The present disclosure provides methods and apparatus for catalytic cracking of hydrocarbon feed. The apparatus includes a plurality of stages, wherein hydrocarbon feed is introduced into a bottom stage reactor and flows in an overall upward direction. A reaction catalyst stream is introduced into a top stage reactor and flows in an overall downward direction. In each of the stages, the hydrocarbon feed is allowed to come in contact with the reaction catalyst stream received at the particular stage for cracking of the hydrocarbon feed. The final cracked product stream is obtained at an outlet of the top stage reactor and a final spent catalyst stream is obtained at an outlet of the bottom stage reactor.