Vijaya Mehta's eyes were always twinkling, her smile was always warm, her sari usually a collector's piece. She put on no elder statesman airs. But when she was in director mode, she allowed her actors and technicians no slack. Deepa Gahlot doffs her hat to the undisputed doyenne of Marathi theatre and one of India's most influential directors and actors, who shaped the landscape of Indian experimental theatre.
Vijaya Mehta, a pioneering figure in modern Indian theatre and cinema, has passed away at the age of 91.
'She taught us that acting wasn't something people did because they couldn't do anything else. It was a skill. A skill that needed to be constantly polished and shaped, and the respect you command with that.'
'People often say acting cannot be taught, but it can be learned. I've always believed that, and I've been a sincere student.'
One of the finest minds in theatre, besides being an exceptional actor and filmmaker. She showed me just how much I still had to learn and understand.'
Bollywood is gearing up for a romantic May, with a diverse slate of films including romcoms, historical epics and family dramas.
Not only is Samay Raina going the Kapil Sharma route by bringing celebrities as special guests on his show -- which also means he has to be careful that his jokes don't land them in trouble as well -- but he also has to promote sponsors blatantly, observes Sreeju Sudhakaran.
'I was very close to Kader Khan. Whenever he wrote dialogues and scenes, he would often write my name next to certain roles. He would personally recommend me to directors. Such was his stature that directors would immediately pay attention to his suggestions.'
Ironically, only three films have crossed over to the Rs 100 Crore (Rs 1 billion) Club so far. We look at the half yearly box office report.
From blink-and-miss song appearances to scene-stealing guest roles, Hrithik Roshan has turned even cameos into memorable moments.
It's going to be a busy month on OTT as several series and original movies get ready for release. June's OTT guide also includes quite a few digital premieres of theatrical releases.
Riteish Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji has become the highest-grossing Marathi opener ever, while Aamir Khan's Ek Din faced a disastrous opening at the box office.
'When a story is presented to you on a large screen, they will know there are a lot of things that are not shown in the history books.'
Anurag Kashyap, despite his claims of being done with Bollywood, continues to deliver compelling cinema, with his latest film 'Bandar' set to release on June 5.
Screenings of the Marathi film 'Manache Shlok' were disrupted in Maharashtra due to objections to the title. The director, Mrunmayee Deshpande, expressed disappointment, and the film will be re-released with a new title. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant criticized the protests.
As Riteish Deshmukh turns director again with Raja Shivaji, we look at past actors who stepped behind the camera and delivered some of Hindi cinema's most memorable films.
The Indian Navy has been recognized as the best marching contingent among the armed forces at the Republic Day Parade. Maharashtra won for states/UTs, and the Culture Ministry for ministries/departments.
The Bombay High Court has ruled that the name of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in any form cannot be the subject matter of exclusivity, clearing the path for Mahesh Manjrekar's new Marathi movie, 'Punha Shivaji Raje Bhosale', for release on Friday as scheduled.
They Call Him OG topped the gross domestic box office collection with Rs 224 crore (Rs 2.24 billion).
Aseem Chhabra ranks the Best of 2025's films that released in theatres, or went directly to OTT platforms.
Over 25 years, societies evolve and tastes change. Cinema absorbs and reflects this transformation. Picking only 25 films from the first quarter of the century is tough.
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.
'Every day you're learning and wanting to find something new.'
'He was a true actor, not in this for fame or money, but just for the sake of being in front of the camera.'
Bollywood seems to have ignored the month of September, with only two Hindi releases coming up in theatres. But cine-goers need not worry, as Hollywood and south cinema makes up for it.
The casting of Marathi theatre and screen actors gives Manvat Murders its stamp of authenticity, observes Deepa Gahlot.
'Raj Thackeray is working at the behest of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.'
For a film with such a grand vision, Sangeet Manapmaan needed more flamboyance to make it a memorable affair, feels Mayur Sanap.
Dinesh Raheja salutes Sandhya, the acclaimed dancer who passed into the ages on October 4.
'Nawaz's character was created around Vikram Betaal.' 'Betaal was a little more gimmicky, funny; he would laugh at you, tease you.' 'That's why I made Nawaz very quirky.'
Pratik Gandhi and Patralekhaa stepped out to watch their new film, Phule, at a special screening in Mumbai.
'Gen Z was devoid of love stories with sad endings like Heer Ranjha, Laila Majnu or Romeo Juliet; they have never seen something like this in their lifetime.' 'Saiyaara is a rooted love story.'
'Like me there are crores of Marathi people in the state hoping for this miracle to work.'
Ajay Devgn can't be Singham all the time, so he returns to his goody avatar as the turban-clad Sikh lad Jaswinder 'Jassi' Singh in Son of Sardaar 2.
A year after she gained widespread recognition for her work in All We Imagine As Light, which won the festival's prestigious Grand Prix award, Chhaya Kadam makes her return.
Oscar-winning Producer Guneet Monga Kapoor made her mark on Cannes 2025 by launching a new initiative that spotlights three rising women producers from India, part of her newly-established Women in Film India chapter, reported Variety.
'It pains me when Marathi film-makers come to me and say that Marathi cinema is not getting the right platform.'
The tone of the film may be gloomy but it is never tragic or hopeless. Like millions of underprivileged people who find joy in small things, Shanu, Bua and their mother keep their heads above water, notes Deepa Gahlot.
'We wouldn't have had to face all this had our national leaders taken care to select a place for Sindhis and sent us there, instead of sending us all over to settle in places where the locals didn't want us.' 'They could have partitioned Sindh and given us a Sindhi state from its two Hindu-majority districts.' 'Wasn't that the logic of Partition?'
'This is the age where if you Blinkit, you will get things in eight minutes.' 'But nothing will happen here in eight minutes. It takes at least eight years to do something.'
