Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar has set the box office ablaze – and for all the right reasons. With gripping direction, layered storytelling, and powerhouse performances, the film has earned massive audience love.
Inspired by real events, Dhurandhar explores geopolitical tensions and high-risk R&AW missions, drawing from Operation Lyari in Pakistan’s Lyari region. Blending espionage, action, and emotion, it reignites the thrill of classic spy dramas.
If the film sparked your love for espionage stories, here are some top Indian spy thrillers you should definitely add to your watchlist.
Loved Dhurandhar? 12 Movies Like Dhurandhar You Can’t Miss Binge-Watching
1. Ek Tha Tiger – Amazon Prime Video
Salman Khan’s blockbuster follows Tiger, a top R&AW agent, on a mission to secure crucial intelligence before Pakistan does. Things take a turn when he falls for Zoya, an ISI agent. Despite a modest 5.5 IMDb rating, it became the highest-grossing film of 2012, earning over ₹325 crore. Co-written by Kabir Khan and Neelesh Mishra, this stylish thriller kick-started the Tiger franchise.
2. Raazi – Netflix
One of Bollywood’s finest espionage dramas, Raazi stars Alia Bhatt as Sehmat, an Indian spy married into a Pakistani military household. With an IMDb rating of 7.7, this Meghna Gulzar film blends emotional depth with sharp political intrigue. Alia’s performance — fierce, vulnerable, and brilliantly measured — makes this a must-watch.
3. Baby – JioHotstar
Neeraj Pandey’s Baby is a high-adrenaline spy thriller inspired by covert operations initiated after the 26/11 attacks. With a strong IMDb rating of 8.0, the film stars Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Taapsee Pannu, Kay Kay Menon, Rana Daggubati, and Danny Denzongpa. Taut, tense, and impeccably executed — this one’s unmissable.
4. Naam Shabana – Zee5
A prequel to Baby, this film spotlights Shabana’s transformation into a spy. Taapsee Pannu’s phenomenal performance and Shivam Nair’s sharp direction make this standalone thriller engaging and empowering. With a 6.5 IMDb rating, it offers a gripping look into the making of a secret agent.
5. 16 December – YouTube
This 2002 cult action-thriller revolves around a plot to detonate a nuclear device in New Delhi — set 30 years after the Indo-Pak war of 1971. Named after the historic date marking Pakistan’s surrender, the film blends patriotic energy with a tense, edge-of-the-seat narrative.
6. Vishwaroopam – JioHotstar
Kamal Haasan’s espionage thriller begins with a wife hiring a detective to spy on her husband. What follows is a shocking chain of events involving terrorism, identity, and hidden missions. Smart, intense, and brilliantly acted, Vishwaroopam is a spy drama like no other.
7. Madras Cafe – Prime Video
This John Abraham–starrer is a hard-hitting political spy thriller set during the Sri Lankan civil war. The film offers a grounded, realistic look at intelligence operations and India’s involvement in the conflict. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, it remains one of Bollywood’s most authentic espionage films.
8. Tiger Zinda Hai – Netflix
The sequel to Ek Tha Tiger delivers bigger action, bigger stakes, and a global rescue mission. Salman Khan returns as Tiger, tasked with saving Indian nurses held hostage by a terrorist group in a Gulf nation. Stylish and explosive, it’s prime Bollywood action entertainment.
9. Vikram – Netflix
A high-octane Tamil thriller starring Kamal Haasan, Vijay Sethupathi, and Fahadh Faasil. A special investigator is assigned a case of serial killings, only to realise he has stepped into a deadly war involving criminal syndicates. Sharp writing and outstanding performances make this a standout spy-action film.
10. Khufiya – Netflix
Vishal Bhardwaj’s slow-burn espionage thriller follows double agents, betrayals, and covert counterintelligence operations. Inspired by real events, Khufiya is atmospheric, dark, and full of twists – perfect for fans of grounded spy dramas.
11. IB71 – JioHotstar
Starring Vidyut Jammwal, Anupam Kher, and Vishal Jethwa, this action-packed spy thriller explores a secret two-front mission carried out by Indian intelligence before the 1971 war. The film keeps you hooked with its strategic mind games and patriotic intensity.
12. War – Netflix
Part of YRF’s Spy Universe, War stars Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff in a high-voltage chase between a rogue mentor and his protégé. Slick action sequences, stylish visuals, and an unpredictable story make it a blockbuster entertainer.
Do let us know which one is your most favourite Indian spy thriller?