Best dark & gritty Hindi movies on ZEE5 in India

By the KyaDekhu team · Updated 23 October 2026 · Availability for India from JustWatch, ratings from IMDb

177 movies on ZEE5 in India match this list, with an average IMDb rating of 5.9. Newest addition: 1920 London, added to Apple TV on 21 Oct. Ranked by vote-weighted IMDb rating and popularity; showing the top 30.

1. The Kashmir Files (2022)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 50m · UA · History, Drama · IMDb 8.4 (5.8L votes)

TwistyDark & grittyMatureCold & detached

Based on a true tragedy, the emotionally triggering film sheds light on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits (Hindus), a religious minority in the 1990s Kashmir valley, who were compelled to flee their homes by the Islamic militants.

ZEE5
2. Haider (2014)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 30m · UA · Crime, Drama · IMDb 8.0 (61.8K votes)

TwistyVisually stunningDark & grittyEdge-of-seat

A young man returns to Kashmir after his father's disappearance to confront his uncle - the man he suspects to have a role in his father's fate.

JioHotstar Prime Video ZEE5
3. Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai (2023)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 7m · U/A 16+ · Drama · IMDb 8.0 (31.5K votes)

Dark & grittyDialogue-drivenSerious

An ordinary lawyer is out to fight an extraordinary case! But can he win against a powerful godman accused of assaulting a minor and deliver justice to the victim?

ZEE5
4. Article 370 (2024)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 38m · UA · Action, Thriller · IMDb 7.8 (29.1K votes)

Fast-pacedEdge-of-seatDark & grittyCold & detached

Ahead of a major constitutional decision which rendered the Article 370 of the Indian state ineffective, special agent Zooni Haksar is tasked with a secret mission to quell violence in the conflict-ridden region.

Netflix ZEE5
5. Gangaajal (2003)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 37m · Drama, Crime · IMDb 7.8 (19.3K votes)

Dark & grittyEdge-of-seatCold & detached

An honest Superintendent of Police, IPS Amit Kumar, is assigned to a crime infested town to reduce its crime rates. There, he soon learns that cleaning up the town also means confronting the corruption among police and politicians.

ZEE5 · free with ads
6. Raanjhanaa (2013)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 20m · U · Drama, Romance · IMDb 7.6 (38.7K votes)

TwistyDark & gritty

A small-town boy needs to break through the class divide to gain acceptance from his childhood sweetheart who is in love with big city ideals.

Apple TV ZEE5
7. Mukkabaaz (2018)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 25m · UA · Drama · IMDb 8.0 (9.7K votes)

Dark & gritty

A low caste boxer, Shravan, trains at a gym controlled by a local Don, Mishra. Shravan falls for Mishra's niece, Sunaina. Mishra does not approve of this match. Shravan strives to win Sunaina's hand in marriage and become a successful boxer while trying to avoid retaliation from Mishra.

Apple TV ZEE5
8. Swatantrya Veer Savarkar (2024)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 56m · UA · History, Drama · IMDb 7.7 (18.4K votes)

StraightforwardVisually stunningDark & grittySerious

From his years as a student in England to his return to India and his involvement in the Indian independence struggle, the journey of freedom fighter and reformer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, better known as Veer Savarkar.

ZEE5 · free with ads
9. Ghajini (2008)

Movie · Hindi · 3h 6m · UA · Action, Romance · IMDb 7.4 (73.0K votes)

TwistyFast-pacedEdge-of-seatVisually stunning

A man suffering from anterograde amnesia as a result of a violent attack in the past sets out to avenge his girlfriend's death with the aid of photographs, notes and tattoos all over his body.

Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
10. Madaari (2016)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 14m · UA · Thriller, Drama · IMDb 7.6 (16.5K votes)

Edge-of-seatDark & grittyCold & detached

A common man kidnaps the son of the Home Minister of India to get answers about the loss of his own son, caused by the illegal acts committed by corrupt government officials.

MX Player · free with ads Prime Video · free with ads ZEE5
11. Badlapur (2015)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 14m · A · Crime, Drama · IMDb 7.4 (29.3K votes)

MatureCold & detachedTwistyDark & gritty

After his wife and son are killed, a young man finds out the man behind the murder and fights against him, along committing some big mistakes.

ZEE5
12. Chup (2022)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 10m · A · Crime, Thriller · IMDb 7.4 (28.0K votes)

MatureDark & grittyTwistyCold & detached

A series of bizarre and disturbing murders rock the city of Mumbai. Film critics are being killed week after week with the release of every new film. Arvind Mathur, Head of Crime Branch Mumbai, is tasked with solving the case. With the help of Zenobia, a criminal psychologist, he tries to understand the mind of the kil

ZEE5
13. Aligarh (2016)

Movie · Hindi · 1h 54m · Drama, History · IMDb 7.7 (8.8K votes)

Dark & grittyMatureSeriousDialogue-driven

A sympathetic journalist covers the true story of Ramchandra Siras, an esteemed linguistic professor at Aligarh University who was suspended on charges of homosexuality.

ZEE5 · free with ads
14. Akshardham: Operation Vajra Shakti (2025)

Movie · Hindi · 1h 46m · Action, Drama · IMDb 7.5 (10.6K votes)

Edge-of-seatFast-pacedVisually stunningDark & gritty

NSG commando Hanut Singh, scarred by a past mission, defies orders during a temple siege in Gujarat. He leads a risky operation against terrorists demanding a militant's release, while confronting personal demons.

Prime Video ZEE5
15. Awaara (1951)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 48m · U · Drama, Music · IMDb 7.8 (5.0K votes)

TwistyDark & gritty

A petty thief is put on trial for the attempted murder of a lawyer. Through a series of flashbacks, the intertwining lives of the thief, the lawyer, and the thief's defense lawyer are illustrated.

Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
16. Ghayal (1990)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 43m · A · Action, Crime · IMDb 7.7 (5.7K votes)

Dark & grittyEdge-of-seatMatureCold & detached

Ajay is framed by Balwant Rai for his brother's murder and sent to prison. Later, he befriends three convicts and sets out to seek revenge against Balwant Rai.

Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
17. Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 14m · A · Thriller, Crime · IMDb 7.3 (17.7K votes)

MatureTwistyCold & detachedDark & gritty

A corrupt cop and a serial killer obsessed with a psychopath from the '60s get caught up in a ruthless cat-and-mouse game.

ZEE5
18. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha (2001)

Movie · Hindi · 3h 2m · UA · Action, Drama · IMDb 7.3 (17.0K votes)

Visually stunningHeartwarmingTwistyDark & gritty

During the partition, Tara marries Sakina and they live a happy life. However their happiness is short-lived when Sakina's father forces her to stay in Pakistan and separates her from her family.

Prime Video ZEE5
19. Mulk (2018)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 20m · Drama · IMDb 7.2 (22.7K votes)

Dark & gritty

The youngest son of a Muslim family settled in Benaras gets involved in terrorist activities, leading to a bomb blast massacre. His actions have an adverse effect on the family who are left to defend themselves as people who are innocent and not anti-nationals.

JioHotstar MX Player · free with ads Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
20. Rahasya (2015)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 3m · UA · Thriller, Mystery · IMDb 7.5 (6.6K votes)

Cold & detachedTwistyDark & grittyEdge-of-seat

Only child of a doctor couple is murdered in her sleep inside their large duplex apartment.

JioHotstar MX Player · free with ads Prime Video · free with ads Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
21. No Smoking (2007)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 6m · A · Thriller, Drama · IMDb 7.3 (11.8K votes)

Dark & grittyMatureCold & detachedEdge-of-seat

A heavily addicted smoker is unprepared for the true price he must pay when he asks a guru's help to kick the habit.

Apple TV MX Player · free with ads Prime Video · free with ads ZEE5 · free with ads
22. Chintu Ka Birthday (2019)

Movie · Hindi · 1h 23m · A · Drama · IMDb 7.6 (5.0K votes)

Dark & grittyEdge-of-seat

During US invasion of Iraq some illegal migrants are waiting to get back home to India. As one such family prepares to celebrate the 6th birthday of their youngest member Chintu, their kind-hearted Iraqi landlord lends them a helping hand.

ZEE5
23. Table No. 21 (2013)

Movie · Hindi · 1h 48m · A · Adventure, Thriller · IMDb 7.2 (16.3K votes)

TwistyEdge-of-seatMatureDark & gritty

A couple live a mediocre life and are thrilled to have won an exotic vacation to Fiji & their excitement increases when they get a chance to play "Tell all truth" game for a mind boggling prize money. The game begins and the couple discovers that the game isn't really a game, but is a game of survival.

Apple TV ZEE5 · free with ads
24. NH10 (2015)

Movie · Hindi · 1h 55m · A · Crime, Thriller · IMDb 7.2 (15.1K votes)

Fast-pacedEdge-of-seatMatureDark & gritty

Meera and Arjun are professionals living in Gurgaon. On their way to a luxurious desert holiday they stop on a Highway dhaba for dinner, where they witness a young girl being picked up by a bunch of hoodlums. Arjun chooses to step in, unmindful of the danger ahead.

Apple TV ZEE5
25. Mom (2017)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 27m · UA · Crime, Drama · IMDb 7.2 (13.5K votes)

Dark & grittyMatureEdge-of-seatFast-paced

After her stepdaughter is sexually assaulted at a party, a furious mother sets out to destroy the lives of the four perpetrators who walked free.

Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads ZEE5
26. Apaharan (2005)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 53m · Action, Crime · IMDb 7.4 (5.7K votes)

MatureDark & grittyEdge-of-seatSerious

Story of a tumultuous and complex relationship between a father (Mohan Agashe) and son (Ajay Devgan), set against the backdrop of a thriving kidnapping industry in the Hindi heartland of Bihar.

Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
27. Taish (2020)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 23m · UA · Thriller, Drama · IMDb 7.3 (6.3K votes)

Dark & grittyMatureEdge-of-seatCold & detached

A revenge drama, which revolves around two families based out of London. One family which plans an elaborate countryside wedding and the other is a violent criminal family of moneylenders. Amidst a week-long function, both these worlds collide. A past secret sparks an incident of violence - in turn changing all their l

ZEE5 · free with ads
28. Sehar (2005)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 15m · Action, Thriller · IMDb 7.7 (2.7K votes)

Dark & grittyEdge-of-seat

Ajay Kumar (Warsi) is the newly appointed, honest SSP of Lucknow police who tries to crack down on the Uttar Pradesh mafia. He establishes a Special Task Force consisting of a physics professor (Pankaj Tripathi) to counter the politically backed criminal Gajraj Singh (Sushant Singh). Loosely based on the real-life late

MX Player · free with ads Prime Video · free with ads Prime Video ZEE5 · free with ads
29. India Lockdown (2022)

Movie · Hindi · 1h 57m · A · Drama, Adventure · IMDb 7.1 (10.4K votes)

Dark & grittySeriousCold & detachedSlow-burn

The Indian government announces a country-wide lockdown for 21 days due to the pandemic. India Lockdown encapsulates the story of four out of lakhs of individuals whose lives came to a standstill.

ZEE5 · free with ads
30. Nail Polish (2021)

Movie · Hindi · 2h 8m · UA · Crime, Thriller · IMDb 7.2 (6.1K votes)

TwistyCold & detachedDark & grittyDialogue-driven

A high profile defence lawyer is promised a Rajya Sabha seat if he wins a case of an accused with charges of killing two migrant children. However, there's much more than what meets the eye in this courtroom drama that explores the uncertainty of human mind and the journey of criminal discovery.

ZEE5 · free with ads