Abhinay Deo gets out of Karisma Kapoor what an entire generation of 90s kids always hoped to see from her.
Karisma has always been a brilliant actor, but for most of her career Bollywood seemed content to use her as a pretty face. We did see her strong presence in films like Fiza, Zubeidaa and Shakti but Brown takes it further.
As Rita Brown, she is effortless. It is hard to believe this is the same actor who once delivered lines like “Main toh bhel puri kha rahi thi” with such charm. Here, she plays a stoic, emotionally heavy police officer who deals with murder cases and personal trauma. She does it with complete control. No drama. No overacting. Just a very real performance. This might be her best work.
There are also moments where Karisma Kapoor’s Rita Brown reminds you of Kate Winslet’s Mare Sheehan in Mare of Easttown. Both are tired, emotional police officers dealing with heavy personal and professional pressure.
Surya Sharma is excellent as Arjun. He fits the role very naturally. He has strong screen presence and makes every scene believable. Brown is a serious crime drama, but he also seems like someone who would be very good in comedy. There is an ease in his timing that stands out.
Jisshu Sengupta is once again very solid. He adds depth to every scene he is in and never feels out of place.
A special mention to Ajinkya Deo. He refuses to age, and he keeps getting better. At this point, he does not need praise.
The casting by Kunal M Shah is very good throughout. Every actor feels right for their part. This makes the world of Brown feel real and grounded.
The show also knows when to stop. It does not stretch things or force a cliffhanger. The ending feels complete. The small hint of a Season 2 is handled well. It makes you curious, not frustrated.
