Season 1
7 episodes Mar 22, 2019 8.0
As Delhi reels in the aftermath of a gang rape, DCP Vartika Chaturvedi leads a painstaking search for the culprits. Inspired by the 2012 Nirbhaya case.
Overview
Following the police force as they investigate high-profile crimes in Delhi, this series has seasons inspired by both real and fictional events.
Seasons
3 listed- Status
- Returning Series
- Seasons
- 3 seasons
- Episodes
- 18 episodes
- First aired
- Mar 22, 2019
- Last aired
- Nov 13, 2025
- Network
- Netflix
Latest episode: S3 E6 Episode 6 (Nov 13, 2025)
Season 2
5 episodes Aug 26, 2022 7.4When a chain of distinctly grisly murders suggests the return of a feared criminal gang, DCP Vartika heads the case under media and public pressure. Inspired by the Chaddi Baniyan Gang.
Season 3
6 episodes Nov 13, 2025 8.5Season 3 focuses on human trafficking, as two different cases unfold: one with Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vartika Chaturvedi (Shah) investigating a truck full of missing young women; and the other by Neeti Singh IPS (Dugal), who is trying to find the mother of an abused baby that was abandoned at the hospital. Inspired by the 2012 Baby Falak case.
Cast
12 people
Reviews
5 min readPaperwork, Dust, and the Human Cost of Order
latestnetflix.com's view is that a police procedural can be comforting in the same way a neatly filed cabinet is comforting.Labels. Binders.
People in authority moving pieces around until the mess seems, for a little while, containable. Delhi Crime understands that impulse and then quietly strips it bare. What stays with me isn’t the machinery of investigation so much as the exhausted faces hovering around it — the sense that every correct step has already arrived too late, and that “justice” is less a clean ending than a form of continued labor.
Because this is a series rooted in real public trauma, it arrives carrying a weight that most crime dramas politely sidestep. The first season, created by Richie Mehta, is anchored in the aftermath of the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, and that origin matters. This isn’t a slick “based on true events” thriller trying to exploit a headline; it’s a work of bureaucratic endurance, built out of forms, phone calls, stale tea, and the awful knowledge that the city is watching.
I think that’s why it’s so effective. The drama isn’t in whether the police will solve the case — we already know the broad shape of history — but in how a team of people, many of them tired and morally compromised by the job, move through a catastrophe that has already become a public wound.
Richie Mehta’s direction, across the seasons, is unusually patient for television that could easily have leaned on frenzy. He favors observation over escalation. Hallways seem longer than they should be.
Offices look fluorescent and airless. The camera often stays at a remove, as if it doesn’t quite trust the institutions it’s filming. That choice gives the series a peculiar moral texture: no one gets the glamour of heroism, not even when they’re doing the right thing.
Delhi, in this telling, is not just a setting but a system — dense, overheated, overpopulated, and forever pressing against the limits of what any single person can manage.
Shefali Shah is the series’ center of gravity, and I don’t just mean that in the usual prestige-TV sense. Watch the way she carries Vartika Chaturvedi: shoulders squared, voice kept deliberately level, as though emotion is something that would only slow the investigation down. Shah has been one of those actors who can do more with a blink than many people manage in a speech, and here she uses restraint as a form of pressure.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 7.8/10
"A grim, performance-driven procedural viewers respect for its acting and serious handling of a real-life case."
On Netflix viewers come to Delhi Crime as a serious police procedural built around the 2012 Delhi case. The draw is Shefali Shah and the ensemble and a grounded investigation focus praised for performances, writing and handling of the real-life inspiration. Hindi, Urdu and other review discussion, including follow-up talk around season 2, shows people kept watching and debating it after its March 2019 Netflix launch following its Sundance showcase. Russian-speaking viewers echo that mood, describing it as an uninvented nightmare, stressing how the brutality shocked India itself and focusing on police work under pressure rather than sensationalism. latestnetflix.com's take is that that same seriousness is the filter, it plays as harrowing, respected viewing rather than light binge fare, and it remains subscription viewing on Netflix.
What viewers praise
- Praised performances and writing Audience and critical response centered on strong acting, writing and handling of the real-life inspired case.
- Sustained review conversation Hindi, Urdu and follow-up season 2 review videos show viewers kept watching, rewatching and discussing the series.
Common complaints
- Subscription-only access Viewing requires Netflix with no free streaming option, which limits casual sampling.
Recommended for
Fans of true-crime-inspired police procedurals Viewers who prefer grounded, performance-driven Indian drama
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Delhi Crime: The Making of a Groundbreaking Indian Crime Drama
Delhi Crime (2019) isn’t just another cop procedural—it’s a series that redefined Indian crime storytelling, blending gritty realism with emotional depth. Based on the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape case, the Netflix original series follows Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vartika Chaturvedi and her team as they race to bring the perpetrators to justice. latestnetflix.com's read is that but beyond its harrowing narrative, the show’s production and casting choices reveal a meticulous approach to authenticity and performance.
Shefali Shah’s Transformation into DCP Vartika Chaturvedi
The heart of Delhi Crime is Shefali Shah’s powerhouse performance as Vartika Chaturvedi, a role that demanded both emotional intensity and procedural precision. Shah, known for her nuanced portrayals, prepared rigorously for the part, immersing herself in the world of Delhi Police. In an interview, she revealed the challenges of playing a real-life officer tasked with solving one of India’s most infamous crimes. "I had to understand the weight of the responsibility she carried," Shah said, emphasizing the pressure of portraying a figure who became a symbol of justice for many 
.
Her preparation included shadowing police officers and studying case files to capture the bureaucratic and emotional toll of the investigation. The result? A performance so compelling that it earned the series the International Emmy Award for Best Drama Series in 2020—the first Indian show to win in that category . Shah’s portrayal was later nominated for an International Emmy in 2023, cementing her status as one of India’s most formidable actors .
The Real-Life Inspiration Behind the Series
Delhi Crime isn’t just inspired by true events—it’s a dramatized retelling of the Delhi Police’s investigation into the Nirbhaya case. Director Richie Mehta spent years researching the case, interviewing officers, and poring over police records to ensure accuracy. The series doesn’t shy away from the grim realities of the investigation, including the bureaucratic hurdles and public outrage that shaped the case .
Shefali Shah herself admitted she was unaware of many details of the investigation before working on the show. "I didn’t know this side of the story," she told The Telegraph, calling the experience both "grim" and "gripping" . The series’ unflinching portrayal of the case resonated with audiences, earning a 7.8/10 rating on SensCritique and widespread critical acclaim .
The Cast’s Commitment to Authenticity
Shah wasn’t the only actor who went the extra mile. The ensemble cast, including Rasika Dugal, Rajesh Tailang, and Adil Hussain, brought a level of realism that elevated the series. Dugal, who played a junior officer, reportedly spent time with female police officers to understand their experiences . Meanwhile, Tailang and Hussain, who portrayed senior officers, worked closely with Mehta to ensure their performances reflected the pressures of real-life policing.
The chemistry among the cast was palpable, with Shah noting that the team’s collaborative energy was key to the show’s success. "We were all in it together, trying to tell this story with honesty," she said in an interview . This dedication paid off, with the series praised for its authentic dialogue, pacing, and emotional depth—a rarity in Indian crime dramas .
**The Legacy of *Delhi Crime***
Beyond its critical success, Delhi Crime set a new benchmark for Indian cop shows. Unlike traditional Bollywood crime dramas, which often rely on melodrama, Delhi Crime opted for a documentary-style approach, blending procedural realism with human drama. The series’ expansion into a second season (and rumored third) suggests its impact is far from over .
For Shah, the role of Vartika Chaturvedi was more than just another part—it was an "epiphanic" experience that reshaped her understanding of power and vulnerability. "Playing her taught me that strength isn’t about being invincible; it’s about being human," she reflected .
With its gripping storytelling and powerhouse performances, Delhi Crime isn’t just a series—it’s a cultural milestone.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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