Streaming service Prime Video on Wednesday announced that its upcoming series "Matka King", headlined by Vijay Varma, has commenced filming.

The crime thriller show is directed by Nagraj Manjule, known for films such as "Fandry" and "Sairat". Manjule has also penned the script in collaboration with Abhay Koranne, a press release said.

"Ready to place our bet! #MatkaKingOnPrime soon but filming now," Prime Video posted on its social media handles along with an announcement poster, providing the first look at Varma's character.

"Matka King" is a fictional tale set in 1960s Mumbai, where an enterprising cotton trader who craves legitimacy and respect starts a new gambling game dubbed ‘Matka’.

This game takes the city by storm, democratising a terrain previously reserved for the rich and elite, according to the official description.

The series will also feature Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, Gulshan Grover and Siddharth Jadhav in pivotal roles.

"Matka King" is produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur and Manjule along with Gargi Kulkarni, Ashish Aryan, and Ashwini Sidwani, under the banner of Roy Kapur Films.

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