Seven Indian TV shows that resonated beyond borders in 2025

Beyond Bollywood, India’s television industry continues to quietly do some of the country's most interesting work. In 2025, a handful of series cut through with stories that were bold, intimate or unsettling.

Whether its hard-hitting true crime, noir thrillers set in remote towns or sharp-edged spy games, here are seven shows of note.

1. Delhi Crime, season three (Netflix)

The latest season ventures into the murky world of human trafficking. Photo: Netflix

Anchored by Shefali Shah’s commanding turn as a police chief in the Indian capital, this gritty anthology follows a pursuit of justice that often blurs into something personal, for better and for worse. Each season draws on real-life crimes, and season three ventures into the murky world of human trafficking, as Shah’s DCP Vartika Chaturvedi and her team attempt to dismantle a violent network that lures young women with false job offers before forcing them into marriage and prostitution.

The show’s clear-eyed engagement with true crime, coupled with strong performances by Shah, Huma Qureshi and Rasika Dugal helped it impress audiences beyond borders, pushing Delhi Crime into Netflix’s Global Top 10 (non-English TV) rankings.

2. The Great Indian Kapil Show, season four (Netflix)

A long-running staple of Indian television, The Great Indian Kapil Show moved to Netflix early last year, introducing the popular comedian's blend of celebrity interviews, sketch comedy and crowd work to global audiences.

Built around topical humour, improvisation and celebrity guests, the show leans heavily on cultural familiarity and performance-led comedy. That combination helped it break into Netflix’s Global Top 10 (non-English TV) rankings, underlining how the formats, and an A-list cast of famous guests, can resonate beyond India.

Guests this year included Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Bollywood stars Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Janhvi Kapoor, as well as cricketers Yuzvendra Chahal, Rishabh Pant and Gautam Gambhir.

3. Dabba Cartel (Netflix)

From left, Shalini Pandey, Shabana Azmi and Nimisha Sajayan. Photo: Netflix

Set in the Mumbai suburb of Thane, this crime drama revolves around five middle-class women running a traditional lunch box service who become involved in a drug operation using their network. But success comes with a price as dangerous criminals, as well as law enforcement officers, get involved as the bodies pile up.

Top-notch performances by Shabana Azmi, Jyothika, Shalini Pandey, Nimisha Sajayan and Anjali Anand, whose easy camaraderie is one of the highlights of the show, helped take it to Netflix's global non-English chart.

4. The Ba****ds of Bollywood (Netflix)

Lakshya Lalwani as Aasman Singh, an aspiring actor dealing with nepotism and a flailing romance. Photo: Netflix

Marking the directorial debut of Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, The Ba****ds of Bollywood largely lived up to its pre-release hype, attracting plenty of buzz and attention on arrival. A satirical, tongue-in-cheek take on the Hindi film industry, the series follows aspiring actor Aasmaan Singh (played by Lakshya Lalwani), who falls for the daughter of a powerful Bollywood figure and finds himself navigating repeated attempts to derail his career.

Packed with the familiar pleasures of a classic “masala” entertainer, the show features everything from fast-paced action, over-the-top dialogue and dramatic twists, offering a self-aware spin on the very industry it sets out to skewer – making it to Netflix's global non-English list soon after its release.

5. Pataal Lok, season two (Prime Video)

Ishwak Singh as the dependable Imran Ansari, left, and Jaideep Ahlawat as the stoic Hathi Ram Choudhary.