Overview
Four More Shots Please! is an Indian English-language comedy-drama streaming television series produced by Pritish Nandy Communications for Amazon Prime Video. The show follows the lives, friendships, careers, and romantic relationships of four women based in Mumbai. It is one of the earliest Indian original series commissioned by Amazon Prime Video and is among the first Indian streaming productions led entirely by a female ensemble cast.
Key facts
| Title | Four More Shots Please! |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy drama |
| Language | English (with Hindi) |
| Country | India |
| Original network | Amazon Prime Video |
| Production company | Pritish Nandy Communications |
| Setting | Mumbai |
| First released | 25 January 2019 |
| Lead cast | Sayani Gupta, Kirti Kulhari, Bani J, Maanvi Gagroo |
Background
The series was conceived as a story centred on contemporary urban Indian women navigating professional ambition, sexuality, body image, motherhood, mental health, and personal relationships. It was developed by Pritish Nandy Communications, a Mumbai-based media company founded by Pritish Nandy, which had earlier produced theatrical films before entering long-form streaming content. Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy served as creators and producers of the show.
Premise
The narrative follows four friends from distinct backgrounds who meet regularly at a bar named Truck Bar in Mumbai. The principal characters are:
- Damini Roy, a journalist and digital news editor, played by Sayani Gupta.
- Anjana Menon, a divorced corporate lawyer and single mother, played by Kirti Kulhari.
- Umang Singh, a fitness trainer from Punjab who is openly bisexual, played by Bani J.
- Siddhi Patel, a young woman from a conservative Gujarati family struggling with self-image, played by Maanvi Gagroo.
Production and seasons
The show has been released across three seasons on Amazon Prime Video.
| Season | Release date | Director |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 25 January 2019 | Anu Menon |
| Season 2 | 17 April 2020 | Nupur Asthana |
| Season 3 | 21 October 2022 | Joyeeta Patpatia |
Devika Bhagat is credited as the principal writer of the series. Music for the show has included contributions from artists associated with Indian independent music, and the title track became closely identified with the series. Portions of the second season were filmed in Istanbul, Turkey, while the third season featured sequences shot in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
Supporting cast
The series features a recurring ensemble of supporting actors, including Prateik Babbar, Lisa Ray, Milind Soman, Neil Bhoopalam, Amrita Puri, Simone Singh, and Samir Kochhar, among others, in roles connected to the lives of the four protagonists.
Reception and significance
Four More Shots Please! drew attention for its frank treatment of subjects often considered taboo in mainstream Indian television, including female sexuality, queer identity, divorce, and reproductive choices. Critical reception has been mixed, with reviewers debating the show's tonal approach to feminism and its depiction of urban affluence, while audience reception established it as one of Amazon Prime Video India's flagship long-running originals.
The series received a nomination at the International Emmy Awards in the Best Comedy category for its first season, making it among the early Indian streaming originals to be recognised at the awards.
Themes
Recurring themes across the seasons include:
- Female friendship as a primary support system.
- Workplace gender dynamics in journalism, law, and fitness.
- Body positivity and eating disorders.
- LGBTQ+ relationships and family acceptance.
- Single parenting and co-parenting.
- Mental health, including therapy and anxiety.