ChatGPT enters India's microdrama race with Revathy-starrer The Grand Return
Featuring Revathy Asha Kelunni, Shreya Kalra, Vineeth Beep Kumar and Sanjana Sarathy, the series joins a growing list of brand-led microdramas as advertisers experiment with episodic storytelling
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New Delhi: ChatGPT India has joined the growing microdrama wave with The Grand Return, a short-form series featuring Revathy Asha Kelunni, Shreya Kalra, Vineeth Beep Kumar and Sanjana Sarathy.
The story revolves around a retired grandmother, played by Revathy, who applies for an internship at a new-age marketing agency, where she encounters a colourful mix of characters played by the other cast members.
The premise seems reminiscent of the 2015 Hollywood film The Intern, with its intergenerational workplace setting and the idea of a retiree finding a place in a younger professional environment.
The opening episode is crisp and introduces different members of the agency using ChatGPT for various purposes. The grandmother's entry into the workplace adds another dimension to the narrative, allowing the series to showcase ChatGPT's relevance across age groups, from younger professionals to older users navigating new experiences.
Brands find their place in India's microdrama boom
ChatGPT's entry comes as microdramas increasingly find a place in the marketing strategies of Indian brands.
Fashion e-commerce platform AJIO launched Suit Yourself in February 2026, a six-episode, Instagram-first microdrama under its AJIO Originals banner. The series extended the universe of an earlier advertising campaign, integrating fashion into a fictional story about three flatmates.
Myntra has also embraced the format. Its latest microdrama, Folks in the Building, launched in October 2026, brings together popular digital personalities, including Anuj Gupta, Sameha Shams, Shivani Gupta and Gulshan Grover, in a four-part series centred on the everyday lives of neighbours.
The format is finding takers beyond fashion. Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles partnered with Bullet Microdrama for Apna Superstar, integrating its Tata Azura vehicle into the protagonist's entrepreneurial journey. JK Super Cement also collaborated with Bullet on Tera Ghar Mera Ghar, a 53-episode series built around a couple's home-building journey.
Meanwhile, Flipkart entered the space in September 2026, introducing a dedicated microdrama section within its main shopping app, expanding the use of episodic entertainment for consumer engagement.
The growing interest comes alongside a rapid expansion of India's microdrama market.
According to Redseer Strategy Consultants' September 2026 report, The AVOD Imperative, India's microdrama market is estimated at approximately Rs 2,300 crore in FY26 and is projected to reach Rs 23,500-25,500 crore by FY32.
The report estimates that around 40 million Indians have paid for microdramas at least once in FY26, while 15-17 million are average monthly paying users. Advertising revenue, currently estimated at Rs 24 crore in FY26, could grow to Rs 5,000-5,500 crore by FY32.
For brands, the format offers an opportunity to develop characters and storylines around products, giving audiences reasons to return for subsequent episodes.
With The Grand Return, ChatGPT is taking a similar route, using a workplace comedy and an intergenerational storyline to demonstrate how its technology fits into everyday professional and personal situations.