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Matka King review: Vijay Varma hits the jackpot, but this templated Nagraj Manjule show never places a risky bet
Vijay Varma plays a numbers ace whose transparent betting game turns him into a wealthy outsider, while the series examines how money reshapes ambition.
- On Friday, April 17, 2026, Prime Video India released the 8-episode series Matka King, starring actor Vijay Varma as Brij Bhatti, a cotton mill manager who revolutionizes a local gambling game in 1960s Mumbai.
- Inspired by the life of Ratan Khatri, the narrative follows Brij as he breaks away from his corrupt boss Lalji Bhai to establish an honest betting system for struggling residents.
- Varma describes his character's 'only superpower is honesty,' as the series explores how wealth influences character. Supporting cast includes actress Sai Tamhankar as Barkha and actor Siddharth Jadhav as Dagdu, portraying mill workers' struggles.
- Critics awarded the show 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising actress Kritika Kamra's performance as Gulrukh, the Parsi widow who facilitates Brij's entry into high society.
- Director Nagraj Manjule captures the essence of 1960s Bombay, positioning the series as a 'core Bombay story' that examines the city's transactional nature and moral compromises inherent in the quest for success.
14 Articles
14 Articles
‘Matka King’ Review: A Flawed but Compelling Rise of a Gambling Don
Prime Video’s 'Matka King' could have been far more affecting than it ultimately is, but there is enough there—performances, intent, and flashes of sharp writing—to suggest that a more assured second season could yet realise its full potential.
Matka King review: Vijay Varma hits the jackpot, but this templated Nagraj Manjule show never places a risky bet
Matka King review: Vijay Varma stars in this eight-episode saga fictionalising the rise of matka in India. But the Nagraj Manjule show misses more than it hits.
Vijay Varma’s Prime Video Series ‘Matka King’ Takes Over Mumbai With Unique Card Billboard (Watch Video) | 📺 LatestLY
Prime Video’s ‘Matka King’, starring Vijay Varma, is now streaming worldwide. To celebrate the April 17 launch, artist Rob created a stunning billboard made of playing cards near Mumbai airport. Directed by Nagraj Manjule, the 1960s crime drama follows the rise of a gambling kingpin and features a star-studded cast including Kritika Kamra. 📺 Vijay Varma’s Prime Video Series ‘Matka King’ Takes Over Mumbai With Unique Card Billboard (Watch Video).
‘Matka King’ series review: A cautionary tale on the cost of ambition that pays rich dividends
Fired by Vijay Varma’s restrained intensity and director Nagraj Manjule’s signature social realism, ‘Matka King’ turns out to be a familiar but gripping crime drama that is worth betting on.
‘You see Shah Rukh Khan’s photo on page 1’: Vijay Varma believed Bollywood has only success stories to offer
In an exclusive interview with SCREEN, Vijay Varma opens up on approaching the character of gambling maven Brij Bhatti in Matka King, working with director Nagraj Manjule, and his early days as an actor in Mumbai.
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