Top 10 Indian Web Series to Watch | Must-See OTT Shows

Over the past decade, Indian web series have taken the digital entertainment world by storm, offering compelling narratives, stellar performances, and diverse storytelling.

Looking for an exciting and captivating web series to add to your watchlist? From gripping thrillers to heartwarming comedies and emotional dramas, this comprehensive guide includes the top 10 Indian web series that have garnered global attention.

So, grab your coffee and get ready to dive into India’s finest web series—your next binge-watch!

List of Best Indian Web Series

1: Sacred Games

Date of Release: July 6, 2018 – August 15, 2019

Genre: Crime, Neo-noir, Conspiracy, Thriller, and Mystery

Number of Seasons: 2

Number of Episodes: 16

Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Radhika Apte, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Kalki Koechlin, Pankaj Tripathi, and Ranvir Shorey

Sacred Games is a critically acclaimed television series based on Vikram Chandra‘s 2006 novel. The story follows an honest cop who is assigned the task to save Mumbai from a fugitive gang boss after receiving a cryptic warning.

As India’s first Netflix original, it made its mark by being available in over 190 countries and quickly became a global sensation. The series received widespread praise, particularly for its outstanding performances and compelling writing.

This web series garnered many prestigious awards, which include:

• Best Drama Award at the News18 iReel Awards, securing five wins out of 11 nominations.
• Asian Academy Creative Awards
• Indian Television Academy Awards

Furthermore, it earned a spot in The New York Times‘ list of the 30 Best International TV Shows of the Decade, solidifying its place as one of the most popular and influential Indian web series.

2: Mirzapur

Date of Release: November 16, 2018 – Present

Genre: Crime, Thriller, and Action

Number of Seasons: 3

Number of Episodes: 29

Cast: Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyendu Sharma, Vikrant Massey, Rasika Dugal, Shweta Tripathi, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda

Mirzapur is a widely popular Indian original series that delves into the world of crime, power, and politics in the fictional town of Mirzapur.

The story centers on Akhandanand Tripathi, a millionaire carpet exporter and ruthless mafia don, and his son Munna, who is eager to inherit his father’s power. The series takes a dramatic turn when Munna encounters Ramakant Pandit, a lawyer, and his sons, Guddu and Bablu, during a wedding procession, sparking a chain of events that escalates the violence and tension in the town.

Mirzapur has garnered massive attention from audiences, particularly for its gripping cinematography, intense storytelling, and stellar performances by Pankaj Tripathi and Ali Fazal.

It has received numerous accolades, which include:

• Asian Academy Creative Awards
• iReel Awards
• Filmfare OTT Award

3: Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story

Date of Release: October 9, 2020

Genre: Financial Thriller, Biography, and Drama

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 10

Cast: Pratik Gandhi, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Hemant Kher, and Satish Kaushik

Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story is a biographical, financial thriller based on the true events of the 1992 Indian stock market scam.

Premiering on SonyLIV in 2020, this Indian web series explores the world of finance, corruption, and the ruthless ambition of its protagonist, Harshad Mehta. It quickly became one of the most-watched web series on the platform, thanks to its stellar cast performances, sharp writing, and technical brilliance.

The show’s music, particularly the titular track Scam 1992, gained massive popularity, going viral on YouTube with over 970,000 views in 2020. For its captivating storytelling and exceptional performances, the series received 14 nominations and won 11 awards at the 2021 Filmfare OTT Awards, further cementing its place as one of the best Indian web series.

4: The Family Man

Date of Release: September 20, 2019 – Present

Genre: Espionage, Action thriller, and Black comedy

Number of Seasons: 2

Number of Episodes: 19

Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Priyamani, Sharib Hashmi, Neeraj Madhav, Pawan Chopra, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, and Abhay Verma

The Family Man is an action-drama series that follows a middle-class man working for a special cell of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Juggling the demands of protecting the nation from terrorist threats while ensuring his family’s safety in a secretive, high-pressure, and low-paying job, the series offers a gripping narrative that blends personal and professional struggles.

The Family Man has received critical acclaim for its performances, especially from the cast, and its sharp writing has made it the most-viewed streaming series on Amazon Prime Video. It has garnered numerous accolades, which include:

• Five Asian Academy Creative Awards
• Two Indian Film Festival of Melbourne Awards
• 11 Filmfare OTT Awards

5: Aspirants

Date of Release: April 7, 2021 – Present

Genre: Coming-of-age and Drama

Number of Seasons: 2

Number of Episodes: 10

Cast: Naveen Kasturia, Shivankit Singh Parihar, Abhilash Thapliyal, Sunny Hinduja, and Namita Dubey

Aspirants, one of the most famous Indian web series showcases the journey of three friends preparing for the UPSC exams. Set in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi, the series explores the struggles, personal challenges, and emotional highs and lows faced by UPSC aspirants as they navigate their academic journey.

Aspirants has been widely praised for its realistic portrayal of the UPSC preparation process, relatable characters, and powerful performances, making it resonate deeply with audiences.

It premiered in 2021. Initially, five episodes were streamed on TVF’s YouTube channel and TVF Play. Due to its immense success, TVF announced a second season, which is set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video in 2023, further fueling excitement among fans.

6: Criminal Justice

Date of Release: April 7, 2021 – Present

Genre: Crime, Thriller, and Legal drama

Number of Seasons: 3

Number of Episodes: 10

Cast: Pankaj Tripathi, Vikrant Massey, Jackie Shroff, Anupriya Goenka, Mita Vashisht, Pankaj Saraswat, Rucha Inamdar, and Madhurima Roy

Criminal Justice is a gripping Indian web series based on the British TV series Criminal Justice (2008). The story revolves around Aditya, played by Vikrant Massey, who is arrested for murder after a one-night stand with a girl in Mumbai. As the narrative unfolds, it follows Aditya’s challenging journey to prove his innocence within the criminal justice system.

Released on Hotstar in 2019, the series received widespread praise for its compelling storyline and stellar performances, particularly by Pankaj Tripathi, Vikrant Massey, and Jackie Shroff.

With its suspenseful plot and intense drama, Criminal Justice quickly became a must-watch for fans of thrillers and murder mysteries, making it a binge-worthy series.

7: Breathe

Date of Release: January 26, 2018

Genre: Crime, Drama, and Thriller

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 8

Cast: R. Madhavan, Amit Sadh, Sapna Pabbi, Neena Kulkarni, Atharva Vishwakarma, Hrishikesh Joshi, Shriswara, and Shrikant Yadav

Breathe is a gripping drama series that follows Kabir, a brilliant officer from the Crime Branch, as he examines a series of seemingly unrelated deaths of organ donors. His investigation leads him to Danny, an unlikely suspect with a charming personality, and Kabir embarks on a relentless pursuit of justice.

The series intricately explores themes of fatherhood, filled with suspense and emotion, while also carrying a heartwarming message about organ donation, making it resonate deeply with audiences.

Premiering as Amazon Prime Video’s second Indian original series after Inside Edge (2017), Breathe captivated viewers with its compelling storyline, engaging humor, and emotional depth. Its unique blend of suspense and emotional storytelling has earned it recognition as one of the standout Indian web series.

8: Kota Factory

Date of Release: April 16, 2019 – Present

Genre: Drama and Comedy

Number of Seasons: 3

Number of Episodes: 15

Cast: Mayur More, Ranjan Raj, Jitendra Kumar, Alam Khan, Urvi Singh, Revathi Pillai, and Ahsaas Channa

Kota Factory is an Indian television series that centers around 16-year-old Vaibhav, who relocates from Itarsi to Kota with dreams of cracking the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and gaining admission to an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). The series delves into the intense pressures faced by students in Kota, portraying the challenges of the highly competitive and often overwhelming education system.

With its raw, real dialogue and relatable characters, Kota Factory struck a chord with viewers. Its black-and-white setting adds a unique touch, amplifying its sense of realism and emotional intensity.

Being premiered in 2019 on TVFPlay and YouTube, the series received widespread praise from critics for its authentic portrayal of student life. The harsh realities of Kota’s coaching culture, and its strong technical execution, make it a standout in the realm of Indian web series.

9: Panchayat

Date of Release: April 3, 2020 – Present

Genre: Comedy and Drama

Number of Seasons: 3

Number of Episodes: 24

Cast: Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Chandan Roy, and Faisal Malik

Panchayat is an Indian comedy-drama series that follows the story of Abhishek, an engineering graduate who reluctantly becomes the secretary of a panchayat office in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh, India.

Created by The Viral Fever for Amazon Prime Video, the series was shot in an authentic panchayat office in Mahodiya, Sehore district, Madhya Pradesh, adding to its real-world charm and rural setting.

The series skillfully blends humor with heartfelt moments, exploring career aspirations and the realities of rural life. Among the top Indian web series, Panchayat has gained widespread acclaim from critics, particularly for the performances of its lead actors, its well-written script, and its nuanced direction.

Panchayat has garnered several awards, including:

• Filmfare OTT Awards in various categories
• International Film Festival of India’s Best Web Series (OTT) award,

10: Paatal Lok

Date of Release: May 15, 2020

Genre: Neo-noir and Crime thriller

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 9

Cast: Jaideep Ahlawat, Neeraj Kabi, Gul Panag, Ishwak Singh, Swastika Mukherjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Niharika Lyra Dutt, and Richa Chaturvedi

Paatal Lok is a gripping crime thriller series available on Amazon Prime Video. It follows a determined cop who uncovers a complex web of intrigue when four suspects are arrested in association with an assassination attempt on a prominent prime-time journalist.

This Indian web series delves into the dark underworld, or “Paatal Lok,” revealing shocking truths about the suspects’ pasts and their connections to the crime.

It has garnered numerous accolades, including:

• Five Filmfare OTT Awards
• Two Indian Television Academy Awards

Based on Tarun Tejpal’s 2010 novel The Story of My Assassins, Paatal Lok has been widely praised for its rich storytelling, unexpected twists, and high-octane thrills. Furthermore, the Indian Express named it one of the Top 10 Indian Web Series of 2020.