Sacred Games (2018)
India's landmark Netflix crime thriller — a relentless race against time through Mumbai's criminal underworld, political shadows, and a ticking apocalyptic clock.
Sacred Games - Series Information
- First Air Year: 2018
- Last Air Year: 2019
- Created by: Vikramaditya Motwane
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Crime, Action, Adventure
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 50 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 2
- Number of Episodes: 16
- Status: Canceled
- Original Language: Hindi
- Spoken Languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi
- First Air Date: July 6, 2018 (United States - TV-MA), July 6, 2018 (United Kingdom - 18), July 6, 2018 (India - A), July 6, 2018 (Brazil - 16), July 6, 2018 (South Korea - 19)
- Networks: Netflix
- Production Companies: Phantom Films
- Production Countries: India
Sacred Games - Plot
A link in their pasts leads an honest cop to a fugitive gang boss, whose cryptic warning spurs the officer on a quest to save Mumbai from cataclysm.
Sacred Games - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the darkness that awaits in Mumbai's criminal depths:
The Righteous. The Ruthless. Everyone wants to play.
Where to Watch Sacred Games
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Sacred Games - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Vikramaditya Motwane
Main Cast
- Saif Ali Khan
- Nawazuddin Siddiqui
- Girish Kulkarni
- Jatin Sarna
- Aamir Bashir
- Neeraj Kabi
- Luke Kenny
- Elnaaz Norouzi
- Pankaj Tripathi
- Chittaranjan Tripathy
Writers
- Varun Grover
- Vasant Nath
- Smita Singh
- Dhruv Narang
- Nihit Bhave
Executive Producers
- Vikramaditya Motwane
- Kelly Luegenbiehl
- Varun Grover
- Erik Barmack
- Anurag Kashyap
Sacred Games - FAQs
Is Sacred Games based on a book or true story?
Sacred Games is adapted from Vikram Chandra's acclaimed 2006 novel of the same name. While the story is fictional, it draws heavily on the real history of Mumbai's criminal underworld, political corruption, and communal tensions that shaped the city through the 1980s and 1990s.
Why did Sacred Games end after two seasons?
Netflix cancelled Sacred Games after its second season in 2019, leaving several storylines unresolved. The decision was attributed to declining viewership for the second season compared to the first, along with creative challenges in adapting the sprawling source novel's remaining narrative threads.
Where can you stream Sacred Games?
Sacred Games is available to stream on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads. Both seasons are on the platform, making it easy to binge the full run. Availability may vary by region, so check your local Netflix library for access.
Who plays Sartaj Singh and Ganesh Gaitonde?
Saif Ali Khan plays Sartaj Singh, the conflicted Mumbai police officer at the centre of the investigation. Nawazuddin Siddiqui portrays Ganesh Gaitonde, the charismatic and terrifying crime lord whose cryptic warning sets the entire story in motion. Both performances are widely considered career-defining.
Is Sacred Games worth watching?
Absolutely. Sacred Games was a landmark moment for Indian streaming television, earning strong critical praise for its cinematic direction, layered performances, and unflinching portrayal of corruption and crime. The first season in particular is considered one of the finest Indian series ever produced.
What is the role of Guruji in Sacred Games?
Guruji, played by Pankaj Tripathi, is a mysterious and deeply influential spiritual leader introduced in Season 2. He serves as a manipulative cult figure whose ideology and prophecies are central to the apocalyptic conspiracy threatening Mumbai, adding a chilling religious dimension to the series.
How was Sacred Games received by critics?
Season 1 was met with widespread critical acclaim, praised for its bold storytelling, gritty atmosphere, and powerhouse performances from Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Saif Ali Khan. Season 2 received a more mixed response, with critics noting a more convoluted narrative, though it remained visually impressive.
What are some shows similar to Sacred Games?
If Sacred Games hooked you, Paatal Lok offers a similarly dark and layered Indian crime thriller. For international alternatives, Line of Duty delivers gripping police procedural tension, while We Own This City explores institutional corruption with comparable moral complexity and unflinching realism.
More About Sacred Games
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