Show Name – Main Hero Boll Raha Hoon

Lead Cast: Parth Samthaan (Nawab aka Hero), Patralekha Paul (Laila), Arsalan Goni (Lala)

Direction: Siddhartha Luther

Ratings: 3.5 stars

Bollywood and underworld connections often make newspaper headlines. Time & again, we have seen many filmmakers delve deep into the subject and create some engaging gangster dramas. The likes of Kamal Haasan’s Nayakan that was reportedly based on the life of Tamil Don Varadarajan Mudaliar & Ajay Devgn’s ‘Once Upon A Time In Mumbai’ based on kingpin Haji Mastan are some of the best classics we can think of. But such is the beauty of this genre that it never really gets old or boring, no matter how many times the subject has been touched upon. It is with this conviction and self-belief that director Siddhartha Luther came forward with Main Hero Boll Raha Hoon where the blue-eyed boy of Indian TV, Parth Samthaan is seen playing a gangster for the first time. So what exactly is the story all about? Let’s find out

The story begins in an engrossing note where Nawab aka Hero (Parth Samthaan) hits the shores of Mumbai (then Bombay) along with his father with a bagful of dreams. His initial days in Bombay starts with extreme penury. But soon after, he starts his own pirated cassette and cable TV business. Soon enough, from one small crime to the other, he keeps climbing the ladder higher and higher to become one of Bombay’s most dreaded and menacing gangsters under the able guidance of Don Lala (Arsalan Goni).

Later, Nawab upon realising that there’s a big market available in the film industry in the form of film financing and hawala trading, Nawab expands his wings to enter the world of glitz & glamour & that’s where he falls head over heels in love with an actress called Laila (Patralekha Paul). Incidentally, Laila has no idea about Nawab’s criminal activities and he too doesn’t let it come in between the possibility of a brewing chemistry between the two. But is a love story even real without a proper climax? Nawab has a shocker when he finds out that his mentor Lala is also interested in Laila and that’s the beginning of a new twist. So who eventually finds a place in Laila’s heart between the mentor & the apprentice? No spoilers allowed folks.

Main Hero Boll Raha Hoon has an engaging screenplay that keeps you hooked. Parth Samthaan displays his acting prowess with much elan and here he sheds his ‘chocolate boy image’ to try an unexplored arena. Arsalan Goni & Patralekha Paul shine with their performances as well to make it a beguiling watch. Director Siddhartha Luther creates the 90’s Bombay aura convincingly.

Overall, if you are someone who’s always been too fond of Mumbai’s dark underbelly & crime history and loves reading crime stories of Hussain Zaidi, you will absolutely be in love with ALT Balaji & ZEE5’s Main Hero Boll Raha Hoon. For others, especially fans of Parth Samthaan consider watching this without a miss as not often do you find such hot gangsters taking charge of the city. A must-watch for your binge list this weekend.

3.5/5 stars