Throughout human history, societies have changed, empires have fallen, and great men have come and gone. Though we cannot escape the changing tides, one thing is certain: some things will remain constant. One such thing is the compulsion we, as people, have to gamble.
Gambling is a presence in all human cultures and societies throughout history. Whether we want to take a risk on a game of chance, wager on an athlete, or bet on our own skills, we, as people, love to gamble. Naturally, gambling has also inspired us in other ways.
Gambling and Creativity
For example, many creatives have taken heavy inspiration from the casino industry. From the American mafia films of the 20th century to the paintings depicting gamblers and even folk tales that feature savvy tricksters, gambling is a big part of our global pop culture.
A very recent example of the casino industry inspiring creativity came in 2020 when Zee5 premiered The Casino. This Hindi-language show follows the life of Vicky (Karanvir Bohra), a young heir to a multi-million-dollar casino.
With the rise in popularity of online gambling in India, it wouldn’t surprise us to see more television shows like this. The iGaming industry has introduced a whole new generation of gamblers to the fun of playing slots, roulette, and blackjack. And with the different casino payment methods these websites accept, placing a bet is now easier than ever.
However, what interests us is the quality of the show. In this article, we are going to give a review of The Casino and discuss whether it is worth checking out.
The Cast
The cast can make or break a show. If the actors are good, they can make even the worst of premises sound intriguing. And The Casino’s cast is certainly star-studded. We will review this article’s main roles and discuss the actors who portray them.
Karanvir Bohra as Vicky
Karanvir Bohra is a darling of the Hindi airwaves. He has won several awards in his career, including two for Best Actor in a Negative Role at the Indian Telly Awards. In The Casino, he portrays the young, reluctant heir, Vikramaditya Singh Marwah (Vicky).
He adds much to the role, truly bringing Vicky’s character to life. The way Bohra handles the character’s dilemmas is wonderfully subtle yet passionate. He is certainly part of what makes the show work.
Mandana Karimi
Mandana Karimi is another reason why the show works. She portrays the role of Rehana Cahdhari, Vicky’s love interest. The actress is beautiful and talented, doing a fantastic job of portraying Rehana’s compassionate and complex character.
The Rest of the Cast
Pooja Banerjee, Aindrita Ray, and Sudhanshu Pandey play a huge role in the show. All of them give a fantastic performance, which makes this streaming show at least worth checking out. But, to keep you engaged, the show needs more than a quality cast.
The Plot and Story
The story of The Casino is quite interesting. It follows the owner of a multi-million-dollar casino and his son, who must deal with tough decisions and ruthless political corruption. While it may sound fascinating, how it unfolds leaves something to be desired.
The story of the Casino may seem interesting. However, for the most part, the showrunners made quite a few blunders. Plenty of clichés and predictable character arcs might annoy those who have experience watching television shows, especially ones produced in India.
The show also has a lot of good. We already discussed the cast, most of whom do a fantastic job portraying their characters. The characters themselves are quite intriguing as well. Not to mention, the show attempts to tackle some difficult topics, such as familial relationships, difficult emotional troubles, and, of course, political corruption.
Final Score
Considering the actors’ and showrunners’ efforts, The Casino can be quite an interesting show that bungles some of the execution. From that perspective, we can compare it to American television shows like Terra Nova, Lost, or The Newsroom, which started with an interesting premise but failed at unraveling the story itself.
If we give The Casino a numerical rating, it is a six or a 7 out of 10. It is a very intriguing concept that could use some polishing and improvement. Unfortunately, the show ended after one season, so we may never see how it could have improved.
FAQ
Is the Casino similar to any other popular TV shows?
The Casino resembles many Hindi-language TV shows, such as Jamai, Bekaboo, and Kaali. Regarding global similarity, it is similar to shows like Las Vegas and similar crime shows.
Does the Casino deal heavily with gambling?
The basic premise of the show does not revolve around gambling. However, gambling topics are unavoidable as the main story unfolds within a casino.
Who is the star of the Casino?
The show’s star is Karanvir Bohra, who plays the young heir of the titular casino.
Who is the mind behind the Casino?
The show’s creator is Deepak Pachory, who has created other shows like Bhanwar, MahaKumbh, and more.
