Rudra: The Edge of Darkness is a six-episode Hindi crime thriller that premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on 4 March 2022. It is the Indian remake of the BBC series Luther, with Ajay Devgn as DCP Rudraveer Singh and Raashii Khanna as Dr Aliyah Choksi. Our Rudra The Edge of Darkness review: it is an engaging, well-paced watch, held together by Devgn.
Rudra The Edge of Darkness review: quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Release date | 4 March 2022 |
| Original platform | Disney+ Hotstar (merged into JioHotstar in February 2025) |
| Episodes | 6 (one season) |
| Director | Rajesh Mapuskar |
| Writers | Ishan Trivedi, Abbas Dalal, Hussain Dalal |
| Based on | Luther (BBC, 2010) |
| Lead cast | Ajay Devgn, Raashii Khanna, Esha Deol, Atul Kulkarni |
What is Rudra about?
DCP Rudraveer Pratap Singh works in the Special Crimes Unit of the Mumbai Police. He is brilliant at reading criminals, a workaholic, and his marriage to Shaila (Esha Deol) has fallen apart. He returns to work under a cloud after a case that went badly wrong.
His first big case back is the murder of a couple and their dog. Their daughter, Dr Aliyah Choksi, is a former child prodigy and the obvious suspect. Rudra is sure she did it but cannot prove it. What follows is a strange, tense friendship between the cop and the woman he is chasing.
Most episodes run a new case, each with a criminal who is smart and good at reading people. Running through all of them is Rudra’s own story: his marriage, his colleagues’ distrust, and the question of how far he will go to close a case.
The cast and characters
- Ajay Devgn as DCP Rudraveer “Rudra” Pratap Singh. This was his first web series.
- Raashii Khanna as Dr Aliyah Choksi, also her first big streaming role.
- Esha Deol as Shaila “Shai” Durrani Singh, Rudra’s estranged wife.
- Atul Kulkarni as DCP Gautam Navlakha, Rudra’s friend on the force.
- Ashwini Kalsekar as Joint CP Deepali Handa, who backs Rudra and shields him from his critics.
- Ashish Vidyarthi as Joint CP Raman Acharya.
- Tarun Gahlot as Prabal Thakur and Satyadeep Misra as Rajiv Dattani.
What works
Ajay Devgn fits the troubled cop
Devgn has played many tough policemen, Singham being the best known. Rudra is a different kind of cop. He is moody, makes rash calls and carries his mistakes with him. Devgn underplays it, and that restraint works for a character who is always holding something back.
Raashii Khanna’s Aliyah
Aliyah is the most fun part of the show. She is calm, clever and openly enjoys toying with Rudra. Khanna keeps her unsettling without turning her into a cartoon villain, and their scenes together are the high points of the season.
Pace
The show gets into the story quickly and does not waste time on set-up. With only six episodes, each case moves fast, and the psychological cat-and-mouse games keep you watching.
An Indian version, not a copy
The writers keep the spine of Luther but add Indian touches: the Mumbai setting, the office politics of the police force and family pressures. Fans of the original will spot the source in many scenes, but the remake stands on its own for viewers who have never seen Luther.
What does not work
Many visuals and set pieces copy the British original closely, which takes away some surprise for Luther fans. The shift from London to Mumbai is also not fully convincing. The city rarely feels lived in, and almost nobody speaks the local language, which is odd for a Mumbai police drama.
Rudra’s rash decisions can also feel like the writers needed shortcuts. Some viewers will accept them as part of a flawed hero, others will find them hard to believe.
The supporting cast also gets less to do than it deserves. Atul Kulkarni and Esha Deol are solid, but their tracks feel thin next to the Rudra and Aliyah story. A longer season might have given them more space, though it could also have slowed down a show whose biggest strength is speed.
Rudra vs Luther: how close is the remake?
Luther, the British psychological crime drama starring Idris Elba, began in 2010. Rudra borrows its core: a gifted detective who bends the rules, a broken marriage and a dangerous bond with a brilliant suspect. The Hindi version is shorter, with one six-episode season, and gives more room to police hierarchy and family. If you liked Luther, Rudra is worth a look for the performances. If you have not seen Luther, you will enjoy Rudra more because the twists stay fresh.
Is Rudra worth watching in 2026?
Yes, if you like tight crime thrillers you can finish in a weekend. It is not flawless, but Devgn and Khanna make it work. The show premiered on Disney+ Hotstar, which merged with JioCinema into JioHotstar on 14 February 2025, so JioHotstar is where to look for it now. For more streaming picks, see our web series section and latest reviews.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Rudra The Edge of Darkness?
It premiered on Disney+ Hotstar in March 2022. Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema merged into JioHotstar in February 2025, so check the JioHotstar app.
Is Rudra a remake of Luther?
Yes. Rudra is the official Hindi adaptation of the BBC series Luther, which starred Idris Elba and began in 2010.
How many episodes does Rudra have?
Season 1 has six episodes, directed by Rajesh Mapuskar.
Is Rudra season 2 coming?
There has been no official announcement of a second season as of October 2026. Only one season has been released.
Sources: Wikipedia: Rudra: The Edge of Darkness, Wikipedia: JioHotstar, The Quint.
