'I often give myself a pat on the shoulder, reminding myself that I've done a good job considering where I started and the mindset I grew up with.'
V Shantaram is a historical biographical drama that honours the life, spirit and cinematic uprising of one of India's most visionary storytellers.
As 2025 draws to a close, film folk recap the year, and tell Subhash K Jha what excites them most about 2026.
'We don't make films for profit and that's exactly why profit follows.'
Aseem Chhabra ranks the Best of 2025's films that released in theatres, or went directly to OTT platforms.
Malayalam movie star Dileep's latest film Bha Bha Ba has sparked controversy after a scene was widely criticised for appearing to reference a real-life criminal case linked to the actor. The sequence has drawn strong reactions online, with many viewers calling it insensitive and questioning the ethical responsibility of the filmmakers.
2025 started with a blockbuster in Chhaava and ended with an even bigger one in Dhurandhar. There have been other Hindi hits too, and we take a look at the Top 10.
Ernakulam Principal Sessions Judge Honey M Varghese acquitted Dileep of the offences charged against him in the case after the trial that lasted around eight years.
After being unwell for several days, Dharmendra breathed his last on November 24.
Indian films are set to cross A$39 million at the Australian box office in 2025, outperforming local cinema and becoming the third-largest after the US and UK.
In 2025, the top actresses remained absent, the ones who could have commanded strong roles. In any case, great roles for women are not even written in mainstream cinema, but when they get a role worth working for, they did their best.
'He is truly the most deserving actor for the most prestigious award.'
Bhansali Productions will retain creative control, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali, founder, Bhansali Productions, said that for him, powerful and meaningful cinema requires time, trust, and a deep respect for the process, which the company was able to align with Saregama India.
The cricketing fraternity on Monday paid glowing tributes to veteran actor Dharmendra, who passed away in Mumbai at the age of 89.
'The industry has lost a legend... and we've lost someone who shaped the very soul of our cinema.'
Writer and director Anusha Rizvi returns to cinema after 15 years with warmth, wit and many a laughs.
The year had a variety of films to choose from. Not all of them were successful at the box office, but had merit.
South Indian filmmakers have kept their focus on the single-screen cinemagoer. They have kept their finger on the pulse of the single-screen cinema fan, who goes to movies once a month or more, to forget his weekly chores, explains Ambi Parameswaran.
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.
Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol unveiled a bronze statue of their iconic characters, Raj and Simran, from Aditya Chopra's blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in London on December 4.
'A life-changing moment would be when I met Anushka, because I saw a different side of life. It wasn't similar to my environment; it was a different perspective, a different point of view, so that's what is life-changing.'
The court, however, found six others, including prime accused Sunil N S alias Pulsar Suni, who directly committed the crime, guilty.
Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 may be a comedy filled with chaos, but in its indirect way, it speaks about a time when the Constitution mattered more than one's religion and when the idea of India was larger than personal hate, observes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
Despite suffering a personal tragedy weeks ago, when his father -- the legendary actor Dharmendra -- passed away, Sunny Deol stoically returned to work, and put the spotlight on his upcoming film, Border 2 at its teaser launch in Mumbai.
'I won't do anything I don't believe in just for money.'
As the year draws to a close, Rediff's Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya takes a look at the hits and misses, the highs and lows, the newsmakers and the dealbreakers in alphabetical order.
Quite similar to the hero introduction scenes in Kollywood movies, the elaborately staged sequence combines slow-motion shots, silhouettes, and high contrast lighting to enhance the dramatic narrative.
Christmas Karma narrowly misses being a highway pile up, mainly because its heart is in the right place, believes Deepa Gahlot.
Why did Lifestyle Asia magazine honour these Bollywood personalities?
She is no longer Samantha Ruth Prabhu. She will be known henceforth as just Samantha.
'It feels like the universe gently whispered, 'Pause, don't rush away yet, there's a story waiting for you here'.'
We look at the longest Hindi movies through the years, and interestingly, most of them have done well.
'We have come to the point in civilisation where emotion seems to be something you hide or you have to be discreet about, or to be ashamed of.'
Raveena Tandon's daughter Rasha Thadani is all set to make her Telugu debut opposite Mahesh Babu's nephew Jaya Krishna Ghattamaneni, in a film to be directed by Ajay Bhupathi.
Dhurandhar's most dangerous idea is that Director Aditya Dhar envisions an Indian state run by a deep state -- an intelligence machinery not accountable to Parliament, courts, or voters. A future political system where unelected officials decide when Indian democracy is 'fit' to function, observes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'The audience has accepted Tere Ishk Mein with all its flaws. My film doesn't need any other validation.'
Gustaakh Ishq feels like a cinematic revival of everything we once loved about Urdu story-telling, observes Syed Firdaus Ashraf.
'Every film had its challenges, but Mr India, Sadak and Gandhi were the toughest.' 'Mr India needed imagination, Sadak needed sensitivity and Gandhi demanded historical authenticity.'
'I was just a little kid in a darkened theatre, and I remember that beam of light just cut across the room, and I remember looking up, and it seemed to just explode on the screen.'
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