San Francisco is a coastal megacity yet at times it can feel like a foggy hill station full of picturesque views, recalls Dinesh Raheja after visiting one of America's prettiest cities.
Kamini Kaushal was one of the top three heroines of the 1940s, alongside Suraiya and Nargis. Dinesh Raheja lists 10 songs that defined her career.
Snapshots from Asha Bhosle's life.
John Abraham and Bipasha Basu emerged as a popular power duo who set new fitness goals for their audience.
Meena Kumari would nudge a blushing Suraiya on the sets of Sanam and whisper 'Aa rahe hai... aapke' when Dev Anand sauntered onto the sets.
Shammi Kapoor and Mumtaz were at different stages in their lives -- he had already enjoyed stardom for a decade while she had just graduated to leading lady roles.
'I am smitten with Tokyo's eclectic mix of modern cosmopolitanism and old world Japan,' confesses Dinesh Raheja.
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.
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.
One of the reasons for Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor's break-up was reported as family pressure.
In this special series, Dinesh Raheja explores prominent music duos, and the dynamics that went into the making, and the unmaking.
Vijayta Pandit has revealed that Gaurav's father, onetime jubilee star Rajendra Kumar, made sure that she never signed another film with his son Kumar Gaurav despite filmmakers clamouring to repeat their pair.
Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor juggled their personal lives with the pressures of fame and stardom... till they couldn't anymore, and decided it was just not meant to be.
The relationship high point was reached on Amitabh Bachchan's 60th birthday party, when Jaya Bachchan called on stage 'my to-be daughter-in-law Karisma Kapoor'.
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.
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.
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.
'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.'
On Raj Kapoor's 38th death anniversary on June 2, 10 soundtracks that reflect the creative crescendos scaled by RK and his musical team.
'I am definite his intention is to improve his singing and to reach even greater heights as an artiste.'
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.
It is impossible to discuss Asha Bhosle without mentioning the word 'versatility', notes Dinesh Raheja.
In this special series, Dinesh Raheja explores prominent music duos, and the dynamics that went into the making, and the unmaking.
'You are scared about the next film: 'Will it work? Will it be as good as my previous film?' Deep inside, I think everybody is scared.'
'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.'
'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.'
'I am happy showing my age. I don't want to look 20 years younger than my age. Neither have I done any cosmetic surgery nor do I want to.'
'Zarine spent her last autumn this year with my sister in Kashmir.' 'There, almost as a gentle premonition, Zarine said to my sister, "When I go, let my ashes be scattered across this valley".'
'Despite acting in some 100 films and television plays, people still remember the daadi of Hum Log.'
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.'
'This leading filmmaker told me: "Don't let the industry cake you up with makeup and wigs. You are a breath of fresh air".'
'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".'
'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.'
S D Burman is that unique composer who remained successful right up to his death with his creative engines never running on empty.
