One of the most-awaited Indian streaming shows of the year finally has its date. Akka, the gangster drama starring Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte, premieres on Netflix this Thursday, October 30. Produced by YRF Entertainment, the streaming arm of Yash Raj Films, the series is the banner's biggest OTT project so far and arrives with a trailer that has already got fans talking.
What Akka is about
The story is set in the 1980s in Pernuru, a fictional South Indian city built and ruled by generations of women. Keerthy Suresh plays Bhavani and Radhika Apte plays Rudra, two powerful women at the top of a sisterhood that controls the city's criminal underworld. Their different ambitions and beliefs put them on a collision course, and the arrival of a mysterious outsider threatens the order they have built, forcing them to fight for survival.
The trailer, unveiled by Netflix on Thursday, promises a dark, violent world of loyalty, family, revenge and power. Unlike many recent shows, Akka is an original story rather than an adaptation, and its matriarchal setting is a fresh twist on the familiar gangster genre.
Cast and crew
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Akka |
| Platform | Netflix |
| Premiere date | Thursday, October 30, 2026 |
| Genre | Gangster drama, thriller |
| Creator and director | Dharmaraj Shetty (debut) |
| Production | YRF Entertainment |
| Executive producers | Aditya Chopra, Yogendra Mogre, Akshaye Widhani |
| Lead cast | Keerthy Suresh (Bhavani), Radhika Apte (Rudra) |
| Also starring | Tanvi Azmi, Mahesh Manjrekar, Poornima Indrajith, Anshuman Pushkar, Monica Panwar, Vishak Nair |
| Setting | Pernuru, a fictional South Indian city, 1980s |
The show is written and directed by first-time filmmaker Dharmaraj Shetty. Netflix's India series team has credited Aditya Chopra for the creative vision behind the project, which has been in the works for well over a year.
A long wait for fans
Netflix first teased Akka in February 2025 as part of its big "Next on Netflix" India slate, and fans had been asking about it ever since. After more than a year and a half of silence, the streamer confirmed the October 30 date along with a new teaser earlier this month, followed by the full trailer. For Keerthy Suresh, the National Award-winning star of Mahanati, the role is one of her boldest yet. Radhika Apte, long one of the most familiar faces on Indian streaming thanks to shows like Sacred Games and Ghoul, returns to a gritty space she knows well.
Why it stands out
Women-led gangster stories are still rare in Indian cinema and streaming. Akka puts two female leads at the centre of power rather than on the sidelines, and pairs a South Indian setting with a pan-Indian production house. That mix could help it travel across language audiences, the way several Netflix originals have done in recent years. It also signals how seriously Yash Raj Films is now taking streaming, after years of focusing mainly on theatrical releases.
What fans are saying
Reaction to the trailer on social media has focused on the face-off between the two leads, the stylish period look of Pernuru and the rare sight of women running a crime empire on screen. Many viewers have compared its tone to classic gangster dramas, while others are curious to see Keerthy Suresh in a darker, more aggressive role than her usual parts. Supporting actors such as Tanvi Azmi and Mahesh Manjrekar add weight to an ensemble that mixes Hindi and South Indian talent, which fits the show's pan-Indian ambition.
How to watch
- Open the Netflix app or website on your phone, TV or laptop.
- Search for "Akka" or check the "Coming Soon" or "New and Popular" section.
- Tap "Remind Me" to get a notification when it goes live on October 30.
- A Netflix subscription is needed to stream the series.
What else is coming
Akka lands in a busy festive week for streaming. Netflix also has the Hindi drama Meethe Mein Kya Hai on the same day, while JioHotstar has the Tamil romance Love Always. In cinemas, all eyes are on the November 5 release of Ramayana. Watch this space for our full OTT guide for the week.
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