From being dubbed ‘the flag bearer of nepotism‘ on his own chat show to weathering criticism for promoting star kids, Karan Johar has remained a prominent figure in the ongoing debate surrounding nepotism. The filmmaker and producer recently unveiled the teaser for his upcoming web series, titled Showtime, which delves into the same nepotism debate.
In the teaser, Emraan Hashmi portrays the ‘badshaah of Bollywood,’ emphasising that those who discuss nepotism are often the same individuals eager to become insiders in the industry. He says, “Nepotism ke mukhaute ke peeche aakhir mein har outsider insider banna chahta hai (In the end, every outsider wants to become an insider behind the facade of nepotism).” Mouni Roy takes on the role of an actor navigating various challenges, while Naseeruddin Shah appears as a savvy businessman asserting, “Cinema dhandha nahi dharam hai saadda (Cinema is not my business but my religion).” The teaser also features other actors such as Vijay Raaz, Shriya Saran, and Rajeev Khandelwal.
Showtime is a Hotstar Original and will be released on Disney+ Hotstar next year. It is created by Sumit Roy. Mihir Desai and Archit Kumar co-directed the show. It is bankrolled by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic, the digital extension of Dharma Productions.
Karan Johar said in a statement, “Showtime is a series that is very close to my heart, it gives a closer look into the power struggles of the showbiz. The show will ensure that battle lines are drawn and crossed and keeps the camera rolling with the audiences clapping. To tell a story so strong and powerful there could not have been a better partner than Disney+ Hotstar. We are extremely excited and eager to bring forth this one for the audience and hope they enjoy the series.”
Speaking about the show, Emraan said, “We have always seen the audience longing to know more about what goes on behind the closed doors of Bollywood and let me just say, we have heard you all. Get ready to dive deep into the tales of Bollywood.”
