Ali Fazal to Bhumi Satish Pednekkar: Actors Who Impressed Audiences with Gripping Roles in OTT Crime Thrillers in 2026

This year, audiences were taken on a rollercoaster of bone-chilling crime and thrillers with OTT shows that offered a range of layered characters. Some of the finest actors, including Ali Fazal and Bhumi Satish Pednekkar among others, stepped into challenging roles and pulled them off like a breeze! On this note, here’s looking at some of the best actors in complex crime thrillers who got audiences coming back at it!

Ali Fazal – Raakh
Ali Fazal steps into the shoes of Sub-Inspector Jayprakash, who is investigating the disappearance of minor siblings! This crime thriller also brings a dose of thrill, leaving the audience unsettled through gore violence and a mother’s plea.

Vijay Verma – Matka King
Vijay Verma stepped into the shoes of a cotton trader turned gambler, Brij Bhatti. Set in Mumbai, Matka King chronicles emotions, ambitions and a whole lot of menace to serve novelty.

Barun Sobti – Kohrra Season 2
In the second season of the hit series, Kohrra, Barun Sobti reprised his role as Assistant Sub Inspector Amarpal Garundi, who shifts to a different police station in Punjab to work under Dhanwant Kaur aka Mona Singh.

Bhumi Satish Pednekkar – Daldal
Continuing to push boundaries, Bhumi Satish Pednekkar impressed audiences once again by stepping into the shoes of a cop named Rita Ferreira, who goes through psychological and investigative twists. The thriller series earned her incredible praise from the audience and critics.

Aditya Rawal – Daldal
Aditya Rawal turned out to be a surprise package in Daldal by serving one of the most unpredictable performances as a drug addict, Sajid, who becomes an important suspect in a murder mystery. The role showcased his range of acting and allowed him to explore the dark side of addiction and psychological complexity.

Kranti Prakash Jha – Raktanchal Season 3
The third season of Rakhtanchal dropped this year, bringing Kranti Prakash Jha with Nikitin Dheer, Mahie Gill, Karan Patel and Vikram Kochhar. Set in the 1980s in Uttar Pradesh, this crime thriller revolves around the rivalry between Vijay Singh and Waseem Khan, who battle for control of the mafia over the region.

Karisma Kapoor – Brown
Karisma Kapoor came back to the screens, but this time, with a mix of spot-on action sequences. She brings life to the role of DCP Rita Brown, an alcoholic troubled cop who is investigating a murder in Kolkata. A character that’s flawed and imperfect is exactly what makes Karisma’s portrayal one of the beloved ones among all!

Emraan Hashmi – Taskaree
Emraan Hashmi impressed audiences by going off-beat by playing a dedicated officer, Arjun Meena, who investigates the situation of drug smuggling at Mumbai International Airport.

Mona Singh – Kohrra
Mona Singh is one of the finest actresses we have today, and she outdid herself once again in Kohrra by playing sub-inspector Dhanwant Kaur. From controlled body language to a sharp screen presence, Mona Singh tasted victory in this case!

Keerthy Suresh – Akka
Keerthy Suresh is all over the social media for her swag-filled walk with a pistol tucked in her saree folds in the recently released, Akka. The series sees Suresh play a powerful matriarch, Bhavani in Pernuru, a fictional kingdom.

With a range of OTT shows and compelling performances, the actors have proven once again why they are considered some of the finest