Note (September 2026): This list was updated to correct CID’s broadcast status (its first run ended in 2018 and a second season aired from December 2024 to December 2025) and the spelling of Jaspal Bhatti’s name.
The best Indian TV shows with a huge fan following include Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan (1987), B. R. Chopra’s Mahabharat (1988), Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah (since 2008), CID (1998), Kaun Banega Crorepati (since 2000), Shaktimaan, Malgudi Days and Sarabhai vs Sarabhai. Many are still re-run or streamed today.
Key Takeaways
- Doordarshan classics such as Ramayan, Byomkesh Bakshi and Flop Show drew new audiences when DD National re-telecast them during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.
- Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has aired on Sony SAB since 28 July 2008 and crossed 4,000 episodes in February 2024.
- CID’s first run ended in October 2018; a second season aired from December 2024 to December 2025, also streaming on Netflix.
- Kaun Banega Crorepati and Indian Idol are still running: KBC Season 18 premiered on 10 August 2026 and Indian Idol Season 16 premiered on 18 October 2025.
Whether it is a love story or a family drama or a horror story, Indian TV shows cover almost every genre, from mythology and detective fiction to sitcoms, horror anthologies, quiz shows and singing contests. Some are light comedies, while others are serious dramas or documentaries that are still re-run and streamed decades after they first aired.
News channels also have the best TV and web series that are not only informative but also based on historical facts. One example is Pradhanmantri, a political documentary series hosted by Shekhar Kapur that premiered on ABP News on 13 July 2013 and ran for 26 episodes, with a second season from 25 January 2020.
Best Hindi (Indian) TV Series of All Time
The shows below were chosen for lasting popularity: record viewership, long runs, repeat telecasts or cult status years after they ended. Nevertheless, here is a list of the 20 best Indian TV shows that have huge fan following.
Ramayana
Ramayana is an Indian mythological series that is based on the Indian Sanskrit epic with the same name. This show was made originally between 1987 and 1988 on DD National and was written and directed by Ramanand Sagar. The music was composed by Ravindra Jain. According to Wikipedia, the show drew a viewership of 82 percent during its original run, and its re-run during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown was reported as the most-watched TV show in the world, with 77 million viewers.
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah is another Indian Hindi language television sitcom that is based on the weekly column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma by Taarak Mehta in Chitralekha. This one is undoubtedly one of the longest running Indian television shows and is produced by Asit Kumarr Modi’s Neela Film Productions. It premiered on Sony SAB on 28 July 2008 and crossed 4,000 episodes in February 2024.
CID
CID is a police procedural that premiered on Sony Entertainment Television on 21 January 1998. Its first run ended on 27 October 2018; a second season aired from 21 December 2024 to 14 December 2025 and also streamed on Netflix from 21 February 2025. It is an Indian Hindi language TV series about Mumbai’s Crime Investigation Department made by B.P Singh for Sony Entertainment Television India. The location of the series is set in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Mahabharat
The original airing of this Sanskrit epic had a total of 94 episodes and it was broadcast from 2nd October, 1988 to 24th June, 1990 on Doordarshan. This TV series was produced by B.R Chopra and it was directed by his son, Ravi Chopra. The music of this TV series was composed by Raj Kamal.
Circus
Circus is a 1989 Indian television series that was directed by Kundan Shah and Aziz Mirza. The storyline was set in a circus troupe that starred Shah Rukh Khan, Makarand Deshpande, Ashutosh Gowariker, Pawan Malhotra, Hyder Ali, Neeraj Vora and several other talented actors.
Byomkesh Bakshi
Byomkesh Bakshi is the first Hindi TV series based on the character of Byomkesh Bakshi created by Saradindu Bandyopadhyay. Adapted by Basu Chatterjee, with Rajit Kapur as Byomkesh and K. K. Raina as his friend Ajit, the series ran for two seasons (13 and 19 episodes, the first in 1993), won critical acclaim and was re-telecast on DD National during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown.
Malgudi Days
Malgudi Days is an Indian TV series that began in 1986 and was filmed both in English and in Hindi. This was based on the short story collection of the same name written by R.K. Narayan in 1943. Shankar Nag directed the series, which had 13 English and 54 Hindi episodes; it was revived in 2006 with 15 new episodes directed by Kavitha Lankesh.
Ssshhh…Koi Hai
This one is an Indian horror thriller television series that was created by Cinevistaas Limited and Contiloe Entertainment for Star Plus. The series premiered on 27 July 2001 and ran for three seasons, ending on 16 May 2010; the later seasons aired on the sister channel Star One.
Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai
Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai is a Hindi language sitcom that was first premiered on March, 2nd 2015 on &TV. This series is produced by Binaifer Kohli under the banner Edit II Productions. A revamped second season, Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! 2.0, premiered on 25 December 2025, and a spin-off film, Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! Fun On The Run, was released in theatres on 6 February 2026.
Chitrahaar
Chitrahaar is a DD National music programme, first aired in 1982, that plays song clips from Bollywood films. It was widely watched in the 1980s and 1990s, and from 2010 it added same-language subtitles of the lyrics to help new readers practise reading.
Office Office
Office Office is yet another Hindi language TV sitcom premiered on SAB TV on 3rd September, 2001. The show was a satire on corruption in Indian government offices. It starred Pankaj Kapur as Musaddilal, with Manoj Pahwa, Deven Bhojani, Asawari Joshi, Sanjay Mishra and Hemant Pandey; a follow-up series, Naya Office Office, launched on Star One in 2007.
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai
Sarabhai vs Sarabhai is a sitcom about an upper-class Gujarati family in South Mumbai that starred Satish Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Rupali Ganguly, Sumeet Raghavan and Rajesh Kumar. Satish Shah, who played Indravadan Sarabhai, died on 25 October 2025. It aired on STAR One from 1 November 2004 to 16 April 2006, returned for a second season on Disney+ Hotstar from 15 May to 17 July 2017 (80 episodes in all), and is now widely regarded as a cult classic.
Flop Show
This is an Indian comic show named Jaspal Bhatti’s Flop Show and it is a satirical take on the life of common man. Bhatti wrote, directed and starred in the show, his wife Savita Bhatti produced it, and only 10 episodes were made after it first aired on DD National in 1989. DD National re-telecast it from 19 May 2020.
Bharat Ek Khoj
This is an informative series about the interesting history of India that is directly based on Nehru Ji’s most famous work, the Discovery of India. The title Bharat Ek Khoj translates as ‘India: An Exploration’. Written, directed and produced by Shyam Benegal for Doordarshan, the 53-episode series launched in November 1988, with a cast that included Om Puri and Roshan Seth.
Shaktimaan
When did you finally realize that Gangadhar is only Shaktimaan? Created and produced by Mukesh Khanna, who also played the title role, the show aired on DD National from 13 September 1997 to 27 March 2005, and ‘Hit’ would be an understatement to describe its popularity.
Shakalaka Boom Boom
How many of you still wish to own the magic pencil that the little boy owned in Shakalaka Boom Boom? The children’s fantasy series, written and directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, premiered on DD National on 15 October 2000 and moved to Star Plus from 19 August 2002.
Aahat
Aahat is a horror-thriller anthology created by B. P. Singh for Sony TV. It premiered on 5 October 1995 and ran across six seasons, the last of which ended on 4 August 2015. This is also one of the longest-running horror series in India that had a total of 550 episodes over its lifespan. It was best known for its thrilling music.
Star Bestsellers
Star Bestsellers was in several ways a ‘startup incubator’ for directors and talented writers, many of whom have made it big in the Bollywood industry. The anthology aired 38 episodes on StarPlus from 17 July 1999 to 23 July 2000, and its credited directors included Hansal Mehta, Imtiaz Ali, Anurag Kashyap, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Sriram Raghavan.
Kaun Banega Crorepati
This Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire caught the attention of the Indian audience like no other show. Amitabh Bachchan has hosted every season except the third, which Shah Rukh Khan hosted, and the show often highlights the stories and struggles of ordinary contestants. It premiered on Star Plus on 3 July 2000, ran there for three seasons until 2007 and moved to Sony Entertainment Television in 2010. Season 18 premiered on 10 August 2026.
Indian Idol
Indian Idol, the Indian version of Britain’s Pop Idol, premiered on Sony Entertainment Television in 2004; its 16th season premiered on 18 October 2025. This show mirrored western presentations including a panel of 3 judges along with a knockout round that included the input of the audience.
There are several participants and winners of this show who later on became successful playback singers in Bollywood.
Therefore, if you’re someone who has been looking for a list of the best Indian television shows that garnered huge momentum, the 20 shows above are a good place to start.
Best Indian TV Shows at a Glance
The table below lists each show on this page with the channel it first aired on and when it began, as recorded by Wikipedia (checked September 2026).
| Show | Genre | Original channel | First aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramayan | Mythology | DD National | 1987 (ran 1987-1988) |
| Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah | Sitcom | Sony SAB | 28 July 2008 |
| CID | Police procedural | Sony Entertainment Television | 21 January 1998 |
| Mahabharat | Mythology | Doordarshan | 2 October 1988 (94 episodes) |
| Circus | Drama | Doordarshan (DD National) | 1989 |
| Byomkesh Bakshi | Detective | Doordarshan (DD National) | 1993 |
| Malgudi Days | Anthology | Not named in source | 1986 |
| Ssshhhh… Koi Hai | Horror | Star Plus | 27 July 2001 |
| Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! | Sitcom | &TV | 2 March 2015 |
| Chitrahaar | Film songs | DD National | 1982 |
| Office Office | Satire | SAB TV | 3 September 2001 |
| Sarabhai vs Sarabhai | Sitcom | STAR One | 1 November 2004 |
| Flop Show | Satire | DD National | 1989 (10 episodes) |
| Bharat Ek Khoj | History | Doordarshan | November 1988 (53 episodes) |
| Shaktimaan | Superhero | DD National | 13 September 1997 |
| Shaka Laka Boom Boom | Children’s fantasy | DD National, then Star Plus | 15 October 2000 |
| Aahat | Horror anthology | Sony TV | 5 October 1995 |
| Star Bestsellers | Anthology | StarPlus | 17 July 1999 (38 episodes) |
| Kaun Banega Crorepati | Quiz show | Star Plus, Sony from 2010 | 3 July 2000 |
| Indian Idol | Singing reality show | Sony Entertainment Television | 2004 |
For Circus and Byomkesh Bakshi, the channel is taken from the image captions above; Wikipedia does not name the original channel for every early broadcast.
Which of These Indian TV Shows Are Still Running?
Most shows on this list have ended, but several are still in production or were revived. As of September 2026:
- Kaun Banega Crorepati: Season 18 premiered on Sony Entertainment Television on 10 August 2026, with Amitabh Bachchan returning as host. Past winners are listed in our Kaun Banega Crorepati winners list.
- Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah: still on Sony SAB and available on SonyLIV; it topped the TRP charts for four consecutive weeks in June and July 2025. Background stories are collected in these interesting facts about Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah.
- Indian Idol: Season 16 premiered on Sony on 18 October 2025, with Badshah, Shreya Ghoshal and Vishal Dadlani as judges and Aditya Narayan as host.
- Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!: continued as Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! 2.0 from 25 December 2025 on &TV and ZEE5.
- CID: the second season ended on 14 December 2025.
- Shaktimaan: the character returned in 2025 as Shaktimaan Returns, a 40-episode audio series on Pocket FM, according to media reports cited by Wikipedia. More on the show is in Shaktimaan: India’s first superhero.
Why Do These Shows Have Such a Huge Fan Following?
The shows on this list share a few traits that explain their staying power.
- Shared national viewing: in the Doordarshan era, audiences watched the same programmes at the same time. Ramayan drew a reported 82 percent viewership during its run, and KBC’s first season on Star Plus averaged 14.1 TVR, with a peak of 27.13 TVR in October 2000.
- Re-runs that reach new generations: Ramayan, Byomkesh Bakshi and Flop Show were all re-telecast on DD National during the 2020 lockdown, introducing them to viewers born decades after they first aired.
- Talent that went on to films: Circus featured Shah Rukh Khan and Ashutosh Gowariker early in their careers, and Star Bestsellers gave episodes to directors such as Anurag Kashyap, Imtiaz Ali and Sriram Raghavan.
Where Can You Watch These Shows Now?
Streaming rights change often, so check the platform before you subscribe. As of September 2026, Wikipedia lists these official digital homes:
- SonyLIV: Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and Indian Idol.
- ZEE5: Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! and Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain! 2.0.
- Netflix: CID Season 2, which streamed there from 21 February 2025.
For newer long-form shows made for streaming, see our guide to the best Indian web series. Fans of reality TV can also browse the Bigg Boss winners list and the MTV Roadies winners list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most-watched Indian TV show of all time?
Ramanand Sagar’s Ramayan is the show most often cited. According to Wikipedia, it drew a viewership of 82 percent during its 1987-1988 run, and its 2020 lockdown re-run was reported as the most-watched TV show in the world, with 77 million viewers.
Is CID still on air?
No new CID episodes were airing as of September 2026. The first run on Sony Entertainment Television lasted from 21 January 1998 to 27 October 2018, and a second season aired from 21 December 2024 to 14 December 2025, also streaming on Netflix from 21 February 2025.
When did Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah start?
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah premiered on Sony SAB on 28 July 2008. It is based on Taarak Mehta’s weekly column Duniya Ne Undha Chasma in the magazine Chitralekha and crossed 4,000 episodes in February 2024.
Who hosts Kaun Banega Crorepati?
Amitabh Bachchan hosts Kaun Banega Crorepati and has presented every season except the third, which Shah Rukh Khan hosted. Season 18 premiered on Sony Entertainment Television on 10 August 2026.
Who directed the 1988 Mahabharat TV series?
The 1988 Mahabharat was produced by B. R. Chopra and directed by his son, Ravi Chopra. Its 94 episodes aired on Doordarshan from 2 October 1988 to 24 June 1990. A later adaptation is covered in our guide to the 2013 Mahabharat on StarPlus.
Who played Byomkesh Bakshi on Doordarshan?
Rajit Kapur played Byomkesh Bakshi in the Hindi TV series, with K. K. Raina as his friend Ajit Kumar Banerjee. The series was based on Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay’s detective stories and was adapted by Basu Chatterjee.
