{ "id": "epcr6rpwh2", "slug": "aspirants", "title": "Aspirants", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries", "label": "Indian and South Asian web series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries.yr-2021-2025", "label": "Premiered 2021 to 2025", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries.yr-2021-2025" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "India · 2021 and later: Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021", "label": "India · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted", "label": "Unscripted, reality, and web-native series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_unscripted" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native", "label": "Web-native and streaming-original series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Aspirants (आस्पिरेंट्स) is a 2021 Hindi TVF web series about three friends preparing for India's UPSC civil services exam in Delhi; five episodes on YouTube, later seasons on Prime Video, IMDb 9.1/10.", "snippet": "Aspirants (आस्पिरेंट्स) is a 2021 Hindi TVF web series about three friends preparing for India's UPSC civil services exam in Delhi; five episodes on YouTube, later seasons on Prime Video, IMDb 9.1/10.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_web_native.indian_southasian_webseries.yr-2021-2025", "markdown": "# Aspirants\n\n**Aspirants** (आस्पिरेंट्स) is an Indian Hindi-language drama web series produced by [The Viral Fever](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-viral-fever) (TVF) that follows three friends spending years of their youth preparing for the [Union Public Service Commission](https://www.edgepedia.org/union-public-service-commission) (UPSC) examination, India's premier central recruiting agency for Group 'A' officers of the [Government of India](https://www.edgepedia.org/government-of-india).[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/aspirants-web-series-104823) Created by Arunabh Kumar and Shreyansh Pandey, the five-episode first season was released weekly on YouTube beginning 7 April 2021, with the final episode on 8 May 2021.[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/aspirants-web-series-104823) • [2](https://www.aajtak.in/entertainment/film-review/story/tvf-aspirants-web-series-upsc-students-story-viral-why-so-popular-tmov-1251376-2021-05-08) It became one of TVF's signature hits, moved to Prime Video for its second season in 2023, and reached a third season on 13 March 2026.[3](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/aspirants-season-3-prime-video) • [4](https://www.indianbroadcastingworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/March-Magazine-2026-Digital-1.pdf)\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Original run | Season 1: 7 April to 8 May 2021, weekly on YouTube; five episodes of roughly 40–45 minutes[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/aspirants-web-series-104823) • [5](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/aspirants-review-the-engaging-web-series-is-binge-worthy-1801819-2021-05-12) |\n| Creators | Arunabh Kumar and Shreyansh Pandey; written by Deepesh Sumitra Jagdish; directed by Apoorv Singh Karki[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/aspirants-web-series-104823) • [5](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/aspirants-review-the-engaging-web-series-is-binge-worthy-1801819-2021-05-12) |\n| Principal cast | Naveen Kasturia (Abhilash), Shivankit Singh Parihar (Guri), Abhilash Thapliyal (SK), Sunny Hinduja (Sandeep Bhaiya), Namita Dubey (Dhairya)[6](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/aspirants) |\n| Seasons | Three seasons, five episodes each: 2021 (YouTube), 2023 and 2026 (Prime Video)[3](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/aspirants-season-3-prime-video) • [6](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/aspirants) |\n| Reception | IMDb rating 9.1/10 from about 320,000 votes; 8 wins and 17 nominations[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14392248/) |\n| Setting | Old Rajinder Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi's UPSC coaching neighborhoods[8](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/aspirants-pre-mains-aur-life-web-review--ias-invisible-after-sunlight-23172699) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Premise and characters\n\nThe series centers on three friends, called the \"tripod,\" who prepare together for the UPSC civil services examination in Delhi. In the frame narrative, the older Abhilash, now a successful officer, recounts his preparation years to two young aspirants. Of the three friends, only Abhilash ultimately clears the examination; SK becomes a teacher, and Guri runs his father's shoe factory.[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/aspirants-review-the-engaging-web-series-is-binge-worthy-1801819-2021-05-12) [Naveen Kasturia](https://www.edgepedia.org/naveen-kasturia) plays the vulnerable Abhilash, Abhilash Thapliyal plays Shwetketu (\"SK\"), described by reviewers as the strongest pillar of the trio, and Shivankit Singh Parihar plays the emotional Guri.[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/aspirants-review-the-engaging-web-series-is-binge-worthy-1801819-2021-05-12) Sunny Hinduja's Sandeep Bhaiya, a senior aspirant figure, became one of the series' most popular characters, and Namita Dubey plays Dhairya.[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/aspirants-review-the-engaging-web-series-is-binge-worthy-1801819-2021-05-12)\n\nThe setting is Old Rajinder Nagar, the Delhi coaching colony that one reviewer called the UPSC equivalent of Kota for engineering aspirants, with later seasons also drawing on Mukherjee Nagar.[8](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/aspirants-pre-mains-aur-life-web-review--ias-invisible-after-sunlight-23172699) • [9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/aspirants-3-review-tvf-returns-with-new-show-old-flow-10579889/) The show depicts the full cycle of preparation, from the Prelims and Mains written stages to the interview, along with the coaching institutes, test series, and rented rooms that fill aspirants' lives.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/aspirants-3-review-tvf-returns-with-new-show-old-flow-10579889/)\n\n### Seasons\n\n**Season 1 (2021).** Released on TVF's YouTube channel in five weekly episodes, it established the dual-timeline structure and the friendship of the tripod.[1](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/aspirants-web-series-104823) • [2](https://www.aajtak.in/entertainment/film-review/story/tvf-aspirants-web-series-upsc-students-story-viral-why-so-popular-tmov-1251376-2021-05-08) Reviewers called it engaging and binge-worthy, praising the ensemble cast and songs such as \"Dhaaga\" and \"De Mauka Zindagi,\" while noting a predictable ending.[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/aspirants-review-the-engaging-web-series-is-binge-worthy-1801819-2021-05-12)\n\n**Season 2 (2023).** The season moved to Prime Video and follows Abhilash as District Magistrate of Rampur, where ideological differences with ALC Sandeep Ohlan escalate tensions.[12](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/aspirants/season-2) [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) review argued the show raises questions about the system that produces administrators, portraying Abhilash braving typhoid to sit his exam.[13](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/aspirants-season-2-review-tvf-show-romanticising-toxic-system-that-produces-accidental-administrators-8997403/)\n\n**Season 3 (2026).** Premiering on 13 March 2026 on Prime Video across India and more than 240 countries and territories, the season is directed by Deepesh Sumitra Jagdish and adds Jatin Goswami as Pawan Kumar.[3](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/aspirants-season-3-prime-video) It runs on two timelines: in the present, an inquiry is initiated against DM Abhilash following allegations by Sandeep Ohlan, straining his relationships; in the past, after qualifying for the IRS, a young Abhilash makes one final attempt at the IAS (Indian Administrative Service, the top civil-service cadre UPSC aspirants seek) from Mukherjee Nagar.[3](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/aspirants-season-3-prime-video) Critics received it as a more reflective chapter about power and compromise; the Indian Express rated it 2 out of 5 and found it predictable, while India Today praised the ensemble and called it worth the two-and-a-half-year wait.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/aspirants-3-review-tvf-returns-with-new-show-old-flow-10579889/) • [14](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/aspirants-season-3-review-tvf-naveen-kasturia-sunny-hinduja-prime-video-2881276-2026-03-13) A fourth season has not been announced.[15](https://rapturemuse.com/web-series/aspirants-season-4)\n\n## Production\n\nTVF devoted about two years to developing and writing the first season, a length Shreyansh Pandey, head of TVF Originals, attributed to the company's writer-centered process; by comparison, Panchayat took three and a half years.[10](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/magazine/entertainment/story/20220627-tvf-how-the-production-company-has-caught-the-nation-s-attention-1963188-2022-06-17) Director Apoorv Singh Karki was himself a former UPSC aspirant who did not clear the examination, part of TVF's practice of rigorous research before production.[11](https://theprint.in/ground-reports/youtube-favourite-to-ott-darling-tvfs-success-has-even-bollywood-calling/1876714/) The first season was presented with the test-preparation company [Unacademy](https://www.edgepedia.org/unacademy), whose repeated mentions in the show drew criticism from reviewers as intrusive product placement.[5](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/aspirants-review-the-engaging-web-series-is-binge-worthy-1801819-2021-05-12) • [8](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/aspirants-pre-mains-aur-life-web-review--ias-invisible-after-sunlight-23172699)\n\n## Reception and cultural resonance\n\nThe series holds a 9.1/10 rating on IMDb from about 320,000 user votes, with season 1 episodes rated between 9.0 and 9.5.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14392248/) • [16](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14392248/ratings/) Reviewers credited its realism about India's examination culture; the Mid-Day review called it a worthy successor to [Kota Factory](https://www.edgepedia.org/kota-factory) (2019) and observed that for middle-class Indians the UPSC exam is \"not merely an exam\" but a lifestyle.[8](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/aspirants-pre-mains-aur-life-web-review--ias-invisible-after-sunlight-23172699) The Indian Express wrote that the first two seasons gave the thousands of long-term aspirants the chance to feel seen and heard.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/aspirants-3-review-tvf-returns-with-new-show-old-flow-10579889/)\n\nThe show's popularity rests on the scale of the phenomenon it depicts. Around 1.1 million (11 lakh) aspirants reportedly applied for the UPSC examination in 2022, of whom only 933 were recommended by the commission for appointment.[17](https://theprint.in/ground-reports/some-upsc-aspirants-dont-quit-mukherjee-nagar-even-after-failing-they-become-the-bhaiyas/1894903/) Sociologists of India's coaching industry describe the \"aspirant\" as a distinct social identity, with whole neighborhoods organized around coaching institutes and aspirants making multiple attempts over many years.[18](https://aparc.fsi.stanford.edu/news/insights-social-life-indias-government-recruitment-examinations-coaching-industry) The series has itself entered this culture: ThePrint reported that it mainstreamed the \"bhaiya\" figure, failed aspirants who remain in coaching hubs as informal elders, though the practice long predates the show.[17](https://theprint.in/ground-reports/some-upsc-aspirants-dont-quit-mukherjee-nagar-even-after-failing-they-become-the-bhaiyas/1894903/) Alongside films such as 12th Fail and [All India Rank](https://www.edgepedia.org/all-india-rank), Aspirants is part of a recent wave of screen fiction about India's competitive examination system.[9](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/aspirants-3-review-tvf-returns-with-new-show-old-flow-10579889/)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Aspirants Web Series (2021), Gadgets 360](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/aspirants-web-series-104823)\n2. [TVF Aspirants web series, Aaj Tak (8 May 2021)](https://www.aajtak.in/entertainment/film-review/story/tvf-aspirants-web-series-upsc-students-story-viral-why-so-popular-tmov-1251376-2021-05-08)\n3. [How to watch Aspirants Season 3, About Amazon India](https://www.aboutamazon.in/news/entertainment/aspirants-season-3-prime-video)\n4. [Indian Broadcasting World, March 2026 magazine](https://www.indianbroadcastingworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/March-Magazine-2026-Digital-1.pdf)\n5. [Aspirants Review: The engaging TVF web series is binge-worthy, India Today (12 May 2021)](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/aspirants-review-the-engaging-web-series-is-binge-worthy-1801819-2021-05-12)\n6. [Aspirants, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/aspirants)\n7. [Aspirants (TV Series 2021– ), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14392248/)\n8. [Aspirants: Pre...Mains... Aur Life Web Review, Mid-Day (11 May 2021)](https://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/web-series/article/aspirants-pre-mains-aur-life-web-review--ias-invisible-after-sunlight-23172699)\n9. [Aspirants 3 review: TVF returns with new show, old flow, The Indian Express (13 March 2026)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/aspirants-3-review-tvf-returns-with-new-show-old-flow-10579889/)\n10. [TVF: How the production company has caught the nation's attention, India Today (June 2022)](https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/magazine/entertainment/story/20220627-tvf-how-the-production-company-has-caught-the-nation-s-attention-1963188-2022-06-17)\n11. [YouTube favourite to OTT darling, ThePrint](https://theprint.in/ground-reports/youtube-favourite-to-ott-darling-tvfs-success-has-even-bollywood-calling/1876714/)\n12. [Aspirants Season 2, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/in/tv-show/aspirants/season-2)\n13. [Aspirants Season 2 review, The Indian Express (2023)](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/aspirants-season-2-review-tvf-show-romanticising-toxic-system-that-produces-accidental-administrators-8997403/)\n14. [Aspirants Season 3 review, India Today (13 March 2026)](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/aspirants-season-3-review-tvf-naveen-kasturia-sunny-hinduja-prime-video-2881276-2026-03-13)\n15. [Aspirants Season 4: Cast, Story, Release & Episodes, RaptureMuse](https://rapturemuse.com/web-series/aspirants-season-4)\n16. [Aspirants Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14392248/ratings/)\n17. [Some UPSC aspirants don't quit Mukherjee Nagar even after failing, ThePrint (21 December 2023)](https://theprint.in/ground-reports/some-upsc-aspirants-dont-quit-mukherjee-nagar-even-after-failing-they-become-the-bhaiyas/1894903/)\n18. [Insights into the Social Life of India's Government Recruitment Examinations Coaching Industry, Stanford APARC](https://aparc.fsi.stanford.edu/news/insights-social-life-indias-government-recruitment-examinations-coaching-industry)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Web-native and streaming-original series › Indian and South Asian web series › Premiered 2021 to 2025*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/aspirants", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/aspirants.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Aspirants\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/aspirants. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Aspirants](https://www.edgepedia.org/aspirants)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/aspirants](https://www.edgepedia.org/aspirants). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Aspirants\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/aspirants. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Aspirants is a 2021 Hindi TVF web series about three friends preparing for India's UPSC civil services exam in Delhi; five episodes on YouTube, later seasons on Prime Video, IMDb 9.1/10." }