Delhi Crime Season 3 Review: Shefali Shah and Huma Qureshi Lead a Dark, Divisive Tale on Human Trafficking

Delhi Crime Season 3: Back on the Beat, Facing a New Menace

The acclaimed crime drama Delhi Crime returns for its third season on Netflix, putting the spotlight once again on DIG Vartika Chaturvedi, played by the formidable Shefali Shah. This time, the investigation stretches far beyond the boundaries of Delhi, reaching towns like Silchar, Aizawl, Rohtak, Surat, and Panvel. The case? A chilling network that lures young girls and sells them into exploitation—a narrative inspired by real-life incidents such as the 2012 Baby Falak case (Pinkvilla).

From the opening scenes, viewers are plunged into a world where the value of a girl is measured in currency and fear. In a society where female fetuses are still at risk and girls are married off to much older men, the disappearance of a child often goes unreported. Yet, the story begins with a grandmother’s desperate plea to find her missing granddaughter, Sonam. This spark sets Vartika and her dedicated team—Bhupendra, Vimla, Jairaj, Ashutosh, Neeti, and ASI Simran Masih—on a relentless hunt through layers of deceit and complicity.

Powerful Women, Complex Villains: The Show’s Emotional Core

This season’s greatest strength lies in its portrayal of female characters on both sides of the law. Vartika, Vimla, and Neeti exemplify resilience and empathy, challenging the deep-seated patriarchy that pervades not only their department but also society at large. The dialogue is peppered with reminders of the obstacles women face: “You would be a great mother,” “How did you become a policewoman?”—statements that echo the real world’s biases.

Opposing Vartika is Badi Didi, a villain whose chilling calm and layered emotions are brought to life by Huma Qureshi. Her backstory—sold as a child bride and “set right” by a controlling husband—adds a haunting dimension to her character. Qureshi’s performance has drawn particular praise online, with some fans likening her menacing presence to Gabbar Singh from Sholay (Herzindagi, Financial Express). The psychological battle between Vartika and Badi Didi is the heart of the season, exposing the personal costs of justice and vengeance.

Storytelling Inspired by Real-Life Trauma

Director Tanuj Chopra, along with a team of writers including Mayank Tewari and Anu Singh Choudhary, grounds the series in authentic, distressing realities. The plot draws direct inspiration from the Baby Falak case, where the abuse and trafficking of a young girl exposed the dark underbelly of child exploitation in India. The series does not shy away from portraying the brutality of trafficking, with scenes showing girls drugged, transported in trucks, and forced into servitude. One harrowing moment sees a captive girl cough incessantly, only for Badi Didi to silence her with bone-chilling efficiency.

Throughout the investigation, the team encounters families who treat their purchased daughters as slaves, and victims who have learned to accept their fate. “Who do I complain about? My parents sold me, and the family who bought me treats me like property. Everyone knows, no one cares,” laments one survivor. The show’s relentless focus on systemic abuse is both its power and its burden, making for a deeply unsettling viewing experience.

Mixed Reactions: Criticism, Applause, and the Weight of Expectations

Despite its raw intensity, Delhi Crime Season 3 has sparked polarized reactions. While Shefali Shah’s performance as Vartika and Huma Qureshi’s turn as Badi Didi have been widely lauded, many viewers have found the season lacking compared to its predecessors. Critics on Twitter and X describe the narrative as “middling” and “the weakest yet,” with some likening it to a “big-budget version of Savdhaan India” (Herzindagi, Financial Express). There are complaints about drawn-out villain monologues and questionable police decisions that sap the story’s momentum.

Others, however, see value in the series’ unflinching depiction of human trafficking. “It’s not without flaws, but it’s powerful,” one fan tweeted, highlighting the show’s relevance and emotional impact. Some praise the cast as the “oxygen cylinders” keeping the series alive, suggesting that the acting elevates even the weaker aspects of the plot.

The male characters, usually central to police procedurals, are notably sidelined here. This choice reflects the woman-centric theme but also exposes the persistent friction between protocol and passion—embodied in Vartika’s struggle to balance bureaucracy with urgency. Her husband’s admonishments—both as a superior and spouse—underscore the gendered challenges faced by women in leadership roles.

Streaming, Cast, and Social Commentary

All six episodes of Delhi Crime Season 3 are now available on Netflix, continuing the franchise’s reputation for hard-hitting social commentary and immersive storytelling. The core cast—Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, Rajesh Tailang—are joined by new faces including Huma Qureshi, Sayani Gupta, Mita Vashisht, and Anshumaan Pushkar. The ensemble’s chemistry and commitment have been crucial in sustaining the show’s emotional gravity.

Director Chopra and the writing team have woven satire and critique into the narrative, sometimes at the expense of pacing. The series questions not just the overt crimes, but also the subtle complicity of society and law enforcement. Scenes set in Rohtak and Delhi parallel similar stories in Korea and elsewhere, suggesting that domestic violence and trafficking are global issues, not local aberrations.

In the end, Delhi Crime Season 3 does not offer easy resolutions. The villains explain themselves, the system remains broken, and even successful rescues are tinged with the knowledge that the problem is endemic. The show’s final moments leave viewers with a sense of frustration and reflection, urging them to consider the deeper roots of injustice.

Delhi Crime Season 3 stands as a testament to the persistent, exhausting battle against human trafficking, anchored by exceptional performances but challenged by the weight of its own ambitions. While it may not recapture the taut brilliance of earlier seasons, its willingness to confront uncomfortable truths—and the emotional toll on those fighting for justice—makes it a series worth engaging with, flaws and all.