Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐ ☆☆
Matka King Web Series Review: How is Vijay Varma’s crime drama series, set in the 1960s? Get the full review—including details on the storyline, performances, and ratings—right here.
Matka King is Vijay Varma’s latest show—a crime drama based on a true story set in Mumbai during the 1960s. The series is clearly inspired by the life of the late Ratan Khatri, who was bestowed with the title of ‘Matka King’ in the 1960s.
Available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video, the series boasts a very strong cast that adds significantly to its appeal. Matka King has been created by Nagraj Manjule and Abhi Kurana.
Audience Matka King Web Series Review
In their reviews of the Matka King series, viewers highly praised Vijay Varma for his “effortless” portrayal of the character Brij Bhatti, while also noting that Siddharth Jadhav delivered a tremendous performance in a supporting role.
The show is considered a watch-worthy series—particularly an excellent choice for those who enjoy crime dramas—though some audience members did observe that a few of its episodes felt somewhat drawn out.
Matka King Web Series Detail
Detail Information
- Genre: Period-crime drama set in 1960s Bombay
- Language Hindi
- Release April 17, 2026
- Platform Amazon Prime Video
- Episodes 8 episodes
Matka King Web Series cast and characters
- Vijay Varma: As Brij Bhatti, a cotton merchant who transforms into a gambling kingpin.
- Sai Tamhankar: As Barkha—Brij’s wife.
- Kritika Kamra: As Gulrukh, a Parsi widow and a key partner in the betting enterprise.
- Gulshan Grover: As Lalji Bhai, a veteran gambler.
- Siddharth Jadhav: As Dagdu, a loyal partner in the Matka business and a notorious ex-serviceman.
- Bhupendra Jadawat: As Lachhu—Brij’s brother.
- Jamie Lever: As Sulabha.
Web series story
The story of the Matka King. The series centers on Brij Bhatti—the tale of an ordinary man in 1960s Mumbai. Brij is a man of sharp intellect whose luck, however, has failed him, leaving him dependent on others to provide for his family.
Living with his brother and his pregnant wife, he eventually grows frustrated with his boss, Lala Ji, and decides to launch his own unique gambling enterprise, which he dubs ‘Matka.’ It is a lottery-like system in which he selects three cards, and the general public places bets on what those specific numbers will be.
In no time at all, ‘Matka’ takes the entire nation by storm. Brij Bhatti truly revolutionizes the very mechanics of the game; he introduces a novel method of gambling that offers people significantly better odds of winning—a system far more transparent and equitable than those of his competitors.
Despite building a vast and unbridled gambling empire—one that, in reality, exploits people’s desperation and ruins their lives—Brij does not view himself as a villain or a criminal, contrary to how the media and government officials perceive him. In his own eyes, he is a messiah for the common man, providing a form of ‘public service’—characterized by fairness and equality—to the working class.
Audience Reaction
Audiences are unanimous in their praise for Vijay’s phenomenal performance in the role of Bridge; he has portrayed this extremely difficult and nuanced character with great finesse.
Matka King exudes the same intense energy found in Scam 1992, a quality that resonates deeply with viewers. The suspense in this series is truly gripping, and the performances delivered by the entire cast are excellent.
Viewers found the series particularly fascinating as it offered a glimpse into how the ‘Matka’ betting game is played and how money is doubled—aspects that the audience thoroughly enjoyed watching. However, the series’ creators extended the second half significantly, a decision that did not sit well with the audience at all.
If you absolutely love watching scam-based crime thrillers—stories like Lucky Bhaskar and Harshad Mehta—then you must definitely watch the Matka King series.
