Scam 1992

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Introduction 

Scam 1992- The Harshad Mehta Story is an Indian Hindi-language biographical financial thriller streaming television series on SonyLIV directed by Hansal Mehta, with Jai Mehta serving as the co-director. Based on the 1992 Indian stock market scam committed by many stockbrokers including Harshad Mehta, the series is adapted from journalist Sucheta Dalal and Debashish Basu's 1992 book The Scam: Who Won, Who Lost, Who Got Away.The screenplay and dialogues were written by Sumit Purohit, Saurabh Dey, Vaibhav Vishal and Karan Vyas.

It stars Pratik Gandhi as the protagonist Harshad Mehta, with Shreya Dhanwanthary appearing in a parallel lead role, as Sucheta Dalal. The series also features Satish Kaushik, Anant Mahadevan, Rajat Kapoor, K K Raina, Lalit Parimoo, Hemant Kher and Nikhil Dwivedi in pivotal roles. The series focuses on Harshad Mehta's life story, his meteoric rise and the subsequent downfall.

Originally produced by Sameer Nair of Applause Entertainment, Hansal Mehta, worked for three years in writing the script consisting of 550 pages. The project was officially announced in December 2019, with principal shoot beginning following its announcement. Filmed across 200 locations in Mumbai, within 85 days, the shooting was wrapped up in March 2020. The cinematography was handled by Pratham Mehta and the series was edited by Sumit Purohit and Kunal Walve. Achint Thakkar composed the background score.

Scam 1992 was premiered on SonyLIV on 9 October 2020. The series eventually received praise from the performances of the cast members, writing and the major technical aspects.It became the most viewed web series on the streaming platform. In March 2021, SonyLiv and Applause Entertainment announced the second installment of the franchise titled Scam 2003 based on 2003 Stamp Paper Scam. It is to be directed by Hansal Mehta.

Table of contents

• Details
• Plot
• Release
• Seasons
• Episodes
• Cast
• Crew
• Character Analysis
• Predictions
• Behind the scenes
• Reviews
• Awards
• Interesting Facts
• How to book a personalised Video Message on Tring?
• Similar Web Series to watch

Details 

Plot 

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The storyline covers the career ascent and subsequent fall of Harshad Mehta (played by Pratik Gandhi). Mehta's entrée into the stock market, the founding of the consultancy GrowMore, and his clever system manipulation for financial gain set the stage for the narrative. As Mehta's riches and power increase, Sucheta Dalal (Shreya Dhanwanthary), a devoted journalist, becomes interested in him. Dalal gets skeptical of Mehta's sudden wealth and launches an investigation, which ultimately results in the expose of Mehta's fraudulent operations.Mehta tries desperately to hide his actions, but when banks, investors, and authorities become involved, he is subject to several inquiries and legal troubles. The piece also discusses Mehta's audacious charge against the Prime Minister and the scam's political repercussions.In conclusion, Scam 1992 explores issues of ambition, greed, and deception while providing a fascinating representation of one of India's most infamous financial scams. 

Release

Scam 1992 debuted on SonyLIV on October 9, 2020. The series eventually received praise for the cast members' performances, writing, and major technical aspects. It quickly became the most-watched web series on the streaming service.

The official release on SonyLIV, the company's OTT platform, consists of ten episodes in Hindi and English. Due to the positive response from audiences and the series' performance, the producers planned to dub the series in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada languages in order to reach a wider audience. The dubbed versions were released on November 29, 2020.

Seasons

 Season 1

Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story is a Hindi-language biographical financial thriller streaming television series on SonyLIV directed by Hansal Mehta and co-directed by Jai Mehta. The series is based on the 1992 Indian stock market scam perpetrated by many stockbrokers, including Harshad Mehta, and is based on journalist Sucheta Dalal and Debashish Basu's 1992 book The Scam: Who Won, Who Lost, Who Got Away. Sumit Purohit, Saurabh Dey, Vaibhav Vishal, and Karan Vyas wrote the screenplay and dialogues. 

It stars Pratik Gandhi as the protagonist Harshad Mehta, with Shreya Dhanwanthary playing Sucheta Dalal in a parallel lead role. The show focuses on Harshad Mehta's life, his meteoric rise, and subsequent fall.

Season 2

The sequel to Scam 1992 is tentatively titled Scam 2003: The Curious Case of Abdul Karim Telgi. The series, directed by Hansal Mehta, will tell the story of Abdul Karim Telgi's 2003 Stamp Paper Scam. The Telgi Story is based on journalist Sanjay Singh's book Reporter ki Diary, which broke the story of the scam in 2003.

Episodes

Cast

• Pratik Gandhi -  Pratik Gandhi is a celebrated actor recognized for his work in Gujarati theatre and cinema. He debuted in the Gujarati film Bey Yaar (2014). However, his portrayal of Harshad Mehta in the Sony LIV series Scam 1992 earned him immense accolades, including a Filmfare OTT Award.

• Vishesh Bansal- Vishesh Bansal is a talented child actor and has made a significant mark in the Indian television industry. Though his exact debut project is unclear, he is well-known for his role as young Arjun in the mythological drama Mahabharat (2013). Bansal also received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Golu Gupta in the Netflix original series Sacred Games (2018-2019), demonstrating talent beyond his years.

• Shreya Dhanwanthary-  Shreya Dhanwanthary, an Indian actress, got her big break portraying Zoya in the Amazon Prime Video web series The Family Man (2019). She also gained widespread acclaim for her role as journalist Sucheta Dalal in Scam 1992. 

• Chirag Vohra- Chirag Vohra is a well-known actor in the Indian entertainment industry, especially appreciated for his work in the TV serial Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, where he played the humorous character of Dr. Hathi's younger brother. Notably, he has an extensive background in theater and Gujarati cinema. His exact film debut is not widely documented, but he gained significant recognition for his performance in the hit Gujarati movie Bey Yaar(2014). He also played a role in the popular web series Scam 1992, solidifying his place in mainstream entertainment. 

• Anjali Barot- Anjali is known for her work in comical sketches of Scoopwhoop and Filtercopy. Although her debut work is unknown, she gained recognition playing the role of Harshad Mehta's wife, Jyoti Mehta, in Scam 1992. She was also part of another web series titled Wrong Number. 

• Hemant Kher- Hemant Kher is National School Of Drama Alumni. He has more than 16 years of experience of coaching and providing companionship to aspiring and professional actors. He has explored mediums like Theatre, Television, and Movies as Writer and Creative Director as well. His Debut Show as a writer was Shabaash India which was televised on Zee TV in 2006. 

• Ramakant Dayma- He is an Indian Actor. He gave an amazing performance in the film named Paa in which he acted alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachcha. The film was released in the year 2009. He is well-recognized in the film named Chak De India in 2007, in which he acted alongside Shahrukh Khan, Vidya Malwade, and others. Among many, Paa, and ‘Gandhi- My Father are other notable film projects.

• Kumkum Das- Kumkum Das is an Indian actress. She is also known for Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020), Junglee (2019) and Fukrey (2013)

• Nikhil Dwivedi- Nikhil Dwivedi is an Indian actor and producer who works in Hindi cinema. He is best known for his role in television series Scam 1992 (2020).His first major role was as the title role in My Name Is Anthony Gonsalves in 2008, which was directed by E. Niwas and co-produced by Shahrukh Khan's Red Chillies production house.

• K. K. Raina- Known for his roles as Juror #8 in the 1986 movie Ek Ruka Hua Faisla, a remake of 12 Angry Men, and Byomkesh Bakshi's associate Ajit Kumar Banerji in the 1993 Doordarshan detective series Byomkesh Bakshi, K. K. Raina is an Indian film, television, and theater character actor and award-winning script writer. For the 1998 film China Gate starring Rajkumar Santoshi, Raina received the Filmfare Award for Best Dialogue.

• Rajat Kapoor- Rajat Kapoor is an Indian actor, filmmaker and playwright who works in Hindi cinema. Kapoor started out in Parallel Cinema making his debut in the 1989 Kumar Shahani film Khayal Gatha. When he had trouble finding acting jobs in the 1990s, Kapoor began writing and directing shorts. He made his full-length directorial debut with Private Detective: Two Plus Two Plus One (1997), which had Irrfan Khan and Naseeruddin Shah in minor roles. 

• Satish Kaushik- Satish Chandra Kaushik  was an Indian actor, director, producer, comedian, and screenwriter. He found his fame in Bollywood with Mr India starring Anil Kapoor, Sridevi and Amrish Puri. He played the iconic character of a cook named Calendar. He was also an Assistant Director in the film. 

• Anant Mahadevan- Anant Mahadevan, also credited as Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, is an Indian screenwriter, actor, and film director of Hindi and Marathi films and television shows. Having been an integral part of the Indian television serials and Hindi films since the 1980s, he is also involved in the professional English and Hindi theatre.

• Lalit Parimoo- Lalit Parimoo is an Indian film and television actor. He is best known for playing the scientist Dr. Jaikaal in the superhero series Shaktimaan (1997). Besides Parimoo has acted in a number of Bollywood films, including Haider (2014), where his role was praised critically and as a professor in Agent Vinod (2012). Parimoo has also written a book titled Main Manushya Hoon (I Am a Human).

Crew

• Directed By - Hansal Mehta, Jai Mehta
• Written By- Sumit Purohit, Saurav Dey, Vaibhav Vishal, Karan Vyas
• Production Company- Studio NEXT, Applause Entertainment
• Music by-  Achint Thakkar
• Cinematography-  Pratham Mehta
• Editor- Kunal Walve, Sumit Purohit

Character Analysis

Pratik Gandhi as Harshad Mehta

Harshad Mehta played by Pratik Gandhi is portrayed as a man who is driven by a desire for success and recognition. He is portrayed as a charismatic and confident person who is not afraid to take risks. He is portrayed as a man who is fiercely ambitious and determined to achieve his goals, no matter what the cost. Throughout the series, Harshad Mehta's character evolves and changes. He starts out as a young, ambitious stockbroker with a dream of making it big. As he becomes more successful, however, he becomes more and more consumed by his own ego and the desire for more power and money. Eventually, he becomes so caught up in his own success that he loses sight of what is truly important in life.

Shreya Dhanwanthary as Sucheta Dalal

Sucheta Dalal played by Shreya Dhanwanthary is based on the real-life journalist of the same name who broke the story of the securities scam in 1992. Sucheta Dalal is an ambitious and determined journalist who is willing to take risks to uncover the truth. Throughout the series, Sucheta becomes increasingly obsessed with the story of the securities scam. She puts her personal life on hold and spends long hours in the newsroom, poring over documents and following up on leads. This obsession takes a toll on her relationships, and she struggles to balance her professional ambitions with her personal life.

Anjali Barot as Jyoti Mehta 

Jyoti Mehta played by Anjali Barot. She is portrayed as the wife of the protagonist, Harshad Mehta. Jyoti is also portrayed as a strong and independent woman who is capable of making her own decisions. She does not shy away from voicing her opinions and is not afraid to challenge Harshad when she feels he is in the wrong. For example, in one scene, she confronts Harshad after he uses insider information to make a quick profit and urges him to return the money. Her character is a reflection of the supportive spouse who tries to maintain the balance between ambition and ethics.

Hemant Kher as Ashwin Mehta 

Hemant Kher who plays the role of Ashwin Mehta is portrayed as a complex character who is caught between conflicting loyalties. He is initially enamored with his brother's success but ultimately realizes the high cost of Harshad's actions. Through his journey, he demonstrates the importance of ethical decision-making and the consequences of failing to do so.

Ramakant Dayma as Shantilal Mehta

Ramakant Dayama as Shantilal Mehta, played the role of Harshad Mehta's father. 

Kumkum Das as Rasilaben Mehta

Kumkum Das as Rasilaben Mehta, played the role of Harshad Mehta's mother. 

Predictions

SonyLiv and Applause Entertainment have announced the second season of the Scam franchise, following the success of Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story. They'll be back with Scam 2003: The Telgi Story, directed by Hansal Mehta as well. The sequel to Scam 1992 is tentatively titled Scam 2003: The Curious Case of Abdul Karim Telgi. The series, directed by Hansal Mehta, will tell the story of Abdul Karim Telgi's 2003 Stamp Paper Scam. The Telgi Story is based on journalist Sanjay Singh's book Reporter ki Diary, which broke the story on the scam in 2003.

Behind the scene

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Mehta's upscale apartment in Worli was recreated by modifying the exteriors of an existing building at Malvani in Malad West, and the interiors were created inside a bungalow in Madh Island, which was modified to look similar to Harshad Mehta's actual flat using photographs available online for reference, and some portions were recreated using visual effects. The team also recreated The Times Group's office headquarters in Mumbai, with a massive set being built at the Golden Tobacco Compound in Vile Parle.

The majority of the film was shot at the Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai, with the show's producers obtaining permission to shoot for short periods of time. "They were also not allowed to make many changes to the current ring, which has undergone many renovations over the years," art director Payal Ghose added. Despite this, the team was able to complete much of the design with the assistance of a consultant who had previously worked there. The BSE also provided a history book for the production team to use as a reference." The film's 89-day shoot was completed in March 2020, just before India's COVID-19 pandemic lockdown."

Reviews

Audience Review

Scam 1992 is an astonishing masterpiece directed by Hansal Mehta that masterfully orchestrates the tale of the infamous 1992 Indian stock market scam. The series suggests the culpability of more than one individual in this national scam, despite Harshad Mehta being at the helm.Pratik Gandhi, who remarkably depicts Harshad Mehta, delivers a performance so captivating that he undeniably steals the show. He, along with an array of brilliant actors, crafts an unforgettable narrative much beyond the shadow of big-name celebrities. Their collective performance truly encapsulates the essence of this narrative, which is richly adorned with financial jargons.

The uncompromising focus on the storyline combined with the absence of pointless strong language or obscenity provides a refreshing change. The cogent screenplay sails through effortlessly, refraining from the usual stretchy, melodramatic Indian TV tropes, proving that strong storytelling and direction holds the key. Scam 1992 is an absorbing watch that keeps viewers hooked from start to finish. It certainly raises the bar for what Indian audiences can expect from their home-grown series, transforming mere meme templates into unforgettable moments of drama. In one word, it's unmissable.

Tring Review

Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story is a thrilling journey into India's biggest stock market scam. Crafted by Hansal Mehta and based on The Scam by Sucheta Dalal and Debashish Basu, this series vividly brings to life the financial intrigue that rocked India in 1992.

Pratik Gandhi excels as Harshad Mehta, deftly portraying the stockbroker's roller coaster journey from being a Big Bull to his unfortunate downfall. Supported by an impressive cast including Shreya Dhanwanthary as gritty journalist Sucheta Dalal, each character adds depth to the narrative.The screenplay's strength lies in demystifying complex financial jargon, making it accessible for a broader audience. Mehta's adept direction imbues authenticity into the drama, while ensuring the pace never slackens.

The series moves beyond mere scandal exposition to delve into the man behind the scam - his ambitions, vulnerabilities, and ultimately, his undoing. It thoughtfully questions the systemic lapses that allowed such huge scams to transpire rather than merely pinpointing in on the man helming it. Summing up, Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story is compelling, illuminating, and remarkably engaging. A must-watch for its brilliant performances, adept storytelling, and insightful commentary on financial ethics and governance.

Tring Rating: 4.8/5

Awards

Interesting facts

• Ajay Kedia is based on Ajay Kayan, who co-founded the Kolkata-based stock brokerage firm C. Mackertich with his father, Gouri Shankar Kayan.

• The ending song in the last episode was Mat kar maya ko ahankar, mat kar kaya ko ghamand, kaya gaar se kaachi. (Don't take pride in your wealth, nor in your body, for this body is weaker than the mud upon the potter's wheel). These words were sung in the 15th century by none other than the legendary poet/saint Kabir.

• Maheshwari is based on Radhakishan Damani, the founder of the supermarket chain DMart, and is played by comic actor Paresh Ganatra. He left the stock market around the year 2000.

• Rakesh is played by Kavin Dave, who is based on Indian businessman and investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala.

• A. S. Thiyagarajan inspired Tyagi's character. During the time period depicted in the show, he was the Area Head of Citi Bank. He is the MD of Aquarius Investment Advisors Private Limited as of 2022.

• Bhushan's character is based on Ketan Parikh, an intern at Harshad Mehta's firm Growmore who later committed another scam, which is also exposed by Suchita Dalal.

• Shadab Khan, Amjad Khan's son, makes his web debut.

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