At the trailer launch of Matka King, producer Siddharth Roy Kapur opened up about what makes this project so special, sharing his excitement, gratitude, and the challenges behind bringing the 1960s Bombay crime drama to life.
"Ah... well, quite a few things, actually—as Nikhil said, there isn’t just one thing," Kapur began. "Firstly, the world of Matka—the fact that this was something into which people in the '60s and '70s would put their money, with the expectation that it would yield a return, during a time when the country was grappling with so many financial difficulties. Here was something they could actually rely on. Then there are the delightful characters—you know, in the show. Also, the fact that I got the opportunity to work with Nagaraj-ji; he is someone I have admired for a very, very long time—ever since I saw his work, I decided that I simply had to collaborate with him on something."
He went on to highlight the importance of collaboration: "And, as Nikhil mentioned, the fact that Amazon and we have been intending to work together for a long time, and this turned out to be the absolute best project for us to collaborate on. I just want to give a special shout-out to the Amazon team—Nikhil, of course; and Saira, who has been, you know, a rock behind this entire project—standing by us and creatively collaborating with us every step of the way. Ah, Stuti, who has been a fantastic partner on the production side. And their entire team. Ah, Abhay—someone I previously worked with on Rocket Boys—having him write this show was, you know, a tremendous asset, as he is an incredibly talented writer and a brilliant creative collaborator. And, of course, my team—my team at Roy Kapur Films—Jinesh Bharti and the entire crew who worked so incredibly hard on this."
Reflecting on the journey, Kapur added: "So, I just want to say that it has been a wonderful few years bringing this project together—it involved literally blood, sweat, and tears—and I am so glad that we are all here today."
Matka King tells the story of Brij Bhatti, played by Vijay Varma, an ambitious cotton trader who rises to power by building a vast betting (matka) empire in 1960s Bombay. The series also stars Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, Gulshan Grover, and Bhupendra Jadawat, bringing a mix of grit and intensity to this high-stakes story.
The show explores Brij Bhatti’s transformation from an ordinary man to the Matka King, highlighting both the allure and consequences of the gambling empire. It draws inspiration from the real-life story of Ratan Khatri, who pioneered Matka betting in India during the 1960s.
Produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur (Roy Kapur Films), Nagraj Popatrao Manjule (Aatpat), Gargi Kulkarni, Ashwini Sidwani, and Ashish Aryan (SMR Productions), and directed by Nagraj Manjule, Matka King is set to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video India starting April 17, 2026.
With its blend of history, high-stakes gambling, and unforgettable characters, Matka King promises to be a thrilling ride through one of India’s most infamous empires—and a project that has clearly left its mark on everyone involved.