'He is a different personality, maybe that's why I married him.'
'What a talent, what an actor! 'Cast him as anyone, anything, and he is ready for the challenge. I get restless when I don't have him in my film.'
Asrani may have never been a marquee name up in sparkling lights or on outsized posters but the sheer proficiency with which he realised his characters has unleashed gales of laughter over five decades and made a significant contribution to several landmark films. Dinesh Raheja salutes the iconic actor.
In 1973, several major leading ladies like Mumtaz, Raakhee, Jaya Bhaduri, Dimple Kapadia, Tanuja, had married and retired from films. Producers wanted a new heroine as a replacement. Many thought Sulakshana was a Mumtaz lookalike and was soon persuaded to sign on multiple films as a leading lady.
Dharmendra's oeuvre was so phenomenal that there was never a phase in his professional life when he was in danger of falling into a rut, in terms of either the kind of films he starred in or the sort of co-actors he worked with.
'I don't have many friends. The ones that I have, I'm very proud of and happy with.'
While Amitabh Bachchan's chemistry with his heroines -- from Jaya Bhaduri to Rekha to Hema Malini -- brought sizzle to his films, many of his biggest blockbusters have been powered by his combustible combination with male co-stars.
'I owe what Shakti became as much to Mr Bachchan as Salim-Javed.'
What if Sholay were produced now, in our technologically advanced era, with AI vying for our attention?, asks Atanu Biswas.
Sholay's Basanti is the face of women's empowerment and gender equality. That's why, half a century after the movie first released, we're still talking about her.
As a uniquely multi-hyphenated writer-director-lyricist-author, Gulzar has built a reputation across multiple spheres of film-making and literary creative endeavours. Dinesh Raheja salutes the Master who turns 90 on Sunday.
Amitabh, Jaya have been married for 47 years!
Rehana Sultan was all set to be a path-breaker. The time was right. Hindi cinema had emerged from the 1960s musicals era. But somehow, leading film-makers of the time did not believe Rehana had that cachet. It was Zeenat Aman who ended up being the definitive taboo-trasher of the era. Dinesh Raheja salutes the trendsetter of the 1970s, Rehana Sultan.
Angry Young Men misses some important elements of the Salim-Javed story including an understanding of the duo's creative process. In fact, the two men do not even appear together in the same space in the series.
If there's one thing the full-of-beans star knows, it's how to stay happy, observes Dinesh Raheja.
Jaya is a woman of steel in the truest sense of the word. Despite being the first lady of filmdom, she's as real and rooted to the ground as anyone can get, notes Subhash K Jha on the actor-politician's 74th birthday.
'Aren't they supposed to be very serious actresses? Where did all the masti come from?'
'I could tell there was an extraordinary intensity about Amitabh Bachchan even in bad films.' 'Kuch baat thi.' 'Salim saab and I insisted on casting him in Zanjeer.'
Sukanya Verma looks at husband and wife filmi collaborations.
'Then suddenly, I was out, Jaya was doing Guddi instead.'
As Jaya Bachchan turns 73 today, Subhash K Jha remembers her lesser known performances.
'A simple boy from Gurdaspur, whom I caught glimpses of when he was sitting alone in his penthouse, reflecting on life and how far he had come.'
Ahead of Bollywood's big fat Punjabi wedding, Namrata Thakker looks at other Bollywood celebrities who hosted their nuptials in Mumbai.
Hrishida's Abhimaan captured the real life pair Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan's dazzling chemistry in the many stages of the husband-wife relationship, observes Sukanya Verma.
Using snatches of a cult favourite or evergreen classic in its original form for action, comedy or romance can transform the entire vibe of a scene.
Amitabh celebrates his wedding anniversary...Kareena has a warning...
Are you ready for Bollywood's HOTTEST Students?
The good old days... Dharmendra and Jaya Bachchan's is a bonding that is special and rare in an industry where friendships are ephemeral. Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani is their sixth film together, after Guddi, Samadhi, Phagun, Chupke Chupke and Sholay.
Here's how the Bachchans spent their weekend.
As Dilip Kumar turns 98 on December 11, Subhash K Jha brings us some lesser known facts about the thespian.
Joining the rank of artists like Jaya Bhaduri, Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Farooq Sheikh and Paresh Rawal who have performed across America, a new generation of brilliant Indian artists, including Konkona Sen Sharma and Ranvir Shorey, are appearing in a play in 10 American cities.
'I have the love of the audience for the last 60 years.' 'I am very greedy in this matter.' 'I want those who love me to continue doing so.'
Amitabh Bachchan was preparing to pack up his bags and return to Allahabad if Zanjeer failed.
Cutting across party lines, it was an unusual gathering of 15 Members of Parliament. Amar Singh, Jaya Bhaduri [Samajwadi Party], Ravishanker Prasad, Manvendra Singh [Bhartiya Janata Party], and many Congress MPs took part in a discussion on initiatives to tackle malnutrition at a conference organised by GAIN ( Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition ) in New Delhi on Wednesday.
If fate had willed, Alia Bhatt's first movie co-star would have been Aditya Narayan, singer Udit Narayan's talented son.
An excerpt from his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan's autobiography.
Ross and Rachel end their super long break. Kate Winslet solves Easttown's grimmest mystery. Huma Qureshi gets political in Bihar. All this and more on OTT this week notes Sukanya Verma.
Had he not taken his final curtain call on April 23, 1992, Satyajit Ray would still, undoubtedly, have been making movies.
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