and take the next step in their creative journey. As more creators embrace new formats, we believe this is just the beginning of what India’s creator ecosystem can achieve.”
Commenting on the collaboration, Daniel Kim, SVP, Tinder Asia, Match Group, said, “At Tinder, our mission is to create meaningful connections for every single person worldwide, and that begins with creating opportunities for people to express themselves and discover new possibilities. Sabse Bada Dramebaaz celebrates that spirit, with young people putting themselves out there and taking a chance on something they believe in. After partnering with Kuku TV on the microdrama Right Match, we are excited to continue our association through a fresh entertainment format that celebrates self-expression and new possibilities.”
Speaking about the show, Rakesh Bedi said: “I am not just a Super Judge on the show, but also a super fan of Kuku TV. Giving talented performers from across India a platform resonates deeply with me, and I am delighted to be part of this initiative.”
Jannat Zubair said, “From facing rejections at auditions as a six-year-old to becoming India’s youngest judge at 24 on my first acting reality show, this journey has been truly special. I am delighted to be part of a microdrama that is first of its kind.”
Prince Narula said, “What I really liked about the concept is that Kuku TV is giving common people a real chance to showcase their talent. Having faced the challenges of entering the industry as a newcomer myself, I know how much an opportunity like this can mean.”
