The first Friday of October 2026 brings a fresh selection of movies and series to major streaming platforms in India. On October 2, viewers can find new releases across JioHotstar, ZEE5, Netflix, Apple TV and Lionsgate Play, covering genres ranging from romantic comedy and crime thriller to drama, documentary and martial arts.
Among the Indian releases is Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, a Malayalam romantic comedy featuring Nivin Pauly and Mamitha Baiju. The film is scheduled to begin streaming on JioHotstar on October 2 following its theatrical release in August. Directed by Girish A D, the story centres on Justin and Ashley and explores relationships, family connections and neighbourhood dynamics.
The film follows Ashley as her circumstances lead her family into a close knit neighbourhood in Angamaly. Her interaction with Justin gradually becomes an important part of the story. Nivin Pauly plays Justin, while Mamitha Baiju portrays Ashley. The supporting cast includes Sangeeth Prathap, Suresh Krishna, Vinay Forrt, Srinda and other actors. The film combines romance and comedy with family oriented elements.
ZEE5 is also adding Pooja Meri Jaan to its October 2 lineup. The Hindi psychological crime thriller stars Mrunal Thakur, Huma Qureshi and Vikram Singh Chauhan. The story follows Pooja after she rejects Aniket's romantic advances and later faces accusations following his death. Lawyer Sana becomes involved in the case as questions surrounding the relationship and the circumstances of Aniket's death emerge.
Pooja Meri Jaan was completed earlier but had a delayed release before reaching audiences. The film is directed by Navjot Gulati, with the story focusing on themes including obsession, rejection, responsibility and social judgment. Huma Qureshi plays Sana, who investigates the circumstances surrounding the case, while Mrunal Thakur plays the central character Pooja.
Netflix has two notable releases scheduled for October 2. The first is #Love, a Tamil romantic comedy series starring Aishwarya Lekshmi and Arjun Das. The series is directed by Balaji Mohan, with Soundarya Rajinikanth serving as showrunner and producer. It will be available on Netflix in Tamil as well as dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.
#Love centres on Tara and Matthew, two rival entrepreneurs involved in competing dating platforms. Their differing views about modern relationships form the basis of the story. Tara believes compatibility can be evaluated through technology and personality matching, while Matthew has a different view of romantic chemistry. Their professional rivalry leads to a 60 day challenge that puts their ideas about relationships to the test.
The second Netflix release is Doing Life, a drama directed and written by Tyler Perry. The film follows a single mother and a reformed former prisoner whose lives become connected as they look for another opportunity after difficult circumstances. Naomi Baker and Jay Reeves lead the cast, with Tamberla Perry also appearing in the film. The movie is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on October 2.
Doing Life focuses on themes of second chances, relationships and personal change. Its story brings together two people from very different backgrounds and examines how their connection develops despite opposition and concerns surrounding the man's past.
For viewers interested in documentaries, Apple TV is releasing The Last First: Winter K2 on October 2. Directed by Amir Bar Lev, the documentary examines a 2021 expedition that attempted to become the first to summit K2 during winter. The film follows Icelandic mountaineer John Snorri Sigurjonsson and Pakistani father and son mountaineers Ali and Sajid Sadpara.
The documentary goes beyond the physical challenge of climbing K2 and explores the changing culture of extreme mountaineering. It examines competition, ambition, commercial expeditions and the different motivations of climbers attempting one of the world's most difficult mountains. Apple TV has confirmed October 2 as the global streaming premiere.
The sixth release is Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend, which is scheduled to arrive on Lionsgate Play on October 2. The martial arts drama stars Dennis To as Ip Man and is set in 1950s Hong Kong. The story follows the legendary Wing Chun practitioner after he leaves the police force and establishes his own martial arts academy.
The story takes a turn when a Western boxing gym threatens the local martial arts community and creates conflict over property and influence. Ip Man is subsequently drawn into a confrontation in which he must defend his principles and the traditions of Wing Chun.
Together, these six releases provide a range of choices for OTT viewers during the October 2 weekend. Audiences looking for an Indian family and romantic story can choose Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, while those interested in a crime thriller can watch Pooja Meri Jaan.
Tamil audiences have #Love as a new Netflix option, while international drama viewers can explore Doing Life. Those interested in real life adventure can watch The Last First: Winter K2, while martial arts fans can choose Ip Man: Kung Fu Legend.
The October 2 OTT lineup also demonstrates the increasing variety available across streaming platforms. Indian language productions are appearing alongside international films and series, while different genres are being released across the same weekend.
Viewers should note that availability can vary depending on region, subscription plan and platform licensing arrangements. The dates listed above refer to the reported or officially announced streaming schedules for the Indian market where applicable.
For viewers planning their weekend watchlist, October 2 offers six notable additions across major OTT platforms. The lineup includes two Netflix releases, along with one title each on JioHotstar, ZEE5, Apple TV and Lionsgate Play.
