Strapline: Emraan Hashmi role of a powerful producer caught up in the nepotism debate is especially significant, as he had to rise ranks of an actor with hardwork and perseverance despite being related to the Bhatts
Body: The first trailer of Disney+ Hotstar and Dharmactic Entertainment’s new series, Showtime, which follows the stories of the movers and shakers of Bollywood and their struggles to stay at the top of their game, is out. Leading man of the series, Emraan Hashmi lights up every frame in the trailer with undeniable charisma and screen presence. Hashmi is essaying the role of an influential film producer who takes a dig at nepotism in his opening lines. “Every outsider wants to be an insider,” he says. The trailer goes on to establish him as a powerful player in showbiz.
Following the success of Bard of Blood on Netflix, Showtime will mark Hashmi’s second outing on a streaming platform. The actor who is known to surprise audiences with his choice of roles had earlier said, “Being in the industry for so long, I have seen both the good and the bad side of it, so when this show came to me, I grabbed the opportunity of being part of it and could resonate with it on various levels. 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.”
Hashmi’s character in the series is significant considering that Hashmi had to rise ranks— from a supporting actor to an actor in a negative role and eventually the leading man—even though he was born in a film family (Mahesh and Mukesh Bhatt are his uncles). As the nepotism debate continues to be a part of popular culture, the actor has always maintained that the film industry is a democratic place, and it has opportunities for both insiders and outsiders. It is possible for a family member to ensure a good launchpad for an upcoming actor, but ultimately it is the audience that decides the fate of every actor. Mahesh Bhatt recollects the actor filming for five days before getting finalised for his debut film in a supporting role, Footpath. “We had to be ruthless. I told him if he cannot act he will be thrown out. After five days of filming, we reviewed the rushes and then signed him on,” says Bhatt.
Created by Sumit Roy, showrunner Mihir Desai, directed by Mihir Desai and Archit Kumar, the show stars Emraan Hashmi, Mahima Makwana, Mouni Roy, Naseeruddin Shah, Rajeev Khandelwal and Shriya Saran. Showtime will stream on Disney+ Hotstar early next year.
