Showtime Watching Bollywood films is fun, but you know what’s even more fun? Discussing Bollywood actors and indulging in gossip. It’s in our blood! And if you get to watch a long seven-episode show about it, it’s like icing on the cake. Not just that, if the face of this show is an actor who is criminally underrated in the film industry but has enough talent to create a new industry, it’s Imran Hashmi.
I recently watched a series called “Showtime” on Disney Hotstar. However, this series is currently incomplete with only four episodes, each approximately 40 minutes long. So, the question is, does it manage to captivate you with just these four episodes? Let’s talk about it. Well, hello, my name is Yogi, and we will be meeting frequently.
Cinema is one of the biggest business industries in the world, with many people working in it, from actors, directors, producers, cameramen, writers, singers, and lyricists to spot boys. Outside of the production realm, there are media journalists, film analysts, critics, and reviewers too, all struggling to make a living in their own ways. “Showtime” brings this aspect of the industry to the forefront. This show is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Production and stars Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi, Rajeev Khandelwal, Mouni Roy, and Mahima Makwana. It also features a plethora of cameos from real actors, producers, directors, dress designers, and choreographers, which is fitting given the subject matter focusing on the Bollywood film industry.
The series delves into various inside stories of the film industry, such as how the review system works and how people are more concerned with numbers rather than entertainment. For instance, who earned how much seems to be more important than the actual entertainment value.
The story revolves around a well-established film company named Victory, owned by Victor Khanna, played by Naseeruddin Shah. His son Raghu Khanna, played by Emraan Hashmi, doesn’t get along with him. In the midst of this, a critic named Mahika Nandi enters the scene, bringing an interesting twist that propels the story forward. To find out what that twist is, you’ll have to watch the series.
Introduction to the Show
Yes, I’m talking about “Showtime,” a new Bollywood web series released directly to your home on OTT, specifically Hotstar. Actually, this is part two; a few months ago, they released four episodes and disappeared. Now they’ve added three more, completing season one with a total of seven episodes. No matter how the show is, the person who came up with the idea of releasing every web series in two parts, with a four to five months gap, has a special place reserved in hell where Yama himself will serve you.
Plot Overview
“Showtime” is essentially about exposing Bollywood. The biggest producer in the film industry, who manages 100-200 crores with ease. Before you start connecting real-life people to this fictional show, let me tell you, it’s a total fictional story. Raghu Bhaiya, in his pursuit of making films, forgets that in this game of chess, he is just a pawn. The king is his senior, his father, who suddenly one day bids farewell to life and places his granddaughter on his throne, shocking the world. The twist in the story is that this girl didn’t even know a few hours earlier that she could be the granddaughter of the richest producer in the film industry.
Performance and Direction
The real fun of the show comes when the lives of these big movie-making directors and producers become like a spicy film, and the credit goes to a new player – The Legend of Koa Biryani, Vijay Raaz. Vijay Raaz tries his best to save the show, but his limited role doesn’t allow him to do much.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The show’s subject was such that it could have been the greatest of all time OTT series in India. But the makers got busy hiding the real Bollywood instead of showing it. Viewers expect something new, something that hasn’t been seen before, but “Showtime” spends seven episodes showing the same old stuff.
Acting and Characters
Imran Hashmi’s presence in the show is a plus point. Hearing him curse for the first time makes you clap. However, the main character, Mahi, sadly, doesn’t impress as much, failing the whole purpose of making this series.
Conclusion and Rating
“Showtime” is a time-pass show. If you don’t find anything good to watch, you can let it play on TV for 3 hours while you do your household chores, and you won’t miss much. I’ll give it two stars out of five – one for Imran Hashmi’s presence and the second for the stylish filmmaking. The negatives include weak writing, wasting talented actors, and the weak presentation of the main lead character.