Best Web Series to Watch in India: 26 Must-Watch Indian & International Shows
The best web series to watch in India, from Scam 1992 and Panchayat to Breaking Bad and Dark, with seasons, platforms and quick weekend binge picks.
On this page
- Best web series in India: the master list
- Best Hindi web series: drama and thrillers
- Best web series for families and feel-good viewing
- Best South Indian web series (Tamil and Malayalam)
- Best web series from abroad to watch in India
- Best web series by platform in India
- Short binge: best web series under 10 hours
- How we picked the best web series
- Which of the best web series suits your mood?
- What to watch next after you finish
- Expert tips for watching the best web series smarter
- FAQs about best web series
- Final word: which of the best web series should you watch first?
The best web series to watch in India start with Scam 1992, Panchayat, The Family Man, Paatal Lok and Kota Factory among Indian shows, plus Breaking Bad, Chernobyl, Dark and Succession from abroad. Most stream on Netflix, Prime Video, JioHotstar or SonyLIV. Pick by mood, language and how many hours you have.
Every week a dozen new shows land on Indian OTT apps, and most of them vanish in a month. This guide is our shortlist of the best web series that have actually lasted. These are the shows Indian viewers still recommend to friends years after release.
We cover 26 titles across Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and international picks. For each one, you get seasons, language, genre and where it streams in India (as of October 2026). After that, you get tables by platform and by binge time. Finally, we explain what to watch next once you finish.
Key takeaways
- Scam 1992 (SonyLIV) and Panchayat (Prime Video) are the safest first picks among Indian shows; both sit around 9/10 on IMDb.
- Breaking Bad, Dark and Stranger Things are on Netflix India, while Chernobyl and Succession stream on JioHotstar.
- For a short weekend binge, start with Chernobyl, Kota Factory or Aspirants; each season runs only five episodes.
- South Indian thrillers such as Suzhal, Vadhandhi and Kerala Crime Files offer Hindi dubs and English subtitles.
- Platform catalogues change, so confirm availability on JustWatch India before you subscribe to a new app.
Best web series in India: the master list
Here is our full list of the best web series at a glance. Seasons count what has streamed so far, and platforms reflect Indian availability as of October 2026.
| Series | Seasons | Language | Genre | Platform in India |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scam 1992 | 1 | Hindi | Financial drama | SonyLIV |
| Panchayat | 4 | Hindi | Comedy-drama | Prime Video |
| The Family Man | 3 | Hindi | Spy thriller | Prime Video |
| Paatal Lok | 2 | Hindi | Crime thriller | Prime Video |
| Kota Factory | 3 | Hindi | Coming-of-age drama | Netflix |
| Sacred Games | 2 | Hindi | Crime thriller | Netflix |
| Delhi Crime | 3 | Hindi | Police procedural | Netflix |
| Rocket Boys | 2 | Hindi | Biographical drama | SonyLIV |
| Mirzapur | 3 | Hindi | Crime drama | Prime Video |
| Gullak | 5 | Hindi | Family comedy | SonyLIV |
| Aspirants | 3 | Hindi | Drama | Prime Video |
| Kohrra | 2 | Hindi/Punjabi | Crime procedural | Netflix |
| Kaala Paani | 1 | Hindi | Survival drama | Netflix |
| Suzhal: The Vortex | 2 | Tamil | Mystery thriller | Prime Video |
| Vadhandhi | 2 | Tamil | Mystery thriller | Prime Video |
| Kerala Crime Files | 2 | Malayalam | Police procedural | JioHotstar |
| Breaking Bad | 5 | English | Crime drama | Netflix |
| Chernobyl | 1 | English | Historical drama | JioHotstar |
| Dark | 3 | German | Sci-fi mystery | Netflix |
| Succession | 4 | English | Family drama | JioHotstar |
| Money Heist | 5 parts | Spanish | Heist thriller | Netflix |
| Squid Game | 3 | Korean | Survival thriller | Netflix |
| Stranger Things | 5 | English | Sci-fi horror | Netflix |
| The Crown | 6 | English | Historical drama | Netflix |
| The Bear | 5 | English | Comedy-drama | JioHotstar |
| The Boys | 5 | English | Superhero satire | Prime Video |
Tip: keep this table open while you scroll. Each of the best web series below gets a short note on why it earns a spot and who should press play.
Best Hindi web series: drama and thrillers
Hindi shows dominate Indian streaming, and the gap between the good and the great is wide. These are the best web series in Hindi for viewers who want strong writing over loud promotion.
1. Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (SonyLIV)
Hansal Mehta’s 2020 drama follows stockbroker Harshad Mehta’s rise and fall in the Bombay markets. Pratik Gandhi plays Mehta with swagger and quiet menace. The show is based on the book by journalists Sucheta Dalal and Debashis Basu.
It sits around 9.2/10 on the Scam 1992 IMDb page, among the highest for any Indian show. Watch it if you enjoy business stories, sharp dialogue and a great background score.
2. The Family Man (Prime Video)
Raj & DK’s spy series stars Manoj Bajpayee as Srikant Tiwari, a middle-class father who secretly works for a counter-terror unit. The joke works because his home problems feel as urgent as his missions.
Three seasons are out, with the third arriving in November 2025. Season 2, with Samantha Ruth Prabhu, is still the fan favourite. It holds roughly 8.7/10 on IMDb.
3. Paatal Lok (Prime Video)
Created by Sudip Sharma, Paatal Lok follows Delhi cop Hathiram Chaudhary, played by Jaideep Ahlawat. A simple assassination case opens into a bleak study of caste, media and power.
Season 2 moved the story to Nagaland and kept the same grim intelligence. However, it is violent and slow-burning, so skip it if you want light viewing. IMDb rates it near 8.2/10.
4. Sacred Games (Netflix)
Netflix’s first Indian original arrived in 2018 and changed the Hindi streaming scene. Saif Ali Khan plays cop Sartaj Singh, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays gangster Ganesh Gaitonde. Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane directed season one.
Season 1 is superb; season 2 divides viewers. Even so, it remains essential viewing for anyone tracking how Indian streaming grew up.
5. Delhi Crime (Netflix)
Richie Mehta’s series opens with the investigation into the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case. Shefali Shah plays DCP Vartika Chaturvedi with remarkable restraint. In 2020, it became the first Indian show to win the International Emmy for Best Drama Series, as Wikipedia’s Delhi Crime entry notes.
Three seasons are out; the third (November 2025) adds Huma Qureshi. The tone is procedural, not sensational, which is exactly why it works.
6. Mirzapur (Prime Video)
Mirzapur is the loudest show here, and for many viewers the most addictive. Pankaj Tripathi’s Kaleen Bhaiya, Ali Fazal’s Guddu and Divyenndu’s Munna fight over guns and power in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Three seasons are streaming. It is violent and profane, so it is not family viewing. Still, season one’s pace and dialogue made it a pop-culture hit, and it holds roughly 8.4/10 on IMDb.
7. Kohrra (Netflix)
Kohrra is a murder investigation set in rural Punjab, co-created by Sudip Sharma. Suvinder Vicky and Barun Sobti play two cops dealing with fog, grief and messy families.
The second season arrived in 2026. If you liked Paatal Lok, this is the closest match in mood and craft.
8. Kaala Paani (Netflix)
This survival drama imagines a mysterious disease outbreak in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Mona Singh and Ashutosh Gowariker lead a large cast trying to stay alive and find a cure.
With seven episodes, it suits a long weekend. Moreover, its setting is fresh for Hindi streaming. IMDb places it around 7.9/10.
Best web series for families and feel-good viewing
Not every great show needs a body count. These picks are the best web series to watch with parents, siblings or younger viewers. They are warm, funny and rooted in small-town India.
9. Panchayat (Prime Video)
TVF’s Panchayat sends engineering graduate Abhishek Tripathi (Jitendra Kumar) to work as a panchayat secretary in Phulera village. Raghubir Yadav and Neena Gupta are delightful as the village’s power couple.
Four seasons are out, and Prime Video has announced a fifth for 2026. Seasons 1 and 2 are the most loved. IMDb rates it around 9.0/10.
10. Gullak (SonyLIV)
Gullak tells short stories from the Mishra family’s middle-class home. A piggy bank narrates each episode, which sounds gimmicky but works beautifully. Jameel Khan and Geetanjali Kulkarni play the parents.
Five seasons of five to seven short episodes each make it ideal for after-dinner viewing. It scores roughly 9.1/10 on IMDb.
11. Kota Factory (Netflix)
Shot in black and white, Kota Factory follows IIT aspirants in Rajasthan’s coaching hub. Jitendra Kumar’s Jeetu Bhaiya is the teacher every student wishes they had. Mayur More plays Vaibhav, the newcomer.
Three seasons of five episodes each make it an easy binge. Teenagers preparing for entrance exams will see themselves in it; parents may understand their kids better too.
12. Aspirants (Prime Video)
Aspirants tracks three friends preparing for the UPSC civil services exam in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar. Naveen Kasturia plays Abhilash, whose story moves between his student days and his later career.
Season 3 premiered in March 2026. Like Kota Factory, each season has only five episodes. IMDb lists it at roughly 9.1/10.
13. Rocket Boys (SonyLIV)
Rocket Boys dramatises the lives of Homi J Bhabha and Vikram Sarabhai, the scientists behind India’s nuclear and space programmes. Jim Sarbh and Ishwak Singh lead with real warmth.
Two seasons of eight episodes each are out. It is the rare Indian biopic series that is both inspiring and well acted, and it holds about 8.8/10 on IMDb.
Best South Indian web series (Tamil and Malayalam)
South Indian streaming has produced some of the tightest thrillers in the country. Most offer Hindi dubs and English subtitles, so language need not be a barrier.
14. Suzhal: The Vortex (Prime Video)
Created by Pushkar and Gayatri, the duo behind Vikram Vedha, Suzhal begins with a missing girl and a factory fire in a small Tamil Nadu town. Kathir and Aishwarya Rajesh lead the cast.
Two seasons of eight episodes each are streaming. The mystery is layered, and the festival backdrop gives it real texture. IMDb rates it near 8.1/10.
15. Vadhandhi (Prime Video)
Andrew Louis’s Tamil thriller stars SJ Suryah as a cop obsessed with a young woman’s death in Kanyakumari. It is as much about rumour and media as about the murder itself.
Season 2, titled The Mystery of Mani, arrived on 7 August 2026 with Hindi and Telugu dubs. Start with season one, which sits near 7.9/10 on IMDb.
16. Kerala Crime Files (JioHotstar)
Kerala Crime Files was the first Malayalam web series on Disney+ Hotstar, now JioHotstar. Aju Varghese and Lal play cops tracking a killer from a single fake address.
The procedural detail is the star here. Two seasons are streaming, and both are short enough for one weekend.
Best web series from abroad to watch in India
Indian viewers have grown up with HBO, Netflix and Korean drama, so a list of the best web series would be incomplete without these. Many Netflix titles here offer Hindi audio; check the audio menu on your app.
17. Breaking Bad (Netflix)
Vince Gilligan’s crime drama follows chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he turns into a meth kingpin. It ran five seasons from 2008 to 2013.
Season 1 is slow, so give it until season 2. After that, few shows match its build-up. IMDb rates it about 9.5/10, among the highest of any series.
18. Chernobyl (JioHotstar)
Craig Mazin’s HBO miniseries recreates the 1986 nuclear disaster across five episodes. Jared Harris leads as scientist Valery Legasov. It is terrifying because almost nothing is exaggerated.
At five episodes, it is the perfect short binge. Its IMDb rating sits near 9.3/10.
19. Dark (Netflix)
This German series from Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese involves four families in the town of Winden and a time-travel puzzle across generations. Three seasons tell a complete story.
Keep a family tree handy, or just pay attention. Dark rewards focus and punishes phone-scrolling. IMDb places it around 8.7/10.
20. Succession (JioHotstar)
Jesse Armstrong’s HBO drama follows the Roy family fighting over a media empire. It is a tragedy dressed as a comedy, with some of the best insults on television.
Four seasons tell the full story. If Scam 1992 hooked you on boardroom drama, this is the natural next step.
21. Money Heist (Netflix)
Álex Pina’s Spanish heist drama became a huge hit in India. The Professor and his crew, named after cities, take over the Royal Mint of Spain. Netflix splits it into five parts.
Parts 1 and 2 are the tightest. Later parts get bigger and less believable, but the characters keep you watching. It sits around 8.2/10 on IMDb.
22. Squid Game (Netflix)
Hwang Dong-hyuk’s Korean survival thriller pits debt-ridden players against deadly children’s games. Lee Jung-jae stars as Gi-hun. Three seasons complete the story.
Season 1 is the standout. Furthermore, it works as a sharp critique of debt and inequality, which explains its global reach.
23. Stranger Things (Netflix)
The Duffer Brothers’ sci-fi series follows a group of kids in 1980s Hawkins, Indiana, facing monsters from the Upside Down. All five seasons are now out.
It is the most accessible pick here for teenagers. However, later seasons have long episodes, so plan your time. IMDb lists it near 8.6/10.
24. The Crown (Netflix)
Peter Morgan’s drama about Queen Elizabeth II runs six seasons, with the lead roles recast as the characters age. The first two seasons, with Claire Foy, are the strongest.
It is a polished history lesson rather than a thriller, so it suits slower evenings.
25. The Bear (JioHotstar)
Christopher Storer’s FX series stars Jeremy Allen White as a fine-dining chef who takes over his family’s Chicago sandwich shop. The kitchen chaos is stressful in the best way.
Episodes are short, and season 2’s “Fishes” and “Forks” are among the best TV of the decade. IMDb rates it about 8.5/10.
26. The Boys (Prime Video)
Eric Kripke’s satire imagines superheroes as corporate celebrities who abuse their power. Its fifth and final season arrived in 2026.
It is extremely violent and crude. Still, for adults tired of polished superhero films, it is the sharpest antidote. It holds roughly 8.5/10 on IMDb.
Best web series by platform in India
Already paying for one app? This table shows the best web series on each major platform, so you can get the most from your current subscription.
| Platform | Indian picks | International picks | Start with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Kota Factory, Delhi Crime, Sacred Games, Kohrra, Kaala Paani | Breaking Bad, Dark, Money Heist, Squid Game, Stranger Things, The Crown | Breaking Bad or Delhi Crime |
| Prime Video | Panchayat, The Family Man, Paatal Lok, Mirzapur, Aspirants, Suzhal, Vadhandhi | The Boys | Panchayat |
| JioHotstar | Kerala Crime Files | Chernobyl, Succession, The Bear | Chernobyl |
| SonyLIV | Scam 1992, Rocket Boys, Gullak | None on this list | Scam 1992 |
Prime Video has the deepest Indian bench, while Netflix leads on international titles. JioHotstar is the home of HBO shows in India, so it suits fans of prestige drama.
Short binge: best web series under 10 hours
Short on time? These shows, or their first seasons, finish in under 10 hours. Runtimes are rounded estimates based on episode counts.
| Series | Episodes | Approx. runtime | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chernobyl | 5 | About 5.5 hours | JioHotstar |
| Kota Factory (Season 1) | 5 | About 4 hours | Netflix |
| Aspirants (Season 1) | 5 | About 4 hours | Prime Video |
| Gullak (Season 1) | 5 | About 2.5 hours | SonyLIV |
| Kohrra (Season 1) | 6 | About 5 hours | Netflix |
| Delhi Crime (Season 1) | 7 | About 6 hours | Netflix |
| Kaala Paani | 7 | About 7 hours | Netflix |
| Suzhal (Season 1) | 8 | About 7 hours | Prime Video |
How we picked the best web series
Ratings alone make poor lists, because new shows get inflated scores and older gems get forgotten. So our desk used four filters for every title.
- Staying power. The show is still recommended at least a year after release, not just during its launch week.
- Strong audience scores. Most picks sit above 8/10 on IMDb; the few below earn a place for craft or originality.
- Legal availability in India. Every title streams on a legal Indian platform, checked against JustWatch India in October 2026.
- Range. We balanced genres, languages and platforms, so the list works for families, thriller fans and drama lovers alike.
What separates the best web series from merely good ones?
The best web series keep their quality across seasons and endings. We also left out shows that collapse after a strong start. For example, a brilliant pilot alone did not qualify a series. Instead, we judged the full run.
Which of the best web series suits your mood?
Choosing is often harder than watching. Use this quick mood guide to match one of the best web series to your evening.
| If you want… | Watch | Then try |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort and laughs | Panchayat | Gullak, The Bear |
| A gripping crime case | Delhi Crime | Kohrra, Kerala Crime Files |
| Dark, gritty thrills | Paatal Lok | Sacred Games, Breaking Bad |
| Money and power games | Scam 1992 | Succession |
| A mind-bending puzzle | Dark | Suzhal, Vadhandhi |
| Inspiring true stories | Rocket Boys | Chernobyl |
| Student life | Kota Factory | Aspirants |
What to watch next after you finish
Finished one of the best web series on this list and feeling lost? Follow the thread of what you liked, not just the genre label.
- Loved Scam 1992? Try Rocket Boys for another period biopic, then Succession for corporate betrayal.
- Loved The Family Man? Move to Paatal Lok for a darker cop story, or Money Heist for big set pieces.
- Loved Panchayat? Gullak has the same small-town warmth, and Kota Factory shares Jitendra Kumar.
- Loved Breaking Bad? Mirzapur gives you an Indian crime family, while Sacred Games offers a Mumbai underworld epic.
- Loved Dark? Stranger Things is lighter sci-fi; Suzhal offers a layered mystery closer to home.
If you prefer a single sitting over a full season, browse our thriller movie picks for films with the same tension. Also, new seasons drop often, so check this week’s OTT releases before starting an older show.
Expert tips for watching the best web series smarter
- Check the audio menu. Many international and South Indian shows offer Hindi dubs, but subtitles usually preserve the performances better.
- Rotate subscriptions. Instead of paying for every app, take one platform for a month, finish its best shows, then switch.
- Give slow starters three episodes. Breaking Bad, Dark and Succession all improve sharply after their opening hours.
- Mind the age ratings. Mirzapur, Sacred Games and The Boys carry adult ratings, so set up a kids’ profile for family screens.
- Verify before you subscribe. Catalogues change, so confirm the title on JustWatch India first.
FAQs about best web series
Which is the best web series in India right now?
Scam 1992 is widely considered the best web series made in India, with an IMDb rating near 9.2/10. It streams on SonyLIV. Panchayat on Prime Video and Kota Factory on Netflix are close behind, and both are lighter, family-friendly choices with ratings around 9/10.
Which is the best web series of all time?
Breaking Bad is the most common answer, with an IMDb rating around 9.5/10. Chernobyl, The Wire, Succession and Dark also appear on most all-time lists. In India, Breaking Bad streams on Netflix, while Chernobyl and Succession are available on JioHotstar.
What are the best web series on Netflix India?
On Netflix India, start with Breaking Bad, Dark, Delhi Crime, Kota Factory and Squid Game. Sacred Games, Money Heist, Stranger Things and Kohrra are also strong. Together they cover crime, sci-fi, coming-of-age drama and survival thrillers, so there is something for most moods.
What are the best web series on Prime Video?
Panchayat, The Family Man, Paatal Lok, Mirzapur and Aspirants lead Prime Video’s Indian catalogue. Tamil thrillers Suzhal and Vadhandhi are also excellent and offer Hindi dubs. For international viewing, The Boys is Prime Video’s standout, with its fifth and final season out in 2026.
Which web series can I watch with my family?
Panchayat, Gullak, Kota Factory, Aspirants and Rocket Boys are the best web series for family viewing. They have little violence, clean humour and relatable Indian settings. Avoid Mirzapur, Sacred Games and The Boys with children, because these carry adult ratings for violence and language.
Which short web series can I finish in one weekend?
Chernobyl runs just five episodes, about five and a half hours in total. Kota Factory, Aspirants and Gullak seasons have five episodes each. Delhi Crime season one and Kaala Paani run seven episodes. All of these fit easily into a single weekend binge.
Are South Indian web series available in Hindi?
Yes, many are. Suzhal and Vadhandhi on Prime Video offer Hindi dubs, and Vadhandhi season two launched with Hindi and Telugu audio. Kerala Crime Files on JioHotstar also has multiple language options. Check the audio menu inside the app, since options can vary by season.
Final word: which of the best web series should you watch first?
If you want one answer, start with Scam 1992 for drama or Panchayat for comfort. For an international pick, Chernobyl is short and unforgettable. After that, use the mood table above to pick your next show.
The best web series are the ones you finish and still think about a week later. For fresh picks every week, follow TBA Daily’s OTT release coverage and browse our full best web series collection.