Aryan Khan's Netflix series **"The Bads of Bollywood" has secured the No.1 position on IMDb's 2025 most popular Indian series rankings*, beating out a field of acclaimed crime thrillers and franchise heavyweights. The ranking is determined by global page views from IMDb's 250 million monthly users, making it one of the most credible measures of worldwide audience interest in Indian content.
How IMDb's 2025 Indian Series Rankings Work
The list covers shows released in India between January 1 and November 30, 2025, with only series holding an average user rating of 6 or higher qualifying. The results point to a sharp audience shift toward crime storytelling — seven of the Top 10 titles fall into the thriller genre.
Netflix and Prime Video dominated the streaming race, each earning four spots in the Top 10, while JioHotstar secured two positions.
The Full IMDb Top 10 Most Popular Indian Series of 2025
**No.1 — "The Bads of Bollywood"* (Netflix) — Directed by Aryan Khan
No.2 — "Black Warrant" (Netflix) — Vikramaditya Motwane's acclaimed prison drama
No.3 — "Paatal Lok" Season 2 (Prime Video)
No.4 — "Panchayat" Season 4 (Prime Video) — the fan-favorite comedy-drama that keeps growing with each season
No.5 — "Mandala Murders" (Netflix) — a mythological crime thriller
No.6 — "Khauf" (Prime Video)
No.7 — "Special Ops" Season 2 (JioHotstar)
No.8 — "Khakee: The Bengal Chapter" (Netflix) — a standalone sequel expanding the Bihar universe to West Bengal
No.9 — "The Family Man" Season 3 (Prime Video)
No.10 — "Criminal Justice: A Family Matter" (JioHotstar)
Aryan Khan on Reaching No.1 on IMDb
In a statement following the announcement, Aryan Khan celebrated the achievement, calling "The Ba*ds of Bollywood" "a pop-culture phenomenon." He said the goal was to present Bollywood without filters — capturing the raw ambition and energy of the Hindi film industry — and that the global reaction proves audiences were ready for exactly that kind of unvarnished storytelling.
IMDb India head Yaminie Patodia said the Top 10 reflects bold storytelling and cultural confidence, with Indian creators demonstrating a clear ability to connect deeply with international audiences well beyond their home market.
What the Rankings Mean for Indian Streaming
The 2025 IMDb list is a landmark for Indian OTT content. With Aryan Khan's debut at the top and veteran franchises like The Family Man and Panchayat holding strong, the data confirms that Indian audiences — and global viewers — are hungry for both bold new voices and beloved returning series. The crime thriller's dominance of seven out of ten slots signals where Indian streaming storytelling is heading in 2026.
