Series: Scam 2003 The Telgi Story -2023- Web

The undisputed heart and soul of Scam 2003 is as Abdul Karim Telgi. Where Pratik Gandhi’s Harshad Mehta was charismatic, sharp-suited, and ambitious, Riar’s Telgi is shifty, insecure, cunning, and deeply tragic. Riar delivers a masterclass in nuanced acting. He perfectly captures Telgi’s physicality—the nervous energy, the quick, calculating glances, and the vulnerable eyes of a man who is always running from something. He makes you feel the character’s desperation for respect, his paranoia, and his paradoxical combination of street-smart genius and fatal flaws. This is a breakthrough performance that deservedly won him the Best Actor award at the 2024 Filmfare OTT Awards.

The one near-universal point of praise was Gagan Dev Riar's performance as Telgi. Critics felt his act was the show's biggest strength, keeping audiences hooked despite the screenplay's flaws. His ability to portray a "convincing operator" and his uncanny resemblance to the real Telgi added a layer of authenticity that was widely lauded. Many saw it as a career-defining performance. Scam 2003 The Telgi Story -2023- Web Series

Gagan Dev Riar delivers a powerhouse, career-defining performance as Abdul Karim Telgi. He captures Telgi’s complex persona with nuance—portraying him simultaneously as a doting family man, a smooth-talking salesman, a manipulative criminal mastermind, and a tragic figure consumed by his own ambition. Riar’s physical transformation and vocal modulation lend immense authenticity to the character. The undisputed heart and soul of Scam 2003