Most Watched Web Series of 2023: This year was quite remarkable in terms of entertainment. It saw the release of numerous new crime, thriller, comedy, and inspiring web series on OTT platforms. Some of these series soared to unprecedented heights of popularity, captivating audiences both in India and globally. They shed light on social issues and delved into historical narratives.
Presented here is a list highlighting some of the most talked web series of 2023, which garnered the highest viewership in India by October 2023.
Most Watched Web Series of 2023 in India
1. Farzi (IMDb rating: 8.4)
“Farzi” is a crime thriller web series presented in 2023, which focuses on income inequality in Indian society. The story revolves around an artist named Sunny, who fails to keep his grandfather’s revolutionary printing press running and becomes disillusioned with income inequality in India. He decides to counterfeit currency notes with his best friend Firoz.
The lead roles in the web series are played by Shahid Kapoor as Sunny, Vijay Sethupathi as Michael Vednayagam, a special operations officer and director of CCFRTI (a counterfeit note detection agency), and Kay Kay Menon as KK Menon, a gangster in Jordan.
Also read: New Movies on OTT: Watch These New Films in October (2023)
2. The Night Manager (IMDb rating: 7.6)
Apart from “Farzi,” the next most-watched web series on OTT platforms in 2023 was ‘The Night Manager.’ “The Night Manager” presents an intriguing story that revolves around the night manager of a hotel, Shantanu ‘Shaan’ Sengupta. Shaan, a former Indian Navy Lieutenant, works as a night manager at a premier star hotel in Dhaka. He is contacted by Safina Kidwai, a 14-year-old girl who is married to the majority shareholder of the hotel, Freddy Rahman, and asks for his help in fleeing to India.
Upon Shaan’s refusal, she steals his phone and secretly records a meeting between Shailendra ‘Shelly’ Rungta and her husband, discussing the illegal purchase and trafficking of arms in Bangladesh. She also takes pictures of documents and returns the phone to Shaan, allowing him to see everything. He then goes to his friend Vikram Bhagwat, at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, to share all the information and evidence.
Also read: 4 Time Travel Movies and Web Series on OTT in 2024
3. Rana Naidu (IMDb rating: 7.1)
Amidst the complexities of the celebrity world, Rana Naidu is a problem solver. After his father’s release from jail, Rana confronts family politics and personal struggles, feeling unable to solve his own problems. This web series can be viewed on Netflix.
4. Jubilee (IMDb rating: 8.4)
“Jubilee” offers a unique opportunity to relive the golden age of Hindi cinema, which occurred in the 1940s. The backdrop of this series is around the events of Bombay in 1947. Its narrative revolves around a man’s dream of becoming the next superstar of his country, reminding us of the era of Bollywood characterized by glamour, aspirations, and betrayals taking center stage. This web series is available on Amazon Prime and directed by Vikramaditya Motwane.
5. Asur: Welcome to Your Dark Side (IMDb rating: 8.5)
“Asur: Welcome to Your Dark Side” is set in the mysterious city of Varanasi, where Nikhil Nair, a forensic scientist turned professor, reconnects with his roots and gets entangled in a cat-and-mouse game with a cruel serial killer alongside his former inspiration, Dhananjay Rajput. This series showcases the story of a serial killer deeply rooted in Hindu scriptures, perpetrating sensitive murders aimed at destruction. Now it is the responsibility of forensic experts Dhananjay Rajput (Arshad Warsi) and Nikhil Nair (Barun Sobti) to catch this sociopath before it’s too late. “Asur” is currently streaming on Jio Cinema ott app.
6. Dahaad (IMDb rating: 7.6)
“Dahaad” revolves around the case of a missing girl at the Mandava Police Station in a small town in Rajasthan, which is related to a marginalized community. When some women die under mysterious circumstances in public toilets, Deputy Inspector Anjali Bhati (Sonakshi Sinha) is tasked with leading the investigation. As the case unfolds, it is revealed that suicides could be the work of a serial killer, initiating a thrilling cat-and-mouse game.
The web series stars Sonakshi Sinha, Gulshan Devaiah, Vijay Varma, and Soham Shah in lead roles, and it is directed by Reema Kagti and Ruchika Oberoi. This series is streaming on Amazon Prime.
7. Taaza Khabar (IMDb rating: 8.1)
“Taaza Khabar” is an Indian comedy-thriller web series written by Abbas Dalal and Hussain Dalal, directed by Himank Gaur. The main cast includes Bhuvan Bam, Shreya Pilgaonkar, J. D. Chakravarthy, Deven Bhojani, Prathamesh Parab, Nitya Mathur, and Shilpa Shukla.
The story revolves around Vasanta Gawde, also known as Vasyya, who is a sanitation worker. One day, she helps an old woman, and with her blessing, her ordinary life suddenly changes, and she gains magical powers.
8. Taj: Divided by Blood (IMDb rating: 6.9)
“Taj” explores the darker aspects of the Mughal Empire and its emperors. This web series can be watched on Zee5.
9. Rocket Boys (IMDb rating: 8.9)
“Rocket Boys” is based on the lives of Indian scientists Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha and Dr. Vikram Sarabhai. It is a Hindi-language series streaming on SonyLIV. This time period series showcases the journey of two extraordinary Indian scientists—Dr. Homi Jehangir Bhabha (Jim Sarbh) and Dr. Vikram Ambalal Sarabhai (Ishwak Singh)—who, while building the future of India, make history.
The series is directed by Abhay Pannu and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur, Monisha Advani, and Madhu Bhojwani.
These web series offered a diverse range of content and entertained audiences with their gripping narratives and stellar performances. Each series explored different themes and genres, contributing to the rich landscape of web entertainment in India.
