Is ‘Matka King’, The Series Starring Vijay Varma And Kritika Kamra, Based On A True Story? Find Out

Matka King, the crime drama series, has created a buzz online for its intense narrative. For the unversed, the series was released on April 17, 2026, on Amazon Prime Video. Directed by Nagraj Manjule, the web series stars Vijay Varma, Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, Jamie Lever, Siddharth Jadhav, Gulshan Grover, Viineet Kumar Siingh, Bharat Jadhav, Bhupendra Jadawat and many more. Amid the buzz, people have become curious to know whether the period crime drama is based on a true story.

Is the web series, Matka King based on a real-life story? Here’s what we know

Vijay Varma has stepped into the role of ‘Brij Bhatti’ in the series, Matka King. As per reports, the series is set in 1960s Bombay. While nothing has been officially confirmed regarding the Amazon Prime Video series, Matka King, based on a true story, it is largely believed that Vijay as ‘Brij Bhatti’ is inspired by Ratan Khatri,  the real-life ‘Matka King’ of Mumbai.

Who was Ratan Khatri?

Ratan Khatri was popularly known as the Matka King of Mumbai. He played a key role during the rise of matka gambling in 1960s Bombay. He had built one of the most powerful underground betting networks in India. Ratan was born in 1932 in Karachi into a Sindhi Hindu family. After the Partition of 1947, Ratan migrated to Mumbai with his family. In 1962, Ratan launched his own syndicate, Ratan Matka, also known as Main Bazaar Matka. Ratan transformed the betting business by making the format easier and accessible for the common man to understand.

Ratan’s clients allegedly ranged from textile workers and small traders to wealthy businessmen and Bollywood celebrities. Ratan Khatri’s empire had a lot of setbacks. During the Emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, between 1975 and 1977, the police authorities cracked down on several illegal operations throughout the country. Back then, Ratan was jailed for 19 months.

By the time Ratan returned to his matka business after his release, it had gradually begun to change in the 1980s and 1990s. The real-life Matka King died on May 9, 2020, at his Tardeo residence in South Mumbai. According to a report by Daily Hunt, Ratan Khatri died due to cardiac arrest. At the age of 88, Ratan looked to his last breath.

Matka King X review

Soon after the series, Matka King was released on Amazon Prime Video, cinephiles took to their X (formerly Twitter) handles and shared their review. A user wrote, “Finished it. Excellent series. Scam 1992 ke baad ye hi itni badhiya lagi. @MrVijayVarma ki acting is effortless. Ek second ke liye bhi you don’t feel he’s not #MatkaKing.” Another user penned, “This web series on Prime Video portrays, in a somewhat cinematic style, the journey of Brij Bhatti—from quitting his employer’s job to starting the ‘Matka’ business and becoming the ‘Matka King’—up until the period of the Emergency. & rest continuing in its 2nd season. Love it.”

Calling the climax of the period crime drama amazing, a user wrote, “The first episode of Matka King is good, though the pacing is a bit off. Some things came suddenly, but the climax is amazing.” Another user penned, “Bhai #Vijay ne kya acting kari hai – accent bhi mast, walk bhi tagdi, looks toh mashallah!! #MatkaKing.” Another user wrote, “This web series on Prime Video has a bit of a filmy feel. It follows Brij Bhatti’s journey from quitting his employer’s job to starting a ‘matka’ business and becoming the ‘Matka King’. This is during the Emergency. The rest of the story will continue in season two… I really enjoyed it.”

Have you watched the series, Matka King? Let us know.

Also Read: Matka King X Review, Users Call The Vijay Varma Starrer ‘Excellent Series,’ Praises Cinematic Style