Introduction
Rajkumar Hirani, the filmmaker behind 3 Idiots and PK, steps into streaming for the first time with Pritam and Pedro — a cybercrime buddy-cop comedy-thriller that’s also his son Vir Hirani’s acting debut. Backed by a strong premise and a talented director in Avinash Arun (Paatal Lok), the series arrived with high expectations — though critics have landed on very different sides of whether it delivers.
Genre, Runtime, Platform
- Genre: Cybercrime Comedy-Thriller / Buddy Cop Drama
- Runtime: 6 Episodes, Season 1
- Platform: JioHotstar (India), Hulu (United States)
Overview
Set in Goa, the series follows Pritam Parkar (Vir Hirani), a young hacker who lives with his grandfather and is desperate to recover his grandfather’s stolen tape recorder — his last keepsake of his late grandmother. After an ATM heist puts pressure on the local police, Pritam impresses seasoned but old-school cop Pedro Gonsalves (Arshad Warsi) by cracking the case using his hacking skills. The two form an unlikely partnership, which is put to the test when the local sports minister’s son is kidnapped by Martin (Vikrant Massey), a ruthless and tech-savvy criminal.
Highlights
- Rajkumar Hirani’s streaming debut as creator and producer, marking a major shift for the veteran Bollywood filmmaker.
- Vir Hirani’s acting debut, playing opposite an established star in Arshad Warsi.
- Based on real casework — the series draws from Amit Dubey’s books “Hidden Files: Tales of Cyber Crime Investigation” and “Return of the Trojan Horse,” rooted in actual cyber-investigation cases.
- Vikrant Massey’s antagonist role as Martin adds tension once his character is introduced partway through the season.
- Mixed but passionate critical response — reviews range from calling it a nail-biting, fast-paced watch to criticizing its dated take on technology and hacking.
Plot (Spoiler-Light)
After landing in police custody following a dispute, Pritam proves his hacking skills by helping crack a high-profile ATM theft, impressing Pedro enough to form an unlikely partnership. Their bond deepens as they work together to trace Pritam’s grandfather’s stolen tape recorder, while Pedro deals with a strained marriage and a demotion to the Cyber Crime Cell. When the sports minister’s son is kidnapped by the elusive and tech-savvy Martin, the pair are forced to combine old-school policing with modern hacking skills to crack the case — all while Martin continues to stay one step ahead of them.
Why You Should Watch It
- If you’re a fan of buddy-cop dynamics, the old-school-versus-new-school contrast between Pedro and Pritam offers a familiar but engaging formula.
- Several reviewers highlighted the show’s fast pacing and twist-heavy plotting as genuinely entertaining, particularly once Vikrant Massey’s character enters the story.
- It’s a notable industry milestone — Rajkumar Hirani’s first streaming project and his son’s acting debut make it a culturally significant watch for Bollywood followers.
- The premise, rooted in real cybercrime investigation casework, offers potential for genuinely interesting true-crime-adjacent storytelling.
- Arshad Warsi’s performance has been consistently praised across reviews, even by critics who were less enthusiastic about the show overall.
A Balanced Take
It’s worth noting the reviews are genuinely split. Several outlets praised the show’s pacing, humor, and Arshad Warsi’s performance, with one describing it as a confident, thoroughly enjoyable OTT debut. Others were far more critical, arguing the show’s depiction of hacking and cybercrime feels outdated and oversimplified, and that the newcomer lead struggles to match his co-star’s screen presence. If you’re going in, it’s fair to expect a breezy, twist-driven watch rather than a technically rigorous cybercrime drama.
Recommendations — If You Liked Pritam and Pedro, Watch These Next
- Jamtara: Sabka Number Ayega (Netflix) — a sharper, more grounded take on Indian cybercrime storytelling.
- Paatal Lok (Prime Video) — director Avinash Arun’s earlier, more acclaimed procedural work.
- 3 Idiots or PK (Rajkumar Hirani films) — for Hirani’s signature blend of comedy and social commentary in his more established medium.
- A Wednesday! (2008) — an earlier Hindi thriller frequently cited as a touchstone for this kind of tech-thriller storytelling.
- Sector 36 or Haseen Dillruba — for more of Vikrant Massey’s range in darker, more intense roles.
Conclusion
Pritam and Pedro is an ambitious first streaming outing for Rajkumar Hirani, backed by a strong cast and a genuinely interesting true-crime-inspired premise. Whether it lands for you may depend on how much patience you have for a lighter, old-school approach to a modern cybercrime story — reviews suggest it’s an entertaining watch for some and a dated misfire for others, so it’s worth going in with tempered expectations.