Bollywood star Emraan Hashmi has delivered a powerful OTT presence with his crime thriller Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web, now streaming on Netflix since January 14, 2026.
Created by Neeraj Pandey and directed by Raghav M. Jairath and B.A. Fida, the series marks a bold shift for Hashmi — who plays Superintendent Arjun Meena, a calm and methodical customs officer leading a specialised task force against international smuggling networks.
A Crime Thriller with Global Stakes
Taskaree dives into the often unseen world of airport customs enforcement as Meena and his team investigate complex contraband trafficking across major global routes. The narrative moves through bustling hubs like Mumbai, Bangkok, Milan, and Addis Ababa, showing how smuggling rings operate across borders.
The series blends strategic investigations, undercover operations and procedural depth — a storytelling style that emphasizes intelligence and persistence over action spectacle.
Ensemble Cast and Performances
Alongside Emraan Hashmi, Taskaree features a strong ensemble including:
- Sharad Kelkar as crime boss Bada Chaudhary
- Amruta Khanvilkar, Zoya Afroz, Nandish Singh Sandhu,
- Anurag Sinha, Anuja Sathe, Freddy Daruwala and more in pivotal roles
The cast helps anchor the high-stakes narrative, giving viewers both thrilling confrontations and human-driven story beats.
Breaking Records on Netflix
Taskaree quickly became a major success on Netflix’s global charts, topping the list of non-English shows worldwide shortly after its release — a first for an Indian series, even outpacing popular Korean and anime titles in weekly viewership.
What Viewers Are Saying
Audience reactions range widely on social platforms — with some praising the fresh procedural focus and performances, while others find parts of the storytelling paced slowly or the plot complex. User-generated discussions online show Taskaree trending in viewer conversations, with mixed but highly engaged responses.
