Ban On Pornography in India Did Not Stop Meerut To Become India’s “Soft Porn City”, Raj Kundra Case Is Just The Tip Of The iceberg

Key Points;

Internet pornography has seen a significant surge in recent years. With the rise of OTT and digital platforms, the consumption of online porn and erotic films has steadily increased. According to one estimate by Pornhub —the world's largest and most visited porn site —India was reported to be the third-largest consumer of online pornography worldwide in 2018.

These graphic visuals often follow clichéd narratives and are typically not produced with high-budget setups. Many of these films are widely accessible on lesser-known platforms.

But how are these films made, and where is this type of content shot?

India’s largest porn market is located in Meerut—also known as the "soft porn city" of India—where various types of erotic films are produced in abundance. These films, often shot using DSLRs, are typically filmed in hotels, farmhouses, or rented apartments, with a budget ranging from ₹1,25,000 to ₹2,50,000 per episode. They are produced without the involvement of a large or professional crew.

Most of the actors who feature in these films do so in hopes of being noticed by prominent casting directors who could eventually offer them roles in Bollywood—the largest film industry in India. These actors, who often appear in B-grade films shot on medium-budget cameras, aspire to work on projects associated with platforms like ALTBalaji or Ullu.

According to Media Brief, Ekta Kapoor’s subscription-based OTT platform, ALTBalaji, has reported a significant increase in viewership, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. In 2021, viewership grew by 189.84% in Lucknow, 106.50% in Ludhiana, and 108.41% in Guwahati. 

The watch rate of pornography has significantly increased in recent years, in 2019, most Pornhub users in India were adults between the age of 25-34, with around 67% of the site's visitors being male. 

See Also:

The large-scale production of pornographic films in Meerut—and in some other cities—has resulted in significant profit margins for the erotic film industry. Subscription-based models have further boosted the inventories of OTT platforms featuring soft porn and erotic content such as ALTBalaji, Ullu, and lesser-known apps like Kooku, DesiFlix, HotShots, PrimeFlix, GupChup, and FlizMovies, all of which charge low to moderate subscription fees. Mumbai-based filmmaker Sandeep Mukherjee remarked, “That is a lot of cash for them (the porn industry). No wonder today Meerut is to porn what Kota is to private tutorials.”

Raj Kundra’s involvement in the Porn Industry

Prior to the launch of OnlyFans in India, Shilpa Shetty’s husband & businessman Raj Kundra's company Armsprime created personalized apps for celebrities, allowing users to pay for access to their private lives. Porn stars like Poonam Pandey and Sherlyn Chopra allegedly launched their own apps through this platform. The same company was responsible for developing Hotshots, an app that featured pornographic content.

Raj Kundra was arrested on July 19, 2021, for producing and distributing pornographic material. He was charged under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act, and the Information Technology Act.

Even today, as Meerut remains a hub for producing pornographic films, this lesser-known industry once outshone a mainstream film sector. In the early 2000s, the Malayalam film industry was facing a decline, and during that time, the name Shakeela rose to unexpected popularity. Her movies—especially Kinnara Thumbikal—became sensational hits. The softcore porn films featuring Shakeela, then considered a megastar in the genre, were blockbusters that brought her nationwide fame. 

Despite operating largely outside the mainstream spotlight, the Indian porn industry has created its own stars, sometimes even gaining them a vast fan base and 'popularity'. The increase in various digital platforms and lesser-known subscription apps has played a pivotal role in this transformation—bringing underground content into widespread consumption. [Rh/VS]

Also Read: