Salman Khan is so neck deep in his formulaic rut that the only way he knows out is to dole out some more of the bunk. Except now, the swagger has traded places with desperation, notes Sukanya Verma.
'The fact that I got noticed in a film that stars Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone is a big high for me.'
As 2022 draws to a close, a lot of movies and Web series are readying for release.
Few actors share Kareena's fearlessness for closeups in their 40s. A still force in a high-strung thriller, her marvellously opaque portrayal of a woman hiding skeletons in her closet turns a crafty police procedural into a wistful story of survival, observes Sukanya Verma.
November has some of the biggest movies and Web series coming up for release.
'We tend to address blood pressure, diabetes, etc with so much instant ease, then why neglect mental health?'
Between its cryptic, confused politics and lacklustre film-making, Lost is a germ of an idea waiting to be found, notes Sukanya Verma.
Shah Rukh Khan's box-office juggernaut and other specials on the OTT menu this week.
Though the lies hardly go beyond extramarital affairs and conception problems, they are laid out by arresting storytellers who raise the stakes while speaking in tongues not wiped clean to make progressive points (No Made in Heaven-type diddling, here), notes Sreehari Nair.
'People started noticing me again. OTT is a good platform for serious actors. In the olden days, unless you are the heroine, actors would have screen deaths. But now, there are so many good roles for women.'
If Trial Period was not such a slight piece of film-making, it would have some problematic messaging, observes Deepa Gahlot.
An amateurish crime comedy that wants to be taken seriously, Mrs Undercover can never quite find its bearings, observes Sukanya Verma.
The series has many flashbacks, detailed and pointless backstories, too much information and needless characters so the unlikely romance is lost underneath the frenzy, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Superheroes, serial killers, spies. Sukanya Verma asks you to brace yourself for tons of action on OTT this week.
We asked colleagues, present and past, to reflect on a man who has made such a difference to their lives and careers. Here it is then, a rich collection of memories that offer enchanting glimpses of the enigmatic Ajit Balakrishnan.
'Suvinder Vicky in Kohrra. Manoj Bajpayee in Joram. Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub in Joram and Scoop. Gagan Dev Riar in Scam 2003. Sukant Goel in Kaala Paani.' 'The number of awards will not be enough for the kind of work that has happened this year.'
This is the fourth time in three decades that Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar have had movie releases on the same day.
Sonakshi Sinha gave her friends and colleagues from the industry a sneak preview of her Web series, Dahaad, which will start streaming on Amazon Prime Video from May 12.
Citadel proves unworthy of Priyanka's splendour, Madden's intensity or veteran talents like Lesley Manville and Stanley Tucci squandered in banal parts, complains Sukanya Verma.
If Indrani Mukerjea wanted to whitewash her image, this docu series was not the right platform, asserts Deepa Gahlot.
The first episode of Hansika Motwani's wedding reality show has enough drama to make it a decent watch, believes Namrata Thakker.
'It's everyone's dream to have their pictures show up on Google.' 'In the beginning, you're not used to it.' 'It's a bit weird and even now it's weird.'
The Archies is an evergreen thought passed on from generation to generation. But Sukanya Verma wishes it had some of the comic's tee-hee humour and hyuk hyuk too.
Kajol's mere presence has the potential to overshadow her co-stars, but surprisingly, we get to see her modest camaraderie light up the talents of the stunning supporting cast, observes Divya Nair.
This tangled tale of good versus evil could have been far more intriguing, observes Mayur Sanap.
The series is held together by a superbly astute performance by Gagan Dev Riar, who moves from cheerful conman to menacing criminal with remarkable skill, observes Deepa Gahlot.
Savouring Spielberg's fierce, fine movie; salivating over MAMI's line-up; gobbling a Shrek cake; visualising a desi Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants with Alia, Bhumi and more in Sukanya Verma's Super Filmi Week.
'The only way to bring the audience back is to give them stories that come from the heart.'
By the time, Mumbaikar gets to where it wants to be via a twisty third act, we begin to see how much better the film could have been. But it's almost too little, too late, complains Mayur Sanap.
'I don't want my life to be a rat race. I want it to be an adventure.
Yes, there's going to be a lot of tears, laughs and thrills coming your way.
Babli Bouncer is a one-time watch, courtesy Tamannaah Bhatia's acting, observes Namrata Thakker.
Kho Gaye Hum Kahan is a light glimpse into healthy young lives ready to soar in their own sweet skin, applauds Sukanya Verma.
Also in Hyderabad, fans of actor Prabhas, who plays Lord Ram in Adipurush, beat up a moviegoer outside a theatre for criticising the movie.
Vijay and Tamannaah have sparked dating rumours ever since they were spotted kissing in Goa at a New Year's Eve party.
As good as Mammootty is playing Sundaram, we see this facet of his performance through two lenses: That of Sundaram being an offset to whatever we know about James, and that of Mammootty doing quintessentially Tamil tics, including enacting scenes from old Tamil movies like solo plays, observes Rohit Sathish Nair.
Sukanya Verma lists everything you can watch on streaming platforms this weekend.
Sony Picture Network India (SPNI) management is committed to long-term growth in India and the company will actively explore new organic and inorganic possibilities to strengthen its presence in the country, company managing director and CEO, NP Singh told employees. In a letter, two-days after the calling off of the $10 billion merger deal with Zee Entertainment, he asked employees to focus on current projects, with an immediate goal to unleash the company's full potential, continuing to craft content that not only engages audiences but also boosts subscriber growth and revenues. "As we close the chapter on our proposed merger with ZEEL (Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd), I want to take a moment to talk to you - not just as your CEO but as someone who has been on this journey with you.
