A Powerhouse Producer: Rajeev Malhotra’s Journey From Hollywood Epics to ‘Yellowstone’ and Beyond

In the sprawling landscape of Taylor Sheridan’s television empire—where “Yellowstone” has become a cultural phenomenon, “1883” and “1923” have redefined prestige television, and “Landman” represents the latest addition to a billion-dollar franchise—one name appears consistently in the credits yet remains largely unknown to the viewing public: Rajeev Malhotra.

As a producer on multiple seasons of “Yellowstone,” co-producer on “1883,” producer on “1923” and “Landman,” and contributor to “Lioness,” according to IMDb and other production databases, Malhotra has become an essential figure in what has become one of the most successful content universes in modern television. Yet his path to the center of Sheridan’s operation began not in the mountain vistas of Montana, but in the visceral historical epics of Mel Gibson and the post-production suites of Marvel Studios.

From Epic Cinema to Prestige Television

According to IMDb, Malhotra’s career in Hollywood began with some of the most ambitious and controversial films of the 2000s. He worked in production management on Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” (2004), a film that became a cultural lightning rod and one of the highest-grossing R-rated films of all time. The experience of managing production on such an ambitious, emotionally charged project would prove formative.

The following year, he continued his collaboration with Gibson as part of the production team on “Apocalypto” (2006), Gibson’s Mayan-language epic that critics praised for its technical achievement and visceral storytelling. TV Guide lists both films among Malhotra’s early credits, establishing him as someone capable of handling complex, large-scale productions with demanding directors.

His film credits also include work on “Seraphim Falls” (2006), a Western starring Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan, and “We Were Soldiers” (2002), Randall Wallace’s Vietnam War drama starring Mel Gibson. According to The Movie Database (TMDB), these early projects demonstrated Malhotra’s affinity for historical narratives and action-driven storytelling—themes that would resurface throughout his career.

The Marvel Years: Mastering Post-Production

Malhotra’s career took a significant turn as he moved into television and developed expertise in post-production and visual effects. According to ZoomInfo’s professional profile, he worked as a Post Production Consultant at Paramount and contributed to “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” (2011), Michael Bay’s blockbuster that grossed over $1 billion worldwide.

His work in the editorial department on the “Transformers” sequel positioned him within the ecosystem of large-scale visual effects-driven productions—experience that would prove valuable as television production values began rivaling those of major motion pictures.

Perhaps most significantly for his later television work, Malhotra served in post-production supervision roles on multiple Marvel/Netflix series. According to TV Guide and IMDb, his credits include work on “Marvel’s Daredevil,” “Marvel’s Iron Fist,” and serving as Associate Producer on the pilot of “Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger.” This Marvel work coincided with the streaming revolution that was transforming television production, with Netflix’s Marvel shows setting new standards for serialized superhero storytelling.

The Paramount Network Era Begins

According to The Org’s professional database, Malhotra joined Paramount Network as a producer in November 2018, a pivotal moment in television history. This was the same year “Yellowstone” premiered, initially to modest critical reception but rapidly building the devoted audience that would transform it into a ratings juggernaut.

Most recently, Malhotra serves as producer on “Landman” (2024-2025), Taylor Sheridan’s latest series starring Billy Bob Thornton. 

ZoomInfo notes that at Paramount Network, Malhotra progressed through various roles, including Associate Producer, Co-Producer, and eventually Producer, contributing to multiple seasons of “Yellowstone” and the expanding Sheridan universe. IMDb’s full cast and crew listings for “Yellowstone” credit Malhotra as producer, co-producer, and associate producer across 35 episodes spanning 2019-2024.

According to ZoomInfo, prior to his producer role, Malhotra served as Supervisor in Post Production at Paramount Network, and also held the position of Visual Effects Producer at Legendary Entertainment, where he contributed to “Colony Season 3.” This combination of production management, post-production expertise, and visual effects knowledge created a unique skill set particularly valuable for the ambitious scope of Sheridan’s projects.

Building the Sheridan Universe

Malhotra’s involvement with the “Yellowstone” franchise expanded as Taylor Sheridan’s ambitions grew. According to IMDb and TMDB, he served as co-producer on all 10 episodes of “1883” (2021-2022), the prequel series starring Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Sam Elliott that traced the Dutton family’s original journey to Montana.

The series was both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, with critics praising its authentic portrayal of the brutal realities of westward expansion. Malhotra’s work on “1883” demonstrated his ability to handle period productions with extensive location shooting and complex logistical challenges—the series was filmed across Texas and Montana with large casts and demanding outdoor conditions.

According to TVmaze and IMDb, Malhotra was promoted to full producer for “1923” (2022-2025), the second “Yellowstone” prequel starring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford. “1923” lists Malhotra as one of the key producers on the series, which has garnered 4 awards and 30 nominations. TVmaze credits show he produced 8 episodes of the first season.

“Landman” and Expanding Horizons

Most recently, Malhotra serves as producer on “Landman” (2024-2025), Taylor Sheridan’s latest series starring Billy Bob Thornton. Additionally, Malhotra is credited as producer on Season 2 of “Lioness” (also known as “Special Ops: Lioness”), Sheridan’s CIA drama starring Zoe Saldaña. This marks his involvement in yet another facet of Sheridan’s expanding television empire.

The Educational Foundation

According to The Org’s professional profile, Malhotra’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree from Bates College, a prestigious liberal arts institution in Lewiston, Maine, and a Master’s degree from The City College of New York. This combination of liberal arts education and graduate study in New York—a major hub for film and television production—provided both the broad intellectual foundation and technical training for his career trajectory.

The Producer’s Invisible Art

What exactly does a producer like Malhotra do on these massive productions? While the specifics of his responsibilities aren’t publicly detailed, producers at his level typically oversee multiple aspects of production including:

• Coordinating between creative departments (writing, directing, cinematography)
• Managing post-production workflows and visual effects integration
• Serving as liaison between production units and studio executives
• Overseeing budget management and resource allocation
• Problem-solving logistical challenges during filming
• Ensuring production stays on schedule and within budget

In an industry where producers often work on single projects before moving on, Malhotra’s sustained involvement across the Sheridan universe for over six years suggests not just professional competence but the kind of collaborative relationship that defines successful long-term creative partnerships. While Taylor Sheridan’s name dominates the headlines and stars like Kevin Costner, Harrison Ford, and Helen Mirren attract the attention, it’s producers like Rajeev Malhotra who help transform ambitious scripts into the finished productions that have captivated tens of millions of viewers.

As the “Yellowstone” franchise continues to expand and evolve, and as “Landman” establishes itself as Sheridan’s next potential hit, Malhotra remains a constant—the quiet architect helping build one of modern television’s most impressive empires, one frame at a time.

The story, conceptualized and edited by American Kahani’s News Desk, was aggregated by AI from several news sources.