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Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Karan Johar turns 53: Awaara, Sholay, Lamhe, Masoom, Lagaan and 5 other favourite movies of the celebrated filmmaker
Karan Johar turns 53 today on May 25. The filmmaker has helmed seven movies and produced dozens of them in the 27 years since his 1998 blockbuster directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Let's take a look at Karan Johar's 10 favourite films, as shared with Lehren back in 2007. Awaara (1951) Karan Johar picked Raj Kapoor and Yash Chopra as the two major influences on his filmography. He hailed Awaara as the best screenplay ever written in the history of Hindi cinema, and lauded the romance of Raj Kapoor and Nargis' characters. Sholay (1975) Johar shared Ramesh Sippy's 1975 blockbuster potboiler is a textbook more than a film. He said the screenplay by Salim-Javed still seems so fresh that many of the film's scenes come across as contemporary even today. Kabhi Kabhie (1976) Karan Johar revealed that the nuances in the romance and interpersonal relationships that Yash Chopra attempted in the Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhee-starrer is what inspired his 2006 film Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna. Masoom (1984) Johar recalled weeping throughout the screening of Shekhar Kapur's directorial debut to an extent that his mother Hiroo Johar had to escort him out of the theatre. Lamhe (1991) Karan Johar shared that though Yash Chopra's age-gap romance didn't click with the audience then, both him and Chopra considered the Sridevi and Anil Kapoor-starrer as the late legendary filmmaker's lesser loved baby. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) Karan Johar recalled how he was in two minds about becoming a director when Aditya Chopra invited him to a special screening of the extended version of Sooraj Barjatya's sophomore feature. Johar was blown away by the director's conviction in the musical romance. Satya (1998) Johar admitted while he and Ram Gopal Varma don't always get along, that doesn't stop the former from appreciating the latter's seminal gangster film. The filmmaker called Manoj Bajpayee's performance as Bhiku Mhatre his career's best. Lagaan (2001) Karan Johar was confident no film would be able to challenge the supremacy of his mega-budget family drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, until he watched Ashutosh Gowariker's period sports drama, which changed the rules of Hindi cinema. Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006) Johar thinks of Rajkumar Hirani's cult comedy as a hark back to the cinema of Hrishikesh Mukherjee, which effortlessly blended family-friendly entertainment with important social messaging. He also lauded the Sanjay Dutt-starrer for redefining Mahatma Gandhi to an entire generation. Also Read: Karan Johar's Dhadak 2 cleared with U/A certificate by CBFC after 16 cuts related to caste-based references, slurs, and violence Chak De! India (2007) Karan Johar claimed that Shah Rukh Khan's performance as the girls hockey team coach Kabir Khan is his best. He also lauded the film's writer Jaideep Sahni for incorporating themes like women empowerment and national unity in Shimit Amin's sports drama.
India.com
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Amitabh Bachchan's heroine, who used to do her own makeup, was once a star, quit acting due to...., she is now....
Meet Amitabh Bachchan's heroine, who used to do her own makeup, was once a star, quit acting due to...., she is now.... In the glitzy and glamorous world of Bollywood, fame is always fleeting. Many actors come into the industry in the hope of making it big on the screen, but the success story of an actor changes every week. While on one Friday, they would be winning hearts and getting a lot of praise for their impeccable performance, the next Friday, they might get totally vanish into thin air like they never existed. But in this industry where several actors come, entertain us and then leave, there are rarely few who remain etched in the memory, and when they come around with a comeback, it feels personal. They come back as if they never left. One such tale belongs to an artist who was once a co-star of Bollywood's Shahenshah, Amitabh Bachchan. The person we are talking about is none other than Rakhi Gulzar, the legendary actress of Hindi Cinema. Rakhi, whose unforgettable performance remains to live rent-free in our head even today, once gave blockbuster hits like 'Kabhi Kabhie', 'Karan-Arjun', 'Tapasya', 'Sharmili', 'Aanchal'. This year, Rakhi has made her prodigal comeback with a Bengali film, Amar Boss. Returning to the industry after 22 years, this film is directed by Filmmakers Shibhoprasad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy. The film revolves around the storyline of an older woman whose family is unable to take care of her, It also addresses societal issues and more. The veteran actress's comeback is grabbing a lot of eyeballs, and she is getting her due appreciation. The audience is happy to see the veteran actress come back after a long time. While talking about working with Rakhi Gulzar in the film Amar Boss, director Shibhoprasad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy laid emphasis on Rakhi's simple nature and humility. The director shared that Rakhi is a very simple girl who doesn't believe in making things complicated. They revealed that on sets she used to do her makeup and even styled herself. She wore her own sarees and told the makers not to worry about her clothes. Rakhi, being one of the most celebrated actresses in 70's and 80's, delivered some immoral films, but besides her professional success, her personal life was facing some turbulence. While she was at the peak of her career, she married writer and poet Gulzar. But before marriage, Gulzar laid a condition that she would not act in films after marriage. Despite her love for the art, she decided to compromise for her love. But later, she faced repercussions of this bet. Whenever she would get an offer, fights started picking up between the duo, so much so that it even led to physical fights and abuse. A year later, the couple called it quits and parted their ways. Now at 77, Rakhi is back with a bang, and her comeback is proof that while she was away from the limelight, she was never away from the hearts of her fans. And, if an artist is truly passionate about their art, their comeback, no matter when they happen, will speak volumes.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Aditya Chopra: The businessman Yash Chopra never was
When you Google 'define a good businessman,' the AI assistant doesn't hesitate: 'A good businessman is someone who is skilled and successful in business, demonstrating strong leadership, decision-making, financial acumen, and an understanding of market dynamics.' If anyone in the Hindi film industry fits that definition with surgical precision, it is Aditya Chopra — the heir to a cinematic dynasty, who didn't just inherit the throne but rebuilt the entire kingdom. Born with a silver spoon, Aditya didn't just hold on to it, he forged it into gold. As actor Anil Kapoor aptly put in Netflix documentary, The Romantics, 'Aditya is one of those few sons who, I think, has surpassed his father's legacy.' And that legacy? It belonged to the towering figure of Yash Chopra, a romantic visionary whose films defined Bollywood's golden era. However, his business instincts often lagged behind his artistic flair. Yash Chopra began his career under the shadow of his elder brother B.R. Chopra. After directing five films as a salaried employee, Yash finally stepped out on his own and founded Yash Raj Productions in 1970. Soon, he delivered a smashing hit with Daag (1973). This was followed by a series of classics — Deewar (1975), Kabhi Kabhie (1976), Trishul (1978), Kaala Patthar (1979). But success, like fashion, is seasonal. In 1981, he released his dream project Silsila. It flopped. And so did every film he made through the 80s. The country was changing. India was talking about caste-based reservations, the Ayodhya dispute, civil rights, and social justice. Yash Chopra was still filming tulips in Kashmir. The audience had moved on. The director hadn't. A mistake that Aditya Chopra learnt from. 'He used to have a book in his room. In these books he used to write box office expectation, his analysis, and eventuality. He has done this for decades. He used to have one fat book,' shared Karan Johar as he spoke about Aditya Chopra in The Romantics. Hrithik Roshan added, 'The whole film used to be broken down into categories, column and questions and then he had the box office numbers. He did all this when he was 12 or 13 years old. And he did this over and over again.' 'Now when you look at these things, you know that these are the things that make him the director-producer he is,' said Abhishek Bachchan. In 1989, Yash Chopra returned with Chandni, a hit that revived his career. But he never ventured beyond romance. A comfort zone that Aditya had already begun to challenge. When Lamhe flopped, a young Aditya (who worked as an AD in the film) had predicted it. Not because he knew the box office, but because he understood the audience. ALSO READ | Sharmila Tagore stayed in a chowkidar's room while Simi Garewal got a bungalow during the shoot of Satyajit Ray's Aranyer Din Ratri: 'You cannot imagine how hot it was' 'This was the first film I put so much of myself into, and I realised… I am a slave to the audience. That shaped me. I decided I wouldn't let success affect me, so failure wouldn't break me,' said Aditya in The Romantics. Aditya Chopra first proved his business acumen when he decided to self-finance his debut film Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (1995). That single decision changed the trajectory of Yash Raj Films. 'Imagine sharing 50% of DDLJ's revenues, I don't think we'd be where we are today', said Aditya Chopra. The decision became the seed that funded YRF's transformation into a full-blown media empire. In 2004, YRF launched its own music label, eliminating third-party licensing. In 2005, the production house launched YRF Studios — a 20 acre facility offering multiple services in filmmaking. Eventually, the director decided to produce multiple films a year. 'We used to do one film in two years,' Aditya said in his rare interview in the docuseries The Romantics. 'I thought, if we know how to produce, why not do more and see where it takes me as a producer?' Yash Raj Films, once synonymous with classic romance, underwent a bold transformation under Aditya Chopra. In 2004, he shocked the industry by announcing a diverse slate: Hum Tum (a fresh romantic comedy), Dhoom (a genre-defining action thriller), and Veer-Zaara (a sweeping cross-border love story). All three released the same year — and all became commercial hits. With this move, Aditya not only expanded the studio's creative horizon but also proved that YRF could thrive beyond its romantic legacy. Apart from direction and production, through YRF Talent, Aditya Chopra also launched the careers of actors Anushka Sharma, Ranveer Singh, and Bhumi Pednekar. He was the visionary, who advised Shah Rukh Khan to not shut doors for romantic films–the advise which made him a global star. He is the man who spotted a filmmaker in Karan Johar (who otherwise was convinced to go to Paris to learn fashion designing). He created the YRF Spy Universe with his Ek Tha Tiger franchise, War and Pathaan. This is the closest India has come to a Marvel-style franchise. While Yash Chopra gave Bollywood its most beautiful dreams, Aditya Chopra made sure those dreams were bankrolled, protected, and owned. Jyothi Jha works as a Copy Editor at the Indian Express. She brings in more than 5 years of experience where she has covered Entertainment majorly for TV9, NDTV and Republic Media. Apart from Entertainment, she has been an anchor, copy editor and managed production team under the Politics and Daily News segment. She's passionate about Journalism and it has always been her first choice, she believes in what George Orwell had once said, " Journalism is printing what someone else does not want you to do, rest everything is public relations". ... Read More
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Neetu Kapoor remembers Rishi Kapoor on his death anniversary with heartfelt photos: 'Miss you Kapoor sahab'
Neetu Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor were one of Bollywood's most loved couples, both on and off screen. On Rishi's fifth death anniversary, Neetu took to Instagram to remember her late husband with a touching tribute. The legendary actor passed away on 30 April 2020 after a long fight with leukaemia. 'Miss you Kapoor sahab' Neetu Kapoor shared and re-shared a series of photos on her Instagram stories, showing some warm memories with her ' Kabhi Kabhie ' co-star. One photo showed him posing with film distributor Raj Bansal, while another captured a sweet family moment with their daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni , granddaughter Samara Sahni, and others. Alongside one of the photos, she wrote, 'Miss you Kapoor sahab.' A glimpse back at their engagement Just a few weeks ago, Neetu had shared a special memory from 1979 – the day she got engaged to Rishi. The black-and-white picture showed Neetu standing beside a young Rishi, both looking joyful and full of hope for their future. She wrote on Instagram Stories, 'Was engaged on this day in 1979 (two hearts emoji) time flies.' The image brought back memories of a time when their love story was just beginning. These glimpses into their personal lives remind fans of the strong bond the couple shared over decades. Bollywood's evergreen pair Neetu and Rishi Kapoor were a beloved on-screen pair in the 1970s and 1980s. They starred in many hit films together like 'Amar Akbar Anthony', 'Rafoo Chakkar', 'Khel Khel Mein', 'Kabhi Kabhie', and 'Besharam'. Their chemistry was effortless, and their pairing became one of the most iconic in Hindi cinema. Reportedly, they first met on the sets of 'Zehreela Insaan' in 1970. Though their initial meeting wasn't the best, love eventually blossomed during the filming of 'Kabhi Kabhie' in 1976. They got married on 22 January 1980 and went on to become parents to Riddhima and Ranbir Kapoor . EXCLUSIVE: Nani Reveals Massive Body Transformation For 'Paradise' | How He Got Chiranjeevi On Board
NDTV
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
On Rishi Kapoor's 5th Death Anniversary, Neetu Kapoor Remembers Him With This Pic
Neetu Kapoor paid tribute to her late husband Rishi Kapoor on his fifth death anniversary. On Wednesday, Neetu shared a picture of the late actor on her Instagram Stories. The image featured Rishi Kapoor taking a selfie with a drink in his hand. In the caption, Neetu wrote, "Miss you, Kapoor sahab." Earlier this month, Neetu Kapoor shared a throwback gem from her engagement day on Instagram Stories. The black-and-white picture showed Neetu standing alongside Rishi Kapoor "Was engaged on this day in 1979 (two hearts emoji) time flies," Neetu wrote in the caption. Read the full story here. Before this, Neetu Kapoor celebrated 49 years of her film Kabhi Kabhie by remembering her late husband Rishi Kapoor. The actress shared a vintage poster from the iconic film on Instagram Stories. In another clip, she played the popular soundtrack from its original record. Click here to read the full story. FYI: Neetu Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor got married on January 22, 1980. The couple gave birth to two children - Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Ranbir Kapoor. One of the most beloved couples of their time, Neetu and Rishi ruled the silver screen in the '70s and '80s with hits like Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khel Mein, Rafoo Chakkar, Kabhi Kabhie, Besharam, and many more. Rishi Kapoor, often hailed as Bollywood's original chocolate boy, rose to immense fame with unforgettable roles in films like Bobby, Chandni, Karz, and numerous others. He died at the age of 67 on April 30, 2020, after a two-year battle with cancer. Meanwhile, Neetu Kapoor was last seen in Jug Jugg Jeeyo, alongside Anil Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani.
