Movie Masala

Raj how did your first project materialize? It took us almost four or five years to get that film going because we were new to Mumbai. It was the first time we had landed in the city, and we didn’t know anyone. All we knew was that we could write a script. So, we wrote 99, Shor in the City, and Go Goa Gone, I think. As engineers aspiring to be filmmakers, we thought that if we wrote three scripts, at least one of them might get made. More scripts meant better odds. 99 was our first one. But again, we didn’t know anyone. How did you convince a producer to back 99? Just making contacts, approaching any actor or producer—it was all taking forever. And we had zero clue how to go about it. Plus, we looked like we were from another world. We didn’t look like we belonged in Mumbai. People didn’t know who we were. But they did say the script was fun, fresh, and something they hadn’t read before. So, 99 had no reference point? Right. That kind of proved to be tough and good at the same time b...

Actress and athlete Saiyami Kher has taken a break from Mumbai and her shooting schedule to travel to Nashik, where she has started training for the upcoming Ironman Triathlon — one of the most challenging endurance races. This is her second consecutive year participating in the international event, post her win in 2024 when she completed the half marathon. Known for her disciplined lifestyle and commitment to fitness, Saiyami believes Nashik, her hometown, offers the perfect combination of peace and geography for focused preparation. Speaking about her return to Nashik and her journey ahead, Saiyami shared, “I have been shooting on a new South film that’s yet to be announced and was on Cricbuzz for the IPL. I needed a break..not to rest, but to go all in on my Ironman prep. My next Ironman 70.3, the European Championship in Sweden is less than 2 months away. I knew this race was going to be way tougher than my last one. The elevation, the course.. it’s a different beast. Coming to N...

Women in Film India (WIF India), the newly launched chapter of the global Women in Film network, makes its official debut this month under the leadership of Academy Award-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor. The organization marks its launch with the unveiling of its official website — https://ift.tt/U75TqQ4. This debut signals the beginning of several upcoming programs that WIF India will roll out shortly. The first initiative kicks off at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival — a special program spotlighting three women producers from India. The website is now open to the public, who can join by registering for membership, keeping themselves updated on upcoming initiatives, and other resources. Backed by Women In Film Los Angeles (WIF LA), WIF India joins a global coalition of over 50 chapters across six continents working to advance gender equity in the entertainment industry. The launch signals a major milestone for India’s creative community and builds on decades of international...

Actress Patralekhaa recently opened up about her personal life with husband and actor Rajkummar Rao in a heartfelt and humorous interview with Bollywood Bubble. From chaotic holiday adventures to the joys of simple living, she painted an endearing picture of a couple deeply in love - while staying grounded through it all. Patralekhaa revealed that she’s the planner in the relationship, handling everything from holiday itineraries to dinner reservations. “I like making plans. I’m the one who handles holiday planning and dinner reservations—100%! Raj loves doing all of that too, but he can’t really plan because he doesn’t have the time. So I’m like, ‘Okay, let me plan a holiday for you.’ Then he tells me, ‘Let’s go… let’s go to Japan.’ I said, ‘Cool, we’ll go to Japan.’ But beyond that, he had no clue,” she shared, laughing. “I asked, ‘Okay, Japan sounds good, but what do we actually do there?’ He said, ‘You figure it out when we get there.’” She also recounted one particularly spontan...

Darsheel, May 14 marks 15 years since your first post-Taare Zameen Par release. Wow—15 years of Bumm Bumm Bole! Time really does fly. Shooting for it right after Taare Zameen Par was such a memorable experience. I was still quite young, and everything felt new and exciting. I wouldn’t say I got “star treatment” in the typical sense—but yes, there definitely was a sense of familiarity and warmth from the crew after TZP. I felt looked after, and that made a huge difference.  What was it like being directed by Priyadarshan? Working with Priyadarshan sir was a complete learning curve. His energy and pace on set were infectious, and he had such a clear vision of what he wanted. I remember how precise he was—even with emotions. We hardly wasted any time. He made sure we stayed natural while still hitting the right emotional notes. It’s always amazing to work with and be in the same room as someone as experienced as Priyan sir.  Do you remember the spunky girl Ziyah Vastani, who pl...

On May 13, filmmaker Farhad Samji took to Instagram to share a behind-the-scenes moment from the sets of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. The caption read, “Charging ourselves up, after a loong day of hard work! #HaiJawaaniTohIshqHonaHai,” hinting at a packed shooting schedule and an upbeat environment on set. The post featured director David Dhawan, actor Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde, Chunky Panday, Jimmy Shergill, cinematographer Ayananka Bose, and director Rohit Dhawan among others. The image offered a rare group moment capturing the core team unwinding after a day’s shoot. An Ensemble Working Behind the Scenes The photo reflects a collaborative energy between generations of filmmakers and actors. With David Dhawan at the helm of the project and Varun Dhawan leading the cast alongside Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai appears to be bringing together a dynamic team. The presence of Rohit Dhawan and seasoned names like Jimmy Shergill and Chunky Panday adds further...