A new report from Ormax Media reveals the most-watched streaming original shows and films in India during the first half of 2025, with crime thrillers and popular dramas dominating the top spots.
India’s Streaming Favorites Crowned
The first half of 2025 saw massive viewership for original content on Indian streaming platforms. Ormax Media’s “Top 50 streaming original” list highlights the shows that truly captured the nation’s attention.
These rankings are based on actual unique viewers, meaning each person is counted only once, irrespective of how many accounts they might use. For shows, a viewer is counted if they watched at least one full episode. For films, the threshold is watching at least 30 minutes.
The Top Three: Crime, Drama, and Rural Life
Leading the pack is the popular crime thriller “Criminal Justice” from Hotstar, starring Pankaj Tripathi. It secured the top position with an impressive 27.7 million viewers, showcasing its continued popularity among audiences.
Following closely in second place is Bobby Deol’s “Ek Badnaam Aashram Season 3 Part 2.” This dramatic series garnered a significant 27.1 million viewers, proving its strong fan base.
Rounding out the top three is the much-loved rural comedy-drama “Panchayat Season 4,” featuring Jitendra Kumar. It secured 23.8 million viewers, maintaining its status as a highly anticipated and watched show.
Other Big Hits That Made The Cut
Beyond the top three, several other shows attracted millions of eyes. Jaideep Ahlawat’s critically acclaimed series “Paatal Lok” on Amazon Prime Video landed in fourth place with 16.8 million viewers.
Notably, the global phenomenon “Squid Game season 3” also made a strong showing in India, claiming the fifth spot with 16.5 million views. This indicates the growing appeal of international content among Indian viewers.
The list also includes animated mythological series “The Legend of Hanuman S6” with 16.2 million viewers, demonstrating the enduring popularity of mythological tales. “The Royals” followed with 15.5 million views.
Further down the top ten are “The secret of the Shiledars” (14.5 million), “Chidiya Udd” (13.7 million), and “Jewel Thief” (13.1 million), showcasing a diverse range of genres captivating Indian audiences.
- “Criminal Justice” (Hotstar) was the most-watched show with 27.7 million viewers.
- “Ek Badnaam Aashram Season 3 Part 2” and “Panchayat Season 4” completed the top three.
- Ormax Media counts unique individuals who watch at least one full episode (shows) or 30 minutes (films).
- Popular international series like “Squid Game season 3” also made it into the top five.
These figures highlight the dynamic and rapidly expanding landscape of streaming entertainment in India, with local productions and global hits both finding massive audiences.
