Interviews with the big stars and celebrities from the world of Bollywood, plus the latest entertainment news and film reviews. From 'Raj and Pablo' on the BBC Asian Network.
Every year, thousands upon thousands of struggling actors from all over the world move to the movie capital of India with dreams of becoming the next Salman Khan or Priyanka Chopra. But in an industry obsessed with star-kids, the chances of making it are slim at best. Haroon speaks to two ‘outsiders’ who have managed to crack that glass ceiling – actress Katrina Kaif and actor Sidharth Malhotra. They tell Haroon how they deal with the pressure of always having to look like a Bollywood star; why Katrina was her own make-up artists for years and how Sidharth is choosing roles which push against his ‘pretty-boy’ looks.
It takes a village to create a Hindi-film star. Behind-the-scenes, there are teams of managers and publicists working hard to create and maintain the image of the star who employs them. Working long before the star wakes and long after the star goes to bed, these people are invisible to most of us but are well-known power-players inside the industry. Haroon sits-down with Shah Rukh Khan’s former publicist Mandvi Sharma and pap-king Viral Bhayani to find out how the two sides actually work together to help create a star; Mandvi talks about why most star-managers in Mumbai are women and Viral talks about why photographers like him are still important in helping an actor jump from the B to the A-List.
Haroon sits down with one of Bollywood’s best-kept secrets – nutritionist, Dr Siddhant Bhargava. Co-founder of company Food Darzee, Dr Siddhant supplies ready-made healthy meals and eating plans to A-List stars including Alia Bhatt and Sara Ali-Khan. Haroon finds out about the extraordinary levels of discipline required to follow Dr Siddhant’s bespoke programme; how he helps actors slim-down after an indulgent holiday and also reveals some of the secretive (and unhealthy) ways stars get their bodies camera-ready.
With streaming sites taking business from cinemas, the Hindi film industry is desperately trying to reach Gen Z who prefer to stay home and watch YouTube instead. Haroon talks to Pinkvilla’s Nayandeep Rakshit, YouTuber Prajakta Koli and PTI journalist Justin Rao about the power-shift from the star talent to content-creators. Nayandeep names the actor who gave him his worst ever interview-experience; Justin talks about what happened when footage of actress Kangna Ranaut ‘confronting’ him at a press conference went viral and Prajakta talks about how stars now treat her given she’s a massive online-star compared to the radio intern at first meeting.
While many Hindi film fans will watch any movie starring their favourite actors, others will check what the critics say before they part with their cash. Haroon meets some of India’s most celebrated reviewers – renowned critic Rajeev Masand, Film Companion’s Sucharita Tyagi and Huffington Post’s Ankur Pathak - and finds out if stars and critics can ever be friends; how they judge good from bad and hears just how disheartening they find under-whelming films regularly breaking box-office records.
Hailing from Bollywood’s leading star family, Kareena Kapoor-Khan or Bebo as she’s affectionately known, is both a superstar and inspiration for many of her fans. She’s successfully navigated the ever-changing industry for more than two decades and managed to do what many considered impossible for a Bollywood actress – stay consistently in demand with box-office hit after hit. In the first episode of this no-holds barred podcast, Bebo looks back on her Bollywood hits like K3G and Jab We Met; reflects on the movie choices that didn’t fit her glamourous image and has advice on what young actors need to do, to make it big in Mumbai.
Asian Network’s Entertainment Reporter Haroon Rashid visits Mumbai to find out what it takes to make it as a Bollywood film star in 2020; how the industry is responding to the challenges posed by online-platforms; meets those behind-the-scenes power-players who can make and break stars and finds out what it takes to sustain a long and successful career in a place obsessed with ‘the next-big-thing.’
Leaving Amn and Shehzaad behind, Haroon flies to Mumbai hoping to come face to face with the legend that is the Big B.
Haroon, Shehzaad and Amn discuss Amitabh Bachchan’s genre defining films, share their personal favourites and contemplate what Hindi cinema might look like had he chosen a different path.
It’s the millennium and Amitabh Bachchan is broke – but his good mate and director Yash Chopra gives him a role in upcoming movie Mohabbattein and in a one fell swoop, AB is back at the top - this time not as the leading man but the leading man’s father. More iconic dad-roles follow that introduce the magnificence of the Big B to a whole new generation. This on-screen rebirth also sees Mr Bachchan spreading his wings and doing roles which have changed the course of mainstream cinema.
The 90’s weren’t kind to the Big B. After a short but unsuccessful stint in politics, he found himself competing with a new generation of actors playing college kids and mimicking versions of his earlier ‘angry young man’ years. Haroon, Amn and Shehzaad relive some films his fans believe are best forgotten and ponder what other actor could return so spectacularly with a career that appeared to be firmly in the ashes.
In the 80’s, Amitabh left his Angry Young Man phase behind to take on some romantic roles in movies like Silsila and Kabhie Kabhie. The team discuss his romantic roles as well as talking about some of their favourite pairings with actresses like Rekha, Parveen Babi and Zeenat Aman.
The son of a poet, Allahabad-born Amitabh Bachchan landed in Mumbai with just two things – a driving license and a dream. His first part in film Saat Hindustani went unnoticed. Thirteen flops later, it took Zanjeer for Bollywood wake up to his appeal, winning him the Angry Young Man tag. With passion a plenty, Bollywood buffs Haroon, Amn and Shehzaad go right back to the beginning and talk Rajesh Khanna, that ‘scene’ in Dewaar and if Sholay would have become the world wide classic without the Big B in it.
Known as the Shahenshah of Bollywood, actor Amitabh Bachchan is without a doubt, Indian cinema’s biggest ever star. 200 films later over 50 incredible years including genre defining Deewar, Sholay and Coolie, Amitabh Bachchan is without doubt The Biggest B. In this podcast, two Bachchan fans (Haroon & Amn) and one fanatic (Shehzaad!) trace his prolific career by starting at the very beginning and explain why the living legend is such a hero to twentysomething year olds.
Kiara Advani stars in two of 2019’s biggest films but tells Haroon Rashid it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. She admits having easy access to the great and the good at the beginning but it ultimately comes down to talent. They also discuss controversial film Kabir Singh, how she’s living her dream and her exciting slate for 2020.
Kriti Sanon tells Haroon Rashid she’s playing a surrogate mum in her next film but challenging scripts haven’t always come easily - despite starring in big films such as Heropanti and Diwale. She also reveals what she does when she knows a film is rubbish but still has to promote it!
Kartik Aaryan is a heart throb today but it wasn’t always the case. He tells Haroon Rashid his story to stardom, how used social media to get the gigs and what it feels like to be part of Bollywood’s ‘cool gang’ today. Kartik is a self-confessed workaholic and a control freak but says it’s all part of the plan.
Bhumi Pednekar talks to Haroon Rashid about how she’s redefining the Bollywood heroine. Since making her debut as a rejected overweight wife in 2015’s Dum Laga Ke Haisha, Bhumi has developed a reputation for choosing unconventional and boundary pushing films.
Janhvi Kapoor knows what expectation is. The daughter of legend Sridevi and producer Boney Kapoor tells Haroon Rashid that she wants to earn the love for who she is. They chat about the pressures that come with life under the spotlight and how Janhvi navigates her rising star on her own terms.
Join BBC Asian Network’s Haroon Rashid for your fix of Bollywood movie chat, big star interviews and all things Desi entertainment. From new movies to love of the classics – this is the only place to be!
'Aashiqui' star Rahul Roy reflects on the success of the movie nearly 30 years on.
Raj reviews 'Bala' and 'Marjaavaan' and Salil talks on Bollywood's freshest producers.
Raj reviews Netflix's 'Drive' and Salil talks on Amitabh Bachchan's Diwali party.
The director behind 'The Sky Is Pink', Shonali Bose talks exclusively to Raj and Pablo.
Salil talks on the impact of the latest blockbuster release 'War' & Raj gives his review.
'Dream Girl' cast, Ayushmann Khurrana & Nushrat Bharucha join the boys, Raj reviews the movie and Shilpa Rao talks about her song 'Ghungroo' taken from 'War'.
Harshvardhan Rane talks about his new movie 'Taish' and Raj reviews 'Chhichhore'.
Raj reviews the big release, 'Saaho' and Salil talks all things Bollywood!
R&P talk Mission Mangal with Akshay, Salil talks Bollywood and Raj reviews Batla House.
Pablo flies solo as Raj is away, there's another game of Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, we take a look at surprise Bollywood cameos and Pablo chats to director and Producer Karan Boolani.
This week we review the big release India's Most Wanted starring Arjun Kapoor
This week we review the big release Student of the Year 2 starring Actor Tiger Shroff. Raj and Pablo give their recommendations of which movies to watch online this weekend.
Raj & Pablo review this weeks release Blank starring Sunny Deol & Karan Kapadia, they get all the Bollywood gossip from Salil Acharya, and they take a look at the movies that didn't meet your expectations in Bollywood. Plus they play a new game 'Hummm Aapke Hain Koun'.
The boys chat to Tulsi Kumar about the anniversary of Aashiqui 2 and Bollywood News
Raj and Pablo discuss Bollywood movies that have been inspired by Hollywood, Salil Achariya has got all the latest gossip from Mumbai. And we hear from Shashaa Tirupati, the singer behind songs like The Humma Song and Loveyatri.
Raj and Pablo review this week's movie release Romeo Akbar Walter starring John Abraham, the boys also discuss what films they think have poor storyline but a great performance. Salil Achariya gives us the latest gossip straight from Mumbai.
Raj and Pablo review this week's movie release Notebook. They speak to Pranutan Bahl who makes her Bollywood debut in the film, plus Bollywood news from Salil Acharya
Raj and Pablo discuss Zee Cine Awards and Filmfare nominations for 2019. Pushpinder Chowdhry, Festival director of UK Asian Film Festival, joins the boys in studio.
Filmmaker Reema Kagti talks to the boys about the Amazon Prime TV series 'Made in Heaven'
The boys review this weeks big release Badla starring Amitabh Bachchan and Singer Armaan Malik talks to the boys about singing in the film.
Madhuri Dixit chats about her role in comedy movie Total Dhamaal. The boys interview Zoya Akhtar, director of Gully Boy.
Kanika Kapoor & director Shelly Chopra Dhar join the boys on the show.
The boys review the new movie release, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga and we hear from the star himself, Anil Kapoor about his role and working with his daughter Sonam for this first time. Raj and Pablo share their top movies to watch online this weekend, and this weeks choices are inspired by the legend that is Amitabh Bachchan.
The boys celebrate the first birthday of Padmavaat, and Ankita Lokandhe talks Manikarnika.
Raj and Pablo give their recommendations of what Bollywood movies to watch at home this weekend, Salil Achariya gives us the latest gossip straight from Mumbai. Also Raj and Pablo put the men of Bollywood in the spotlight this week, as they count down their Top 5 male item numbers.
Raj and Pablo review Vicky Kaushal's action film Uri: The Surgical Strike.
Raj and Pablo talk through their favourite and least favourite movies of 2018. A Shah Rukh Khan fanclub join the boys to review SRK's latest Romantic-Drama film Zero
Raj and Pablo talk to Zero director Aanand L. Rai
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