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Prime Video is set to premiere “Angry Young Men,” a three-part documentary series that captures the personal and professional journey of legendary screenwriting duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar, known collectively as Salim-Javed.

Produced by Salman Khan Films, Excel Media & Entertainment and Tiger Baby, the docu-series is executive produced by Salma Khan, Salman Khan, Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti. It delves into how Salim-Javed revolutionized Indian cinema in the 1970s by reinventing the Bollywood formula, introducing ‘angry young man’ heroes in a romance-dominated industry, and popularizing the action-drama genre. The original ‘angry young man’ was Amitabh Bachchan who, after a string of middling films, began his journey to superstardom with Prakash Mehra’s “Zanjeer” (1973), written by Salim-Javed.

When producer Zoya Akhtar, daughter of Javed Akhtar, set out to chronicle their story, she knew it was a tale long overdue for telling. “I grew up with them and watching these films,...

Netflix’s popularity can be attributed to many different movies and shows, but, in my opinion, their horror anthology series Black Mirror was integral to their overnight success because I can remember obsessing over its brutal satire like it was yesterday. Then, the streaming platform’s Indian branch made Lust Stories, and the idea of provocative storytelling featuring Bollywood stars felt promising. Love, Death, and Robots became everyone’s favorite almost instantly, with its vivid style and precise storytelling. And then things sort of went downhill with absolutely trashy products like Ghost Stories, Ludo, Paava Kadhaigal, Pitta Kathalu, Ankahi Kahaniya, Ajeeb Dastans, Feels Like Ishq, Ray, and Lust Stories 2. The only diamond in the rough was Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities. And it seems like Netflix has learned the right lesson from it and has brought another anthology series inspired by the works of an acclaimed director: Joko Anwar’s Nightmares and Daydreams.

For women making their movies and especially making their mark in a male-dominated industry like Bollywood it is not easy. However, Guneet Monga, Mira Nair, Prerna Arora, Ashwini Iyer Tiwary, Kiran Ral, and Zoya Akhtar have proven that everyone has space to exist and excel. To celebrate International Women’s Day today, we want to shine the spotlight on influential women filmmakers who have succeeded and redefined the narrative of Indian cinema with their impactful films.

Mira Nair

A pioneer in film the world over, Mira Nair needs no introduction. The filmmaker was one of the first female filmmakers who put India on the global map. Her filmography boasts epics such as Salaam Bombay!, Golden Globe winner Hysterical Blindness, Vanity Fair, The Namesake, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and the series ‘The Suitable Boy’. This powerhouse of talent also has numerous documentaries and loves to showcase her Indian roots and heritage on...

Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani have captured the hearts of fans worldwide with their undeniable chemistry and adorable public displays of affection (Pda). Their romantic moments never fail to melt hearts, earning them a devoted following in the film industry.

First Wedding Anniversary:

Today, February 7, marks a special milestone as Sidharth and Kiara celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Their fairytale wedding in Jaisalmer on February 7, 2023, remains etched in the memories of fans.

Social Media Sensations:

With a massive fan base on social media, Sidharth and Kiara often share glimpses of their lives, delighting fans with their Instagram posts and Stories. Their fans eagerly await updates and cherish every detail about the couple.

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The Beginning of a Bond:

Kiara revealed that she and Sidharth first met at the wrap-up party of ‘Lust Stories.’ From that moment, a deep connection blossomed between them,...

Lust Stories 2 Actress Amruta Subhash Says She Was Forced To A ‘Domestic Abuse’ Scene On TV For High Trp ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Time and again, we have seen actors calling out TV showmakers for its regressive content. Some time back, celebs like Radhika Madan, Kriti Kamra, Prachi Desai, and others, who moved to movies from TV, often made headlines for slamming television for its content. Well, the latest actress to talk about the same is Amruta Subhash, who recently opened up about the initial years of her career when she was forced to do a scene.

Amruta is a Hindi and Marathi actress who has been a part of numerous movies and web shows. She turned heads with her performances in Gully Boy, Raman Raghav 2.0, Ghost Stories, Choked: Paisa Bolta Hai, Dhamaka and recently in Lust Stories 2. She’s a part of ‘The Mirror’ episode, which is helmed by Konkona Sen Sharma.

Tamannaah Bhatia Nails Her Hottest Her Avatar In A Sizzling Saree! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

The wedding season is here, and can we just say that for a bridesmaid, sorting her wardrobe is the hardest part? How many times have you already scrolled through all your favorite celebs’ Instagrams to find one outfit that will let your inner diva shine while also adding a touch of elegance? Well, it looks like Tamannaah Bhatia got you covered with her recent saree soiree. The actress stepped out in a mesmerizing Anita Dongre saree that, in so many ways, hit the sartorial jackpot.

From corsets to floral gowns and thigh-high slits to bodycon, there’s no one in Bollywood currently who’s doing justice to the title of fashionista quite like Tamannaah. While the actress can sizzle in any avatar, Tammy’s ethnic attires make our hearts skip a beat. The Lust Stories 2 star...

The previous episode of Koffee with Karan featured Karan’s first leading ladies, and the theme of the show was Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. The episode took a trip down nostalgia road, and it was fun to watch all of them catch up to the fact that that film might have been slightly problematic. The latest episode of the show had Karan bring on the couch the leading pair of his most talked-about short film from the Lust Stories anthology. Kiara Advani and Vicky Kaushal are easily the most bankable actors in Hindi cinema currently, and they graced the couch together for the first time all in black to chat with Karan with coffee by their side (which is a given).

Recap: What Happens In The Episode?

Koffee with Karan Episode 7 began with all three of them talking about the façade they must put up in front of the camera on the show,...

Kiara Advani Goes Bold In Strapless Black Dress For Koffee With Karan 8!(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Kiara Advani is one Bollywood fashionista who can pull off any look to perfection, whether it’s a casual dress or a traditional saree. The stunning diva, who has become every filmmaker’s favorite muse, courtesy of her back-to-back successful commercial outings, also makes headlines for her incredible style and fashion sense. What we love the most about Kiara is that she always adds a personal flavor to everything she does, and her fashion-forward outfits always scream personal taste.

Ki will soon be gracing the couch of Koffee With Karan with her Lust Stories co-star Vicky Kaushal in the upcoming episode of the Karan Johar-hosted show, and a promo of the same was released on Monday. While we cannot wait for all the beans Advani will be spilling related to her personal and professional life on Kwk,...

Koffee With Karan 8: Kiara Advani & Vicky Kaushal Promise A Laughter Riot!(Photo Credit –Instagram)

Koffee With Karan 8’s seventh episode will see Kiara Advani and Vicky Kaushal seated on the couch, and this refreshing pair will be spilling some major beans, as glimpsed in the promo. Notably, ‘The Beauty and the Bahadur’—Kiara and Vicky—have previously starred opposite each other in Lust Stories (2018) and Govinda Naam Mera (2022), but it’s their first time together on Kwk.

The latest season of Koffee With Karan began on a contentious note, with the first episode resulting in a massive backlash against power couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, whose remarks during the premiere did not go down well with a certain section of netizens. However, six episodes into the season, the Karan Johar-hosted talk show has gained momentum, churning out the juiciest and spiciest gossip from some of Bollywood’s top stars,...

Top 10 Films Of 2023 (Ott): From Lust Stories 2 To Kareena Kapoor’s Jaane Jaan – IMDb Drops The List (Picture Credit: IMDb)

IMDb has dropped the list of top 10 films released on Ott platforms, and right from Kajol to Kareena Kapoor Khan, leading ladies of B’town have been ruling this arena. Young actors like Sidharth Malhotra, Sara Ali Khan, Sanya Malhotra, and Janhvi Kapoor also took their films straight to the platform.

Although direct-to-ott releases have been a thing of the past since the theaters have been functional, it has started a new genre of films exclusively made for the Ott platforms. This year, directors like Nitesh Tiwari and Sujoy Ghosh have offered brilliant films on Ott.

The Most Popular Indian Movies of 2023 (Streaming) list represents five subscription-based services, with five titles from Netflix, two from Zee5, and one each from Prime Video, JioCinema, and Disney+ Hotstar. The Most...

The latest episode of Koffee with Karan season five has two actors who were the first babies of Karan Johar, as stated by the director/producer at the end of the show. As they walked in, Karan could not stop gushing over the fact that the two actors he’d launched had reached the pinnacle of success and were still striving to do more. The original Student of the Year cast, Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan graced the show in this episode, and the entire hour was a hoot.

Recap: Major Highlights Of The Episode

The student-mentor relationship between them was the highlight of the chat show, and Varun Dhawan began by asking if the host Karan would only talk about Alia, even though she was not physically a part of this episode. It was a callback to the backlash Karan received for speaking too much about Alia in the last season.

New Delhi, Aug 18 (Ians) Reliance Jio on Friday announced the launch of Jio prepaid plans with a bundled Netflix subscription.

A Netflix subscription is already available on select Jio Postpaid and Jio Fiber plans, but this is the first time that a Netflix subscription will be available on a prepaid plan, the company said.

A Netflix mobile-only plan will come bundled with Jio’s Rs 1,099 plan, whereas a Rs 1,499 plan will give subscribers access to Netflix Basic. Both plans have a validity of 84 days.

With this launch, over 400 million Jio prepaid customers will get the option of availing a Netflix subscription through a Jio Prepaid bundled plan.

“The launch of Netflix bundles with our prepaid plan is yet another step to demonstrate our resolve. Our partnership with global partners like Netflix has grown in strength and together we are creating use cases for the rest of the world to follow,...

Mrunal Thakur has set the temperatures soaring with her brand-new mesmerizing first look from the much-awaited Telugu film #Nani30. The talented actress, known for her exceptional performances, has teamed up with superstar Nani for this highly anticipated project, generating immense excitement among fans and cinephiles alike.

Mrunal has amassed a massive following in the south with just one film, making her now one of the sought-after actresses with having signed films with superstars including Nani, Dulquer and Vijay Devarakonda.

In the now unveiled first look, Mrunal Thakur is seen gracefully adorned in a traditional South Indian saree, exuding elegance and charm. The picturesque backdrop of a serene beach adds a touch of magic to the scene, hinting at the enchanting narrative that awaits audiences in #Nani30.

Mrunal Thakur, who has previously showcased her acting prowess in Hindi cinema and other regional films, is thrilled about her second Telugu film with Nani.

Netflix’s recently released sequel of their famous anthology from 2018, Lust Stories, is back with more stories, new actors, and new directors helming the project and helping the audience understand the concept of lust from new points of view. The 2018 one had diverse stories about the female body and needs, and it created quite a buzz, especially the short film featuring Kiara Advani. Lust Stories is an important part of the Netflix India releases because, as the country is obsessed with Hindi cinema and the industry is filled with love stories, it is fascinating to understand what happens before and after ‘they lived happily ever after’ and what would be their way to sustain the love.

This time around, there are also tales of exploring sensual pleasure from a female perspective, but not all of them landed the way they should have. Out of the four stories presented to the viewers,...

The 2018 Lust Stories was famous for many reasons, one of which was that the directors mostly explored the lust and attraction women feel on various occasions and how they look at relationships. It was an eye-opener for the Hindi cinema space because, for the first time, they decided to explore the lust that leads to love most realistically. No stalking or song and dance routine, just two humans interacting and figuring out things about what the human body wants. The next anthology brings us four more directors exploring the same concept in their own way and helping the audience understand how differently the idea can be presented.

Spoilers Ahead

Made For Each Other By R. Balki

This 30-minute short film is all about marriage and sexual compatibility. It begins with Ved and Arjun’s family coming together to finally decide on the wedding date, as the two of them have decided to get married.

The last time Konkona Sen Sharma directed something, it was 2017. A year after that, the first installment of Netflix’s Lust Stories was released. Sex used to be a bigger taboo in India back then, so content like that was bound to get all the attention. Especially with four of the big names of Bollywood directing one segment each, Lust Stories was destined for popularity. However, from a cinematic point-of-view, it was not particularly great. Three out of the four directors, Kashyap, KJo, and Zoya Akhtar, treated lust as some kind of forbidden fruit and put a woman at the center of the story, which effectively villainized them.

I am sure you all have seen the “Kiara Advani TV remote” video and so many edits of that all over the internet over the past six years. While that particular segment was supposed to be a representation of female empowerment, the result was actually the opposite,...

Lust Stories 2(Netflix)

Lost in lust, or perhaps the hit lust… such mischievous descriptions spring to mind as we watch an extremely sexual Grandma in Balki’s story played by Neena Gupta about whom her screen-son Ayushman Khurrana had famously said she doesn’t give those “Maa wali vibes”.

Here in the second part of Lust Stories, Gupta gives herself a gala time as a grandmom counselling her grandchild Mrunal Thakur(who giggles her way through her perky part) to have sex with her fiancée(Angad Bedi looking visibly uncomfortable with barely six lines to speak) before marrying him.

Horny Granma’s logic is, “Even when you buy car you first test-drive it.” Right.

I have never come across a grandma like Gupta in R Balki’s warm and well-meaning segment in this four-part saga where one story, like Neeraj Ghaywan’s Geeli Pucchi in the Karan Johar anthology...

Tamannaah Bhatia and Vijay Varma have been garnering attention lately, as they recently confirmed their relationship and are now preparing for the release of Lust Stories 2.

The anthology series, directed by Sujoy Ghosh, is scheduled to premiere on June 29. In a recent interview Vijay Varma discussed Tamannaah Bhatia breaking her longstanding policy of avoiding on-screen kisses, which she had maintained for 18 years.

Vijay Varma told in a recent interview, “I met her [Tamanaah] for the reading at Sujoy Ghosh’s office. I think we broke the ice there. We shared our journey. She said ‘I have been working for the last 17 years. I had a no-kiss policy in my contract.’ And then, she was like ‘I have not done anything like this before.’ In the end, she told me that ‘you are the first actor I am going to be kissing on screen’. I was like “thank you.”

Tamannaah Bhatia and...

Mumbai, June 21 (Ians) The trailer of the upcoming anthology ‘Lust Stories 2’ was unveiled on Wednesday. It packs a heady punch of lust infused with humour and quirk.

The trailer is under 2 minutes in length and starts off with a dialogue by Neena Gupta’s character saying: “There’s a volcano like Mount Fuji inside the body. It gets satisfied once it erupts.”

It brings together four different stories by four different directors – Amit Ravindernath Sharma, Konkona Sen Sharma, R. Balki and Sujoy Ghosh – and stars Amruta Shubhash, Angad Bedi, Kajol, Kumud Mishra, Mrunal Thakur, Neena Gupta, Tamannaah Bhatia, Tillotama Shome and Vijay Varma.

Centred on the concept of lust in urban and rural India, the anthology showcases its many shades. While the trailer is filled with many moments that tickle the funny bone, it is Neena Gupta’s character of a cool daadi who takes the cake.

Talking about the film,...

Netflix has unveiled a new teaser for “The Archies,” a coming-of-age, live action musical set in 1960s India based on the teenagers of Riverdale.

“The Archies” is a feature film adaptation of the Archie comics, which are hugely popular on the Indian subcontinent.

The teaser, released during Netflix’s Tudum fan event, reveals that the film is set in 1964 in Riverdale, described on a railway sign as a “hill station,” a term dating back to colonial times that refers to a town located at a higher elevation than the nearby plain. One of the transport links servicing the hill stations are small mountain railway trains running on narrow gauge tracks, known affectionately in India as “toy trains” and the teaser opens with a shot of top train puffing into Riverdale station.

Once in the quaint town, the teaser reveals the iconic Pop Tate’s, a soda shop that Archie and his friends hang out at.

Top Bollywood actor Kiara Advani will join Hrithik Roshan and Ntr Jr in the cast of Yash Raj Films’ “War 2,” Variety has learned.

Advani debuted with hit “Fugly” (2014) and has starred in several more hits since, including “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story” (2016), “Bharath Ane Nenu” (2018), “Kabir Singh” (2019), “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2” and “Jug Jugg Jeeyo” (both 2022). She is also known for Netflix anthology “Lust Stories” (2018) and direct-to-digital Prime Video film “Shershaah” (2021).

“War 2” will be directed by Ayan Mukerji, who previously helmed Disney’s Indian mythological superhero film “Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva.”

Created by producer Aditya Chopra, the spy universe kicked off with the Tiger franchise, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, beginning with “Ek Tha Tiger” (2012) and “Tiger Zinda Hai” (2017), and continued with “War” (2019), starring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff. The latest instalment in the universe, “Pathaan,” starring Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, is the biggest...

CinemaDirector Parasuram Petla and Vijay Deverakonda had previously collaborated on the 2018 film ‘Geetha Govindam’, which also starred Rashmika Mandanna. Mrunal Thakur and Vijay Deverakonda: Twitter/SVC_officialVijay Deverakonda and Mrunal Thakur will act together in Geetha Govindam director Parasuram Petla’s next. The yet-to-be-titled film was officially launched on Wednesday, June 14, and shooting is expected to begin soon. The film is being produced under Sri Venkateswara Creations, the production banner of Tollywood producer ‘Dil’ Raju. The film will have music composed by Gopi Sundar, similar to Parasuram and Vijay Deverakonda’s previous collaboration, the 2018 film Geetha Govindam. Ku Mohanan will be the film’s cinematographer, the announcement said. While Geetha Govindam was criticised for its problematic portrayal of the relationship between the lead characters played by Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna, it was a huge commercial success and cemented Deverakonda’s status as a star after Arjun Reddy. While the...

EntertainmentThe streaming anthology Lust Stories is set to return with its second part.Netflix IndiaThe streaming anthology Lust Stories is set to return with its second part.Titled Lust Stories 2, the anthology will star actors like Amruta Subhash, Angad Bedi, Kajol, Kumud Mishra, Mrunal Thakur, Neena Gupta, Tamannaah Bhatia, Tillotama Shome and Vijay Varma.The stories have been crafted by four directors - Amit Ravindernath Sharma, R. Balki, Konkona Sen Sharma and Sujoy Ghosh.The teaser for Lust Stories 2 was unveiled on Tuesday and is a perfect concoction of sass, class and multiple shades of lust. The teaser, which is under a minute in length, features shots from the anthology held together by rib-tickling dialogues and pearls of wisdom on lust by Neena Gupta, who essays a cool dadi in the anthology. While the teaser shows all the leading actors, it's Neena Gupta's dialogue delivery and performance which takes the cake.

Competition

Actor Ncuti Gatwa, filmmaker Asif Kapadia (“Amy”) and journalist-turned-screenwriter Terri White, who’s memoir “Coming Undone” is being adapted for Netflix, will serve as judges on the BMW Filmmaking Challenge. The competition is the result of a partnership between BMW and the BFI that aims to support aspiring U.K. filmmakers and uncover fresh perspectives in the film industry.

The initiative was launched earlier this year by BAFTA winner Michaela Coel (“I May Destroy You”). The BFI has shortlisted five teams from some 400 applications, awarding each a £10,000 production budget, access to 8K camera equipment and mentoring from Coel. Inspired by the all-electric BMW i7 and its ultra-wide 31.3-inch rear-passenger theatre screen, the challenge is designed to stretch filmmakers artistically and bring their stories to life in 90 seconds under the theme Evolving Perspectives.

The films are now in production, judging will take place in September, with the winning short premiering...

ReviewIf life is an unpredictable occurrence, so is death, says the unified chant of the five filmmakers, even as each presents their case in their unique tone and sensibility.Pentagon / ScreengrabAnthology films managed to find a second lease of life following the advent of streaming platforms. In India, the resurgence of the format could be attributed to the star-studded four-part feature Bombay Talkies (2013) which, as a grand attempt to mark the centenary year of Indian cinema, brought together the four noted filmmakers Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee, and Anurag Kashyap. Since then, one has seen several engaging themes and topics being moulded into anthologies and, in turn, helping the short film format thrive in parallel. Lust Stories, Paava Kathaigal, the Modern Love franchise, Navarasa, Anger Tales, and Kannada's own Katha Sangama (both 1975 & 2019) are some of the noteworthy endeavours in this format. In Guru Deshpande's five-film anthology Pentagon, the...

Tamannaah Bhatia has her hands full with back-to-back project shoots and more. The actress is currently preparing for her glamorous performance at the opening ceremony of Ipl 2023. A source close to the actress reveals, “Tamannaah has been prepping for this performance round the clock as she is very particular about everything. Performing at the opening is also a wonderful opportunity for her as an actress. She’s surely going to make your heart skip a beat.”

Tamannaah recently made headlines for her walk at Lakmé Fashion Week. Speaking about her upcoming projects, 2022 was a promising year with Babli Bouncer & Plan A Plan B the actress is all set to dominate 2023 with multiple releases in Bollywood as well as in the South back-to-back. She is constantly shifting gears & making ends meet to deliver her best on-screen timings. With projects like Jee Karda, Lust Stories, Bhola Shankar, Jailer, & so on, we will...

Indian actor Rasika Dugal is on a roll, with season 2 of Emmy-winning Netflix series “Delhi Crime” streaming, season 3 of Amazon Prime Video series “Mirzapur” filming and several other series and films in the works.

Dugal describes season 2 of “Delhi Crime” as “very different from season 1, but still very sensitively and beautifully told,” adding that the series is minutely detailed.

While the first season revolved around an horrific 2012 rape case, which caught the attention of the world, the second season follows multiple murders, which are similarly done, and the police investigates.

“It is really about the vulnerability of senior citizens and also the very stark class divide, which is very apparent in a city like Delhi. Somehow, visually in Delhi, it’s much more around than anywhere else. And the season really talks about that very sensitively and carefully and also throws light on the way we treat marginalized communities,” Dugal told Variety.

The offspring of Bollywood superstars are debuting in “The Archies,” Netflix’s coming-of-age, live action musical set in 1960s India based on the teenagers of Riverdale.

Young actors Mihir Ahuja, Dot, Yuvraj Menda and Vedang Raina will feature in the film’s cast. They are joined by Khushi Kapoor, the daughter of the late actor Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor and sister of Janhvi Kapoor; superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan; and Agastya Nanda, the grandson of revered actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan.

The feature film adaptation of the Archie comics, which are hugely popular on the Indian subcontinent, will be produced by Akhtar and Reema Kagti for Tiger Baby and Sharad Devarajan for Graphic India. It is written by Kagti, Akhtar and Ayesha DeVitre (“Kapoor & Sons”).

Set in the 1960s, the musical drama is directed by Zoya Akhtar (“Gully Boy”). “A musical experience bursting with youth,...

Global entertainment studio International Art Machine is venturing into India with a heavyweight slate fronted by A-listers Shekhar Kapur, Preity Zinta, Amish Tripathi, Dibakar Banerjee and Suparn S. Varma.

First up is “Shiva,” a series adaptation of Amish Tripathi’s bestselling Shiva Trilogy novels set in the land of Meluha, beginning with the first book “The Immortals of Meluha,” which will be directed by “Elizabeth” and “Bandit Queen” filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. Suparn S. Varma (Amazon Prime Video series “The Family Man” season 2) will serve as showrunner and will also direct.

Kapur said: “Amish’s Shiva Trilogy has been India’s great publishing sensation, crossing every age and class. It’s not just mythology, it’s modern storytelling at its best. Lending itself to a beautiful international series.”

Varma said: “The Meluha trilogy by Amish Tripathi is a genre-defining book and has become part of the pop-culture of the country. I...

With over 90 films to her career, Manisha Koirala is acknowledged as one of the finest Indian actresses to grace the big screen. With each new movie and character, the actress would completely disappear into her role in films like 1942: A Love Story, Khamoshi: The Musical, Dil Se, Company, and most recently Lust Stories and Sanju. Earning rave reviews for her work, audiences are always eager to see what brilliance she will bring to the big screen and this newest film does not disappoint. She is outstanding once again.

Directed by Geeta Malik, India Sweets and Spices is an entertaining film, often funny, and truly thought-provoking. It gives a glimpse of the life of an Indian American family. Ms. Koirala takes on the role of Sheila, a perfectionist, who is very proper and always acts in the manner that she thinks is the right way to be in her life.

OTTThe facility will be operational in June 2022. PTIFlickr Netflix has announced that it will be unveiling its first fully owned post-production facility in Mumbai in 2022. In a press release, the streamer said the live-action and full-service facility will be operational by June next year. It will have 40 offline editing rooms designed as a flexible, collaborative and inspiring environment for showrunners, directors, editors and sound designers to create their best work. "We are excited that Mumbai will be home to this wonderful creative space. This reinforces our commitment to India's entertainment industry as we continue to empower creators with the best resources to tell great stories," Vijay Venkataramanan, Director, Post-Production, Netflix India, said in a statement. According to Netflix, the facility will pioneer advanced media management workflows that will allow a seamless partnership with India's post-production community. Since its launch in India, the streamer has made strategic forays into the entertainment...

New Delhi, March 11: Kiara Advani has the right lines when she opens up about her future plans. She wants to be "that actor who is good in every film", does not want to be defined by her hits and misses in Hindi film industry.

The Bollywood actress made her debut with the 2016 dud Fugly, but has since then made a mark with some good performances in films such as M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Lust Stories, Kabir Singh and Good Newwz.

In her seven-year-journey, Kiara has also faced failures with "Laxmii" and "Machine".

Does the industry define an actor through hits and misses? "If I look back in my journey, the opportunities I got - whether it is ‘Kabir Singh' or ‘Lust Stories' - were incredible opportunities that came to me at a time when not so many people knew me, so, yes, at the end of the...

Tollywood‘Pitta Kathalu’ will premiere on Netflix on February 19.Tnm StaffThe trailer of Pitta Kathalu - an anthology produced by Netflix India was released on Friday. The film features actors Shruti Haasan, Amala Paul, Eesha Rebba, Jagapati Babu, Ashwin Kakumanu, Lakshmi Manchu, Saanve Megghana, Sanjith Hegde, amongst others. The film will premiere on the Over-the-Top platform on February 19. While Pitta Kathalu was supposed to be the remake of Lust Stories, the trailer proves otherwise. Glimpses of the segment featuring Shruti Haasan appears to have a touch of Black Mirror, the dystopian Netflix series. In one of the episodes, actors Amala Paul and Jagapati Babu are a couple, with the husband suspecting his wife’s fidelity. Actor Satyadev is shown as an author, who cheats on his wife with a model played by Eesha Rebba, whom he is in love with. The anthology is directed by Tharun Bhascker, Bv Nandini Reddy,...

Tollywood'Pitta Kathalu' is the Telugu edition of Lust Stories.Tnm StaffThe teaser of Telugu anthology film Pitta Kathalu, the Telugu edition of Lust Stories with fresh short films, was released by Netflix on Wednesday. The anthology is directed by Tharun Bhascker, Bv Nandini Reddy, Nag Ashwin and Sankalp Reddy. The teaser features actors Shruti Haasan, Amala Paul, Eesha Rebba, Saanve Megghana, Lakshmi Manchu, Jagapathi Babu, and Satyadev among others. The film will be released on the Over-the-Top platform on February 19. Watch: Lust Stories, a Netflix original made in Hindi, had the broad theme of love, sex and relationships. Critics dubbed the film as progressive and feminist as it centred around women. The anthology was directed by filmmakers Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee, Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar. This was their second association after Bombay Talkies. The film included actors Radhika Apte, Bhumi Pednekar, Kiara Advani, Manisha Koirala, Vicky Kaushal, Neil Bhoopalam,...

Actress Kiara Advani made her Bollywood debut in 2014 with Fugly, which was a no-show at the box office. However, she was later seen in hits such as M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story, Lust Stories, Kabir Singh and Good Newwz. The actress cannot name a particular role as game changer in her career, but credits all her work for the success she enjoys today.

"For me I think every film (mattered) -- right from my first film because that is what gave me my first step into the film industry. People also say ‘Kabir Singh' and ‘Lust Stories' (but) every film has been a turning point in my life. I would want every film to be like that, even my future films. So, I can't think of just one film. I think my entire journey has been special," Kiara told Ians.

The actress, whose latest release is "Indoo Ki Jawaani...

Netflix series “Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives” delivers exactly what it promises: a glossy window into the lives of four wealthy, glamorous women celebrating their enduring friendships on screen. Bravo may have gotten there first with its “Real Housewives” franchise, but the streaming giant’s take is the first of its kind out of India.

The chemistry between the four women — all of whom are married to actors — is palpable. Of the four, Neelam Kothari is arguably the most successful, having enjoyed a long career as a Bollywood leading lady in the 1980s and 1990s.

Some 20 years ago, Kothari called time on her acting career. She is now married to actor Samir Soni (“Student of the Year 2″). “To be back on screen after so many years and, that too, with my best friends, has been an exhilarating experience,” Kothari tells Variety. “We wanted the audience to see us for who...

New Delhi, Nov 17 (Ians) The advent of Ott has not only been a boon for fresh talent. Many senior actors are also seeing a fresh lease of life to the careers thanks to the digital domain.

Ians lists names of actors who saw a new life to their career all thanks to OTTs.

Sushmita Sen

The actress, who was last seen in the 2015 Bengali film "Nirbaak", made her acting comeback with a fierce avatar through the web series "Aarya". The show is about how her protagonist Aarya is pulled into the narcotics business when her family is threatened. The series streams on Disney+ Hotstar VIP. Sushmita now looks forward to the second season of the show.

"The response to ‘Aarya' has been overwhelmingly great. An entire team of fantastic people put this show together and we knew we were creating something magical with ‘Aarya'. However, even we could not fathom...

TollywoodReports suggest that Krish Jagarlamudi, Shiva Nirvana, Nandini Reddy and Ajay Bhupati will come together for the new series, on the theme of ‘love’.Digital NativeFile PhotoStreaming giant Netflix India is taking big strides in the south, with multiple projects in various stages of production. After recently wrapping up the shoot for the Telugu version of Netflix’s Lust Stories, reports have emerged that they have roped in four popular Telugu filmmakers for an anthology series on the theme of ‘love’. Directors Krish Jagarlamudi, Shiva Nirvana, Nandini Reddy and Ajay Bhupathi have been signed to helm four shorts for this upcoming anthology film. Nandini has already worked with Netflix on one segment in their Telugu version of Lust Stories. Her segment features Amala Paul, Jagapathi Babu and Ashwin Kakumanu. A report by Telugu360 states that Netflix has already completed the agreement work for the new series, and that the shoot will commence next year.

CAA Media Finance is representing worldwide distribution rights to “India Sweets and Spices,” produced by Sk Global (“Crazy Rich Asians”) and Madison Wells (“Genius”).

The film is directed by Geeta Malik (“Troublemaker”) and is based on her own script “Dinner With Friends” that won the 2016 Academy Nicholl Fellowships in screenwriting. The film follows a young woman who, after her first year at college, returns to her affluent suburban New Jersey home for the summer and discovers distressing secrets about her seemingly picture-perfect Indian American family.

“We don’t often see movies about the duality of identifying strongly with both Indian and American traditions, and not having to choose between them,” Malik said. “And I didn’t want to make a movie specifically about any sort of culture clash. Every generation, no matter what their background, has to find a way to both break free from and embrace their history. That...

Video streaming giants, Amazon Prime Video and Netflix have stepped up their efforts to penetrate the Tamil-language market by announcing release of anthology films in the language by leading filmmakers.

Tamil is one of the dominant film, TV and streaming markets in India and content in the language is also consumed in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, U.K., U.S., Canada, the Middle East, Western Europe and Australia, where there are significant segments of Tamil speakers.

Amazon’s “Putham Pudhu Kaalai” is an anthology of five Tamil short films featuring stories of love, new beginnings, second chances, and hope, set and filmed in the times of the Covid-19 lockdown. The films include “Reunion” directed by Rajiv Menon (“Madras Beats”) starring Andrea Jeremiah “(Vada Chennai”), Leela Samson (“Ok Kanmani”) and Carnatic music vocalist Sikkil Gurucharan; “Coffee, Anyone?” directed by and starring Suhasini Mani Ratnam (Tribeca-winner “Tryst With Destiny”), Anu Hasan...

Just a few weeks, ago that filmmaker Shekhar Kapur shared that he was impressed with the amazing new acting talents that the Ott space has been introducing to the world. The audience is with him on this.

Ians takes a look at actors who have grabbed maximum eyeballs in the digital space, emerging as the new Ott stars:

Amit Sadh

The former "Bigg Boss" contestant began as a television actor in 2002 and later entered Bollywood with "Phoonk 2" in 2010. "Kai Po Che" brought him fame and he went on to feature in films like "Sultan" and "Gold". Now, he is one of the favourites in the digital space as he got a thumbs up for his role as Inspector Kabir Sawant over two seasons of the web series "Breathe". He was then seen as an army officer in the web series "Avrodh: The Siege Within". For him, it seems like the...

Veteran Indian producer Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP is set to restart shooting “Sitara” in November. After a brief schedule in Mumbai, the shoot was paused in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The film, starring Sobhita Dhulipala (“Made in Heaven”) and Rajeev Siddhartha (“Four More Shorts Please”), is a love story between a fiercely independent, feisty, young interior designer and a young aspiring chef. They recognize the flaws in their relationship, but set out to redeem themselves and make it work.

“Sitara” is directed by Vandana Kataria (“Noblemen”) and written by Kataria, Sonia Bahl, Hussain Dalal and Abbas Dalal.

“ ‘Sitara’ is a story that has been very close to my heart,” said Kataria. “It is something that all modern-day families experience, but are reluctant to confront. Having a producer like Ronnie on board is just a perfect fit to say such stories. The pandemic did disrupt our schedule, but given the new normal,...

Actress Radhika Apte feels the nepotism conversation is complicated, and not just related to the film industry.

"I don't want to be a part of this discussion, really," Radhika told Ians when asked about the ongoing nepotism discussion, adding: "It is not just about the insider and the outsider. It is a larger discussion. There is not one answer to it. As a society, we have supported nepotism a lot and it's not just the film industry. In order to change everything, we all need to change how we look at it," she added.

Talking about how difficult it is to make a name in Bollywood, the actress said: "I think it's difficult for both the insider and the outsider to be successful. Success is not just about being born into a family. It is a complicated answer. I don't think it's easy to answer that."

Earlier in an interview to Ians,...

CinemaFans and Netflix India celebrated Radhika Apte’s return to Netflix Originals with ‘Raat Akeli Hai’.Tnm StaffActor Radhika Apte makes her comeback to Netflix with Raat Akeli Hai, a murder-mystery starring Nawazuddin Siddique in the lead. The film’s trailer, which released on Friday, promises a nail-biting murder mystery where a local politician is murdered on the night of his second wedding. Radhika plays the murdered man’s mystifying new bride and Nawaz playing Jatil Yadav, the cop investigating the case. The film also includes Shweta Tripathi, Ila Arun, Khalid Tyabji and Shivani Raghuvanshi in the supporting cast and will release on Netflix on July 31. On Friday, as the film’s trailer dropped, fans and Netflix India took to Twitter to celebrate Radhika’s return to the Ott platform, which also releases original content. Radhika Apte has previously featured in several of Netflix’s original content, including three consecutive releases in 2018 with Sacred Games,...

Netflix and Un Women have launched the “Because She Watched” collection of series, documentaries, and films created for the upcoming International Women’s Day.

The collection, which will be available all year, is curated by female creators from behind and in front of the camera, including Sophia Loren, Salma Hayek, Yalitza Aparicio, Millie Bobby Brown, Laurie Nunn, Lana Condor, Petra Costa and Ava DuVernay. It includes “Orange Is the New Black,” “Marriage Story,” “Bird Box,” “Silence of the Lambs,” “House of Cards,” “Queer Eye,” “The Crown,” “Gravity,” “Roma” and “Paris Is Burning.”

“This collaboration is about taking on the challenge of telling women’s stories and showing women in all their diversity. It’s about making visible the invisible, and proving that only by fully representing and including women on screen, behind-the-camera and in our narratives overall, society will truly flourish,” said Anita Bhatia, Un Women Deputy Executive Director.

International...

The fact that Hrithik Roshan is one of the most desirable men in the world is not unknown. He has in fact topped many of these lists for many years. But what we have recently come across is that Hrithik has also featured in an American documentary series, "Sex Explained" alongside desirable personalities across the globe.

The show "Sex Explained" is an informative episodic series covering topics across sexual health and fantasies.

In the episode titled "Attraction", Hrithik was the only Indian celebrity to feature along with other prominent celebrities worldwide who are known for their desirabilities like Chris Hemsworth, Jennifer Lopez, Jason Momoa, and others. This only proves Hrithik Roshan?s desirability being discussed across the globe.

This is not the first time that Hrithik has been mentioned when discussing fantasies. Earlier a video vent viral of comedian Sumukhi Suresh from Lust Stories giving a female manual to masturbation...

Filmmaker-producer Karan Johar, whose digital content production wing Dharmatic has collaborated with streaming giant Netflix for a venture named "Guilty", has said that his upcoming edge-of-the-seat thriller film has intrigue, resonance and relevance, combined by some terrific performances.

"Guilty" is led by women in all departments -- be it in acting, direction, writing and production -- and Johar declares he will continue collaborating with female talent in future, too.

Also Read:?Bhumi Pednekar opens up on her upcoming horror flick

At the trailer launch, Johar was accompanied by the film's director Ruchi Narain, writers Kanika Dhillion and Atika Chohan, and cast members Kiara Advani, Gurfateh Singh Pirzada, Akansha Ranjan Kapoor and Taher Shabbir. Srishti Behl Arya, director, International Original Film, India, Netflix, was also present, as were Apoorva Mehta, CEO, Dharma Productions, and Somen Mishra, head of creative development at Dharma Movies.

On the female-centric cast and crew, Johar said:...

Sinister. Diabolic. Macabre. Wicked. Those are the respective moods Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee and Karan Johar broadly bank upon, to thrill with their latest collaborative attempt. "Ghost Stories" is guaranteed to send a chill down your spine that should make the ongoing searing winter a tad more discomforting, and if you are a true-blue horror buff you won't complain.

Horror is a restrictive genre. Traditionally, it is associated with whipping up loud, quickfix tricks that guarantee instant scares, which is why script, performances and originality often take a backseat. It is a reason A-list artistes and filmmakers normally desist from participating in the genre.

"Ghost Stories" marks an exciting departure from that rule in Bollywood, what with four of the industry's most highly-regarded contemporary directors coming together to spin four scary tales that bear no connection with each other. Since this bunch has struck winners with "Bombay Talkies" and "Lust Stories" before this,...

NetflixKaran Johar's segment is a disappointment while the other three films are interesting if not scary.Saraswati DatarI'm the kind of person who gets scared of moths and sparrows. Suffice to say, I was frightened at the prospect of being frightened while watching and reviewing Netflix’s film Ghost Stories, a follow up to 2018's Lust Stories. The four stories directed by Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, Dibakar Banerjee and Karan Johar appear in that order on-screen. The four directors, none of whom have directed a horror film, expand the scope of the genre and question whether what scares us always lies outside of us. Things get off to a good start with Zoya's technically brilliant tale. She builds the feeling of dread and uneasiness experienced by Sameera (Janhvi Kapoor), a nurse sent to look after a bedridden patient (Surekha Sikri). The home and dementia struck patient have both seen happier days,...

In what has become a fruitful collaborative partnership, four of India's top directors have come together to create a brand new horror anthology for Netflix called Ghost Stories. Filmmakers Karan Johar (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham), Dibakar Banerjee, Zoya Akhtar, and Anurag Kashyap have previous collaborated on two other anthology features, the cinema themed Bombay Talkies in 2013, and the steamy Lust Stories in 2018. This latest endeavor sees all four of its filmmakers venturing into horror for the first time ever. While Kashyap is well known as India's foremost genre film icon, his films have never quite eked over the thin line between thriller and horror. Karan Johar is best know...

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