Disney+ Hotstar Is Finally Live In India – Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Disney+ Hotstar has arrived. Having launched in countries around the world, the latest big streaming player on the scene, Disney+, has officially launched in India in conjunction with Hotstar, now owned by Disney.

What's New?

The new Disney+ Hotstar platform features a new user interface and gives users access to Disney's extensive library of Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content. This is in addition to Hotstar's existing library of Indian films and original series.

How Much Will It Cost?

The new Disney+ Hotstar platform will be available at three price points:

Disney+ Hotstar VIP will be priced at Rs 399 a year and gives users access to Disney's bank of movies such as the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe and Disney original films such as The Lion King, Frozen II, Aladdin and Toy Story 4. This would be in addition to Hotstar's current premium content bank of films and originals such as Neeraj Pandey's Special Ops, Out of Love, Criminal Justice and Live sports.

Disney+ Hotstar Premium will be priced at Rs 1499 a year or Rs 299 a month and gives subscribers access to all Disney+Hotstar VIP content plus the 29 Disney+ Originals as well as the latest American shows from studios like HBO, Fox and Showtime. Subscribers will also be able to downloads the platform's movies and shows.

This marks an increase in Hotstar's prices which were pegged at Rs 999 a year or Rs 299 a month till now, for its premium content. The new Disney+Hotstar platform will also continue to offer Hotstar's current range of free content such as daily catch-up TV and limited bank of Bollywood movies like Housefull 4, Chhichhore and Badhaai Ho. As to whether Disney+Hotstar will be producing original programming for India is unclear at this point.

What If I'm An Existing Hotstar Premium Customer? Do I Have To Pay More?

The platform's PR team has confirmed to Film Companion that existing Hotstar premium customers (who've paid Rs 999 a year or Rs 299 a month till now) won't have to pay the difference and will have full access to Disney+ Hotstar Premium services till their existing subscription plan expires. When they renew, they'll have to pay the new prices of Rs1499 or Rs399 a year, depending on their chosen plan.

What Are Some Of The New Disney+ Originals I Can Watch?

The Mandalorian

The flagship Disney+ show is a lavishly mounted Star Wars spinoff series from Jon Favreau which follows the adventures of a lone bounty hunter after the fall of the Galactic Empire.

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series

Thirteen years after High School Musical was filmed at East High, the drama department is putting
together a new production – High School Musical: The Musical. The new series also provides the lyrics on-screen, so you can sing along in every episode.

Lady and the Tramp

A live-action re-telling of the animated classic about the love story between a pampered American Cocker Spanier and a stray.

The World According to Jeff Goldblum

The series follows the oddball actor as he investigates the history of everyday things ranging from sneakers to ice cream to recreational vehicles.

Togo

In the winter of 1925, a champion dogsled trainer and his lead dog, Togo, embark on an
journey across the treacherous Alaskan terrain to help transport medicine to a small town