Showtime Web Series Review on Hotstar: The Real Drama of Bollywood Legacy
“Showtime,” a web series streaming on Hotstar since March 8, 2024, dives into the complexities of legacy and power struggles in the Bollywood industry. Produced by Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta under Dharmatic Entertainment, the series is directed by Mihir Desai and Archith Kumar.
It features a star-studded cast including Emraan Hashmi, Mouni Roy, Naseeruddin Shah, Mahima Makwana, Shriya Saran, and Rajeev Khandelwal, with music by Anand.
The series revolves around the intense battles of heritage within a cinematic backdrop. Emraan Hashmi plays a pivotal role, portraying Raghu Khanna, stepping into the fray as the successor in a renowned Bollywood dynasty. Initially, four episodes have been made available, offering a detailed narrative by the directors.
The storyline follows Victor Khanna (Naseeruddin Shah), a film producer who has dominated the Bollywood industry for 40 years. As he ages, his son, Raghu Khanna (Emraan Hashmi), steps in to take over the reins. However, Raghu’s inclination towards producing films based on current trends rather than substance causes dissatisfaction for Victor.
This conflict of ideals leads to a critique from Mahika (Mahima), a TV channel program producer, ultimately resulting in her job termination by Raghu. The situation escalates when Victor, upon learning about the incident, commits suicide after bequeathing his studio rights to Mahika, revealing her to be his granddaughter.
The series delves into the ensuing battle for control over Victor’s studio between Raghu and the family of Victor’s second wife. Amidst the turmoil, Raghu’s true nature is unveiled to Yasmin (Mouni Roy), who becomes pregnant with his child.
Despite her status as a star, Mandira (Shriya) remains dissatisfied with her career, highlighting the industry’s unpredictable nature.
Mahika struggles to revive a halted project, “1857,” enlisting the help of actor Armaan (Rajeev Khandelwal) and director Satya Krishnan (Neeraj Madhav), facing resistance from Raghu.
The series encapsulates the unpredictable shifts in loyalty and opportunity within the film industry, closely observed by the director.
Though the series moves at a deliberate pace, covering extensive ground over four episodes, the narrative remains engaging, focusing on four central characters: a hero, a director, a producer, and a new heiress. Naseeruddin Shah, despite his limited screen time, delivers a compelling performance, supported by notable acts from Emraan Hashmi, Rajeev, Mouni Roy, and Mahima. The technical aspects, including Vivek Shah’s cinematography and Anand’s score, complement the series’ theme.
The upcoming episodes are set to continue the narrative, emphasizing the intrinsic value of success in the film industry to both the project and the individuals involved.
The series effectively conveys the personal and professional challenges faced by its characters, though it suggests that the same message could have been conveyed more succinctly.
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