Showtime

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.

Lemme adding this seriously but the casting is fully wrong as because in my POV, the casting is wrong but reversed also and I think the story shows the real side of the Film Industry and the stardom of the Actors and Actresses. The direction and production is all right but the plot and casting needs to be improved as because negativity roles for Emraan doesn't suits him. The anger suits in Emraan but not the villian role. But overall the series is good and worth of watching but if any sequel/prequel is releasing after this, there must be improvement in casting, direction and on the Storyline of the series.

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.

"Showtime" (2024) offers a glimpse into the dazzling world of Bollywood, with its glamorous stars, extravagant sets, and cutthroat competition. However, despite its initial promise, the series ultimately falls short of delivering a truly captivating and engaging narrative.

The series follows the lives and ambitions of various individuals within the Bollywood industry, from aspiring actors to powerful producers, all vying for success and recognition. While the show's visuals capture the glitz and glamour of the industry, the narrative itself struggles to break free from predictable plotlines and stereotypical characters.

The performances are decent, with the actors showcasing the charisma and vulnerability of their characters. However, the lack of depth in the character development prevents the audience from fully connecting with their struggles and motivations.

The series attempts to delve into themes of ambition, betrayal, and the price of fame, but these explorations often feel superficial and lack the emotional resonance needed to truly engage the viewer. The pacing is uneven, with some scenes dragging while others feel rushed, and the attempts at creating suspense and intrigue often fall flat due to the predictability of the plot.

Overall, "Showtime" (2024) is a series that promises much but delivers little. While it offers a glimpse into the glamorous world of Bollywood, its shallow character development, predictable plotlines, and lack of emotional depth prevent it from being a truly captivating viewing experience.

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.