Streaming giant Netflix is expanding its production technology footprint in India with the launch of Eyeline Studios in Hyderabad, signalling a deeper long-term bet on the country’s fast-growing animation and visual effects ecosystem.

The new facility, spread across 32,000 sq. ft., will focus on advanced visual effects, virtual production and next-generation production technologies that support Netflix’s global film and series slate. The Hyderabad centre becomes Eyeline’s fifth global hub, joining its existing locations in Los Angeles, Vancouver, Seoul and London.

The move reflects a broader shift among global studios to embed production technology capabilities closer to talent pools rather than relying solely on outsourced visual effects work. For Netflix, India’s deep base of engineers, artists and VFX specialists makes it a strategic location for scaling complex production workflows.

“India has long played a defining role in global visual effects, not just because of scale but because of the depth of creative and technical talent,” said Jeff Shapiro, CEO of Eyeline Studios. “When we looked at where to establish our presence, Hyderabad stood out for its strong technology backbone, engineering capability and film culture.”

Building a global production hub

The studio will hire specialised VFX professionals locally and operate as an integrated part of Eyeline’s global production network. The facility is equipped with infrastructure designed to support advanced visual effects and generative virtual effects workflows, powered by a hybrid cloud architecture.

India’s Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) sector has been gaining momentum as global studios increasingly rely on the country for both technical execution and creative collaboration. According to industry estimates, India’s VFX and animation talent already contributes to a large share of Hollywood and global streaming productions.

The Telangana government has been positioning Hyderabad as a hub for creative technology and digital production, building on the city’s long-standing film industry and expanding technology sector.

Telangana chief minister Anumula Revanth Reddy said the investment reinforces Hyderabad’s emergence as a global storytelling hub where technology and creative industries intersect. “Hyderabad is a natural home for companies shaping the future of storytelling. Eyeline’s presence will further strengthen the city’s position as a leading hub for film, technology and the AVGC sector,” he said.

D. Sridhar Babu, Telangana’s minister for IT, electronics and industries, said the investment aligns with the state government’s push to strengthen the creative technology ecosystem. “Netflix’s decision to establish a production footprint here reflects confidence in India’s creative talent. Our focus is on building a strong talent pool across VFX and animation,” he said.

India’s growing AVGC opportunity

The launch also drew support from the Centre. Sanjay Jaju, secretary at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said Hyderabad already hosts several VFX and digital production facilities serving international studios. “Hyderabad has a long history in the AVGC sector, and many global studios already have a presence here. With new institutions and continued investment, the ecosystem will continue to grow,” he said.

For Netflix, the investment comes as visual effects become increasingly central to global entertainment. From large-scale fantasy franchises to streaming originals, modern productions depend heavily on complex VFX pipelines that integrate engineering, computing power and artistic talent.

By building its own production innovation infrastructure in India, Netflix appears to be moving beyond traditional outsourcing models and integrating Indian capabilities more deeply into its global content supply chain.

Actor and producer Rana Daggubati, who attended the launch event, said the development reflects how Hyderabad’s film ecosystem has evolved over the past two decades. “Twenty years ago there were very few opportunities like this in Hyderabad. Today, seeing global studios view the city as a future hub of creativity shows how far the ecosystem has progressed,” he said.

With global studios ramping up investment in visual effects-heavy content, Netflix’s latest move suggests India is no longer just a back-end services hub but an increasingly critical node in the future of digital filmmaking.