Aryan Khan’s first venture as a director has taken an unexpected lead in India’s crowded streaming landscape. His Netflix series ‘The Ba**ds of Bollywood’ has been named IMDb’s Most Popular Indian Series of 2025, outpacing heavyweight titles with established fan bases and long-running franchises.
The ranking places Aryan ahead of major OTT favourites such as ‘The Family Man’, ‘Special Ops’, ‘Panchayat’ and ‘Paatal Lok’, marking a striking debut for the young filmmaker.
IMDb revealed its annual list on Wednesday, announcing the ten Indian shows that attracted the highest engagement from its global user base this year. Following Aryan’s series, Zahan Kapoor’s ‘Black Warrant’ secured second place, with Paatal Lok Season 2, Panchayat Season 4 and ‘Mandala Murders’ rounding out the top five. Seven of the ten spots have gone to crime thrillers, reflecting a continued appetite for gritty narratives.
In response to the recognition, Aryan said the team created the series with the intention of making noise and challenging expectations. He described the project as a tribute to the madness and mischief of the Hindi film industry, emphasising that the show was designed to capture both its glamour and its more chaotic corners.
He added that the digital reaction to the series has been as significant as the ranking itself. Memes, edits and heated online debates, he said, suggest the show has pushed beyond typical web-series chatter and entered mainstream cultural conversation. Aryan thanked viewers for embracing his vision and hinted that he plans to build on this momentum.
Released on Netflix in September, The Ba**ds of Bollywood* is a satirical take on the inner workings of the film industry. Starring Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Sahher Bambba and Bobby Deol, the series blends dark humour with commentary on power struggles, opportunism and the precarious position of industry outsiders. The cast also includes Anya Singh, Mona Singh and Manoj Pahwa.
