Naukri and JioHotstar have reunited to launch Season 2 of ‘Hardly Working’, the workplace comedy series that struck a chord with young professionals when it premiered last year. Building on the response to its first season, the new edition widens its canvas with sharper writing, more varied situations and a refreshed lineup of stand-up comedians who draw directly from their own experiences of office life.

The announcement was shared through a JioHotstar Instagram post, positioning the return of the series as a continuation of the platform’s focus on culturally relevant, youth-focused content. The collaboration once again underlines how branded entertainment is increasingly being used to engage audiences who are less responsive to conventional advertising formats.

Speaking about the second season, Sumeet Singh, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Info Edge, said that ‘Hardly Working’ reflects the company’s effort to spark deeper cultural conversations around work life in India. He noted that as marketing evolves towards more authentic, content-driven engagement, formats like this allow brands to connect with young professionals in ways that feel natural and relatable rather than promotional.

The series is rooted in a clear shift in audience behaviour, particularly among Gen Z and young millennials, who are increasingly tuning out traditional advertising and gravitating towards brands that feel human and culturally aware. ‘Hardly Working’ was conceptualised around this insight, blending stand-up comedy with the everyday chaos of corporate environments to create humour that feels real and instantly recognisable.

Season 2 spans five episodes and explores the lighter side of corporate culture through situations familiar to anyone who has spent time in an office. The new season features performances by Gaurav Kapoor, Sumukhi Suresh, Chirag Panjwani, Aashish Solanki and Urooj Ashfaq. Each episode centres on a specific workplace moment, presented through an observational lens that balances humour with insight while retaining the simplicity that made the first season resonate.

Commenting on the collaboration, a JioHotstar spokesperson said the continued association with Naukri is driven by a shared belief in content-led partnerships rooted in audience relevance. They added that the strong response to Hardly Working among young professionals on the platform made it a natural candidate for a second season, with the partnership enabling meaningful brand engagement through authentic storytelling rather than traditional advertising.