Niyati Fatnani on Baby Doll and the Challenges of Micro-Drama Storytelling

Actress Niyati Fatnani is embracing the fast-changing world of vertical entertainment with Baby Doll, a micro-drama that she says has pushed her to adapt to a very different style of storytelling.

In an interview with IANS, Fatnani discussed the demands of working in the rapidly paced format and explained why she believes vertical content could become an important part of the future of entertainment.

Niyati Fatnani on adapting to vertical content

Unlike conventional television storytelling, micro-dramas are designed around short, quickly moving episodes and are typically consumed on mobile devices. For actors, that means adjusting to a narrative style where performances and story developments have to connect with audiences almost immediately.

Fatnani believes keeping up with changing audience habits is essential.

“As I always say, we need to stay updated. I think vertical content is the future of entertainment,” she told IANS.

While acknowledging that the pace is considerably faster, the actress sees the format as an opportunity rather than simply a challenge. According to Fatnani, the shorter storytelling structure allows performers to experiment with a wider range of characters and connect with viewers in new ways.

For actors accustomed to traditional television and longer-form productions, that can mean developing a different approach to performance, timing and storytelling.

Playing a struggling actor in Baby Doll

In Baby Doll, Fatnani plays a young woman attempting to establish herself as an actor in Mumbai.

Her character’s ambitions are complicated by the financial realities of living in the city. According to Fatnani, the character is offered a shortcut to success by her agent, setting up the central conflict of the story.

What makes the show distinctive, she says, is its decision to approach a sensitive subject through comedy.

“My character is a struggling actor trying to enter the industry,” Fatnani explained. “The best part of the story is that we have treated this sensitive subject with humor.”

The contrast between the vulnerability of the subject and the show’s lighter treatment is intended to become one of Baby Doll‘s defining features.

Why the micro-drama format is attracting attention

Fatnani also praised Bullet Microdrama for developing stories that she believes are different from conventional entertainment offerings.

She described Baby Doll as a fun, entertaining story centred on a young woman’s journey, while highlighting the platform’s focus on fresh concepts.

The growth of mobile-first vertical storytelling reflects changing viewing habits, particularly among audiences who consume entertainment in short bursts on smartphones. The format also gives creators the opportunity to build compact narratives specifically for vertical screens rather than adapting traditional television structures.

For performers, that evolving space could create opportunities to move between conventional television, films, OTT projects and shorter digital formats.

About Baby Doll

Produced by Amit Khan, Baby Doll features Niyati Fatnani alongside veteran actor Ashwin Kaushal.

The series will stream on Bullet, a mobile-first vertical video platform focused on micro-dramas. The show combines comedy with the struggles faced by its aspiring-actor protagonist, using a fast-paced format designed for mobile viewing.