We have to admit it- Indian web series are stepping up their game. Big-screen stars are coming back to the small screen in the way of web series and we are all here for it. These web series are characterized by short and crisp storylines that often end in cliffhangers which leave us wanting more. 2022 gave us an abundance of such web series- the revival of which is anticipated in 2023. These continued web series along with some new web series make it to our list of the best Indian web series of 2023.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the best web series of 2023 that has set the bar high for future productions. Get ready to binge-watch some of the most captivating and thought-provoking content the industry has to offer.
1. Farzi
My personal favorite- Farzi is spectacular. With Shahid Kapoor’s hot looks as an artist turned counterfeiting genius and Rashi Khanna and Vijay Setupathi’s smart and witty moves as intelligence officers, Farzi makes for the perfect crime drama. It keeps you on the edge of your seat till the very end. It is a highly recommended show which is available to watch on Amazon Prime.
2. The Night Manager
The Night Manager is yet another gripping web series. It is a remake of the British television series of the same name. The series includes the interesting cast of Aditya Roy Kapoor (seriously, who can resist HIM?), Sobhita Dhulipala, Anil Kapoor, Ravi Behl, and Rukhsar. It is filled with suspense, drama, and action making it one of the Best Indian web series of 2023. The first part of The Night Manager was released in February and the much anticipated second part was released in June of this year completing season 1 of the show. PS. The second part is much more interesting and exhilarating than the first. Watch the Night Manager streaming only on Hotstar.
3. Taaza Khabar
Taaza Khabar marked the debut of the famous YouTube star Bhuvan Bam on a screen outside of YouTube. This new venture proved to be a great success among his fans who went to great lengths to be able to watch the show even without an OTT subscription. The performances by the entire cast which also involved Shriya Pilgaonkar, Deven Bhojani and Shilpa Shukla which brought the fantasy-comedy storyline to life were highly appreciated. You can watch Taaza Khabar on Hotstar.
4. Rana Naidu
A Netflix release, Rana Naidu was in the headlines for its coarse language. It is a remake of the Tv series Ray Donovan and stars the uncle-nephew duo of Rana Daggubatti and Venkatesh Daggubatti in the lead roles. Despite the abusive language and excessive adult scenes (This is a warning to not watch it with your parents), Rana Naidu is an entertaining watch dealing with how a problem solver finds himself in a sea of personal problems when his father is released from jail.
5. Jehanabad- Of Love and War
The web series which is available on SonyLIV is based on the real-life incident of the planned escape of 372 inmates from Jehanabad jail. Amidst all the chaos, an unlikely duo seems to fall in love. Jehanabad- Of Love and Wardeals with this forbidden love in the atmosphere of strife. Starring Ritwik Bhowmik, Harshita Gaur, and Sonal Jha, this web series makes it to our list of Best Indian Web Series of 2023
6. Trial by fire
This riveting web series is based on the book Trial by Fire: The Tragic Tale of the Uphaar Fire Tragedy by Neelam Krishnamoorthy and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy. These two were parents of one of the 59 victims of the fire that broke out in Uphaar Cinema Ghar in 1997. It navigates the journey of the grieving parents (played by Abhay Deol and Rajshree Deshpande) through extremely powerful and emotional scenes. It is worth a watch. Available on Netflix
7. Dahaad
Starring Sonakshi Sinha in an unprecedented role along with Gulshan Devaiah, Vijay Verma, and Sohum Shah, Dahaad is a fantastic crime drama that raised the bar of entertainment for Indian Web series. Set in a small village in Rajasthan, it tells the story of the mysterious missing of 27 women and the investigations around it. The development of events is skillfully carried out throughout the show which also highlights the issues of gender and caste discrimination. Sonakshi Sinha as the bold and outspoken cop won many hearts and one cannot simply overlook Vijay Verma’s performance. The show is available to watch on Prime Video
8. Scoop
Based on the novel Behind The Bars in Byculla on the real-life murder of esteemed journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, Scoop is an engaging watch that guarantees thrill, suspense, and drama. It is directed by Hansal Mehta, a master storyteller who gave us Scam in 1992. His skillful direction reflects in the show and portrays the interplay of Mumbai’s underworld, the police, and the media. The show stars Karishma Tannah, Harman Baweja, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub, and Prosenjeet Chatterjee who have done justice to their respective roles. You can watch Scoop Only on Netflix.
9. Asur 2
With the last season being released in 2020, this Arshad Warsi starter crime thriller is back with yet another bone-chilling season. It starts right where the last season left off, revealing the serial killer. The story of the show is deeply rooted in mythology which makes it even more intriguing to watch. The way the story unfolds is commendable and it quickly won the hearts of fans who had been waiting in anticipation since 2020. All episodes of Asur S2 are now available on JioCinema.
10. Saas Bahu aur Flamingo
This is yet another thriller that you ought to watch. Saas Bahu aur Flamingo takes a shift from conventional male heroes engaging in action and introduces the stunning Dimple Kapadia, Angira Dhar, Radhika Madan, and Isha Talvar in powerful roles. The story of the show revolves around Rani Ba, a powerful matriarch who runs a famous drug business under the banner of her textile cottage industry. The various plots of the show, including the fight for succession make the show ideal for crime and drama lovers. You can watch Saas Bahu aur Flamingo on Disney+
11. Jubilee
Set in the olden days of Bollywood, Jubilee is a period drama directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and it is considered to be one of his finest works. This 10-episode show revolves around the good and bad of Bollywood’s past and its emergence and also tells some real-life anecdotes of famous stars that help us in understanding what truly went behind the glam that we saw. The star cast of the show consisting of Aparshakti Khurana, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sidhant Gupta, and Prosenjit Chatterjee is perfect! There is great attention to detail in the show and the songs will truly take you back to the olden and golden days of Bollywood. Jubilee is available to watch on Prime Video.
12. Yeh Hai Meri Family S2
Yeh Meri Family a sweet evergreen series about a middle-class family set in 1998 is back with its second season after a 5-year long wait. The show was widely appreciated for being relatable and warm, a characteristic of all TVF series. The second season of this famous show was released in May of this year and it deals with the everyday struggles of the Awasthis as a middle-class family. The show perfectly encapsulates the essence of living in the 90s and what it is like living in a typical Indian household. It is heartwarming and light and will leave you reminiscing the sweet moments of your life. You can stream the show on Amazon miniTV
13. Aspirants: Season 2
It is a student drama show that tells the current and back stories of all the aspirants of IAS exams. The new season deals with the current situation of old friends who once studied together to clear the UPSC exams. It revolves around Dhairya, Abhilash, and Sandeep carrying on in their lives with their new lives- trying to bury the past, and also reviving their friendships and broken bonds. The new season has got a 9.2 IMDb rating- seems like a must-watch show! Watch it on Amazon Prime Video.
14. Hostel Daze Season 4
It is a comedy-drama web series that shows a bunch of collegegoers navigating their new phase of life and addressing issues regarding career, love, friendship, and more. The show has a relatable quotient for all of us who have gone and lived in hostels to pursue further studies. The show’s last season was released in 2023, when everyone was in the last year of engineering and wrapping up their hostel lives to move to the next steps. You can stream this show on Prime Video.
15. Kaala Pani
It is a survival drama series about a mysterious and deadly disease spreading like wildfire on an Andaman island and the tourists as well as the locals are stuck there. The series shows many people running for their lives and trying to find a way to get out of that place as soon as possible- when all the methods of transport are banned and all borders sealed. Will they all live to see the next day? The series starring Mona Singh, Ashutosh Govarkar, Amey Wagh, and Arushi Sharma has the answer to your questions! Watch this show on Netflix.
16. Guns and Gulaabs
A dark comedy thriller that features big names like Rajkumar Rao, Dulquer Salman, Adarshb Gaurav, Gulshan Devaiah, and Satish Kaushik among others. The series revolves around the drug dealers of Gulabganj who carry out big cartels and earn a lot of bucks. However, a love-sick mechanic and a newly appointed police officer also get involved in their games- making this fight bigger than expected. You can stream this series on Netflix.
17. Scam 2003: The Telgi Story
Following the success of Scam 1992, this series of Harshad Mehta has also become an acclaimed one! This scam drama is about Abdul Karim, a man from Karnataka who carries out the scandal of bogus stamp papers to get about 30,000 crores worth of money from the government. The series has got 8.1 IMDb rating and a lot of appreciation from the critics. Watch the show on Sony Liv if you haven’t seen it till now!
18. Made In Heaven Season 2
Made in Heaven is a romance drama about two passionate wedding planners organizing lavish weddings for uber-rich people across India. Each episode shows these two and their team dealing with different sets of people and facing issues both personal and professional. After a successful first season, the second season directed by Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti also received a lot of praise from the viewers.
19. The Railway Men
A historical drama series that tells the story of those unsung heroes who kept their lives at stake to save a lot of innocent people during the Bhopal gas tragedy that happened in 1984 and shook the whole world. It is still considered one of the deadliest human disasters in the world. But many people saved lives- this show will give you a glimpse of that time, tragedy, and the people. It has an 8.5 IMDb rating and very high viewership on Netflix.
20. Kaalkoot
It is a crime drama series that was released in 2023 on Jio Cinema. The show tells the struggles and mental pressure that a police inspector faces from society, family, and senior officers. Till now, we have seen a rowdy officer fighting for justice, a corrupt police officer, or someone who listens to their seniors. But do you know the real problems that an Indian police officer faces? The bullying and financial struggles that they face are often ignored and the reasons why most of them turn deaf to the public. This series starring Vijay Varma in the main roles explores all these issues in detail.
21. Adhura
Horror thriller web series about a school kid experiencing strange events inside Nilgiri Valley School and its hostel. The strange events start happening more when an alumni group of the school comes back to school for a reunion. The show centers around Adhiraj Jaisingh, a 2017 batch alumnus who has to come back and face whatever wrong he did 15 years ago in the school.
22. Rocket Boys Season 2
A historical drama series about two biggest scientists in India who brought about a significant change in India’s future- Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha and Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai. This Biographical drama received a lot of accolades and praise from critics as well as audiences.
In conclusion, the Indian entertainment industry has seen a significant rise in the production of quality web series over the years. As we move further from 2023 to 2024, the industry has continued to push boundaries and deliver exceptional content to audiences.
This was our list of the Best Indian Web series of 2023. Stay tuned to find out more and let us know if we missed any!
Also Read: 10 Best Tamil Dubbed Web Series On Netflix | 2023