'I salute Dixit and Qureshi for playing roles that are not in line with what mainstream Bollywood expects of its female stars,' says Aseem Chhabra, noting how Dedh Ishqiya makes important points in the most nuanced way.
Besides the five Indian films that are playing at the Toronto International Film Festival this year -- a rather large collection at an international film festival, says Aseem Chhabra -- there are more films with an Indian connect.
'I just lucked out.' 'I got good roles. I was in the right phase, selected at the right time.' 'But I had no great ambition.' Suchitra Krishnamoorthy gives us a glimpse into her career.
We look at 52 of them, spread over 52 Fridays, in a two-part special. Here's the first part.
'After doing films like Dedh Ishqiya and Bucket List, I am ready to take up risks in films. I am game for any kind of roles that put me in a different light.'
As the MAMI film festival kicks off, Aseem Chhabra picks the must watch Indian movies.
'Who wouldn't want to dress up like a princess every morning?' Shweta Prasad Basu gets ready to play one in her new TV show.
'Acting is the toughest job in the world.'
'Asked which Dilip Kumar films were among her favourites, she said she had seen not a single movie of his until that time. This became a sensational issue. She did not mean to offend Dilip Kumar. There was not a bone of diplomacy in her and she never acquired that calculating attitude even at the cost of some of the roles that she would eventually lose.'
"They call me the Class 10 vice-chancellor," he says as his thin lips flirt with a smile. You almost feel that the tall man of spare build is being facetious. And then you see that his deep set eyes are not twinkling. There is a sense of the combative in them.
'I was very nervous working with Rani Mukerji in Mardaani initially because she is such a senior actor.' Meet Tahir Raj Bhasin.
'I have some more things to do on this planet that will make me happy. Just because I have become a grandfather doesn't mean I am ready for retirement.' Boman Irani gets ready for a new phase in his life.
Christopher Nolan's next, Gulzar's gussa, Shyam Benegal's Shivaji and RD's Lawrence of Arabia connection, catch all this and more in Sukanya Verma's super filmi week.
'I do films because I want to feel proud of myself as an actor. Why should I sign nonsense? The right roles aren't coming. The only cameo I have done in Hindi is Zoya's Dil Dhadakne Do. She is a friend and I desperately wanted to work with her. She casts big stars, so obviously, I couldn't be the lead.' Rahul Bose on his films, and Poorna.
'I have watched comedies but some have failed to make me laugh. The characters indulge in too much buffoonery. They move too much, falling, hitting each other, making faces... Comedy is very serious business.' Director Anees Bazmee tells us how he makes people laugh with his films.
Politicians, actors and eminent jurists have written a petition to the President to waive off the 1993 Mumbai blasts convict's execution, saying it 'would degrade us all'.
Going behind the scenes with director Mira Nair.
'My father is the best father in the world. He is not strict; he has never shouted at us. Anybody who meets my mom will fall in love with her. Bhaiyya pampers me. But for him, I will always be a baby. The age difference between us is quite big.' Shaandaar actress Sanah Kapoor talks about her famous family.
Sukanya Verma lists the lessons Bollywood taught us this year.
Meet Randeep Hooda, the man with a great sense of humour, an actor who loves his craft, an animal lover and, over and above all that, a Jat lad in touch with his roots...
'I have been offered the main lead many times now, including romantic and action hero roles. But they're not interesting. I want to do films like Aandhi, Angoor, Ram Aur Shyam, Mela, Deewar, Zanjeer and Sholay but I don't have a plan.' Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub gets ready for the next level.
After injecting life into Mumbai's Prithvi Theatre and running it for years, Sanjana Kapoor tells Anjuli Bhargava that she is consumed by a new passion -- Junoon.
On the 20th anniversary of her tragic death, the actress remains strikingly relevant.
'We have won our political freedom, we have liberalised our economy and now it's time to liberate our minds also. That is why this film.' Director Ketan Mehta lists his reasons for making Rang Rasiya.
'He never went to the Bombay industry.'
Shashi Kapoor, the star who made us laugh, romance and cry, passed into the ages on December 4. We look back at the often underrated actor, who reinvested all his earnings as an actor into making films and keeping the theatre he established, Prithvi Theatre, alive.
The movies that impressed, puzzled and stunned Sukanya Verma at MAMI this year.
And no, the list doesn't start and stop with Boman Irani!
One of Bollywood's most rock-solid careers, Anil Kapoor shows no signs of stopping!
'...that it takes fantasy seriously as a part of real life'... A fascinating excerpt from Jonathan Gil Harris's book, Masala Shakespeare: How A Firangi Writer Became Indian.
'Actors are the least confident people. I feel awkward when I go to parties and meet people. It's getting better but I am still not as confident as I'd like to be.' Deepika Padukone gets candid.
'When the same rotten paratha is served to someone year after year, it shocks them when all of a sudden there is a change in taste.' Kay Kay Menon justifies why he took up Yudh.
'Our country needs 542 Narendra Modis,' Paresh Rawal tells Sonil Dedhia.
Things are off to a good start when a lead movie character appears for the first time against strategic music or swaggering drama and the audience bursts into wholehearted whistles and applause.
'I am going to direct a film for him.' 'He thinks I will make a good film.' 'For me, that in itself is an award.'
Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Parinda, 1942: A LOve Story, Devdas, Kareeb, Mission Kashmir, Munnabhai MBBS, Rang De Basanti, Delhi 6, Bhag Milkha Bhag, Kalank... all bear the visual stamp of Binod Pradhan's genius.
There is nothing the young Purvanchali wants more desperately than to escape to a place with less hopelessness, and some opportunity, discovers Shekhar Gupta.
A look at Shyam Benegal's period classic, Junoon.
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