Cocktail ya Mocktail

A review of the latest romantic comedy, which failed to live up to its hype.
By SHOBHAA DE
As we emerged from a packed-tocapacity movie hall at my favourite, neighbourhood multiplex, a trendy young woman turned to her even trendier male companion and said, “Yaar, I swear I’d rather become a bewdi drinking mocktails than this cocktail!” [...]

Maximum Drama

If you’re looking for your three seconds of fame, perhaps you should consider a career in directing movies – as Freya Parekh did.
By Pam Piruzi
“If it’s a morning shoot, we can be up as early as 3 or 4 am, while a night shoot typically lasts from 4 pm till 8 the following morning. In other words, [...]

A Woman of Substance

Shabana Azmi who was in Singapore recently to star in a play and participate in the 13th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) spoke to India Se’s cub reporter on social issues and the youth of India.
By Maya Tsering Bhalla
Clad in a smart block printed kurta and cream slacks, looking years younger than 61, and completely devoid of prima [...]

The Midas Touch

Farhan Akhtar has the rare gift of shining at everything he tries his hand at, from directing and acting in movies to hosting his own TV talk show. We caught up with the Bollywood sensation recently to find out everything fans in Singapore have been dying to know.
by Jaspreet Randhawa
It wouldn’t be an overstatement to [...]

First in Bollywood…

While many Asian movie stars dream of making it big in Hollywood, Hrithik Roshan would rather reign in Bollywood!
By Shobha Tsering Bhalla
Upsetting the apple cart and heralding what could be a new reign in Bollywood, Hrithik Roshan’s film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (ZNMD) has won more IIFA awards than Shahrukh Khan’s Ra.One, which was touted [...]

From Desi Boy to Rowdy Rathore

Akshay Kumar has come a long way since he waited tables in Bangkok, but remains humble and God-fearing.
by Maya Tsering Bhalla
Akshay Kumar has often been called the Bruce Lee of the Hindi screen, which is understandable given his martial arts skills and tell, impossibly toned physique. But what most reports fail to tell you is [...]

The Gorgeous Girl Next Door

The sexy, smouldering Bipasha Basu is down-to-earth, sociable and refreshingly honest.
by Akanksha Batura
Looking stunningly elegant in a traditional sari, Bipasha Basu adjusts her pallu, readying herself for her interview with this reporter. The picture of health, Bipasha is quite literally glowing, underscoring the fact that she is one of the few actors who exudes as much radiance in real life [...]

A Serious Actor With A Serious Message

Reported by Maya Tsering Bhalla
Standing an impressive 1.85 m tall, with sinewy muscles bulging out of a plain, long-sleeved T-shirt that turns the garment into a lethal weapon of sexual destruction, it is hard to imagine that the self-assured Adonis in front of this writer was once a shy, pimply-faced teenager. John Abraham, 39, the model-turned-Bollywood film star, who was in [...]

The Sun Always Rises Again

Failure doesn’t faze Akshay Kumar, who says it’s simply a part of life.
by Maya Tsering Bhalla
He may have kickboxed his way into Bollywood 20 years ago with sheer muscle power and good looks, but today, Akshay Kumar is an A-list star with a string of commercial and artistic successes under his belt.

Rustic, Real & Reel

Can’t catch a glimpse of Shah Rukh or Salman Khan in Bandra. Calm your film fever by heading to Wai, a small village in Maharashtra, which is a favourite Bollywood locale.
By Khursheed Dinshaw

My Bollywood star-struck younger cousin fluttered her eyelids and with all the melodramatic innocence she could muster asked me, “As my birthday [...]