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The sheer beauty of Varanasi—the temples, the river banks, the aroma of incense—floods you as Pankuj Parashar—the man who’d have been ‘kink’ (remember Jalwa and Chalbaaz) goes into a heady but steady spiritual quest. Banaras works on several levels. As a film that takes us right into the heart of the holy city, it’s a splendid occasion for sights and sounds seldom heard in contemporary cinema.

Full and irrevocable marks to cinematographer Nirav Shah, music composer Himesh Reshammiya, and background scorer Surinder Sodhi for adding a luminous layer to this mellow drama of some lyrical beauty. These technicians are, at their best, creating a world of optical and spiritual salvation without hampering the flow of the romantic tale that takes hold of the director’s vision and guides him into a soul-searching exercise of considerable sensitivity and compassion.

Admittedly, director Parashar’s quest to fuse...

When Anil Kapoor Was Allegedly Insecure About Sridevi’s Celebrity Status (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Anil Kapoor and Sridevi were among the most loved pairs in Bollywood. They gave some of the biggest hits in the 1980s and 90s. From Lamhe to Mr India and Judaai, their pairing was a super hit. They had crackling chemistry, and both of them were huge stars. However, Kapoor was allegedly insecure about the late actress’ stardom. She looked good with Jeetendra, Mithun Chakraborty, and Rishi Kapoor.

Sridevi was a versatile actress who performed every character with conviction. Her acting prowess left the fans mesmerized, and they loved watching her on the big screen. Anil and her comic timing were on point, and they were on demand as the duo featured in around fourteen movies in their career. After a certain point, they did not feature in any film together, and then, in 2018, the actress passed away suddenly,...

Arshad Warsi recently shared an experience from the 1990s involving his work as a choreographer on the film Roop Ki Rani Choron Ka Raja, where he claimed to have been underpaid despite saving the production money by finishing his work in less time. According to Arshad, he was promised Rs 1 lakh for choreographing a song but received only Rs 75,000 because he completed the work in three days instead of the expected four.

Boney Kapoor, the producer of the film, responded to these claims in an interview. He dismissed Arshad’s complaints, stating that Arshad was not a star at the time and questioning why such a large amount would have been promised to him. Boney also mentioned that there was no formal agreement regarding payment and that the amount Arshad received was consistent with the Rs 25,000 per day rate that had been set.

Boney Kapoor further explained that the film’s director,...

In celebration of Lord Shiva’s Maha Shivratri, one of the most prominent festivals of the Hindu calendar, we bring you some of our favourite Lord Shiva related Bollywood songs.

As we explore a few of the different shades that Bollywood has celebrated Lord Shiva through, we take you on a very quick journey beginning in 1950, with the song “Bhole nath se nirala” to end with Koyla’s (1997) mischievous “Bhang Ke Nashe Mein”.

Known by at least 1008 different names, including “Kailas” (One who bestows Peace), “Shambu” (Source of everything) and “Hari” (Sustainer and Destroyer), Lord Shiva is said to have married Parvarti on Maha Shivratri. Other readings of Hinduism state that Maha Shivratri is the night on which Shiva performed “Tandava” – the dance that led to the creation, conservation and destruction of the Universe.

Maha Shivratri is also known as Lord Shiva’s favourite day.

However you may be celebrating...

The 12th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival has organised a special section “Hindi Mood for Marrakech” this year to mark the centenary year of Indian cinema. Some of the Hindi films to be screened are Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Barfi!, English Vinglish, Don and Don 2.

An outdoor screening of selected films from Bollywood will be organised at the Jemaa el Fna square, each evening of the festival.

A delegation of Indian actors, directors and producers, lead by Amitabh Bachchan has been invited to attend a tribute ceremony on Saturday, December 1, 2012.

The festival will run from 30th November – 8th December, 2012.

Films to be screened under ‘Hindi Mood for Marrakech’:

Yash Chopra:

Jab Tak Hai Jaan

Amitabh Bachchan | Actor

Black by Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (Happiness & Tears) by Karan Johar

Agneepath by Mukul Anand

Silsila by Yash Chopra

Deewar by...

Katrina Kaif will reportedly be seen playing a double role in an upcoming production. The Tees Maar Khan star is to play two parts in a Dibakar Banerjee project, The Times of India reports. A source told the newspaper: "This is an age-old Bollywood tradition. When Hema Malini was at her peak, Ramesh Sippy made Seeta Aur Geeta with her. Likewise when Sridevi was riding a crest of popularity, Pankuj Parasher made Chaalbaaz with her. "Now, since Kat is the golden girl of Bollywood, (more)...

Earlier this month, Kundan Shah, Naseerudin Shah and Ravi Baswani met after a long gap for coffee. The winning combination of Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron (1983) wanted to make a sequel.Now, the plan is stalled. Baswani is no more. The 63-year-old actor, who had charmed the audience with films like Chashme Baddoor (1981) and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa (1993), suffered a massive heart attack today when he was returning from Shimla. He acted in nearly 30 movies and a number of television serials."I am shocked to hear this. We had almost decided on the script and things were going as planned. But life is unpredictable," says Kundan Shah. The director had met Naseerudin Shah and Baswani four or five times recently to discuss the sequel.Kundan Shah first met him in the 1970s when Baswani, a National School of Drama Graduate, had just moved to Mumbai from Delhi. "Those were his struggling days.

Filmmaker Pankuj Parashar has always been obsessed by the use of new technology in the medium of cinema. Now he has taken his obsession into the realms of digital art, with digital paintings; a hobby he has cultivated at home with the use of high-end software. This week, the maker's digital paintings are being displayed at 'Out Of The Blue' art gallery in Mumbai along with other works of well known artistes. The proceeds of the sales would be going to Deeds public charitable trust....

Filmmaker Pankuj Parashar has always been obsessed by the use of new technology in the medium of cinema. Now he has taken his obsession into the realms of digital art, with digital paintings; a hobby he has cultivated at home with the use of high-end software.

This week, the maker’s digital paintings are being displayed at ‘Out Of The Blue’ art gallery in Mumbai along with other works of well known artistes. The proceeds of the sales would be going to Deeds public charitable trust. “I’m quite excited and anxious to see the response, as this is the first time my digital paintings.

Kamlesh Pandey, who had started his scripting career, as a writer with Pankaj Parashar’s Jalwa, has indeed come a long way. Among the films, which he has written, are Tezaab, Chalbaaz, Dil, Saudagar, Khalnayak, Beta, Zinda and many more, not forgetting the landmark film Rakyesh Mehra’s ‘Rang De Basanti’. We had a chit chat with the writer about his new film Delhi6 and his journey in the field of writing.

Why did you choose writing as your career?

I couldn’t do anything else, so I chose writing as my career option. I was poor in math’s, was.