The Fame Game (TV Series)

“The Fame Game” is an Indian Hindi-language mystery family drama streaming TV series available on Netflix. Created by Sri Rao and directed by Bejoy Nambiar and Karishma Kohli, the show is produced by Karan Johar and Somen Mishra under the Dharmatic Entertainment banner.

The series features Madhuri Dixit in the lead role as Anamika Anand, a renowned Bollywood actress, with Sanjay Kapoor, Manav Kaul, Suhasini Mulay, Lakshvir Saran, and Muskkaan Jaferi in significant supporting roles. The story centers around the sudden disappearance of Bollywood actress Anamika Anand. It premiered on Netflix on February 25, 2022.

Plot:

Anamika Anand is a Bollywood icon with a glamorous career and a seemingly perfect family life. However, beneath the surface lies a complex personal reality. She endures both physical and verbal abuse from her husband, Nikhil More. While her daughter, Amara, dreams of becoming a Bollywood star like her mother, shedding light on the issue of nepotism in the industry, her son, Avi, grapples with his own challenges, including matters related to his sexuality.

Adding to the turmoil, Anamika’s mother constantly criticizes her family members and employs manipulative tactics to achieve her objectives. Her refuge is found in Manish Khanna, her frequent co-star and former lover. An unexpected turn of events occurs when Anamika vanishes, thrusting her personal life into the spotlight. Thus begins the journey to locate her and uncover the truth behind her disappearance, unveiling a multitude of hidden secrets along the way.

Cast:

1. Madhuri Dixit as Anamika Anand/Vijju Joshi, Nikhil’s wife, Avinash and Amara’s mother.
2. Sanjay Kapoor as Nikhil More, Anamika’s husband, and Amara’ and Avinash’s father.
3. Manav Kaul as Manish Khanna, Anamika’s co-star and lover.
4. Suhasini Mulay as Kalyani Anand, Anamika’s mother.
5. Rajshri Deshpande as Shobha Trivedi, Police officer investigating Anamika’s case.
6. Lakshvir Saran as Avinash (Avi), Anamika’s son.
7. Muskkaan Jaferi as Amara, Anamika and Nikhil’s daughter, Madhav’s girlfriend.
8. Gagan Arora as Madhav, Amara’s boyfriend, Anamika’s obsessed fan.
9. Danish Sood as Samar, Avinash’s boyfriend.
10. Kashyap Shangari as Billy, Anamika’s makeup artist.
11. Shubhangi Latkar as Lata, the housekeeper
12. Makarand Deshpande as Harilal, the movie poster painter.
13. Ayesha Kaduskar as Tabitha Khanna, Manish Khanna and Sneha’s daughter
14. Harpreet Vir Singh as Financer PK Sharma
15. Sanjay Dutt as cameo appearance from Kalank, when Amara tries to re-enact Anamika’s role in the movie.

Production:

Revealed initially in May 2020 under the title “Finding Anamika,” the series was later rebranded as “The Fame Game.” Comprising eight episodes, it made its debut on Netflix on February 25, 2022. Madhuri Dixit was selected for the central role, and she was accompanied by Sanjay Kapoor and Manav Kaul as the primary actors. The ensemble cast also featured Lakshvir Saran and Muskkaan Jaferi, portraying the children of Madhuri’s character.

Reception:

“The Fame Game” garnered positive feedback from critics. India TV awarded the series 3.5 stars out of five, noting that Dixit and the ensemble cast delivered compelling family drama. They also praised its blend of suspense and drama, making it a binge-worthy experience. Sukanya Verma from Rediff gave it 3.5 stars, emphasizing Madhuri Dixit’s versatility as she portrayed both a star and a relatable human character. Koimoi awarded the series 3 stars, commending Dixit’s convincing portrayal as a multi-layered mystery and praising Sri Rao’s impeccable script. Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV also gave it 3 stars, lauding Dixit’s performance for blurring the line between character and actor.