Entertainment

Top 5 Indian Shows Everyone Is Binge-Watching in 2025

From royal drama to twisted reality, here’s what India is watching (and obsessing over) this year.

In the ever-evolving world of Indian entertainment, 2025 has delivered a goldmine of binge-worthy content from palace intrigue and dysfunctional families to comedy classics and reality chaos. With OTT platforms upping the game and audiences craving variety, these five shows have emerged as the biggest must-watch of the year.

Here’s what’s streaming, what’s trending, and why you’ll want to clear your weekend watchlist immediately:

The Royals – India’s Glamorous New Obsession

Streaming on: Netflix
Cast: Bhumi Pednekar, Ishaan Khatter, Zeenat Aman, Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Vihaan Samat, Dino Morea, Milind Soman
Genre: Romantic Comedy Drama | Royalty Meets Modern Hustle

What’s It About?
Set in modern India, The Royals follows a once wealthy royal family trying to reinvent themselves after financial ruin. When the charming heir (Ishaan Khatter) teams up with a driven entrepreneur (Bhumi Pednekar) to convert their ancestral palace into a luxury resort, sparks and scandals fly.

Why Everyone’s Bingeing It:

Ishaan Khatter shines as the reluctant prince with charm and depth.
Bhumi Pednekar brings fire as the modern businesswoman challenging royal traditions.
Zeenat Aman and Sakshi Tanwar add multigenerational richness.
Nora Fatehi is a comic delight in a glam role.
Opulent visuals, witty writing, and a perfectly chaotic royal family setup.

USP:
Think Downton Abbey meets Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. It’s lavish, light, emotional, and incredibly stylish, easily Netflix India’s most buzzed-about show this year.

Rana Naidu – Season 2

Streaming on: Netflix
Cast: Rana Daggubati, Venkatesh Daggubati, Surveen Chawla, Suchitra Pillai
Genre: Action | Family Dysfunction | Crime Noir

What’s It About?
Rana Naidu is a high-powered fixer for India’s elite but this season, his biggest mess is at home. As his criminal past catches up with him and his father’s release from jail threatens his empire, the story spirals into darker, grittier emotional territory.

Why It’s Trending:

Rana Daggubati delivers a raw, brooding performance.
Venkatesh is unforgettable as the morally broken father.
Explores themes of trauma, loyalty, and revenge.
Strong writing, haunting cinematography, and unexpected twists.

USP:
The most dysfunctional family on Indian TV right now. Brutal, intense, and deeply addictive.

The Great Indian Kapil Show – Season 2

Streaming on: Netflix
Cast: Kapil Sharma, Sunil Grover, Kiku Sharda, Krushna Abhishek, Archana Puran Singh
Genre: Talk Show | Sketch Comedy | Pop Culture

What’s It About?
Kapil and the gang are back! With big-name guests, hilarious sketches, and clever digs, this show is India’s weekly comedy fix. The global polish of Netflix gives it a fresh, modern twist.

Why It’s Trending:

A-list celebrity guests ( Salman, Aamir and the likes)
Sunil Grover’s much-anticipated return as Gutthi
New characters and tighter production
Family-friendly, laugh-out-loud entertainment

USP:
India’s favourite comedy crew, now with global reach and better punchlines. A serotonin boost every “Funnyvaar”.

The Traitors – India

Streaming on: JioCinema | New Episodes Every Thursday
Host: Karan Johar
Cast: Elnaaz Norouzi, Uorfi Javed, Lakshmi Manchu, Ashish Vidyarthi, Anshula Kapoor, Raj Kundra, and more
Genre: Reality Thriller | Strategy | Social Drama

What’s It About?
Twenty contestants enter a grand estate. Hidden among them are Traitors, secretly eliminating players every night while the rest — the Faithful — try to unmask them. Hosted by a devilishly sharp Karan Johar, this show blends trust games, sabotage, and intense paranoia.

Why It’s Trending:

Killer casting (in every sense)
Karan’s perfect mix of drama, wit, and menace
Suspenseful editing and jaw-dropping twists
It’s Bigg Boss meets Knives Out, and viewers are loving it

USP:
You know who the traitors are. They don’t. Watching it all unravel is your guilty pleasure of the year.

MTV Roadies XX – Double Cross

Streaming on: MTV India & JioCinema
Cast: Rannvijay Singha (Host), Prince Narula, Rhea Chakraborty, Elvish Yadav, Neha Dhupia
Genre: Reality | Adventure | Betrayal

What’s It About?
The 20th season of India’s iconic reality show adds a new twist: betrayal. Contestants now not only battle in physical challenges but must also guard their alliances, as backstabs and blindsides define the game.

Why It’s Trending:

Return of fan-favourites like Prince and Rannvijay
Bold casting with influencers and new-gen stars
Real betrayals, shocking eliminations, and intense rivalries
Perfect for adrenaline junkies and drama lovers

USP:
Still the wildest ride on Indian television now with more games, more drama, and more betrayal.

Final Word

From royal glamour and emotional depth to reality thrillers and gut-busting comedy, 2025’s Indian shows are diverse, daring, and downright addictive. Whether you’re in the mood for fashion, fights, fame or family chaos these five series are the current gold standard for binge-watching.

Which one are you watching tonight?

June 23, 2025

Movies to Watch This August 2025

August 2025 brings a power-packed lineup of films from explosive action thrillers to heartwarming romances and long-awaited sequels. With big names, bigger budgets, and stories that promise to entertain, here’s your guide to what’s hitting the screens this month. Dhadak 2 Cast: Tripti Dimri, Siddhant Chaturvedi Director: Shazia Iqbal A socially charged romance and spiritual sequel to Dhadak (2018), this remake of Tamil cult classic Pariyerum Perumal explores caste, identity, and institutional inequality through the intense love story of law students Vidhi and Neelesh. Kingdom Cast: Vijay Deverakonda (as Suri), Satyadev, Bhagyashri BorseDirector: Gowtam Tinnanuri Kingdom is a highly anticipated pan‑India spy action drama directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri. Featuring Vijay Deverakonda in a rugged cop role, supported by Satyadev and Bhagyashri Borse, the film promises intense action and emotional depth. Originally delayed several times due to national events, it is now scheduled for a global theatrical release. War 2 Cast: Hrithik Roshan, NTR Jr., Kiara AdvaniDirector: Ayan Mukerji The next chapter in YRF’s Spy Universe, War 2, brings together two powerhouses Hrithik and NTR Jr.in a high-stakes, globe-trotting action thriller. Expect mind-blowing stunts, slick storytelling, and intense rivalries. Coolie Cast: Rajinikanth (as Deva), Nagarjuna, Upendra, Soubin Shahir, Sathyaraj, Shruti Haasan, cameo by Aamir KhanDirector: Lokesh Kanagaraj An explosive pan‑India action drama, Coolie sees Rajinikanth return in a high‑voltage gangster saga directed by celebrated filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj. Supported by a powerhouse ensemble including Nagarjuna as the antagonist and a surprise cameo from Aamir Khan, the film explores themes of crime, betrayal, and ambition. Shot across locations in Chennai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, and Bangkok, the production wrapped in March 2025. Slated for a global theatrical release on August 14, 2025, the film marks a major highlight of Rajinikanth’s 50‑year cinematic legacy and is expected to spawn impressive pre‑sales figures overseas. Son of Sardaar

Entertainment

Siddhant Chaturvedi Opens Up on Breaking into Bollywood

Siddhant Chaturvedi’s story isn’t your typical industry launchpad tale. From his small-town roots in Ballia to his breakthrough in Gully Boy, he’s carved a space for himself with grit, versatility, and quiet confidence. Ahead of the release of Dhadak 2, the actor opens up about the pressures of fame, resisting typecasting, struggling with self-styling, and how his parents’ unwavering support helped him through it all. In conversation with LIPIKA VARMA, Siddhant talks about his journey, and more. Excerpts- Do you feel pressure ahead of Dhadak 2’s release? Yes, there is pressure with every film’s release, whether it is a sequel or an independent film. But there’s more pressure with a sequel; it is not that you have to match the earlier one. There is always a desire to show something new, to show it differently, to tell a new story, because the ultimate goal is that people are entertained, and if they like something in it, they will like the film. Have you consciously chosen varied roles to avoid typecasting? Well, the work I do and at this point in time of my career, if I understand the story and I feel that this story has connected with me, then I do it. There is a conscious effort somewhere that you don’t have to do the same; you have to act in different characters, you have to present yourself in different ways, because this is the time for me. Mistakes can happen, but now I am sure I will not typecast roles. I always think that if you do one kind of thing, then that becomes your market. After doing a variety of roles, you reach a point, I have done it all, now what more? Do you believe in building a ‘market’ for yourself? I always have a goal

Entertainment

I Feel This is the Best Year of My Career- R Madhavan

R. Madhavan is back in the spotlight with Aap Jaisa Koi, a heartwarming family drama that explores love, loneliness, and rediscovery in life’s quieter chapters. As Shrirenu Tripathi a quiet, 42-year-old man who unexpectedly rediscovers love and himself Madhavan delivers one of his most layered performances yet. Directed by Vivek Soni and co-starring Fatima Sana Shaikh, the film explores emotional vulnerability, second chances, and the beauty of finding “Barabari Wala Pyaar.” In a candid chat with LIPIKA VARMA, Madhavan opens up about the film, love, ageing, and his evolving journey as an actor. Excerpts- What drew you to Aap Jaisa Koi, and what was it like playing Shrirenu? Aap Jaisa Koi is unlike any love story I’ve done before; it’s quiet, awkward, and deeply human. Shrirenu is one of the most complex characters I’ve played, someone who longs for companionship and closeness, but doesn’t quite know how to ask for it, yet he is rich with emotion underneath. This film isn’t loud or dramatic it’s patient, gentle, and deeply affecting. I was drawn to how it speaks to all the people who’ve felt overlooked in life or love. The film is a reminder that it’s never too late to start living on your own terms. It’s a story about vulnerability, rediscovery, and the idea that it’s never too late to open your heart. How has your view on romance changed over the years? Back in our day, we didn’t have apps or access to this kind of dating culture. Whatever ways romance happened was considered just okay. [hamare zamane mein choice nahi tha jo sahi tha romance mein bhi sahi mana jata hai] We didn’t have the mode to access dating apps. Therefore, if we wanted to meet a person in the city, it was difficult to meet as that

Entertainment

Tripti Dimri on Dhadak 2, Inter-Caste Love, and Negative Roles

Tripti Dimri made her debut as a leading lady in Laila Majnu (2018) and received critical acclaim for her work in Anvita Dutt’s Bulbbul (2020) and Qala (2022). She rose to fame with her scene-stealing role in the blockbuster Animal (2023) and is now one of the most talked-about names in the industry. With Dhadak 2 on the way and her recent casting in Spirit, a role that was initially set for Deepika Padukone, Tripti is clearly on a career high. In conversation with LIPIKA VARMA, Tripti talks about her upcoming films, social change through cinema, and her desire to play complex, layered roles. Tripti Simri answers a volley of questions while promoting Dhadak 2. Excerpts: How do you feel about starring in Dhadak 2? Does doing a sequel bring added pressure? I think, if you don’t take that pressure, but perform with full honesty and trust in your director and your team, that’s when magic happens. And I think that’s what Siddhanth and I and everybody else did on this project. So, we made sure not to take any pressure and just take each day as it comes. What were your inputs to the character in terms of improvisation, intensity, and spontaneity? It was a collaborative work. Every day was different. We would rehearse the scenes and then just play off each other. Siddhant has been a wonderful actor. There were a lot of scenes that were based on his reaction, even though you didn’t plan it that way. Because acting is all about reacting. The way you interact with someone day to day, naturally, your expressions come out to the best of your abilities. So, that is what happened. I think I was lucky to have good actors in this film. Everybody is just brilliant. I am happy