Rangbaaz on ZEE5 – Result of a gangster’s mind game

Rangbaaz is a web series that was released on 22^nd December 2018 on ZEE5 premium. Rangbaaz revolves around the life of a 25-years-old young gangster from Gorakhpur played by Saqib Saleem. Other highly talented senior actors have also done full justice to their role. While gangster web series are known for their ruthless character, Rangbaaz has managed to show the human side of one of the most feared gangsters of the series. Rangbaaz has a new approach towards Gangsters and gang wars which, to be quite honest, is unlike anything I have ever seen in web series before.

Shiv Prakash Shukla – A Rangbaaz

Shiv Prakash Shukla becomes a gangster under the circumstances. He is born in a well-educated family of a teacher. While everyone expected him to turn out like his father but little did they know that destiny had already conspired different for him. Soon, his high headedness and instant anger led him to the life he was living. This is a true story of a gangster from Gorakhpur. Initially, he was living a simple life with his family, that is until one-day Shiv gets to know that someone eve-teased his sister. He instantly gets hot-blooded and shots the other guy dead which left Shiv’s family speechless. His father took the help of Gorakhpur’s then established politician. And it is this politician who saw his gang’s future in Shiv, and this is where his life as a gangster began. Soon, Shiv also felt the power in his hand once he started working for the politician. From that point on there was no looking back for Shiv.

Love life VS Gangster life

Shiv is as daring as it gets when it comes to his work. Apart from killing people for money, he also loves his lady with full loyalty and has the courage to lead both lives simultaneously. But often a man with his power would go wrong and entangle his life. Police in the 90s worked very intelligently and took proper use of the then introduced mobile network. When a man’s decisions are based on anger and greed, his life often ends up becoming ugly, and Shiv was no exception to this. Soon, things shatters and life makes its own moves.

My review

Saqib Saleem is extremely talented and has played his role with high intensity. He has brought life to Shiv’s character, and I can’t think of anyone who could have played it this well. All other co-actors have also worked very hard and it very evident through their performance. Young minds come to Gorakhpur University to study, but often they are picked up by different politicians and form a part of gang wars. The series beautifully switches between his present and past lives of Shiv which is just mind-boggling to watch.

The biggies of the underworld are always in search of hot-blooded men, and Shiv becomes a victim of them. Shiv was loyal to his lover but not to his master, and it is this treacherous behaviour that makes him face all repercussions. Actually, he didn’t want to follow anybody. Instead, he made a gang of his own. In awe of his leadership, he found himself stuck. At times due to fear, he misses his family and wishes he could turn back time and go back to the good old days.

Rangbaaz beautifully removes the cover from some of the harsh realities of life and that too in the most seamless way possible. If at a point he wants to leave the present and run away somewhere, his destiny doesn’t allow him. It will always follow him and send to his desired place. Kudos to the Director for giving us this marvellous piece called Rangbaaz. Rangbaaz has managed to pull in some good reviews from both general audience and the critics.

Watch this spine gripping series only on ZEE5 premium. Download the app or simply watch it on a laptop.