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Anurag Kashyap Joins Adivi Shesh And Mrunal Thakur In Dacoit- Ek Prem Katha (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Adivi Sesh and Mrunal Thakur’s highly anticipated pan-India action drama Dacoit – Ek Prem Katha has revealed another major addition to its star-studded cast. Acclaimed director and actor Anurag Kashyap has joined the project in a powerful role, playing a fearless inspector who is a staunch Ayyappa devotee with no tolerance for corruption.

His character is set to be sharp-minded, witty, and sarcastic, adding depth to a gripping narrative filled with action, emotion, and drama. Kashyap’s role was announced after Thakur was confirmed as the film’s leading lady. Additionally, the team has also unveiled a striking new poster that intensifies the film’s gritty, action-packed narrative.

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Dacoit – Ek Prem Katha follows the journey of an enraged convict seeking revenge on his ex-girlfriend,...

What if someone someday decides to use the fantastic ‘dabba’ (tiffin box) network popular in Mumbai to start a drug business? Well, that is pretty much the story of Netflix’s new Hindi drama series, Dabba Cartel. Starring Shabana Azmi, Shalini Pandey, Jyothika, and Gajraj Rao, among others, the drama is women-centric and has thriller elements. So, how did four (later five) women start a drug cartel from a ‘dabba’ business? Let’s get into the details. Raji had started her food delivery business with her house help, Mala, to help out her husband financially. Hari was an employee at VivaLife Pharma, and his dream was to get promoted and move abroad with Raji. It had only been six months since he’d joined the company, and according to his colleagues, an employee was only sent abroad after they completed three to four years in the company. But Hari wanted to take a shortcut,...

Dabba Cartel Web Series Review: A Winning Meal! ( Photo Credit – Netflix )

Dabba Cartel Review: Star Rating:

Cast: Shabana Azmi, Gajraj Rao, Jyothika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey, Bhupendra Singh Jadawat

Creator: Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur, Akanksha Seda

Director: Hitesh Bhatia

Streaming On: Netflix

Language: Hindi

Runtime: 7 episodes of 50 minutes each

Netflix has arrived with yet another unmissable web series after starting the year with a bang. The Ott platform started 2025 with Black Warrant, a fictional documentation of Tihar Jail and its inner life. And if you have not watched it, you should. But before that, book your weekend for Dabba Cartel, which is too good to be missed! Period! My review might end here since I do not want to spoil this brilliant binge experience but kaam hai to karna hai! So let me just prep you for a magnificent ride you are about to witness!

Netflix’s new Hindi drama series, Dabba Cartel, is the story of a group of women from different walks of life coming together to start a business. The premise was exciting to begin with, and it’s bound to remind you of shows such as Griselda (starring Sofia Vergara) or even the Italian show Bang Bang Baby (available on Amazon Prime). These series have extensively covered women’s roles in drug cartels, but what makes Dabba Cartel interesting is how diverse the gang members were. One event or mistake led to another, and they soon became slaves of their circumstances. But was it the lack of options that turned them into drug dealers, or did they start enjoying the thrill of going against the law? Well, you’ll have to watch the series to find out.

Raji started her food delivery business to support her husband, Hari. He worked for VivaLife Pharma,...

Shabana Azmi’s Take On Dabba Cartel (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Shabana Azmi is one of India’s most celebrated actresses, known for her versatility across commercial and parallel cinema. With a career spanning over five decades, she has delivered powerful performances in films like Arth, Mandi, Masoom, and Fire. Her work has earned her multiple National Film Awards, and she remains a prominent figure in Indian cinema and theater.

Beyond her acting, Shabana comes from an illustrious family. She is the daughter of the legendary poet Kaifi Azmi and theater artist Shaukat Azmi. She has been married to celebrated lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar since 1984. Over the years, she has developed a strong bond with her stepchildren, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and actor-producer Farhan Akhtar. Now, Shabana Azmi is set to appear in Netflix’s upcoming series Dabba Cartel, a crime thriller produced by Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment. Interestingly, the...

Some female directors share a very special rapport with their leading ladies: Aparna Sen and Shabana Azmi in Sati, Kalpana Lajmi and Dimple Kapadia in Rudaali, Gauri Shinde and Sridevi in English Vinglish, Arati Kadav and Sanya Malhotra in Mrs….

Arati remembers her first meeting with Sanya. “In the first meeting itself, Sanya endeared herself so much to me that I really wanted to work with her and learn and grow with her. She made me feel very comfortable in my skin, in being myself, and then, through her own dedication, inspired me to excel. I have grown as a fan, and every day, I have met her. This role in Mrs was very tough, also for an actor who operates with so much empathy, and seeing her break and rebuild herself was something else. Working with her any day is like the best creative day of my life. I...

Latest Ott Releases 2025 (Photo Credit – Netflix/Facebook)

As the week progresses, several exciting films and series are set to make their debut across various Ott platforms.

From gripping dramas to action-packed thrillers, here’s a rundown of the upcoming releases from February 24 to March 3, 2025.

1. Dabba Cartel

Platform: Netflix Release Date: February 28, 2025

Dabba Cartel is a compelling crime drama featuring an ensemble cast led by Shabana Azmi, Gajraj Rao, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, and Shalini Pandey. The series delves into the lives of individuals whose professional choices lead to unforeseen complications. A gripping pharma investigation and a dabba delivery business serving as a front for drug trafficking take center stage in this thrilling narrative.

2. Vidaamuyarchi

Platform: Netflix Release Date: March 3, 2025

Inspired by the 1997 Hollywood thriller Breakdown, Vidaamuyarchi stars Ajith as a wealthy businessman on a mission to find his missing wife. Along the way, he faces complications from various characters, including Arjun Sarja and Regena Cassandra,...

Picture: Netflix

When Netflix announced its creative partnership with Excel Entertainment in 2021, one of the first projects mentioned was the drama series Dabba Cartel. (A ‘dabba’ is a metal lunchbox.) Since then, Excel has delivered three Netflix Originals: the 2022 comedy series Eternally Confused and Eager for Love and the 2023 films Friday Night Plan and Kho Gaye Hum Kahan.

Work continued on Dabba Cartel, with Excel assembling a dynamite crew of women in front of and behind the camera to bring the suburban crime series to life. A first look at the new show was revealed on February 29, 2024:

The series is created by Shibani Akhtar, Gaurav Kapur, Akanksha Seda, and Vishnu Menon, who co-wrote the show with Bhavna Kher. Hitesh Bhatia (Sharmaji Namkeen) directs.

What is the plot of Dabba Cartel?

Here’s how Netflix describes the series:

“Dabba Cartel is a unique tale of a reluctant cartel: the lives...

Shabana Azmi reminisces with Subhash K Jha in this interview about the experience of making Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. (2007), which also featured the brilliant cast of Boman Irani, Abhay Deol, Minissha Lamba, Kay Kay Menon, Raima Sen, Karan Khanna, Sandhya Mridul, Vikram Chatwal, Ameesha Patel, and Dia Mirza.

This was your first film for your son Farhan Akhtar’s production house?

I had a ball doing Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. My kids (Farhan and Zoya Akhtar) are involved with it. I’ve a very small part.

You had never been paired with Boman Irani before?

Boman plays this Christian Goanese guy. I play this Muslim woman. He plays a brash man. My character is more genteel. I love my look in this film. I kept telling the clothes designer Arjun Bhasin that after this film, he won’t be getting any more assignments. All of us are so atrociously dressed by design.

Subhash K Jha revisits 2007 and the zany film Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd, which starred the brilliant cast of Abhay Deol, Minissha Lamba, Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani, Kay Kay Menon, Raima Sen, Karan Khanna, Sandhya Mridul, Vikram Chatwal, Ameesha Patel, and Dia Mirza.

Reema Kagti’s debut film Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd has enough chutzpah to keep you purring at the blend of parody and pathos. Once you get into the narrative groove of these imperfectly matched couples riding into a hectic, hilarious honeymoon in Goa, you’re in for a minor treat. The six couples are joined at the hip and the lip by some commanding inflexions that bind the people in a tongue that’s easy to identify… provided you’ve ever been married. Even if you haven’t been on a honeymoon, get a load of these feisty honeymooners, feasting on the first flush of love, romance, sex,...

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.

Subhash K Jha takes a look back at Ram Madhvani‘s drama Neerja starring Sonam Kapoor which released in 2016. We also have incredible quotes from Sonam, Shabana Azmi, and director Ram Madhvani about the making of this outstanding film, so be sure to read all the way to the end.

The biggest surprise of Neerja was not its heartrending recreation of a real-life tragedy. It was the fact that director Ram Madhvani got an actual performance from Sonam Kapoor.

Ten minutes into the film, when we see Neerja dancing to Rajesh Khanna’s ‘Bye bye miss goodnight’ from the film Premnagar, I wanted to believe in the reality about Neerja Bhanot that director Ram Madhvani and his ingenious writer Saiwyn Quadras has so diligently and faultlessly put across immortalizing the memory of the slain brave heart even while giving Indian cinema yet another example of its growing maturity.

Neerja is...

Get ready for Dabba Cartel , releasing exclusively on Netflix February 28th. The noir drama series, directed by Hitesh Bhatia, features an incredible cast of Shabana Azmi, Gajraj Rao, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Bhupendra Singh Jadawat, and Lillete Dubey.

What starts as a simple lunchbox service soon spirals into a perilous game of crime, deception, and survival. The trailer for Netflix’s Dabba Cartel offers a gripping look into the lives of five middle-class women whose reluctant dabba business takes an unexpected turn — thrusting them into the heart of a high-stakes drug cartel. As the plot thickens, the women and their husbands become entangled in something far more sinister — the murky world of Viva Life Pharmaceuticals. The series unfolds in the bustling suburbs of Thane, where ambition meets danger at every turn. As the double lives of the members of the Viva Life company unravel,...

25 years ago, the face of Indian television changed beyond recognition. Nobody—not even the enterprising, far-sighted Star Plus boss Sameer Nair, who surreptitiously initiated moves to import Who Wants To Be A Millionaire (Kaun Banega Crorepati) into this country—could have guessed what was in store for and on Indian television in and from July 2000 onwards.

The other channels were left looking like honorary denizens of the idiot box (with the stress on idiot). From a distant third, Star Plus simply swept past the competition to emerge way ahead of Zee and Sony Entertainment, who didn’t know what hit them until it was too late.

Who would have thought that Kaun Banega Crorepati would change us into a nation of knowledge-thirsty gamblers? Now children in their free time no longer play—or watch—Antakshari. They play Kaun Banega Crorepati, and everyone wants to be Amitabh Bachchan. An unprecedented Gk wave took over the country.

Subhash K Jha revisits Vishal Bhardwaj’s 7 Khoon Maaf in this cool feature. As a bonus, we hear from star Priyanka Chopra about the making of the dark film that released in 2011.

How do we make sense of a woman who’s an incorrigible potentially-loathsome serial spouse-killer who, when challenged about her weird passion for changing husbands by divine decree rather than the law of the land, turns around and says, “This heart of mine, it’s to blame.” Wicked laughter follows. And dammit, we are amused!

How the flock–and I do mean the flock of fumigated husbands–does one make head or ‘tale’ of such a woman? Well, the first thing a director with a canny sense and sensibility does is sign Priyanka Chopra to play the wretchedly unfulfilled, genetically incomplete woman, a living, throbbing warning against the institution of marriage! Priyanka, not for the first time, proved...

Once in a blue moon, the central performance in a film is so powerful it overshadows the overall excellence of the work. It happened with Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth, where Shabana Azmi towered over what was an intrinsically laudable film.

In debutant co-directors Tanushree Das and Saumyananda Sahi’s Shadowbox (Baksho Bondi in Bengali), the immeasurably accomplished Tillotama Shome sets the screen ablaze with her intense portrayal of Maya , a woman on the brink of a complete breakdown, coping, enduring surviving as she has no other option. Set in what looks like a small town in West Bengal, Maya’s fight for survival is never seen as a trigger for drama. There is a kind of acceptance of circumstances which a multitude of working women from the grassroots would recognize.

Whether ironing clothes and delivering them on her bicycle to her customers or trying to give her mentally challenged husband...

It is final and it is confirmed from the horse’s mouth. A while back, I connected with Shekhar Kapoor to ask him whether his daughter Kaveri is a part of Masoom 2, and Shekhar replied in the affirmative.

Shekhar Kapoor also revealed the stunning cast of his proposed sequel.

Masoom 2 will star the stalwarts from the original Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah, who will be getting together for the first time since the short film Rice Plate in 2007.

And that’s not all. Shekhar reveals that Manoj Bajpayee and Nithya Menen will also star in Masoom 2. For both the national award winners, this will be the first film with Shekhar Kapoor.

Shekhar proudly points out that Masoom 2 stars four National Award winners: Naseer, Shabana, Manoj, and Nithya.

This, we have to see.

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.

2025 looks like a bleak year for the leading ladies, at least in Hindi cinema. Worldwide, too, the really brawny ladies are hardly poised to shine this year: Meryl Streep has no release this year, while her desi counterpart Shabana Azmi will be shining on the Ott platform in Farhan Akhtar’s Dabba Cartel. Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Katrina Kaif have zero releases this year. Put simply, there are no big Shero films coming up in 2025.

There are exceptions, though.

1. Alia Bhatt: She is arguably the one Bollywood queen who will lord over the marquee this year, first in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, where she plays the centre of Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal’s attention. Bhansali has modelled Alia’s looks on Vyjayanthimala. In Alpha, which comes at the end of the year, Alia acquires an action Shero’s avatar.

2. Priyanka Chopra: Straddling both the Bollywood and Hollywood hemispheres,...

3 Reasons Why Netflix Has Gotten Your 2025 Binge List Sorted (Photo Credit – YouTube/Instagram)

The Ott streaming platform Netflix announced its exciting lineup for the year 2025. Needless to say, it has gotten your binge list covered for this year. Here are 3 reasons why Netflix’s list of offerings will leave you spoilt for choices and redefines the digital sphere like never before

3 Reasons Why Netflix Has Gotten Your 2025 Binge List Sorted

1- Exciting Lineup Of Thrillers, Action & Romance

When it comes to romances, the Ott streaming platform offers movies like Aap Jaisa Koi, starring R Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Naadaniyan, which marks the debut of Saif Ali Khan’s son Ibrahim Ali Khan opposite Khushi Kapoor. Then there is the Yami Gautam and Pratik Gandhi starrer romantic flick Dhoom Dhaam which marks a romantic story in the backdrop of an adventure. While the Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar starrer...

Netflix has revealed its Indian content slate yet for 2025, spanning over 25 titles across films, series, and unscripted programming, featuring major Bollywood stars and marking several significant debuts.

In the romantic drama “Aap Jaisa Koi,” R. Madhavan and Fatima Sana Shaikh star in what’s described as a heartwarming tale from Dharmatic Entertainment. Another romance, “Dhoom Dhaam,” follows a timid momma’s boy and a daring wild child on their wedding night, starring Yami Gautam Dhar and Pratik Gandhi, alongside Eijaz Khan and Prateik Babbar.

The slate brings Ibrahim Ali Khan (son of Saif Ali Khan) and Khushi Kapoor together in “Nadaaniyan,” a modern love story about a South Delhi diva hiring a middle-class boy as her fake boyfriend. The cast includes veterans Mahima Chaudhary, Suniel Shetty, and Dia Mirza.

Saif Ali Khan headlines “Jewel Thief – The Heist Begins,” joining forces with Jaideep Ahlawat and Kunal Kapoor in a high-stakes heist...

In Deepa Mehta’s screen adaptation of Salman Rushdie’s epic novel Midnight’s Children, Darsheel Safary got his second chance in a row to play the lead actor for the second time in a row after Taare Zameen Par at the age of 15. In this exclusive interview, he speaks about the experience.

Darsheel, Midnight’s Children completes twelve years?

Midnight’s Children was an incredibly ambitious and unique project. Playing Saleem Sinai right after Taare Zameen Par was both exhilarating and challenging.

The two characters were completely different from one another?

Ishaan Awasthi was a deeply internalized character, but Saleem had an epic, almost mythical journey, growing up in a newly independent India, dealing with questions of identity, destiny, and personal transformation.

What was it like being directed by Deepa Mehta?

Deepa Ma’am is known for her bold and visionary storytelling. I feel she saw in me a certain rawness and...

Get ready for an ordinary dabba (lunchbox) to unravel a world of felonies and misdeeds, where what you see is never what you get. Dabba Cartel set in the Mumbai suburbs of Thane, is a heady concoction of thrill, drama, and a lot of suspense.

Produced by Excel Entertainment and directed by Hitesh Bhatia, Dabba Cartel is a riveting drama, set to premiere on February 28 on Netflix. Created by Shibani Akhtar, Vishnu Menon, Gaurav Kapur, and Akanksha Seda, the series features an acclaimed ensemble cast, bringing together powerhouses like Shabana Azmi, Gajraj Rao, Jyotika, Nimisha Sajayan, Shalini Pandey, Anjali Anand, Sai Tamhankar, Jisshu Sengupta, Lillete Dubey and Bhupendra Singh Jadawat.

Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, producers of Excel Media and Entertainment Llp, share: “Dabba Cartel marks an exciting new chapter for us as we collaborate with Netflix. This series is a dramatic tale of five everyday middle-class women reluctantly starting...

From Vishal Bhardwaj’s Shakespearean trilogy Maqbool (based on Hamlet), Omkara (Othello) and Haider (Hamlet), Maqbool is the rawest, most honest and untarnished adaptation.

Maqbool transports us to a threshold of pain and redemption hitherto unknown to Hindi cinema. Because this is Shakespeare’s Macbeth trans-located to Mumbai’s underworld, and because Bhardwaj has selected a dream cast to portray his nightmarish world of crime and retribution, Maqbool takes its emotional content beyond any other film from the genre.

The writing on the wall is so clear, coherent, and redemptive that even Shakespeare would smile indulgently at the artistic liberties Bhardwaj has taken with the original text. Maqbool opens a whole new universe of passion- play, unexplored in the original text. Bhardwaj reveals the politics of lust and passion with a sure-handedness seldom witnessed in Hindi cinema.

Hence, the King from Shakespeare becomes a doddering, paunchy underworld kingpin, Abbaji (Pankaj Kapoor...

The year 1980 was crucial for Naseeruddin Shah. It was the year when two of his career’s most decisive films, Saeed Mirza’s Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai and Sai Paranjpye’s Sparsh, were released within months of each other. While in Mirza’s film, the indomitable Naseer played a very angry member of a minority community, in Sparsh, he again played an extremely marginalized character from another minority community. The community of the blind. Unlike Albert Pinto, who was perpetually angry, Anirudh Parmar in Sparsh loses his cool only when reminded of his physical specialness.

Back then, blindness was known as a handicap. And Anirudh, steeped in righteous pride, won’t bear with the ‘h’ word. What makes Sai Paranjpye’s Sparsh such a special film about a specially-abled character is Anirudh’s stubborn refusal to be slotted as a victim. So dogged is Anirudh in circumventing...

In 2025, a host of talented filmmakers are leading the charge in creating compelling female-centric stories across films and series. These directors are spotlighting women’s voices and experiences in narratives that span genres like drama, action, sports, and historical biographies. Here’s a closer look:

Hitesh Bhatia – Dabba Cartel

Known for his heartwarming directorial debut Sharmaji Namkeen, Hitesh Bhatia ventures into bold, uncharted territory with Netflix’s Dabba Cartel. The series, set in Thane, Maharashtra, revolves around five women who create a thriving drug cartel. This gripping narrative, created by Shibani Dandekar and produced by Excel Entertainment, features a powerhouse cast including Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Sai Tamhankar, and Shalini Pandey. With this project, Bhatia crafts a unique blend of empowerment, suspense, and resilience, demonstrating how women band together to defy societal norms. Amrit Raj Gupta – Daldal

Director Amrit Raj Gupta, who brought relatable family stories to life with Gullak, now...

2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for Hindi film, with many intriguing stories getting ready to play the big screen. Subhash K Jha reveals his selections for the five movies that must be seen at the cinema!

1. Loveyapa:

The chemistry between Sridevi’s daughter Khushi and Aamir Khan’s son Junaid in this cute-as-a-button love story is the highlight among many highlights of the Madhu Mantena production. After this Valentine’s Day release, directed by Advait Chandan, there will be a queue of producers signing this screen pair together and apart. Loveyapa is the Bobby of our times. And that’s saying a lot.

2. Lahore 1947:

Raj Kumar Santoshi is back in form in this heartrending drama of a family during the Partition trying to retain their ancestral home in Lahore. Lahore 1947 also stars Aamir Khan, Sunny Deol, Preity Zinta, and Shabana Azmi. While Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta,...

by Rita Dutta

The Bengal Renaissance depicts a tale of a bygone era—a period that symbolizes Bengal’s encounter with a cultural revolution that redefined the course of history. Known as the cultural capital of India, Bengal cemented this status during this transformative time. Highlighting its engagement with liberalism and modernity, this intellectual and nationalist movement gave rise to a cultural elite that shaped the social and political landscape of Bengal and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta).

Within the Bengal Renaissance, one of the most significant phenomena was the emergence of bhadramahilas (educated women of the middle class). While striving to establish the supremacy of the bhadralok (educated male gentry), these women also created space for their own emancipation, both within the household and in the public sphere. Modern working women in the city draw inspiration from these pioneers. Among contemporary cultural icons, Aparna Sen stands as a living legend who...

Welcome to a multi-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.

(Due...

Shabana Azmi had the rare privilege of playing both wife and daughter to Soumitra Chatterjee. “But then he had the rarest privilege of doing fourteen films with Satyajit Ray. I was in a film group that was honoured at the prestigious George Pompidou Centre in Paris sometime in the 1980s and it was so incredible to watch the adulation showered on him by French fans. In Paris, they called out to him as Apu (from Satyajit Ray’s Apur Sansar) and Amal (from Ray’s Charulata) and rushed to get photographed with him. Soumitrada seemed to to take it all in his stride and said modestly, ‘It’s because Ray made these characters so memorable that I’m reaping the benefits.’ I was amazed at how lightly he wore his fame.”

Recalling her own experiences of collaborating with Soumitrada as a co-actor Shabana says, “I had the honour of working...

India’s most prolific director Shyam Benegal released two very dissimilar, almost antithetical films. To no one’s surprise, both Zubeidaa and Hari Bhari, released within two weeks of each other, attracted sizeable attention from both the critics and the discerning public. Here, in this throwback interview, he talks about his two films.

Was it difficult to make Karisma Kapoor do the more complex scenes in Zubeidaa?

No, no. I personally believe that if an actor knows the character’s motivations, it’s her own intuitive interpretation of the character that makes the performance work. But the actor Must understand the character’s motivations. Sur mein hona chahiye, na? The actor must know why her character is placed in a situation, where she’s coming from and going.

You’ve already said Karisma Kapoor has given a performance on a par with Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. Were you tempted...

Jio Studios and Stage5 Productions’ Bun Tikki, a poignant coming-of-age drama exploring the intricate dynamics of a father-son relationship, had its global premiere at the prestigious 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) in California. The event was a stand out at the festival, drawing attention from global cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers, and industry leaders alike.

The screening was graced by renowned fashion icon turned producer Manish Malhotra who was joined by debutant feature film director Faraz Arif Ansari and lead actor Abhay Deol.

At the screening, director Faraz Ansari said “ Bun Tikki is a really special film for me. It stems from the love and empathy that my mother instilled in me during my growing up years. There was a lot of love and empathy at home which was a super power that my mother gave me and I believe it reflects in my story telling and I feel that...

Pioneering director with a vital role in India’s ‘parallel cinema’ movement who used his films to explore difficult issues

The Indian film-maker Shyam Benegal, who has died aged 90, was a pillar of the “parallel cinema” movement, the informal grouping of independently minded and funded creatives whose work stood in stark, socially committed contrast to the song-and-dance escapism of Bollywood.

Responding to real events and centred on marginalised characters (often women), Benegal’s breakthrough films of the 1970s rejected the cosmetic, crowd-pleasing approach of the Hindi mainstream. Yet they found an appreciative audience both at home and abroad, helping to make household names of such performers as Shabana Azmi, Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah.

Picking the best Shyam Benegal movies is an embarrassment of riches. His body of work is unprecedented for Indian cinema. My delightful dilemma was not about which ones to choose but about the ones to abandon. He interrupted Hindi film’s archetypal romance, drama, and comedy strips. Shyam Babu (as he is fondly referred to) stubbornly defied the saleable account with social pragmatism. He also spearheaded the fractures that were commencing to surface in the society due to the chaotic socio-political environment of a young nation in 1974, the year he debuted. He triggered and became the colonizer of parallel cinema in India with his path-breaking debut feature, Ankur (1974). Mr. Benegal has won seven National Awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi throughout his career!

Self-admittedly, Shyam Benegal’s style of filmmaking is heavily inspired by the works of Satyajit Ray. And if you observe closely, you could also find impressionable,...

Pioneering Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal died Monday in Mumbai following a chronic kidney disease. He was 90.

His daughter Pia Benegal confirmed the news to India Today. He had recently celebrated his 90th birthday with friends, family and the likes of Shashi Kapoor’s son Kunal Kapoor, according to the local outlet.

Benegal was a pioneering film director, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker, widely regarded as one of the best since the 1970s.

He started his career working as a copywriter for a Mumbai advertising agency while simultaneously making documentaries. He made his first, Gher Betha Ganga (Ganges at the Doorstep), in 1962.

Benegal rose to fame with a move into feature films in the early 1970s. His first, Ankur (The Seedling), starred Anant Nag and Shabana Azmi and was a critical and commercial success. Ankur was followed by New Indian Cinema hits including Nishant Manthan and Bhumika. His other credits of many down the years included Trikal,...

Shyam Benegal, a pivotal figure in Indian cinema known for his incisive and socially conscious storytelling, died on Monday in Mumbai following a chronic kidney ailment, his daughter confirmed to India Today. He was 90.

His career, spanning over five decades, left an indelible mark on the film industry, blending art with activism and bridging the gap between mainstream and parallel cinema. He was instrumental in shaping India’s New Wave cinema movement, also known as Parallel Cinema, in the 1970s.

Benegal began his career in advertising before transitioning to filmmaking, a move that would redefine Indian storytelling. His debut fiction feature, “Ankur” (1974), became a cornerstone of Indian cinema, earning critical acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of social hierarchies and gender dynamics. The film, which played at the Berlinale, won multiple Indian National Film Awards and launched the career of actor Shabana Azmi.

Over the years, Benegal’s body of work...

Ustad Zakir Hussain Dies At The Age Of 73 In San Francisco (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The Music Industry is currently mourning the death of Ustad Zakir Hussain. The Tabla Maestro passed away in the US, fighting certain health ailments at the age of 73. Sadly, the news broke at a time when he was still struggling for life, and his family requested to pray for his life.

But the family confirmed that he died at a hospital in San Francisco. “He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy cherished by countless music lovers around the globe, with an influence that will resonate for generations to come,” said the statement from the family.

“He passed away very peacefully after the ventilation machine was switched off. This was 4 pm, San Francisco time,” said Ustad Zakir Hussain’s sister, Khurshid Aulia, in a statement to Pti quoted by Ndtv. Singer Sonu Nigam shared the news of him...

Shabana Azmi’s illustrious career began with her Christopher Columbus Shyam Benegal’s Ankur which kickstarted her romance with immortality.

Now when Benegal turns 90, Shabana turns emotional as she says, “I wish him a very long and healthy life. He changed the face of Hindi cinema and I am so fortunate to have started my career with him. If not for him, my career would have taken a completely different trajectory if I had not started with Ankur.

She fondly sees Shyam Babu as much more than a filmmaker. “He is my mentor and guru, albeit a reluctant one. But above all the other equations that I share with him, I consider him a dear dear friend. I don’t have enough words to describe what he means to me. I value the fact that he takes the trouble to call me when he has watched a performance of mine,...

Dharmendra Summoned Over Cheating Case (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Veteran actor Dharmendra is facing legal issues. The Patiala House Court in Delhi has summoned him over a cheating case involving his restaurant franchise, the Garam Dharam Dhaba.

The summons was issued following a complaint by a businessman who alleged that he was cheated into investing in the restaurant franchise. Two others have also been named in the case.

Dharmendra Summoned by Court for Involvement in Cheating Case

Delhi-based businessman Sushil Kumar has complained that Dharmendra’s co-accused approached him to invest massive amounts of money in the Garam Dharam Dhaba franchise in exchange for profits; however, he never got to establish the restaurant.

Trending “I’m sure everybody will love it” – Sunny Deol Compares Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana With Avatar & Planet Of The Apes!

Kareena Kapoor Says Laal Singh Chaddha Has Done ‘More For Her Than Singham Again,’ Here’s Why...

Kareena Kapoor Compares Laal Singh Chaddha with Singham Again (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Kareena Kapoor is currently riding high on the success of Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again, which has collected over Rs. 250 crore domestically. However, box office collections do not seem to be the priority for the diva.

In a new interview, Kareena spoke about how much she enjoyed playing Rupa in the 2022 film Laal Singh Chaddha opposite Aamir Khan. Though the film bombed at the box office, Kareena says she is proud of the project as it has done more for her than Singham Again did.

Kareena Kapoor Compares Laal Singh Chaddha with Singham Again

Kareena Kapoor recently appeared at The Hollywood Reporter India’s actor’s roundtable alongside Shabana Azmi, Rajkummar Rao, Vicky Kaushal, Kani Kusruti, Pratik Gandhi, and Anna Ben.

Trending Varun Dhawan Net Worth: A 76% High Jump In Only 3 Years Proves That This Baby John Actor Is Living A Bawaal Life!

Tabu is onto the next level of her career. In her first Hollywood project she is part of the incredibly revered Dune:Prophecy series.

Tabu’s former brother-in-law Vindoo Dara Singh is full of affection and respect. “She is an eternal superstar.I can’t wait to see her in Dune.”

Tabu’s aunt the formidable Shabana Azmi can hardly contain her pride at Tabu’s achievements. “It is not a small thing to be in the Dune franchise. The series is a global phenomenon. I believe Tabu has made quite an impact. I am so proud of her. She has lived life on her own terms and carved a unique place for herself in her long career. Few know that she has a whacky side to her, is a terrific mimic and can be great fun when she lets her hair down.”

Continues the affectionate Aunty, “Tabu is very special.

Jio Studios and Manish Malhotra’s Stage5 Production proudly present Bun Tikki, a poignant coming-of-age drama exploring the father-son bond, set to have its World Premiere at the prestigious 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival (Psiff) in California on January 5, 2025. Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, who makes their debut as a feature film maker, Bun Tikki stars cinematic legends Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman and Abhay Deol along with Nushrratt Bharuccha and Rohaan Singh. Bun Tikki is a heart-warming tale of family, love and identity.

Bun Tikki follows the journey of seven–year–old Shanu and his single father, Sidhant. Shanu grapples with self-discovery amid societal challenges, while Sidhant navigates grief and societal pressures as a single parent trying to understand his child. Through heartfelt performances and emotionally driven storytelling, the film explores the theme of parenthood, love, and resilience in the face of adversity.

Faraz Arif Ansari, an international award-winning filmmaker,...

Apc, Hat Trick & Dcd Joins Forces For London Screenings

A trio of distributors will join forces to showcase their latest wares at next year’s London TV Screenings. About Premium Content (Apc), Hat Trick International (Hti) and Dcd Rights will combine to introduce buyers to content at an event on Tuesday, February 25 at the Vue West End in Leicester Square from 4.30pm-7.30pm local time. Apc co-founders Emmanuelle Guilbart and Laurent Boissel and Hti chief Sarah Tong noted how combing efforts would allow time-stretched acquisitions execs access to more programming during an increasingly busy week of international screenings. Dcd Rights and Hat Trick have jointly screened at the Vue for the past two years. Dcd Rights CEO Nicky Davies-Williams said she was “pleased to have Apc join us and Hti for our annual screenings and drinks at the Vue, which has proved to be a must attend event over the past years.

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Studios and Stage5 Production’s “Bun Tikki,” starring veteran Indian actors Shabana Azmi and Zeenat Aman alongside Abhay Deol, has been selected for a world premiere at the 36th Palm Springs International Film Festival in 2025.

The coming-of-age drama, helmed by first-time feature director Faraz Arif Ansari, follows a seven-year-old named Shanu and his single father Sidhant as they navigate family dynamics and identity. The pic marks the second festival outing for the Jio Studios-Stage5 Production partnership, following “Saali Mohabbat” at the ongoing International Film Festival of India (Iffi).

Stage5 Production, founded by fashion designer Manish Malhotra, produced the film alongside Jio Studios. Malhotra serves as producer with Jyoti Deshpande, Dinesh Malhotra and Marijke deSouza.

The cast is rounded out by Nushrratt Bharuccha and Rohaan Singh. The film centers on themes of parenthood and resilience, with Shanu grappling with self-discovery while his father deals with grief and societal pressures.

Last week, the indomitable Shabana Azmi has finished attending The Three Continents Festival (Festival des 3 Continents) at Nantes in France where she honoured for 50 years of acting.

The audience gave her a standing ovation.

“It was overwhelming, to say the least. I am an Indian actor, and my core audience is Asian. Of course, I know my films have gone beyond the Asian diaspora. But to know that it has gone so far, that my films are watched by so many, is a sobering experience. I can’t say I deserve so much praise,” says Shabana emotionally.

The formidable actress, considered the finest living Indian actress by many, has special words for the learned audience at Nantes. “They do their homework, ask the right questions. They are erudite and eager to know more about our cinema.”

She is now looking at the next level in her career. “I don’t know what it would be.

National Awards are widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in Indian cinema, valued for their integrity, lack of commercial flamboyance, and support for alternative, parallel, and small-budget yet impactful films across various languages and regions of the country. The National Award is a badge of honor for the filmography of any actor. Compared to other award ceremonies, National Awards are largely considered more authentic and unbiased, as these awards are selected by a jury of esteemed people.

Over the years, National Awards have diversified with many new awards introduced over some time. However, the diversification of the awards has also led to controversies regarding the awards and their adherence to unbiased selection. Time and again concerns were raised regarding the selection of artists for the National Awards, particularly in the case of films like “Rudaali” (1992), “Daman” (2000), Hum Tum” (2004), “The Kashmir Files” (2021), etc., and artists like Kirron Kher,...

Shabana Azmi is in and out of cities these days. Shabana Azmi’s 50-year journey as an actor continues to be celebrated all over the world. Now it is at the Nantes Film Festival in France.

Sighs the formidable actress, “Nowadays I am living in suitcases. Itni travelling toh maine pehle kabhi nahin kee hai.”

Her work has consistently found favour in France where retrospectives of her films have featured at George Pompidou Centre, Cinematheque , and earlier at Nantes festival of three continents where Godmother was the opening night film in 1997. In 1989 At the Biennale of Human Rights in France she was chosen as one amongst sixteen women including Mother Teresa, Rigoberta Menchu , Albertina Sisulu , who were honoured by President Mitterand for her human rights work for slum dwellers and women’s rights activist and for using cinema as a medium of social change.

At the prestigious Nantes Film Festival,...

Michael Gracey’s “Better Man,” a profile of British pop star Robbie Williams, will open the 55th International Film Festival of India (Iffi) with its Asian premiere. The Australian production kicks off the festival’s run from Nov. 20-28 in Goa.

Veteran filmmaker Phillip Noyce will receive the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the festival. The Australian director, known for his collaborations with Harrison Ford, Nicole Kidman, and Angelina Jolie, joins Iffi as the festival spotlights Australia as its Country of Focus.

The competition section features 15 feature films vying for the Golden Peacock award. Indian filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker chairs the international jury, joined by Singaporean writer-director Anthony Chen, British producer Elizabeth Karlsen, Spanish producer Fran Borgia, and Australian editor Jill Bilcock.

The Indian Panorama section will present 25 fiction feature films and 20 documentaries showcasing the country’s linguistic diversity. Randeep Hooda’s “Swatantrya Veer Savarkar” in the Hindi language opens the documentaries segment.

Chand Mera Dil: Ananya & Laksh Are Bringing An ‘Ishq-Wala-Love’ Story! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

If love happens somewhere in the most magical way, it has been in the Dharma Productions film. And Karan Johar’s team is back with another intense love story starring Ananya Panday and Lakshya, with both of them enjoying their newfound stardom, turning into Gen-z stars with the success of their recent films Ctrl & Kill!

Their upcoming project, directed by Vivek Soni, is titled Chand Mera Dil. The first look posters of this romantic drama are beautiful with the new romantic couple of Dharma Ananya & Lakshya making for a very believable jodi after Ranbir-Deepika and Varun-Alia.

The tagline for the film says, “Pyaar mein thoda pagal hona padta hai,” with the two stars looking deeply and madly in love. We need to remember this line because we know for sure that it is gonna stay once the...

Shabana Azmi turns all gooey-eyed while talking about dear friend Aparna Sen. “I’m sorry this is going to sound hagiographic but that’s because you’ve caught me in this frame of mind ! She is my dearest dearest friend. I love and respect her. She is an extremely intelligent person and one can discuss any subject with her. She and I have formed a relationship over the years where I immediately fall into a daft mode in her presence and she scolds me like a school teacher!”

Shabana loves Aparna not only as a friend but also as a cineaste. “Her understanding of cinema is deep and I wish I could get her funds to make films without ever caring about budget constraints. It’s not that I adore all her films . I am honest with her about my appraisal of her films and she takes it in the...