actors Archives

Why Bollywood Will Never Have Its #MeToo Moment

Unlike Hollywood, the workings of Bollywood rely heavily on intricate filmi family and friends route. To be an actress in Bollywood, and to speak out against one of its own, is to risk one’s career. For every allegation against Jeetendra and Nana Patekar, there are thousands that we hear nothing about.

Poulomi Das July 9, 2016

POV

How to Win a Reality Show: Forget Your Talent, Surrender Your Dignity

I was a behind-the-scenes volunteer at Indian Idol auditions a few years ago, and had to prompt awkward aspirants to say cheesy things like “Humari zindagi badal jayegi show jeetne se.” Reality shows can be toxic places, where everything from a person’s disability to lack of talent, is fair game for exploitation.

Runa Mukherjee June 28, 2016

People

Forever the Extra: The Alternate Reality of a Bollywood Struggler

Bollywood strugglers are routinely ridiculed, for their “Main Madhuri Dixit Banna Chahti Hoon” aspirations. But when you’re a struggler, what you need most is a thick skin, and a steely determination bordering on delusion.

Ananya N April 2, 2016

Modern Family

Netflix and Overkill: How I Lost My Retired Father to Binge-Watching

When Baba came to visit me this summer, I installed the Amazon Prime and Netflix apps on his phone, thinking he’d watch the odd movie sometimes. I didn’t expect him to get addicted to it and walk around the house like a teenager with headphones glued to his skull.

Runa Mukherjee March 14, 2016