#BingeRewind: The showrunners who turned 2025 into an unmissable OTT extravaganza!

From Aryan Khan to Vikramaditya Motwane, this year witnessed a plethora of visionary showrunners who made streaming unmissable-and here’s what stood out to us!

In a year when streaming platforms pushed boundaries like never before, it was the directors behind the camera who truly redefined what Indian OTT storytelling could look like. From debutant directors who exceeded expectations to seasoned creators expanding the scope of their worlds, 2025 became a showcase of vision, craft, and courage. These directors didn’t just deliver binge-worthy shows, they shaped conversations, experimented with form, and brought stories to life with a certain kind of clarity that stood out in the crowded streaming landscape. So here’s celebrating the filmmakers who steered some of the year’s most compelling and talked-about series, each leaving an indelible mark on the medium!

Also Read: 8 movies and TV shows to watch if you liked The Ba***ds of Bollywood!

 Aryan Khan- Ba***ds of Bollywood- Netflix

As the son of the most loved actor in our country, Aryan Khan had all eyes on him with his debut. Many expected him to stumble, but he proved us all wrong and how! With Ba***ds of Bollywood he in fact made the best use of what he has at his disposal, which are indeed the connections to the who's who of Bollywood and he used it rather wisely. From the plot, direction, to the soundtrack that made it to our playlists, he knew exactly what he wanted and executed it all to the T! Ba***ds of Bollywood not only cemented his place in the industry as a filmmaker but also proved there’s immense sense of humour behind that poker face we’re used to seeing on camera.

Sudip Sharma and Avinash Arun Dhaware - Pataal Lok 2- Prime Video

Led by Sudip Sharma, who stays true to the voice he established in Season 1, Pataal Lok 2 continues to build on its gritty, grounded world. His collaboration with Avinash Arun Dhaware brings a fresh visual depth, capturing the land, mood, and tensions of Nagaland in a way we rarely see on screen.

Pushkar Sunil Mahabal - Black, White and Gray: Love Kills- Sony Liv

It’s one thing to comment on our growing obsession with true crime, but turning that idea into a mockumentary where even the so-called “facts” are playfully staged was a brilliant move. Pushkar Sunil Mahabal uses the format to cleverly expose our voyeuristic fascination with crime stories.

Vikramaditya Motwane and Satyanshu Singh - Black Warrant- Netflix

Though the series brings together multiple directors, the overarching vision held by Vikramaditya Motwane and Satyanshu Singh keeps it cohesive. Their approach allows something new to be discovered as different perspectives come together while still serving a unified story about prison life and the system surrounding it.

Shibani Dandekar Akhtar and Hitesh Bhatia - Dabba Cartel - Netflix

As a fresh voice in the streaming space, Shibani Dandekar Akhtar arrives with a confident command of female perspectives without sidelining her male characters. Supporting this vision, Hitesh Bhatia brings his directorial finesse to the sharp writing, doing justice to the material while elevating it with clarity, rhythm, and balance.

Smita Singh and Pankaj Kumar - Khauf- Prime Video

After collaborating on Raat Akeli Hai, the duo of Smita and Pankaj come together again, this time as writer and director for a show that places us right in the heart of Delhi, where the inherent fear of merely existing as a woman is a burden women are forced to carry every single day. A haunting so well woven in the script by Smita and uplifted as a lived-in reality by Pankaj’s direction.

Raj and DK - The Family Man 3 - Prime Video

The duo has been shaping this show for years, and now that it has reached its third installment, their craft feels both sharper and more expansive. The season doesn’t just deepen the commentary on the social and political tensions that trouble the country; it also widens the show’s horizons by introducing new characters, adding emotional and narrative depth, and pushing the story further across international borders.

Nagesh Kukunoor- The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case- Sony Liv

Nagesh Kukunoor, as co-writer and director of The Hunt delivered a gripping and realistic procedural that avoids sensationalism or melodrama- a style signature to his grounded storytelling. The investigative thriller, based on Anirudhya Mitra’s book 90 Days, traces the intense investigation into former PM Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, in a high-stakes quest for justice and political messaging. The show is widely acclaimed for its focused approach, only concentrating on the painstaking investigation led by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) rather than the political drama.Kukunoor offered a character-focused perspective, which, despite dealing with a historically significant and politically sensitive event, gave nuance to both the investigators and the LTTE operatives, avoiding painting them strictly in black and white.

Neeraj Pandey- Special Ops 2-Jio Hotstar

​A master of spy-thrillers, Neeraj Pandey, as the creator of Special Ops 2 yet again showcased his ability to craft compelling characters and rooted espionage elements with ambitious, and large-scale production values. The show explored the world of AI-driven warfare weaving it with a political-corporate collusion. His progressive approach to patriotism, kept the series grounded and was widely praised for well etched out characters and strong technical execution.

 Gaurav Shukla- Saare Jahan Se Accha- Netflix

Gaurav Shukla’s spy thriller Saare Jahan Se Accha made for a compelling watch this year. With bringing out gripping performances from an ensemble to writing a script that lands, he made Saare Jahan Se Accha a series that’ll make you want to deep dive into and research about the era the series is set in.