bollywood Archives

Reaching For the Stars: How Koffee With Karan Got us Closer to Bollywood

Almost 14 years ago, writer-director-producer, Karan Johar did the unthinkable: He brought our favourite Bollywood stars from the big screen, straight into our living rooms. Rarely have our stars been as relatable as they have been on Koffee With Karan.

Arré Bench May 11, 2016

Pop Culture

The Quiet Genius of Neeraj Vora

Neeraj Vora was a multi-hyphenate: An actor, director, and writer. We remember him as that drunk producer from Rangeela and the severely underrated Daud, but few of us knew about his significant contribution to films like Hera Pheri and Josh.

Arré Bench May 10, 2016

Pop Culture

The Jinx of Jhoom Barabar Jhoom

On this day, ten years ago, Shaad Ali’s ambitious musical, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, single-handedly sounded the death knell for five flourishing careers.

Poulomi Das May 10, 2016

Bollywood

Salman Khan’s Dance Evolution and the Art of Bhai-Boying

On the basis of skill, Salman Khan’s dance repertoire has been limited at best. Yet, in an industry rife with Hrithiks and Shahids, the effortless swag of Bhai’s timeless moves remains the most imitable. Bhai, then, is the undisputed patron saint of all terrible dancers.

Jackie Thakkar May 10, 2016

Pop Culture

Golmaal Never Again

Rohit Shetty’s Diwali offering, Golmaal Again, described as a horror comedy, is neither scary nor any kind of funny. But it does represent the worst of Bollywood. It’s time the franchise got an instant funeral.

Poulomi Das May 10, 2016

POV

What Bollywood Always Gets Wrong About the Differently Abled

Why can’t Bollywood filmmakers seem to give disabled protagonists challenges other than overcoming their disability? It isn’t as if we don’t have precedents. In films like Sparsh and Jagga Jasoos, the leads’ afflictions don’t dominate their characters.

Amal Singh May 8, 2016

People

The Poet Who Belongs to Everyone: Finding Gulzar Wherever I Go

With Gulzar, the more you discover, the more you crave. Even when I didn’t know it, Gulzar was all around. That is how enmeshed his songs and lyrics are in our lives – and how our lives are reflected in them.

Shakun Saini May 7, 2016

Bollywood

And the Chief Non-Guest at the Sonam Kapoor-Anand Ahuja Wedding Is…

The Sonam Kapoor-Anand Ahuja shaadi is a sacred occasion for every Bollywood wedding’s chief non-guest: the paparazzi. For the great Indian pap, it’s also a trying time, solely because it necessitates that they give up doing groundbreaking work on two of the most pertinent issues of today: airport looks and documenting Taimur’s afternoons.

Arré Bench May 7, 2016

Pop Culture

Kangana, The Puppet And The Puppeteer Of Her Show

Simran is an ode to Kangana Ranaut’s feminist image. It plays out self-consciously across our movie screens, with an eye to celebrate her quirky, self-made, badass, victim-y image, even when it is at odds with the plot.

Poulomi Das May 5, 2016

POV

Shaadi Ke Side Effects: How I Broke Up With The Perfect Sabyasachi Wedding Saree

I grew up watching dilwales chasing dulhaniyas, sindoors and saat pheras, and no matter how progressive I chose to be in my real life, when it came to being a bride, I was as clichéd as a Yashraj film. All I wanted was the perfect red saree.

Divya Unny May 5, 2016