‘Mirzapur’ Tops a Decade of Indian Streaming as New Commissions Fall, IMDb Report Finds (EXCLUSIVE)
Viewer interest in Indian streaming series has grown roughly 17-fold over the past decade, but the number of new shows and seasons commissioned has fallen for two consecutive years. An IMDb study charting the most popular titles from 2016 to 2026 suggests the market is maturing: audiences have broadened their tastes while streaming companies have become more selective about production.
“Mirzapur” appeared in the annual top 10 every year since its launch, making nine appearances, while “Scam 1992” charted five times with one season. Crime and thrillers accounted for 48 of 110 rankings, though other genres gained ground later in the period. Commissions fell from 202 in 2023 to 169 in 2024 and 145 in 2025; Hindi-language shows made up 66% of Indian streaming originals that year.
In short
- Interest in Indian streaming series rose about 17-fold in a decade.
- “Mirzapur” made the top 10 list nine times.
- New commissions fell to 145 in 2025.
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The case for
The decline in commissions may reflect a healthier, more disciplined market: after rapid growth, platforms can focus investment on projects with stronger audience prospects and make existing series count. The broadening of popular genres suggests viewers have more varied choices even as companies commission fewer titles.
The case against
Fewer commissions could mean fewer opportunities for writers, performers and production teams, and a narrower pipeline of new stories reaching audiences. Popularity rankings favour established hits such as “Mirzapur”, so a more selective market may reinforce familiar successes and make it harder for newer or less mainstream work to find support.
Explained simply
Indian streaming services have spent the past decade commissioning original series for viewers watching online, in several languages and genres. IMDb’s report tracks which titles attracted the most viewer interest each year from 2016 to 2026; its rankings include the crime series Mirzapur and Scam 1992.
The figures point to a changing industry: interest in series has grown sharply, while the number of new shows and seasons commissioned has recently declined. Hindi-language productions make up a large share of Indian streaming originals, and crime and thrillers have featured prominently, alongside a wider range of genres.
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