Director: Tanuj Chopra
Rating: ***
When a series arrives at its third season, expectations run high—and for good reason. The acclaimed Indian crime drama Delhi Crime 3 returns to streaming with the formidable Shefali Shah leading once more as DCP Vartika Chaturvedi. The series dives into a chilling new case of human trafficking, exploring social apathy, gender bias and the dark realities many prefer to ignore. While it has many strengths, this season also reveals the fine line between bold storytelling and slipping into genre-formula.
In this latest chapter, Vartika finds herself in new terrain—literally. Posted away from her familiar Delhi beat, she investigates a horrifying network that spans from Assam to Haryana, and stretches into the heart of Delhi’s under-belly. The central mystery is sparked by two troubling threads: a wounded toddler abandoned at a hospital and an alert about teenage girls being trafficked into the city. These events converge to expose a ruthless ring managed by a powerful woman known as “Badi Didi” (played by Huma Qureshi), whose focus is profiting from the sale of young girls. The emotional core emerges when the story reminds us that behind statistics and crime-reports are young lives destroyed, families shattered, and institutions that often fail to act until it’s too late.
What Works – The Strong Points
Powerful Performances
Shefali Shah is once again the anchor of the series—bringing nuance, conviction and emotional weight to her role. Critics note that she plays Vartika with empathy rather than ego, making her a believable leader in a broken system.
Huma Qureshi as “Badi Didi” is perhaps the season’s standout. Her chilling portrayal of a criminal mastermind who is still a product of the system is fierce, nuanced and unsettling.
The supporting cast—Rasika Dugal, Rajesh Tailang, and others—offer solid, grounded performances that add texture to the story.
Realism & Restraint
What makes the series powerful is how it handles its subject matter. It doesn’t rely on sensationalism; instead it unpacks the mechanisms that allow such crimes to exist. The show explores the interplay of poverty, gender discrimination, and institutional inertia.
The cinematography, pacing and tone contribute to a gritty, haunting atmosphere without resorting to exploitative visuals.
Social Relevance
Delhi Crime 3 shifts from being just a procedural crime drama into a commentary on societal failures. It reminds us that these crimes are often rooted in structural issues—indifference, marginalisation, the commodification of young women. The narrative asks the quieter question: Why do these things keep happening?
