Matka King, the newest show from the Prime Video stable, is currently enjoying great success on the platform. It has become the most-watched Indian show on the streamer in the last two years, beating some rather bigger names. A lot of it has been due to the buzz the show generated with its premise – the tale of a gambling baron from when Mumbai was Bombay. And even as the makers have maintained the plot is fictional, the story of Brij Bhatti (the protagonist) borrows heavily from the rise and fall of the original matka king Ratan Khatri. Matka King stars Vijay Varma as the titular gambling baron, modelled after Ratan Khatri. One episode borrowed from Khatri’s life is his love for Bollywood. After he established a fledgling matka business in Bombay in the 60s, Ratan Khatri wanted to diversify his businesses. He began frequenting film sets and even financed several films in the 70s. The show presents one such film, slightly fictionalising the episode, but keeping the real-life inspiration intact. Spoilers for Matka King …