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Aspirants

Aspirants

PRE… MAINS… AUR LIFE

2021–Ongoing3 seasons15 episodes~45 min/epMidcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

Aspirants is a story of 3 friends - Abhilash, SK, and Guri. The story takes place in the past and the present where the past captures the struggle and the drama behind the making of UPSC CSE aspirants in Old Rajinder Nagar of Delhi, while the present talks about the aftermath. It is the story of three UPSC aspirants journey.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Aspirants?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Aspirants streaming on Prime Video.

Subscription

Highlights

What stands out about Aspirants?

Aspirants earns 5 badges, led by Top 1% of shows and Universally Loved.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Aspirants worth watching?

Aspirants' Midcredits score is the 99th percentile of all shows, from 320K ratings across 2 sources. 98% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

99th percentile

Better received than 99% of shows

99th percentile among Drama99th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)98th
Approval (how many liked it)99th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

88 /100

98th percentile of all shows

99th percentile among Drama98th percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

98% liked it

99th percentile of all shows

99th percentile among Drama99th percentile among 2020s
98% rated it 7–102% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

86th percentile

320K ratings across platforms

82nd percentile among Drama89th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 15% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The series accurately depicts the pressure, sacrifices, and emotional toll of competitive exam preparation, though opinions differ on whether the focus on personal relationships undermines the aspirant storyline.

Fans praised

  • authentic portrait of UPSC aspirant life and struggles
  • relatable characters with genuine emotional depth
  • stellar performances by Naveen Kasturia, Sunny Hinduja, and ensemble cast

Detractors panned

  • over-emphasis on love triangle and relationship drama
  • sponsor integration (Unacademy) feels intrusive and manipulative
  • weak character development for side characters like SK and Dhairya

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

performances praised for authenticity and emotional range, especially Sunny Hinduja

Emotional impactDivisive80

deeply moving for fans; detractors find it manipulative

DialogueDivisive80

impactful, quotable lines praised by fans; detractors find them repetitive

AtmosphereDivisive80

immersive Old Rajinder Nagar setting captures aspirant life

CharactersDivisive75

relatable tripod friends and mentor; some call side characters underdeveloped

Sound and music75

background score and songs enhance emotional moments

Plot and storyDivisive60

engaging but critics say deviates into melodrama and love triangle

Originality55

familiar TVF formula; some viewers see it as Kota Factory clone

Preferred by

No notable difference between any of the groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men even
  • Under-30s vs over-30s even
  • US vs non-US even

Episodes

3 seasons

Season 3 · 2026 · 5 episodes

  • S3E1

    Waapsi

    Mar 13, 202644 min
  • S3E2

    Santulan

    Mar 13, 202651 min
  • S3E3

    Manovaigyanik Baadhayein

    Mar 13, 202643 min
  • S3E4

    The Cut Off

    Mar 13, 202646 min
  • S3E5

    De Mauka Zindagi

    Mar 13, 202660 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Aspirants like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — a slow-burn watch that leaves you hopeful.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
HopefulTense
Heaviest: middle
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Warm
Told as
Nonlinear · 5% of shows: Events shown out of chronological order.SerializedNew arc each season
ToneThe show treats its subject with genuine warmth and gravity, never undercutting the emotional stakes.
The rideThe series mixes tension around exam pressures with hopefulness about friendship and resilience, with the emotional weight building through the middle seasons as stakes rise.
StructureThe story weaves between past preparation days and present-day life as officers, using frequent flashbacks.
Episode formatThe series is a continuous serialized narrative following the same core cast and overarching story across seasons.
Season formatEach season likely follows a new phase in the aspirants' journey, with a self-contained arc per season while maintaining the overall serialized narrative.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
HopefulRousing · 9% of shows
Why it leaves you this wayLeaves viewers inspired by the characters' perseverance and the power of friendship.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Rags
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3% (this title): Underdog triumph 2% (this title) · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Rags to riches: A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition. · Underdog triumph: Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).

3% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThree friends from humble backgrounds strive to clear the UPSC exam, rising to become civil servants; their struggle and eventual success form the core journey.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFriendship
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% (this title) · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

FriendshipAmbition · 14% of showsPurpose
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Intimate stakes: Consequences reach a person or a household.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeThe series centers on the enduring friendship between three UPSC aspirants as they face the daunting exam, exploring the personal stakes of ambition and the search for meaning beyond success.
StanceThe series celebrates friendship and perseverance in the face of systemic pressure, presenting the aspirants' journey with warmth and admiration.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernSupportive music · original score
SettingA coaching hub city in India, where aspirants live and prepare for the UPSC exam.

Content guide

Is Aspirants okay for kids?

As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at minimal (9/100), sexual content at minimal (14/100), language at moderate (37/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (39/100) and frightening material at minimal (9/100). Overall it is heavier than 10% of all shows.

Ratings in 4 other countries
  • Canada18+
  • IndiaU/A 13+
  • MexicoC
  • SingaporeNC16
Overall
Mild · all five categories
Heavier than 10% of all shows
Violence & Gore
None / Minimal
heavier than 6% of all shows
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
heavier than 8% of all shows
Profanity
Moderate
heavier than 34% of all shows
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
heavier than 48% of all shows
Frightening / Intense
None / Minimal
heavier than 6% of all shows

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

Nothing here is extreme. The strongest element is drug and alcohol content.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Aspirants have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Aspirants?

Cast

Naveen Kasturia
as Abhilash Sharma
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Shivankit Singh Parihar
as Guri
Sunny Hinduja
as Sandeep Ohlan
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Abhilash Thapliyal
as SK
Namita Dubey
as Dhairya
Mallika Prasad
as Radha Rajesh
Tengam Celine
as Deepa Nabam
Abhishek Sonpaliya
as Suryapal
Mahender Bisht
as ADM
Joy Dev Chatterjee
as Divisional Commisioner Narender Kumar

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