Netflix offers a wide range of popular thrilling series, continually adding new titles every week. From suspenseful crime thrillers to mind-bending mysteries, there are plenty of options available for a thriller genre enthusiast. Among this extensive collection, one series that stands out is Delhi Crime. However, with so many choices available, do you believe that the Shefali Shah-led series is the best Hindi crime thriller currently streaming on Netflix?
Is Delhi Crime the best Hindi crime thriller series on Netflix?
Inspired by both real and fictional events, Delhi Crime has set a new benchmark for Indian web series with its exceptional storytelling, powerful performances, emotional depth, and realistic portrayal of true events. The series delves deeply into the investigations of some of Delhi’s most shocking crimes. Its raw depiction of the city’s social realities, alongside the police department’s relentless pursuit of justice, has earned it global acclaim.
In 2019, the first two episodes of Delhi Crime premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and in November 2020, it became the first Indian series to win the Best Drama Series at the International Emmy Awards. Following the success of the first season, which was based on the horrific 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder case—often referred to as the Nirbhaya case—the series was renewed for a second season. The second season premiered in August 2022 and is based on a chapter from former Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar’s book, Khaki Files, which focuses on the crimes committed by the notorious Chaddi Baniyan gang. Recently, Netflix released the third season, which is inspired by the tragic 2012 baby Falak case, which sheds light on how the Delhi police uncovered a large human trafficking ring.
While Delhi Crime remains one of the most talked-about Hindi crime thrillers on Netflix, whether it’s the best ultimately depends on individual preference, particularly for those who appreciate a realistic and hard-hitting portrayal of crime and justice. Personally, I’m not a fan of realistic crime dramas; I tend to enjoy fast-paced fictional thrillers instead. I’ve recommended three Hindi crime thrillers that I’ve enjoyed watching, all of which are currently available on Netflix.
1. Sacred Games
One of the first Indian originals on Netflix, Sacred Games instantly became a sensation. The plot revolves around Sartaj Singh (Saif Ali Khan), a troubled cop, whose world turns upside down after receiving a mysterious phone call from a notorious gangster named Ganesh Gaitonde (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), who warns him about a chain of dangerous events that would destroy the city. Navigating between the past and present, the series delves into Mumbai’s crime world as Singh races against time to save the maximum city.
2. Guns & Gulaabs
Set in the early 1990s, Guns & Gulaabs is a high-stakes crime drama that unfolds in a fictional cartel-run town called Gulaabgunj. It delves into the life of a lovesick mechanic named Tipu (Rajkummar Rao) who gets entangled in the crime world following his estranged father’s murder. His world takes a dramatic turn when he crosses paths with Arjun Varma (Dulquer Salmaan), a narcotics officer investigating a drug case involving the powerful Ganchi crime family.
3. Kohrra
Set in the backdrop of rural Punjab, Kohrra is a gripping mystery crime thriller that follows two cops from Punjab Police — Balbir Singh and Amarpal Jasjit Garundi (Suvinder Vicky and Barun Sobti) — who are plunged into a web of lies, forbidden trysts, and family conspiracies when they investigate the murder of a NRI man who was due to get married in a few days.
