
Having Saiyaara Hangover? Watch These 10 Romantic Films On OTT: DDLJ, Aashiqui 2 To Rockstar On Netflix, ZEE5, Prime Video And More
1 / 11
10 Best Romantic Films On OTT: Debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's Saiyaara has won over the audiences and how! A film by Mohit Suri has managed to reach the Rs 100 crore club days of its release, with fans thronging cinemas once again. This brings the intense, romantic dramas back in spotlight. So, if your still dealing with Saiyaara hangover, revisit these 10 classics on OTT. Dive into these love-filled, soul-stirring movies that are perfect for this weekend: Rockstar on Prime Video
2 / 11
What if heartbreak was the fuel for greatness? Rockstar tells the haunting journey of Janardhan Jakhar (Ranbir Kapoor), an ordinary college boy whose love for the enigmatic Heer (Nargis Fakhri) transforms him into the legendary Jordan. As his music reaches soaring heights, his soul plummets into chaos, torn between fame and unfulfilled love. Backed by a soul-stirring soundtrack, this Imtiaz Ali classic captures the madness of passion, the agony of longing, and the beauty of creative destruction. Ramaiya Vastavaiya on Zee5
3 / 11
In this heartwarming love story, Girish Kumar (Ram), rich, charming, and carefree, falls head over heels for Shruti Haasan (Sona), a grounded village girl with fierce family values. To win her heart and her family's trust, Ram must trade his luxury for a life of simplicity and hard work. Ramaiya Vastavaiya is a delightful blend of romance, laughter, and emotional depth, where true love is tested by humility and perseverance. A feel-good journey that proves love can bridge any divide. Premam on JioHotstar
4 / 11
Premam is a coming-of-age tale that follows Nivin Pauly (George), a carefree youngster whose journey through love unfolds in three distinct phases of his life. First, he falls for his schoolmate Anupama Parameswaran (Mary), but faces heartbreak. In college, he finds hope again with Sai Pallavi (Malar), a charming lecturer, only to lose her to fate. As he matures and starts a café, life takes a new turn when he reconnects with Madonna Sebastian (Celine), a girl from his past. Through joy, pain, and growth, Premam beautifully captures the evolution of love and the transformation it brings. Mungaru Male on JioHotstar
5 / 11
In Mungaru Male, Ganesh (Prem), a carefree young man, meets the quiet and beautiful Pooja Gandhi (Nandini) in a hill station. What begins as a playful flirtation blossoms into deep love, set against lush landscapes and constant rain. But fate has other plans, Nandini is already engaged, leaving Prem heartbroken. Their love remains unfulfilled, yet unforgettable, echoing through the hills long after they part. A tale of timeless romance, unspoken emotions, and soulful music that still tugs at heartstrings. Kabir Singh on Netflix
6 / 11
Kabir Singh chronicles the emotional descent of a brilliant but impulsive surgeon 9Shahid Kapoor) whose life spirals out of control after losing the woman he loves. When Kiara Advani (Preeti), his calm and introverted partner, is forced into an arranged marriage, Kabir turns to self-destructive habits in a futile attempt to cope. His love remains obsessive, flawed, and deeply human. The film offers a raw and unfiltered look at toxic love, heartbreak, and the search for redemption through ruin. Jaanu on JioHotstar
7 / 11
A stirring tale of love lost and memories rekindled, Jaanu follows Sharwanand (Ram) and Samanatha Ruth Prabhu (Jaanu), high school sweethearts who reunite after 15 years at a school reunion. As their paths cross again, so do the emotions they buried long ago. Through heartfelt conversations and pregnant silences, they relive the magic of their past while grappling with the choices that tore them apart. Wrapped in nostalgia and quiet ache, Jaanu is a soulful exploration of love that never truly fades. Hridayam on JioHotstar
8 / 11
Hridayam traces the emotional evolution of Prana Mohanlal (Arun), a young man who moves to Chennai for engineering college, stepping into a world of newfound freedom, friendship, and first love with Darshana Rajendran (Darshana). Their intense bond is soon tested by heartbreak, sending Arun into a phase of recklessness and confusion. Over time, he rediscovers himself through a passion for photography and gradually matures. In Nithya, he finds calm, stability, and a renewed sense of purpose. Years later, a poignant reunion with Darshana allows him to reflect on his journey, offering closure and embracing his present with peace and gratitude. Dear Comrade on JioHotstar
9 / 11
Passion collides with purpose in Dear Comrade, where Bobby (Vijay Deverakonda), a fiery student leader, falls for Lilly (Rashmika Mandanna), a calm and determined cricketer. Their love story is intense, marked by emotional highs and painful missteps. When Bobby's rage fractures their bond, he embarks on a journey of self-realization, learning that real strength lies in healing and letting go. With a powerful blend of romance and resilience, the film dives deep into the complexities of love, ambition, and personal growth. Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge on Prime Video
10 / 11
The iconic romantic movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, also known by DDLJ released back in 1995 and became a cult musical. The film has been written and directed by Aditya Chopra in his directorial debut and produced by his father and late legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra. The film stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol as Raj and Simran who fall in love during a vacation in Europe. The real drill begins when Raj tries to win Simran's family in India who is planning her wedding with someone else in Punjab. DDLJ can be watched on Prime Video. Aashiqui 2 on Prime Video
11 / 11
Aashiqui 2 explores the deeply emotional bond between Aditya Roy Kapur (Rahul), a once-successful singer battling addiction, and Shraddha Kapoor (Aarohi), an aspiring vocalist with immense potential. While Rahul helps launch her career, his own struggles quietly consume him. Their love is tender and profound, but it is tested by personal demons and sacrifice. The film paints a heart-wrenching portrait of ambition, vulnerability, and the tragic cost of love when one's past becomes impossible to outrun.
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Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2, Traitors, IPL, Kapil Sharma: How streaming is replicating television, the very beast it wanted to tame
When streaming first began in India in the early 2010s, the audience was still getting used to YouTube and the phenomenon of a 'web series,' a television show that could be watched anytime, anywhere on your smartphone or laptop, and could also be paused, rewinded, and forwarded. It was Tata Sky+ yet in a completely new medium, that gave rise to faces and brains who were struggling to get noticed by the Hindi film and TV industry. The Jio revolution in the next few years allowed the masses to access even new international streaming apps like Netflix and Prime Video, which entered the domestic market in 2017. Netflix India's first Original, Sacred Games, and Prime Video India's first original, Inside Edge, also dismantled the confines of television and demonstrated how streaming could push boundaries of what Indian entertainment came to be known as till then. Then came the pandemic in 2020-22 when India, confined to its homes, warmed up to streaming to such an extent that it'd be an ordeal to bring them back to cinemas even when the lockdowns ended. Streaming became a habit, and the Indian audience its slaves. The victim was not only cinema, but also television. Cable television and direct-to-home services, once a household necessity, were replaced by smart TVs and fire sticks. Streaming turned out to be for satellite what satellite was for VHS (Video Home System) and Doordarshan in the 1990s. But now, as cinemas and other avenues of entertainment open up after the pandemic, streaming can't sustain the skyrocketing growth it once registered in India during a couple of years. So, 2023 brought a shift in direction — the streaming, once known for being a substitute to television, started to embrace parts of the latter that appealed to India's masses. It was no longer the rebel kid, but that backbencher in a classroom who wanted to get away with the exam by peeping into the class topper's papers. Smriti Irani, former I&B Minister, recently claimed that last year, the television industry and the streaming industry accounted for a revenue of Rs 30,000 crore and Rs 24,000 crore, respectively. She rallied for the two industries to unite and generate content together instead of competing with each other. This month, she's set to reprise her iconic character of Tulsi Virani in Ekta Kapoor's landmark daily soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, which will be available for viewing on both its native home StarPlus and its streaming counterpart, JioHotstar. Sameer Nair, who was the head of programming at StarPlus back in 2000 when Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi first premiered, believes the show can still work as well as it did back then, but only if the story has adapted to the times and the audience it's catering to. 'Honestly, it's not got so much to do with streaming or TV. On JioHotstar, their strong, long-performing show has always been Anupamaa. On SonyLIV, for the longest time, Bade Achhe Lagte Hain used to be their #1,' argued Nair, in an interview with SCREEN. Not every TV show with an immense recall value would fare as well on streaming, as one saw in the case of Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai – Take 2. 'I think the streaming of daily soaps allows more flexibility to its primary audience — the homemakers, the mothers, the elderly women. They get the option to access it any time of the day, something they wouldn't be able to do when it aired at a very late slot of 10:30 pm on TV,' said a former StarPlus official, who's also worked with JioHotstar. 'At that time, these women used to wait for their husbands and kids to fall asleep after watching Kaun Banega Crorepati so that they could get their guilty hour of Kyunki. But now, they can stream it anytime, without guilt! It's not just Ekta and Smriti Irani, but also the streaming that's empowering them this time,' they added. Nair, who's now the Managing Director at Applause Entertainment and collaborates with a host of streaming platforms, saw this televisionization of streaming coming from a mile. 'Streaming is just settling down now. It just means they're going for a wider audience by catering to the largest common denominator. But streaming can also cater to niches. The good thing is both can co-exist on streaming. So you can do both a Kyunki and an Adolescence. The technology allows you to do that. On TV, you could be either a GEC or a niche channel,' he reasons. Why does then an Anurag Kashyap then blame Netflix India for entering a partnership with Ekta's Balaji Telefilms instead of commissioning an Indian version of Adolescence? Why does he call Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos the 'definition of dumb' when he opines that they should've launched the platform in India with something 'more populist' than Sacred Games? 'That's because if all the energies and resources are directed towards a populist form of entertainment, then a niche or a less mainstream show has to really elbow its way in to get the streamer's attention. Streaming was supposed to enable and empower these, and not really use them as a token to show how cutting-edge they are, whenever it suits their narrative,' says a screenwriter who's worked with both Kashyap and Netflix India. When asked, on Nikhil Kamath's podcast People by WTF, to react to the shift in programming of Netflix India with CID and The Great Indian Kapil Show, he played the diversity card — If it's not for you, it's for someone else. But a former Netflix India employee claims diversity is more of a buzzword than a thought-through corporate strategy. 'Reed Hastings is an LA guy so he really cares for the movies. He's the one who started Netflix as a DVD business. He's a true disruptor,' they tell us, adding, 'But when Sarandos took over, there was a change in direction. Since every country Netflix is in is culturally so different from each other, the only common point they could find between them was diversity. And that became their corporate strategy, so to say. But make no mistake, it was always made clear that the priority is numbers.' When SCREEN asked Tanya Bami, Series Head at Netflix India, why shows like The Royals, Rana Naidu, and Mismatched got renewed despite getting a large chunk of negative reviews from critics, she said, 'Love from everyone is critical. As a human being, you seek that affirmation. But in terms of a stack order, we're very clear it's the love of the audience that matters to us.' That became very apparent with Netflix India's programming in the last three years. 'We were never categorically asked to sell some shows more. They wouldn't say that because that doesn't go with their brand image. But you figured, with the kind of people they hired or the kind of shows they greenlit, that the focus had changed. There are so many ex-Balaji faces in Netflix India now,' added the former employee. Balaji has been a champion of broadcast, but it's also tried its hands at streaming. Ekta, who has straddled cinema, TV, and OTT, believes they serve different purposes — community viewing, family viewing, and personal viewing respectively. That's why the woman behind culturally rooted, sanskari daily soaps on TV churned out tonally divergent shows like Gandii Baat and Ragini MMS: Returns on her now-defunct streaming platform ALTBalaji. But with the advent of smart TV in Indian homes, families began to increasingly watch OTT content together instead of separately on their phones. That gave rise to The Viral Fever's family-friendly shows like Gullak and Yeh Meri Family. That also explains Ekta's pivot back to what she knows best — daily soaps, but those that can be positioned as effectively on streaming as they can be on TV. Many marketing executives, who enthusiastically joined streaming platforms, in order to promote the kind of alternate content, they believed in, have now gone independent to push middle-of-the-road cinema in theatres and indie films at global festivals, and fill the gaps that have long plagued India's entertainment ecosystem. They neither know 'how to sell a Kapil Sharma' nor do they believe a Kapil Sharma needs their selling. But this coexistence of Kapil Sharma and Vir Das on a platform comes at an interesting cultural juncture for India. Sample last year, for instance: audience of both the mainstream and niche turned up in hoards to attend concerts of Diljt Dosanjh, a grounded Punjabi popstar, as well as Coldplay, a British rock-pop band. That's also why an audience that once looked down upon Bigg Boss or similar reality shows are now lapping up The Traitors, the Indian adaptation of the globally resonant American show, on Prime Video. 'I think they've hit the sweet spot with that one. Unlike some versions in the West, they've taken a bunch of internet celebrities and made a reality show with them that just has high production value than say, a Bigg Boss,' points out an industry insider. 'Having Karan Johar to host it with all his campness intact is a masterstroke — he's one celebrity who gets equal attention from the classes and the masses, whether it's love or hate,' adds another. Instead of the crassness associated with Bigg Boss and MTV reality shows like Roadies and Splitsvilla, Traitors rolls out like a saucy game of chess — pretty much like a very expensive, lived-in version of board games like Shasn and Cards Against Humanity. 'For every Traitors, there should be a Stolen. But the fact is for every Traitors, there's also a Khauf, a brilliant horror show that goes under the radar,' says a former employee of Prime Video India, adding, 'Streamers made quick money during the pandemic by not just having a captive audience, but also buying ready, big-budget films from production houses waiting to release their films in endless lockdowns. They've grown used to that licensing model. So they're just picking up anything and everything that's worked in the past, whether from films, sports or TV, instead of developing envelope-pushing content like they did pre-pandemic. Which is why you see how the slate of originals has gone down drastically. Licensed shows which happen to work in the first season are then adopted and then developed like it was their own baby to begin with.' If picking existing IPs from TV wasn't enough, streaming has also stooped down to advertisement revenue in order to sustain. Prime Video is the most recent platform to introduce ads and an ad-free premium version, as per the YouTube and Spotify revenue model. 'India is a price-sensitive country, so even if you give us the option to pay more and get rid of ads, we'd stick to the ads,' says a former Netflix India employee. They claim that commercials on streaming isn't new to India, but the hullabaloo is about the way Prime imposed it. 'At Netflix, there were designated employees for this job, who scientifically picked points when it could switch to commercial in a way that the audience don't lose interest. It was transparent and gradual, unlike the blindsiding that Prime has done now,' they add. Also Read — Sameer Nair feels Indian adaptation of The Office would do far better today: 'Market was smaller then, wanted to do 11 seasons like US' Is it really only about the transparency? Should streamers just own it that they want to go where TV did and accept that the daily soaps, broad comedy, reality shows, advertisements, and sports entertainment are their mainstays? The life-sized hoardings of WWE on the Mumbai expressways tell that very story. But is it a bad deal if IPL gets more consumers to subscribe to JioHotstar so they could watch a School of Lies that they otherwise wouldn't? 'I don't see it that way. Would I really count my show as a success story if it excels in the same months that IPL airs? It's a good way to show numbers and ask for an appraisal, but those who're doing this for creative reasons deserve better.' Going back to television is a disservice to the innovation of streaming. As iconic comedian Milton Berle so wisely put it, 'We owe a lot to Thomas Edison. If it wasn't for him, we'd be watching television by candlelight.'


India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Remembering Hulk Hogan : Real Name, Married 3 Times, 200,00,00,000 Net Worth, Face Of WWE
photoDetails english 2936459 Updated:Jul 25, 2025, 07:16 AM IST Remembering a Legend: Hulk Hogan (1953-2025) 1 / 8 The wrestling world is in mourning following the passing of an undeniable icon, Hulk Hogan. Born Terry Gene Bollea, "The Hulkster" left an indelible mark on sports entertainment, captivating audiences globally throughout his 71 years. Join us as we reflect on the extraordinary life and unparalleled career of this true legend, whose impact on the industry remains immeasurable. Early Life and the Genesis of a Superstar 2 / 8 Terry Gene Bollea, who would later become a household name, was born in Augusta, Georgia, in 1953. His journey into the world of professional wrestling began in the 1970s, where he meticulously honed his craft. Even in those early days, his powerful physique and magnetic charisma hinted at the global superstardom that lay ahead, laying the essential groundwork for a phenomenon. The Unstoppable Reign of Hulkamania (1980s) 3 / 8 The 1980s witnessed the explosion of "Hulkamania," as Hulk Hogan became the undisputed face of WWE (then WWF). His larger-than-life persona, complete with his iconic red and yellow attire and booming catchphrases, captivated audiences worldwide and truly defined an era. He famously slammed giants and inspired millions of devoted "Hulkamaniacs," solidifying his place as a cultural phenomenon. Personal Life: A Look at His Relationships 4 / 8 Hulk Hogan was married three times. His first marriage was to Linda Claridge, lasting from 1983 to 2009, and together they welcomed two children, Brooke and Nick, into the world. He later found love again with Jennifer McDaniel, whom he married in 2010, with their union concluding in 2021. Most recently, he married Sky Daily in 2023, embarking on another chapter in his personal journey. The Shocking Transformation: Hollywood Hogan and the nWo (1990s) 5 / 8 In a move that sent shockwaves through the wrestling world, Hogan dramatically reinvented himself in 1996, embracing the villainous "Hollywood Hogan" persona. He co-founded the groundbreaking New World Order (nWo) in WCW, a revolutionary faction that fundamentally reshaped the landscape of professional wrestling. This controversial yet brilliant transformation revitalized both his career and the entire industry, showcasing his incredible versatility as a performer. Beyond the Ropes: Ventures and Esteemed Honors 6 / 8 Hulk Hogan's influence extended far beyond the squared circle, as he successfully ventured into acting with memorable appearances in films like Rocky III and Mr. Nanny. He also became a familiar face on television, starring in the popular reality show Hogan Knows Best. His immense contributions to wrestling were recognized with not one, but two inductions into the prestigious WWE Hall of Fame, in 2005 and again in 2020 as a member of the nWo, cementing his legacy across various entertainment realms. Net Worth and Diverse Business Endeavors 7 / 8 At the time of his passing, Hulk Hogan's estimated net worth stood at approximately $25 million. This substantial figure was accumulated through a multifaceted career encompassing his legendary wrestling earnings, various acting roles, and a range of successful business ventures. Notably, he owned popular establishments such as Hogan's Beach Shop and Hogan's Hangout, and a significant settlement from the high-profile Gawker lawsuit also contributed to his financial standing.S An Enduring and Unforgettable Legacy 8 / 8 Hulk Hogan's profound influence on pop culture and the sport of professional wrestling is truly undeniable and will resonate for generations to come. He consistently inspired millions with his larger-than-life persona, embodying strength and entertainment. His memory will forever live on through his iconic moments, groundbreaking contributions, and the indelible mark he left on the hearts of fans worldwide. Rest in peace, Hulkster.


Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
Saiyaara Box Office Collection Day 7: Ahaan Panday-Aneet Padda's movie completes golden week, mints THIS much
Arshdeep Kaur Published 25 Jul 2025, 07:01 AM IST In Saiyaara, Ahaan Panday plays Krish Kapoor, an aspiring singer, while Aneet Panda is a writer who pens lyrics for Ahaan's character. Saiyaara Box Office Collection Day 7: Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's debut movie, Saiyaara, just completed its golden week at the Indian box office, and the numbers are phenomenal!