5 Best Indian OTT Web Series of all time

Prachi Khandelwal

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way Indians choose what to watch, driving people away from theatres to OTT platforms. Several web series are connecting well with audiences and gaining repeat viewership. Shows like The Family Man, Panchayat, Mirzapur and many more can be watched again and again.

We have picked five best OTT series to make things easier for you:

The Family Man

With an 8.7/10 rating on IMDb, this web series is a definite fan favourite, having garnered significant traction on Amazon Prime Video and various social media platforms. The series is about a middle-class man named Srikant Tiwari who works for the National Investigation Agency. As he tries his best to protect the nation from terrorism, he is simultaneously trying to keep his family safe. A thriller series that has already hooked the Indian audience for three seasons now, has the fourth one already on the much-awaited list of all the series’ fans. If you love Manoj Bajpayee, you have got enough reasons to add this to your list already!

Panchayat

A heart-warming series that keeps giving us some of the best memes like “Kijiye meeting meeting…”. With an IMDb rating of 9.0/10, Panchayat is one of the best OTT series of all time, netizens say on social media platforms. It’s fun, raw, emotionally connective, and relatable to people in both urban and rural areas. Panchayat is a comedy-drama that follows the journey of Abhishek, an engineering graduate who, due to limited job options, takes up a position as the secretary of a Panchayat office in a remote village of Uttar Pradesh. This Amazon Prime Video series shows how Abhishek Tripathi, played by Jitendra Kumar, faces several challenges in the village while also trying to pursue his dream.

Ashok Rout, a techie and a movie buff, working at Deloitte, says, “Panchayat, with its beautiful narrative, makes the audience relate to the complex yet lovable characters of Phulera village. The rural setting wasn’t viewed as something marketable or cool when Panchayat came out. With the simplicity of the characters building an emotion-heavy narrative for four seasons now, and to be able to make the audience care for them is actually good storytelling.”

Aspirants

With an IMDb rating of 9.1/10, Aspirants is one of the highest-rated Indian web series of all time, coming second only to Scam 1992. The series, a TVF special, talks about three friends preparing for UPSC civil services exam in Old Rajinder Nagar, Delhi: Abhilash Sharma, played by Naveen Kasturia; Guri, played by Shivankit Singh Parihar; and SK, played by Abhilash Thapliyal. You can watch it on Amazon Prime Video.

Mirzapur

A cult-favourite and a thriller web series, Mirzapur revolves around the story of Akhandananda Tripathi, played by Pankaj Tripathi, who has made millions by exporting carpets. He is the mafia boss of Mirzapur, and his son Munna Tripathi, played by Divyendu, an unworthy, power-hungry heir, who is nothing but a failure in his father’s legacy. With an IMDb rating of 8.4/10, Mirzapur has one of the best casts, as claimed by netizens. After three successful seasons, fans are waiting for its fourth season, which is expected to return on Amazon Prime Video in late 2026.

Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story

Last but not least, the highest-rated Indian web series of all time, Scam 1992, is a story of Harshad Mehta, the stockbroker who is said to be responsible for taking the stock market to greater heights but ultimately led to a huge crash. Having a rating of 9.2/10, critics say, the rise and fall of Mehta has been accurately directed by Hansal Mehta, while actor Pratik Gandhi marvellously portrayed the infamous stock broker and won many awards for his acting acumen. You can watch it on Sony Liv.

What Movie Buffs Say

Rout says, “I have watched all five of them. I personally feel that they are all very different. Panchayat provides a grounded human lens to rural India, which we were not privy to when it first came out. Aspirants, being the TVF dark horse, follow the footsteps of Kota Factory to show the journey of UPSC and its impact on human lives and relationships. The first and second seasons of Family Man, were mostly quirky and grounded takes with spectacular action to back up the Indian spy thriller. Scam 1992 was the first time a biopic of a stock market crime became so popular that knowledge about the stock market and trading fever became common. And finally, Mirzapur was defined by the macho desi masala that defined the OTT era and inspired a lot of knock-offs for the years to come.”

Akshay Arora, who also runs his YouTube channel by the name Quickcine_byte, says, “If I had to pick my favourite, it would definitely be Panchayat. The reason is simple. It talks about things that are deeply rooted in reality at a time when most people look for action, thrillers and heavy masala. This series chooses a completely different path. It doesn’t rely on big twists or loud drama; instead, it focuses on real stories, real emotions and real people. The level of authenticity in Panchayat is what makes it special for me. This is the kind of cinema I genuinely enjoy, one that tells a story honestly and stays true to its roots.”

The Audience Connect

From intense thrillers to simple, heart-touching dramas, Indian OTT platforms are delivering stories that truly connect with audiences. Series like The Family Man, Panchayat, Aspirants, Mirzapur and Scam 1992 prove that strong writing and relatable characters matter more than scale or star power. These shows have not only shaped India’s OTT journey but have also earned a permanent place in viewers’ watchlists—making them truly the best of all time.

Impactful storyline, power-packed performances, shocking plot twists, killer climax, suspense or just a heart-warming and relatable one, what are the key elements you look for when selecting a web series to watch on OTT? Don’t forget to mention in the comments section below.