In recent years, Bollywood stars from the ’90s have been getting a career revival through TV series and movies on streaming platforms like Netflix. We’ve seen Sushmita Sen in Aarya as a widowed mother of three who has to become a drug dealer following her husband’s death. Raveena Tandon made a comeback in Aranyak, a crime-thriller series. And now, we have Madhuri Dixit making her debut on Netflix in The Fame Game, as Anamika Anand, a famous actress.

The crime-drama series comprises 8 episodes, each 45 minutes long, and the premise of the story is based upon Anamika’s disappearance. The story is told through two inter-mingled timelines, one that follows her before the disappearance, and one that follows her family after she has disappeared.

The series begins with the announcement of Anamika’s disappearance, which causes a media frenzy due to her being a top billing actress. Viewers are introduced to ACP Shobha Trivedi (played by Rajshri Deshpande) as she attempts to solve the case of Anamika’s disappearance by interrogating those close to her.

Over the course of the series, viewers are exposed to Anamika’s personal life, her relationships, affairs and flashbacks to her past life. The chemistry between Manish Khanna (played by Manav Kaul) and Anamika is convincing, as they are able to relate to each other on a deeper level since they are both actors. Sanjay Kapoor plays the distraught husband very well as Nikhil More, reacting aptly to her extra-marital affairs, infidelity and struggles. The web of mystery becomes further entangled as Anamika’s obsessive stalker begins to date her daughter amidst the chaos surrounding her disappearance.

Movies and series about the secret-lives of celebrities and the sensationalism and scandalous details have become a genre of their own now. They attempt to portray the workings of a star, and how celebrities end up becoming a victim of their fame.

Movies and series about the secret-lives of celebrities and the sensationalism and scandalous details have become a genre of their own now. They attempt to portray workings of a star, and how celebrities end up becoming a victim of their fame. The Fame Game fits into this genre and advances the story by covering aspects of celebrity culture such as nepotism, unhealthy coping mechanisms and obsessive fan culture, which are all too common in the real world as well. It also critiques the pedestal of celebrity culture, as famous people either crack under the pressure of infamy, or stay sane long enough to become reviled.

It is apparent that Madhuri Dixit is the main draw of the series. She does tend to stand out in every scene. There are several references to her prior work which provide Easter eggs for viewers who already know of her. She found her fame as a leading actress in the ’90s, where female characters could do little more than be a love interest. It becomes apparent through her commitment to the character that she has enjoyed stepping into a different role. Like Aarya and Aranyak, The Fame Game brings forth a leading actress of yore in a completely different light, engaging older viewers and intriguing newer ones.

The Fame Game was an interesting series to watch. It featured strong performances and interesting story arcs, while also executing the thriller aspect of the series relatively well. Although there was a slight pacing issue, with some episodes drawing out certain aspects of the story beyond necessity, it is a recommended watch, especially for those who enjoy portrayals of celebrity lives and their pitfalls.

The author is a staff member.