- By Swati Singh
- Fri, 24 Apr 2026 09:53 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Vijay Varma's journey in cinema is commendable. From his crucial role Rangrezz to portraying variety of characters in web series like Dahaad, She, among others, the actor's growth can't be ignored. His latest outing Matka King, which is now streaming on Prime Video, has been receiving much-attention from the audience and critics alike. But, is it really worth the hype?
Matka King Review
Matka King begins with a small-time player, named Brij Bhatti (Vijay Varma), who steps into the illegal matka gambling world after getting insulted by his boss. His sharp instincts and risk-taking attitude help him climb the ranks, turning him into a powerful figure. The series focuses into the operations of the underground betting system—showing how numbers, luck and manipulation drive a massive illegal economy. Not only this, the show also focuses on how the rival gangs and even Bhatti's own men try to pull him down.
Matka King also explores how fame begins to shape Bhatti’s desires, ultimately leading him down a path where he betrays his wife. Though what remains interesting is that despite his personal flaws, Bhatti never cheats the bettors, as his ultimate goal is to build a fair and trustworthy empire.
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Is Matka King Worth The Hype?
The unique backdrop of the matka gambling world hasn't been explored in mainstream storytelling and this works in favour of the show. Another reason it stands out is the performance factor. The journey of Vijay Varma's Brij Bhatti from an underdog to the most-popular figure keeps the narrative engaging. Kritika Kamra's role of Gulrukh is interesting. She portrays Vijay's love interest who introduces his Matka game in the society of elites. One character who deserves an applaud for his performance is Siddharth Jadhav as Dagdu. Seeing him explore a serious character feels like a refreshing change. Also, Gulshan Grover's villianous role stands out.
However, the show doesn’t fully escape common issues. The pacing can feel uneven, with some parts dragging or becoming predictable. The pacing can feel uneven, with some parts dragging or becoming predictable. Also, while the premise is strong, the writing doesn’t always maintain intensity throughout.
Matka King X Review
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Rundown the city with Gulrukh
— sky (@shiptothesky) April 19, 2026
Kritika Kamra is the Matka Queen ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Vi3uhRq505
#MatkaKing shows GAMBLING giving MORE respect to a court-martialed soldier than our Indian Military? The soldier literally blames the Army in his dialogues like it's the villain?? This isn't "bold storytelling" — it's straight-up disrespect to the forces! Shame on the makers pic.twitter.com/5d7QiG9XnY
— Ranveerian Adi ᴿᵃⁿᵛᵉᵉʳ'ˢ ᴺᵉˣᵗ ᴾʳᵃˡᵃʸ (@Ablaze_creviti) April 18, 2026
Set in 1960s Bombay’s gambling world and inspired by real events, Matka King was a whole vibe from start to finish. And Vijay Varma? Not just the best thing about it, he was the show.@MrVijayVarma #MatkaKing #Bollywood pic.twitter.com/skQjlew4yN
— Shamsa Rehmani (@shamsaRehmani) April 22, 2026
created the Matka world, now he's the king and then the real story of power, ego & loss starts. Soon his righteousness turns into an illusion, he loses everyone- the ones who were from the start, and the one he found on the journey. #MatkaKing is slow and then it grabs you. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/AtkWDeHza3
— sky (@shiptothesky) April 20, 2026
Overall, Matka King works best if you enjoy slow-burn crime dramas with strong character arcs rather than fast-paced thrillers. It’s engaging and different—but not groundbreaking enough to satisfy extremely high expectations.

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