The best underrated Bollywood movies every fan must watch include Ankhon Dekhi, Masaan, Titli, Chittagong, Shahid, I Am Kalam, Stanley Ka Dabba, Manjhi: The Mountain Man, Kaalakaandi and Dhobi Ghat. None of them was a big box office event, but each one has strong writing, real characters and performances that people still talk about years later.
This list was first put together in 2021. We have now checked every title again for release year, director and where it can be watched in India as of October 2026, because OTT catalogues keep changing. Some films have moved platforms, and two are not streaming anywhere right now.
Quick facts: underrated Bollywood movies and where to watch
| Film | Year | Director | Watch in India (Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankhon Dekhi | 2014 | Rajat Kapoor | Prime Video, JioHotstar, ShemarooMe |
| Masaan | 2015 | Neeraj Ghaywan | Prime Video, JioHotstar |
| Titli | 2015 | Kanu Behl | Netflix, Prime Video |
| Chittagong | 2012 | Bedabrata Pain | Rent on Amazon, Apple TV |
| Shahid | 2013 | Hansal Mehta | Not streaming right now |
| I Am Kalam | 2010 | Nila Madhab Panda | Prime Video, JioHotstar |
| Stanley Ka Dabba | 2011 | Amole Gupte | Rent or buy on Apple TV |
| Manjhi: The Mountain Man | 2015 | Ketan Mehta | Prime Video |
| Kaalakaandi | 2018 | Akshat Verma | JioHotstar |
| Dhobi Ghat | 2011 | Kiran Rao | Not streaming right now |
10 underrated movies every Bollywood fan must watch
1. Ankhon Dekhi (2014)
Rajat Kapoor wrote and directed this small Old Delhi drama. Sanjay Mishra plays Bauji, a middle-aged man who decides, after a family fight over his daughter’s boyfriend, that he will believe only what he sees with his own eyes.
That one decision changes his life, his job and his family. Seema Pahwa plays his wife and Rajat Kapoor plays his younger brother. Sanjay Mishra is the reason to watch, in one of his best lead roles.
Where to watch: Prime Video, and free with ads on JioHotstar and ShemarooMe.
2. Masaan (2015)
Neeraj Ghaywan’s first feature is set in Varanasi and runs on two tracks. One follows a widow dealing with grief and guilt. The other follows a young man from a family that tends funeral pyres at the ghats.
The two stories meet near the end. The film is quiet and patient, and it handles class and social pressure without lecturing.
Where to watch: Prime Video and JioHotstar.
3. Titli (2015)
Kanu Behl’s debut is about a family of small-time car thieves on the edge of Delhi. Shashank Arora plays Titli, the youngest brother, who wants out of the family business. Ranvir Shorey and Amit Sial play his older brothers, and Shivani Raghuvanshi plays Neelu.
It is a hard, uncomfortable watch. The violence comes from inside the home, and the film shows how poverty and control pass from one generation to the next.
Where to watch: Netflix and Prime Video.
4. Chittagong (2012)
Bedabrata Pain directed this period drama about the 1930 Chittagong uprising against British rule. Manoj Bajpayee plays Surya Sen, known as Masterda, who leads a group of schoolboys into the revolt.
The supporting cast now looks like a list of today’s biggest character actors: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Rajkummar Rao, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma all appear. Watch it for the history and to see these actors early in their careers.
Where to watch: Not on any subscription service right now. You can rent it on Amazon or Apple TV.
5. Shahid (2013)
Hansal Mehta’s biopic of human rights lawyer Shahid Azmi is one of Rajkummar Rao’s finest performances. It follows Azmi’s journey from a troubled youth to a lawyer who defended people accused in terror cases, including cases linked to the 2006 and 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Kay Kay Menon, Tigmanshu Dhulia and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub are in the supporting cast. The courtroom scenes are plain and grounded, which makes them hit harder.
Where to watch: Shahid is not streaming in India right now. It was last available on Amazon in early 2024.
6. I Am Kalam (2010)
Nila Madhab Panda’s film follows Chhotu, a poor boy working at a roadside eatery. Inspired by the then President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam, he starts calling himself Kalam.
Harsh Mayar plays the boy, with Gulshan Grover as Bhati. It is a simple, warm film that works well as a family watch.
Where to watch: Prime Video, and free with ads on JioHotstar.
7. Stanley Ka Dabba (2011)
Amole Gupte wrote, produced and directed this school film. Stanley, played by Partho Gupte, is a popular fourth grader who never brings a lunch box. His friends share their food with him until a greedy Hindi teacher, played by Amole Gupte himself, drives him away.
The film keeps its biggest reveal about Stanley’s life for the end, and that is where it lands its emotional punch. Divya Dutta plays Ms. Rosy, one of his teachers.
Where to watch: Rent or buy on Apple TV.
8. Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015)
Ketan Mehta’s film tells the true story of Dashrath Manjhi, a labourer from Bihar who cut a road through a hill with simple tools over 22 years. Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays Manjhi, and Radhika Apte plays his wife.
Tigmanshu Dhulia and Pankaj Tripathi round off the cast. Nawazuddin carries the film almost alone.
Where to watch: Prime Video.
9. Kaalakaandi (2018)
Akshat Verma directed this dark comedy set in Mumbai. Saif Ali Khan plays Rileen, a man who learns he has stomach cancer and decides to let loose for the first time in his life.
His story runs alongside others involving his brother, played by Akshay Oberoi, and two small-time crooks played by Deepak Dobriyal and Vijay Raaz. Sobhita Dhulipala and Kunaal Roy Kapur are also in it. It is worth a look for Saif’s loose, funny performance.
Where to watch: JioHotstar.
10. Dhobi Ghat (2011)
Kiran Rao’s first film as director premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2010 and released in Indian theatres on 21 January 2011. It follows four people in Mumbai: a painter played by Aamir Khan, a dhobi who wants to act played by Prateik Babbar, an investment banker on a break played by Monica Dogra, and a young bride seen through her video diaries, played by Kriti Malhotra.
It is slow and non-linear, and it uses the city as its fifth character.
Where to watch: Not streaming in India right now. It was on Netflix until April 2024.
Why these films stayed underrated
Most of these films had small budgets and no big star push behind them. Many found their audience later on TV and OTT, through word of mouth.
The list is also a good look at actors before they became stars. Rajkummar Rao, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Jaideep Ahlawat and Vijay Varma all show up here in early roles. For more picks like these, browse our Bollywood section and other listicles.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the most underrated Bollywood movie?
There is no single answer, but Ankhon Dekhi, Masaan and Shahid are named often. All three are praised for their writing and performances but are rarely part of mainstream Bollywood talk.
Where can I watch Masaan online in India?
As of October 2026, Masaan is available on Prime Video and JioHotstar in India.
Is Dhobi Ghat on Netflix?
No. Dhobi Ghat left Netflix India in April 2024 and is not on any streaming service in India right now.
Which underrated Bollywood movies are good for family viewing?
I Am Kalam and Stanley Ka Dabba are the best family picks on this list. Both are about children and have no adult content. Manjhi: The Mountain Man also works for older kids.
Sources: JustWatch India, Wikipedia: Dhobi Ghat, Wikipedia: Stanley Ka Dabba.
