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Filmmakers in Bengal love Tagore: not just Sharmila but also the Grand Old Man of letters Rabindranath Tagore whose novels and short stories have been ternally adapted by Bengali filmmakers from Satyajit Ray to Rituparno Ghosh (Chokher Bali). In Hindi too, Tagore was dominant force until the close of the last century. Here are the 10 notable films in Hindi that were based on Tagore’s fiction.

1. Ghunghat (1960):

Based on Tagore’s celebrated novel Nouka Dubi this is the story of marital misalliances told against the backdrop of a ferocious storm and a boat capsize. Though a bit too melodramatic and cluttered with convenient coincidences, the story has a powerful message on giving women the right to decide which way their heart goes. Ghunghat had a stellar performance by Bina Rai. In a Anthony Hopkins-Chadwick Boseman situation, Ms Rai took the Filmfare award from Madhubala for a...

The film introduces us to Shrirenu Tripathi, a 42-year-old Sanskrit professor residing in the industrial city of Jamshedpur. His life is a quiet study in loneliness; a socially awkward man steeped in traditional values, he is a source of gentle mockery for his students and a subject of concern for his family, who are keen to see him married.

Shrirenu embodies a brand of Indian masculinity rooted in conservative ideals and a pronounced lack of confidence in the presence of women. His world is constructed from ancient texts and provincial expectations, leaving him ill-equipped for the complexities of contemporary romance.

His proposed counterpart is Madhu Bose, a younger, vivacious French teacher from the culturally rich city of Kolkata. She is presented as his complete opposite: modern, assertive, and a product of a liberal, artistic Bengali family. Their story begins through the very traditional channel of an arranged match, immediately establishing a dynamic of opposites.

When Rajesh Khanna Reflected On His Romantic Hero Persona( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Rajesh Khanna was a versatile and legendary actor in the history of Indian cinema. He was the First Superstar in Bollywood and achieved that title after giving multiple hits back to back. From Aradhana to Kati Patang and Amar Prem, Rajesh Khanna rose to unparalleled fame as Bollywood’s quintessential romantic hero. Yet, the journey wasn’t without its challenges—he once admitted that sustaining such an image was no easy feat, and considered himself fortunate to have done so. Keep scrolling for the deets.

Khanna captivated viewers with his soulful eyes, charismatic smile, and unparalleled screen presence. He redefined romance for an entire generation. Fondly known as Kaka, the actor portrayed love with vulnerability and intensity that made hearts flutter. He ruled the screens in the 1960s and 1970s. Khanna’s stardom was not just about box...

Nikita Roy Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Sonakshi Sinha, Arjun Rampal, Suhail Nayyar, Paresh Rawal

Director: Kussh S. Sinha

Nikita Roy Movie Review: Kussh S. Sinha Delivers A Terrific Thriller As A Debut Director (Photo Credit –YouTube)

What’s Good: Superb mounting and terrific performances from Sonakshi Sinha and Paresh Rawal.

What’s Bad: Nothing bad, but the denouement may be a shade tough to comprehend.

Loo Break: Not at all!

Watch or Not?: Yes!!

Language: Hindi

Available On: Theatrical release

Runtime: 114 Minutes

User Rating:

Indians have now made many countries their home, and this story is thus based in London, where siblings Sanal Roy (Arjun Rampal) and Nikita (Sonakshi Sinha) live in a society that promotes rationalism and discourages (with evidence) superstitions and blind and irrational beliefs.

Sanal is bent on exposing a ‘spiritual’ leader named Amardev (Paresh Rawal) who has a great following, but soon begins to...

Since this is a Karan Johar production, there are bound to be people who deserve love in each other’s company. Shrinenu Tirupathi and Madhu Bose are Ashok Kumar and Madhubala, Sanskrit and French, or maybe Jamshedpur and Kolkata, the two cities that Vivek Soni’s souffle-biryani travels through.

Srinu and Madhu are not as young as Ibrahim Ali Khan and Khushi Kapoor in Nadaaniyaan (and definitely not that foolish) , though not as old as Dharmendra and Shabana Azmi in Rocky Are Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.

Shrinenu and Madhu are… one of their kind, not exactly made for each other. It is their determination to find a common ground that makes this the “cute girl, nerdy boy asli romcom”.

The bang-on description comes from the film’s excellent dialogue writers. The conversations sound lived-in and… well, if not a hundred percent real then close . The characters whip up a constant bustle without crowding the canvas.

Khazanchi Box Office (Photo Credit – YouTube)

There have been many movies in Hindi cinema that have formed an important milestone and paved the way for other films. One such movie was the 1941 mystery thriller film, Khazanchi which went on to become the first golden jubilee hit of Hindi cinema. Yes, you heard that right! Let us revisit the stellar box office trivia and other fascinating facts surrounding the movie.

Khazanchi Box Office Revisit

The Moti B Gidwani directorial was the first golden jubilee hit of Hindi cinema despite witnessing a pre-Independence release wherein the fate of the movies at the box office was a slippery slope. It emerged as the highest grossing movie of 1941. According to Sacnilk, in its theatrical run of 50 almost days, the movie amassed 65 lakh at the Indian box office.

Including the taxes, the gross collection came to 76 lakhs. The movie was mounted at a budget of a mere 5 lakh.

Maa Box Office: Will Kajol Surpass The Profit Of The 1st Horror Film Of Bollywood? (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Kajol’s Maa is creating a lot of buzz, and the horror film is arriving in theaters on June 27. While it will have a direct clash with Sonakshi Sinha’s Nikita Roy, it will also have to fight with Kannappa, releasing on the same day, and Sitaare Zameen Par, which arrived last week.

Kajol is expected to break some records at the box office with her horror film directed by Vishal Furia. The trailer has been well received, and a decent opening is expected from the film, which is being presented as a story from the world of Ajay Devgn’s Shaitaan!

Which Was The 1st Horror Film From Bollywood?

Kajol is leading Maa and interestingly, the first horror film of Bollywood also had a female lead! In fact, the first legit...

Did the much-missed Sushant Singh Rajput enjoy dying on screen?

After seeing him die with a smile in film after film I had asked Sushant if he was this generation’s Rajesh Khanna.

“Kyon, Sir? Did he enjoy dying on screen? I don’t know about enjoying (dying on screen). But I do know that death is a part of life. And since cinema reflects on life, it must also reflect on death. That said, I haven’t gone out there to pick scripts where the hero dies. It is just a coincidence that my character dies in some of my films. I hope to do more films where the hero gets to live.”

Eerily, Sushant Singh Rajput died in five out of the ten films he completed before his sudden shocking and untimely death on June 14, 2020. In his big-screen debut film Kai Po Che (2013), Sushant’s character dies, as does the protagonists of Raabta,...

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.

There is a prevalent feeling among the fans of Sunil Dutt that he didn’t do much singing on screen, that his leading ladies did most of the crooning. This is not entirely untrue. But you would be surprised to know how many timeless songs the gracious Dutt crooned on screen.

1. ‘Jalte hai jiske liye’ (Sujata):

Many consider this to be the best ghazal that Talat Mahmood sang. Composed by Sachin Dev Burman it brings tears to those lucid eyes of Nutan when Sunil Dutt croons Majrooh Sultanpuri’s imperishable words over the phone. And ours, too. Talat and Majrooh were rightfully nominated for Filmfare awards.

2. ‘Aha rimjhim ke ye pyare pyare’ (Usne Kaha Tha): A breezy rain song composed by Salil Chowdhury, it gave Sunil Dutt (Sd) a romantic image that he never was comfortable with. “I was mostly cast in very serious roles, many of them of dacoits.

Veteran photojournalist Pradeep Chandra, whose illustrious career spans over fifty-five years, unveiled a special exhibition titled Bombay Through the Eyes of Pradeep Chandra at Floor One in Juhu. The showcase features a remarkable collection of his photographs capturing iconic figures from the realms of cinema, music, art, literature, business, and politics. The exhibition was inaugurated by lyricist Javed Akhtar and Anupam Kher, with notable attendees including producer Anand Pandit, philanthropist Dr. Aneel Kashi Murarka, actors Deepak Qazir and Deepak Parashar, artists Prakash Bal Joshi, Charan Sharma and Vinod Sharma, art enthusiast Parvez Damania, curator Kisalay Vora among many others. Besides Pradeep Chandra’s family, the evening also saw a warm turnout from members of the media fraternity, who gathered in large numbers to celebrate the acclaimed lensman. The exhibition is open to the public until May 21, 2025.

“We all know how good he is at his work, but what’s truly...

Raj Kapoor Once Fired Shots At Shammi Kapoor At The Airport For An Ad ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor were part of the Kapoor clan, sons of Prithviraj Kapoor, who carved their unique paths in Bollywood. Raj became famous as the Showman of Indian Cinema. On the other hand, Shammi gained fame for his energetic and youthful performances. The Junglee star once revealed how his elder brother gave him the scolding of his life at the airport. Keep scrolling for the deets.

Though they had different views on fame and cinema, Shammi and Raj Kapoor shared a strong brotherly bond. Raj, the elder, often acted as a mentor, while Shammi forged his own path with his free-spirited style. Despite occasional clashes over tradition and change, their relationship was rooted in deep respect and affection, helping keep the Kapoor family closely united.

Shammi Kapoor has worked with several...

Shiva Singh, a 24-year-old from Khair, a town in Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, is making headlines today thanks to his determination and hard work. The son of Ashok Kumar, who serves in the army, and Rekha Rani, a homemaker, Shiva comes from a humble background. His journey has taken him from a simple household to the world of reality TV. He also has a sister named Sadhna.

Shiva holds a special place in his heart for his mother. He believes that had it not been for her faith in him, he wouldn’t have come this far. Since childhood, his mother has always uplifted his spirits and made him believe that he was destined for something big.

Shiva completed his education at Jain University in Bengaluru. Alongside his studies, he developed a deep interest in sports, especially basketball. He remained actively involved in the sport throughout school and college,...

Bollywood cinema has always been known for its spirit of celebration. Singing, dancing, and having a good time has been an important part of the Bollywood experience. Here are the five festive films that must be seen this Eid.

1. Hum Saath Saath Hain:

While most would opt for Sooraj Barjatya’s Hum…Apke Hain Koun as the ultimate festive fare, this feel-good followup after the historic Hum…Aapke Hain Koun from Barjatya’s school of familial merrymaking has a string of terrific stars from Salman Khan to Saif Ali Khan eating, singing, and dancing through a stream of nursery-rhyme styled songs composed in juvenile style by Ram Laxman-. The entire 4-hour film is a pleasure binge for Alok Nath’s Chaturvedi family as they picnic, party, a wedding, and celebrate from Eid to Diwali to marriage anniversaries. Life is one long celebration in this thinly-plotted excuse to celebrate the joys of family togetherness.

Deb Mukherjee Passes Away: Bollywood Celebs Pay Last Respects! (Photo Credit – Twitter)

Holi festivities in Bollywood came to an abrupt end with the news of Ayan Mukerji losing his father. Veteran actor Deb Mukherjee passed away at the age of 83. He had not been keeping well for the past few days and passed away on the morning of March 14. His last rites took place at 4 Pm in Mumbai.

Kajol Rushes With Mom Tanuja

As soon as the news broke, Ayan’s best friends Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt left their Holi party in Alibaug and rushed back to Mumbai. Kajol was the amongst the first ones to arrive at Ayan’s residence to pay last respect to his uncle. She was seen with mom Tanuja.

Slowly, the entire industry gathered to pay last respects to Deb Mukherjee, who was last seen in Shahid Kapoor’s film Kaminey. Karan Johar, Jaya Bachchan,...

Subhash K Jha revists Nutan’s career and shines the light on her finest film in this special feature.

Bimal Roy made many moving movies marked as masterpieces for milleniums. Bandini remains just that bit more special than Devdas or Madhumati. Why? Just…

Nutan had almost given up films after marriage. But like Yash Chopra, who made Raakhee an offer which she couldn’t resist (Kabhi Kabhie), Bimal Roy tempted the titanic actress — and would Kate Winslet please mover over? — out of married bliss to play what the director promised would be the role of Nutan’s lifetime.

Nutan’s tempestuous performance as Kalyani embedded her name in gold in the hall of fame. Along with Nargis in Mother India, Meena Kumari in Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam, and Shabana Azmi in Arth, Nutan in Bandini is the most arresting character written for a mainstream Hindi heroine of the pre-70s era.

Kishore Kumar Once Shared His True Feelings About Acting(Photo Credit – YouTube)

Kishore Kumar was and will always be regarded as one of the greatest and most influential singers in the history of modern Indian music, who also left his mark in the acting world. However, he once shared his true feelings about acting. The legendary singer said that he was conned into acting. Scroll below for the deets.

Kumar’s original name was Abhas Kumar, and he started his cinema career as a chorus singer at Bombay Talkies. He was greatly inspired by Hollywood actor-singer Danny Kaye, and in addition, Kumar respected Rabindranath Tagore and singer Kl Saigal. Some notable movies starring Kumar include Jhumroo, Half Ticket, Mr. X in Bombay, Padosan, Bombay to Goa, and more.

In a throwback interview with Pritish Nandy, Kishore Kumar revealed he hated acting and did several things to get out of it.

For centuries, poets and philosophers have written about how phantasmagoria and spectral evocation lie at the heart of photography -- and the same is very much true of motion pictures. The earliest experiences in movement-imitating sequential photography have an eerie, liminal quality to them, like dispatches from another world altogether; just have a look at the 1889 Monkeyshines shorts, believed to be the first American films ever, and tell us if they don't feel like seeing a ghost.

From 1889 to now, movies have largely retained that ghostly aptitude. Film, the realm par excellence of images and impressions that detach themselves from -- and eventually outlive -- their subjects, is still arguably the best-suited medium for evoking a world beyond and dramatizing its interactions with ours. Therefore, you can count the 12 best ghost films ranked below, ranging from horror to comedy to romance and back, as 12 of the best ghost stories ever,...

After sitting dutifully through this monstrous melange of mindlessness and crassness, I am convinced the medley of lobotomized mayhem — a sort of Animal without the sass, the impunity, basic intelligence and Ranbir Kapoor — is put together by a bunch of blind dimwits. Blind… Because they cannot see the script for what it is: mentally challenged. Dimwitted… Because….well…Badass Ravi Kumar could not be considered the handiwork of normal sensible minds.

It takes herculean efforts to make a film so terrible that you just keep watching to see how much worse it gets.

It is neither self-referential enough to be considered a spoof on the formalistic conventions of Hindi mainstream cinema of the 1970s nor “cool” enough to be designated a cartoon strip in motion picture format.

It is, to use some unparliamentary language, as fuck-all as cinema can be. Perhaps I am only saying that Himesh Reshammiya has the...

The highly anticipated first look of young hero Virat Karrna as Rudhra from the much-awaited Pan-India film Nagabandham has been unveiled by Rana Daggubati, sparking immense excitement across audiences nationwide. Directed by the passionate filmmaker Abhishek Nama, this grand-scale project has been generating significant buzz since its announcement.

The first look poster portrays Virat Karrna in a striking and rugged avatar in an action-packed scene where he battles a menacing crocodile in the ocean. Holding the creature’s mouth open with his bare hands and a rope, Rudhra’s fearless demeanor and relentless strength take center stage and intrigues!

Nagabandham promises to be an epic adventure with the tagline The Secret Treasure, hinting at a thrilling and mystical journey. Directed and written by Abhishek Nama, the film is being produced by Kishore Annapureddy under Nik Studios in collaboration with Abhishek Pictures, and is proudly presented by Lakshmi Ira and Devansh Nama.

Did Rd Burman Leave Only Rs 5 In His Bank Locker? (Photo Credit – Wikipedia/Facebook)

It was on January 4, 1994, that Hindi Cinema lost one of its brightest gems. Rd Burman, fondly called Pancham Da, died after suffering two back-to-back massive heart attacks. As soon as the news broke that Pancham Da passed away at 3.45 Am, the industry went into a state of shock.

Amongst the family and friends mourning, it was the music director’s mother, who could not process the news, and his wife, Asha Bhosle, who did not want to believe it to the point that she did not want to enter the room where the music director was lying dead.

An excerpt from a memoir by Ajitabh Memon, first published in the magazine Movie, in February 1994 issue, republished on a blog maintained by Rd Burman fans read, “Ashaji refused to be taken to her husband’s room. She wailed,...

Harikatha Telugu Series Streaming On Hotstar ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

The Telugu web series Harikatha, directed by Maggi, is now available on the Ott platform. It was released on Disney+ Hotstar on December 13, 2024. The series features Srikanth and Rajendra Prasad in lead roles.

It is set in a village. The plot revolves around strange events that begin to unfold in the town. It shows the people who have committed murders. These people are punished in unusual ways. The villagers believe that a divine force delivers these punishments. They think God himself is giving justice. Bhagavad Gita hymns are part of the story with a spiritual touch. A new police officer arrives in the village and tries to uncover the truth behind the punishments. As he investigates, he discovers unexpected revelations. The theme of divine justice plays a key role in the story.

Harikatha’s cast includes many talented actors. In addition to Srikanth and Rajendra Prasad,...

Smita Patil’s Last Wish Was Refused By Raj Babbar, Not Knowing It Was The Last! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

It was 38 years ago that one of the brightest stars of the film industry passed away, leaving everyone shocked. It was December 13, 1988, when Smita Patil was having a normal day after delivering her son Prateik Babbar, and none in her family could contemplate what was about to happen.

Smita delivered a baby boy, and ever since, she has been a little under the weather. Feverish on most days. Even on December 13, she felt feverish but could not bear the distance from her son anymore. She woke up to a crying baby and decided to breastfeed him after putting a damp cloth around her body to control the temperature.

The doctor came for a regular check-up and put her on saline after her husband, Raj Babbar, left for work. Smita decided to rest as she felt uneasy.

Sonam Kapoor Once Blasted Abhijeet Bhattacharya For This Reason (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Abhijeet Bhattacharya ruled people’s hearts with his amazing voice and songs. However, the celebrity singer often made headlines for his unabashed comments. He once engaged in a war of words with Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor. Abhijeet also faced a lot of criticism over his thoughts on Salman Khan’s hit-and-run case, but this time, it was related to another popular personality. Scroll below for the deets.

He reportedly did stage shows as a singer with Rd Burman and was launched by the legend himself in a Bengali film with a duet song with Asha Bhosle. Bhattacharya has sung for several Bollywood superstars, including Shah Rukh Khan. He has worked predominantly in the Hindi film industry, but he has also sung in other languages, for example, Marathi, Nepali, Tamil, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Odia, and Bengali.

A few years back,...

Dev Anand’s Last Wish That Was Fulfilled After He Died On Dec 3, 2011 – Here’s What Happened On The Unfateful Last Day! (Photo Credit – Wikimedia)

It was on the unfateful day of December 3, 2011 that Indian Cinema lost one of its brightest stars. The day when Dev Anand breathed his last. The superstar who ruled the silver screen in the 50s and 60s was in the UK when he breathed his last. However, none of his fans can recall the memory of his final farewell visually due to the actor’s last wish.

The superstar had a very specific last wish, which was followed by his family, film fraternity, and fans once he passed away after suffering a massive cardiac arrest in 2011.

Dev Anand did not want cameras to capture him after his death! After he passed away, one of his close friends once revealed this last wish of the superstar,...

Welcome to a seven-part series on the History Of Hindi Cinema. Through individual films and the larger oeuvres of some Hindi filmmakers, we’ll explore the highlights of 70 years of cinema, starting with 1950, just three years after India won its independence from British rule, and ending in the 2010s.

In the 1960s,...

Singham Again Vs Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Pre-Battle Score Card: Ajay Devgn Stands Taller! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

This Diwali, Hindi Cinema is all set to witness another massive clash this year after Maidaan and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’s Eid Clash as Ajay Devgn’s Singham Again & Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 will battle it out at the box office on November 1. The clash has already intensified with the two films battling for equal screens, and now we have the pre-battle scorecard of these two biggies ready!

Singham Again Vs Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 On IMDb

The two films are battling out for the top 2 spots on IMDb’s list of the most anticipated upcoming films of 2024. In fact, in IMDb’s top 10 list of the Most Anticipated Films, there is no competition apart from Rohit Shetty and Anees Bazmee’s films that occupy rank 1 and 2.

Trending Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Ami Je...

Jaya Bachchan’s Family Clarifies False Death News About Her Mother ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

The Bachchan family was in shock when the internet was roaring about a bizarre rumor about Jaya Bachchan’s mother, Indira Bhaduri’s death. The 94-year-old lives in Bhopal and is recovering from a spine fracture. In fact, the Guddi actress, along with her son Abhishek Bachchan, is in Bhopal to be by her side!

But rumors of her death were shocking, and it took some time for the family to process this, verify this, and refute this. Recently, several media reports have claimed that Indira Bhaduri, has passed away, stating that her son Abhishek Bachchan rushed to Bhopal in response to this tragic news. However, these reports have been confirmed as false.

At this time, Jaya Bachchan and her family have not experienced any loss. The family sources have requested fans to remain supportive and to seek reliable updates,...

Jaya Bachchan’s Family Clarifies False Death News About Her Mother ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

The Bachchan family was in shock when the internet was roaring about a bizarre rumor about Jaya Bachchan’s mother, Indira Bhaduri’s death. The 94-year-old lives in Bhopal and is recovering from a spine fracture. In fact, the Guddi actress, along with her son Abhishek Bachchan, is in Bhopal to be by her side!

But rumors of her death were shocking, and it took some time for the family to process this, verify this, and refute this. Recently, several media reports have claimed that Indira Bhaduri, has passed away, stating that her son Abhishek Bachchan rushed to Bhopal in response to this tragic news. However, these reports have been confirmed as false.

At this time, Jaya Bachchan and her family have not experienced any loss. The family sources have requested fans to remain supportive and to seek reliable updates,...

After the Berlin Wall fell and the Cold War ended, Russia’s president decided to visit India in 1993. This sparked real concern among the Intelligence Bureau and Wing officers as there were rumors of a plot to assassinate the president during his stay in New Delhi. Government officials suspected a deaf and mute worker from a Berlin café named Ashok Kumar as they found a German-made gun in his possession and thought he might be involved with the Kgb, or Isi, or maybe even the CIA, and thought he may have a possible connection to the assassination plot. Therefore, the government took the help of Pushkin Verma, a government teacher at a local school for the deaf and mute to get to the bottom of this by interviewing Ashok to figure out whether he was truly involved in this dangerous scheme or if he was being framed. The big question...

There is no dearth of films in the spy genre coming out of the Hindi film industry. Many stories are over the top, while only some of them manage to be subtle and focus on the nuances and the nitty-gritties of how intelligence agencies and bureaus work. As mentioned in our review of Ic 814: The Kandahar Hijack, not many films have explored the subject of the constant tiff between the R&aw and Intelligence Bureau. Berlin, directed by Atul Sabharwal, is all about an interrogation that involves a mute man and sign language expert brought together to solve a puzzle. Berlin will be on Zee5 Global from September 13, 2024, and stars Aparshakti Khurana, Ishwak Singh, and Rahul Bose in the titular roles.

The movie is set in 1993 when Pushkin Varma, a sign language expert teaching at school for speaking and hearing disabilities, is hired by the bureau to carry out...

Zee 5’s new spy thriller, Berlin, by Atul Sabharwal, revolves around Pushkin, an ordinary teacher who must interrogate Ashok Kumar, who is suspected of being an Isi spy involved in a plot to assassinate the Russian president. What’s Ashok’s real motive, and who else is in on this conspiracy? Let’s dive into the cast and characters to find it out.

Spoilers Ahead

Pushkin Verma

We all know how talented Aparshakti Khurana is after his brilliant performances in Stree and Jubilee, and his performance as Pushkin Verma in Berlin really shows promise. Pushkin, like you and me, is just an ordinary man—a government teacher at a deaf and mute institution who had no idea he’d get caught up in something so dark and dangerous when he was asked to work with the Intelligence Bureau to interrogate Ashok, the so-called deaf and mute “spy.” At first,...

There were two things that were going through my mind before watching Berlin: the lack of 5-star Bollywood movies and the scarcity of good, hard-boiled spy or conspiracy thrillers. I had just returned from the theater after experiencing one of the most headache-inducing films of the year, The Greatest of All Time, and I was bemoaning the state of the genre that it was set in. Movies like Eagle, Tiger 3, Raktabeej, Khufiya, Custody, Pathaan, Vikram, and War make it seem like, in order to tell a story about secret agents or a national or international scandal, a movie has to feature a bunch of nonsensical plotlines, overwhelming action, and impractical technical wizardry. As if that’s not enough, these films also rely on copious amounts of chest-thumping nationalism to titillate audiences. This is when I was struck with the realization that even though I have watched over 200 new films this year,...

Kishore Kumar Was Given Only One Line In This Mohd Rafi Blockbuster Song ( Photo Credit – Facebook; Wikimedia )

Kishore Kumar is one of the most legendary singers who pushed Indian Cinema to new heights. The late singer-actor was one of the most celebrated in Hindi films. Be it funny appearances as the lead actor in films like Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi and Dilli Ka Thugs or brilliantly sung songs like Ek Chatur Naar.

Ashok Kumar’s younger brother, Kishore, always wanted to be a singer despite his elder brother wanting him to be an actor. However, he nailed both art forms. At one point, he became the most established singer in the industry and the only rival to Mohd Rafi.

Kishore Kumar was shot to fame in the industry, and people started debating about Goat. Suddenly, an unsaid line was drawn between him and Mohd Rafi. However, the Roop Tera Mastana...

A unique combination of circumstances led to him landing in Bombay soon after the Partition and being tasked with directing a film, though his cinematic experience was limited to being a film journalist. He even managed to rope in a top actor – and on the very first day, questioned his rendition of a crucial scene.

Recalling the episode decades later, veteran Hindi film director and producer B.R. Chopra revealed that Ashok Kumar, who had somehow agreed to act in the film despite his misgivings at its totally green director, was taken aback.

“He then suggested that he would do the shot again in the way I suggested, and prints of both this and the way he had done, should be made, and he would check them the next day to see which was better,” he told Bollywood personality and chronicler Shashi Ranjan in an interview.

As a nervous Chopra arrived...

When Lata Mangeshkar Thought Kishore Kumar Was Following Her ( Photo Credit – Facebook )

Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar are the most significant assets of the music world in our country. They have presented us with countless melodious songs, both duets and individually. Unfortunately, both the legends have passed away, leaving a massive void in the music world. Throughout their career, there have been several exciting incidents that sometimes resurface and become amusing for fans.

Mangeshkar was fondly known as the Nightingale of India, and in her book, she talks about the first time she met Kumar. She was working on the movie Ziddi when she came across Kishore Kumar for the first time and thought that the late singer was stalking her. Keep scrolling for more.

According to Hindustan Times, Lata Mangeshkar in her book, Lata Mangeshkar: In Her Own Voice, author and documentary maker Nasreen Munni Kabeer recollected the incident.

Madhubala Started Her Career As A Child Actor But Jumped To An Unimaginable Paycheck Later ( Photo Credit – Shemaroo Filmi Gaane / YouTube )

Plans for Madhubala’s biopic have been taking rounds in the industry, with names of Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor Khan being dropped as the main leads of the film. Now it has been announced that the film is indeed rolling; however, no names have been finalized yet for the lead actress of the film who will play the legendary beauty.

Better known as Mughal-e-Azam‘s Anarkali, the actress was originally named Mumtaaz. In fact, she was credited by the same name when she made her film debut as a child actress in the film Basant in 1942. She was a revelation on screen and was hired on a salary of Rs 300 per month.

So, at a very young age, she was earning more than his father, who earned only Rs 150 per month.

Mumbai, March 4 (Ians) ‘Saas Bina Sasural’ fame actress Rubina Dilaik on Monday shared a video of herself grooving to the superhit track ‘Aaiye Meharbaan’ sung by Asha Bhosle.

Rubina took to her Instagram, where she enjoys 9.6 million followers, and dropped the video. The snippet shows the ‘Chotti Bahu’ actress dressed in a black gown with turtleneck.

She opted for glossy red lips, golden eyeshadow, with her hair tied in a low bun. For accessories, she chose big golden hoop earrings, and bracelets. The outfit was rounded off with black heels.

In the video, Rubina could be seen lip-syncing to the song ‘Aaiye Meharban’ from the 1958 crime thriller ‘Howrah Bridge’ starring Ashok Kumar and Madhubala.

Recently, Rubina and her actor husband Abhinav Shukla celebrated three months of their twin daughters – Jeeva and Edhaa.

On the work front, Rubina was last seen in ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10’, while Abhinav was last seen in...

Her incandescent beauty, innocent sensuality, and effervescent persona still send hearts aflutter and earned her the sobriquet of “Venus of Indian films”, but Madhubala’s enigmatic and beguiling smile and charm masked a lifetime of pain and suffering.

Madhubala, who passed away on this day (February 23) in 1969, earned tributes that have rarely been matched, leave alone surpassed.

She acted in a film named after her when she was not even midway through her career, was being copied or parodied when she was still acting, and is possibly the only Indian, film or otherwise, with a song dedicated to her being played at the Olympics.

She was also compared to the near-contemporary Marilyn Monroe – the two would pass away within a few years of each other, both aged 36, but did not welcome this as she did not consider herself a sex symbol.

Performances as the captivating but star-crossed Anarkali of “Mughal-e-Azam...

There are a number of stories about how Gulzar, who has been awarded the 58th Jnanpith Award along with Sanskrit scholar Jagatguru Rambhadracharya, became one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated lyricists after being better known in his years as a struggler after Partition in Mumbai for his expertise in re-painting cars mauled in crashes.

The one that seems most credible, however, has come from him. Despite his skill with car colours, Gulzar’s first love was the written word and he was a regular at the Progressive Writers Association (Pwa), which was then a creative hub of just about every Titan in Hindi and Urdu literature.

It was at Pwa meetings that the undiscovered poet struck up a friendship with lyricist Shailendra, who introduced him to Bimal Roy, who, in turn, told him that he was wasting his time and talent at a car workshop.

Roy drafted Gulzar, till...

From making his debut playing a Santhal rebel in a Mrinal Sen film to being emblazoned in public memory as the Disco Dancer, from Communist to Bjp bhakt, and hospitality industry baron based out of Ooty, Mithun Chakraborty has lived a crowded and colourful life that has finally been acknowledged by the President confirming upon him the prestigious Padma Bhushan.

Born on June 16, 1950, in Kolkata, Mithun marked his acting debut with the critically acclaimed Mrinal Sen film ‘Mrigayaa’ in 1976. His big screen journey is a fascinating odyssey, and he is celebrated for his versatility, seamlessly transitioning between various genres, including drama, action and dance.

Mithun’s filmography, in fact, is a testament to his versatility and enduring appeal. Here’s the Ians selection of his most memorable films:

‘Mrigayaa’: The actor’s foray into cinema began with the 1976 historical film set in the British Raj, ‘Mrigayaa’, directed by Mrinal Sen....

Animal Early Reviews Out!(Photo Credit –Facebook)

Ranbir Kapoor is all set to roar in theatres tomorrow as his upcoming film Animal is all set to the screens. With just a few hours left for its mega release, the makers hosted a screening for their close industry friends and families. This evening, Rk was snapped with his mother, Neetu Kapoor, wife Alia Bhatt, her family Shaheen Bhatt, Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan, co-star Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol and Anil Kapoor for the star-studded premiere of the film.

Helmed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film will face a massive box-office clash with Vicky Kaushal’s Sam Bahadur, directed by Meghna Gulzar. While fans are eagerly waiting for both films to hit the big screens and set the box offices on fire, early reviews of the Ranbir Kapoor starrer have already surfaced. Yes, that’s true!

A few entertainment portals have reviewed...

After the recently-concluded ‘Bachchanalia’ where Amitabh Bachchan memorabilia went under the hammer, the auction house DeRivaz & Ives has announced a similar tribute to ‘feminine icons’ of Indian cinema.

Vintage souvenirs of Bollywood actresses that will also celebrate a saga of beauty and their acting prowess will be auctioned in Mumbai.

The auction will celebrate actresses like Nadia, Jayashree, Devika Rani, Noor Jahan, Suraiya, Nargis, Geeta Bali, Bina Rai, Madhubala, Madhabi Mukherjee, Mala Sinha, Suchitra Sen, Shashikala, Sharmila Tagore, Meena Kumari, Jaya Bhaduri, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and many more.

Titled ‘Feminine Icons of Indian Cinema’, the auction will be held on November 23-25, and a variety of iconic photographs, film posters, lobby cards and other original artworks will be on offer for film buffs.

Among them will be a rare ‘The Light of Asia’ original publicity still in silver gelatin, of the classic 1925 Indian silent film...

After the recently-concluded ‘Bachchanalia’ where Amitabh Bachchan memorabilia went under the hammer, the auction house DeRivaz & Ives has announced a similar tribute to ‘feminine icons’ of Indian cinema.

Vintage souvenirs of Bollywood actresses that will also celebrate a saga of beauty and their acting prowess will be auctioned in Mumbai.

The auction will celebrate actresses like Nadia, Jayashree, Devika Rani, Noor Jahan, Suraiya, Nargis, Geeta Bali, Bina Rai, Madhubala, Madhabi Mukherjee, Mala Sinha, Suchitra Sen, Shashikala, Sharmila Tagore, Meena Kumari, Jaya Bhaduri, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and many more.

Titled ‘Feminine Icons of Indian Cinema’, the auction will be held on November 23-25, and a variety of iconic photographs, film posters, lobby cards and other original artworks will be on offer for film buffs.

Among them will be a rare ‘The Light of Asia’ original publicity still in silver gelatin, of the classic 1925 Indian silent film...

Dev Anand was forever on our TV screens. My mother and aunts were huge fans. But my mother also had bundles of Filmfare magazines, and large black discs of gramophones with beautiful covers of Indian actors and actresses.

Her favourite was Dilip Kumar and a close second was Dev Anand. Dev Anand lit up the screen with his perfect groomed hair, perfectly fitted clothes and the aura he gave off of wealth and sophistication other stars of his time lacked. Dev Anand could be playing an alcoholic and he would have not a single hair out of place like in “Sharabi” (1964).

When I went to Government College University Lahore for my MPhil, my mother’s response was: “Dev Anand went to Government College.” How cool was I!

Dev Anand did his BA in English from the college – and fell in love with a classmate too, according to his autobiography, but...

Dev Anand was forever on our TV screens. My mother and aunts were huge fans. But my mother also had bundles of Filmfare magazines, and large black discs of gramophones with beautiful covers of Indian actors and actresses.

Her favourite was Dilip Kumar and a close second was Dev Anand. Dev Anand lit up the screen with his perfect groomed hair, perfectly fitted clothes and the aura he gave off of wealth and sophistication other stars of his time lacked. Dev Anand could be playing an alcoholic and he would have not a single hair out of place like in “Sharabi” (1964).

When I went to Government College University Lahore for my MPhil, my mother’s response was: “Dev Anand went to Government College.” How cool was I!

Dev Anand did his BA in English from the college – and fell in love with a classmate too, according to his autobiography, but...

In his youth, he had gone from his home in Gurdaspur to Amritsar to get medicines for his ailing mother. To quench his thirst, he ordered a glass of sugarcane juice from a stall near the Golden Temple. When the vendor took a closer look at him, he exclaimed that Dev Anand had the sun on his forehead, foretelling greatness.

The prediction did come true Dev Anand did become a star that burnt bright across an over six-decade-long career.

With his undeniable charm, fast diction, the slight lopsided gait, trademark nodding to add emphasis, the winning winsome smile, and the flamboyant sartorial style, Dev Anand sparkled in a career that began before Independence and lasted into the second decade of the 21st century.

Included in the pantheon of the top three heroes of Hindi cinema in the 1950s, he not only outpaced his peers Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor, who did around 70-odd films each,...

In his youth, he had gone from his home in Gurdaspur to Amritsar to get medicines for his ailing mother. To quench his thirst, he ordered a glass of sugarcane juice from a stall near the Golden Temple. When the vendor took a closer look at him, he exclaimed that Dev Anand had the sun on his forehead, foretelling greatness.

The prediction did come true Dev Anand did become a star that burnt bright across an over six-decade-long career.

With his undeniable charm, fast diction, the slight lopsided gait, trademark nodding to add emphasis, the winning winsome smile, and the flamboyant sartorial style, Dev Anand sparkled in a career that began before Independence and lasted into the second decade of the 21st century.

Included in the pantheon of the top three heroes of Hindi cinema in the 1950s, he not only outpaced his peers Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor, who did around 70-odd films each,...

If India ever had a star, it was Dev Anand. He was the mould in which subsequent generations of stars were cast. Dev Anand was born Dharamdev on September 26, 1923, in the Shakargarh tehsil of Gurdaspur district of Punjab. His father Pishori Lal Anand was a successful advocate and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Dev, the third of four brothers, graduated with English Honours from Government College, Lahore. He moved over to Bombay to join his older brother Chetan, who was trying to get a break in films.

Both brothers got involved in the progressive Indian People’s Theatre Association (Ipta). Chetan made ‘Neecha Nagar’ in 1946 and went on to win the Grand Prix at the inaugural Cannes film festival.

Dev told me that when he heard that Babu Rao Pai of Prabhat Film Studios was casting for a new film, he literally gatecrashed into his office and got the lead...

If India ever had a star, it was Dev Anand. He was the mould in which subsequent generations of stars were cast. Dev Anand was born Dharamdev on September 26, 1923, in the Shakargarh tehsil of Gurdaspur district of Punjab. His father Pishori Lal Anand was a successful advocate and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi. Dev, the third of four brothers, graduated with English Honours from Government College, Lahore. He moved over to Bombay to join his older brother Chetan, who was trying to get a break in films.

Both brothers got involved in the progressive Indian People’s Theatre Association (Ipta). Chetan made ‘Neecha Nagar’ in 1946 and went on to win the Grand Prix at the inaugural Cannes film festival.

Dev told me that when he heard that Babu Rao Pai of Prabhat Film Studios was casting for a new film, he literally gatecrashed into his office and got the lead...