Sacred Games first premiered in 2018 but it continues to dominate the Indian streaming charts, thanks to its own artistic merits and also its status as a game changer in the OTT space. The first Netflix original to stream in India, the intense crime thriller paved the way for many more web series in Hindi and other languages throughout the country. Starring Saif Ali Khan as a seasoned cop and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as a dying gangster, Sacred Games covers the crime, religion, and politics that fuel the city of Mumbai.
If you are a fan of Sacred Games, we have a list of similar crime thrillers to stream in India. Let the games begin!
Paatal Lok
Starring Jaideep Ahlawat and Ishwak Singh as two morally righteous policemen investigating an assassination conspiracy, Paatal Lok relied on brutal violence and mythical influences to explore themes like right-wing extremism, caste-based crimes, and the current state of media.
Delhi Crime
Featuring a breakout performance by Shefali Shah, Delhi Crime covers the mental and logistical struggles of the national capital’s police force as they investigate one heinous act after the other. Nothing is glorified here. It’s as brutally raw as Sacred Games.
Mirzapur
While way more melodramatic and Bollywood-like in tone, Mirzapur is a binge-worthy crime drama to watch. Set in the titular town in Uttar Pradesh, Mirzapur has no dearth of the bloodshed and explicit content that shocked viewers in Sacred Games.
McMafia
Nawazuddin Siddiqui was already well-established in Hindi cinema before his OTT debut in Sacred Games. To get a closer look at his dramatic range on TV, you can also watch his recurring role in the acclaimed British crime drama McMafia. Much like his Sacred Games character Ganesh Gaitonde, Siddiqui plays an Indian gangster affiliated with the lead characters.
Jubilee
Along with Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane showcased his affinity for the crime genre with Sacred Games. But the director also has a softer side that can be witnessed in Jubilee. Set in the early years of Bollywood, Jubilee captures the highs and lows of the industry from the perspectives of its many dreamers.
Narcos
Ganesh Gaitonde’s rise from the slums to the top of Mumbai’s underworld is eerily similar to Bolivian drug lord Pablo Escobar’s reign. Narcos starts off with Escobar and then proceeds to cover such terrifying stories of many other kingpins of the region.
Asur
If the cat-and-mouse game between Sartaj Singh and Gaitonde kept you at the edge of your seats, you should definitely watch Asur. Arshad Warsi stars as a forensic expert who must race against time to nab a psychotic serial killer.
Tandav
While Sartaj Singh was a hard act to follow, Saif Ali Khan moved over to Prime for his second OTT outing. Tandav is an intriguing political drama starring Khan as a ruthless statesman who will do anything to climb up the electoral ladder.
Khakee: The Bihar Chapter
A gritty Netflix crime drama recounting real-life cases from Bihar, Khakee is heavy on the action but also has moments to understand the policeman’s psyche. Avinash Tiwary steps in for the Sacred Games-like villain who enjoys teasing the cops behind him. And Karan Tacker plays the police officer hellbent on crushing crime in the area.
24
Each season of this long-running thriller finds Kiefer Sutherland’s agent Jack Bauer thwarting terrorist plots in only about 24 hours. The nail-biting tension is comparable to Sartaj Singh’s attempts in tracking down Gaitonde in Sacred Games.
We have compiled all the options to stream, buy or rent these TV shows in India in the list below. We also show you if any of these shows are available to watch online for free.
