The trailer for the sequel of Ajay Devgn-starrer Drishyam has dropped and it’s already got us hooked. The 2017 original, directed by the late Nishikant Kamath, was the remake of a Malayalam film starring Mohanlal. A sequel to the original Malayalam film was released in 2021 and now we have the Bollywood version too, although Devgn claims that this one is slightly different from the original. The Bollywood sequel introduces new characters and reintroduces some old ones who we thought we had seen the last of.
Watch: Crime Thriller Web Series
In case you need a refresher, Drishyam follows the story of Vijay Salgaonkar whose seemingly idyllic life turns upside down after his wife and daughter kill a person in self-defence. What follows is a tight-paced thriller where Salgaonkar tries to stay one step ahead of the police to protect his family and avoid getting caught. While you can watch the first part while you wait for the sequel to release in November, here are some other Bollywood thrillers that will have you on the edge of your seats with their twists and turns.
Badla (2019)
Taapsee Pannu and Amitabh Bachchan reunited, after Pink (2016), for this brilliant crime thriller directed by Sujoy Ghosh. The story follows a young businesswoman who becomes the prime suspect of the murder of a man who is assumed to be her lover. She hires a lawyer who helps her unravel the mystery behind what truly happened. Trust us, you won’t be able to guess the twist that the film is packing.
Watch it here
Talaash (2012)
This Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, and Rani Mukherjee starrer-thriller builds slowly and arrives at a rewarding conclusion. It follows a police officer who is tormented by the recent loss of his young child and his investigation into the murder of a popular actor. The investigation leads him into the seedy underbelly of Mumbai and helps him confront some of his own demons too.
Watch it here
Kahaani (2012)
Before Badla, director Sujoy Ghosh established his thriller cred with this phenomenal movie that is a must-watch for all fans of the genre. It focuses on Vidya Bagchi, who arrives in Kolkata from London to look for her missing husband. After prodding into the increasingly fishy case on her own, she discovers that something darker is afoot. This is a movie that has to be watched with complete concentration so as to not miss a single detail.
Watch it here
Jalsa (2022)
Two powerhouse performers, Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah, come together for this thriller. The movie is about two women, a journalist and domestic help, whose lives become intertwined after a hit-and-run incident.
Watch it here
Mom (2017)
How far would you go to look after the ones you love? Like Drishyam, this movie tries to answer the question through its protaganist. This time, it’s biology teacher Devki who finds herself working with private investigator DK to search for her stepdaughter’s rapists and deliver justice to them herself. Sridevi earned a National Award for ‘Best Actress’ posthumously for her performance in this one.
Watch it here
Te3n (2016)
Another thriller that has to be watched closely to fully understand the powerful twist at the end, this movie stars Amitabh Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The movie follows a 70-year-old grandfather’s desperate search for his granddaughter’s murderer.
Watch it here
Karthik Calling Karthik (2010)
This underrated thriller went a long way in cementing Farhan Akhtar’s reputation as a formidable actor. It’s about down-on-his-luck architect Karthik whose life starts transforming for the better after he starts receiving calls from someone who claims to be Karthik too.
Watch it here
Ugly (2013)
This critically-acclaimed thriller from director Anurag Kashyap is not for the faint of heart. Set during the course of a week, the movie follows Rahul as he looks for his missing daughter with the help of her new stepfather. It soon becomes evident that things are much darker than they seem.
Watch it here
Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016)
Much before Vicky Kaushal was gunning for the position of Dream Husband ™, he was playing unsavoury characters in movies, like this one in the dark neo-noir thriller. The story is based on the life of a serial killer called Raman Raghav who operated in the 1960s. In the movie, drug-addicted corrupt cop Raghavan is investigating murders committed by a serial killer called Ramanna. The two soon realise they have more similarities than they thought.
Watch it here
Ittefaq (2017)
Inspired by the eponymous 1969 Bollywood movie, this one stars Sonakshi Sinha, Sidharth Malhotra, and Akshaye Khanna. It follows an investigation into a double murder case that has two witnesses who are also the prime suspects. It’s up to the detective to figure out which person’s testimony is the truth.
Watch it here
Wazir (2016)
This thriller pairs Farhan Akhtar and Amitabh Bachchan together. When Anti-Terrorist Squad officer Danish Ali’s job makes him lose his daughter in an avoidable accident, he becomes obsessed with bringing her killers to justice. In his quest, he stumbles upon her old chess teacher, who also lost his daughter tragically at the hands of a politician. The two team up together to avenge their daughters, until they’re apprehended by a mysterious person who identifies as the ‘Wazir’. You’ll have to watch the movie to find out more.
Watch it here
