US online video service Hulu.com has signed a deal with New York-based Saavn, a digital distributor of Bollywood entertainment, to stream Hindi-language films free to the consumer.

The first five titles to be covered by the deal include 2005 mafia drama Sarkar, starring Amitabh Bachchan, drama Deewana (1992), starring Shah Rukh Khan, comedy Hera Pheri (2000), romantic comedy Hulchul (2004) and Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke (2000), starring Aishwarya Rai.

“One of Saavn’s goals is to make Bollywood more accessible for everyone and by having these films on Hulu, we believe that more people in the US will open up to the genre that is revered by billions around the world,” said Saavn co-founder and CEO Vin Bhat.

Saavn packages and distributes its catalogue and new Bollywood releases to around 75 global media companies including Time Warner Cable, Cablevision, Verizon Wireless and Apple’s iTunes.

The company is a joint venture of  [212]MEDIA and Hungama Mobile and has offices in Mumbai, London, New York, Los Angeles and Toronto.

Hulu.com is a joint venture between News Corp, NBC Universal and Walt Disney.

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