Web series is everything that a TV soap isn’t: fresh content which is both compelling and concise. The rise of OTT platforms in our country has seen a number of Web series with gripping storylines and entertaining scripts. Some of the best Indian Web series have often made us uncomfortable and made us think of things that go beyond politics, news, mafia and society. And thereby made us question our reality.
In a very short span of time, Indian web series have created a niche across India. Everyone is watching them. And to cater to the likes of everyone mediocrity has slowly but surely started to seep into the live-streaming content as well.
Also read: 30 Best Bollywood Movies From Recent Past You Should Watch
So, to save you time and effort, we have handpicked the 30 best Indian web series across the internet for you. You can thank us later!
Bang Baaja Baaraat is a web series by Yash Raj Films. Thoroughly entertaining and hilarious, it is a story of two people who are in love and want to marry each other. The problem is that they are from very different backgrounds. And the even bigger and real problem is that they want the consent of their parents for the marriage. You can watch this thoroughly entertaining and hilarious web series on the YFilms channel on YouTube and Amazon Prime.
2. Breathe
Breathe is an engaging and gripping crime drama. It premiered on Amazon Prime in January 2018 to rave reviews. Danny gets to know that his son Joshua’s life depends on an organ transplant. As he sees Joshua’s health deteriorating, he resolves to find him an organ donor: by hook or by crook. The series has an intense storyline and leaves us grappling with the thought: how far would you go to save someone you love?
The second season of this series – Breathe: Into the Shadows featuring Abhishek Bachchan as the main lead was also released in July 2020.
Do you have a thing for crime-based shows? If yes, then you’ve hit a jackpot with Criminal Justice. Aditya is a regular taxi driver in Mumbai. One day he picks up a lady passenger, one thing leads to another and he ends up spending the entire night with her. When he wakes up, he finds himself in a pool of blood and the dead body of the murdered passenger. He leaves the crime scene, but is eventually nabbed and convicted of rape and murder. The series explores an extremely underrated topic of criminal jurisprudence. You can watch it on Hotstar.
4. Delhi Crime
Delhi Crime is based on the Nirbhaya case of 2012. The show brings back the hard-hitting and raw memories of the brutal rape and murder of Nirbhaya, which, otherwise was conveniently forgotten. It tracks the journey of DCP Vartika Chaturvedi as she leads the case amidst constant media interference and political pressure. You can watch it on Netflix.
The Family Man is the story of just an ordinary middle-aged family guy. The twist in the plot is that he also happens to be a secret agent of the Threat Analysis and Surveillance Cell (TASC), a unit of the National Intelligence Unit of India. Watch him walk on a tightrope as he juggles between normal family life and the life of a secret.
6. Ghoul
Ghoul paints a picture of a dystopian future where the authoritarian government creates havoc on society and punishes people who don’t oblige. Nida Rahim is a military officer loyal to the regime. She has been assigned the task of interrogating a dreaded terrorist. Things go awry for her when he starts to act in an absurd manner. Watch this intense horror drama on Netflix and let us know if you think it is one of the best Indian web series.
7. Inside Edge
Inside Edge explores the drama that goes behind the making of the IPL like match-fixing, bribery and whatnot. A fast-paced and action-packed thriller, it makes you feel like a member of the IPL community. It is a completely immersive experience.
The series has two seasons – released in 2017 and 2019 and is accessible on Amazon Prime.
8. Kota Factory
Kota factory as the name suggests, is a series that questions the education system. It brings out the mockery that the coaching institutes make of students who are preparing for medical and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) entrance examinations. Kota factory is available on TVF play and TVF channel on YouTube.
Made in Heaven is a series that captures the dark side of Indian society in the context of marriage and relationships. As we see wedding planners, Tara and Karan, come across a varied clientele we are forced to see the obvious: the duality of the “Indian Society”.
The series openly addresses various issues of society right from homosexuality to dowry. You must watch this amazing show on Amazon Prime.
10. Mirzapur
Mirzapur is a crime thriller packed with action: mob, drugs and underworld. Alaknanda Tripathi becomes the mafia boss and his power-hungry son would go to any lengths to secure his hold on the mafia world. All the Gangs of Wasseypur, Sacred Games and Money Heist fans should definitely watch Mirzapur. You can watch the show on Amazon Prime.
Mirzapur has been hailed as one of the best Indian Web series and the good news is that the second season of this Crime saga is all set for release shortly.
Also read: 13 Best Mirzapur Dialogues From Guddu Pandit, Kaleen Bhaiyya & Others
Permanent Roommates is the story of a couple who are in long-distance and are considering marriage. Tanya needs time, but Mikesh is insistent on them getting married. It is funny and sometimes endearing to watch them go through ups and downs in life. This rom-com can be accessed on TVF play and TVF’s channel on YouTube.
12. Sacred Games
Sacred Games is undoubtedly one of the most popular and has been rated as one of the best Indian West Series. The case of dread criminal Ganesh Gaitonde by the Mumbai police concludes when police officer Sartaj Singh receives a tip to nab him. A dark thriller that draws your attention right from the start, it deconstructs the making of Ganesh Gaitonde. The series is available on Netflix.
Also read: 12 Times Ganesh Gaitonde Gave Us Intense Reality Checks!
13. Tripling
Tripling is a comical web series of siblings: Chandan, Chanchal, and Chitvan. They embark on this journey to find themselves and end up making us laugh hard! You can watch the web series on TVF play and on YouTube.
14. Pitchers
Pitchers is the story of four friends who decide to quit their job to start their own company. Their story is full of struggles and chaos that accompanies their decision. You can watch it on TVF play as well as YouTube.
15. Yeh Meri Family
Yeh Meri Family is a show which will give you a happy feeling. It is a family drama that is entertaining to the core and nostalgic of the 1990s. We see the middle child of the Gupta family, Harshu, strike a balance in school, love and life.
16. Paatal Lok
Paatal Lok is the story of an undermined inspector who has been given a high-profile case. This case can give him a breather that he so desperately wants or it can label him a failure for life. Watch the tale of Inspector Hathhi Ram Chauhan on Amazon Prime as he unravels some of the dark realities of the underworld.
Also read: 13 Paatal Lok Memes That Describe Everyday Life Situations
17. Asur
Asur is a psychological crime thriller that deals with serial killings which occur in present-day Varanasi. The series is an immersive experience that leaves the viewers wanting more. You can watch it on Voot.
18. Panchayat
Panchayat is web series that subtly addresses the problem of unemployment and lack of jobs. The web series focuses on one such unemployed engineering graduate who takes up the job of Panchayat secretary in a remote village. You can watch this thoroughly relatable, meaningful, and comic series on Amazon Prime.
19. Special Ops
Special Ops is a thriller web series based on espionage. Himmat Singh of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) is able to connect the dots between major terrorist attacks and a single person. You can watch this action-packed drama on Hotstar.
20. Kaafir
Kaafir is the story of Kainaaz Akhtar, a woman from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir who accidentally crosses the Line of Control into Indian territory and is labelled as a terrorist.
You can watch this web series on Zee 5 platform to know what life has in store for her.
21. Gullak
TvF has left no stone unturned and has curated some of the best web series for us. This show Gullak is one of them. It was widely appreciated for its realistic portrayal of the middle-class life of an average Indian and ghar ghar ke kisse. It hits home with the tiny details in the dialogue and the direction. The first season of the show was released in 2019 and it has released 2 more seasons since. People are eagerly waiting for the release of the 4th season of this family drama. You can watch all 3 seasons of Gullak on Sony LIV.
22. Aspirants
Another production of TvF directed by Apoorv Singh Karki, Aspirants is the story of every ambitious student in the country. It revolves around 3 friends and their journey for the esteemed UPSC CSE exam. It deals with the various emotions one experiences and the paths that one takes just to fulfil that one dream of becoming an IAS officer. Set in Rajindernagar, the centre of all civil service aspirants, the show is a must-watch for all students and parents alike. It is available for free on Youtube.
23. Rocket Boys
Dr Homi Jehangir Bhabha and Dr Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai, these two legends completely transformed the nuclear and space landscape of the country. The show is a biographical picturization of their life and works and it also explores their friendship. The show portrays patriotism in its highest form- doing one’s duty towards the country and excelling at it. Jim Sarbh and Isvak Singh as the two extraordinary men have surpassed all standards of acting. Besides the performances, the cinematography and the direction are also why the show is such a masterpiece. You can watch it on Sony LIV.
24. Farzi
Starring Shahid Kapoor, Vijay Sethupati, Rashi Khanna and Bhuvan Arora in the main roles, the show Farzi will keep you on the edge of your seats throughout. Based on counterfeiting, the show is a crime thriller with fast-paced action and perfectly timed comedy and wit. The show begins as something but takes a completely different and unexpected turn. It is full of surprises and is hence something you shouldn’t miss out on! Watch Farzi only on Prime Video!
25. The Night Manager
A spy thriller, The Night Manager is based on the British TV show of the same name. It revolves around how a night manager turns into a spy to help a government agency keep an eye on one of the biggest illegal businessmen. It is an action-packed show with the perfect cast of Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapoor and Sobhita Dhulipala. One certainly cannot miss Aditya Roy Kapoor, that too in an action drama. The show premiered in February 2023 with its first season and the second season is expected to release soon. Catch it only on Disney+
26. Scam 1992
Finance crimes have to be the smartest crimes committed. It takes a lot of knowledge to be able to find out loopholes in a country’s banking system and use it to one’s advantage. Harshad Mehta, a registered stock and money market broker did exactly that and led to a stock market crash amounting to Rs 4000 crore. Scam 1992 is a representation of the manipulation of the Bombay Stock Exchange by this extraordinary common man who was dubbed the Big Bull. This security scam triggered a series of changes in the financial system of our country. Watch Scam 1992 only on Sony Liv.
Created and directed by Homi Adjania, this show has the strongest main star cast of the most fierce women in the Indian entertainment industry. Starring Dimple Kapadia, Angira Dhar, Isha Talvar and Radhika Madan in the main roles, the show is a crime thriller that delves into the story of a matriarch and her shady textile business. It shows how women have the power to make something and protect it with their lives. It is airing on Disney+.
28. Aashram (all seasons)
India has had enough Godmen to understand their tactics and behaviour. The show Aashram deals with one such Godman who cons his “devotees” out of money. It follows the investigations carried out by a police officer and the struggles he faces. The show was appreciated for its bold plot line and also for the revival of Bobby Deol on the silver screen. Having released its first season in 2020, the show has had 2 more seasons since and is available to watch for free on MXPlayer.
29. Apaharan
APaharn is probably one of the best Indian thriller web series. It has an unusual plot going through such elaborate twists and turns that make the show more and more interesting with every frame. Starring Anuroday Singh, Nidhi Singh, Sanaand Verma, Varun Badola and Mahi Gill, the show depicts the fall of an honest officer Rudra and how his dire circumstances lead him to do something dangerous. The show recently released its second episode, 4 years after its initial release. It is available to watch on various platforms like ALT Balaji, Voot and JioCinema.
30. Rana Naidu
A Netflix original, Rana Naidu is an adaptation of the American show Ray Donovan. It stars the uncle-nephew duo Rana Daggubati and Daggubati Venkatesh in an action-comedy plot. Rana Naidu is every Bollywood celebrity’s go-to person when there is a problem. There is no problem Rana doesn’t have a solution to… except when his father is released from jail. That is one problem that he himself has been running away from. Watch Rana Naidu to see how he tackles the mess he has found himself in.
These web series have managed to grab the Indian audience’s attention right from the get-go. It’s Web series like these that have been increasing the scope of online media consumption in India. With first-class entertainment available right at one’s doorstep, who would want to spend a fortune at movie theatres?
Which series from this list of the best Indian web series is your favourite? Do let us know in the comments below.