Matka King, the series starring Vijay Varma and Kritika Kamra has been dominating the news and public discussion ever since its premiere on Amazon Prime Video on April 17, 2026. Created and directed by Nagraj Popatrao Manjule, the show has quickly become one of the most-watched Indian series on the OTT platform in recent years. Set in the 1960s and 70s Bombay (now Mumbai), the story takes us back to the era of Matka gambling. The protagonist, ‘Brij Bhatti’ (played by Vijay Varma), is the heart of the story and is based on the real-life ‘Matka king’, Ratan Khatri.
Ratan had humble beginnings and went on to become the nation’s gambling kingpin. He was a cotton trader who democratised gambling by introducing the Matka system. He gained the trust of the masses through his method, which brought the much-needed transparency to gambling. His honest game with guaranteed payouts became a nationwide craze. However, he had to give up everything and retire early due to several unavoidable circumstances. Here’s an exploration of what Ratan was up to from stepping down from his Matka business until his death.
What was Ratan Khatri’s life like after retiring from Matka gambling?
Ratan Khatri decided to retire from Matka gambling in 1993 after about two decades of domination in the betting scene. A combination of police crackdowns, changing political scenarios and shifting dynamics within Mumbai’s underworld led to the downfall and eventual retirement of India’s Matka king. Even after stepping away from Matka, Ratan kept his passion for numbers alive and began betting legally. He occasionally visited the Mahalaxmi Race Course to place bets on horses.
By
