Vijay Varma on ‘Matka King’: A Story of Ambition, Power and the Price of Success
Mumbai— As the makers of Matka King released the trailer of the upcoming period drama, lead actor Vijay Varma described the series as a layered exploration of ambition, power, and the personal cost of success.
Varma, who plays the titular character Brij Bhatti, said the role offered him a deeply immersive experience set in a bygone era of Bombay.
“Working in Matka King has been an exhilarating journey. Bringing this world and this character to life was both challenging and deeply fulfilling, especially in the backdrop of a different era that I had never explored before,” he said in a statement. He also noted his return to a Prime Video original following earlier projects like Dahaad and Mirzapur.
The actor credited creator Nagraj Manjule and co-writer Abhay Koranne for giving him creative freedom to shape the character, and praised his co-stars, including Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, and Gulshan Grover, for enriching the experience.
“At its heart, Matka King is a story of ambition, power, and the price one pays for success, which is universal and will resonate with audiences in India and around the world,” Varma added.
The series features an ensemble cast including Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, Siddharth Jadhav, Gulshan Grover, Bhupendra Jadawat, Bharat Jadhav, Girish Kulkarni, Jamie Lever, Kishor Kadam, Cyrus Sahukar, Arpita Sethiya, Sambhaji Tangade, Ishtiyak Khan, Sanjivv Jotangia, and Simran Ashwini.
Directed by Nagraj Popatrao Manjule and created alongside Abhay Koranne, Matka King is set in 1960s Bombay and follows Brij Bhatti, a sharp cotton trader who transforms gambling into a mass phenomenon known as “Matka,” only to find that rising ambition comes with escalating consequences.
Director Manjule described the series as a story of a man fighting for respect and reshaping the system around him, adding that period detail and authenticity were central to the production design.
Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur said the show explores ambition, identity, and the cost of legitimacy in a rapidly evolving city, calling it a “bold bet” rooted in universal stakes despite its specific historical setting.
Sai Tamhankar, who plays Brij Bhatti’s wife Barkha, said her character is far from a traditional portrayal, describing her as independent, layered, and driven by her own choices and ambitions.
Matka King is set to premiere on April 17 on Prime Video. (Source: IANS)
