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.'
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.
On the basis of his rogueish Veeru in Sholay and Parimal in Chupke Chupke, Dharmendra softened his He-Man image and went on to do a series of charming comedies.
'Now when I'm a mother and have two sons, I do look back and say, "Oh my God! What was I thinking?"'
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.
Dharmendra remained one of the most loved stars of all time, even when his movies tapered off, and age caught up with him.
'I wanted to do something different, so I turned Dharamji into Hardy, making him waddle with Naseer's stick-like Laurel.' 'People enjoyed seeing him in these avatars. When you work with an evergreen superstar like Dharamji, you can make such 'items'.'
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 don't have many friends. The ones that I have, I'm very proud of and happy with.'
'Look after your own mother before looking after your neighbour's mother.' 'I don't believe in starving my own mother and feeding sweets to the neighbours.'
'He was a man of immense conviction.' 'Whenever I'd question him, he would say, "Leave aside your logic-wogic. Just do what I tell you".' '"Just trust me. It will work".'
Dinesh Raheja charts the highs and lows of Hrishikesh Mukherjee's creative association with five megastars -- Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Raj Kapoor, Dilip Kumar and Dharmendra.
'Why don't I organise an auction of cinematic memorabilia?' recalls Dinesh Raheja. 'There are sure to be legions of film buffs who will cherish the chance to own souvenirs intimately associated with their favourite stars onscreen.'
Among Manmohan Desai's blockbusters is the one that is most loved by audiences: Amar Akbar Anthony.
Sukanya Verma looks at instances of aristocrats falling for commoners on the silver screen.
'Dharmendra was paying a little extra attention to me and she didn't like it.'
Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola is titled after the principal characters of the film, like two of Desai's popular films.
Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's little daughter Raha greeted the media with a cheerful 'Merry Christmas' that won everyone's heart!
'Rekha and my wife were close friends, and my so-called cold war with Rekha was causing difficulties in my wife's friendship with her.' 'She patched us up for her own selfish reason.'
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is going full throttle with its creeps and cackle, which marks the addition of Madhuri Dixit and re-entry of the OG Manjulika, Vidya Balan.
Zeenat Aman and Neetu Kapoor recorded their episode of Karan's show last week, and they were a riot together.
'Kaala's sin is not that it is presented as a mouthpiece for its director Pa Ranjith's political viewpoints, but that it makes a travesty of them.' 'Ranjith turns Marx into merchandise, all the while functioning as a hired hand for Brand Rajinikanth,' points out Sreehari Nair.
Mithun Chakraborty started from scratch in bit roles and had no Godfather backing him. Yet, remarkably, his career now straddles six decades and he continues to win acclaim, observes Dinesh Raheja.
'...but the incredible person you were.' 'I am deeply thankful for having known you, for the love and the challenges we shared.' On Parveen Babi's 70th birth anniversary on April 4, Mahesh Bhatt pays tribute to the woman who held a special place in his life.
Brinda examines some alarming aspects of religious fanaticism through the narrative engine of a well-oiled serial killer mystery, observes Arjun Menon.
'Paap Aur Punya was not a success but I recall it with fondness because we had so much fun.' 'In one sequence, Shashi gets beaten by goons.' 'Saif toddled into the frame to rescue his Shashi Uncle from these bad people since no one else was doing the needful!'
Forty four years after Mohammed Rafi's untimely demise on July 31, 1980, at the young age of 55, the singer's work continues to enjoy a musical afterlife on radio, television and modern streaming channels.
'Salman wanted to do the interview properly. That's why he was nervous, you know, that dad should be happy.'
Prayag Raj, who was so successful at his peak, ought not to have slid into oblivion, observes Deepa Gahlot.
From melodrama to mockery (remember Amar and Prem's phony separated-at-Kumbh Mela reunion in a gag of Andaz Apna Apna?), there are numerous instances of its presence.
'I'm talking about that predator in your house, and how one should protect one's children from him.'
'Writers are always nervous.' 'If you go to a party, you will notice that the writers are always in a corner of the party, looking anxious, sweating and tense about something or the other.' 'I am that kind of person.'
If you think Bollywood's kitschy overkill from the 1980s is stuff of throwback terror, wait till the big, bad, bold fashion of the 1970s is unleashed upon you.
Sanjay Gadhvi once revealed to Subhash K Jha that he never wanted to make Dhoom.
'I was sure Amar Akbar Anthony would flop.'
'I would rather focus on the good rather than what didn't happen.'
Sukanya Verma looks at all the wonderful, wacky and woeful ways Bollywood has portrayed blindness on screen.
Sukanya Verma takes a look at all the strange ways Hindi films has dealt with the memory loss syndrome.
Bunty Aur Babli turns 15 while Amar Akbar Anthony turns 43.
'When he was invited on Koffee With Karan, he did not ask for the questions beforehand, like many stars do.' 'Vijay was quite taken aback when Karan launched into a sex discourse.'
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