Loved Akka? Discover 10 gripping shows like Akka packed with powerful women, gangster rivalries, revenge, family betrayals, and shocking twists.
An empire ruled by women, a ruthless enemy determined to destroy it, and family secrets that threaten centuries of power – Netflix’s Akka (2026) brings together everything we love about a gripping gangster drama! Starring Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte, the series takes us into the fictional kingdom of Pernuru, where Bhavani fights to protect her matriarchal legacy as Rudra challenges the very foundations of her rule.
If you’re searching for Shows Like Akka, you’re probably craving more than ordinary crime thrillers. You want fierce women, dangerous power games, shocking betrayals, family rivalries, and revenge stories where nobody can be trusted. From women running criminal empires to ruthless battles for political control, these 10 gripping series like Akka deserve a spot on your watchlist.
10 Best Shows Like Akka to Watch Next
1. Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo (2023)
Imagine a family business where the women aren’t just involved in the operation—they’re the ones calling the shots! Savitri, played by Dimple Kapadia, runs a powerful drug cartel disguised as a legitimate business, with her daughter and daughters-in-law helping maintain control. But when rival criminals, family tensions, and questions of succession threaten their empire, things turn dangerously unpredictable.
Of all the Shows Like Akka, this might be the closest match. Just as Bhavani commands authority over Pernuru, Savitri rules her criminal empire with determination and a ruthless understanding of power. Both dramas feature formidable women, complicated family loyalties, violent rivalries, and the constant fear of losing everything they’ve built.
Where to Watch: JioHotstarÂ
2. Aarya (2020)
How far would you go to protect your family? For Aarya Sareen, the answer turns out to be much further than she ever imagined. After her husband’s murder, Aarya discovers the dangerous criminal world surrounding her family. With enemies closing in and her children’s lives at stake, she must learn to navigate drug cartels, betrayals, and deadly power struggles.
What makes Aarya such a compelling follow-up to Akka is its portrayal of a woman forced to become increasingly ruthless to survive. Bhavani fights for her kingdom, while Aarya fights for her family, but both discover that holding on to what matters most can demand heartbreaking sacrifices. If you loved watching Bhavani balance emotional vulnerability with fierce leadership, Aarya’s transformation is worth following.
Where to Watch: JioHotstarÂ
3. Dabba Cartel (2025)
What happens when an ordinary tiffin service becomes part of a dangerous drug operation? Dabba Cartel follows five women whose seemingly normal lives take an unexpected turn when they become involved in an illegal business. As their operation grows, they find themselves caught between powerful criminals, pharmaceutical conspiracies, and secrets that could destroy their lives.
The appeal here is the female solidarity at the heart of a dangerous criminal enterprise. Much like the women of Pernuru, these characters must rely on their intelligence, alliances, and survival instincts in a world where a single mistake could prove fatal. While Akka operates on a grander, more violent scale, Dabba Cartel delivers its own fascinating look at women claiming power in the underworld.
Where to Watch: NetflixÂ
4. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar (2024)
Powerful women, old grudges, dangerous secrets, and a bitter fight for supremacy—sounds familiar? Set in pre-independence India, Heeramandi follows Mallikajaan, a formidable courtesan who rules her world with an iron grip. But when Fareedan returns with a desire for revenge, long-buried rivalries resurface and Mallikajaan’s seemingly unshakable authority comes under threat.
For viewers drawn to Shows Like Akka because of their fierce female rivalries, Heeramandi is an especially interesting choice. Bhavani and Rudra’s conflict is shaped by historical injustice and competing ideas of power, while Mallikajaan and Fareedan’s feud is equally rooted in the past. Add lavish period settings, complicated relationships, and emotional betrayals, and you have another drama where the greatest threats often come from within.
Where to Watch: NetflixÂ
5. Griselda (2024)
A woman arrives in Miami with dreams of a better life and ends up becoming one of the most feared figures in the city’s drug trade. Inspired by the life of Colombian drug queen Griselda Blanco, this crime drama follows her transformation into a powerful cartel boss during the 1970s and 1980s. But as her empire expands, so do the dangers surrounding her.
If Bhavani’s commanding presence and Rudra’s ruthlessness kept you hooked, Griselda offers another fascinating female gangster at the centre of a violent empire. Both stories unfold against the backdrop of the 1980s, explore criminal power structures, and show how ambition can turn personal relationships into dangerous liabilities. Sofia Vergara’s portrayal of Griselda adds another layer to this intense story of power, paranoia, and survival.
Where to Watch: NetflixÂ
6. Queen of the South (2016)
Teresa Mendoza’s life changes forever when her drug-running boyfriend is murdered, forcing her to flee Mexico. With dangerous enemies following her, Teresa enters the ruthless world of drug trafficking and gradually transforms from a vulnerable outsider into a powerful figure in the criminal underworld.
There’s something especially satisfying about watching a woman who has been underestimated learn to outsmart her enemies. Teresa’s rise echoes the determination that drives Bhavani through the darkest moments of Akka. Both women understand that alliances can disappear overnight, and surviving the next betrayal is just as important as defeating the enemy in front of them. Expect cartel wars, revenge, shifting loyalties, and plenty of nerve-racking twists.
Where to Watch: HuluÂ
7. Maharani (2021)
An ordinary homemaker suddenly becomes the Chief Minister of Bihar. Sounds like an impossible challenge? That’s exactly what Rani Bharti faces when she unexpectedly enters the ruthless world of politics. Surrounded by ambitious rivals, corrupt officials, and powerful men who refuse to take her seriously, Rani must quickly learn how to survive in a system determined to undermine her.
Unlike Akka, which revolves around a woman-led gangster kingdom, Maharani places its heroine inside a deeply patriarchal political environment. Yet the central struggle feels surprisingly familiar. Both Bhavani and Rani must protect their authority while confronting betrayals, entrenched social structures, and people who believe they deserve the throne. If the politics behind Pernuru’s power struggles fascinated you, this is a strong pick.
Also Watch: 9 Gripping Shows like Maharani
Where to Watch: Sony LivÂ
8. Mirzapur (2018)
Welcome to Mirzapur, where power isn’t given—it’s taken, often through violence. The Tripathi family’s criminal empire controls the region, but rival gangsters, ambitious heirs, and unexpected betrayals threaten to tear everything apart. With revenge driving several characters and alliances constantly shifting, the battle for the throne becomes increasingly bloody.
Shows Like Akka don’t always need a matriarchal kingdom to deliver the same tension, and Mirzapur is proof. Both stories revolve around powerful families controlling territories, brutal succession battles, and individuals willing to destroy their own relationships for greater authority. While Mirzapur begins in a largely male-dominated gangster world, characters like Golu, Beena, and Madhuri bring their own ambitions and strategies into the fight for control.
Where to Watch: Prime videoÂ
9. Mai: A Mother’s Rage (2022)
What begins as a mother’s desperate search for justice soon becomes a dangerous journey into the criminal underworld. After her daughter’s suspicious death, Sheel refuses to believe the explanations she’s given. Her investigation leads her towards powerful criminals, hidden conspiracies, and shocking discoveries that push her further away from the ordinary life she once knew.
Mai explores a different but equally gripping side of the revenge stories that make Akka so compelling. Rudra’s bitterness grows out of personal injustice, while Sheel’s determination is fuelled by grief and unanswered questions. Both characters show how devastating experiences can transform ordinary emotions into dangerous obsessions. If the emotional motives behind Akka‘s violence interested you as much as its gangster battles, this revenge thriller deserves a watch.
Where to Watch: NetflixÂ
10. Bambai Meri Jaan (2023)
Set in the dangerous streets of post-independence Bombay, Bambai Meri Jaan explores the rise of organized crime through the complicated relationship between an honest police officer and his son, who becomes involved in the criminal underworld. As rival gangs battle for control, personal ambition and family loyalties collide with devastating consequences.
The connection to Akka lies in its exploration of powerful criminal networks, generational conflicts, and the blurred boundaries between family and betrayal. Just as Bhavani’s fight for Pernuru is shaped by secrets from the past, the central family’s struggles in Bambai Meri Jaan are deeply influenced by earlier choices. Its period atmosphere, gang rivalries, and violent fight for supremacy make it an engaging choice for anyone who enjoyed the criminal politics of Akka.
Where to Watch: Prime videoÂ
Which Show Should You Watch After Akka?
The best Shows Like Akka offer more than action—they explore what people will sacrifice to gain, protect, or reclaim power. Start with Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo for another women-led criminal empire, Heeramandi for fierce female rivalries and generational revenge, or Aarya for a powerful woman’s transformation. And if you want full-blown gangster warfare, Mirzapur should be next on your list!