Dinesh Raheja

Stories by Dinesh Raheja

Why Shatrughan Sinha Didn't Marry Reena Roy

Why Shatrughan Sinha Didn't Marry Reena Roy

Rediff.com   14 hours ago

Shatrughan Sinha and Reena Roy's journey towards a happy ending hit a speed bump -- Shatru already had a long-standing girlfriend in actress Poonam Chandiramani.

Why Rajesh Khanna, Anju Mahendru Broke Up

Why Rajesh Khanna, Anju Mahendru Broke Up

Rediff.com   1 days ago

When Rajesh Khanna was a superstar in the early 1970s, female fans would write letters in blood to him. But the man himself had eyes only for one woman: His girlfriend Anju Mahendru.

'Rekha-Akshay Were Very Keen To Do Sensual Scenes'

'Rekha-Akshay Were Very Keen To Do Sensual Scenes'

Rediff.com   1 days ago

'Dilip Kumar was a dream. The only regret I have in life is that I could not give him his last hit.' 'He loved every minute that he was on the set. I had set up a particularly long shot.' 'We did a number of takes mostly because somewhere he would mess up his line.' 'Then he sat down and fired himself: "Apne aap ko actor samajhta hai! Dilip Kumar! Acting toh aati nahin tujhe".' 'He shot again and did a great job.'

When Saif Ali Khan Was 'Homeless And Penniless'

When Saif Ali Khan Was 'Homeless And Penniless'

Rediff.com   6 days ago

'One day, I was working in my office late in the evening when suddenly the peon comes and says Saif Ali Khan has come to meet you.' 'Saif told me, "I'm desperate. I've been thrown out by Sattee Shourie, I'm homeless and penniless. Can you do a film with me?"' 'I thought about it and saw him in the character which I was writing.' 'So I gave him a cheque of Rs 5,000 and said, "We'll work together".'

'Let's Wait For Arijit Singh To Rise In The Way He Wants To'

'Let's Wait For Arijit Singh To Rise In The Way He Wants To'

Rediff.com   31 Jan 2026

'In future, if Arijit Singh decides to enter the field of playback singing again, nobody should ever question him or ask why he has returned after retiring.'

'Would Have Liked To Record Songs With Arijit Singh'

'Would Have Liked To Record Songs With Arijit Singh'

Rediff.com   29 Jan 2026

'I am definite his intention is to improve his singing and to reach even greater heights as an artiste.'

When Nanda Got Engaged To Manmohan Desai At 53

When Nanda Got Engaged To Manmohan Desai At 53

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2026

Nanda says of Manmohan Desai: 'I wanted a husband who doesn't bow down before anyone else.' 'He has worked with Amitabh Bachchan in so many films but it's always on a one-to-one basis. I admire that.'

'I Just Flowed Where Life Took Me'

'I Just Flowed Where Life Took Me'

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2026

'The Dhamaal director wanted an innocent guy who's still like a child. He hinted that my voice was very strong.' 'I worked it out: I got this dungarees look, made him slouch, got rid of the bass in my voice, and added a lisp to make him cuter.' 'These are things an actor does because you want to bring something to the table.'

'I Can Be A Whacked Out Person'

'I Can Be A Whacked Out Person'

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2026

'Had I been launched as a leading actor, it would probably have worked better.' 'Prabhu Devaa came eight years after me. Maybe if a filmmaker had thought of a film for me like the ones he got, my career would have been a different trajectory.'

Music In 2 Minutes: The Jatin-Lalit Story

Music In 2 Minutes: The Jatin-Lalit Story

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2025

Jatin-Lalit's music score for Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge is one of the best-selling soundtracks of all times and their Pehla Nasha is a song for the ages.

Music In 2 Minutes: The Nadeem-Shravan Story

Music In 2 Minutes: The Nadeem-Shravan Story

Rediff.com   16 Dec 2025

The duo converted musical notes into bank notes with a steady spate of 1990s musicals such as Aashiqui, Saajan, Dil Hain Ke Manta Nahin, Raja Hindustani and Pardes.

How India Struggles With Sleeplessness

How India Struggles With Sleeplessness

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2025

'Sleep is when your blood pressure falls; this nocturnal dip is when the heart gets rest.'

Rajinikanth's Love Affair With Bollywood

Rajinikanth's Love Affair With Bollywood

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2025

Rajinikanth may have made his last Hindi film two decades ago but he can still set the screen alight, blazing away with a gun that has dozens of barrels. As Thalaiva turns 75 on December 12, Dinesh Raheja looks back at his 17 year journey in Hindi cinema.

'I Was Becoming A Mini Dilip Kumar'

'I Was Becoming A Mini Dilip Kumar'

Rediff.com   11 Dec 2025

'Dilipsaab was an interesting mix of spontaneity and stylised acting.'

Music In 2 Minutes: The Husnlal Bhagatram Story

Music In 2 Minutes: The Husnlal Bhagatram Story

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2025

In this special series, Dinesh Raheja explores prominent music duos, and the dynamics that went into the making, and the unmaking.

What Made Bappi Lahiri Such A Rage

What Made Bappi Lahiri Such A Rage

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2025

Bappi Lahiri realised disco was a winning ticket and escalated his game with several more dancefloor perennials. Soon, every film producer and music director in town was down with disco fever. On what would have been Bappi Lahiri's 73rd birthday this November 27, Dinesh Raheja rewinds to the late music composer's halcyon days.

'I Want To Leave People With Hope'

'I Want To Leave People With Hope'

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2025

'It's far-fetched to say that human thinking will become subservient.'

Music In 2 Minutes: The Kalyanji-Anandji Story

Music In 2 Minutes: The Kalyanji-Anandji Story

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2025

Music director duos are a unique Bollywood feature, and many have become iconic. In this special series, Dinesh Raheja explores prominent music duos, and their dynamics.

Dharmendra Was The He-Man Of Bollywood

Dharmendra Was The He-Man Of Bollywood

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2025

Dharmendra's demise means the loss of one of the biggest icons ever in the Hindi film firmament.

What Made Geeta Dutt's Life So Tragic

What Made Geeta Dutt's Life So Tragic

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2025

The song that best encapsulates Geeta Dutt's unfairly abbreviated life would probably be: Yaad Karoge, Yaad Karoge, Ek Din Humko Yaad Karoge. On her 95th birth anniversary on November 23, Dinesh Raheja pieces together the life of this talented singer.