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Asian cinema: Bollywood

Asian cinema: Bollywood

Views, news and reviews of films from the world's biggest movie production centre, India

last updated:

9 September, 2024

Kani Kusruti (left) and Divya Prabha in a still from All We Imagine as Light. The art-house film is challenging Bollywood’s dominance in India. Photo: Spirit Media

Director’s joy as her art-house movie gains fans in Bollywood-mad India

Golden Globes and Oscar nominee All We Imagine as Light has shown an Indian art-house film can challenge Bollywood’s dominance of cinemas.

28 Dec 2024 - 6:15PMvideocam

The 12 best Asian films of 2024, including The Last Dance

19 Dec 2024 - 7:15AMvideocam

Bollywood’s Aamir Khan almost retired during Covid, but Kiran Rao changed his mind

25 Nov 2024 - 8:00PM

‘Time has come’ for Indian women directors with 3 set to vie for Oscars

Director of wife-swapping comedy Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies), Indian Oscars entry, hails ‘special moment’ for South Asian women filmmakers.

21 Oct 2024 - 7:15AMvideocam

A still from Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies), directed by Kiran Rao, India’s entry for the 2025 best international film Oscar. With films by two other South Asian women filmmakers in the running, Rao says “our time has come”.

Q&A | How Cartier designed its latest Nature Sauvage collection

Creative director of high jewellery, Jacqueline Karachi, discusses the process behind designing such a collection, and picks out her favourite pieces from her years of work for the house

18 Oct 2024 - 4:00AM

10 of the best movies at the Hong Kong Asian Film Festival 2024

This year’s programme includes a drama ripped from Hong Kong headlines, a social satire in a near-future Japan and a modern romantic drama.

15 Oct 2024 - 7:15AMvideocam

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Fame and celebrity

How Ishaan Khatter went from Bollywood star’s brother to Hollywood actor

The son of Indian actors and half-brother to Shahid Kapoor doesn’t want to be seen as a nepo baby, loves dancing, and isn’t ready to make his love life public just yet.

13 Sep 2024 - 6:00PM

Indian actor Ishaan Khatter at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Perfect Couple. Photo: AFP

Showtime or shutdown? India’s storied cinema halls struggle in streaming era

A cultural identity forged over decades hangs in the balance as India’s small cinema owners battle to survive digital disruption.

18 Aug 2024 - 6:00PM

Fame and celebrity

Meet Orhan ‘Orry’ Awatramani, the ‘liver’ who’s tight with the Ambanis

Orry partied at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding bash, and boasts Hollywood and Bollywood pals – but why did Rihanna ask for his earrings?

24 Jul 2024 - 4:22PM

‘Spineless’: Bollywood stars slammed for ‘selective’ posts on Palestinians

Several Bollywood stars have posted during the “Eyes on Rafah” online campaign, which took off amid Israel’s attacks in the southern Gaza Strip city.

9 Jun 2024 - 6:00PMvideocam

Indians carry placards as they participate in a foot march in Chennai to protest the war in Gaza and to show solidarity with the people of Palestine. Photo: AP

Mukesh Ambani and family

Which stars just went on the Ambani pre-wedding luxury cruise?

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant went on a 4-day luxury cruise from Italy to France with Adam Sandler, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan … and about 800 more guests

5 Jun 2024 - 4:00AM

Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant, pictured during the inauguration of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, at Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra, in March 2023, in Mumbai, India. Photo: Getty Images

Indian gang members arrested for shooting at Bollywood star Salman Khan’s home

Khan, 58, has been in the cross hairs of the Bishnoi gang since 1998 for shooting two antelopes on a recreational hunting trip.

16 Apr 2024 - 5:43PM

Fame and celebrity

Chuck and Blair IRL? Meet Ed Westwick’s Bollywood star fiancée, Amy Jackson

Gossip Girl’s Ed Westwick, who played Chuck Bass in the iconic TV drama that ran from 2007 to 2012, just announced his engagement in a joint Instagram post with fiancée Amy Jackson

7 Feb 2024 - 6:00AM

India’s first AI-generated film is raising excitement – and doubts

Unlike Hollywood, India’s film industry is cautiously optimistic about AI due to the lower production costs and doubt that it can replace human creativity.

15 Jan 2024 - 11:51PMvideocam

Maharaja in Denims is about a teenager who believes he is a reincarnation of a prominent historical figure. Photo: Handout

Evil Does Not Exist, 12.12: The Day lead Asian Film Awards nominations

Drive My Car director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest film, and a Korean historical epic, lead the field in the 17th Asian Film Awards. Two Hong Kong films each have nominations in three categories.

12 Jan 2024 - 6:04PM

Ryo Nishikawa in a still from “Evil Does Not Exist”.

Fame and celebrity

10 Bollywood stars who made it in Hollywood, from Alia Bhatt to Priyanka Chopra

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has been in five Hollywood movies, Deepika Padukone played Vin Diesel’s love interest, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas portrayed an antagonist in the film version of Baywatch

4 Jan 2024 - 2:00PM

Archie in Bollywood? How a US comic became an Indian Netflix film

Industry insiders say the Archie comics have long had a cultural impact in India, giving readers their first taste of American life and even influencing some Bollywood films.

26 Nov 2023 - 2:00PM

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‘Disastrous’: deep fake videos of Modi, actors prompt calls for urgent changes

India’s outdated laws are not keeping pace with the advent of AI-generated deep fake videos, lawyers say.

22 Nov 2023 - 4:09PMvideocam

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the closing of G20 Summit in New Delhi in September. Modi was targeted in a deep fake video showing him at a festival that he did not attend. Photo: EPA-EFE

World’s luxury brands eye India as Mumbai opens first mall for millionaires

As China’s economic growth slows, the world’s luxury brands are setting their sights on the Indian economy.

6 Nov 2023 - 1:36PM

Performing arts in Hong Kong

Bollywood, yoga and more in Hong Kong’s India by the Bay festival

India by the Bay, a celebration of Indian arts and culture, returns to Hong Kong in October. Among its highlights are a wellness programme, gala dinner and Broadway-style Bollywood musical.

29 Sep 2023 - 1:22PM

‘Why can’t we get a toilet?’: Bollywood women unite, fight for their rights

Women who work in the Indian film industry are outnumbered on and off set, and under-represented, and they have had enough. They are joining forces to speak out for better treatment and equal opportunities.

2 Sep 2023 - 4:15PM

Fowzia Fathima is an Indian cinematographer and director. Photo: Wikipedia

TV shows and streaming video

‘I’m so happy’: Indian actress Alia Bhatt on her Hollywood debut

Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt, who makes her Hollywood debut in Netflix film Heart of Stone, explains how ‘your first film chooses you’ and why fellow actress Priyanka Chopra is ‘an inspiration’.

11 Aug 2023 - 11:15AMvideocam

Alia Bhatt in a scene from “Heart of Stone”. The Bollywood superstar with nearly 79 million Instagram followers has made her Hollywood debut. Photo: Netflix via AP

Celebrity style

7 Asian celebrities owning the quiet luxury trend – from Suga to Alia Bhatt

From Michelle Yeoh’s polished looks and Song Hye-kyo’s understated pieces, to BTS’ Suga, who knows not to flash his wealth through his wardrobe – here are 7 Asian celebs rocking the quiet luxury trend

16 Jun 2023 - 10:20AM

Health & Fitness

Yoga, Bollywood dancing at the 2023 Fit & Well Festival 2.0 in Hong Kong

Participants in the 2023 ‘Fit & Well Festival 2.0’ in Hong Kong can learn how to dance like Bollywood stars and take part in guided moonlight yoga sessions.

9 Jun 2023 - 5:15PM

Celebrity style

Move over, Goop! 4 Asian celebrities who own successful lifestyle brands

From ‘King of K-pop’ G-Dragon’s Peaceminusone and Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou’s Phantaci to Bollywood icon Priyanka Chopra’s Anomaly, here are 4 hit brands launched by Asian stars

3 Jun 2023 - 7:00AM

G-Dragon, Naomi Osaka and Priyanka Chopra Jonas all run successful lifestyle empires. Photos: @naomiosaka, @priyankachopra, @gdragon_offical/Instagram

Indian court orders YouTube to remove fake news about Bollywood star’s grandchild

‘Dissemination of misleading information about a child, especially as regards physical and mental health, is completely intolerable under the law,’ the court said in its order regarding the granddaughter of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan.

20 Apr 2023 - 8:42PM

Aaradhya Bachchan, granddaughter of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, with her mother Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Photo: EPA-EFE

New Netflix docuseries charts legacy of Yash Chopra on old Bollywood romances

The Romantics pays homage to acclaimed Indian director Yash Chopra and charts his influence in shaping Bollywood’s classic romance epics.

12 Mar 2023 - 2:00PMvideocam

British ‘Raj’: is retelling of Indian love story DDLJ beyond the pale?

One of Bollywood’s most beloved romance films, DDLJ has breathed a second life as a musical starring a UK actor and Indian-American actress.

4 Feb 2023 - 2:00PM

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