It appears that the ‘Bollywood’ storytellers have run out of stories to tell. So, they decided to become a story themselves. However, it is not that people are absolutely amused to hear these stories. Mind you, in this digital age with countless media houses coupled with even more social media journalism, nothing seems to be real as well as unreal. We know most of it and we assume the rest of it. The real ‘behind the scenes’ does not actually exist.
With Showtime, the audience longing to know more about what goes on behind the closed doors of Bollywood seems to be answered. So, dive deep into the tales of Bollywood – the money, the business, the glamour, the relationships, the lifestyle, the inside scoop on all of Bollywood’s best-kept secrets.
The central theme of the fictional show delves into – nepotism. The series tries hard to weave a narrative set in the complex world of showbiz. It delves into the world of Bollywood, production houses and how they function.
Within this realm, each character is entangled in their unique journey, driven by personal motives and ambitions. A world which functions on – lights, camera & action; entangled in struggle for power, a narrative that will draw boundaries…only to cross them. There is a dramatic angle to the film industry, a veneer and a sheen but then the show takes you into their real lives. The pitch is entertaining and pacey.
While Showtime is fictional, people who are familiar might relate some of its observations, particularly about star tantrums. There are bizarre accounts about actors. There is a saying attributed to Marlon Brando, “Unless you’re not talking about me. I’m not listening to you.” So, there are weird and crazy things about the film industry, eccentric people but other kinds of people too.
Emraan Hashmi, who plays ‘Badshah of Bollywood’ says, “Nepotism ke mukhaute ke peeche aakhir mein har outsider insider banna chahta hai (at the end, every outsider wants to become an insider in the garb of nepotism).” Showtime plonks Emraan Hashmi into a world with which he is deeply familiar: the Hindi film industry. Emraan Hashmi is right at home. Showtime is about the troubles faced by a reputed Hindi film studio. Raghu Khanna (Emraan Hashmi), the son of a hit-making producer whose assured inheritance (the studio) comes under serious threat after his father’s (Naseeruddin Shah) death. Raghu’s problems include a contender for the family business, an egoistic movie star, a restive girlfriend, and a manipulative financier. Raghu is your quintessential Bollywood producer, very brash and in your face, workaholic and a little larger than life.
Rajeev Khandelwal plays a self-assured superstar, he feels his appearance sells more than his designer clothing.
The legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah makes a striking entrance as a producer, wielding a walking stick and smoking a cigarette, delivering lines like, “Cinema dhandha nahi, dharam hai mera (cinema is not my business but my religion).”
Vijay Raaz seeks to redefine the word ‘outsider’
The ‘Antim’ star Mahima Makwana’s assured on-screen presence demonstrates great promise. Showtime also features the multifaceted Mouni Roy, portraying the character of an actor-dancer with captivating finesse.
Even though the whole show revolves around Emraan Hashmi, fans can still anticipate some incredible fireworks from the other cast members, including Vijay Raaz, Naseeruddin Shah, and Rajeev Khandelwal.
The web series, positioned as ‘an epic saga of legacy and ambition in the world of cinema’, seeks to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the power battles and the multimillion-dollar Bollywood industry. A show that showcases so many different shades of the industry. While there’s showbiz, glitz, glamour, drama it also touches upon the unspoken emotional rollercoaster that people go through behind the sets.
In other words, the goal of the show seems to demonstrate to the viewers what goes into developing a series or movie and to bring them closer to the lives of those who work in the business. It has a little bit of everything… to be continued!
Web Series: Showtime
Director: Archit Kumar
Cast: Emraan Hashmi, Mahima Makwana, Mouni Roy, Rajeev Khandelwal, Shriya Saran, Vishal Vashishtha, Vijay Raaz, Naseeruddin Shah
Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar
Episodes: 4 episodes ~40 mins