# Salakaar (सलाकार)
**Salakaar** (सलाकार) is a 2025 Hindi-language spy thriller streaming series directed by Faruk Kabir, released on JioHotstar on 8 August 2025. Set across two timelines, 1978 and 2025, it follows an Indian undercover agent's mission against Pakistan's secret nuclear program and the present-day consequences of that operation, and it is reportedly based on the 1970s exploits of India's [National Security Advisor](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-security-advisor-india) Ajit Doval.[1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/salakaar-review-this-naveen-kasturia-series-is-a-cringe-fest-10178098/) • [2](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/salakaar-review-naveen-kasturia-spy-thriller-india-pakistan-nuclear-espionage-jiohotstar-2767982-2025-08-08)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Five episodes of roughly 30 minutes each (average runtime 32 minutes), about 2.7 hours total[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/salakaar-review-a-wannabe-argo-tribute-to-ajit-doval-only-saving-grace-is-its-short-runtime-naveen-kasturia-mouni-roy-101754625861858.html) • [4](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/86367/salakaar) |
| Release | 8 August 2025, exclusively on JioHotstar; originally announced for 15 August[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/salakaar-review-naveen-kasturia-spy-thriller-india-pakistan-nuclear-espionage-jiohotstar-2767982-2025-08-08) • [5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/news/2025/Jun/18/mouni-roys-spy-thriller-series-salakaar-gets-release-date) |
| Lead cast | Naveen Kasturia (Adhir Dayal), Mouni Roy (Agent Mariam), Mukesh Rishi (General Zia Ullah), Surya Sharma (Colonel Ashfaqullah)[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/86367/salakaar) |
| Premise | In 1978, RAW operative Adhir Dayal infiltrates Pakistan to disrupt its secret nuclear facility at Kahuta; in 2025, agent Mariam works to stop Colonel Ashfaqullah, Zia's grandson, from reviving the nuclear plan[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/salakaar/seriesreview/123116869.cms) |
| Basis | Inspired by true events and reportedly modeled on Ajit Doval's undercover work in Pakistan in the 1970s[1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/salakaar-review-this-naveen-kasturia-series-is-a-cringe-fest-10178098/) |
| Audience reception | IMDb 5.8/10 from about 1.2K users; 10.2 million viewers per Ormax Media's 2025 top-50 streaming originals list[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35077054/ratings/) • [8](https://www.ormaxmedia.com/data/library/Top50StreamingOriginals-2025-OrmaxMedia.pdf) |
| Production | Sphereorigins and Mahir Films; writers Faruk Kabir and Spandan Mishra; music by Shabbir Ahmed and Amar Mohile[9](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIutjFByw2k) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and structure
The story runs on two timelines. In 1978, Adhir Dayal ([Naveen Kasturia](https://www.edgepedia.org/naveen-kasturia)), an undercover operative of India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), is posted to the Indian embassy in [Islamabad](https://www.edgepedia.org/islamabad) and carries out a covert mission targeting Pakistan's secret nuclear facility at Kahuta, then led by General Zia Ullah ([Mukesh Rishi](https://www.edgepedia.org/mukesh-rishi)), a character based on Zia-ul-Haq.[6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/salakaar/seriesreview/123116869.cms) • [1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/salakaar-review-this-naveen-kasturia-series-is-a-cringe-fest-10178098/) In 2025, the undercover agent Mariam (Mouni Roy), working under an older Adhir (Purnendu Bhattacharya), gets close to Pakistani Colonel Ashfaqullah (Surya Sharma), Zia's grandson, who is reviving his grandfather's nuclear project; she discovers a top-secret nuclear project aimed at India.[10](https://www.peepingmoon.com/reviews/news/80933/Salakaar-Review-A-spy-thriller-that-fails-to-deliver-on-its-promise.html) • [1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/salakaar-review-this-naveen-kasturia-series-is-a-cringe-fest-10178098/)
The title character's name is explained within the show: *salakaar* means consultant or adviser, and Adhir's codename points to his later role as national security adviser.[11](https://scroll.in/reel/1085179/salakaar-review-a-dumbed-down-show-about-pakistans-nuclear-programme%20) The five episodes are titled Rashtriya Suraksha Salakaar, Surma, Grahon Ka Prabhav, Vande Mataram, and Turup Ka Ikka, all released on 8 August 2025.[12](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/salakaar-web-series-133826)
## Production
Faruk Kabir, previously known for the *Khuda Haafiz* films, directed the series and co-wrote it with Spandan Mishra, with concept development credited to Sujay Bhattacharya, Srinivas Abrol, and Swati Tripathi.[11](https://scroll.in/reel/1085179/salakaar-review-a-dumbed-down-show-about-pakistans-nuclear-programme%20) • [9](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIutjFByw2k) It was produced by Sphereorigins and Mahir Films for JioHotstar.[5](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/news/2025/Jun/18/mouni-roys-spy-thriller-series-salakaar-gets-release-date) Kabir said the series took 14 months of his life and that he wrote the script for six months, treating the 1978 period setting as the main challenge; the production shot on real locations rather than sets.[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/for-me-theres-no-big-or-small-screen-only-stories-that-are-well-told-says-faruk-kabir/articleshow/125946224.cms) • [14](https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/exclusive-salakaar-director-faruk-kabir-on-crafting-a-spy-thriller-this-film-is-beyond-nudity-abuse-or-vulgarity-it-s-a-pure-thriller-article-13404984.html) The teaser was released on 21 July 2025 and the trailer on 28 July, with the premiere date moved up from the announced 15 August to 8 August.[15](https://www.ottplay.com/news/salakaar-ott-release-date-teaser-out-when-and-where-to-watch-mouni-roy-naveen-kasturia-spy-thriller/4ec39b0084831) • [9](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIutjFByw2k)
The series was dubbed in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Marathi, and Bengali, and carries a 16+ certificate.[12](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/salakaar-web-series-133826)
## Reception
Critical response was divided. [The Indian Express](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-indian-express) gave one star out of five, calling the series a "cringe-fest" while singling out Naveen Kasturia and Mukesh Rishi as the performers who rose above the material.[1](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/salakaar-review-this-naveen-kasturia-series-is-a-cringe-fest-10178098/) [Hindustan Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/hindustan-times) gave two stars, calling it a "wannabe Argo" tribute to [Ajit Doval](https://www.edgepedia.org/ajit-doval) whose only saving grace was its short runtime.[3](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/salakaar-review-a-wannabe-argo-tribute-to-ajit-doval-only-saving-grace-is-its-short-runtime-naveen-kasturia-mouni-roy-101754625861858.html) India Today gave three stars, describing an intriguing but inconsistent slow-burn drama with logical lapses, and noted that some geographical details missed the mark, showing Kahuta as barren and rocky rather than a mix of green and arid terrain.[2](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/salakaar-review-naveen-kasturia-spy-thriller-india-pakistan-nuclear-espionage-jiohotstar-2767982-2025-08-08) Scroll.in called the show too dumbed-down, amateurish, and contrived to be credible despite its claim to be inspired by actual events.[11](https://scroll.in/reel/1085179/salakaar-review-a-dumbed-down-show-about-pakistans-nuclear-programme%20) At the favorable end, Navbharat Times and The Times of India both gave 3.5 out of 5, the latter calling it a slick, engaging spy thriller that honors unsung heroes.[16](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/entertainment/web-series/review/salakaar-web-series-review-in-hindi-starring-naveen-kasturia-mouni-roy-mukesh-rishi-surya-sharma-directed-by-faruk-kabir-on-jiohotstar/moviereview/123181166.cms) • [6](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/salakaar/seriesreview/123116869.cms)
Audience measures were middling: IMDb users rated the series 5.8/10 from about 1.2K ratings, with episode scores declining from 7.5 for the premiere to 6.4 for the finale.[7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35077054/ratings/) Ormax Media's year-end ranking of India's top 50 streaming originals placed Salakaar at number 33 with 10.2 million viewers.[8](https://www.ormaxmedia.com/data/library/Top50StreamingOriginals-2025-OrmaxMedia.pdf) Kabir said in a later interview that a sequel was possible but that he does not plan sequels from the start.[13](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/for-me-theres-no-big-or-small-screen-only-stories-that-are-well-told-says-faruk-kabir/articleshow/125946224.cms)
## References
1. [Salakaar review: This Naveen Kasturia series is a cringe-fest, The Indian Express](https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/web-series/salakaar-review-this-naveen-kasturia-series-is-a-cringe-fest-10178098/)
2. [Salakaar review: Naveen Kasturia's nuclear spy drama is intriguing but inconsistent, India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/entertainment/ott/story/salakaar-review-naveen-kasturia-spy-thriller-india-pakistan-nuclear-espionage-jiohotstar-2767982-2025-08-08)
3. [Salakaar review: The only saving grace of this wannabe Argo tribute to Ajit Doval is its short runtime, Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/entertainment/web-series/salakaar-review-a-wannabe-argo-tribute-to-ajit-doval-only-saving-grace-is-its-short-runtime-naveen-kasturia-mouni-roy-101754625861858.html)
4. [Salakaar, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/86367/salakaar)
5. [Mouni Roy's spy-thriller series Salakaar gets release date, Cinema Express](https://www.cinemaexpress.com/hindi/news/2025/Jun/18/mouni-roys-spy-thriller-series-salakaar-gets-release-date)
6. [Salakaar Web Series: Review, Trailer, Star Cast, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/reviews/hindi/salakaar/seriesreview/123116869.cms)
7. [Salakaar (TV Series 2025) Ratings, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35077054/ratings/)
8. [Top 50 Streaming Originals in India: The 2025 Story, Ormax Media](https://www.ormaxmedia.com/data/library/Top50StreamingOriginals-2025-OrmaxMedia.pdf)
9. [Hotstar Specials: Salakaar Official Trailer, JioHotstar YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIutjFByw2k)
10. [Salakaar Review: A spy thriller that fails to deliver on its promise, PeepingMoon](https://www.peepingmoon.com/reviews/news/80933/Salakaar-Review-A-spy-thriller-that-fails-to-deliver-on-its-promise.html)
11. [Salakaar OTT review: A dumbed-down show about Pakistan's nuclear programme, Scroll.in](https://scroll.in/reel/1085179/salakaar-review-a-dumbed-down-show-about-pakistans-nuclear-programme%20)
12. [Salakaar Web Series (2025): Release Date, Review, Cast, Gadgets 360](https://www.gadgets360.com/entertainment/salakaar-web-series-133826)
13. ["For me, there's no big or small screen; only stories that are well told," says Faruk Kabir, The Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/web-series/news/hindi/for-me-theres-no-big-or-small-screen-only-stories-that-are-well-told-says-faruk-kabir/articleshow/125946224.cms)
14. [Exclusive: Salakaar director Faruk Kabir on crafting a spy thriller, Moneycontrol](https://www.moneycontrol.com/entertainment/exclusive-salakaar-director-faruk-kabir-on-crafting-a-spy-thriller-this-film-is-beyond-nudity-abuse-or-vulgarity-it-s-a-pure-thriller-article-13404984.html)
15. [Salakaar OTT Release Date: When and where to watch, OTTplay](https://www.ottplay.com/news/salakaar-ott-release-date-teaser-out-when-and-where-to-watch-mouni-roy-naveen-kasturia-spy-thriller/4ec39b0084831)
16. ['Salakaar' review: रॉ के गुमनाम हीरोज पर बनी रोमांचक वेब सीरीज, Navbharat Times](https://navbharattimes.indiatimes.com/entertainment/web-series/review/salakaar-web-series-review-in-hindi-starring-naveen-kasturia-mouni-roy-mukesh-rishi-surya-sharma-directed-by-faruk-kabir-on-jiohotstar/moviereview/123181166.cms)
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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 Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 3, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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