Akriti Aggarwal

10 Best Comedy Films That Have Ever Been Made In Bollywood

Aug 252017

Bollywood produces many films every year. While some go on to do really good business at the box office, some films tank. But there are some genres that do really well at the box office every time that film releases. Well, we are talking about the comedy genre in Bollywood. Time and again, comedies have proven to be Bollywood’s favourite bet.

So, today we have for you the rib-tickling comedies that Bollywood has produced over the years and have proven to be sure-shot successes.

1. Gol Maal (1979)

Directed by the talented Hrishikesh Mukherjee and starring Amol Palekar, Utpal Dutt, Bindiya Goswami, and Deven Verma in lead roles, this was a rib-tickling comedy that left everyone with tears of laughter. This film has an IMDb rating of 8.6 and is one of the most-watched comedies ever. Utpal Dutt, a quirky businessman, judges all people by their moustaches and those who don’t have one are not considered to be people worthy of any attention. He even discourages people from having any hobbies. One day when Amol Palekar’s lie gets exposed, all hell breaks loose and it is this hilarity and confusion that marks the ending of this movie.

10 Best Comedy Films That Have Ever Been Made In Bollywood Source: Rupam Chitra

2. Angoor (1982)

This 1982 film, which was an on-screen adaptation of William Shakespeare’s play A Comedy Of Errors, starred Deven Verma and Sanjeev Kapoor in double roles. The film also had a star cast comprising of Deepti Naval, Aruna Irani, and Moushumi Chatterjee. With an IMDb rating of 8.4, this film was one super-duper hit. A couple of pair of twins gets separated at birth only to come face-to-face as adults and in exchanged places. While one pair is criminals, the other pair is honest and hard-working. Deven Verma went on to win the Best Comedian Award that year in Filmfare.

10 Best Comedy Films That Have Ever Been Made In Bollywood Source: AR Movies

3. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983)

This film has an IMDb rating of 8.5 and was one of the most successful Bollywood comedies to have ever been made. With a star cast comprising of Satish Shah, Naseerudin Shah, the late Om Puri, Pankaj Kapur, Deepak Qazir and various others, it was a dark satire on the rampant corruption prevalent in Indian politics. This is a must-watch film if you want to witness the sheer magic that these stars created on-screen. Do watch a famous scene from the movie below:

4. Andaz Apna Apna (1994)

Who can forget the characters of Teja, Crime Master Gogo, Robert, Amar, Prem, and of course the leading ladies, Raveena and Karisma? Rajkumar Santoshi managed to pull up a casting coup of sorts when he got Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, the biggest superstars of that time together in a film. When this film released in 1994, it was declared as a flop film. However, over time this film has managed to gain a cult status, and is immensely loved by people, young and old. Even the dialogues of the film are such that people remember them till date. Have a look at one of the most famous scenes of the movie right here:

5. Hero No. 1 (1997)

Comedy and Govinda go hand-in-hand! No list of comedy films can be complete without a mention of any of his films. This film was helmed by David Dhawan and also starred Karisma Kapoor, Kader Khan, Shakti Kapoor, and Paresh Rawal in lead roles. When Govinda and Karisma Kapoor’s characters fall in love and their love is not accepted by her family, Govinda enters the household as a servant and wins over their hearts is what makes the plot of this film. With an IMDb rating of 6, this should be on your watch list if you too feel that nobody can beat Govinda when it comes to comedy films.

10 Best Comedy Films That Have Ever Been Made In Bollywood Source: Puja Entertainment

6. Hera Pheri (2000)

Starring Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty, Akshay Kumar, and Tabu in lead roles, this film released in 2000 and was an immediate success. With a rating of 8.2 on the IMDb scale, this movie was an instant laugh-riot. Paresh Rawal is a poor landlord who is very near-sighted and his tenant Raju (Akshay Kumar) too is jobless. Enter Suniel Shetty and the trio are stuck in a rut of poverty. When a cross-connection leads them to a ransom call from a multi-millionaire, they decide to keep the money for themselves. This cat and dog chase marks the culmination of the movie and the final chase scene is perhaps the most hilarious scene ever made. Watch a small snippet from the movie here:

7. Hungama (2003)

Starring Paresh Rawal, Akshay Khanna, Aftab Shivdasani, and Rimi Sen in lead roles, this 2003 movie was a roller-coaster ride full of laughter and fun. Loosely based on Charles Dickens’ play, The Strange Gentleman, this movie had amazing performances by the star cast. Shakti Kapoor, Rajpal Yadav, and Tiku Talsania too played side roles in the film. With a rating of 7.5 on IMDb, this is a must-watch if you wish to enjoy a laughter-filled evening with your family. Filmed by Priyadarshan, this one should rank high on your watch list. And in case you’re still not convinced, watch a hilarious snippet from the film right here:

8. Khosla Ka Ghosla (2003)

Starring Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Vinay Pathak, and Ranvir Shorey, this movie is a hilarious take on the property dealers everywhere. When a dishonest property dealer (Boman Irani) grabs Anupam Kher’s land, hilarity ensues and the film marks how the entire Khosla clan and a motley group of actors come together to take their land back. With an IMDb rating of 8.3, this film should be on your to-watch agenda if you enjoy clean and classy comedies.

9. Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya? (2005)

Starring Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sushmita Sen, and Sohail Khan in lead roles, this was one roller-coaster of laughter inducing film. Directed by David Dhawan and with a rating of 5.5 on IMDb, watch this film if you enjoy nonsense comedy and are looking for a stress-buster. Samir (Salman Khan) is a doctor and a womanizer. Whenever a girl tries to ask him for marriage, he lies and says that he is already married. But when he meets Sonia (Katrina Kaif), he falls in love with her and so convinces his nurse, Naina (Sushmita Sen) to be his fake wife. The resulting chaos is what marks this film’s ending.

10 Best Comedy Films That Have Ever Been Made In Bollywood Source: Sohail Khan Productions

10. Bheja Fry (2007)

Starring the indomitable stars Rajat Kapoor, Vinay Pathak, Sarika, Ranvir Shorey, Milind Soman, and Bhairavi Goswami, this is a must-watch film if you enjoy clean comedy films. What happens when a music producer invites an aspiring singer to his house is the theme this film follows. In trying to help everyone, Vinay Pathak’s character ends up creating a mess for Rajat Kapoor. And, when he asks him to leave, he again tries helping out and creates a further complicated situation. The film ends on a funny note with Rajat Kapoor almost wanting to kick Vinay Pathak out of the house. While the film opened to below-average collections, word-of-mouth praise made the film gain a considerable amount at the box office.

So, which out of these are your favourite comedies? Do let us know in the comments section below.

8 Most Famous Love Triangles That Have Gone Down In The History Of Bollywood

Celebrities

Aug 212017

Our Bollywood stars need no introduction. Their personal and professional lives are under the limelight for everyone to see and comment on. While some stars have managed to keep their lives personal, there are some things which are just not invisible to the paparazzi’s eye. Such as love affairs, cat fights, or even star wars. Today we have for you some of the most interesting and most talked-about love triangles that were seen in the lives of our beloved Bollywood stars.

So, here it goes:

1. Rekha – Amitabh Bachchan – Jaya Bhaduri

Rekha – Amitabh Bachchan - Jaya Bhaduri © Yashraj films

The Shehenshah of Bollywood had already married Jaya Bhaduri when he fell in love with Rekha on the sets of the film Do Anjaane (1976). Their affair was always a secret till the time Rekha directly approached him at Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh’s wedding, which confirmed people’s gossip about their torrid affair. It is said that after this incident, Jaya Bachchan called on Rekha and told her very clearly that she would never leave her husband and she should forget about him. It is also stated that Rekha wears sindoor for Amitabh Bachchan. Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan last shared screen space in Yash Chopra’s Silsila (1981) and have not looked at each other since.

2. Dino Morea – Bipasha Basu – John Abraham

Dino Morea – Bipasha Basu – John Abraham © Twitter

Dino Morea and Bipasha Basu first worked together in the horror film Raaz and this is where their love story is said to have begun. They both were in a steady relationship for many years but broke up in 2002 when it was reported that Bipasha Basu was getting close to her then co-star John Abraham. While Bipasha and Dino continue to remain the best of friends till date, John and Bipasha too broke up after 10 years of being together. Many stated it to be John’s lack of commitment to be the reason behind their break-up. While John married investment banker Priya Runchal, Bipasha recently married Karan Singh Grover.

3. Salman Khan – Aishwarya Rai – Vivek Oberoi

Salman Khan – Aishwarya Rai – Vivek Oberoi © Twitter

Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai were considered to be the most in-love couple, and one of Bollywood’s most talked about couple way back in the 90s. But they broke up after a while, after which, Aishwarya went on record to say that Salman used to harass her and even physically assaulted her. This was perhaps one of the most sensational breakup stories in Bollywood. Shortly after this breakup, Aishwarya Rai was in a relationship with Vivek Oberoi. They even did a film together, but that relationship too didn’t last long and they too broke up. However, Vivek too went on record to say that Salman verbally assaulted him and even threatened to beat him up.

4. Sussanne Khan – Hrithik Roshan – Barbara Mori

Sussanne Khan – Hrithik Roshan – Barbara Mori © Twitter

Sussanne Khan and Hrithik Roshan were a much-in-love couple. Having been childhood lovers and friends, they got married in 2000 and are the proud parents to two sons. However, the two divorced in 2014 leaving their fans heartbroken and the showbiz industry speculating the reason for this much-in-love couple to part ways. It was said that during the filming of Hrithik’s film, Kites (2010), he got close to his co-star Barbara Mori and even had an extra-marital affair with her. However, after the release of the film, Sussanne and Hrithik dismissed these rumours and were living happily. But differences soon showed up in their relationship and the two separated to get divorced later.

5. Harman Baweja – Priyanka Chopra – Shahid Kapoor

Harman Baweja – Priyanka Chopra – Shahid Kapoor © Twitter

Harman Baweja and Priyanka Chopra were a strong and much-in-love couple long before Harman gained any popularity. They did two films together Love Story 2050 and ‘What’s Your Rashee?’ but both failed to garner any attention at the box office. Shortly after the filming of Love Story 2050 they broke up and it was said that Priyanka Chopra had started dating Shahid Kapoor. However, Harman and Priyanka continued to remain good friends. It was on the sets of Priyanka and Shahid’s film, Kaminey that the two got close and started dating each other. But, that relationship did not last long and Shahid Kapoor went on to marry Delhi-based girl, Mira Rajput and has a daughter with her now, Misha Kapoor.

6. Salman Khan – Katrina Kaif – Ranbir Kapoor

Salman Khan – Katrina Kaif – Ranbir Kapoor © Twitter

Salman Khan is the most eligible bachelor of Bollywood and he is said to have torrid affairs with many actresses, including Sangeeta Bijlani, Aishwarya Rai, Katrina Kaif, and most recently with Iulia Vantur. However, it is his affair with Katrina Kaif that is most talked about till date. Salman Khan saw Katrina in her debut dud film, Boom and decided to back her. She went under his care and Salman too, made sure that she was well-settled in Bollywood. Fans loved them together and Katrina used to hang out at Salman’s house a lot. Theirs was said to be a happy relationship. But problems started appearing after Katrina and Ranbir signed the film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahaani (2009). It is said that their affair started then, which led to Katrina and Salman and Ranbir and Deepika Padukone to break up.

7. Shahid Kapoor – Kareena Kapoor – Saif Ali Khan

Shahid Kapoor – Kareena Kapoor - Saif Ali Khan © Twitter

Shahid Kapoor’s chocolate boy looks had won him a huge female fan following after his debut film Ishq Vishk released. He won himself many admirers and that is when Kareena Kapoor and Shahid Kapoor started dating. Kareena was already an established actor and their fans loved their chemistry in their film Fida. The two came together and started giving out many interviews together, appeared in Koffee With Karan and did not shy away from the media. Kareena, in an interview once said, “I’ll most definitely marry Shahid. I’m not the kind to jump from one relationship to another. For me, love is for the keeps.” But, this statement did not hold true for long and Kareena fell in love with her Tashan co-star, Saif Ali Khan, on whom she had a childhood crush. And, it was Shahid and Kareena’s film, Jab We Met, that they both broke up to never work together again.

8. Katrina Kaif – Ranbir Kapoor – Deepika Padukone

Katrina Kaif – Ranbir Kapoor - Deepika Padukone © Twitter

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone were together since their debut films, Saawariya and Om Shanti Om respectively. While Om Shanti Om was a huge success, Saawariya tanked at the box office miserably. They both met through mutual friends and decided to go on a date. They hit it off instantly and were regularly seen at each other’s places and were very open about their relationship. They worked together in Bachna Ae Haseeno and that is when the two officially started dating. Deepika even got the initials of his name, RK, tattooed on her neck. But, Ranbir was a womaniser and it is said that when he met Katrina Kaif on the sets of their film Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahaani, he fell for her and it is when Ranbir cheated on Deepika. He left her later and moved in with Katrina.

The glitzy glamour world of Bollywood does have some well-kept secrets and we hope we have been able to uncover some of those for you. Stay tuned with us for more such updates.

Bollywood Stars Who You Wouldn't Have Seen Had It Not Been For Nepotism

Celebrities

Aug 092017

The latest buzzword in the Indian film industry is nepotism. Nepotism refers to the practise of appointing relatives and friends in one’s organisations to positions for which outsiders might be better qualified. While you must be thinking that this term should have no connection to Bollywood, well, you are highly mistaken.

When Kangana Ranaut accused Karan Johar of promoting nepotism on his show, ‘Koffee With Karan’, it sparked off a debate in the film industry and there were divided opinions on it. While some people sided with Kangana, a huge number of them also sided with Karan Johar when he accused Kangana of playing the victim card.

While there are many examples of ordinary people who have become stars on their own accord (read: Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Anushka Sharma, Priyanka Chopra); there are an equally large number of people who had the right backing at the right time and they became stars.

Here we have for you just a few examples which go on to prove that Bollywood is in fact, a huge flag-bearer of nepotism.

1. Arjun Kapoor

Arjun Kapoor © Instagram

Son of famous film producer, Boney Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor was an overweight adult when he was first spotted by YRF. He was then asked to lose weight if he wanted to start a career in films. And that is what he did. He went on to lose all his weight and become incredibly fit before he started shooting his debut film, ‘Ishaqzaade’. While this film did well and was praised by fans and critics alike, his subsequent films did not do so well. But, he is still seen as the face of many films and his filmography boasts of having worked with some of the biggest names in the film industry.

2. Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt © Instagram

Daughter of producer Mahesh Bhatt and actor Soni Razdan, Alia Bhatt too, was an overweight adult. She was launched by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions in their film, ‘Student Of The Year’, along with Sidharth Malhotra and Varun Dhawan. While she has managed to make a mark with her acting skills, the fact still exists that she was given a chance to debut with a huge banner film because of nepotism. All the three, Alia, Varun, and Sidharth are still considered to be Karan’s “children” who he has mentored and are very dear to him. Alia Bhatt is perhaps the only actor who has proven her mettle by doing a wide niche of films like ‘Udta Punjab’, ‘Highway’, and ‘Dear Zindagi’.

3. Athiya Shetty

Athiya Shetty © Instagram

She is the daughter of famous actor, Suniel Shetty and she made her debut with the Nikhil Advani directed ‘Hero’ in 2015 along with Sooraj Pancholi. The film was produced by Salman Khan and Subhash Ghai. The film flopped miserably, but their careers didn’t as they were launched by Salman Khan and he has made sure to give them the right kind of exposure this time.

4. Emraan Hashmi

Emraan Hashmi © Instagram

Mahesh Bhatt is his uncle and Emraan Hashmi was one of the few actors who came out and agreed to the fact that nepotism does exist in Bollywood. He, in an interview said, “Yes, nepotism exists in our industry, and I got a break because of it. If my uncle [Mahesh Bhatt], who is a producer and director hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have been an actor.” His initial films earned him the tag of a ‘serial kisser’ and till today, he hasn’t shied away from that image.

5. Shraddha Kapoor

Shraddha Kapoor © Instagram

She is the daughter of the famous comic-villain Shakti Kapoor; and Shraddha Kapoor got a break in movies because of this tag. While she is extremely beautiful, her acting skills are next to zero. Almost all her films have failed miserably, but that hasn’t stopped her from getting film projects. She was last seen in Mohit Suri’s ‘Half Girlfriend’, which was based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel of the same name and needless to say, the film fared poorly in the box office. While her debut film, ‘Aashiqui 2′ did do decent business at the box office, all her other films have flopped.

6. Sonakshi Sinha

Sonakshi Sinha © Instagram

Daughter of Shotgun aka Shatrughan Sinha and Poonam Sinha, Sonakshi Sinha made her debut opposite Salman Khan in the hit film franchise, ‘Dabangg’. While that film did huge business because of the presence of Salman Khan, Sonakshi’s career was boosted because of that. But, just like with other star kids, she has failed to leave an impression in Bollywood. Her films have tanked at the box office and only a few of her films like ‘Lootera’ and the ‘Dabangg’ series have managed to shine. She is landing a ton of lead roles in many movies and her career seems to be flourishing.

7. Sonam Kapoor

Sonam Kapoor © Instagram

Daughter of jhakkaas actors, Anil and Sunita Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor too was an overweight adult. When she lost weight, she was offered Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Saawariya’ alongside another debutant in Ranbir Kapoor. The film tanked miserably at the box office, but that didn’t stop Sonam Kapoor from getting lead roles in various films. Almost all her films have failed to make their mark at the box office, barring her latest release, ‘Neerja’, which was directed by Ram Madhvani. She was even publically called out by one of her co-stars, Abhay Deol for the movie ‘Aisha’ where he said that the film had more to do with clothes than acting.

8. Tiger Shroff

Tiger Shroff © Instagram

He is the son of Jackie Shroff and is known more for his controversial sexist statements rather than for his acting. When he debuted with the film, ‘Heropanti’ alongside actor Kriti Sanon, it failed to leave an impression on the audience. While Kriti had a tough time getting good roles after that, Tiger’s career seems to have taken off with him getting lead roles in multiple movies. It’s another story that those films do not do well at the box office.

9. Varun Dhawan

Varun Dhawan © Instagram

He is the son of famous producer David Dhawan and was launched in Bollywood through Karan Johar’s ‘Student Of The Year’. He has managed to prove his acting capabilities and is a huge star with quite a female fan following. A few of his films have done well, but he is still a product of nepotism, and this fact cannot be denied by anyone.

Still think nepotism doesn’t exist in Bollywood? Well, it’s time to re-think that idea!

Famous Friendships In Bollywood That Have Withstood The Test Of Time

Celebrities

Jul 262017

Bollywood has a huge history of catfights, cold wars, and star tussles. Every other day you'll catch some news about some fight that has happened between two stars or some tussle over some trivial issue. Well, not anymore!

Today, we have for you some heart-warming friendship stories from Bollywood between stars that have withstood the test of time.

1. Shah Rukh Khan – Karan Johar

One is the most sought-after actor in Bollywood, and the other is one of the finest filmmakers in the industry. Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar have an undying love for each other and that can be seen in the comfort level that both have. They have worked together in six films, with each of them being a mega hit. They both can take bullets for each other and have stood by each other through thick and thin.

Famous Friendships In Bollywood That Have Withstood The Test Of Time © YouTube

2. Sonam Kapoor – Jacqueline Fernandez

Both these divas struck a friendship at the premiere of the film ‘Mausam' that starred Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor in lead roles and the two have been together since. They refer to each other as their 3 AM friends and are not afraid to show their bonhomie for each other at public events and on social media. Their friendship truly negates the belief that two actresses can't be best friends.

3. Salman Khan – Sanjay Dutt

Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt have known each other since they were both teenagers and share a close camaraderie. They have stood by each other through thick and thin and have been each other's support system when they were going through tough times in their personal lives. While they may have had their share of fights, they have always managed to bounce back and emerge stronger.

4. Kareena Kapoor Khan – Amrita Arora Ladak

These two BFFs have done it all together- from attending each other's weddings where Kareena was Amrita's bridesmaid, hanging out, shopping, brunches, to even working out together in the same gym. They both share a lovely bond that goes beyond their filmy background. Kareena has gone on record to say that she likes Amrita Arora's company a lot and loves gossiping with her. Amrita can be seen cheering for Kareena Kapoor Khan whenever she walks the ramp as well.

Famous Friendships In Bollywood That Have Withstood The Test Of Time © Instagram

5. Ranveer Singh – Arjun Kapoor

The two most eligible bachelors and hottest Bollywood stars right now- Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor, have a very strong bond of friendship. They can be seen hanging out together and their friendship is believed to have bloomed on the sets of their film, ‘Gunday'. Both of them promote each other's films and their bromance is surely the talking point of any social event that the two attend together.

6. Deepika Padukone – Shahana Goswami

Deepika calls Shahana her bestest friend in Bollywood and the two share a lot of fun activities together, such as scuba diving, shopping, and sharing their innermost secrets with each other. They have been together since the start of their careers and were seen together in the film, ‘Break Ke Baad'. Deepika once said, “Shahana Goswami is my best friend. I have always maintained that being in this industry we cannot plan when friends will come in our life and when they will move out. And she, happened to be a co-star in one of my beginner films. And before I knew it, we became good friends; she is the first person I call when I am back in Mumbai.”

Famous Friendships In Bollywood That Have Withstood The Test Of Time © YouTube

7. Ranbir Kapoor – Ayan Mukerji

Ranbir and Ayan's friendship blossomed after the film, ‘Wake Up Sid'. They share a great rapport and Ranbir even takes advice for his personal life from Ayan Mukerji. They have delivered two hit films together and Ayan believes that Ranbir is his lucky charm.

8. Priyanka Chopra – Kangana Ranaut

These two divas worked together in Madhur Bhandarkar's ‘Fashion' and have been together since then. They have each other's backs and Kangana once said that Priyanka knows the real her which not many know. They threw a joint success party when they won the National Award and are believed to have been giggling like schoolgirls all through the party.

9. Shahid Kapoor – Ahmed Khan

Shahid Kapoor started his music video career with Ahmed Khan's, ‘Aankhon Mein Tera Hi Chehra' and also acted in his film, ‘Paathshala'. They both share a close bond since the start of their careers and have come a long way since. They are both almost like family and Shahid was even the first one to hold Ahmed's baby in his arms before his family members.

10. Aishwarya Rai – Preity Zinta

These two beauty queens have been friends for a very long time. Preity is known to bond with the Bachchan family and calls Aishwarya a cool mother to Aaradhya. Their girl-bonding is really strong and Preity has a huge girl crush on Aishwarya. When the promos for ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' started doing the rounds, Preity Zinta took to her Twitter account and proclaimed her ‘girl crush' on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and tagged Abhishek Bachchan in the same. While their banter was really cute, we couldn't help but fawn over the feelings of Preity Zinta.

Famous Friendships In Bollywood That Have Withstood The Test Of Time © YouTube

Did these tales of friendship make you go all mushy? Well, what are you waiting for? Pick up your phone and dial that number and talk to your BFF! We are sure you won't regret it.

6 Offbeat Actors To Watch When You Have Had Enough Of Commercial Cinema

Celebrities

Jul 182017

The Hindi film industry is home to a vast amount of talent, but most of its talented actors are often not given the right kind of fame that they deserve. While some actors have more than their fair share of accolades and adulation, most of the talented thespians are often relegated to the shadows. A mediocre film with huge star power will see huge box office collections, but films with an extremely good storyline and amazing actors hardly ever get a big release and fades away from public memory quite fast.

But, for when you have had enough of the so-called “talented” stars of Bollywood, do give the films made by these offbeat non-commercial actors a look to genuinely appreciate good cinema being made.

1. Abhay Deol

He doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind, and the characters he has played on-screen prove that. While he may have been a part of commercially successful films such as ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaara’ and ‘Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!’, Abhay Deol is one actor who never got his due. His debut film ‘Socha Na Tha’ was a class apart and so have many of his other films been such as ‘Ek Chalis Ki Last Local’, ‘Manorama Six Feet Under’, and ‘Ahista Ahista’. Watch his films when you want to understand the depths to which actors can go to look convincing.

2. Radhika Apte

This pretty actress is truly an unconventional heroine and takes on roles that require her to be more than just a pretty face and supporting actor. She started her career with a small role in the fantasy film, ‘Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!’ in 2005 and then went on to deliver phenomenal hits such as ‘Rakta Charitra’and ‘Shor In The City’. While she may not have found success in Bollywood, she went on to deliver good projects in various regional language films, such as Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, and Telegu. She has even tried her luck in theatre and various short films. So, when you feel like watching good cinema that is high on quality, do watch Radhika’s short film ‘Kriti’ and ‘Ahalya’.

3. Kalki Koechlin

Who can forget Kalki’s tomboyish avatar Aditi in the film ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ and as Lisa in ‘Ek Thi Daayan’? While these films attained commercial success, many of Kalki’s other films did not get the attention they deserved as they did not have the star power required to make them commercial hits. Do watch Kalki’s amazing performances in ‘Margarita With A Straw’, ‘That Girl In Yellow Boots’, ‘A Death In The Gunj’, ‘I Am’, and ‘Waiting’ to understand the depth of her performances. Apart from acting in films, Kalki is also a part of various stage plays and is known to voice her opinions strongly for any cause that she feels about.

4. Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan is probably the most underrated actor in the Hindi film industry. He has given some mind-blowing performances in movies such as ‘The Lunchbox’, ‘Hindi Medium’, ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, ‘Maqbool’, and ‘Haasil’, to name a few. He has also been a part of various international projects such as ‘Life Of Pi’, ‘Inferno’, ‘Jurassic Park’, and ‘The Namesake’. While his acting is no doubt excellent, Bollywood has failed to recognize his talents and he is often relegated to the roles of a supporting actor or when he is the male lead, the film fails to garner much support and is not a major hit. If you want to know the powerhouse of talent that is Irrfan Khan, do watch his films such as ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’, ‘Talvaar’, and ‘Madaari’.

5. Nawazuddin Siddiqui

He is the dark horse of the Indian film industry, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui has proven himself time and again. With films such as ‘Raman Raghav 2.0′, ‘Freaky Ali’, ‘Manjhi: The Mountain Man’, and ‘Haraamkhor’ to his credit, he is a force to be reckoned with. He is a powerhouse performer and his acting prowess is unmatched. In films like ‘Raees’, ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’, ‘Badlapur’, ‘Mom’, and ‘Talaash’, when he has been cast alongside famous actors, he has proven his mettle and outshone them.

6. Swara Bhaskar

Swara Bhaskar achieved commercial success after a string of failures with movies such as ‘Madholal Keep Walking’ and ‘The Untitled Kartik Krishnan Project’ when she played supporting roles in films like ‘Tanu Weds Manu’, ‘Raanjhanaa’, ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’, ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’, and ‘Listen… Amaya’. When her solo hits ‘Nil Battey Sannata’ and ‘Anaarkali of Aarah’ did well on the box-office, it was then that critics stood up and took notice of her. However, she is yet to make it to the list of Bollywood’s A-listers. But, we do not see her complaining and she has been known to take a stance for important issues and is not one to back down from any controversies.

While these actors may have started out small, they are in no way behind the stars of today and have their own fan following, who religiously watch all their films.

10 Bollywood Movies To Watch When You Are Low On Inspiration

Celebrities

Jul 172017

While Bollywood is known for its unique masala flicks aka commercial cinema, it does manage to produce some films which leave a deep impact on the society and leave people wondering that is Bollywood really adept at making such films? While we have item numbers and cheap humour on one side, we also have films which carry a social message and leave everyone with a question about their lives and act as the inspiration we all need in our lives.

So, for those times when you feel low in life and do not understand what to do, we have just the perfect answer for you. Turn to these Bollywood flicks and we are sure that you won’t be disappointed.

1. Anand

Released in 1971 and starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna, this movie was all about how a dying man wanted to live the last moments of his life happily and without any fear of death. He leaves a deep imprint on the life on his friend, and teaches him the real meaning of life.

2. Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar

Who can forget this film that starred Mr Perfectionist Aamir Khan in the titular role of a careless boy who doesn’t have a care in the world and takes his family and friends for granted? Well, this film is an inspiration for all those people who take everything for granted in their lives and the fact that life is unpredictable and anything can happen at any time and we should be prepared for it. Directed by Mansoor Khan, this film released in 1992 and till date is remembered for its song, Pehla Nasha and Pooja Bedi’s Marilyn Monroe moment.

3. Lagaan

Another one of Aamir Khan’s masterpiece is about how a villager, fed up with the Britishers imposing heavy taxes in pre-Independent India, takes on a challenge to defeat them in their game of Cricket. The villagers with all their courage and determination not only form a team, but also practise hard and defeat the Britishers. This film taught us the meaning of hard work, conviction in our skills and to not bow down to any adversity that life may throw at us. This film, directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, released in 2001 and was even nominated for the Academy Awards.

4. Swades

Starring Shah Rukh Khan and Gayatri Joshi and directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, this film left its imprint on the lives of so many NRIs. A scientist working with NASA returns to India to find and care for his nanny in a village and in the process rediscovers his roots. He falls in love with his country and decides to come back and uplift India and make it reach new heights. This film is a must-watch for when you feel that your country has nothing to offer to you and you are better off in foreign lands.

5. A Wednesday

Starring some of the finest names of the Indian film industry such as Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher, this film was truly a one of its kind film ever made in Bollywood. It released in 2008 and was directed by Neeraj Pandey. This film chronicled how a ‘common man’ made sure that justice was served and the perpetrators of a deadly terrorist attack were brought to their justifiable end. For times when you feel that “iss desh ka kuchh nahi ho sakta”, this film sure is a dose of inspiration.

6. Chak de! India

This film was a real story based on the life of former hockey player of India Mir Ranjan Negi. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, this movie popularised the sport of Hockey, which is the national sport of India, and was released in 2007 under the Yash Raj Films banner. How did Kabir Khan, despite all odds, take the Women’s Hockey Team to the World Championship and manage to win it is the crux of the film. This film was a huge slap on the face of those who felt that there was no hope for women in sports and they had to remain confined in the traditional roles assigned to them.

7. Queen

One of Kangana Ranaut’s best films till date, ‘Queen’ spoke about independence for women and how they do not need a man to support themselves. When she is left by her fiancé a day before her wedding, instead of spiralling into depression, Rani decides to go on her honeymoon alone and discover the world on her own. This film highlighted several important relationships that a woman has in her life, like that with her parents, female friends and most importantly, with herself. When her fiancé tries to come back in her life, she refuses to accept him and leads her life on her own terms. Directed by Vikas Behl, this iconic film released in March 2014 and became a super-hit with a huge fan following.

8. Neerja

Based on the life of air hostess Neerja Bhanot, who lost her life at the age of 21 in a plane hijack, this film starring Sonam Kapoor in the main lead went on to teach all girls a very important lesson – to not be scared of anything and always do the correct thing when faced with danger. Sonam Kapoor as Neerja did a commendable job and it also won her a National Award this year. Directed by Ram Madhvani and released under Fox Star Studio Productions, this film released in 2016 and went on to teach young women and men alike to face their fears and live for others and not back down in case of an emergency.

9. Manjhi- The Mountain Man

How many of us have the courage to take on a task and finish it, even when we are constantly ridiculed and told it is an impossible task? Well, Manjhi was the same guy who did not stop for 22 years and went on to make a road using just a hammer and chisel from his village to the nearest town when his request for the same fell on deaf ears in the Government. Starring the extremely talented Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte, this 2015 movie went on to show the struggles of Dashrath Manjhi who built a road after his wife passed away due to lack of roads from his village to the nearest town. This film teaches us the values of perseverance and courage and also shows us the true meaning of ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’.

10. Rang De Basanti

Starring a motley of actors like Aamir Khan, Kunal Kapoor, R Madhavan, Soha Ali Khan, Waheeda Rehman, this film went on to redefine the meaning of youth. Released in 2006 and directed by Raykesh Omprakash Mehra, this film gave the youth the power to be fearless and brave. It gave them the confidence to stand up against corruption and take matters in their own hands if the situation demanded it. When 4 carefree college boys are asked to portray various freedom fighters in a movie, it brings out their patriotism and they are awakened towards their love for the country.