The Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) series delves into the stock-market manipulation in India of the 1990s. It is a true tale of Harshad Mehta, an infamous stockbroker who was involved. Notably, an infamous bull Harshad contravened all rules and regulations in the financial market and the banking industry to manipulate the stock prices to make a huge pile of money in the 1980s and 1990s in India.
This 2020 show offers an insight into how some person (s) can manipulate stock prices. Thereby offering us a good life and stock market lessons. Strangely, in 2023, this “Scam 1992 Harshad Mehta Story” mini-series offers a good lesson on how the stock market can be manipulated by a bunch of greedy people..
When Harshad Mehta’s 1992 Scam Ruined Many Indians Lives
Spoiler-Free Review: Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) Show
The synopsis
'Scam’ is about the major scandals that shook India and are remembered as some of the most notorious crimes in the country. Set in the 1980s and 90s, Bombay, Scam 1992 follows the life of Harshad Mehta - the infamous “Bachchan of BSE”. It was a rags-to-riches story till financial journalist Sucheta Dalal exposed Harshad as the man behind India’s biggest financial scam. After his arrest, the stock market crashed, and countless Indians lost all their savings. For the first time, the CBI was compelled to launch an investigation into a financial crime. A corrupt financial system was revealed. Harshad eventually died in custody.
This 2020 Indian series is based on a book
The story of this series is based on ‘The Scam: Who Won, Who Lost, Who Got Away‘ book. Debhasis Basu and Sucheta Dalal have written this non-fictional book. So, in this book, you will find that the scam includes not only the original Harshad Mehta Scam tales but also the Ketan Parekh Scam stories, while also delving into the JPC Fiasco and the Global Trust Bank Scam. In 2023, the recent case of a foreign report about a leading Indian corporate house in India, however, once again raises questions about auditing, financial irregularities, stock manipulations, etc. in the country.
It offers us insight into stock price manipulation
So, we decided to once again re-watch this limited mini-series that depicts the incredible rise and shocking fall of Harshad Mehta in an eye-opening biography. We get to learn about the structural inadequacies and frailties in India’s financial system, especially the stock markets of his period in the 1990s. India was tentatively taking steps to open up the Indian economy and integrate its financial markets with those of the leading stock markets of the world. Since then, many positive changes have taken place in the financial market as well as corporate governance.
Still, the recent foreign report by an investment research firm brought the focus back to the stock market. The said short-selling activists brought quite an upheaval in the stock market of India. Consequently, it adversely affected many ordinary stock-market investors operating in the stock market.
As of now, the authorities are still carrying out their investigation into this stock-market ( financial ) incident in India.
Kudos to filmmaker Hansal Mehta and his entire team
While watching Scam 1992, one has to admire its filmmaker, Hansal Mehta, who painstakingly recreated the India of the 1980s and 1990s. Led by the lead character Pratik Gandhi (who plays Harshad Mehta), the ensemble cast has done praiseworthy acting jobs to bring some real-life characters to the screen.
The actor Pratik Gandhi has played the role of Harshad Mehta admirably. He did an amazing act and looked natural while playing a Gujarati stockbroker. Not to forget, actress Shreya Dhanwanthary also performed impressively.
So, we have shared two YouTuber video links below to enable you all to take a peek into this well-made show.
We loved the peppy title music of the show, which set the mood of its complicated financial tale.
The conclusion
The stock market and financial world are a complex world, but this limited series has made it easier to understand the intricacies and complications of the financial scam. In case you are interested in the financial market of India, then we think “Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story” is a great show for you.
So, go ahead, watch it or re-watch this very well-made show.
Rating: Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) Series
| FM’s rating | 4.50/5 |
Poster: Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) Series
Key Details: Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) Series
| Genre | Crime, Drama, Thriller, Biography |
| Age-Certification | A (18+) |
| Writers | Sumit Purohit, Saurav Dey, Vaibhav Vishal, Karan Vyas |
| Director | Hansal Mehta |
| Season & Episodes | Season One (1) – Episodes (10) – October 2020 |
| Cast | Pratik Gandhi, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Sharib Hashmi, Hemant Kher, Chirag Vohra, Faisal Rashid, Nikhil Dwivedi, Satish Kaushik, Jay Upadhyay, Rajat Kapoor, Anant Mahadevan, etc. |
| Taglines | The Harshad Mehta story. |
Trailer: Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) Series
Best Dialogues from the Scam 1992 | The Harshad Mehta Story | SonyLIV. | YouTube Video.
&
Sucheta & Harshad's first meet | Shreya Dhanwanthary | Pratik Gandhi | Scam 1992 | YouTube Video.
Awards Won: Scam 1992 – The Harshad Mehta Story (2020) Series
| Names of the Awards | Details of the Award Winners |
|---|---|
| Filmfare OTT Awards | Pratik Gandhi – 2021 Winner Popular Award Best Actor – Drama Hansal Mehta & Jai Mehta – 2021 Winner Popular Award Best Director Drama – 2021 Winner Popular Award Best Series |
| Critics’ Choice Shorts and Series Awards, India | Hansal Mehta – 2021 Winner Series Award Best Series Pratik Gandhi – 2021 Winner Series Award Best Actor Sumit Purohit, Saurav Dey, Vaibhav Vishal, & Karan Vyas – 2021 Winner Series Award Best Writing |
| Indian Film and Television Awards | Hansal Mehta – 2021 Winner OTT Award Best Web – Series Pratik Gandhi – 2021 Winner OTT Award Best Actor in a Series – Shreya Dhanwanthary – 2021 Winner OTT Award Best Actress in a Series – |
Focus on the 4 real people shown in the Scam 1992 Harshad Mehta Story
- The character of “Maheshwari” is based on Radhakishan Damani, the founder of the supermarket chain DMart. He left the stock market in around 2000. He is played by the actor Paresh Ganatra in the show.
- Actor Shadaab Khan plays the character of “Ajay Kedia“, who is based on Ajay Kayan. He is the person who, along with his father, Gouri Shankar Kayan, managed the Kolkata-based stock broking firm C. Mackertich.
- The character of “Tyagi” is based on A. S. Thiyagarajan. He was the Area Head of Citi Bank during the time the show was set in. This character is played by actor Nikhil Dwivedi.
- Not to forget the Indian businessman and stock-market investor (late) Rakesh Jhunjhunwala. His character was played by actor Kavin Dave.
Spoiler Alert: 10 Episodes Summary of the Scam 1992 Harshad Mehta Story
A Peek into the 10 Episodes of this Hindi series
Risk Se Ishq (S1, E1)
In the 70’s, a Ghatkopar-based middle-class lad joins the stock market and soon picks up the art of jobbing. where will this new found skill take him in future?
Cobra Killer (S1, E2)
A bankrupt and fatherless Harshad fights despair and starts a firm, Growmore Consultancy. His friend, Pranav Sheth gets him corporate clients and Bhushan comes on board.
Paise Ki Dukaan (S1, E3)
Once the money market catches Harshad’s fancy, he launches his own cartel of brokers and starts dealing with banks. Soon, he bags SBI as his client, and fate takes a U-turn. Watch ahead to know how?
Harshad Mehta Is A Liar (S1, E4)
Harshad’s sudden success catches the attention of a young financial journalist, Sucheta Dalal, who is actively looking for evidence against him. Will Harshad at all get to enjoy his extravagant life to his heart’s content?
Kundali Mein Shani (S1, E5)
RBI Governor, on seeing fishy transactions in Harshad’s SBI account, asked the bank to keep a close eye on his fund movements. Harshad, in his safeguarding attempt, tries to sweep the 500 crores off the books. Will this go unnoticed?
Stop Press (S1, E6)
While Harshad clears off most of his debts to SBI, Sucheta, on receiving a tip-off from Bellary, just won’t give up her ordeal of exposing the fraud of 500 crores. Both have just twenty-four hours to turn tables.
Dalal Street Ka Dariya (S1, E7)
Venkitarajan gets to know that there are multiple banks involved in the money scam and that the scam is much bigger in stature than what it appears on the surface. RBI installs an investigating committee. What are the findings?
Matador (S1, E8)
Once Sucheta gets to know from Venkatarajan about the involvement of NHB in the scam, she releases this news, which leads CBI to start with the interrogation of Pherwani. Harshad fears of Pherwani telling the truth. What will Harshad do next?
Ek Crore Ka Suitcase (S1, E9)
The government tried to negotiate with Harshad Mehta and his lawyer, but eventually it didn’t work. And one day, Harshad, along with his lawyer Mr Ram Jethmalani, conducted a press conference in which he publicly told everyone that the then PM Mr PV Narsimharao had been given a briefcase of Rs. 1 crore.
Main History Banana Chahta Hoon (S1, E10)
Delhi strikes a deal with Harshad, based on which he withdraws his press statement. Growmore get back to life with most of Harshad’s assets being frozen. However, Bhushan’s revelation is soon going to turn Harshad’s world upside down.
Bonus Information
Check out the key excerpts from 'The Scam: Who Won, Who Lost, Who Got Away' by Debhasis Basu and Sucheta Dalal.
If you like limited series about 'corporate greed', then do check out the 'Dopesick' show from the USA.
Featured & Other Images:- Scam 1992 The Harshad Mehta Story | Sony LIV.
