YouTube is going to experiment with a structured paid content format in India by introducing a pay-per-view model for Pankaj Tripathi’s upcoming series, Perfect Family. The eight-episode dramedy, produced by actor Pankaj Tripathi, will stream on the JAR SERIES YouTube channel from 27 November 2025. The platform will adopt a hybrid monetisation approach: the first two episodes will be available at no cost to encourage audience sampling, while viewers will have to pay a one-time fee of Rs 59 to access the remaining six episodes.
Shift towards paywall
This move builds on YouTube’s earlier experiment with paywalled content, most notably Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, which premiered exclusively on the platform earlier this year. The film skipped conventional OTT services and was offered on a rental basis for roughly Rs 100, signalling a growing willingness among Indian viewers to pay directly on YouTube for premium content.
OTT style format
Perfect Family, featuring episodes running 35–40 minutes each, mirrors the format of traditional OTT series. It marks Tripathi’s debut as a producer and is backed by Ajay Rai’s JAR Pictures. The show is directed by Sachin Pathak and stars Gulshan Devaiah, Neha Dhupia and Manoj Pahwa. The narrative blends humour and drama to examine mental health, family relationships and middle-class life in India.
Producers see the YouTube release as a strategic test of whether a mass platform can successfully convert free viewers into paying customers. The model is positioned as a middle path between pure advertising revenue and exclusive OTT deals, potentially offering creators higher control over distribution and earnings.
Tripathi described the digital-first release as a conscious departure from conventional distribution channels, while Rai said the approach could unlock new opportunities for creators seeking scale without reliance on established streaming platforms.
