How Donal Bisht Pioneered The Micro-Series Trend Before It Exploded In 2025

The entertainment world is currently filled with short, vertical, micro-series. Big actors, big studios, and major OTT platforms have all joined the trend. But actress Donal Bisht can proudly say that she was one of the first to explore this style - way back in 2020 - with her series Tia & Raj.

Tia & Raj is a mini-series that tells the story of two strangers, played by Donal and Raaj Saluja, who become close after a wrong phone call. The episodes were just a few minutes long - simple, emotional, and relatable.

Donal reveals that she made the series with zero professional setup. Because of the lockdown, everything had to be done at home. She placed the tripod herself, shot the scenes, took multiple angles, and also acted. "It was tiring but fulfilling," she says.

The most surprising moment came when Donal uploaded the trailer on Instagram. MX Player immediately reached out to her, saying they loved the content and wanted to release it. "That call made us so happy. It felt like our hard work was noticed and appreciated," she remembers.

Now, in 2025, when micro-series have become extremely popular, Donal's pride has only grown. "It feels amazing to be five years ahead of time!" she says. She adds that seeing everyone adopt the format makes her heart full, because she and her team created something similar long before it became an industry trend.

Donal also praised her team and Akshat Raj for making something memorable during a difficult time. "We may have done it with phones and home setups, but we made something to be proud of."

Today, Tia & Raj stands as proof that innovation can come from anywhere - even during a lockdown.