Bollywood Star Pooja Bhatt Headlines iHeart’s New Asia-Pacific Podcast Push.

The first show generated from iHeartMedia’s push into the Asia-Pacific region is taking shape, as the company has partnered with Mammoth Media Asia to co-develop a new series hosted by iconic Bollywood personality Pooja Bhatt. Set to debut in late-September, The Pooja Bhatt Show will offer the world a window into and Indian music, fashion and culture as interest in Bollywood sweeps the world, as Bollywood finds itself moving into the mainstream around the globe. Bhatt’s show will showcase all aspects of the Indian film industry and its players. From director to superstar to spot boy to background dancer, The Pooja Bhatt Show will be a first of its kind, giving the world a front-row seat to the shifting entertainment landscape in the world’s most populous country.

“There are so many inspirational stories in the Indian film industry,” Bhatt says in a statement. “I want to shine a spotlight on the amazing people helping push our culture forward. From actors to directors to musicians to producers to stylists — I can’t wait to share the highs and lows of my journey and share the riveting stories of the people who have inspired and shaped me.”

Bhatt has been at the forefront of Indian creative culture for over three decades. She burst into the scene at the age of 17 in 1989, appearing in the TV film Daddy, directed by her father, Mahesh Bhatt. She has moved behind the camera as her career has grown, becoming a director and producer.

“Pooja’s unique experience at the pinnacle of the industry for decades will be a treat to both Bollywood fans and those that wish to learn more about Indian cinema and creative culture, across the board,” Mammoth Media Asia co-founders Jonathan Serbin and Jay Faires say in a joint statement. “The influence of Indian movies, music and culture has been growing rapidly around the world.”

The Pooja Bhatt Show will be produced by Epilogue and distributed globally by iHeartPodcasts.

In April, iHeart announced it was partnering with Mammoth Media Asia to launch a slate of multi-language podcasts from high-profile hosts across the Asia-Pacific region. Beyond Bollywood, the podcasts will look to tap into Asian entertainment industries ranging from K-Pop to China’s hip-hop scene and beyond.

“We are so excited to launch our first podcast in this new Asian slate with Pooja. A true legend in the Indian creative scene, we know she’ll bring an exciting and entertaining perspective to the lineup,” says Will Pearson, President of iHeartPodcasts.

The Asia Pacific podcast market was valued at $373.57 million in 2024 and is projected to grow at an annual rate of 30.2% to reach $3.1 billion in 2031, driven by rising internet penetration and increasing digital content consumption in China, Japan, India and South Korea, according to Cognitive Market Research.