Everything to know about Vijay Varma's 'Matka King'
What's the story
Vijay Varma, renowned for his variety of roles in films and web series, recently announced his next project, a web series titled Matka King.
The series is directed by Nagraj Manjule, known for his acclaimed films Sairat and Fandry.
Currently under production, the narrative explores the world of matka gambling in 1960s Mumbai and is inspired by the real-life Matka King phenomenon that dominated India from the 1960s to the 1990s.
Series inspiration
Here's the plotline of series
The Matka King series will follow the journey of a man considered to be a pioneer of betting.
Starting as a cotton trader, the man gained popularity and fame by introducing a new form of betting.
He later earned the title 'Matka King' for transforming and popularizing matka, a type of gambling that originated in Mumbai in 1962, into a nationwide phenomenon.
The series will be a fictional recreation.
Star-studded cast
'Matka King' web series features stellar cast
Matka King boasts a stellar cast including Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, Gulshan Grover, and Siddharth Jadhav.
The series is produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur, Nagraj Manjule, Gargi Kulkarni, Ashish Aryan, and Ashwini Sidwani under Roy Kapur Films.
It will stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Varma, meanwhile, was last seen in the Netflix murder mystery film Murder Mubarak, which opened to disastrous reviews.
Parallel project
Telugu cinema also exploring 'matka' gambling theme
In a parallel development, apart from the Hindi fraternity, Telugu cinema is also delving into the allure of matka gambling.
Director Karuna Kumar is developing a film titled Matka, set in the 1950s to 1980s and starring actor Varun Tej in multiple avatars.
The film explores real incidents that shook the nation during that period, but the filmmakers have reportedly clarified that their story isn't based on any real person's life.