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.
