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It has been 10 years since the release of the outstanding Dum Laga Ke Haisha. Subhash K Jha looks at the Yash Raj Films that featured brilliant performances by Ayushmann Khurrana and newcomer Bhumi Pednekar.

From Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge to Dum Lage Ke Haisha … way to go, Yash Raj. Dum Laga Ke Haisha is a heartwarming charmer suffused with that lived-in feeling which seemed to have vanished in the run to that glitzy shallowness where a dhoom or a bang-bang were seen as viewer-friendly explosions. Here is a big-hearted shout for a bygone era and arranged marriage where love happens later, crammed with episodes and moments that add up to an invaluable and cherishable experience.

Ayushmann Khurrana is the under-educated Kumar Sanu fan from Haridwar who doesn’t seem to have much ambition in life except to marry a pretty girl. Newcomer Bhumi Pednekar is the educated aggressive girl who...

In this special feature, Subhash K Jha remembers the exceptional actress Sridevi.

Seven years have passed since Sridevi’s left us suddenly. Not a day passes when we are not reminded of her ubiquitousness…That snatch of a song from Sadma, the cute quirky clipping from Judaai, that melodramatic confrontation scene with the late Smita Patil(they must be exchanging notes in heaven) in the long-forgotten Nazrana which Raveena’s dad Ravi Tandon directed….I know of no other actor in the world who could rise so much above the script. So high she touched the sky, and we gazed from down below, always awestruck by her arresting artistry.

How did she do it? The great Kamal Haasan once told me it was the art of mimicry. “She’s a fantastic observer. Whenever she is working with me, she keeps observing and absorbing, and then she uses the quirks and...

Dinesh Vijan, who is hands-down Producer No.1 in Filmistan, is roaring again at the boxoffice. Vijan’s Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal, has gone through the roof, especially in Maharashtra, where the film is so popular with the masses that additional shows had to be added at several prominent theatres in Mumbai and the suburbs.

However, post-weekend, there is a healthy drop in the Chhaava collections in the rest of the country, and the theatres seem all set to take on a new release, provided it is a different experience.

And Mudassar Aziz’s Friday food for the funnybone Mere Husband Ki Biwi (which is Not a remake of the Amol Palekar-Ranjita Kaur 1978 comedy Mere Biwi Ki Shaadi) seems like the right contrary to Chhaava.

Roshan Singh, a prominent film exhibitor from Bihar, thinks the timing is right for Mere Husband Ki Biwi. “So far this year, we’ve had...

In this fascinating feature, Subhash K Jha looks back at the incredible career of writer, director and actor, the brilliant Lekh Tandon.

Recently Anil Kapoor spoke about how the 1980 film Ek Baar Kaho changed the course of his career. The long post made mention of everyone, from the film’s luminous leading lady, Shabana Azmi, to the producers, Rajshri Productions. But Anil forgot to mention Lekh Tandon, who directed Ek Baar Kaho!

This was the story of Lekh Tandon’s life: his films got recognition. He didn’t. Lekh Tandon was one of our most prolific and underrated directors. His range stretched from the playful Professor to the magical Dulhan Wohi Jo Piya Man Bhaye to the illogical Jahan Pyar Mile. His most celebrated film was the historical Amrapali (1966), which recreated the legendary romance between Amrapali, the courtesan, played by Vyjayanthimala, and Ajayshatru, the emperor of Magadh, played by Sunil Dutt.

Bollywood Mascot: Released in 1979, Gol Maal remains one of the most celebrated films in Indian cinema. Directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and starring Amol Palekar, the film is a classic example of Bollywood comedy, blending humor with social commentary. The film’s story revolves around a man who tells a white lie, leading to a series of comedic situations.

One of the most fascinating facts about Gol Maal is that it was shot in a mere 40 days, a remarkable achievement considering the film’s intricate plot and large ensemble cast. The efficiency of the production speaks volumes about the skill and precision of the team involved.

The movie also broke new ground in its treatment of comedy. While Bollywood films of that era often relied on slapstick humor, Gol Maal was a more refined, situational comedy. Amol Palekar’s performance as the protagonist, who tries to juggle his false identity to...

The pace of life is getting faster day by day. It leaves us no room for an afternoon siesta and a family screening of films every evening on TV. Our generation is essentially deriving its pleasures from various streaming service providers’ subscriptions readily accessible on our smartphones at all hours. But our endeavors often lead us to an alley of confusion on what to watch, especially when it comes to Hindi films which continue to rule our hearts. However, they are somewhere lost in the crowd of tons of web series/shows, films, and international content. With the advent of Ott, which has revolutionized how we see movies, the streaming giant Netflix has given a resurgence to low-budget Bollywood movies, which could hardly find screens in the competitive market.

Related Read: Changes in Bollywood in 10 Years

While Netflix instilled hope in several upcoming filmmakers, by promising them an environment of unhindered storytelling,...

Saif Ali Khan Once Regretted Being In Humshakals( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Saif Ali Khan is a highly talented actor who got his due a little late. But he is now one of the most celebrated stars in the Indian film industry, trying his hands in different kinds of roles, which are also quite risky. His comic timings were appreciated in movies like Cocktail, but what he did in Humshakals is traumatizing for his fans. We are pretty sure some of you might not have even heard about the film, but there was one, and it was a great failure. Saif himself once expressed his embarrassment of doing that film. Scroll below for the deets.

It was released in 2014 and was directed by Sajid Khan. The movie featured Saif Ali Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, Ram Kapoor, Tamannaah Bhatia, Esha Gupta, and Bipasha Basu in the lead roles, with Satish Shah, Nawab Shah,...

Arjun Kapoor With Singham Again Box Office Has Got His 2nd 100 Crore Film Ever! ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Arjun Kapoor as Danger Lanka in Singham Again has been getting a lot of accolades at the box office, and as the film brings 144.80 crore total at the box office in only 4 days, it brings an individual achievement for the 2 states actor as well. While he plays the antagonist in the film, it might be his box office redemption finally!

Singham Again Vs Arjun’s Last Disaster!

Arjun Kapoor’s last theatrical release was The Lady Killer. However, taking that into consideration would be inappropriate since the film was released without any warning and had a hazardous destiny at the box office, earning less than 1 lakh at the box office, according to some reports.

Arjun Kapoor‘s last proper release was Vishal Bharadwaj’s son Aasmaan Bharadwaj’s Kuttey, which starred Radhika Madan and Tabu in the lead.

Rohit Shetty Nails His 10th 100 Crore Film With Singham Again At The Box Office ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Singham Again is swiftly moving towards the 200 crore mark at the box office with Rohit Shetty’s Cop Universe biggie already earning 144.80 crore in 4 days with the extended Diwali weekend. While the film has achieved various milestones it has brought an individual achievement for Rohit Shetty as well.

Rohit Shetty’s 2000 Crore Box Office!

The most celebrated massy director of Bollywood is only an inch away from entering the prestigious 2000 crore club at the box office. While Singham’s Threequel is the 16th film of his career, he has accumulated a total box office collection of a massive 1782 crore with these massy films!

Singham Again – 10th 100 Crore Film For Shetty!

It is the 10th 100 crore film of the filmmaker’s career that boasts of an Indian box office total of 1782 crore with 16 films.

Even with his sterling career and collection of awards, Manoj Bajpayee was still overjoyed after clinching a Special Mention at India’s 70th National Film Awards for his role in family drama Gulmohar. The film also won Best Feature Film in Hindi and Best Screenplay (Dialogues).

Released on Disney+ Hotstar last year, Gulmohar revolves around the multi-generational Batra family who are set to move out of their 34-year-old family home, called Gulmohar. This major change ignites a re-discovery of kinship and familial bonds, while personal secrets and insecurities lurk under the surface.

Sharmila Tagore played the role of matriarch Kusum, while Bajpayee took on the role of her son.

Bajpayee lauded the “collaborative atmosphere” that Chittella’s Gulmohar set provided.

“On set, we don’t believe in hierarchy so we used to all eat and go out for dinners together,” Bajpayee told Deadline. “Some of my ex-colleagues who were not...

Junaid Khan In A Still From Maharaj. (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Aamir Khan’s son, Junaid Khan, is currently facing many struggles due to his debut film Maharaj being put under a scanner. The film, which was supposed to be released on June 15, has been put on hold after the High Court issued a notice in response to objections to it. The stay has been put until June 18, and the film won’t be released until then.

However, Junaid is totally focussed ever since he has stepped into the cinema. While his first film looks for a release, he has completed shooting his second one with Sai Pallavi, is prepping up for his third one with Khushi Kapoor and is considering signing his fourth film, that he has liked!

Yes, you heard that right. Mr. Perfectionist’s son has his career well planned, with three signed films and a fourth in consideration.

Bollywood has a long history of producing hilarious comedy movies that have left audiences in stitches. From slapstick humor to witty one-liners, these films have made us laugh and entertained us for generations. Here are 15 iconic comedy movies in Bollywood that you shouldn’t miss:

Awara Paagal Deewana (2002) – An action comedy film starring Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, and Paresh Rawal. Gol Maal (1979) – A classic comedy starring Amol Palekar and Bindiya Goswami. Chupke Chupke (1975) – A hilarious film about a man who pretends to be a driver to win over his love, starring Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) – A dark comedy that satirizes corruption in Indian society, starring Naseeruddin Shah and Ravi Baswani. Andaz Apna Apna (1994) – A cult classic about two men who try to win over a wealthy heiress, starring Aamir Khan and Salman Khan. Hera Pheri (2000) – A comedy about three men who get caught up in a kidnapping plot,...

Maidaan Box Office Does Not Hold Up On The 2nd Monday ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

It has been another historic day for Ajay Devgn since he collected the lowest for his film Maidaan on the 12th day of its release. The film grew over the weekend with massive jumps of almost 90% but has fallen apart with the second Monday!

Maidaan Day 12 Collection

On the 12th day of its release, early trends suggest that Ajay Devgn’s sports drama has collected almost 80 – 90 lakh, and it would be a herculean task to cross the 1 crore mark.

The massive drop definitely suggests a gloomy week for Maidaan ahead. The film currently stands at 35.69 crore, and there is no significant change in numbers with the 12th-day reports.

Trending Ghilli Re-Release Box Office Day 2: Thalapathy Vijay Is Winning This Kabaddi Match With 50% Higher Collection Than Its Budget!

Madgaon Express Box Office Collection Day 31: Does Well In Its Fifth Weekend,...

Box Office – Do Aur Do Pyaar comes close to 3.50 crores over the weekend, is on the same lines as Laapataa Ladies (Photo Credit –Facebook)

Do Aur Do Pyaar was stable on Sunday as 1.35 crore came in. This is a bit of an increment over Saturday collections of 1.28 crore, though a higher growth that would have taken the film past the 1.50-1.75 crore range would have been even better.

The film is running at the selected count of screens and shows because Eid releases Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Maidaan still have maximum showcasing. For Do Aur Do Pyaar to challenge that further, it needs to keep demonstrating even better occupancy at the screens where it’s already playing so that collections from Monday onwards also keep the momentum going. Looking at the trend so far, it could well turn out to be the case, and hopefully, Bollywood will have something...

Aayush Sharma Breaks Silence On Loveyatri’s Failure!(Photo Credit –Instagram/YouTube)

Aayush Sharma made his Bollywood debut with the 2018 film Loveyatri. It was backed by his brother-in-law, Salman Khan. When he married Arpita Khan Sharma, many accused him of committing to the relationship because of her strong background. But the Ruslaan actor now reveals he was rejected in 300 auditions and didn’t intend to pursue Bollywood. Scroll below for all the details!

The romantic comedy Loveyatri co-starred Warina Hussain. It is inspired by the 2006 Telugu film Devadasu. Released on October 5, 2018, the film earned only 10 crores in its lifetime and was declared a flop. Aayush went on to star opposite Salman Khan in Antim, but the action drama was another box office disappointment.

Aayush Sharma was rejected in almost 300 auditions!

In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Aayush Sharma revealed that he told Salman Khan he didn’t want to be...

Maidaan Box Office Grows On 2nd Sunday ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

They say good things take time to happen, and it feels like Ajay Devgn‘s Maidaan has taken that sweet time since the film has grown over the second weekend surprisingly well. After collecting 2.83 crore on the second Saturday, it took a jump on the second Sunday as well.

Maidaan 2nd Sunday Collection

Helmed by Amit Ravindarnath Sharma, the sports drama performed more than expected on the second Sunday, and the early trends suggest that the collection might come in the range of 3.25 – 3.5 crore for the 11th day of the film’s release.

On the 10th day, which happened to be the 2nd Saturday after the film’s release, Maidaan took an 87.41% jump from the previous day, making a remarkable comeback and cementing its position for a good weekend.

Trending Pushpa 2 Box Office: Allu Arjun Is Ready To Beat Yash,...

Saif Ali Khan Was Thrown Out Of His First Film? ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Actor Kamal Sadanah has recently been in the news after he opened up about losing his entire family on his birthday when his drunk father couldn’t control his rage and shot his mother and sister before shooting himself. The actor lost his family in the horrific incident but decided to live in the same house. Two years after the incident, he made his debut in a film that was supposed to be Saif Ali Khan‘s debut film.

Saif was supposed to star in a film called Bekhudi, which was his debut vehicle, opposite Kajol. The film was being helmed by Rahul Rawail. But after Saif reached the set of his first film, something strange happened.

While Saif and Kajol’s mothers, Sharmila Tagore and Tanuja, were elated that their children were working together on a film,...

Koimoi News Wrap April 21, 2024 – All That Happened In Bollywood, TV & South ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

In Koimoi’s News Wrap for April 21, 2024, we have a huge deal for Jr Ntr’s upcoming pan-India film Devara. Meanwhile, a woman of the moment, Parineeti Chopra, opened up on the unfair competition in the industry and the dark side of Bollywood targeting roles. Spy Universe’s next offering, War 2, is getting bigger, with Hollywood connections hopping in, while the Gujarati film Vash will finally stream online.

Here is all that happened today in the world of Bollywood, TV & South.

Bollywood News 1. Pankaj Tripathi’s Personal Loss Pankaj Tripathi Loses His Brother-In-Law (Photo Credit –Instagram)

It was a heartbreaking day for Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi’s family as his sister battles in the ICU after a road accident while he lost his brother-in-law in the same accident. Our deepest condolences to the family. May...

Bol Bachchan (2012) Was A Remake Of 1979 Film Gol Maal ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

It has been 45 years since Hrishikesh Mukerjee’s classic film Gol Maal was released in the theaters. The film received a cult status the moment people walked out of the theaters smiling. And it still leaves you with a smile whenever you watch the classic.

The film starred Amol Palekar and Utpal Dutt in the lead role, with Bindiya Goswami, Shubha Khote, and Dina Pathak in the supporting lead. It earned a blockbuster status at the box office.

Years later, Rohit Shetty was so inspired by the film that he took inspiration twice. Once for Golmaal: Fun Unlimited, which borrowed only the name of the Og classic, and for the second time, he attempted a remake that was titled Bol Bachchan!

Trending Pushpa 2 Box Office: Allu Arjun Is Ready To Beat Yash, Shahid Kapoor & Others In Star Ranking!

Vote For Best Trailer (Web Series) Of 2023: Farzi To Asur 2 ( Photo Credit – IMDb )

Koimoi Audience Poll 2023: Web series are a big part of the entertainment in our lives. In 2023, we finally got the second season of Asur. It was one of the highly anticipated shows of last year. Shahid Kapoor also made his Ott debut the previous year with Farzi, and the fans waited eagerly after watching the trailers. Today, we bring you the Best Trailer for Web Series nominations.

It was a tough decision for us to select four web series trailers in this category, and now you are responsible for choosing the best with just one click. The web shows kept us sane during the pandemic, and many thrillers kept us glued to our mobile screens.

We have created a Twitter poll with the four Best Trailer (Web Series) nominees and mentioned it at the end of this article.

Content is king is the belief the film industry has thrived upon all along. An appropriate casting as per the needs of the story completed the basics of making a film. A director craved for a good performer rather than a star and did not chase a star just for the sake of it.

It was because of content that films with no star value such as ‘Saraswatichandra’ (Manish), ‘Kora Kagaz’, ‘Dosti’ (Sudhir and Sushil) and ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ (Salman Khan) went on to become hits. These are just a few examples.

Rajesh Khanna had delivered many flops before he could give his first hit and so had Amitabh Bachchan. When a good script that matched their talent and persona came up, it made them a star.

When a star is born thanks to a few huge hits, everybody wants to cast him and this phenomenon causes the downfall of a star.

Content is king is the belief the film industry has thrived upon all along. An appropriate casting as per the needs of the story completed the basics of making a film. A director craved for a good performer rather than a star and did not chase a star just for the sake of it.

It was because of content that films with no star value such as ‘Saraswatichandra’ (Manish), ‘Kora Kagaz’, ‘Dosti’ (Sudhir and Sushil) and ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ (Salman Khan) went on to become hits. These are just a few examples.

Rajesh Khanna had delivered many flops before he could give his first hit and so had Amitabh Bachchan. When a good script that matched their talent and persona came up, it made them a star.

When a star is born thanks to a few huge hits, everybody wants to cast him and this phenomenon causes the downfall of a star.

NewsThe doodle features Sridevi in the middle and elements from some of her most famous movies like English Vinglish and Mr India. In a tribute to legendary actor Sridevi, Google Doodle displayed a colourful doodle of the late actor on Sunday, August 13, to mark her 60th birth anniversary. The doodle features Sridevi in the middle and elements from some of her most famous movies like English Vinglish and Mr India. Born in a small Tamil Nadu village named Meenampatti in 1963, Sridevi was originally named Shree Amma Yanger Ayyappan. She debuted as a child artist at the young age of four in the Tamil movie Kandhan Karunai featuring Jayalalithaa in the lead. Even as a child, Sridevi was able to land lead roles in movies like Thunaivan. Her first role as a teen-adult was in the Tamil movie Moondru Mudichu which released in 1976. Sridevi quickly established herself as a south Indian...

MusicThere are no instruments. The singers take turns to sing, alternately humming and producing instrumental sounds, doing an A cappella in an energetic performance.Courtesy - Instagram / zoeandurgenIt begins with a soft rendition of the Hindi song ‘Gum sum gum’, moves on powerfully to the Tamil version ‘Sangathil’, and then the Malayalam song ‘Thumbi vaa’, all in the span of a minute. Four young singers are on the Instagram reel singing the same song in three different languages, all composed by the maestro of film music, Ilaiyaraaja. Singers Zoe Siddharth and Urgen Yolmo collaborated with Arunaja and Shaur to bring out this reel, which has gone a lot viral in only 10 days. Last checked, it had more than 2.34 million 'likes'. There are no instruments in the video. The singers take turns to sing, alternately humming and producing instrumental sounds, doing an A cappella in an energetic performance. View this post...

Mumbai, July 8 (Ians) Actress Kangana Ranaut on Saturday showered praises on Padma Bhushan and National award winning thespian, Sharmila Tagore for her performance in the streaming family drama ‘Gulmohar’, and termed her craft as ‘elegant’ like the ‘warmth of winter sun’.

In an Instagram story, Kangana shared a smiling picture of Sharmila and penned, “On a different note, I recently saw a lovely film ‘Gulmohar’, (I) was beyond delighted to see veteran super star Sharmilaji back on screen… her screen presence, voice modulation, nuances in her performance was like the warmth of winter sun… so beautiful and elegant.”

The Bollywood diva known for her role in ‘Gangster’, further expressed her desire to see one of the Hindi cinema’s finest actresses, Waheeda Rehman in a full fledged role.

“Now hoping to see Waheeda ji in a full fledged role soon… come on everyone let’s manifest this,” read Kangana’s post.

Ott platforms have not just changed the rules of the entertainment market, they have given, literally, a second life to Bollywood stars who had faded away from the public eye for quite some time. Of late, a number of senior actors, who had virtually retired from the industry or had limited theatrical releases, are now being reinvented and getting a hugely positive response to their work, courtesy of streaming platforms.

Here’s a list of nine actors who are back in the reckoning in their second innings because of Ott:

Harman Baweja

The actor made his debut with the 2008 release “Love Story 2050”, directed by his father Harry Baweja, and charmed the audience with his dancing skills (and little else!), but he was dismissed by all as the poor man’s Hrithik Roshan.

Hansal Mehta’s streaming series “Scoop”, which sees a no-longer-chocolate-boy Harman back in action as Joint Commissioner...

Gulmohar (Disney+Hotstar)

Directed by Rahul V Chittella

Rahul V Chittella has worked extensively with Mira Nair. It shows in his debut film. Gulmohar is like Mira’s Monsoon Wedding without a wedding, or for that matter, even a semblance monsoonal bliss.

There is a peculiar sterility and joylessness about the characters, scattered and rudderless even as they speak repeatedly about keeping the family together, they seem to have little interest in actually sharing the same roof.

Chittella and his co-writer Arpita Mukherjee spread out the plot onto a wafer-thin canvas. For such a tediously skimpy scenario to come alive, one needed a more dedicated storytelling and performances. Tragically the actors seldom get a chance to have a say, let alone cohere in a familial clasp.

This family doesn’t believe in group hugs. The matriarch Kusum Batra(Sharmila Tagore) makes much out of keeping the family together. But she...

Mumbai, Feb 22 (Ians) Actress Kaveri Seth, who is set to make her debut with the upcoming film ‘Gulmohar’, was in awe of her co-actors Manoj Bajpayee, Sharmila Tagore, Amol Palekar and BAFTA award nominee Suraj Sharma.

She said that Manoj treated her like his own student and shared anecdotes from his experience as an actor.

The debutante plays Divya in the film, an accomplished and determined young woman from Delhi who rises above the challenge to strike a balance between her thriving career and her loving marriage with Aditya, played by Suraj Sharma.

The actress said: “‘Gulmohar’ has been a dream project in every way. It’s a beautiful story that has been told with such honesty, and will resonate across generations. It was surreal walking onto a set where there were veterans like Sharmila ma’am, Manoj sir, Amol sir and Simran ma’am. They all have such different approaches to their craft,...

Mumbai, Feb 21 (Ians) Director Rahul Chittella, who is gearing up for his upcoming directorial ‘Gulmohar’, starring senior actress Sharmila Tagore and Manoj Bajpayee, has shared that the actress got back to him in 3-4 days after reading the script.

‘Gulmohar’, which is a drama, also marks Sharmila’s debut in the space of Ott as the film will directly drop on a streaming platform.

Talking about his experience of working with Sharmila, he said, “Sharmila ji literally called me within 3-4 days of reading the script and committed herself to the project. Sharmila ji and I had long reading sessions for each scene of hers. We’d tweak words in the dialogues to what sounds good when she speaks. This kind of diligence and respect for the script comes with complete surrendering to one’s work and not taking it for granted.”

Thoroughly impressed by the legendary actress’s dedication,...

Mumbai, Feb 14 (Ians) National Award winning actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is gearing up for his upcoming release ‘Gulmohar’ and plays actress Sharmila Tagore’s son Arun Batra in the film, shared a fan moment which he had with the veteran actress. The actor is so fond of songs from the actress’s films that he kept singing them on the sets of ‘Gulmohar’.

Recollecting his first meeting with the senior actress, Manoj said, “When I met Sharmila ji for the first time, I was thrilled and excited and told her that I had watched many of her old films while growing up to which Sharmila ji told me, “Manoj just calm down.”

Sharing another nugget, Manoj said, “Somehow the songs from her films would stay in my head, and often I would hear myself humming the songs like ‘Jab bhi ji chahe nayi duniya basa lete hai log’ from the film ‘Daag,...

Farzi is a black-comedy-crime-thriller web series directed by Raj & Dk (The Family Man fame); reportedly conceived as a film in 2014, Farzi was later expanded into a television series by 2019. The expectations from the web series were already high for multiple reasons. The most important being it directed by the ‘The Family Man’ (Tfm) duo, which has already seen two successful seasons. It appears that the success of the second season of Tfm, which had Samantha Ruth Prabhu playing an antagonist gained respect and confidence amongst the other stakeholders so much so that Farzi has multiple heavy weight artists for a web series including Vijay Sethupathi, Shahid Kapoor, Amol Palekar and Raashi Khanna.

Premise

Farzi is about Sunny (Shahid Kapoor), a young boy abandoned by his father left to fend for himself. He befriends Firoz (Bhuvan Arora) on a railway platform. They instantly hit it off as a team of an artist and a marketeer!

ReviewIt’s a relief to watch a well-written Tamil character in a Hindi production, even though that bar is quite low for Bollywood, particularly considering the depiction of Indian and Eelam Tamils in ‘The Family Man’.Starring Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi in his Hindi debut, Farzi tracks a down-on-his-luck artist turned currency counterfeiter and a police officer with a chequered past. Shahid plays Sunny, who makes a little money selling his artwork and spends most of his time helping run his adoptive grandfather’s (Amol Palekar) flailing political magazine. Vijay Sethupathi (or Vjs as he’s often referred to) is Michael Vedanayagam, hell-bent on bringing an end to the counterfeit note racket in the country. Overall, Farzi is an engaging thriller with messy politics, except when the emotional and romantic tracks bring the pacing to a soulless drag. Raj Nidimoru and Krishna Dk, more commonly known as Raj & Dk,...

Disney+ Hotstar production “Gulmohar” marks the comeback film of veteran Indian actor Sharmila Tagore and the feature debut of Rahul V. Chittella.

Tagore, who debuted with Satyajit Ray’s “The World of Apu” (1959) was last seen in “Break Ke Baad” (2010). Chittella has directed a few shorts and previously worked with “Monsoon Wedding” filmmaker Mira Nair.

The cast also includes Manoj Baypayee (Rotterdam competition film “Joram”), Suraj Sharma (“Life of Pi”), Amol Palekar (“Farzi”) and Simran (“Petta”).

Set in Delhi, “Gulmohar” follows the final four days of the Batra family living in their 34-year-old family home as they move to a new city.

The film, co-written by Arpita Mukherjee and Chittella, was born out of the latter’s experiences of having lived and worked in Nair’s house in Delhi, which was subsequently sold.

“I was in Delhi for some meetings in early 2019 and visited the house as it was getting packed up.

Between the Sundance-laurelled “Against the Tide,” “Pathaan'”s thundering box-office and Netflix’s quietly gripping miniseries “Trial by Fire,” India is on a roll in Q1 of 2023, consolidating the recent red-carpet success of “Rrr” and “All That Breathes.”

In theory, that slate should be bolstered further by the return of nifty genre technicians Raj & Dk – writer-director-producers Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K. – who helped renovate the haunted-house movie with 2018’s “Stree” before handing Prime Video one of its biggest Indian hits with “The Family Man.”

Yet the oddly flat “Farzi” suggests the limitations of the pair’s approach – and that even streaming’s brighter minds might be prone to burnout.

Until now, the pair’s formula has been comparable to Xzibit’s on “Pimp My Ride”: take a clapped-out banger of a story and extensively redesign it. “Farzi” pushes its luck from the off with its uncommonly generic, get-rich-or-die-trying plot.

Farzi(Prime Video; 8 episodes)

Directed by Raj & Dk

For a series on counterfeit currency creation , there is a discernible lack of artifice in the presentation. Farzi is a series where its helmers have a firm grip over the narration. The editing is tight and the narrative doesn’t slip through the cracks even once, not even when the characters are hellbent on sinking in their own morass of greed.

Or maybe greed is not the correct word anymore for aspiring to make become rich quick. Sunny and Firoz, played as a study in companionable contrasts by Shahid Kapoor and Bhuvan Arora, have grown up in a world of debt-ridden anxiety. Shahid’s Sunny reminded me of Pavail Gulati’s Abhay in Faadu. Abhay was more demonstrative about his class-related resentment. Sunny is less prone to outbursts. He is more dangerous.

As we follow his journey from his parentless childhood to...

Mumbai, Feb 8 (Ians) National Award winner Manoj Bajpayee, who had taken to his social media and promised his followers to bring together his family to them, which led many to think of the return of ‘The Family Man, announced what he truly meant by his previous video.

Clearing the air, Manoj took to his Instagram on Wednesday to share that it was indeed an announcement albeit not of ‘The Family Man 3′ but of another streaming project ‘Gulmohar’, which will mark th debut of veteran star Sharmila Tagore.

He shared the poster of the film ‘Gulmohar’, which is a multi-generational family drama set in the heart of the capital, and brings together a star-studded cast including the Padma Bhushan and National award winning actress and former Cbfc chief, Sharmila Tagore making her digital debut, Amol Palekar, Suraj Sharma, and Simran.

Talking about the film, Manoj Bajpayee said, “Embarking on a new challenge with the film Gulmohar,...

Bollywood A-lister Shahid Kapoor makes his streaming debut with crime thriller “Farzi” on Amazon’s Prime Video service.

Through his career Kapoor has largely starred in films that are both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, including “Jab We Met,” “Kaminey,” “Haider,” “Udta Punjab” and “Padmaavat,” working with the cream of India’s filmmaking talent.

“Farzi” is led by renowned “The Family Man” creator duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna Dk (together known as Raj & Dk), who are the showrunners, directors and executive producers. The screenplay is written by Sita R. Menon and Suman Kumar along with Raj & Dk. It is produced by the duo’s D2R films.

The show began life as a feature film that the duo were due to make with Kapoor but the story was too large to fit within a two and a half hour time frame.

“I felt that there was a lot of value...

Prime Video’s upcoming web series ‘Farzi’ has created a lot of indistinct chatter ever since its gripping trailer has been released. While the trailer has ignited a fire of anticipation among the audience, one thing that has been eagerly looked up to by the masses is of Shahid Kapoor making his Ott debut with this web series.

The buzz of Shahid Kapoor’s digital debut with Farzi has been echoing around the town and the actor also seems to be equally excited about the same.

Recently during an interview, he opened up about his experience of working in the Ott arena. He said, “It is a lot of firsts. We started talking about the show even before everybody started talking about Ott as an option. When I say everybody, I mean the film fraternity. I love their (Raj Nidimoru and Krishna Dk) shows. I love The Family Man one and two,...

Shahid Kapoor is all set to make his digital debut with Prime Video’s upcoming crime thriller, Farzi. Created by Raj & Dk, who are known for their edgy thrillers, the series has already piqued the interest of the audience. As the fans await for the collaboration to create magic on the screen, the lead actor recently opened up about his experience of working with the director duo.

Talking about working with Raj & Dk, actor Shahid Kapoor shares, “They really allow the actors to come out and express themselves and sometimes they are really worried with what we are doing with the shots. But they let you do what you want to do and I felt very free. I also feel that this show has been made in a very fluid manner. It’s very contemporary the way we shot the show, the way the characters have been written and developed...

Music composer duo Sachin Sanghvi, and Jigar Saraiya, popularly known as Sachin-Jigar have collaborated with Tanishk Bagchi for the music of the upcoming eight-episode crime thriller ‘Farzi’.

The makers have released three tracks from the series and the ace composers spoke about working on the compositions and how they tried to make it perfect to go with the story of the web show.

Tanishk, who is remembered for his tracks such as ‘Bolna’, ‘Ve Maahi’, spoke about the three tracks, titled ‘Aasman’, ‘Sab Farzi’, and ‘Paisa Hai Toh’ and elaborated more about working on ‘Aasman’.

He said: “‘Farzi’ is a crime thriller, so I wanted to make a track that represents the theme of the show. ‘Aasmaan’ is a calming and mellow song that will captivate the listeners and make you want to listen to it on repeat.”

“It’s a very sweet space I wanted to work in, hence...

The song ‘Sab Farzi’ featuring Shahid Kapoor in a refreshing avatar from the upcoming webseries ‘Farzi’ was released on Wednesday.

The foot-tapping number was composed by the music director duo Sachin-Jigar, while the lyrics are penned by Priya Saraiya and sung by singer-actress Saba Azad.

The groovy track is captivating and beautifully carries the essence of the storyline.

Talking about the song, Sachin-Jigar said in a joint statement: “It was fun to collaborate with the talented directors Raj and Dk once again. Our association has worked in the past and we are confident that we will recreate the same magic with this song, ‘Sab Farzi’ from the much-anticipated thriller ‘Farzi'”.

Sachin-Jigar and Raj and Dk have worked on many projects together, such as ‘Go Goa Gone’, ‘Shor in the City’ and ‘The Family Man’.

They added: “We wanted to curate a song that would capture the series’ essence and...

The makers of crime thriller Farzi starring Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi dropped the trailer on Friday. Created by Raj and Dk, the crime thriller marks the digital debut of Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi. The series also stars Kay Kay Menon, Raashii Khanna, Amol Palekar, Regina Cassandra and Bhuvan Arora in pivotal roles, and will stream starting February 10.

The trailer gives a glimpse into the life of a small-time con artist Sunny, who finds himself drawn into the dark while creating a perfect con. However, a fiery and unconventional task force officer has made it his mission to rid the nation of the threat he poses. Spanning eight episodes, ‘Farzi’ is a fast-paced, edgy, one-of-a-kind crime thriller, with the director duo’s trademark humour, stitched around a clever underdog street artist’s pursuit to con the system that favours the rich.

Speaking about the series on the trailer launch day,...

Actors Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi’s upcoming crime thriller web-series is all set to drop on February 10.

Created by Raj and Dk, the crime thriller marks the digital debut of Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi.

The series also stars Kay Kay Menon, Raashi Khanna, Amol Palekar, Regina Cassandra, and Bhuvan Arora in pivotal roles.

‘Farzi’ is the next series from the acclaimed creators of the blockbuster, ‘The Family Man’. Spanning eight episodes, Farzi is a fast-paced, edgy, one-of-a-kind crime thriller, with the director duo’s trademark humour, stiched around a clever underdog street artist’s pursuit to con the system that favours the rich. What ensues is a thrilling cat-and-mouse race between him and the law enforcement where losing is not an option.

Aparna Purohit, head of Originals, Prime Video India said: “Headlined by Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi, who will be making their digital debut with us, the...

S S Rajamouli, the maker of the latest international hit, ‘Rrr’, says that costs charged by stars and directors caused this sorry state of affairs where the Hindi film industry is in the doldrums. The stars took the credit when a film succeeded and went on to increase their remuneration.

It is a myth that a star makes a film work. At best, a star, if popular, can only help bring in the initial footfalls. The rest depends totally on other factors, notably the content, which counts the most.

It is a fact that content makes a star out of any actor. Rajesh Khanna, for example, was created post ‘Aradhana’. As for Amitabh Bachchan, he struggled from 1969 onwards when his debut film, ‘Saat Hindustani’, was released. It was only in 1973 that ‘Zanjeer’ turned into a superstar. Earlier, a producer would go for the talent of an actor. Otherwise, actors such as Sanjeev Kumar,...

Varun Agarwal’s bestseller “How I Braved Anu Aunty and Co-Founded a Million Dollar Company” is being adapted as young-adult comedy-drama film “Bas Karo Aunty!”

The project is backed by some of the biggest names in Bollywood, including the “Dangal” director Nitesh Tiwari and “Break Point” filmmaker Ashwini Iyer Tiwari’s Earthsky Pictures, Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP, Siddharth Roy Kapur’s Roy Kapur Films and Star Studios.

The film is about today’s youth and their dilemmas, the thrills, risks, and romance of embarking on a new life path and chasing one’s dreams, and aims to capture the zeitgeist and entrepreneurial spirit of young India. It is directed by debutant filmmaker Abhishek Sinha and written by Nitesh Tiwari and Nikhil Mehrotra (“Chhichhore”). The cast includes Ishwak Singh and Mahima Makwana (“Antim”). “Bas Karo Aunty!” has started principal photography and will be shot across Mumbai.

Star Studios is the rebranded...

The incredible cast of Sharmila Tagore, Manoj Bajpayee, and Amol Palekar along with Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi) and Simran Rishi Bagga, have come together to bring Rahul Chittella’s family drama Gulmohar, to life.

A heartfelt family drama, Gulmohar revolves around the multi-generation Batra family who is all set to move out of their 34-year-old family home. This moving out triggers a re-discovery of the bonds that have held them together as a family, while grappling with personal secrets and insecurities.

Iconic star-actor Sharmila Tagore, who returns to films after 11 years as the grand matriarch of the Batra family ‘Gulmohar’ said, “After a considerable gap, I am very happy to be in the familiar and well-loved ambience of a film set. I agreed almost immediately to be a part of Team Gulmohar – after the moving narration of this heartwarming and beautifully written story/script. It is a very layered and absorbing family drama.

The shooting of Fox Star Studios, Chalkboard Entertainment and Autonomous Works’ Gulmohar is complete and will release in August 2022. Directed by Azaad director Rahul Chittella, the film’s incredible cast includes multiple National Award-winning actors Manoj Bajpayee, Sharmila Tagore and Amol Palekar along with Suraj Sharma (Life of Pi) and Simran Rishi Bagga in pivotal […]...

Bollywood’s Everyman of the 1970s, veteran actor and director Amol Palekar, known for Hindi classics such as ‘Rajnigandha’, ‘Chitchor’ and ‘Gol Maal’, has been admitted to the Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital here because of Covid-19. The 77-year-old actor’s condition is said to be stable. Palekar has also worked and contributed to Marathi mainstream films and parallel […]...

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...

200 Halla Ho (Zee5)

Directed by Sarthak Dasgputa/Alok Batra

Just the fact that we get to see the ever-dependable Amol Palekar back doing what he knows best after so long, is reason enough to watch this real-life gruesome melodrama about a mass rapist brought to task by a horde of angry women. Angry Dalit women. The difference is vital and it changes the narrative in life as it does in art.

200 Halla Ho is too rough at the edges to be considered art. When we see shouting hooting wailing women swoop down on the culprit armed with knives and red chillies, we are forced to recall Ketan Mehta’s neo-classic Mirch Masala. The women here are not half as beautiful as the ones in Mirch Masala….yeah yeah, I can see those scary women throwing the Dalit card at me.

“Jaati ki kyon na yaad dulaaon jab humein har...