In the digital age, the crime genre has found a new home in web series, captivating audiences with its intricate plots, gripping suspense, and morally ambiguous characters. India’s burgeoning web series industry has been at the forefront of this evolution, delivering a slew of captivating Crime dramas that keep viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. As we reflect on the offerings of 2023, we’re drawn into a world of deception, betrayal, and redemption, where every clue unravels a new layer of intrigue. Join us as we embark on a journey through the Top 10 Crime Web Series of 2023, each a testament to the art of storytelling in the digital realm.

Top 10 Crime Web Series of 2023

Asur: Welcome to your Dark Side

Director – Oni Sen

Starring – Arshad Warsi, Anupriya Goenka and Barun Sobti

Asur is an Indian Hindi-language psychological crime thriller streaming television series. The series is about a team of forensic experts who must catch a serial killer who considers himself as the incarnation of the asura Kali. Arshad Warsi and Barun Sobti star, alongside Anupriya Goenka, Riddhi Dogra, and Amey Wagh. Sharib Hashmi had a starring role in the first season, while Meiyang Chang and Abhishek Chauhan joined the main cast.

Farzi

Director – Raj & DK

Starring – Shahid Kapoor, Vijay Sethupathi and Kay Kay Menon

Farzi is an Indian Hindi-language black comedy crime thriller television series created, produced, and directed by Raj & DK, who also co-wrote the series with Sita Menon and Suman Kumar. It stars Shahid Kapoor, Vijay Sethupathi, Kay Kay Menon, Raashii Khanna and Bhuvan Arora, and tells the story of a disillusioned artist who decides to make counterfeit money. The series shares continuity with Raj & DK’s spy series The Family Man.

Scam 2023: The Telgi Story

Director – Tushar Hiranandani

Starring – Gagan Dev Riar, Mukesh Tiwari, Dinesh Lal Yadav

Scam 2003: The Telgi Story is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language biographical financial thriller streaming television series directed by Tushar Hiranandani, with Hansal Mehta serving as the co-director. Based on a true story of stamped paper counterfeitings committed by Abdul Karim Telgi in early 2000s, the series is inspired from Sanjay Singh’s book Telgi Scam: Reporter’s ki Diary. It is the second installment in Scam franchise followed by Scam 1992. It stars Gagan Dev Riar as the protagonist Abdul Karim Telgi with Mukesh Tiwari, Sana Amin Sheikh, Bharat Jadhav and Shaad Randhawa in pivotal roles. The first 5 episodes of the series released on 1 September 2023 and the remaining 5 released on 5 November 2023.

Trial by Fire

Director – Prashant Nair; Randeep Jha; Avani Deshpande

Starring – Abhay Deol, Rajshri Deshpande, Shilpa Shukla

Trial By Fire is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language crime drama television series written by Prashant Nair, Kevin Luperchio and directed by Prashant Nair and Randeep Jha and Avani Deshpande. It stars Abhay Deol, Ashish Vidyarthi, Anupam Kher, Rajshri Deshpande, Rajesh Tailang, Ratna Pathak Shah, Shilpa Shukla, Shardul Bharadwaj and others. The web series is based on the book Trial by Fire: The Tragic Tale of the Uphaar Fire Tragedy authored by Neelam Krishnamoorthy and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy.

The Night Manager

Director – Priyanka Ghose and Sandeep Modi

Starring – Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sobhita Dhulipala

The Night Manager is a Hindi-language crime thriller television series created by Sandeep Modi, which serves as a remake of the British television series The Night Manager (2016) based on the John Le Carre’s novel of the same name. It stars Anil Kapoor, Aditya Roy Kapur and Sobhita Dhulipala, with Tillotama Shome, Ravi Behl, Saswata Chatterjee in supporting roles.

Scoop

Director – Hansal Mehta

Starring – Karishma Tanna, Harman Baweja, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub

Scoop is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language crime drama streaming television series created and directed by Hansal Mehta and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul. It stars Karishma Tanna, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub and Harman Baweja in lead roles, along with Prosenjit Chatterjee, Tannishtha Chatterjee and Deven Bhojani in supporting roles. The series is produced by Sarita Patil and Dikssha Jyote Routray under the banner Matchbox Shots. The series was released on 2 June 2023. The series is based on Jigna Vora’s biographical memoir Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison. It follows the real-life story of Jigna Vora who was accused of the murder of mid-day reporter Jyotirmoy Dey in June 2011.

Dahaad

Director – Reema Kagti and Ruchika Oberoi

Starring – Sonakshi Sinha, Gulshan Devaiah and Vijay Varma

Dahaad is a Hindi-language police procedural crime thriller web series created by Reema Kagti and Zoya Akhtar, directed by Reema Kagti and Ruchika Oberoi, and starring Sonakshi Sinha, Gulshan Devaiah, Vijay Varma, and Sohum Shah. Inspired by Mohan Kumar, also known as Cyanide Mohan, a serial killer who preyed on women looking for marriage.

Duranga Season 2

Director – Rohan Sippy

Starring – Gulshan Devaiah, Drashti Dhami, Amit Sadh

Duranga 2 is an Indian Hindi-language ZEE5 original web-series that is adapted from the Korean drama Flower of Evil. The first season premiered on 19 August 2022 and was directed by Pradeep Sarkar and Aijaz Khan. It features Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami. Following the first season’s success, the series was renewed for the second season. It premiered on October 24, 2023, and is directed by Rohan Sippy. Amit Sadh joined the cast as one of the primary characters.

Choona

Director – Pushpendra Nath Mishra

Starring – Jimmy Shergill, Aashim Gulati, Namit Das

Choona is an Indian Hindi-language heist comedy thriller television series streaming on Netflix. Created, written, and directed by Pushpendra Nath Misra and produced by Flying Saucer, the series stars Jimmy Shergill, Aashim Gulati, Arshad Warsi, Vikram Kochhar, Namit Das, Chandan Roy, Gyanendra Tripathi, Monika Panwar and Niharika Lyra Dutt. When an unlikely group of misfits discover a common enemy in the form of the ruthless yet superstitious politician, Avinash Shukla, they plot a heist to exact revenge.

The Trial

Director – Suparn Verma

Starring – Kajol, Jisshu Sengupta, Kubbra Sait

The Trial: Pyaar Kaanoon Dhokha is a 2023 Indian legal drama streaming television series. It is an adaptation of Robert King and Michelle King’s The Good Wife, being directed by Suparn Verma and featuring Kajol in the lead role. The series is centered on a housewife who, after 10 years, returns to work at a law firm to support her family when her husband gets imprisoned.

As we bring the curtain down on the gripping tales of 2023, one thing is abundantly clear: India’s crime web series have cemented their place as a force to be reckoned with in the digital landscape. From edge-of-your-seat suspense to heart-stopping twists, each entry in the Top 10 Crime Web Series of 2023 has left an indelible mark on audiences, showcasing the unparalleled talent and creativity of Indian storytellers. As we eagerly await the next wave of crime dramas to grace our screens, let us cherish the unforgettable moments, shocking revelations, and morally ambiguous characters that made 2023 a standout year for crime enthusiasts everywhere. The game is afoot, the stakes are high, and the hunt for the perfect crime thriller continues unabated in the ever-evolving world of Indian web series.