Actualités

To celebrate Janmashtami, Subhash K Jha shares some brilliant Krishna Bhajans that you might not know but must experience in this fascinating musical feature.

1. ‘Kanhaiya Kanhaiya Koi Murli Ki Taan Suna De’ (Raja Aur Runk):

At 10 minutes and 27 seconds this is the longest Hindi film song ever, and worth every second of our attention, ‘Kanhaiya kanhaiya’ is an audio ballet where Satyabhama and Rukmini vie for Lord Krishna’s attentions. Lataji sings for both the ladies. The intricate difference in the voice quality that she brings for the two women is a masterclass in aural performance. Manna Dey pitches rather playfully and yet soberly as Narad Muni. This Krishna bhajan composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal is an epic creation.

2. ‘Binti karoon Ghanshyam’ (Pati Patni):

This was one of Rahul Dev Burman’s earliest soundtracks, memorable mostly for the melodious Krishna bhajan based on Raga Jogiya filmed on Nanda. Rd relentlessly...

Subhash K Jha, in this special feature, discusses a certain National Award: It’s like giving Dilip Kumar the National Award for Bairaag.

Shah Rukh Khan’s National film award for his performance in the questionable Jawaan is a laughably mistimed attempt to make amends.

They didn’t give it to him when he actually deserved it for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Devdas and Ashutosh Gowariker’s Swades. So the Jury, in all its collective wisdom, got guilt pangs on behalf of all the jury members in the past 32 years who bypassed Srk(not that he deserves to be honoured for most of his performances).

It reminds me of R D Burman who didn’t win any awards for his music in Amar Prem or Kati Patang , but got honoured for arelatively mediocre soundtrack in Sanam Teri Kasam.

There is a time and place for everything. Shah Rukh’s Jawaan...

Subhash K Jha revisits Mohit Suri’s Hamari Adhuri Kahani, which released in 2015 and starred Emraan Hashmi, Rajkummar Rao and Vidya Balan in this edition of his series This Day That Year.

Mohit Suri’s film about love during times of no red or green flags was mauled, lynched, and savaged. Looking back at the film, I feel compelled to wonder why it has been so violently rejected by critics. Could it be because the film raises some uncomfortable questions and issues related to an India that we’ve blanked out of the shining new India that we want the world to see?

This other not-so-shining India subsumes a societal structure based on and run by rules of gender inequality, where girls grow up accepting themselves as the second sex. This is not to say that this line of thought in the patriarchal set-up is in any way morally desirable.

When Rajesh Khanna Ceated A Frenzy At The Premiere Of Do Raaste ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Rajesh Khanna is often hailed as the first superstar of Hindi cinema. He was fondly referred to as ‘Kaka’ and enjoyed a massive fan following amongst his female fans. Such was his popularity that he had once caused a frenzy and almost a mob-like situation at the premiere of his 1969 film, Do Raaste wherein he was seen opposite Mumtaz.

According to Bollywood Shaadi, a fan page dedicated to Rajesh Khanna called ‘Rajesh Khanna- The King Of Superstardom’ shared an interview of veteran actor Govardhan Asrani wherein he recalled the euphoria that Khanna had caused in the premiere of Do Raaste. Asrani recalled how all the 8 producers of the United Producers Council namely Raj Khosla, J Om Prakash, Fc Mehra, Mohan Sehgal, Nasir Hussain, Shakti Samanta, Pramod Chakravarthy and Hemant Kumar were all geared up to welcome the megastar.

Sharmila Tagore Once Shared How Rajesh Khanna’s Lavish Gifts Sometimes Led To Strained Relations With His Co-Stars( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore resulted in some classic Hindi movies, which are popular not only for their stories and performances but also for their songs and dialogues. Khanna was the first superstar of Indian cinema, which had its own perks and setbacks. Being a highly successful actor, Kaka was generous about his gifts to his co-stars as well. However, this sometimes caused problems in the relations. Sharmila once opened up about it and explained the reason behind it. Keep scrolling for more.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Rajesh Khanna epitomized success in Bollywood. Films like Anand, Kati Patang, Haathi Mere Saathi, and Rakhwala became massive box-office hits, cementing his status as the first true superstar of Indian cinema. His films with Sharmila, like Aradhana, Safar, and Amar Prem,...

Director Raj Kumar Santoshi speaks to Subhash K Jha, as Andaz Apna Apna (Aaa), starring Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, which originally hit the big screen in 1994, re-releases in theatres today.

The very talented filmmaker Raj Kumar Santoshi is still flabbergasted by the continued popularity of his comedy Andaz Apna Apna. “Its reach, appeal, and impact have been beyond anything I ever expected. I still remember when the producer Vinay Sinha had come to me with the idea of doing a film with Aamir Khan. Vinayji convinced me to do a film with him through my stomach. I remember he had brought the most delicious khana for me. He suggested we do something different with Aamir. I had just done two back-to-back serious films, Ghayal and Damini. We decided, why not a comedy? Little did we know that Aaa would turn out to be such a laugh riot during shooting and after release.

Subhash K Jha revisits Shoojit Sircar’s wonderful October, which starred Varun Dhawan as it turns 7 in another great installment of This Day That Year.

Shoojit Sircar’s delicately drawn love story is about an annoyingly self-important hotel concierge (Varun Dhawan) and his softspoken colleague (newcomer Banita Sandhu) who slips and falls into a coma. Did she give him a hint of her feelings for him before she lost consciousness? This was an audacious and daring premise for a love story. But then, when has Sircar ever played the game by the rules? He breaks them with tender care and gives us a romance as wispy and gossamer as Shakti Samanta’s all-time classic Amar Prem, without R D Burman’s timeless songs.

This is the problem with romantic films today. The soul may have music. But the music hardly ever has a soul. When Varun Dhawan was deeply effective...

Sharmila Tagore and memories go back a long way. In Satyajit Ray’s Nayak, she shared Uttam Kumar’s reminiscences of an unforgettable journey. Fifty-nine years later, the incandescent Ms Tagore is back in a film about fade-proof memories and snapshots of a well-lived life.

There is an unintended referential, reverential moment of nostalgia in writer-director Suman Ghosh’s Puratawn(The Ancient), where Indraneil Sengupta, playing Sharmila Tagore’s son-in-law, urges her, “Gao na.”

He unknowingly echoes Rajesh Khanna’s two famous words in Shakti Samanta’s Amar Prem when Sharmila Tagore stops singing.

I am not sure whether Sharmila actually sings for her daughter and son-in-law in Paratawn: the end credits start rolling, and we just hear a voice singing about long-forgotten dreams and aches.

The line between the present and the past is effectually ebbed in Ghosh’s fragile, gentle take on memory, its loss, and tentative retrieval.

Bollywood star Salman Khan has just dropped some thrilling news about the re-release of his classic film, ‘Andaz Apna Apna’. Originally hitting theaters in 1994, this fan-favorite is making its way back to cinemas, and audiences are buzzing with anticipation to enjoy the comedic adventures of Amar and Prem once again.

Amar Prem Ka Andaaz is back… #AndazApnaApna Re-releasing In Cinemas on 25th April 2025 Nationwide@AndazApnaApna_ @VinayPictures #VinaySinha @RajSantoshi #AamirKhan @TandonRaveena #KarismaKapoor @nammsinha @pritisinha333 @aamodsinha @shreyoby pic.twitter.com/AovaVECUAJ

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) April 7, 2025

The announcement has sparked a wave of nostalgia and joy across social media, with fans celebrating the comeback of this ’90s gem. The comment section has turned into a lively tribute, as people reminisce about their favorite moments and share their affection for the film.

Ajay Devgn also joined in on the excitement by posting the film’s trailer on Instagram, exclaiming, “The madness is back!” His enthusiasm is contagious,...

Rajesh Khanna Ruled The Box Office In 1971 With 10 Films In A Single Year! (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Rajesh Khanna is one of the biggest superstars and one of the earliest that Hindi Cinema witnessed. His stardom was unparalleled, and he was indeed one of the biggest box-office stars of his time. However, one of the biggest years of his career was 1971.

Kaka, made his Hindi film debut in the year 1966 with Aakhiri Raat, which was followed by three releases in 1969. The actor did not have any release in 1968. However, his stardom arrived in 1969 with the highest-grossing film of that year, Aradhna, which also starred Sharmila Tagore.

Rajesh Khanna’s 1971 Box Office

In the year 1971, Rajesh Khanna delivered 10 releases in a single year. A record which is very rare to achieve for superstars of today’s era! Out of them, he played a cameo in Guddi and played an extended role in Badnaam Farishte.

Sushant Singh Rajput once wondered to me why the national costume is not as favoured by Indian male celebrities as the saree is favoured by women in the limelight. Now, he made it cool wearing it in Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, but before Sushant, other major Bollywood stars also embraced the Dhoti.

Here’s listing the 10 top Dhoti-clad Bollywood stars

1. Dilip Kumar in Ganga Jumna/Devdas/Naya Daur: The maestro of method acting wore the national costume with such casual pride it seemed he was born in one. After watching the Thespian woo Vyjanthimala in a dhoti in all three films hordes of youth in the 1950s and 60s switched to the loincloth as a formal dress code to college. Swadesi became cool.

2. Dharmendra in Anupama/Satyakam: He serenaded Sharmila Tagore in both the films wearing the Dhoti with such suave sophistication that she, the dimpled diva, simply fell for his charms.

When Rajesh Khanna Did Not Want Twinkle Khanna To Seek Advice From Dimple Kapadia Before Joining Films (Photo Credit – Instagram/Prime Video)

Today (December 29) marks the birth anniversary of Bollywood’s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna. While the actor has made an immeasurable contribution to Indian cinema, he once fondly remembered the time when his daughter Twinkle Khanna was about to foray into Bollywood. For the unversed, Twinkle made her debut with the 1995 film Barsaat. However, he also asked Twinkle not to seek advice from her mother, Dimple Kapadia, before entering the film industry.

What Did Rajesh Khanna Advice Twinkle Khanna

In a throwback interview with Lehren Retro’s YouTube channel, Rajesh Khanna remembered when his daughter Twinkle Khanna was about to enter Bollywood. The Amar Prem actor recalled teaching her the importance of self-reliance. He told her how she needed to carve her way into the industry since she would not have any godfather.

It has been 30 Years since Raj Kumar Santoshi‘s comedy Andaz Apna Apna hit the big screen. Starringthe incredible cast of Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon, Karisma Kapoor, Paresh Rawal, and Shakti Kapoor the film today is a cult classic.

Speaking with Subhash K Jha, Raj Kumar Santoshi looks back at Andaz Apna Apna which is consideres his most iconic film.

Would you say Andaz Apna Apna is your most important film to date?

In terms of reach and durability? Yes , I would go with that. It is a more important film than Ghayal, Ghatak or Lajja, my serious films. Laughter has a longer life. I am so glad Andaz Apna Apna is able to provide laughter for generations. Today when I see the kind comedy that is doing well, I feel very depressed. There is no dignity in what they are serving up as comedy. I may not...

Indian cinema icon Sharmila Tagore embraces a challenging role in Suman Ghosh’s “The Ancient” (Puratawn), which has its India premiere at the Mami Mumbai Film Festival. The veteran actor portrays a woman grappling with memory loss in director Suman Ghosh’s Bengali-language drama.

In “The Ancient,” Ritika (Rituparna Sengupta) and her husband Rajeev (Indraneil Sengupta) return to her ancestral home in West Bengal to celebrate her mother’s (Tagore) 80th birthday. Upon arrival, Ritika discovers her mother’s cognitive decline, forcing her to confront a new reality. As Ritika grapples with this revelation, she embarks on a journey of acceptance, coming to terms with her mother’s irreversible condition.

Ghosh is a festival veteran with 2011’s “Nobel Thief,” 2012’s “Uncle Shyamal Turns off the Lights,” 2015’s “Peace Haven,” 2016’s “Mi Amor,” 2019’s “Aadhaar” and 2023’s “Scavenger of Dreams” all premiering at Busan and 2024 documentary “Parama: A Journey with Aparna Sen” at Rotterdam.

Merry Christmas Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Katrina Kaif, Radhika Apte, Sanjay Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Tinnnu Anand, Ranjan Raj, Aditi Govitrikar

Director: Sriram Raghavan

Merry Christmas Movie Review Is Out! (Picture Credit: IMDb)

What’s Good: The kid in Vijay Sethupathi, Katrina Kaif matching the Vs brilliance & Sriram Raghavan delivering back-to-back bangers like a boss

What’s Bad: People will compare this with Andhadhun; please don’t!

Loo Break: This won’t leave you even for a second!

Watch or Not?: This should be the first film you watch as soon as you finish this review

Language: Hindi

Available On: Theatrical release

Runtime: 2 hours 24 minutes

User Rating:

It’s Christmas evening in Mumbai (when it was called Bombay), Jingle Bell is played on a flute, a guy dressed as Santa is driving a Bajaj Chetak on the not-so-busy roads & two strangers are at a restaurant as one...

One of the most accomplished actresses in the Indian film industry, Sharmila Tagore, who had been in a 43 years of a nuptial bond with the former captain of the Indian cricket team Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi untill his death, reminisced about a sweet romantic date with the Nawab of Pataudi.

She married Mansoor Ali Khan, the titular ‘Nawab of Pataudi and Bhopal’ in 1968. They have three children: Saif Ali Khan; Saba and Soha Ali Khan. The Indian cricketer passed away at the age of 70 in 2011.

The legendary actress has appeared on the finale episode of the quiz-based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 15’ along with her granddaughter and actress Sara Ali Khan. The latter is the daughter of Saif, and Amrita Singh.

Host of the show Amitabh Bachchan asked the 79-year-old actress a personal question. “Tiger, Mr Pataudi. How romantic was he with you,” asked the megastar.

Sharmila laughed and said: “Romantic and Tiger?...

New Delhi, Dec 30 (Ians) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has appreciated the beauty of the legendary actress Sharmila Tagore, and recalled how during the shoot of the romantic thriller ‘An Evening in Paris’, the latter stopped the traffic in France.

Sharmila is regarded as one of the Indian cinema’s most accomplished actresses. She is the recipient of the National Film Award, and Padma Bhushan. Her famous works include ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’, ‘Waqt’, ‘Anupama’, ‘An Evening in Paris’, ‘Aamne Saamne’, ‘Satyakam’, ‘Aradhana’, ‘Amar Prem’, ‘Daag’, ‘Chupke Chupke’, ‘Mausam’, among numerous others.

She married Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the titular Nawab of Pataudi and Bhopal and former captain of the Indian cricket team in 1968. They had three children: actor Saif Ali Khan; Saba and Soha Ali Khan.

The 79-year-old actress appeared on the finale episode of the quiz based reality show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 15’ along with her granddaughter and actress Sara Ali Khan.

Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore took a stroll down the memory lane and shared an anecdote about her son Saif Ali Khan, when he accidentally broke a glass door in his childhood. The ‘Amar Prem’ actress said that Saif was not a brat, but he would cause anxiety all around.

The mother-son duo, Sharmila and Saif appeared on the new episode of the show ‘Koffee with Karan’. The 79-year-old actress shared a funny childhood story during their chat with filmmaker and host of the show Karan Johar.

Curious as always, KJo asked: “I’ve heard, Saif, the most hilarious story about your upbringing.”

“That’s why we’re here. I mean, to share embarrassing stories,” quipped Saif.

Adding on, the ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ director said: “I mean, those are not embarrassing, they are just very entertaining. Sharmila Ji, apparently, he was like the brat of all brats. So we won...

Mumbai, May 17 (Ians) Actor Sunny Singh, who will be seen playing the character of Shesh in ‘Adipurush’, has shared that the film is very personal to him as it gives him a chance to dabble in the action genre. And what makes it so important is that his father is an action director himself.

He said: “It’s my first film where I got to do a lot of action sequences and I dedicate it to my father who has worked for 40 years as an action director.”

The actor’s father Jai Singh Nijjar is a reputed action director who has worked on films like ‘Shivaay’, ‘Golmaal 3’, ‘Singham’, ‘Chennai Express’ and ‘Bol Bachchan’.

The film, which also stars Prabhas, and Kriti Sanon, is a retelling the epic story of Ramayana directed by Om Raut.

Talking about his experience of working on the film, he said: “There is a lot of excitement and nervousness.

Tagore also talked about her professional journey and called her co-stars trained actors, while she considers herself an accidental actress, who was put in front of the camera by Satyajit Ray.

The 78-year-old celebrated actress, who is at the moment busy with the promotion of her upcoming film ‘Gulmohar’, an emotional family drama that plays out in upscale Delhi, said: "Oh my God! Holi used to be celebrated madly in Kolkata. I never tried bhang because that was beyond my capacity, but I’ve seen people doing that."

"But we used to play it in our Tripura house. We used to go to the lake and swim there after playing Holi. After coming back, I would find snails in my clothes or stuck in my hair. It was such fun."

She told Ians: "I don’t know when it stopped. I remember that in Mumbai we had moved from our...

Bollywood actress Sara Ali Khan is often seen talking about her grandmother and veteran actress Sharmila Tagore and recently, she spoke about playing her on-screen if a biopic is made on Sharmila.

The ‘Atrangi Re’ actress, while answering a question asked by her fan on portraying her grandmother in her biopic, said that it is not easy to match her grace while portraying her in a biopic.

“She’s so graceful. I don’t know if I’m graceful,” replied Sara.

Tagore is known for her remarkable performances in movies such as Shakti Samanta’s 1964 hit ‘Kashmir Ki Kali’, her chemistry with Rajesh Khanna was also liked by the audience in the films like ‘Aradhana’, ‘Safar’, ‘Amar Prem’ and others.

During a live show on Roposo, Sara said she does not talk to her grandmother much about her films and works.

She added: “I speak to badi amma (grandmother) quite a lot,...

Rajesh Khanna, the Indian actor who was a phenomenon in Hindi-language cinema from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s, is to be the subject of a biopic.

Producer Nikhil Dwiveri (“Veere Di Wedding”) has acquired the rights to Gautam Chintamani’s bestselling book, “Dark Star: The Loneliness Of Being Rajesh Khanna.” Farah Khan, who made “Main Hoon Na” and “Om Shanti Om,” starring Shah Rukh Khan, is in talks to direct the adaptation of the book. Khan will write the script with Chintamani.

Born Jatin Khanna in Amritsar, Khanna debuted in films with “Aakhri Khat” in 1966, which was India’s entry to the Oscars. From 1969 through 1974, Khanna starred in 15 consecutive hits, earning him the sobriquet ‘Superstar.’

Khanna rose to prominence with dual blockbusters “Aradhana” and “Do Raaste” in 1969. The films, in which he co-starred with Sharmila Tagore and Mumtaz, respectively, ruled the box office for weeks. For the next...

by Cláudio Alves

Did you know that Juan Carlos Ojano hosts one of the best film podcasts around? The One-Inch Barrier started last year, examining the Best International Film race, going backward in time. As its penultima season is drawing to an end, I was honored enough to return for my third stint as a guest.

The subject, this time, was Ingmar Bergman's Through a Glass Darkly, which won the Oscar in 1961, beating Denmark's Harry and the Butler, Japan's Immortal Love, Mexico's The Important Man, and Spain's Plácido. Though the Swedish flick about God's silence and Harriet Andersson's general awesomeness isn't an especially joyous piece, this was a fun, thoroughly entertaining conversation. Topics ranged from faith to class warfare, from ironic movie titles to Toshiro Mifune's hotness. There was even time to throw shade at some 2021 Oscar contenders, though I refuse to name the mediocrity in question. Take...

Hum Do Hamare Do(Disney-Hotstar)

Starring Ratna Pathak Shah, Paresh Rawail, Rajkummar Rao, Kriti Sanon

Not even the wonderful Ratna Pathak Shah and Paresh Rawal could rescue this dreary rom-com from sinking so low into the abyss that it’s hard to find one single moment of joy from the mirthless mess.

On the premise level it sounds promising. Rajkummar Rao is Dhruv ,an orphan craving for a, awww, family. Ever-bubbly Kriti Sanon , the new-age Preity Zinta, craves for a Bunty with a large heart and a larger family. So what does Dhruv do? He hires two long-in-love estranged people Purushottam(Rawal) and Deepti(Pathak) to play his parents.

There is an unintentional tribute to Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Golmaal here. In that film Amol Palekar(who was to middle-of-the-road cinema in the 1970s what Rajkummar Rao is now to the romcom industry) had hired Ratna Pathak Shah’s mother...

Singer Lata Mangeshkar, dubbed Nightingale of India, turns 90 on Sept. 28 and in honor of the woman who made the Guinness Book of World Records for 25,000 songs recorded we at Variety chose 25 of our favorite tunes from Bollywood. There were many more we could choose, including duets with Hemant Kumar or Mohammed Rafi but we didn’t want the list to become too unwieldy. Mangeshkar started singing professionally at age 14 and Bollywood actresses from the 1940s to 2000s have lip synced to her on screen. Acting legend Dilip Kumar once said of her: “The way the fragrance of a flower has no color, a flowing spring or cool breezes belong to no country, the smile of an innocent child has no religion, similarly Lata Mangekshar’s voice is a miracle of nature’s creativity.”

Laru Lappa Lara Lappa

“Ek Thi Ladki (1949)

The Punjabi duet is the most famous part of “Ek...

Netflix has partnered with a whole bunch of Singapore creators and companies to bring a motherload of Singapore-made content to the streaming platform (*on certain parts of Asia), including several by director Eric Khoo that we have featured in our #TheEricKhooProject, the titles of which you can see in the following image:

Eric Khoo movies coming up to Netflix

A total of 106 classic and nostalgic TV shows and movies that will be coming to Netflix include Growing Up, Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, Under One Roof, The Unbeatables, The Golden Pillow, Return Of The Condor Heroes, Ilo Ilo, 881, 12 Storeys, and I Not Stupid.

Three seasons of ’90s drama Growing Up are coming to Netflix beginning from 8 August 2020

Besides English and Chinese content, there will also be Malay titles such as Bunga Tanjong and Aduh Bibikku, and Tamil titles Vettai and Gurushetram – 24 Hours of Anger.

These shows, to be released in...

After impressing viewers with her performance and stunts in Boo? Sabki Phategi, Saba Saudagar has now been roped in for ALTBalaji?s Gandii Baat Season 4. ?Saba is a trained Kathak dancer who after winning hearts in Tollywood is setting digital screens on fire with her performance.

The actress will be seen playing the character of Kanchan in ALTBalaji and ZEE5?s Gandii Baat season 4 episode ?Amar Prem?

Commenting on this, Saba Saudagar said, ?I have been a part of ALTBalaji?s horror comedy Booo?Sabki Phategi which I enjoyed thoroughly. It feels great to work with and be a part of another popular franchise from India's leading homegrown digital platform once again.

This show perfectly captures stories from small towns which otherwise tend to get lost somewhere and ALTBalaji has dared to showcase these stories. The story of Amar Prem is really intriguing and will definitely leave an impact.? ?

Over the last three seasons,...

Recently Naseeruddin Shah was in news for all the wrong reasons, in an interview Naseeruddin Shah called Rajesh Khanna?- Bollywood?s first super star a "limited, poor actor".

After receiving backlash from Rajesh Khanna?s followers all around Naseer apologized and said, "I apologise to those who were personally offended, and my intention was not to attack him (Rajesh Khanna)."

Apart from Bollywood?s first superstar, Rajesh Khanna remarkable contribution to the Bollywood film industry is the introduction of the legendary writer pair Salim Javed, which underlines Khanna?s ear for good scripts.

In the late 60?s when there was a trend of mediocre scripts with focus primarily on hit music and chocolate heroes and beautiful heroines Rajesh Khanna changed the trend with an offbeat script Aradhana (1969).

Later when South Production house Devar Films asked him to act in their film titled Pyar Ki Duniya, Khanna found many blunders in the script.

Interviewing Sharmila Tagore is always a dream come true. A favourite, she ruled my heart with her glamour and talent in the films of Satyajit Ray specially Apur Sansar, then Shakti Samanta’s Aradhana and Amar Prem and Basu Bhattacharya’s Aavishkar and Grihapravesh. No actress combines the best of the East and the West so fluentlyRead More

The post “Cakes and parties are for Taimur and Inaaya I am just happy to be healthy” – Sharmila Tagore appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.

The 1971 film had music by Rd Burman and lyrics by Anand Bakshi, who created evergreen songs like Kuchh Toh Log Kahenge, Yeh Kya Hua and Raina Beeti Jaaye. Directed by Shakti Samanta, Amar Prem starred Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore...

Last week, the veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, in an interview, went on to 'blame' the (late) Rajesh Khanna for infusing mediocrity into Bollywood during the seventies era. Naseeruddin Shah also added that, in his opinion, the (late) Rajesh Khanna was a very limited and poor actor and that he wasn't the most alert person whom he had ever met.

Needless to say, Naseeruddin's opinion on the (late) Rajesh Khanna did not go well with many in Bollywood. One such person was the (late) Rajesh Khanna's daughter Twinkle Khanna, who is best known for her 'in your face' nature. Wasting no time, Twinkle Khanna, took to Twitter and tweeted, "Sir if u can't respect the living, respect the dead-mediocrity is attacking a man who can't respond @NaseerudinShah". Celebrated filmmaker Karan Johar supported Twinkle Khanna by stating "I agree with you @mrsfunnybones...due respect to seniority but this was in exceptionally...

The Bollywood Fantasy. Mumbai the mecca of the make-believe lures hundreds every year to their near-inevitable doom. When was the last time we saw a film about the lure of Bollywood that draws aspirants like moths to flame?

Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Guddi? Meraj’s under-rated Palkon Ki Chaon Mein? Count director K D Satyam’s Bollywood Diaries, a film that comes to us without hype or hope, among the rare films that tell us what the Bollywood obsession can do its followers. The well-written 3-episode film features three Bollywood-fixated junkies so consumed and obsessed by the thought of seeing themselves on screen that they forget to live normal lives anymore.

The three protagonists are played with sturdily sensitively and splendidly by Ashish Vidyarthi, a government servant in Bhilai, who at age 52 decides to fulfil his long-cherished Bollywood dream of becoming an actor, Raima Sen, a sex worker from Kolkata who...

Eid celebrations have become all the more special for Bollywood ever since the superstars Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan wiped out their differences on the auspicious occasion. This time again, the Eid celebrations were something to look forward to. Aamir Khan attended Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan special screening, but the 'Amar Prem' of Bollywood celebrated the festival separately.

While Salman Khan's Eid celebration (with the movie crew, friends and family) was nothing less than grand, superstar Aamir Khan preferred to ring in with son Azad Rao Khan, wife Kiran Rao and nephew Imran Khan's family (including newly born Imara). The superstars' photos are not to be missed at any cost! So take a look at 9 inside pics of Salman Khan and Aamir Khan's Eid Celebration...

Salman Khan's Eid celebrations with family was incomplete without 'Chal Beta Selfie Le Le Re'

Kareena Kapoor Khan...

We have a spectacular treat for all our readers! BollySpice caught up with the beautiful and talented Kareena Kapoor Khan in London where we spoke to her about her upcoming film Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Pairing up again with none other than Mr Salman Khan; Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a much anticipated film about a young girl who befriends a noble man in India, who is then tasked with taking her back to her home in Pakistan.

We spoke with Kareena on Bajrangi Bhaijaan, her upcoming work, what it’s like to be in Bollywood 15 years after making her debut, as well as her thoughts on Bollywood today! Enjoy!

Though we know what the synopsis says, what would you say the story of this film is about?

Well I think everybody is used to seeing Salman in these action/comedy kind of roles. I think after a long time, maybe over a decade,...

Film lyricist Anand Bakshi is regarded as the most successful Indian film lyricist having written 4000 songs in a career ranging 45 years. A look at his work reveals his mastery over his art. Remember Chingari Koi Bhadke....(Amar Prem), Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Bandh Ho...(Bobby), Teri Pehli Nazar Ko Salaam... (Ek Duje Ke Liye), Tujhe Dekha To...(Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge) etc.

Anand Bakshi was a master of penning lyrics, within minutes, he could write to the tunes of music directors and in the process many a times he would cram mindless words like Dum Maro Dum...., Achcha To Hum Chalte Hain....Mere Jeevan Sathi Pyar Kiye Ja... etc incidentally the songs would prove hit.

One such song that he set to the tune of Laxmikant-Pyarelal was for the movie Amir Garib (1974) staring Dev Anand and Hema Malani. The song was Baith Ja Baith Gayi, Khadi Ho Ja Khadi...

Film: "Rajjo"; Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Paras Arora, Prakash Raj and Mahesh Manjrekar; Director: Vishwas Patil; Rating: *1/2 - falls flat.

Films about prostitutes, with or without a heart of gold, have fascinated filmmakers and viewers from the time Nargis and Meena Kumari did "Adalat" and "Pakeezah", respectively.

Then there was Sharmila Tagore carrying the concept of the pristine prostitute to the peaks of sublimity in Shakti Samanta's "Amar Prem".

With time, the concept of the prostitute with a halo has lost its sheen. Virginity and sexual sacrifices are no longer the sacrosanct commodities they once.

From its opening montage of a young rustic girl watching her callous husband bring home another wife, to the dying moments when the woman, now in her twilight years, is taken away to the relative comfort of her foster-son’s home as the festivities of Durga Puja break out on the streets of Kolkata… Amar Prem is a glorious homage to that favourite Bollywood archetype: the golden-hearted prostitute.

That Sharmila Tagore plays the woman whom men of all ages gravitate to in pursuit of some heavy duty nurturing is a very happy situation for the screenplay. In the film a 7-year old boy and a 30-plus man both desire the same kind of emotional attention from her.This prostitute is not about sex. She is about soul. Sharmila brings to this timeless adaptation of Bibhutibushan Bandhopaddhyay’s story, a kind of simpering beauty that levitates the lyricism of the tragic...

Mumbai, Sep 28: As legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar turns 84 Saturday, Bollywood celebrities picked their favourite five of her numbers which have enthralled music lovers for seven decades and still continue to spin their magic.

Here's the list:

Kavita Krishnamurthy: "Manmohana bade jhoothe" ("Seema"), "Rahen na rahen hum ("Mamta"), "Ae dil-e-nadaan" ("Razia Sultan"), "Allah tero naam ("Hum Dono"), "Lag jaa gale se" ("Woh Kaun Thi")

Jaya Bachchan: "Raina beeti jaaye" ("Amar Prem"), "Chand phir nikla" ("Paying Guest"), "Ae dil-e-nadaan" ("Razia Sultan"), "Yashomati maiya se bole nandlala" ("Satyam Shivam.

Bollywood’s original “Superstar”, Rajesh Khanna’s statue was unveiled in Bandra, Mumbai on Saturday in the presence his family – wife Dimple Kapadia, daughter Twinkle Khanna and son-in-law Akshay Kumar. In order to honor and pay tribute to the legendary actor, the statue will be placed in the “Walk of the Stars” along with statues of other icons like Dev Anand, Raj Kapoor, Shammi Kapoor and Yash Chopra at the Bandra Promenade, an initiative taken by the entertainment channel Utv Stars.

Khanna, who was often referred as Kaka, epitomized love through his characters in movies like Aradhna, Kati Patang, Aap Ki Kasam, Amar Prem amongst many others, breathed his last on July 18, 2012 due to prolonged illness.

The bronze statue of the actor depicts him holding a bunch of balloons, an iconic pose from his evergreen movie Anand. “Kakaji was an enigma. He lived and died on his own terms. His contribution to cinema was unparalleled.

Mumbai, April 11: Late superstar Rajesh Khanna's last film "Riyasat" will be released on his first death anniversary July 18, says director Ashok Tyagi, adding he has finally ironed out all the problems.

Rajesh Khanna, the first superstar of Hindi films who died after a prolonged illness, is known for hits like "Aradhana", "Kati Patang", "Anand", "Amar Prem" and "Aan Milo Sajna".

"Finally, the film will release on Kakaji's first death anniversary on July 18th. We missed his birthday (Dec 29). We faced our own hardships and hiccups and we have overcome those. July 18th is a Thursday, so we will have the premiere on that date,".

Kareena Kapoor has come out and said that marriage is not a crime for an actress. Kareena wed Saif Ali Khan in October 2012 and she believes that professional and personal aspects of life shouldn’t be mixed.

Kareena was at the Ficci Frames where she lit the ceremonial lamp for the three day event.

“If a girl loves someone or gets married, it doesn’t mean that people will not love her or her character on-screen. These (films and marriage) are two different aspects and we should not try and club them. Anyways, falling in love or getting married is not a crime,” Kareena explains.

Actresses have always acted after marriage. It has just become more aware these days. Back in the days Kareena sites some actresses who acted after marriage…”Waheedaji or Sharmilaji, there were all married and they all acted in films like Daag, Amar Prem and Guide.

New Delhi, Jan 25: Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore has been named for the Padma Bhushan on the eve of 64th Republic Day.

The great-grand niece of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Sharmila's tryst with movies began when she had just entered her teens. She was 13 when she did her first Bengali film "Apur Sansar" in 1959.

However, the bigger recognition came her way when she entered the Hindi film industry with "Kashmir Ki Kali" and after that there was no looking back for her.

The 68-year-old's body of work boasts of successes like "An Evening In Paris", "Aradhana", "Amar Prem", "Mausam" and "Chupke Chupke". She is.

Late superstar of Bollywood Rajesh Khanna, will receive India's third highest civilian award, Padma Bhushan. Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore was a hit jodi in the 70’s. They starred in movies ‘Aradhana’ and ‘Amar Prem’. Rajesh Khanna died on July 18, 2012 will receive the award posthumously. Sharmila Tagore will receive Padma Bhushan. As per reports, Sridevi will also receive the award for her comeback movie ‘English Vinglish’. The name of the awardees will be announced officially by Pm Manmohan Singh’s permission on the eve of Republic Day. The selection committee member this year includes actress Ratna Pathak Shah, sci...

Films that gained a ‘cult following’ over the years,despite being unnoticed on release

Silsila

Yash Chopra is looked upon as the grandfather of candyfloss romance, an antithesis to the more ‘artistic’ genre of films. One wonders why. Here’s what his early films were about:

Unwed mothers and illegitimate children – Dhool ka Phool (1959)

Partition and the rise of Hindu fundamentalism – Dharmputra (1961)

Taut, song less thriller about a fugitive, a lone woman and a corpse – Ittefaq (1969)

A man who lives with his wife and the ‘other woman’, Hindi Cinema’s first Ménage à trois- Daag (1973)

In 1981, we had another of his equally risqué works, Silsila. Expectedly, sparks flew when the Screen God of the time shared screen space with the reigning diva. Rekha and Amitabh were quite an item on screen and allegedly, off screen too. The grapevine has it that Chopra was inspired to make Silsila on this relationship...

The Directorate of Film Festivals (Dff) and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organized a three-day retrospective of Bollywood's first superstar, Rajesh Khanna, as a tribute to the cinema's legend who died of a prolonged illness on July 18. Rajesh Khanna was 69 years old. The event was held for three days at Siri Fort auditorium in New Delhi. The retrospective screened some of Khanna's landmark films such as Aap Ki Kasam, Aradhana, Amar Prem, Kati Patang, Ittefaq, Avishkaar, Bawarchi, Safar and Anand. Inaugurated on August 18, the retrospective was followed by the screening of Aap Ki Kasam on Day 1. Rajesh Khanna's wife Dimple Kapadia was the chief guest at the event and was accompanied by her younger daughter Rinkie. Dimple also thanked the Dff and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for giving a chance to relive his memories.

A Retrospective of late superstar Rajesh Khanna will be organized from August 18-20, 2012 at Sirifort Auditorium II, New Delhi.

Entry is free, on first come first serve basis for all screenings and panel discussions.

This Retrospective is being organized by the Directorate of Film Festivals and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Inauguration of the programme will be on August 18 at 12:30 pm in the presence of Choudhary Mohan Jatua, Minister of State (I & B), Rajeev Shukla, Minister of State (Parliamentary Affairs), Dimple Kapadia, actor and wife of the late superstar and Om Prakash, producer and director.

Aap Ki Kasam (1970) directed by Om Prakash will be screened after the inauguration.

The films to be screened are as follows:

18th August, 2012

Aradhana (1970) by Shakti Samanta

4:30 pm

19th August, 2012

Aakhri Khat (1966) by Chetan Anand

10:30 am

Ittefaq (1969) by Yash Chopra

1:30pm

Amar Prem (1972) by Shakti Samanta

3:30 pm

Panel Discussion- The...

Aamir Khan has always been known to be a huge admirer of late actor Shammi Kapoor. Yesterday at an event held in Delhi, Aamir bid for Shammi Kapoor's jacket for Rs. 88000 at the Osian's Cinefan auction. Besides Shammiji's jacket, Aamir also acquired five other film memorabilia spending a total of Rs. 2,38,000 at the auction. Aamir however wasn't physically present in Delhi but participated in the auction via phone. The auction also had memorabilia from films like Umrao Jaan and Lagaan. Besides there were also rare photographic stills and show-cards from films like Aan, Mother India, Dil Diya Dard Liya and Leader. It also included many posters from Rajesh Khanna's films such as Aradhana, Amar Prem and Andaz.

Long before Shah Rukh wiggled his eyebrows and raised his arms for a hug, and well before Salman built that body, there was the inimitable Rajesh Khanna. If the late 70s were Amitabh Bachchan’s one man industry, then the early 70s were Rajesh’s domain. Truly, the era of the first superstars in Hindi cinema has come to an end when Khanna passed away this past Wednesday.

Often called the Prince of Romance, Khanna offered up a gentler and tender side to romance that is sorely missed in today’s era. Born as Jatin Khanna on December 29th 1942, he was a keen lover of films since an early age. His rise to the top also seems like a struggler’s dream, as he was picked from thousands of applicants from the All India Talent Contest. It’s easy to see why. That twinkle in his eye, the tilted head,...

Mumbai, July 18: Bollywood's first superstar Rajesh Khanna, who charmed audiences with hits like "Aradhana", "Do Raaste" and "Amar Prem" in the 1970s, died Wednesday afternoon after prolonged illness.

He passed away at his residence here. He was 69.

Fondly known as Kaka, Khanna worked in about 160 films including. Here is his filmography:

1960s

-1966 "Akhri khat"

-1967 "Raaz"

-1967 "Baharo Ke sapne"

-1967 "Woman"

-1968 "Shrimanji"

-1969.

New Delhi, Jan 4: Just what happens to creativity when it comes to titles? From ongoing TV soaps like 'Kuch Toh Log Kahenge' and 'Bade Acche Lagte Hain' to the forthcoming 'Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuuch Kaha' and 'Kya Hua Tera Vaada', it appears that authors expend all their energy in writing scripts and fall back on well-loved film songs for titles.

Clearly, Hindi movie songs down the ages are the easy inspiration for a host of television serials with the makers also hoping for instant connect.

'Kuch Toh Log Kahenge', a hit song picturised on Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna in 'Amar Prem', is now the the title of Indian adaptation.