Scam 2003: The Telgi Story s1
Director: Director’s Full Name: Tushar Hiranandani (series co-developed by Hansal Mehta, who serves as co-director/showrunner)
Cast: Main Cast: Gagan Dev Riar (as Abdul Karim Telgi), with Mukesh Tiwari, Sana Amin Sheikh, Bharat Jadhav, Shaad Randhawa, and others in pivotal roles
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story (2023) dives deep into one of India’s most audacious financial scandals. It chronicles Abdul Karim Telgi’s startling transition from an underdog fruit seller in Karnataka to the mastermind behind a sprawling stamp paper counterfeit empire that shook 18 states. His ingenious manipulation of systemic loopholes and rise through the ranks of forgery mirror a chilling tale of ambition unbound.
Under Tushar Hiranandani’s directorial leadership—with Hansal Mehta steering the creative vision—the series blends #FinancialThriller with #BiographicalCrimeDrama, capturing the undercurrents of greed, power, and deception. The tone is unrelenting yet precise, prioritizing razor-sharp narrative propulsion over sensationalism.
Gagan Dev Riar, in the role of Telgi, delivers a quietly magnetic performance, embodying both the deceptively modest veneer and the calculating intelligence that define the man. He is supported by a strong ensemble—including the likes of Mukesh Tiwari and Sana Amin Sheikh—each layering the world with credibility and emotional grounding.
Visually, the series maintains the polished, period-appropriate aesthetics fans expect from the Scam franchise, with tight pacing and editing that illuminate complexity without overwhelming. The writing, rooted in the investigative truths of Sanjay Singh’s Reporter Ki Diary, distills intricate financial operations into accessible—and compelling—drama
Scam 2003: The Telgi Story (2023) dives deep into one of India’s most audacious financial scandals. It chronicles Abdul Karim Telgi’s startling transition from an underdog fruit seller in Karnataka to the mastermind behind a sprawling stamp paper counterfeit empire that shook 18 states. His ingenious manipulation of systemic loopholes and rise through the ranks of forgery mirror a chilling tale of ambition unbound.
Under Tushar Hiranandani’s directorial leadership—with Hansal Mehta steering the creative vision—the series blends #FinancialThriller with #BiographicalCrimeDrama, capturing the undercurrents of greed, power, and deception. The tone is unrelenting yet precise, prioritizing razor-sharp narrative propulsion over sensationalism.
Gagan Dev Riar, in the role of Telgi, delivers a quietly magnetic performance, embodying both the deceptively modest veneer and the calculating intelligence that define the man. He is supported by a strong ensemble—including the likes of Mukesh Tiwari and Sana Amin Sheikh—each layering the world with credibility and emotional grounding.
Visually, the series maintains the polished, period-appropriate aesthetics fans expect from the Scam franchise, with tight pacing and editing that illuminate complexity without overwhelming. The writing, rooted in the investigative truths of Sanjay Singh’s Reporter Ki Diary, distills intricate financial operations into accessible—and compelling—drama