What if the most chilling crime in Delhi’s history was retold through the eyes of a rookie cop and a grieving mother? Raakh, the new Amazon Prime crime drama web series, does exactly that. Loosely inspired by the infamous 1978 Ranga-Billa case, this eight-episode series pairs Ali Fazal’s restrained performance with a haunting period setting. If you’re searching for where to watch Raakh TV Series Season 1, here’s everything you need to know: cast, plot, IMDb rating, trailer, and reviews, before you hit play.
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What Is Raakh Web Series About?
Set in 1978 Delhi, Raakh opens on a rainy evening when 16-year-old Suman Arora and her younger brother Sahil disappear on their way to an All India Radio performance. Lt Col Ashok Arora and his wife Mona Arora wait for their daughter’s voice on air, only to realise the siblings never made it to the station. Sub-Inspector Jayprakash Jatav takes charge of the case as panic grips the family, and a discovery in the Ridge forest changes everything. The Raakh trailer set the tone early, hinting at a slow-burn manhunt rather than a flashy procedural and the show delivers exactly that.
Who Is in the Raakh Cast?
Actor | Character | Performance Note |
Ali Fazal | SI Jayprakash Jatav | Restrained and compelling; ambitious, frustrated and deeply invested in the case |
Sonali Bendre | Mona Arora | A grief-stricken mother stuck in denial |
Aamir Bashir | Lt Col Ashok Arora | Dependable as the privileged, anguished father |
Rakesh Bedi | Ghanshyam | Adorable, warm performance as JP’s cook-father |
Akash Makhija | Babu | Delves deep into a psychopathic killer’s psyche |
Ramandeep Yadav | Rajjo | Complex arc from petty-thief cowardice to cold-blooded assault |
Divya Sharma | Suman Arora | Excellent and springs a surprise |
Vivaan Sharma | Sahil Arora | Lively, exuberant screen presence |
Anshul Chauhan | Nisar Rizvi | Plays a journalist probing institutional failure |
Raakh is produced by EndemolShine India and Gulbadan Talkies, directed by Prosit Roy along with Anusha Nandakumar and Sandeep Saket, and premiered on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories.
Is Raakh Web Series Based on a True Story?
Yes. The Raakh web series is loosely based on the 1978 Ranga-Billa case, one of India’s most notorious child abduction-murder cases. The title Raakh, which means “ashes” in Hindi, symbolises what remains after lives have been shattered, loss, trauma, and the search for justice. Nearly five decades after the original murders shook the country, the details remain difficult to revisit, and the makers find a way to make the familiar tragedy feel immediate again. Importantly, the show doesn’t sensationalise the case, it refuses to treat it as mere true-crime entertainment and avoids turning its criminals into fascinating anti-heroes.
Who Were the Real Ranga and Billa?
The real Ranga and Billa were Kuljeet Singh and Jasbir Singh, two career criminals who arrived in Delhi from Mumbai in August 1978. On August 26 that year, they abducted 16-year-old Geeta Chopra and her 14-year-old brother Sanjay from Delhi’s Dhaula Kuan area on the pretext of offering them a lift, with the intention was to rob them. On learning their father was a Naval officer, they murdered both siblings rather than risk a ransom demand going nowhere. A nationwide manhunt ended on September 8, 1978, when the pair was caught aboard the Kalka Mail near Agra. Convicted on strong forensic evidence, both were hanged on January 31, 1982, a case that reshaped how Delhi policed and protected its children.
