Showtime

The concept and story were par excellence. I was very excited for this show. Full marks for the concept. But the execution failed miserably. Were not able to convey what they had envisioned. In fact they completely missed the mark and were too rash without enough build-up for any character or any story.

Visuals are excellent. That scene where Vijay Raaz proposes his son's launch to Mahima in exchange for help, that whole sequence was a visual treat. Rajeev and Vijay out perform everyone else.

This could had easily become one of the best shows if Karan Johar was involved whole heartedly into this project in order to deliver.

Showtime (Season 1) is a Hindi-language drama on Disney+ Hotstar... the series dives into the glitzy but cut-throat world of Bollywood. The seven-episode season explores power struggles, nepotism, and personal betrayals at Viktory Studios, a fictional studio set in present day Mumbai. It offers a glossy, soapy take on the film industry, and no wonder it ranked among India's top-streamed shows in 2024.

The narrative blends family drama and industry intrigue, and feels like a Bollywood Succession but lacks the latter's sharp wit. Compared to Indian series like Made in Heaven, Showtime's pacing is brisk but uneven, with a slow start and a rushed finale, unlike Mirzapur's relentless intensity. Themes of ambition, legacy, and morality are engaging but less nuanced than Sacred Games.

The cast, including Mouni Roy and Rajeev Khandelwal, delivers strong performances, though Hashmi's brooding role feels typecast. Production values are high, with vibrant visuals evoking Bollywood's glamour, but the score is unmemorable compared to Heeramandi's grandeur.

Showtime entertains with its insider references (e.g., cameos mirroring real-life stars) but lacks the emotional depth of Panchayat or the cultural commentary of The Night Of.

For Indian audiences, it appeals to Bollywood fans but feels formulaic next to Paatal Lok's grit. English-language parallels like The Morning Show offer tighter storytelling, while Showtime's melodrama aligns with Indian soaps. It's a fun, flawed binge for adults, recommended for those craving Bollywood drama but not a must-rewatch like Succession.

I went into Showtime with high expectations, but the series turned out to be more style than substance. While the idea of peeling back the curtain on Bollywood is intriguing, the execution left much to be desired.

Emraan Hashmi, without a doubt, is the heart of the show, he delivers a fabulous performance and carries the series on his shoulders. Rajeev Khandelwal does a decent job, but the rest of the narrative simply doesn't support their talent. The biggest disappointment lies in the writing. The storyline is implausible and, at times, downright frustrating. It's hard to digest how a character with no prior knowledge of the film industry suddenly becomes the owner of a big studio, and everything falls perfectly into place. This lack of logic makes it difficult for viewers to stay invested.

The unnecessary cameos by Bollywood stars also dilute the narrative rather than enrich it. They feel like distractions rather than meaningful additions. Had the makers dared to make Emraan Hashmi's character a sharp anti-hero, the show could have offered a much more gripping and layered story.

Another issue is timing, the series might have worked better a few years ago when audiences were more forgiving of glossy entertainment without depth. But these days, viewers demand stronger storytelling, realism, and logic, which Showtime fails to deliver.

Overall, Showtime is average at best. It has some good performances, particularly from Emraan, but the shallow writing, illogical plot, and wasted cameos stop it from being memorable. A missed opportunity that could have been something special.

So Good to See Emraan Hashmi.. Always So dam Underrated...Good to watch him Shine in this Show... Excellently Executed... With only 4 Episodes being Currently Released it shows you the Ins and Outs of The Madhouse World Of Bollywood...Workplace Egos and everything that goes into managing it. The Cameos will only bring Smiles to your Face.

Excellent Casting of everyone. Hope they make More Episodes and A 2nd Season and If so the Wait isn't too long bcoz with Indian OTT shows.

2nd seasons and or 3rd Take a long time to Be released.. highly Recommend

A Mini Awarapan Reunion we weren't Expecting.

Personal Rating 7.5/10

Being a pure filmiholic, it is only natural that I would love this web series on celebrity life, dark secrets of the film world and the hype of Bollywood. Emraan Hashmi gave a great performance, he single handedly stole the limelight in the series. It is completely ridiculous that the dark secrets of Bollywood would be revealed in such a way in any Bollywood series, that is why I thoroughly enjoyed the series. There is no chance of being boring, this series can be seen in one sitting.

Overall, it goes without saying that this is a must-watch series for those who are always into the filmy world. Waiting now for June, gonnaa wating to see part 2!💛🎬