8 free online shows for when you need to meet your bachat goals
The best things in life are free
We all love freebies—whether it’s the dhaniya, pudina and mirchi trio added to your weekly sabzi shopping, or the mini skincare samples distributed during sale season. The dopamine rush from scoring something for free that you’d normally pay for feels better than indulging in a decadent chocolate mousse cake.
There’s also a bit of girl math at play. Research says that freebies provide a sense of accomplishment on saving money, which multiplies the thrill of spending the saved money on leisure instead of a necessity. One such necessity that depletes our monthly bank balance is streaming service subscriptions. We’re all addicted to the convenience of having a regular supply of content at our fingertips. However, paying for multiple platforms, with their attractive free trials and smartly priced ’99s’ can become an expensive affair. Plus, keeping up with each new talked-about release traps you in a constant loop of platform hopping. So if, like us, you’re tired of renewing multiple OTT subscriptions, give your auto-pay a break and stream these free online shows that don’t demand money, just your attention.
8 shows you can stream online for free
For pincode politics: Jamnapaar
Did the chamak-dhamak of corporate life seem like an aspirational contrast to your middle-class reality? You’re not alone. Like many of us, Shashank Bansal, aka Shanky, a final-year CA student from Delhi’s unglamorous Jamnapaar neighbourhood, dreams of leaving his traditional upbringing behind for a swish corporate life in South Delhi. The series explores themes of identity, social pressure, and the clash between personal ambitions and familial expectations as Shanky tries to fit in with the elite crowd.
For pragmatic romance: Arranged Couple
Dating in the modern world is tough. If you’re considering saying yes to an arranged marriage, this web series from the women-focused YouTube channel Girliyapa offers a jhalak of how things might play out. Each episode explores a new aspect of the nascent relationship between bold, outspoken Anu and Rishi, a shy boy who perceives the world through statistics and numbers. These seemingly mismatched individuals are off to an awkward start but gradually grow together as a couple. Though a satirical take on arranged marriage tropes, the show manages to spotlight genuine issues couples may face while building their relationship, from learning each other’s likes and dislikes to the first time they get intimate.
For sibling nostalgia: Sisters
An ode to the khatta-meetha bond between siblings, this series is packed with relatable moments. Another Girliyapa production, Sisters explores the dynamic relationship between Antara and Mahi, two sisters with opposing personalities who live together. Antara, the older sister, is responsible, organised and protective, while Mahi embodies the classic traits of a second child—chaotic, outgoing, passionate and just a little crazy. In bite-sized 15-minute episodes, the series delves into the complexities of sisterhood as the duo navigates the challenges of work, love and life, often clashing due to their contrasting views on career aspirations.
For big-city anxiety: Bada Sheher Choti Family
Mumbai can be an isolating city and the Khannas experience its challenges first-hand in this three-episode miniseries from FilterCopy, known for their snackable digital content. Shruti and Kartik, along with their daughter Navu, move from Indore to Mumbai for Shruti’s new job. While Shruti grapples with proving herself at work, Kartik struggles to find a job, and together the couple face the expensive, chaotic reality of the city of dreams. The series captures the emotions of moving to a new city, and how a big move like this can impact family dynamics and change relationships, all packaged in heartfelt moments.
Stream it on YouTube
For single BFFs: Unbachelored
What happens when your best friend finds a partner and you have to share their time and attention with a stranger? Dice Media’s Unbachelored focuses on the bromance between Viraj and Arjun, and how their perfect friendship is disrupted when Arjun decides to get married. A humorous look at relationships through the lens of bachelorhood, the show examines how friendships change and evolve. If you’ve ever been curious about what your friends are saying about your relationship behind your back, this show might give you some ideas.
For a surreal family drama: Barzakh
This new Pakistani show reunites fan favourites Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed nearly 10 years after the success of Zindagi Gulzaar Hai, albeit in completely different roles. In this fantasy drama, Jafar, a resort owner, decides to marry for the third time, with the bride being the ghost of his long-lost love. He requests the presence of his two estranged sons—Shehryar and Saifullah (played by two different actors, both named Fawad Khan)—who join Scheherazade (Saeed), Jafar’s caregiver whose familial roots are shrouded in mystery. The six-episode limited series touches upon themes like the enduring power of love and the violent aftereffects of generational trauma that unfold against a hauntingly beautiful landscape of Hunza Valley (Pakistan).
For a shot at second chances: In Spite of the Strong Wind
If you love workplace dramas, this Chinese TV series needs to be on your watchlist. Tang Chen is a successful public relations executive whose life and career fall apart after being betrayed by his fiancée, Shuo Bing, which forces him into bankruptcy. Chen decides to rebuild his life by teaming up with his friend to start a new PR firm. But starting from scratch is never easy, and as the series progresses, Chen navigates business hurdles and projects that test his skills. When he crosses paths with Bing professionally, things get complicated: old wounds reopen, and business becomes entangled with personal vendettas.
For uncomplicated laughs: Simple Aahe Na?
Fans of Jab We Met will find echoes of the lead pair’s chemistry in this Marathi adventure comedy series. Set in Mumbai, it stars Priya and Aman, two strangers who clash over a shared auto ride and miss the last local train to their respective destinations. After bickering and blaming each other, the two decide to go their separate ways, only to reunite when Priya is kidnapped by goons of a TikTok-obsessed gangster. What follows is a comedy of errors as Priya, Aman and the auto driver attempt to outwit TT (TikTok) bhai by making a viral video to secure their escape. If you’re looking for a show that will leave you rolling on the floor with laughter, this is it.
