India, July 7 -- When it comes to movies based on gangsters, Indian cinema doesn't play coy. Across languages and decades, Indian filmmakers have been obsessed with the figure of the gangster, that morally grey anti-hero who commands both fear and sympathy. From the chawls of Mumbai to the dusty badlands of Uttar Pradesh, the best Indian gangster movies are as much about ambition and downfall as they are about style and swagger. Here are the best Indian gangster movies you should watch, including the South Indian movies.
Consider the simmering tension and operatic ambition of Satya (1998). That film practically reinvented gangster movies Bollywood style, or at least its modern, grittier form. Then there was Company (2002). Also directed by Ram Gopal Varma, it drew inspiration from real-life underworld figures like Dawood Ibrahim, who has inspired multiple movies in the list. There's Vaastav, Gangs of Wasseypur, Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai, and many more.
The Maximum City is not the only base of operations for gangster cinema, though. When it comes to the best gangster movies, South Indian cinema boasts some of the best. They bring a unique flavour to the gangster genre. For instance, they boast high drama, mythic storytelling, gritty realism, larger-than-life visuals and so on. They are operatic in style and highly rooted in regional textures.
So whether you are in the mood for a slow-burn Hindi gangster movie Bollywood style, a southern epic soaked in style and vengeance, or a docudrama that lifts the veil on the real underworld, this list of the best Indian gangster movies has something for every kind of cinephile with a taste for the dark side. These movies, as you will find out yourself, are as good as any Hollywood gangster flicks. The titles are ranked according to IMDb ratings, from bottom to top.
Top picks: 10 best Indian gangster movies that defined the genre
1 /10
Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai (2010)
IMDb rating: 7.4
Directed by: Milan Luthria
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut, Prachi Desai
Synopsis: Set in the flamboyant 1970s, this retro-crime drama explores the contrasting ideologies of the noble-hearted Sultan Mirza (Devgn) and the power-hungry Shoaib (Hashmi). Inspired by real-life Mumbai dons, it walks the fine line between loyalty and ambition, earning its spot in the hall of Bollywood gangster movies.
Watch Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai on Prime Video
2 /10
Lucifer (2019)
IMDb rating: 7.5
Directed by: Prithviraj Sukumaran
Cast: Mohanlal, Vivek Oberoi, Manju Warrier, Tovino Thomas
Synopsis: When a powerful politician dies, chaos erupts, and the mysterious Stephen Nedumpally (Mohanlal) steps in to restore order (with bullets, if necessary). With sweeping action and mythic gravitas, Lucifer is a high-voltage entry in South Indian gangster movies, balancing mass appeal with political intrigue.
Watch Lucifer on Prime Video
3 /10
Sarkar (2005)
IMDb rating: 7.6
Directed by: Ram Gopal Varma
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Kay Kay Menon
Synopsis: A desi riff on The Godfather, Sarkar introduces Subhash Nagre (Amitabh Bachchan), a feared patriarch who commands justice outside the law. When his son Shankar (Abhishek Bachchan) rises to power, betrayal and bloodshed follow. With its brooding mood and political overtones, this remains a classic of movies based on gangsters in India.
Watch Sarkar on Prime Video
4 /10
Parinda (1989)
IMDb rating: 7.8
Directed by: Vidhu Vinod Chopra
Cast: Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Madhuri Dixit
Synopsis: Parinda set a new benchmark in Indian crime cinema with its raw portrayal of Mumbai's ganglands. When Karan (Kapoor) discovers his brother Kishan (Shroff) works for a cold-blooded gangster, Anna (Patekar), their relationship spirals into betrayal, revenge, and tragedy. This moody, atmospheric drama remains one of Bollywood's earliest movies based on gangsters with emotional heft.
Watch Parinda on Prime Video
5 /10
Company (2002)
IMDb rating: 7.9
Directed by: Ram Gopal Varma
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Vivek Oberoi, Mohanlal, Manisha Koirala
Synopsis: Tracing the rise and implosion of an underworld empire, Company stars Malik (Devgn) and his ambitious protege Chandu (Oberoi), inspired by real-life dons like Dawood Ibrahim. The icy calm of Malik clashes with Chandu's violent hunger for power, making this a masterclass in real gangster movies Bollywood has dared to produce.
Watch Company on ZEE5
6 /10
Vaastav: The Reality (1999)
IMDb rating: 8
Directed by: Mahesh Manjrekar
Cast: Sanjay Dutt, Namrata Shirodkar, Reema Lagoo, Mohnish Bahl
Synopsis: A slice-of-life gone wrong, Vaastav follows Raghu (Dutt), a man who accidentally kills and slowly descends into the underworld. His tragic arc, from dutiful son to haunted killer, plays out against the emotional power of his mother (Lagoo), making this one of the most heart-wrenching gangster Hindi movies to date.
Watch Vaastav: The Reality on Prime Video
7 /10
KGF: Chapter 1 (2018)
IMDb rating: 8.2
Directed by: Prashanth Neel
Cast: Yash, Srinidhi Shetty, Anant Nag, Achyuth Kumar
Synopsis: From the streets of Bombay to the treacherous gold mines of Kolar, Rocky (Yash) climbs the criminal ladder with brute force and fearless swagger. His rise, fuelled by ambition and vengeance, redefined mass cinema and helped place KGF among the best gangster movies South Indian cinema has ever unleashed.
Watch KGF: Chapter 1 on JioHotstar
8 /10
Gangs of Wasseypur (2012)
IMDb rating: 8.2
Directed by: Anurag Kashyap
Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Richa Chadha, Pankaj Tripathi
Synopsis: This sprawling two-part crime saga spans decades of blood feuds and coal mafia politics in Dhanbad. A mix of Tarantino-esque violence and Indian rural grit, it's one of the best Indian gangster movies ever made and a cultural milestone that turned its entire cast into household names.
Watch Gangs of Wasseypur on Netflix
9 /10
Satya (1998)
IMDb rating: 8.2
Directed by: Ram Gopal Varma
Cast: J.D. Chakravarthy, Manoj Bajpayee, Urmila Matondkar, Saurabh Shukla
Synopsis: Often hailed as a landmark in gangster movies Bollywood has to offer, Satya dives into the Mumbai underworld through the eyes of a naive outsider who gets sucked into crime. With an unforgettable score and Manoj Bajpayee's iconic performance as Bhiku Mhatre, this film defined a generation of movies based on gangsters.
Watch Satya on SonyLIV
10 /10
Nayakan (1987)
IMDb rating: 8.6
Directed by: Mani Ratnam
Cast: Kamal Haasan, Saranya, Delhi Ganesh, Nizhalgal Ravi
Synopsis: Velu Naicker (Haasan), a slum kid turned feared don in Mumbai, becomes a complex figure of justice and vengeance in this Tamil masterpiece. Loosely based on the life of Varadarajan Mudaliar, Nayakan brings emotional weight and operatic scale to the best gangster movies South Indian cinema has created.
Watch Nayakan on Prime Video