Showtime Review: Emraan Hashmi has returned to the OTT platform with his latest web series 'Showtime'. Also starring Mahima Makwana, Mouni Roy, Rajeev Khandelwal, Shriya Saran, Vishal Vashishtha, Naseeruddin Shah and Vijay Raaz, the web series is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. 'Showtime' focuses on Bollywood, nepotism and what goes behind this multi-million dollar industry away from the glitz and glamour.

What works For Showtime:

The dark truth behind the glamour of Bollywood is like an open secret for the audiences and 'Showtime' does not shy away from exposing those truths. From nepotism to star tantrums to paid PRs, 'Showtime' bares it all. The series has perfectly portrayed how the industry can corrupt the individual's mind as one can turn blind due to the ambition of getting more money and fame.

 

 

 

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The performances by the star cast are indeed the highlight of 'Showtime' and make the series captivating to watch. The hard-hitting dialogues like "Nepotism ke mukhaute ke picche, aakhir mein har outsider, insider banna chahta hai," or "Filmien paison ke liye banti hai" highlight the harsh truths about cinema and how its art is slowly coming to an end due to the money-making mindset. The surprising cameos by several Bollywood celebrities might create excitement among the audience.

What does not work:

Amid all the dark reality of the film industry shown in the series, 'Showtime' fails to create a bigger impact. From affairs to petty competition to inner politics in Bollywood, there are too many plots shown in the web series but not every storyline gets a chance to be explored. 'Showtime' starts on a great note but after two episodes, it soon turns into a family drama or feud instead of portraying what goes behind the scenes in Bollywood. All the powerful dialogues later seem like one-liners as the story moves forward.

 

 

 

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Performances:

Emraan Hashmi is clearly the star of 'Showtime' and perfectly portrays the role of an egoistic yet power-driven producer in Bollywood. Even though he is shown as a grey character with selfishness and arrogance, you can't help but root for him and understand the reasons behind his behaviour.

Mahima Makwana is perfect as Mahika Nandy, an ambitious young girl who has risen to power overnight. She portrays her character with innocence and charm but soon transitions into a strong businesswoman, who is trying to remain true to herself as she enters Bollywood. Despite playing her role with all honesty, Mahima's acting remains less impactful.

 

 

 

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Mouni Roy plays the role of a rising star in Bollywood but her role remains limited to Raghu Khanna's girlfriend. She shines in her emotional scenes in the later episodes as she goes through inner turmoil. Rajeev Khandelwal gives a convincing performance as an arrogant movie star and is charming in his role. Shriya Saran impresses in her role but she does not get the opportunity to showcase her acting range. Naseeruddin Shah definitely steals the show in his limited yet impactful screen time as Victor Khanna.

Final Thoughts:

'Showtime's attempt to portray the dark side of Bollywood is praise-worthy but the web series remains limited to a family drama in the end. The remaining four episodes will determine how impacting the show is.