Top 9 Bollywood mystery movies that will keep you guessing till the end: From Vidya Balan’s ‘Kahaani’ to Aamir Khan’s ‘Taraash’

Let’s admit it – there’s nothing like watching a movie slowly unfold through its twists and turns. The need to know what will happen next and the sense of anticipation keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Over the years, Bollywood has produced many such mystery films that are loved and revered by movie buffs.

For those who love the feeling of being taken on a journey to unknown destinations through good storytelling, these Bollywood mystery movies are the best way to fulfill that need.

Bollywood mystery movies you should watch if you haven’t seen them yet

1. Kahani (2012)

IMDb rating: 8.1

Performer: Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chatterjee, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Indraneel Sengupta, Saswata Chatterjee

director: Sujoy Ghosh

Writer: Sujoy Ghosh, Advaita Kala, Suresh Nair

Set against the backdrop of the bustling streets of Kolkata, a pregnant woman is on a mission to find her missing husband. Vidya Bagki, played by Vidya Balan, is trying to connect the dots that could lead to the disappearance of her loved one. As she searches for clues, she meets a variety of people with their own motivations.

Kahaani has so many layers that viewers are forced to think of all possibilities without arriving at the right one. Vidya’s performance in this film definitely stands out as one of the best in her career.

2. Drishyam (2015)

IMDb rating: 8.2

Performer: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran

director: Nishikant Kamat

Writer: Jeethu Joseph, Upendra Sidai

Where to watch: Geo Cinema, Netflix, Disney+ Hotstar

‘Drishyam’ was one of those Bollywood movies that had fans going wild to no end when it was released. The story of a family whose happy life is turned upside down when they become suspects in the sudden disappearance of the son of the Goa Police Inspector General.

3. Andadoon (2018)

IMDb rating: 8.2

Performer: Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, Radhika Apte

director: Shriram Raghavan

Writer: Arijit Biswas, Yogesh Chandekar, Shriram Raghavan

Where to watch: Netflix

In Andhadhun, Ayushmann Khurrana plays the role of Akash, a blind pianist who ends up giving live music regularly at a cafe. The owner asks Akash to visit the house of a famous actor who wanted to surprise his wife with a surprise concert on his wedding anniversary. Akash reaches the actor’s residence and finds himself in a mess from which he cannot come out.

4. Table No. 21 (2013)

IMDb rating: 7.2

Performer: Paresh Rawal, Rajeev Khandelwal, Tina Desai

director: Aditya Dutt

Writer: Shiashak Anand, Shantanu Ray Chibber, Abhijeet Deshpande

Where to watch: Jio Cinema, Zee5, YouTube

Vivaan Agasthi and Siya Agasthi are a happy couple who were lucky enough to win a luxury vacation to Fiji. While they were enjoying their trip to the island, a stranger offers them a game with a prize that is difficult to refuse. The rules are simple: couples must always tell the truth to win. Every time the game levels up, Vivaan and Siya realize that the game could eventually claim their lives.

5. Gupt: The Hidden Truth (1997)

IMDb rating: 7.3

Performer: Bobby Deol, Kajol, Manisha Koirala, Om Puri

director: Rajiv Rai

Writer: Shabir Boxwala, Rajiv Rai, Naeem Shah

Where to watch: G5

Sahil, played by Bobby Deol, does not have a very healthy relationship with his father Jaisingh. When Jaisingh wants Sahil to marry Sheetal (Manisha Koirala) of his choice, her rift deepens. On the other hand, she thinks Sahil wants to marry Isha (Kajol). Jaisingh is found dead after an argument with Sahil, and Sahil is sentenced to life imprisonment. He manages to escape from prison in order to find his father’s real culprits and bring them to justice.

6. Rahasha (2015)

IMDb rating: 7.6

Performer: Kay Kay Menon, Tisca Chopra, Ashish Vidyarthi

director: manish gupta

Writer: manish gupta

Where to watch: Zee5, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube

As the title suggests, this story is full of mysteries. A doctor’s 18-year-old daughter is found murdered in her home and all her fingers are pointed at her father. Kay Kay Menon, who plays the role of a CBI agent working on the case, realizes that there is more to her than meets the eye. When the list of suspects gets long, it becomes a classic manhunt situation.

7. Talbar (2015)

IMDb rating: 8.1

Performer: Irrfan Khan, Konkona Sen Sharma, Neeraj Kabi

director: Meghna Gulzar

Writer: Vishal Bhardwaj, Aditya Nimbalkar

Where to watch: Disney + Hotstar, Netflix

Based on the infamous Noida serial murder case of 2008, Talvar explores various possibilities leading to the crime. 14-year-old Shruti is found murdered in her home, as is her domestic help Kempal. The girl’s parents are the main suspects, but investigator Ashwin Kumar, played by Irrfan Khan, won’t rest until he knows all the facts of the case.

8. Talaash: The Answer Is Within (2012)

IMDb rating: 7.2

Performer: Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Rani Mukerji

director: Reema Kagti

Writer: Reema Kagti, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap

Where to watch: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube

Talaash revolves around Inspector Sajjan Singh Shekhwat, who is tasked with investigating a fatal car accident. This seemingly simple case turned out to be too big a puzzle for Surjan Singh to solve. While Saajan deals with his broken marriage, he tries to uncover his truth with the help of a sex worker named Rosie.

9. Manorama: Six Feet Under (2007)

IMDb rating: 7.5

Performer: Abhay Deol, Raima Sen, Guru Panag

director: Navdeep Singh

Writer: Navdeep Singh, Devika Bhagat

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube

Satyavir Singh, a married middle-class man, is asked by his boss’s wife to investigate her husband’s suspicions of infidelity and collect evidence. Already in financial trouble, Satyavir accepted the offer, not knowing what lay ahead. Sativir, tasked with uncovering the truth, must find his answers and find them fast.

what are you looking for? So go ahead and add these Bollywood mystery movies to your watchlist.