Emraan Hashmi's much-anticipated crime thriller series, 'Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web,' premiered globally on Netflix on January 14, 2026. The series, created by Neeraj Pandey and directed by Raghav Jairath, features Hashmi as Superintendent Arjun Meena, a diligent customs officer combating an international smuggling syndicate operating from Mumbai's airport. The show also stars Sharad Kelkar, Amruta Khanvilkar, Zoya Afroz, Nandish Sandhu, and Anurag Sinha in pivotal roles. The original Times of India headline, 'Taskaree' X review: Fans rave over Emraan Hashmi's latest series,' is considered exaggerated. While there's substantial positive chatter and 'raving' from fans across social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) praising Hashmi's performance and the engaging plot, professional critical reception is more varied. For instance, Scroll.in described the show as 'dutiful and dull', and the Free Press Journal rated it 2.5 out of 5 stars. Other reviews, like from The Hindu, acknowledge it as a thriller that 'rewards patience' with nuanced depictions rather than explosive momentum. The series explores the complex world of customs, portraying the high-stakes operations involved in intercepting contraband. It's noted for its realistic approach to the rarely explored theme of airport customs and international smuggling networks spanning various global locations. Despite mixed critical reviews, the series has generated considerable online buzz and anticipation among audiences, marking it as a trending new release for Netflix.