From Khauf To Sitaare Zameen Par, 2025's 10 Best Hindi Films & Shows
| Halfway into 2025, it's clear that Hindi storytelling isn’t playing safe. And these films and shows have been among the year’s boldest so far, writes Swetha Ramakrishnan .
| THIS IS BY NO MEANS A DEFINITIVE LIST. We’re in June, halfway through 2025, and a bunch of interesting content has hit our screens (small and big). There’s the dark underworld of Paatal Lok 2 , uncovered prison secrets from Black Warrant , or genre-benders like Khauf, among many others from the series side. Films, on the other hand, have been more of a hit and miss. Theatrical releases were dominated by sequels (and whatever the right phrase is to refer to Housefull 5 ), from Raid 2 to Kesari 2 . Streaming films this year have been far more engaging compared to the biggest blockbuster of the year, Chhaava , which is — let’s be honest — mostly political posturing. (Now that Vicky Kaushal is happy with his version of Baahubali meets Uri , maybe we’ll get to see him not be a blind superstar; one can only hope.) Get access to 30+ streaming platforms with OTTplay Premium's Power Play monthly pack, for only Rs 149. However, if 2025 has proven anything, it’s that Hindi storytelling is in no mood to play it safe. These 10 films and series of 2025 are selected from content categorised as Hindi entertainment and have been released in both theatres and streaming platforms. | 1. Superboys of Malegaon Superboys of Malegaon is one of those films that can make you laugh and cry at the same time. Adarsh Gourav’s facial expressions, Shashank Arora’s gravitas, Varun Grover’s writing and Reema Kagti’s direction — all fused together to bring a warm hug of a story, especially for those of us who harbour dreams of becoming an artiste someday. Based on a story about a group of friends from Malegaon in Maharashtra who one day decide to make their own film, Superboys of Malegaon is a charming dramedy that pays tribute to the humane spirit of cinema. ALSO READ | Superboys Of Malegaon: A Charming Love Letter To Cinema | 2. The Diplomat Based on a true story of an Indian diplomat (JP Singh) who was stationed in the Indian High Commission in Pakistan, The Diplomat caught me by surprise. Not just because there wasn’t one scene where John Abraham took his shirt off and beat up a bunch of goons, but because I guarantee you that if you watch 10 minutes of The Diplomat, you will not move from your seat till the end of the movie. It’s one of those thrillers that doesn’t resort to twists to keep audiences engaged. Special mention to Sadia Khateeb, who plays the female protagonist in the film. Her eyes do a lot of talking. | 3. Logout Sadly, Logout isn’t what Babil Khan will be known for this year (drunken Insta rant, anyone?), because this sharp satire that was released on ZEE5 really made me question how attached I am to my technological devices. Babil is brilliant as a Gen Z social media influencer who is obsessed with increasing his followers. When his cellphone is stolen, everything starts to go downhill (and the fun begins). Digital vandalism, anonymous hackers, what’s reel vs what’s real — it’s all there in Logout , and it’s an extremely engaging watch. | 4. Mrs. First things first, we aren’t going to entertain statements like, “ The Great Indian Kitchen is a better film.” Yes, the Malayalam original is more rooted, subtle and nuanced (and in my personal opinion, yes, it’s the better film between the two), but Mrs. also manages to achieve (greatly) what The Great Indian Kitchen does , which is that it’s a film that became a legit conversation starter in the most conservative homes. Sanya Malhotra plays a housewife who has to manoeuvre patriarchal practices in her in-laws' home with a smile on her face. I’ve never waited for someone to have a meltdown as much as I waited for Sanya to shed her sweet girl image and go rogue at the end of the film. It’s a pity Mrs . wasn’t released in theatres. | 5. Sitaare Zameen Par Okay, hear me out. Under very few circumstances would I find an emotionally manipulative, preachy Aamir Khan film worthy of adding to a “best of” list. Having said that, given how abysmal most of Bollywood’s theatrical releases have been this year, Sitaare Zameen Par felt like a walk in the park. Easy to watch, easy to cry to and laugh with, easy to feel empathy for the characters, and one of the best moments in the film is every time Aamir Khan makes a joke about his height (they call him “tingu” in the film repeatedly). There’s no other Indian superstar who would have the guts to do that, so we’ll put up with Aamir’s PK hangover and wanting to make every film of his a version of Satyamev Jayate . Sitaare Zameen Par: An Overeager Aamir Khan Is Not Good News | 1. Paatal Lok 2 It’s difficult to find Indian streaming shows where the second season is as good as the first, if not better. On that front, Paatal Lok season 2 is a riveting, cinematic and bold series that wears its politics on its sleeves and boasts of authentic characterisations. The first season introduced us to GOAT Hathiram Choudhry, an underachieving anti-hero who does some of the most heroic acts in a city like Delhi. In the second season, the action shifts to Nagaland and the area’s socio-political history lends to a meaty and engaging season that won’t let you stop until you binge all episodes. Petition for more Jaideep Ahlawat shows in 2026. Here's what our critic had to say about Paatal Lok season 2. | 2. Khauf Khauf is the kind of horror series that demands your attention. It scares you, it makes you think, it makes you root for characters you didn’t think you’d root for. A story about four women who are stuck in a girls’ hostel and can’t step outside, because as they do so, horrible acts start to happen to them. The capital city plays a massive role in building horror in Khauf , but Monica Panwar is excellent as the titular character, Madhu. For me, Khauf is the series of the year, and it’s not because I think it’s flawless. The story lags a bit in the middle, but what it represents, and how it uses the horror genre to dole out social commentary, is masterful. MORE FROM THIS WRITER | What Khauf Understands About Being A Woman That Most Horror Doesn't 3. The Traitors It wouldn’t be wrong to say that The Traitors is the best reality TV series to hit our screens this year (and I say this knowing fully well that this year’s Roadies garnered massive TRPs because of the return of Ranvijay as host). The games, the deception, the betrayals, the acting, the murders and Karan Johar’s OTT presence have made The Traitors a household name. It’s also refreshing to see a new reality TV format after years of seeing the same kind of tasks and politics in every show (at some point, Roadies, Bigg Boss, and Khatron Ke Khiladi all start merging into one). Sigh, Thursdays can’t come soon enough. | 4. Black Warrant Zahan Kapoor is the discovery of this year — imagine, a Kapoor we didn’t know about. And what a show he chose to be discovered in, Vikramaditya Motwane’s Black Warrant . A gritty crime drama that shows us the realities of prison life: sounds familiar? I thought the same when I began watching the show. But Motwane’s compelling narrative setting, the meticulous framing of every sequence and Jahaan Kapoor’s raw and charming performance brought something new and exciting to Black Warrant . | 5. Kanneda I didn’t expect to be so blown away by Kanneda when I clicked on the first episode. It’s a show that is like a gut punch and a reminder at the same time. Gut punch about the reality of crime and racism against Indian Sikhs in Canada, and a reminder that some of the most understated series can sneak from between the bigwigs and completely steal the show. Watch out for Parmish Varma, who plays the lead in the series and portrays complex emotions in heavy scenes with ease. The series champions a realistic portrayal of immigrant struggles in Canada, from the perspective of a man who just wants to go home but can’t. | Like what you read? Get more of what you like. Visit the OTTplay website or download the app to stay up-to-date with news, recommendations and special offers on streaming content. Plus: always get the latest reviews. Sign up for our newsletters. Already a subscriber? 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