Lists
12 Best Bollywood Thriller Movies That Keep You Guessing
From Andhadhun to Drishyam, the Hindi thrillers with the smartest twists, plus who each one is for and where to stream it.
By the DailyMovieHub Team4 min read
Bollywood is known for songs and big emotions, but some of the best Hindi films of the last twenty years are tight, clever thrillers with no time for either. These are the ones we would hand to a friend who says "Hindi movies aren't for me."
We picked films that hold up on a second watch, when you already know the twist. That is the real test of a thriller.
1. Andhadhun (2018)
★ 7.62h 19mCrime · Mystery · ThrillerHindi
Directed by Sriram Raghavan · Starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu
A pianist pretends to be blind to get gigs, and then "sees" a murder he can't report without exposing himself. Sriram Raghavan keeps turning the screw for two hours, and Tabu is terrifying in a role that refuses to stay in one box.
Watch it if you like dark comedy mixed into your suspense. The ending is still argued about online.
2. Drishyam (2015)
★ 7.52h 43mMystery · Thriller · DramaHindi
Directed by Nishikant Kamat · Starring Ajay Devgn, Tabu
A cable TV operator with a fourth-grade education outsmarts the police to protect his family after an accident. Ajay Devgn plays Vijay as a quiet, ordinary man, which is exactly why the plan feels believable.
It is a remake of the 2013 Malayalam film of the same name, and both versions are worth your time. Start with whichever language you're more comfortable in.
3. Kahaani (2012)
★ 7.22h 2mMystery · ThrillerHindi
Directed by Sujoy Ghosh · Starring Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chatterjee
A pregnant woman arrives in Kolkata during Durga Puja to search for her missing husband, and nobody seems to believe he ever existed. Vidya Balan carries the film, and the city itself becomes a character: crowded, noisy and full of people who know more than they say.
Watch it if you enjoy a slow build. The last twenty minutes pay off everything.
4. A Wednesday! (2008)
★ 7.01h 43mDrama · ThrillerHindi
Directed by Neeraj Pandey · Starring Anupam Kher, Naseeruddin Shah
An anonymous caller tells the Mumbai police commissioner that bombs are planted across the city, and the clock starts. Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher spend most of the film on opposite ends of a phone line, and it is more gripping than most action movies.
At well under two hours, this is the one to pick when you want a thriller with zero filler.
5. Talvar (2015)
★ 7.52h 12mThriller · Drama · MysteryHindi
Directed by Meghna Gulzar · Starring Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma
Inspired by the real 2008 Noida double murder investigation, Talvar shows the same events from several points of view, each one convincing until the next. Irrfan Khan plays the investigator who starts to doubt everything the first team concluded.
It is less a whodunit than a story about how an investigation can go wrong. Heavy, but important.
6. Special 26 (2013)
★ 7.32h 24mCrime · Drama · ThrillerHindi
Directed by Neeraj Pandey · Starring Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher
A gang of con men raids rich businessmen and politicians by posing as CBI officers, and the real CBI is closing in. Based on a famous 1987 heist, this is the most fun movie on the list: clever, stylish and never too serious.
Watch it if you like heist films such as Ocean's Eleven.
7. Raat Akeli Hai (2020)
★ 6.82h 29mCrime · Mystery · ThrillerHindi
Directed by Honey Trehan · Starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Radhika Apte
A small-town cop investigates the murder of a wealthy landowner on his wedding night, and every member of the family has a motive. Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the detective with a mix of awkwardness and stubbornness that feels very real.
This is a classic murder-mystery setup, done patiently. Good for a late night.
8. Badla (2019)
★ 7.22h 0mCrime · ThrillerHindi
Directed by Sujoy Ghosh · Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu
A businesswoman accused of murder has one evening with a famous defence lawyer to get her story straight. Amitabh Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu spar across a table for most of the film, and the story keeps changing shape.
It is a remake of the Spanish film The Invisible Guest. If you've seen that, you know the twist; if not, go in blind.
9. Talaash (2012)
★ 6.82h 29mCrime · Drama · ThrillerHindi
Directed by Reema Kagti · Starring Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan
A police inspector investigates a film star's fatal car crash while dealing with grief at home. Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukerji play it low-key, and the Mumbai night scenes are moody and beautiful.
Talaash divides viewers because of its ending. We think it's earned, but it isn't a "pure" thriller.
10. Baby (2015)
★ 6.82h 40mAction · ThrillerHindi
Directed by Neeraj Pandey · Starring Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher
An undercover counter-terror unit races to stop an attack, moving across several countries. Akshay Kumar is in serious mode here, and director Neeraj Pandey (who also made A Wednesday!) keeps the pace relentless.
Watch it if you want a spy thriller that feels grounded rather than flashy.
11. Ittefaq (2017)
★ 6.81h 47mCrime · ThrillerHindi
Directed by Abhay Chopra · Starring Sidharth Malhotra, Sonakshi Sinha
Two murders, two witnesses, and each says the other did it. A police officer has three days to find out who is lying. Akshaye Khanna is the highlight as the investigator, and the film plays fair with its clues.
Short and twisty, it is a good pick when you can't decide what to watch.
12. Drishyam 2 (2022)
★ 8.02h 20mThriller · Drama · MysteryHindi
Directed by Abhishek Pathak · Starring Ajay Devgn, Akshaye Khanna
Seven years later, the case Vijay buried is reopened. Sequels to great thrillers usually disappoint; this one surprisingly doesn't, because it uses everything you know from the first film against you.
Watch the first Drishyam right before this one. The payoff is much better that way.
How we picked
We chose films that are still entertaining after you know the ending, that don't lean on songs to fill time, and that most viewers rate highly. We left out a few classics that feel dated today, and we will update this list as new Hindi thrillers come out.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Bollywood thriller of all time? Andhadhun and Drishyam come up most often, and both deserve it. Pick Andhadhun for dark comedy, Drishyam for family drama.
Which Bollywood thriller has the best twist? Kahaani. Avoid spoilers before you watch it.
Are these movies on Netflix or Prime Video? It depends on your country and changes often. Each card above shows the current streaming options, updated daily.
Ratings, runtimes and streaming availability come from TMDB and JustWatch and update automatically. Availability differs by country.