S D Burman is that unique composer who remained successful right up to his death with his creative engines never running on empty.
After spinning into the spotlight with the hit song-and-dance number Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu in Howrah Bridge (1958), Helen signed scores of films as a dancer. But Helen was raring to step out of her dancing shoes, and play heroine instead.
'I wanted to do something different, so I turned Dharamji into Hardy, making him waddle with Naseer's stick-like Laurel.' 'People enjoyed seeing him in these avatars. When you work with an evergreen superstar like Dharamji, you can make such 'items'.'
Can anyone forget S D Burman's classic songs in Devdas, Sujata and Bandini?
'If you watch songs like Acha Ji Main Haari Chalo Maan Jao Na, Lag Ja Gale or Jhumka Gira Re, you'll notice they're not just a distraction. There's a story unfolding within them.'
'Everybody was scared, especially with Rajesh Khanna playing a double role and playing my lover and my son.' 'It was quite a risky thing to do. That's why they made me look so old.'
'Often, the actors and technicians would be rolling in laughter during the shooting. I remember our brilliant cinematographer laughed so hard, he fell off his trolley.'
Noted Hindi filmmaker Shakti Samata on Thursday passed away after a brief illness. He was 83. "He passed away at around 5 pm at his suburban Santacruz residence. He was recovering from a stroke which he suffered over two months ago," a family member said. Samanta had produced box-office hits like Kati Patang, Amar Prem and Aradhana starring Rajesh Khanna. His funeral would be held at Santacruz crematorium at 11 am on Friday, the family member said.
'I may not have accrued a large bank balance, but I think I've earned something far valuable. Respect.' 'That's what Andaz Apna Apna brought me, and I wouldn't exchange that respect for any amount of money in the world.'
Aseem Chhabra picks his top 10 Indian films of 2024, which includes films that have had theatrical releases or are streaming on OTT.
Ananya Pandey's snazzy, selfie-ready style in Call Me Bae is the first thing to have caught our eye about her ultra glamorous debut on OTT this week.
Mithun Chakraborty started from scratch in bit roles and had no Godfather backing him. Yet, remarkably, his career now straddles six decades and he continues to win acclaim, observes Dinesh Raheja.
If Rajesh Khanna was the greatest star of Hindi cinema, the songs played a major part in his superstardom.
Bollywood is full of interesting stories and anecdotes. We bring you some fun facts!
National-award winning actor, producer, hotelier, ex-politician, cricket team owner, philanthropist, highest tax payer, reality show judge, animal lover and, above all, people's hero -- Mithun Chakraborty -- who has been conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award -- is truly a force of nature, notes Sukanya Verma.
'She brought so much craft, skill and spontaneity to her songs, it was almost impossible for me to match up to her voice on screen.'
'Pancham told me once, "It's very difficult to be taken seriously when there are stalwarts like Shankar-Jaikishan, S D Burman, Madan Mohan and Naushad... How do I make my mark?"' Amit Kumar salutes R D Burman on his 30th death anniversary on January 4.
'People remember each and every dialogue of Andaz Apna Apna, just as they remember every dialogue of Mughal-e-Azam and Sholay.'
Merry Christmas has a breathtaking climax that will have you sighing like you've never sighed in a Sriram Raghavan movie before, applauds Sukanya Verma.
As India successfully lands Chandrayaan-3, does the moon look as beautiful as one's beloved or has the Chanda Mama of folk ditties acquired a whole new meaning?
Legendary director Shakti Samanta's son Ashim Samanta takes us through the lesser known, behind-the-scene nuggets from some of his best-loved films.
'It wasn't a happy time for us because Ibrahim was just three and we were very fond of the children. Tiger was really fond of Ibrahim and he would say, "That's a good lad." He didn't get that time with him. So we felt doubly deprived to lose Amrita and lose the two kids.
None of R D Burman's collaborations was as rewarding and resplendent as with Gulzar, who turns 89 today, August 18, 2023, says Subhash K Jha.
In this series, InstaStories, we let pictures on social media tell their beautiful back stories.
In our special series re-visiting great Hindi film classics, we look back at Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore starrer Amar Prem (1972).
Pankaj Kapoor's Mausam reminds us of the good old romantic dramas.
Rajesh Khanna's life can be viewed as a paradigm of stardom's tragedy. He found both success and failure hard to handle.
The man lived a life so grand, touched and entertained millions. He defined my early teenage years and in some ways who I am today. For that I will always be grateful to him, says Aseem Chhabra.
'When I met him for the first time, it was when he visited the location of my first Hindi film Kashmir Ki Kali.' 'I was shooting the song Isharon Isharon Mein with Shashi's brother Shammi.' 'I couldn't concentrate on my romantic poses with Shammi.' 'Director Shakti Samanta had to ask Shashi to leave!'
'Then suddenly, I was out, Jaya was doing Guddi instead.'
'He had his own style, his own rhythm in the songs that he danced to on screen and in the way he led his life.'
Subhash K Jha looks at actresses who dared play Momma at the risk of getting typecast.
Do you know Ashaji crooned a seductive night club song, Zooby Zooby Je L'aime Vous for An Evening In Paris?
The veteran actress turns 70 today, December 8.
An encounter with movie veteran Chandrashekhar.
Subhash K Jha lists his 10 favourite romantic Hindi films.
'To this day, not a year passes when Bollywood does not head to Kolkata to train its cameras on the magnificence of the bridge and the flow of life that pulses along the river across which it spans,' says Saibal Chatterjee.
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