a high-stakes battle of intelligence and courage.
If you crave movies that grip you from the first scene and refuse to let go, Bollywood’s crime thrillers are made for you.
These films combine high-stakes suspense with shocking truths about human nature, corruption, and justice.
From the dark alleys of Mumbai to remote villages in Uttar Pradesh, each story confronts crime from a different, unsettling angle.
With Mardaani 3 set to release soon, there has never been a better time to explore these standout titles.
Here are seven gripping Bollywood crime thrillers available to stream now, delivering heart-pounding drama and unforgettable characters.
Mardaani
Streaming on Netflix
Mardaani stars Rani Mukerji as Shivani Shivaji Roy, a determined Mumbai police officer.
When a young girl she cares for, Pyaari, goes missing, Shivani uncovers a human trafficking operation led by the clever Karan (Tahir Raj Bhasin).
The investigation turns into a high-stakes battle of intelligence and courage.
Shivani puts her career and family on the line to save the victims, showcasing a rare blend of bravery and resilience.
The film’s realistic tone and strong social message set it apart, highlighting a fearless female protagonist confronting a disturbing crime.
With Mardaani 3 set to release on January 30, 2026, why not rewatch the first of the gripping trilogy, available on Netflix?
Ugly
Streaming on JioHotstar
Ugly begins with 10-year-old Kali disappearing from a car in broad daylight, leaving her father Rahul (Rahul Bhat) desperate.
But the story quickly shifts focus to the adults involved, her mother Shalini Bose (Tejaswini Kolhapure) and stepfather Shoumik Bose (Ronit Roy), a senior police officer, as tensions and secrets surface.
What unfolds is a raw examination of human behaviour under pressure, where blame, ego, and hidden agendas overshadow the search for the child.
The film is unflinching in its portrayal of how tragedy can expose the worst aspects of people.
Bhakshak
Streaming on Netflix
This 2024 crime thriller follows Vaishali Singh (Bhumi Pednekar), a journalist in Bihar, who discovers young girls being abused in a state-run shelter home.
With no formal authority, Vaishali battles political interference, systemic corruption, and family fears to pursue the truth.
Assisted by senior journalist Bhaskar Sinha (Sanjay Mishra), she risks personal safety and her career to expose the perpetrators.
Based on the 2018 Muzaffarpur Shelter Home case, Bhakshak illustrates the courage and persistence required to confront entrenched injustice in India’s institutions.
Posham Pa
Streaming on ZEE5
Posham Pa traces the disturbing story of Prajakta (Mahie Gill) and her daughters, Regha (Sayani Gupta) and Shikha (Ragini Khanna), who escalate from petty theft to abducting and murdering over 40 children.
Told through interviews with the sisters in prison, the psychological thriller explores how manipulation and psychological trauma can produce killers.
Posham Pa is inspired by the real-life crimes of Anjana and her daughters, Seema Gavit and Renuka Shinde.
It is unsettling yet compelling, offering insight into extreme human behaviour and the making of serial criminals.
Sector 36
Streaming on Netflix
Sector 36 draws from the 2006 real-life Nithari murders in Noida, presenting a fictional North Indian city plagued by missing children.
The local police, led by Inspector Ram Charan Pandey (Deepak Dobriyal), initially ignore the case until the killer targets Pandey’s own daughter.
The investigation exposes a web of organ trafficking, murder, and cannibalism, with Prem (Vikrant Massey) at the centre of the crimes.
Sector 36 portrays systemic failure and the horrors faced by society’s most vulnerable, making it both disturbing and gripping.
Article 15
Streaming on Netflix
In Article 15, Ayan Ranjan (Ayushmann Khurrana) is a city-educated police officer posted to a rural village in Uttar Pradesh.
He is confronted with entrenched caste discrimination and a brutal crime: three girls go missing, two are found dead, and the third remains unaccounted for.
While local authorities attempt to dismiss the case as an honour killing, Ayan uncovers a gang-rape and murder connected to the girls’ demand for a small wage increase.
The film combines investigative drama with social critique, exposing systemic injustice and rural inequality in India.
Raman Raghav 2.0
Streaming on ZEE5
Raman Raghav 2.0 is a dark thriller inspired by the real-life serial killer Raman Raghav.
Set in modern Mumbai, it follows Ramanna (Nawazuddin Siddiqui), a remorseless killer, and Raghavan (Vicky Kaushal), a drug-addicted police officer.
Their story becomes a psychological duel, highlighting how obsession, trauma, and moral ambiguity can blur the line between hunter and hunted.
Raman Raghav 2.0 offers a tense exploration of crime, violence, and the human psyche.
Bollywood crime thrillers blend suspense, social commentary, and psychological depth.
From Mardaani’s fearless female officer to Raman Raghav 2.0’s dark cat-and-mouse game, these films reveal the intricacies of human behaviour and systemic failure.
They challenge viewers to confront harsh realities while delivering tight, compelling storytelling.
Available to stream now, they provide a complete picture of the genre’s best, ensuring you’re ready for the next wave of high-stakes Indian crime cinema.
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