‘Heeramandi’ is Beautiful But Incomplete
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s streaming debut is characteristically grandiose. But it falls short where it matters most.
Poulomi Das
‘Amar Singh Chamkila’: An Ode to a Punjabi Folk Hero
Diljit Dosanjh stars in the Imtiaz Ali biopic that isn’t afraid to embrace the violence and vulgarity of the real-life story behind it.
Meher Manda
Why Are We Still Talking About ‘Animal’?
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s paean to violence, misogyny, and daddy issues is a laughably poor film, one that benefits from endless discourse.
‘Fighter’ Review: All Flair, Few Feels
The Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan film has plenty of action, but a tired storyline wastes its immense star power.
Snigdha Sur
‘Baazigar,’ the Killer Thriller Gamble that Struck Gold
The 1993 film with a murderous villain as a hero sent shockwaves through Bollywood and turned its actors and directors into veritable stars.
‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai,’ the Blockbuster Full of Contradictions
The film reinforced the “suitable girl” trope, but also reimagined widowhood and love.
‘Jawan’: What’s Old is New Again — And More Relevant Than Ever
The latest action blockbuster from Shah Rukh Khan showcases the actor’s many avatars, with epic storytelling that has long been missing in Hindi cinema.
‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ Review: Big Bollywood Romance is Back
But it’s not about the Punjabi-Bengali love story you think it’s about.
Rekha, Mother of Bollywood Queer Icons
The Hindi film industry painted the actor as a vamp and the other woman. Yet she emerged as a flag-bearer for self-love and queer self-expression.
Mehr Singh
‘Jubilee’ Review: A Dazzling Homage to the Dawn of Hindi Cinema
Vikramaditya Motwane’s ambitious series explores the style and scandal of Bollywood in post-Partition and post-Independence India.
Salim-Javed: Strugglers, Screenwriters, Superstars
The story of Bollywood’s most successful writing duo is as masala-filled as the groundbreaking cinema they created.
Rtusha Kulkarni
How Bollywood Failed Parveen Babi
One of the highest-paid actors of her time is largely remembered through her lovers and by her illness. While others profited from her tale, she died alone at 51.
Sadaf Ahsan
‘Pathaan’ Marks Shah Rukh Khan’s Glorious Return
The star-driven action flick is well worth the wait. Deepika Padukone and John Abraham take it to the next level.
Deepika Padukone is Building an Empire
The launch of 82°E, her self-described “self-care” brand, is only the start for the Bollywood superstar.
How ‘Jab We Met’ Changed Bollywood Romance Forever
The 2007 film broke the rules with its strong female lead and a romance rooted in friendship. Today, it’s still the perfect rewatch.
‘Vikram Vedha’ Marks the Return of Bollywood Nuance
The remake of the hit 2017 Tamil film gives us delightfully meaty characters who go beyond good vs. evil.
‘Brahmāstra’ Review: Powerful, Yet Fatally Flawed
The epic fantasy film starring Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt is the first of its kind, but disappointingly leans into tired Bollywood tropes.
Alia Bhatt Refuses to Be Predictable
Critics dismissed her after her debut. Peers now call her the best actor in Bollywood. We chatted with the ‘Darlings’ star on how she pulls off powerful character-driven roles.
Northeastern Actors are Finally Getting Their Shot at Bollywood Stardom
Streaming platforms have led to more regional cinema, diverse storytelling, and long-awaited opportunities for northeastern actors. Will mainstream Hindi cinema follow?
Makepeace Sitlhou
Where Has Bollywood’s Romance Gone?
In these divisive times, love remains a mere blip — not the central character it once was — in most Hindi films.
It’s Time to Bid Bollywood Masala Films a Definitive Goodbye
The genre that once crackled with all the dramatic possibilities of mainstream Hindi cinema and united a country has devolved into divisive, repugnant storylines.
Aryan Khan is Paying the Price for Being Muslim in India
Though they couldn’t find any drugs on him, officials arrested Shah Rukh Khan’s son during a drug raid and denied him bail — a reminder that being Muslim in India means living at the government’s mercy.
The Rise of Anti-Pakistan Bollywood
Patriotic movies used to evoke national unity. Today, films such as “BellBottom,” “Bhuj,” and “Shershaah” focus on settling scores with Pakistan.
How Mani Ratnam’s Terrorism Trilogy Stoked 1990s Nationalism
Though critically acclaimed, the director’s “Roja,” “Bombay,” and “Dil Se...” pushed jingoistic narratives that persist in Bollywood today.
The Enduring Love of Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu
The Bollywood superstars remained devoted to each other over five decades despite personal tragedy, jealousy, and a secret second marriage.
How Bollywood Failed Kashmir
Hindi cinema has long viewed Kashmir through a glossy lens, erasing its people, their agency, and their political histories.
Why “Delhi Belly” Remains Bollywood’s Best Slacker Comedy
Ten years ago, Bollywood made a runaway hit about that period in your 20s when life goes to shit. No film has since come close to replicating it.
‘Lagaan’: The Blockbuster That Almost Didn’t Happen
This year marks 20 years since Ashutosh Gowariker and Aamir Khan’s iconic film took the world by storm, and changed Bollywood forever.
Neena Gupta’s Time in the Sun
For decades, Bollywood relegated Neena Gupta’s talent to only supporting roles. Now, at 62, she’s finally getting her shot at stardom.
The Devolution of Journalism in Hindi Film
Bollywood’s ethical journalists are increasingly disappearing from the screen.
Good Ma, Bad Ma
Can Bollywood’s mothers exist between virtue or vice?
Imaan Sheikh
How Filmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan Weaves Nuance into Marginalized Identities
Whether it’s caste, gender, class, or sexual orientation, the director behind "Masaan" and "Geeli Pucchi" dissects every theme with refreshing sensitivity.
Why Bollywood Loved — and Lost — Fawad Khan
It’s been years since fans have seen the iconic Pakistani actor in Hindi cinema. But they can’t seem to forget him.
Helen, the Glittering Mehbooba of Bollywood
Draped in lace, rhinestones, and fur, Helen claimed and rebranded the archetype of a vamp.
Why Bollywood Queens Start in the South
For decades, Hindi cinema has been sourcing its leading ladies from the Southern film industries of India.
Dilani Rabindran
Rekha, Amitabh, Jaya: A Silsila of Deprivation
Decades later, Bollywood’s most infamous love triangle seems even more tragic than we first thought.
Why Nigeria Loves Bollywood
With its emphasis on family values and forbidden love, Bollywood has long been popular in Nigeria, influencing the country’s prolific movie industry.
Diekoye Oyeyinka
The Horny Sophistication of “Choli Ke Peeche”
Let’s take a walk down mammary lane and dissect the scandal and power that surrounded one of Bollywood’s most tastefully titillating songs to date.
How “AK vs AK” Forged A New Bollywood Genre
Vikramaditya Motwane’s new Netflix thriller — also a black comedy, an indictment of Bollywood, and a 108-minute-long inside joke — was seven years in the making.
How the Death of a Bollywood Actor Became a Political Proxy War
Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide fueled a four-month-long media circus, with internet mobs and politicians destroying lives and livelihoods in the name of “Justice for Sushant.”
Michaela Stone Cross
25 Years of Rangeela, the Quintessential Ode to Bollywood
Armed with a brilliant cast and a glorious soundtrack by A. R. Rahman, the film is a tribute to Mumbai, moviemaking, and the filmiest of love stories.
