Shefali Shah was only 32 when she played Akshay Kumar’s mother in the 2005 movie Waqt. He was 37. She has also played mother to Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer Singh, both of whom are younger than her by a few years. Bollywood is ageist, specifically to women. And had it not been for a new wave of filmmakers and trend-breaking OTT productions, we probably wouldn’t have gotten to see what a good actor Shah is. The actor is back in her role as Vartika Chaturvedi, DCP of the Delhi police force in the Season 2 of ‘Delhi Crime’. While Chaturvedi solved the Nirbhaya rape case in the first season, which also became the first Indian show to win an International Emmy award for Outstanding Drama Series, DCP Vartika now has her hands full with a series of brutal murders. Elderly people living in the posh areas of Delhi are being robbed and murdered in their homes. A notorious gang has been going around bashing people’s heads in with hammers. Their modus operandi matches the infamous kachcha-baniyan gang which existed decades ago. The people from the original gang belonged to a certain tribe that has been associated with burglaries and similar crimes in India for centuries. Dressed in undergarments and covered in oil to make themselves slippery, the new kachcha-baniyan gang spreads terror among Delhi pensioners and their families.

Now it’s up to Vartika and her team of police officers to find the culprits. But it was never going to be an easy task. The criminals this time are sharp minded and know how to evade the police. The police, on the other hand, have no clue as to where to begin their investigation and end up making a few blunders. This hide and seek between the police and the criminals makes up for the five episodes of the series.

What I liked most about the second season of Delhi Crime is that it has the same intensity even after three years since it first released. Although Tanuj Chopra takes over the directorial reign from Richie Mehta for Season 2, there is not much difference in the execution. And I mean this as a compliment for Chopra since Mehta had left the audience with high expectations. The filmmakers have done solid research for the story. It shows as the script has incorporated caste system in India with utmost sensitivity so as not to hurt any sentiments. The cast of Delhi Crime elevate the story, screenplay and production. Shah as DCP Vartika proves once again why female-centric characters are necessary in Indian cinema to change the audience and the filmmakers’ perspectives. Her character—who is in a powerful position—does not display unnecessary heroism and masochism we would have most likely witnessed had it been played by a male actor. Actors Rasika Dugal (as Neeti Singh) and Rajesh Tailang (Bhupendra Singh), who are police officers in Vartika’s team, have also done justice to their respective roles. Both of their characters are struggling to keep their professional and personal lives in balance and each has their own way to deal with them. Despite the fast-paced screenplay and focus on crime, the audience get to see glimpses of their personal lives. These side stories make the central plot even more interesting. It’s a clever ploy by the writers and equally smart execution by the actors. At the risk of giving away spoilers, I have to mention Tillotama Shome whose performance is one of the highlights of the series. The actor has always given good performances but in Delhi Crime she takes another step in making herself a household name. What I liked most about Delhi Crime is that it gives its female characters ample opportunities to showcase their talents.  Who should watch it? If you have not watched Delhi Crime Season 1 yet, I suggest you watch that first just to get introduced to the characters. But even as a standalone series, Delhi Crime Season 2 is gritty, violent and gripping. If gruesome, edge-of-the-seat stories are your thing, don’t miss this one. Rating: 4 Genre: Crime, thriller Actors: Shefali Shah, Rasika Dugal, Tillotama Shome Director: Tanuj Chopra Run time: Five hours (approx.)