7 Bollywood Netflix Series That Should Have Won An Emmy

Netflix’s stunning lineup of Indian series showcases the rich storytelling traditions and visual splendor that make Bollywood a global powerhouse worthy of Emmy recognition. 

The Emmys have been sleeping on some absolute gems coming out of India lately. Netflix has been pumping out Bollywood content that honestly blows some American shows out of the water, but they barely get a nod from those gold statues. Squid Game finally broke through and proved non-English shows can win big, so there’s definitely hope for Indian series too. Maybe it’s just taking voters longer to discover these shows, or maybe they’re just overwhelmed with content these days. Either way, here are seven shows that prove Bollywood can make incredible TV too.

Dabba Cartel

Picture this: five housewives start using their lunchbox delivery service to smuggle drugs across Mumbai. It feels like Breaking Bad meets Desperate Housewives, but with a distinctly Indian twist. The way they balance family drama with the criminal underworld stuff is something to watch. This show could easily compete in the Emmys Drama category, where shows about morally complex characters making questionable choices always clean up. Plus, the cinematography makes Mumbai look both beautiful and terrifying, sometimes in the same shot.

Heeramandi

Trust Sanjay Leela Bhansali to make something so visually stunning you could frame literally any scene from this series. Set in the red light district before India gained independence, this limited series has everything Emmy voters care about – historical significance, gorgeous costumes, complex female characters, and social commentary that actually says something. The dance sequences alone deserve their own category. Limited Series is where this belongs, right alongside those HBO historical dramas that always get nominated.

Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives

Reality television reaches glorious new heights in this addictive glimpse into the lives of four women married to Bollywood royalty. The show starts off seeming shallow but gets surprisingly real about aging, marriage problems, and identity crises. Yes, there are shopping sprees and celebrity cameos galore, but there’s also genuine friendship and vulnerability. In the Reality Program category, this would stand out for being both glamorous and surprisingly authentic. 

Aranyak

Dark, foggy, mountain town? Check. Mysterious murder? Check. Local legends that might actually be real? Double check. This crime drama set in the Himalayas nails the eerie atmosphere that made shows like Twin Peaks a cult classic. The female cop at the center – played by Bollywood legend Raveena Tandon – brings raw grit and intense emotion to the investigation, as it hits home in her rural town. Drama category material through and through, with the kind of slow-burn mystery that rewards patient viewers and should have Emmy voters taking notes.

Typewriter

Kids on bikes investigating spooky stuff never gets old, but this show manages to feel fresh despite the familiar concept. Set in Goa, it blends ghost stories with coming-of-age drama in a way that’s scary without being gratuitous. The young actors actually act like real kids, not mini-adults with perfect one-liners. The supernatural elements tap into both uniquely Indian folklore and universal childhood fears. This belongs in the Drama category alongside other shows that use genre elements to explore deeper themes. 

The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth

This riveting true crime documentary series examines one of India’s most shocking murder cases with forensic precision and emotional depth. The three-part examination of media mogul Indrani Mukerjea, who’s been accused of killing her daughter to keep her lavish lifestyle, and the murder case that shocked India doesn’t go for easy answers or sensationalism. Instead, it examines class privilege, gender expectations, and media frenzy with the kind of nuance most true crime docs only pretend to have. In the Documentary category, this deserves recognition for tackling a complicated case most international viewers don’t know about, and that still has no resolution.

The Great Indian Kapil Show

Variety shows might seem outdated to Western audiences, but Kapil Sharma’s comedy series proves the format still works when you’ve got a host with genuine charisma and comedic timing. The celebrity interviews and hilarious sketches range from silly to surprisingly pointed, and the whole thing has an energy that feels like a party you actually want to be at.