Aashram (2020)
TV show · 2020 · Drama, Crime · HI
Curator score: 2.5/10 (59K ratings)
A duplicitous, aashram based, Indian Godman's good deeds serve activities criminal and unholy, such as rapes, murders, drugs, vote bank politics and forced male emasculation. The law and a few crusaders investigate to bring him to account.
Ratings:
- Curator score: 2.5/10
- IMDb: 6.6/10
- TMDB: 5.2/10
Created by: Prakash Jha
Production: Prakash Jha Productions
Cast: Bobby Deol, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Darshan Kumaar, Aaditi Pohankar, Tridha Choudhury, Tushar Pandey, Sachin Shroff, Anupriya Goenka, Vikram Kochhar, Rajeev Siddhartha, Anurita Jha, Anil Rastogi
Curator Review
Verdict: Aashram is a pulpy, outrage-driven crime drama that leans hard into scandal, corruption, and cult-like power. It has a strong central premise and a committed villainous turn, but the writing can be blunt, melodramatic, and repetitive across its seasons.
Best for: Viewers who like sensational Indian crime dramas; Fans of antihero-versus-system stories; People interested in stories about religious exploitation and political corruption; Binge-watchers who want high-stakes cliffhangers and tabloid energy
Skip if: You want subtle, restrained storytelling; You are sensitive to sexual violence and exploitative subject matter; You prefer tightly written prestige crime dramas with nuanced character work; You dislike melodrama or repetitive season-to-season escalation
Overview: Aashram is built for maximum provocation: a fake godman, a criminal empire, political manipulation, and a widening circle of victims and investigators. The hook is undeniably strong, and Bobby Deol’s performance gives the series a menacing center of gravity that helps sell its larger-than-life tone.
Worth noting: That said, the show often trades depth for shock value. It tends to repeat its own patterns, stretching revelations and confrontations across episodes in a way that can feel more soap opera than thriller. The supporting material is uneven, with some effective tension but also a fair amount of blunt exposition and heavy-handed moralizing.
Bottom line: If you want a glossy, populist crime saga with a controversial premise and easy binge appeal, it can be entertaining. If you’re looking for a sharper, more disciplined exploration of power, faith, and corruption, there are stronger series in the same broad lane.
Recommended similar titles:
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Topics: Indian crime drama, corruption, cult leader, political thriller, melodrama, investigation, dark tone, bingeable, social commentary, prestige-adjacent
https://watchlist.tannermartz.com/apple/tv-show/aashram/107588
Aashram (2020)
TV show · 2020 · Drama, Crime · HI
Curator score: 2.5/10 (59K ratings)
Overview A duplicitous, aashram based, Indian Godman's good deeds serve activities criminal and unholy, such as rapes, murders, drugs, vote bank politics and forced male emasculation. The law and a few crusaders investigate to bring him to account.
Ratings
Curator score: 2.5/10
IMDb: 6.6/10
TMDB: 5.2/10
Production Prakash Jha Productions
Cast Bobby Deol, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Darshan Kumaar, Aaditi Pohankar, Tridha Choudhury, Tushar Pandey, Sachin Shroff, Anupriya Goenka, Vikram Kochhar, Rajeev Siddhartha, Anurita Jha, Anil Rastogi
Curator Review
Verdict
Aashram is a pulpy, outrage-driven crime drama that leans hard into scandal, corruption, and cult-like power. It has a strong central premise and a committed villainous turn, but the writing can be blunt, melodramatic, and repetitive across its seasons.
Best for
Viewers who like sensational Indian crime dramas
Fans of antihero-versus-system stories
People interested in stories about religious exploitation and political corruption
Binge-watchers who want high-stakes cliffhangers and tabloid energy
Skip if
You want subtle, restrained storytelling
You are sensitive to sexual violence and exploitative subject matter
You prefer tightly written prestige crime dramas with nuanced character work
You dislike melodrama or repetitive season-to-season escalation
Overview
Aashram is built for maximum provocation: a fake godman, a criminal empire, political manipulation, and a widening circle of victims and investigators. The hook is undeniably strong, and Bobby Deol’s performance gives the series a menacing center of gravity that helps sell its larger-than-life tone.
Worth noting
That said, the show often trades depth for shock value. It tends to repeat its own patterns, stretching revelations and confrontations across episodes in a way that can feel more soap opera than thriller. The supporting material is uneven, with some effective tension but also a fair amount of blunt exposition and heavy-handed moralizing.
Bottom line
If you want a glossy, populist crime saga with a controversial premise and easy binge appeal, it can be entertaining. If you’re looking for a sharper, more disciplined exploration of power, faith, and corruption, there are stronger series in the same broad lane.
Recommended similar titles
2018 · Curator 0.4/10 (247 ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
A darker, more ambitious Indian crime saga with political corruption, spiritual overtones, and a sprawling power struggle.
2020 · Curator 7.2/10 (75.6K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Bleak, socially grounded crime storytelling with strong investigative momentum and a sharper sense of place.
2019 · Curator 0.3/10 (126 ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
A serious, procedural-minded crime series with moral urgency and strong law-enforcement focus.
2019 · Curator 7.5/10 (112.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Fast-moving Indian espionage drama that balances action, politics, and domestic tension with strong binge appeal.
2014 · Curator 0.8/10 (1.2K ratings) · Where to watch: Max
For viewers drawn to faith, belief, and the unsettling power of charismatic figures, though it is far more meditative.
2014 · Curator 9.3/10 (755.3K ratings) · Where to watch: TNT, Max
Atmospheric crime storytelling with occult-adjacent dread, corruption, and a strong sense of menace.
2017 · Curator 8.3/10 (393.1K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
A grim, propulsive crime series about hidden criminality, family pressure, and escalating moral compromise.
2015 · Curator 9.3/10 (528.9K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads
A broad, addictive crime saga about power, institutions, and the machinery of criminal empires.
2013 · Curator 9.2/10 (561.4K ratings) · Where to watch: Netflix
Political corruption and ruthless ambition drive this slick, cynical series with strong binge momentum.
2013 · Curator 1.3/10 (1.4K ratings) · Where to watch: Spectrum On Demand, Max
A pulpy, violent series with relentless escalation, criminal intrigue, and a highly bingeable rhythm.
2020 · Crime, Drama, Mystery · Curator 4.5/10 (71.2K ratings)
A Hindi crime thriller that blends investigation, mythology, and serial-killer tension with a darker mood.
2002 · Curator 9.5/10 (431.8K ratings) · Where to watch: Max
For a more disciplined, systemic look at corruption, institutions, and the many layers of power.
Topics
Indian crime drama, corruption, cult leader, political thriller, melodrama, investigation, dark tone, bingeable, social commentary, prestige-adjacent
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