Emraan Hashmi says not surprised as ‘Taskaree’ tops Netflix global chart

Actor Emraan Hashmi on Saturday said he was not surprised that his “pulpy” thriller Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web has debuted at the number one spot on Netflix’s global top-10 non-English TV list in its first week of release.

The series has become the first Indian show to open at the top position on the platform’s worldwide non-English television chart, marking a major milestone for Indian streaming content.

Created by filmmaker Neeraj Pandey and co-directed by Raghav Jairath, the show explores the high-stakes world of airport customs officials and their fight against organised smuggling networks. Hashmi plays a customs officer locked in a tense battle with a seasoned smuggler.

“You just hope for everyone to like your show. The intention was for it to work in a big way in India,” Hashmi said in an interview.

He said he was taken aback when he learnt about the global response. “I got a call from my manager and he said, ‘It’s gone global and it’s reached the number one spot so fast.’ I asked him to say it again. I’m still processing it,” the actor added.

Hashmi said the success showed that Indian stories, when told in an engaging way, can find audiences across borders.

Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web premiered on Netflix earlier this week.