TOPIC

Asian cinema: Bollywood

Home
Chinese-language
South Korean
Japanese
Bollywood
Asian cinema: Bollywood
Views, news and reviews of films from the world's biggest movie production centre, India
A scene from Chhaava, a Hindi historical action film. Photo: YouTube/Maddock Films
India

Are Indian films tapping Hindu nationalism to achieve box-office success?

The blockbuster Chhaava, which has led to violent protests, has sparked debate on whether Indian directors have forsaken historical accuracy.

TV shows and streaming video

How Pakistan’s TV dramas captivate Indians and break down barriers

Luxury travel

The insider’s mini-guide to Mumbai: hotels, shopping, museums and more

Asian cinema

How politics stop the Oscars celebrating the best of international cinema

When entries for the best international film Oscar are selected by government bodies, politics often rears its ugly head.

videocam
Director Mohammad Rasoulof, whose film The Seed of the Sacred Fig wasn’t put forward for the Oscars by his country, Iran. Photo: AP
India

Fading fortunes of India’s Bollywood in streaming era spark political debate

An opposition politician, the wife of film legend Amitabh Bachchan, has accused New Delhi of not doing enough to support the film industry.

Millionaires and billionaires

7 wealthiest composers in the world in 2025 – net worths, ranked

These maestros have written some of the most famous soundtracks ever heard – Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, Aladdin, The Simpsons, Slumdog Millionaire, Phantom of the Opera …

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Fame and celebrity

Who is Priyanka Chopra’s younger brother Siddharth Chopra?

Third-time-lucky in love and seven years younger than his famous sister, Siddharth Chopra worked in hospitality and now runs Priyanka’s production house, Purple Pebble Pictures.

Priyanka Chopra (second right) with husband Nick Jonas at her brother Siddharth Chopra’s wedding to Neelam Upadhyaya. Photo: @priyankachopra/Instagram
India

Bollywood star’s stabbing reignites India-Bangladesh border security debate

Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing has sparked political blame, with the ruling BJP accusing the AAP of illegal immigration and the AAP criticising the government’s border security.

Asian cinema: Korean films

Exhuma, Twilight of the Warriors lead Asian Film Awards nominations

Both movies are up for best picture at the 18th Asian Film Awards, as are All We Imagine as Light, Black Dog and Teki Cometh.

Hong Kong economy

Letters | How can Bollywood get its mojo back in 2025?

Readers discuss changing taste in Indian cinema, an idea for a Hong Kong resort, and a river revamp project.

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar promotes his upcoming war film Sky Force in Mumbai on January 5. Photo: AFP
Asian cinema

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.

videocam
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
Asian cinema

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

From a Thai tear-jerker to a Korean cross-dressing romcom and a hand-drawn Japanese anime, our pick of the best Asian films of the past year.

videocam
12
India

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

Khan, famous for “Laal Singh Chaddha,” credits his ex-wife Kiran Rao for his comeback, saying he felt guilty and needed to re-evaluate his priorities.

Asian cinema

‘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.

videocam
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”.
Cartier

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

Cartier’s creative director of high jewellery Jacqueline Karachi talks about designing the latest Nature Sauvage collection, and her favourite pieces from it and previous collections. Photos: Handout
Asian cinema

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.

videocam
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.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
India

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.

A rickshaw-puller stands outside a cinema in New Delhi in 2022. More than 1,000 of India’s single-screen cinemas have closed over the past decade. Photo: Reuters
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?

India

‘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.

videocam
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

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
India

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.

Indian police have arrested 2 members of the Bishnoi gang in connection with shooting at Bollywood star Salman Khan’s Mumbai home. Photo: Instagram/beinghumanclothing
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

India

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.

videocam
Asian cinema

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.

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

Freida Pinto, Anil Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are among the Bollywood stars to have found the greatest success in Hollywood. Photos: @freidapinto, @anilskapoor, @aliabhatt/Instagram
India

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.

India

‘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.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement