High
High is a 2020 Hindi-language crime thriller web series directed by Nikhil Rao and released as an MX Original on the Indian streaming platform MX Player on 7 October 2020.1 • 2 Its story follows a drug addict who becomes entangled with a fictional wonder drug called Magic, and with the traffickers, pharmaceutical interests, and journalists who converge on it in Mumbai.3
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First episode | 7 October 2020, on MX Player as an MX Originals title2 |
| Format | One season of 9 episodes, each about 37 to 40 minutes4 |
| Director and writers | Directed by Nikhil Rao; co-written by Rao with Emil Thomas and Nishant Goyal1 |
| Lead cast | Akshay Oberoi, Ranvir Shorey, Mrinmayee Godbole, Shweta Basu Prasad, Kunal Naik, Prakash Belawadi, Nakul Bhalla1 |
| Genre | Crime, drama, and thriller, with an A (adult) age rating in India4 |
| IMDb rating | 8.2, from about 7,000 user votes4 |
| Production | Jamic Films; cinematography by KU Mohanan and John Jacob Payyapalli5 • 3 |
Spoilers
Premise
The series is built on a single speculative device: a compound that does not exist. Shiv Mathur (Akshay Oberoi) is a drug addict who, after an overdose, lands in a secretive rehab-cum-research facility where Dr. Roy (Prakash Belawadi) and two junior doctors, Shweta (Shweta Basu Prasad) and Nakul (Nakul Bhalla), have developed an unapproved pill called Magic. The drug is a green pill that rejuvenates brain cells rather than destroying them, liberating users from addiction while producing a euphoric effect comparable to cocaine.3 • 6
The drug as the engine of the plot. Once Magic reaches the streets, it disrupts the illegal drug trade and draws in a set of opposing parties: a Mumbai drug lord (Kunal Naik), a professional assassin called Lakda (Ranvir Shorey) working for a pharmaceutical company owner who wants the formula, a news reporter named Ashima (Mrinmayee Godbole) chasing the story, and Shiv himself, who moves from user to distributor.3 • 7 Oberoi said in an interview that the invented drug was the show's distinguishing feature compared with other substance-abuse dramas, and that he consulted rehab center professionals to prepare for the role.8
Structure and style
Each of the nine episodes opens with a roughly five-minute black-and-white flashback, set in the early 1970s, showing the discovery of the jungle plant from which Magic is derived.9 • 2 The present-day story is set mostly in Mumbai and moves between parallel storylines as the competing interests close in on the drug's source.3
The series avoids moralizing about addiction. A character played by Shweta Basu Prasad states the position that addicts are not criminals and should be rehabilitated rather than jailed, a message that tied the show to the drug-policy debate current in India at the time of release.3 Oberoi described the series as "not a preachy series" in the same period.8
Cast
The principal cast and their roles, as listed in reviews and episode guides:1 • 10
- Akshay Oberoi as Shiv Mathur, a wealthy, educated addict
- Ranvir Shorey as Jackson Lakda, a hitman haunted by his past
- Mrinmayee Godbole as Ashima Chauhan, a news reporter
- Shweta Basu Prasad as Dr. Shweta
- Prakash Belawadi as Dr. Shridhar Roy, who runs the research facility
- Nakul Bhalla as Dr. Nakul
- Kunal Naik as Munna, a drug lord
- Mantra Mugdh as a DJ who is Shiv's first supplier
- Madhur Mittal as Jimmy, Munna's nephew
Reception
Critical response. NDTV's review gave the series 3 stars out of 5, calling it a strikingly fresh take on the drug war and praising the performances of Akshay Oberoi and Ranvir Shorey.1 The Times of India also rated the season 3.0.11 Scroll.in's review found the world-building, performances, and cinematography strong but noted that later episodes descend into conspiracy-thriller clichés, partly because law enforcement is largely absent from the story.3 A later retrospective review from Inside Box Office scored it 3.5 out of 5, citing inconsistent pacing in the later episodes and predictable twists, while judging the performances strong across the nine episodes.7
On IMDb the series holds a rating of 8.2 from about 7,000 votes.4 The show was advertised on the front page of the Times of India on its release date.2
Availability
High streamed on MX Player from October 2020 to June 2021, returned to the platform from June 2022 to May 2025, and was later available on Amazon MX Player free with ads after Amazon acquired MX Player and merged it with its MiniTV offering.12 • 13 As of 2026, no second season had been confirmed, though the first season's ending leaves open the possibility of continuation.7
References
- High Review: Consistently Watchable With Solid Performances By Akshay Oberoi And Ranvir Shorey, NDTV (2020)
- HIGH – Review (MX Player), Filmy Town (2020)
- 'High' review: A wonder pill creates magic and mayhem in Mumbai's drug trade, Scroll.in (2020)
- High (2020) – watch online, JustWatch
- HIGH (2020) — Web Series, Indian Film History
- High: Mrinmayee Godbole Starrer High, Streaming Now On MX Player, SpotboyE (2020)
- High Review: A Raw Insight Into The Drugs Underworld, Inside Box Office
- Akshay Oberoi: High is not a preachy series, The Indian Express (2020)
- High review: A web series high on substance, The Indian Express (2020)
- High (2020) episode guide and cast, MyShows
- High Season 1 Review: Of drugs, recovery and everything in between, The Times of India (2020)
- High – watch tv show streaming online, JustWatch
- Economic impact of the film, television and online curated content industry in India, 2024, MPA/Deloitte report
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
Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026
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