# Mithya
**Mithya** (मिथ्या; Hindi for "untruth") is an Indian Hindi-language psychological thriller web series streaming on ZEE5, adapted from the 2019 British series *Cheat*. Its first season premiered on 18 February 2022, and a second season, *Mithya: The Darker Chapter*, followed on 1 November 2024.[1](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms) • [2](https://www.highonfilms.com/zee5-global-returns-with-mithya-the-darker-chapter-starring-huma-qureshi-and-avantika-dassani/) The title refers to the Sanskrit concept of illusion or untruth, which the series plays on through its themes of selective truth and serial lying.[3](https://scroll.in/reel/1017387/mithya-review-loads-of-lies-and-a-few-home-truths/1000)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Hindi-language psychological thriller on ZEE5; two seasons of six episodes each (2022, 2024)[1](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms) • [4](https://thetvdb.com/series/mithya) |
| Source | Original adaptation of the 2019 British series *Cheat*, headlined by Katherine Kelly and Molly Windsor[1](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms) |
| Lead roles | Huma Qureshi as Hindi literature professor Juhi Adhikari; Avantika Dassani as her student Rhea Rajguru, in her screen debut[1](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms) |
| Directors | Rohan Sippy (season 1); Kapil Sharma (season 2)[1](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms) • [2](https://www.highonfilms.com/zee5-global-returns-with-mithya-the-darker-chapter-starring-huma-qureshi-and-avantika-dassani/) |
| Production | Applause Entertainment in association with Rose Audio Visual Production; creators Goldie Behl and Priya Jhavar[1](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/mithya/s02) |
| Setting | Darjeeling, whose hill landscape serves as the backdrop for both seasons[1](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms) |
| Audience rating | 6.8/10 on IMDb from about 16,000 user ratings[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17494264/ratings/) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and season 1
The story is set in [Darjeeling](https://www.edgepedia.org/darjeeling) and centers on the conflict between Juhi Adhikari, a [Hindi literature](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindi-literature) professor and aspiring writer, and her first-year student Rhea Rajguru, the daughter of a tea estate owner and college trustee. When Rhea submits her end-of-term dissertation, Juhi suspects plagiarism and fails her, branding her a cheat. What begins as a classroom conflict escalates into psychological warfare between the two women, with fatal consequences and shocking revelations.[1](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms) • [7](https://scroll.in/reel/1074887/mithya-the-darker-chapter-review-a-forced-underwhelming-sequel/)
The six-part first season also follows Juhi's marriage to Neil ([Parambrata Chatterjee](https://www.edgepedia.org/parambrata-chatterjee)) and her attraction to a colleague, Vishal ([Indraneil Sengupta](https://www.edgepedia.org/indraneil-sengupta)), and weaves in themes of literary legacy, the teacher-student relationship, responsible parenting, and nature versus nurture.[3](https://scroll.in/reel/1017387/mithya-review-loads-of-lies-and-a-few-home-truths/1000) Season 1 ended on a cliffhanger pointing toward a continuation.[8](https://odishapostepaper.com/uploads/epaper/2022-02/620feede7515f.pdf)
### Season 2: The Darker Chapter
*Mithya: The Darker Chapter* premiered on ZEE5 on 1 November 2024, timed for Diwali, with all six episodes released that day under titles including "Chehre Pe Chehra" and "Tum Aur Main Alag Nahi".[2](https://www.highonfilms.com/zee5-global-returns-with-mithya-the-darker-chapter-starring-huma-qureshi-and-avantika-dassani/) • [9](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/mithya/0-6-4z587408/season-2/episodes) Directed by [Kapil Sharma](https://www.edgepedia.org/kapil-sharma), it takes a six-month leap and reveals that Juhi and Rhea are half-sisters, daughters of the author Anand Tyagi ([Rajit Kapur](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajit-kapur)). Juhi, the legitimate daughter, is the focus of Anand's affection, while Rhea, born outside the family, resents her exclusion and schemes to inherit the Rajguru estate and win her father's love.[10](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/mithya/season-2/seasonreview/114693083.cms) • [7](https://scroll.in/reel/1074887/mithya-the-darker-chapter-review-a-forced-underwhelming-sequel/)
A new character drives the plot: the failed writer [Amit Chaudhary](https://www.edgepedia.org/amit-chaudhary) ([Naveen Kasturia](https://www.edgepedia.org/naveen-kasturia)) appears at Juhi's book signing for her debut novel *Dhund* and accuses her of plagiarizing his unpublished manuscript. As the accusation destroys Juhi's reputation, Rhea's vendetta becomes as much about her father's acceptance as about revenge, and the season pushes both women past moral limits in a battle the marketing called "blood versus blood".[11](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/mithya/0-6-4z587408) • [7](https://scroll.in/reel/1074887/mithya-the-darker-chapter-review-a-forced-underwhelming-sequel/)
## Production and casting
Applause [Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/entertainment) had acquired the rights to *Cheat* and brought in producer and director [Goldie Behl](https://www.edgepedia.org/goldie-behl), who said the adaptation kept the basic plot of a teacher-student relationship spiraling out of control but reworked the dynamics for an Indian setting, expanding the interpersonal stories within a family.[12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/goldie-behl-on-casting-bhagyashree-s-daughter-avantika-dassani-in-mithya-we-didn-t-know-what-her-lineage-was-101645438103417.html) [Huma Qureshi](https://www.edgepedia.org/huma-qureshi) said she saw two episodes of the original and agreed immediately; she modeled her character's look and personality on her own school history teacher while imagining a life behind it that was not so perfect.[13](https://theprint.in/feature/huma-qureshi-on-playing-college-professor-in-mithya-i-wanted-her-to-be-cool-and-modern/820507/)
Avantika Dassani, daughter of the actor [Bhagyashree](https://www.edgepedia.org/bhagyashree), was cast after an audition in which, according to Behl, the team did not know her family background; Applause's Sameer Nair selected her from the final three candidates. The role marked her screen debut.[12](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/goldie-behl-on-casting-bhagyashree-s-daughter-avantika-dassani-in-mithya-we-didn-t-know-what-her-lineage-was-101645438103417.html) • [1](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms) The first season also featured Parambrata Chatterjee, Rajit Kapur, and Samir Soni in pivotal roles.[1](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms)
## Reception
Season 1 drew generally favorable reviews. The Times of India gave it 3.0 out of 5, calling it "an entirely addictive thriller" and praising the performances of Qureshi and Dassani.[14](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/mithya/seriesreview/89519859.cms) NDTV's review credited Qureshi with bringing "poise and precision" to the role and noted the series' literary texture, with characters reciting Shakespeare, Wordsworth, and the Hindi poets [Kedarnath Singh](https://www.edgepedia.org/kedarnath-singh) and Naresh Saxena.[15](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/mithya-review-huma-qureshi-brings-poise-and-precision-to-tale-of-suspicion-and-revenge-3-stars-2775323) Scroll.in found the psychological shading eventually lost in a thicket of twists but judged that the show's concerns elevated it above the usual streaming mystery.[3](https://scroll.in/reel/1017387/mithya-review-loads-of-lies-and-a-few-home-truths/1000)
Season 2 was received poorly by critics. Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express rated it 1.5 out of 5, calling it "contrived, unconvincing, and, the worst sin, dull" in contrast to the first season's freshness.[16](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/mithya-the-darker-chapter-review-huma-qureshi-starrer-is-contrived-unconvincing-and-worst-of-all-dull-9647943/lite/) The Times of India gave it 2.5 out of 5, criticizing constant flashbacks and cliffhangers and finding Amit's character added noise to a crowded plot, though it credited Rajit Kapur's Anand with gravitas.[10](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/mithya/season-2/seasonreview/114693083.cms) Scroll.in called it "a forced, underwhelming sequel", noting that with no second season of *Cheat* to adapt, the writers had invented new mind games that were not always logical or convincing.[7](https://scroll.in/reel/1074887/mithya-the-darker-chapter-review-a-forced-underwhelming-sequel/) On IMDb the series holds a 6.8/10 rating from about 16,000 users.[6](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17494264/ratings/)
## Other uses of the title
A separate Hindi film titled *Mithya*, directed by [Rajat Kapoor](https://www.edgepedia.org/rajat-kapoor), was released in 2008. Kapoor said its script was inspired by a mythological conversation between Vishnu and Narad about the meaning of Maya, and described the film as being about finding one's identity and inner self.[17](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/mithya-is-inspired-from-mythology-rajat/story-ondzjt0uYRPqeoBEApKxsK.html)
## References
1. [Huma Qureshi to headline psychological thriller series 'Mithya' for ZEE5, The Economic Times (PTI)](https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/huma-qureshi-to-headline-psychological-thriller-series-mithya-for-zee5/articleshow/89151740.cms)
2. [ZEE5 Global Returns With 'Mithya – The Darker Chapter' Starring Huma Qureshi and Avantika Dassani, High On Films](https://www.highonfilms.com/zee5-global-returns-with-mithya-the-darker-chapter-starring-huma-qureshi-and-avantika-dassani/)
3. ['Mithya' review: Loads of lies and a few home truths, Scroll.in](https://scroll.in/reel/1017387/mithya-review-loads-of-lies-and-a-few-home-truths/1000)
4. [मिथ्या, TheTVDB.com](https://thetvdb.com/series/mithya)
5. [Mithya: Season 2, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/mithya/s02)
6. [Mithya (TV Series 2022– ) – Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17494264/ratings/)
7. ['Mithya – The Darker Chapter' review: A forced, underwhelming sequel, Scroll.in](https://scroll.in/reel/1074887/mithya-the-darker-chapter-review-a-forced-underwhelming-sequel/)
8. [Odisha Post e-paper, February 2022 (Mithya review)](https://odishapostepaper.com/uploads/epaper/2022-02/620feede7515f.pdf)
9. [Mithya Season 2 episodes, ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/mithya/0-6-4z587408/season-2/episodes)
10. [Mithya Season 2 Review, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/mithya/season-2/seasonreview/114693083.cms)
11. [Mithya Web Series, ZEE5](https://www.zee5.com/web-series/details/mithya/0-6-4z587408)
12. [Goldie Behl on casting Bhagyashree's daughter Avantika Dassani in Mithya, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/goldie-behl-on-casting-bhagyashree-s-daughter-avantika-dassani-in-mithya-we-didn-t-know-what-her-lineage-was-101645438103417.html)
13. [Huma Qureshi on playing college professor in 'Mithya', ThePrint – PTI Feed](https://theprint.in/feature/huma-qureshi-on-playing-college-professor-in-mithya-i-wanted-her-to-be-cool-and-modern/820507/)
14. [Mithya Web Series: Review, Trailer, Star Cast, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/mithya/seriesreview/89519859.cms)
15. [Mithya Review: Huma Qureshi Brings Poise And Precision, NDTV](https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/mithya-review-huma-qureshi-brings-poise-and-precision-to-tale-of-suspicion-and-revenge-3-stars-2775323)
16. [Mithya The Darker Chapter review, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/mithya-the-darker-chapter-review-huma-qureshi-starrer-is-contrived-unconvincing-and-worst-of-all-dull-9647943/lite/)
17. [Mithya is inspired from mythology: Rajat, Hindustan Times (2008)](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/mithya-is-inspired-from-mythology-rajat/story-ondzjt0uYRPqeoBEApKxsK.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › South and Southeast Asian serials › Hindi serials and Indian Hindi-language dramas › Crime and thriller serials*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license