PremiumShowtime - Here are 5 reasons to watch Karan Johar’s star-studded series on Disney+ Hotstar
Showtime, produced by Karan Johar, stars Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi, Mahima Makwana, Mouni Roy, Rajeev Khandelwal, Saran in lead roles. The series premieres on Disney+ Hotstar March 8.
Last Updated: 07.39 PM, Mar 04, 2024
Karan Johar and nepotism have sort of become synonymous over the years. Probably in a bid to break the image, Karan decided to produce a web series around it and unravel the dark side of showbiz for everyone. Starring Naseeruddin Shah, Emraan Hashmi, Mahima Makwana, Mouni Roy, Rajeev Khandelwal, and Shriya Saran in pivotal roles, Showtime will start streaming on Disney+ Hotstar on March 8.
As Showtime gears up for its OTT release, we list 5 compelling reasons why you should not miss the web series this week.
Karan Johar and Disney+ Hotstar’s collaboration
Dharmatic Entertainment, Karan Johar’s Mumbai-based production company that has created Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives and Call Me Bae earlier, is collaborating for the first time with Disney+ Hotstar on an original scripted series. The two already work together on the popular talk show Koffee with Karan, which spans eight seasons with Dharmatic’s founder Karan Johar as the host.
Captivating trailer
The Showtime trailer, which debuted about two weeks ago, opens with an interaction between Mouni Roy and Emraan Hashmi. Next comes discussions about box office collections of Rs 100 crore and concerns about nepotism! The legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah then makes a dramatic entrance as the walking stick-wielding and cigarette-smoking producer, mouthing dialogues such as, "Cinema dhandha nahi, dharanm hai mera" (Cinema is not a business for me, it's a religion).
Superb casting
From TV’s much-loved heartthrob Rajeev Khandelwal to cinema’s serial kisser Emraan Hashmi, Showtime has them all. The persona of Rajeev Khandelwal, who is self-assured that his appearance sells more than his designer clothing, is the perfect fit for the role of a self-absorbed superstar. Furthermore, how can one-liners trail behind Emraan Hashmi in the picture, right? “Nepotism ke mukhaute ke peeche, har outsider insider banna chaata hai" (Nepotism is a convenient justification used by outsiders to gain insider status) being one of them.
Also Read: Showtime - Emraan Hashmi, Mouni Roy, Naseeruddin Shah; a glimpse behind Bollywood's glamour
On the other hand, Vijay Raaz, who seeks to redefine the word "outsider," is the one person who gives Emraan fierce competition when it comes to one-liners. “Jab tak cheenti haathi ke kaan mein ghuskar aatank nahi machaati, tab tak usko outsider hi kaha jaata hai,” says Vijay, meaning till the time an ant creates havoc by sneaking inside an elephant’s ears, it will be treated as an outsider only. The characters then discuss the negative aspects of Bollywood.
Regarding the stars, Mahima Makwana's assured on-screen presence demonstrates great promise. Likewise for Mouni Roy too. Even though the whole show revolves around Emraan Hashmi, fans can still anticipate some incredible fireworks from the other cast members, including Vijay Raaz, Naseeruddin Shah, and Rajeev Khandelwal. Overall, it looks like one show that will be well worth the wait!
Thrilling music
The Hotstar Specials, Showtime, stars Badshah, Emraan Hashmi, and Mouni Roy in the classy song Class. Diesby wrote the song's lyrics with added rap vocals by Badshah. The song, which is performed by Diesby, Badshah, and Nikhita Gandhi, is the first musical drop of the much-awaited series. The video's main attraction is Mouni, who is dancing to Badshah's vocals while wearing a multicoloured minidress with tassels and purple boots. She really turns up the heat! Emraan appears as the song's producer towards the end of the video. The friendship between Rajeev Khandelwal and Shriya Saran's characters is also hinted at in the video. All in all, the clip offers us a glimpse inside the opulent realm of Bollywood.
Different shades of showbiz
The online series, dubbed "an epic saga of legacy and ambition in the world of cinema," seeks to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the power battles and the multimillion-dollar Bollywood industry. Talking to entertainment portal Deadline recently, Karan Johar said, “Showtime is a show that showcases so many different shades of the industry. While there’s showbiz, glitz, glamour, drama it also touches upon the unspoken emotional rollercoaster that people go through behind the sets.”
In other words, the goal of the show is to demonstrate to viewers what goes into developing a series or movie and to bring them closer to the lives of those who work in the business. It has a little bit of everything, and Karan felt Disney+ Hotstar was the ideal platform for telling this kind of story.