Directed by Sonam Nair, Masaba Masaba is a Netflix series inspired by the life of Neena Gupta and Masaba Gupta. It revolves around the chaotic life of the mother-daughter duo and relies heavily on humour and satirisation of Bollywood.

Designer turned actor Masaba Gupta owns the screen and outshines the bright and brilliant clothes that are such a huge part of the story. Her acting is truly adorable and funny. But don’t be fooled. Just because the show is named after her doesn’t mean her mother, veteran actor Neenaji is any less important to the story.

The plot is just as much about Neenaji’s journey, as a mother and an actor who restarted her career in her sixties, as it is about Masaba’s. 

The two leading ladies have character arcs of their own, each filled with humbling moments. In a beautiful parallel, Nair manages to capture Neenaji’s struggles at work and Masaba’s failed attempts to impress her investors, while still keeping the plot light and humorous. 

Masaba narrates the entire story through a series of Instagram posts which makes it all the more relatable. The struggles and downsides of a life in showbiz are depicted in a manner that truly make it relatable and the viewer finds it easy to sympathise with the protagonist. 

Despite its short running time, the series manages to give us a glimpse into Masaba and Neena Gupta’s relationships with their loved ones including partners, friends and co-workers.

Neil Bhoopalam and Rytasha Rathore are more than just supporting characters in the show. They bring all the necessary emotions and offer different perspectives that keep the story engaging.

All in all, Masaba Masaba might start out as a guilty pleasure show, but it quickly becomes an engaging and colourful ride that leaves the audience wanting more.

4/5