https://www.scmp.com/rss/325756/feed Views, news and reviews of films from the world's biggest movie production centre, India en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com James Marsh James Marsh Wealth and good fortune are the twin engines of the Lunar New Year film season, and Hong Kong filmmaker Philip Yung Tsz-kwong’s The Snowball on a Sunny Day is the latest festive offering to find humour in the hunt for millions. Boasting an ensemble led by Chung Suet-ying, Edan Lui Cheuk-on and Elaine Jin Yan-ling, the comedy-drama follows a working-class family living in a public housing estate who believe they have won the Mark Six lottery jackpot, only to discover that the responsible family... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3343132/10-asian-movies-about-winning-lottery-and-why-jackpot-never-enough?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3343132/10-asian-movies-about-winning-lottery-and-why-jackpot-never-enough?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 10:15:09 +0000 Ishani Sarkar Ishani Sarkar After the lavish US$600 million wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in 2024, which saw stars like Rihanna, Katy Perry and Justin Bieber performing at the pre-wedding celebrations, another big Indian wedding is taking over the internet. Meet Netra Mantena and Vamsi Gadiraju, who wed in Udaipur, India, last month and went viral for their festivities. Though reportedly a hundred times smaller than the Ambani wedding, Mantena and Gadiraju’s union – touted as a “billionaire wedding” – was... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3334518/meet-couple-who-just-had-billionaire-wedding-netra-mantena-and-vamsi-gadiraju-jlo-and-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3334518/meet-couple-who-just-had-billionaire-wedding-netra-mantena-and-vamsi-gadiraju-jlo-and-donald-trump?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words As the 15th National Games draw to a close, Hong Kong celebrates not only the outstanding achievements of its athletes but also the success of staging a truly “clean and green” mega event. The games embodied sustainability from the outset. Jointly hosted by Guangdong, Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3334441/national-games-hong-kong-has-model-green-mega-event?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3334441/national-games-hong-kong-has-model-green-mega-event?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 03:30:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse India’s hugely popular star Dharmendra was lovingly known as the “He-Man” of Bollywood, thanks to his roles in a string of action films that cemented his legacy spanning more than six decades and 250 films. Born Dharam Singh Deol on December 8, 1935, in Punjab, he also served as a member of parliament and was honoured with one of India’s highest civilian awards. He struck stardom after becoming the first Bollywood actor to bare his chest on screen, prompting a flood of love letters from female... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3333974/bollywoods-he-man-dharmendra-legend-indian-cinema-has-died-aged-89?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3333974/bollywoods-he-man-dharmendra-legend-indian-cinema-has-died-aged-89?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Nov 2025 11:17:55 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Indian filmmakers are locking up the rights to movie titles that can profit from the patriotism fanned by a four-day conflict with Pakistan, which killed more than 70 people. The nuclear-armed rivals exchanged artillery, drone and air strikes in May, after India blamed Pakistan for an armed attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. The fighting came to an end when US President Donald Trump announced a surprise ceasefire. Now, some Bollywood filmmakers see an opportunity to cash in on... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3320574/india-pakistan-conflict-stuff-bollywood-dreams-are-made?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3320574/india-pakistan-conflict-stuff-bollywood-dreams-are-made?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Aug 2025 03:59:00 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji The sudden death of Bollywood actress Shefali Jariwala, a long-time user of anti-ageing injections, has reignited concerns in India over quick-fix beauty treatments and a rising toll of cardiac events among seemingly healthy young adults. Jariwala, 42, died last week at her Mumbai residence after a suspected massive cardiac arrest. According to police, she had been using anti-ageing injectables for several years in addition to routine medication. Police discovered two boxes of anti-ageing and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3316984/bollywood-actresss-sudden-death-reignites-indias-quick-fix-beauty-treatment-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3316984/bollywood-actresss-sudden-death-reignites-indias-quick-fix-beauty-treatment-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 09:32:12 +0000 Sheena Khemaney Sheena Khemaney Bollywood actresses Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt are just two of many Indian film stars who like to dress to impress, and their actor husbands are no slouches either. Padukone married Ranveer Singh on Italy’s Lake Como in 2018, while Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor tied the knot in Mumbai in 2022. Both women are ambassadors for luxury European fashion houses, so it came as no surprise when Padukone stunned in a monochrome look – complete with leather gloves and a statement hat – at Louis Vuitton’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3315603/how-style-bollywood-power-couples-deepika-padukone-and-ranveer-singh-and-alia-bhatt-and-ranbir?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/celebrity-style/article/3315603/how-style-bollywood-power-couples-deepika-padukone-and-ranveer-singh-and-alia-bhatt-and-ranbir?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Jun 2025 22:00:08 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott A group of current and former Oxford University students have become an online sensation after a Bollywood-style video shot around the prestigious British campus went viral. The performance involving about seven friends was shot to Desi Boyz, the title track of the 2011 romantic comedy of the same name starring Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone and Chitrangada Singh. The idea for the clip came from Druv Punjabi, an Oxford alumnus who was born and raised in Hong Kong. “This is... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3315500/bollywood-dance-video-filmed-oxford-university-goes-viral-instagram?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3315500/bollywood-dance-video-filmed-oxford-university-goes-viral-instagram?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Jun 2025 09:49:26 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse India’s giant movie industry is known for its macho, male-centric storylines, but a wave of women filmmakers is helping to break the mould. “More women are writing their stories, turning them into films,” said writer-director Reema Kagti, who believes the trend brought a more “real and healthy perspective” to films, with complex, outspoken women characters who are masters of their own story. The world’s most populous nation churns out 1,800 to 2,000 films in more than 20 languages annually – and... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3310939/cannes-oscars-bollywoods-women-challenge-indias-misogynistic-storylines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3310939/cannes-oscars-bollywoods-women-challenge-indias-misogynistic-storylines?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 19 May 2025 11:19:07 +0000 James Mottram James Mottram Indian art-house cinema is flourishing, showing a different side to the Indian movie industry best known for its glossy Bollywood films. “I think it’s been a good year for us,” says Payal Kapadia, director of All We Imagine as Light, with almost disarming modesty. Twelve months ago, her sensitive, subtle, dreamy film about three women hospital workers in Mumbai became the first Indian drama selected for the Cannes Film Festival’s main competition in 30 years. It won the Grand Prix, the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3308376/move-over-bollywood-indian-art-house-cinema-rise-film-festivals-take-note?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3308376/move-over-bollywood-indian-art-house-cinema-rise-film-festivals-take-note?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Apr 2025 10:19:06 +0000 Bollywood continues to thrive as one of the largest film industries in the world, with its leading ladies doubling as savvy entrepreneurs who have amassed sizeable fortunes through their talents, ventures and investments. The richest actresses in India are a fascinating mix of box office success, brand endorsements and entrepreneurial endeavours. Household names like Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who have managed to expand their careers beyond Indian cinema and into global markets,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3307610/bollywoods-5-richest-actresses-net-worths-ranked-priyanka-chopra-aishwarya-rai-bachchan-and-alia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3307610/bollywoods-5-richest-actresses-net-worths-ranked-priyanka-chopra-aishwarya-rai-bachchan-and-alia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Apr 2025 20:00:10 +0000 It’s been a busy couple of months for actress Amy Jackson and Gossip Girl star Ed Westwick. The couple last month welcomed their first child together, a boy named Oscar Alexander Westwick. Only last summer, the pair tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in Italy. A month later, they glammed up once more for an appearance at the Rabanne spring/summer 2025 show at Paris Fashion Week. Around the same time, Jackson took to Instagram to celebrate her son Andreas’ fifth birthday. Alongside a carousel of... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3306184/meet-amy-jacksons-ex-george-panayiotou-wife-gossip-girls-ed-westwick-had-son-her-businessman-ex?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3306184/meet-amy-jacksons-ex-george-panayiotou-wife-gossip-girls-ed-westwick-had-son-her-businessman-ex?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Apr 2025 21:00:07 +0000 The release of the Hindi film Chhaava has inflamed communal tensions in India, triggering violent protests and renewing debate about Bollywood’s use of controversial and often inaccurate historical narratives to appeal to the country’s dominant religious group. The film depicts the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, a Maratha king who fought against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb before he was killed. Historians have criticised the film for misrepresenting key figures and events from the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3303208/are-indian-films-tapping-hindu-nationalism-achieve-box-office-success?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3303208/are-indian-films-tapping-hindu-nationalism-achieve-box-office-success?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Mar 2025 13:07:06 +0000 Two Pakistani women sit together on a couch, rehearsing their lines while a director scrutinises them. Waiting off camera for his scene is the male lead. Also out of sight: the Islamabad homeowners, who are holed up in a separate room and whose furniture and knick-knacks will be seen by millions of viewers – many from the society that has been their country’s neighbour and uneasy sparring partner for much of the past century. This is the set of the Pakistani drama Aadi Si Bewai, or Half... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3301779/why-pakistani-tv-dramas-are-what-bollywood-india-and-how-they-break-down-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3301779/why-pakistani-tv-dramas-are-what-bollywood-india-and-how-they-break-down-barriers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Mar 2025 09:15:08 +0000 India’s second-largest city and its creative nexus, Mumbai is not for the faint of heart. A sprawling metropolis with an overall population of 21.6 million people, the capital of the state of Maharashtra, formerly known as Bombay, is an attack on the senses, as overwhelming as it is exciting. Many visitors tend to stick to the tourist-friendly areas of Colaba and Kala Ghoda in South Mumbai or stay happily ensconced within the hallowed grounds of the city’s most famous hotel, The Taj Mahal... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3300143/insiders-mini-guide-mumbai-how-find-best-hotels-shops-and-museums-tourist-beaten-track-indias-most?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3300143/insiders-mini-guide-mumbai-how-find-best-hotels-shops-and-museums-tourist-beaten-track-indias-most?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2025 04:00:21 +0000 For many filmmakers, the Oscars are a pipe dream. But not because they think their films are not good enough. The exiled Iranian director, Mohammad Rasoulof, for instance, knew his native country was more likely to imprison him than submit his film for the Academy Awards. Iran, like some other countries including Russia, has an official government body that selects its Oscar submission. For a filmmaker like Rasoulof, who has brazenly tested his country’s censorship restrictions, that made the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3300056/and-2025-oscar-best-international-film-doesnt-go-protesters-or-dissidents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3300056/and-2025-oscar-best-international-film-doesnt-go-protesters-or-dissidents?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Feb 2025 20:15:07 +0000 A fierce debate has erupted over the Indian government’s perceived lack of financial support for Bollywood, with the wife of legendary film actor Amitabh Bachchan accusing New Delhi of neglecting an industry that unites India but is struggling amid dwindling audiences in the streaming era. Jaya Bachchan, an opposition politician from the Samajwadi Party and an actress, slammed Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for not giving any tax breaks to the industry during a parliamentary debate to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3299605/fading-fortunes-indias-bollywood-streaming-era-spark-political-debate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3299605/fading-fortunes-indias-bollywood-streaming-era-spark-political-debate?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Feb 2025 07:19:05 +0000 Lynn Farah Lynn Farah When it comes to showbiz, much credit goes to the stars on stage or in front of the camera. But a lot happens behind the scenes and acclaim must also go to many others, including the creators of some of the entertainment industry’s most memorable film scores. Responsible for some of the best-known music from film, television and stage, these composers have earned fortunes during their illustrious careers. With the Academy Awards just around the corner, here are the seven richest composers in the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3298519/7-richest-composers-world-2025-net-worths-ranked-disney-go-alan-menken-and-interstellar-star-hans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3298519/7-richest-composers-world-2025-net-worths-ranked-disney-go-alan-menken-and-interstellar-star-hans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:00:19 +0000 Citadel star Priyanka Chopra is in the mood for celebration. The actress and singer’s brother, Siddharth Chopra, 36, has just tied the knot with actress Neelam Upadhyaya, 31, in a star-studded ceremony in Mumbai, India. According to the Hindustan Times, guests included Priyanka, her husband Nick Jonas and their daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas; Priyanka’s cousin, actress Parineeti Chopra and her husband; politician Raghav Chadha; and Bollywood veteran Rekha. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s wife... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3298404/who-priyanka-chopras-younger-brother-siddharth-former-restaurateur-manages-citadel-stars-production?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3298404/who-priyanka-chopras-younger-brother-siddharth-former-restaurateur-manages-citadel-stars-production?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Feb 2025 10:08:02 +0000 Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing by a suspected Bangladeshi illegal immigrant has reignited bitter political rows over border security, with analysts warning of fresh diplomatic strains and a rise in unauthorised crossings. Police Commissioner Dixit Gedam said the suspect, arrested on the outskirts of Mumbai, had been using the name Vijay Das but was believed to be Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad, a Bangladeshi who arrived five or six months ago to work for a housekeeping agency. Khan,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296189/bollywood-stars-stabbing-suspected-illegal-bangladeshi-migrant-sparks-immigration-blame-game?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3296189/bollywood-stars-stabbing-suspected-illegal-bangladeshi-migrant-sparks-immigration-blame-game?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Jan 2025 10:26:49 +0000 Korean supernatural thriller Exhuma leads the field at the 18th Asian Film Awards with 11 nominations, followed by nine nods for the Hong Kong martial arts blockbuster Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, the organisers announced on January 10. A mega hit at the Korean box office, Exhuma, by director Jang Jae-hyun, is a compelling tale of religion and ritual that features some of the country’s most popular performers – namely Choi Min-sik, Kim Go-eun and Lee Do-hyun – all of whom are in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3294279/asian-film-awards-2025-nominations-full-exhuma-twilight-warriors-lead-pack?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3294279/asian-film-awards-2025-nominations-full-exhuma-twilight-warriors-lead-pack?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jan 2025 09:57:51 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification The year 2024 was a disappointing one for Bollywood, the Hindi film factory in Mumbai. No Hindi movie was a superhit or took in record profits. The industry is truly worried. The reasons for... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3294050/how-can-bollywood-get-its-mojo-back-2025?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3294050/how-can-bollywood-get-its-mojo-back-2025?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Jan 2025 03:30:09 +0000 While Indian cinema is best known for Bollywood extravaganzas, it is an art-house film about three women navigating loneliness and love in a metropolis that is gaining viewers and earning international recognition. All We Imagine as Light, a multi-language film set in Mumbai, the country’s financial capital, has won several international awards this year, including the Grand Prix at Cannes. It is also the first Indian film to be nominated in the best director category at the Golden Globes, which... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3292431/director-all-we-imagine-light-films-positive-reception-bollywood-mad-india?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3292431/director-all-we-imagine-light-films-positive-reception-bollywood-mad-india?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Dec 2024 10:15:07 +0000 In a year when Hong Kong cinema made history in its own backyard, and prominent filmmakers were chased out of their home countries for daring to speak truth to power, 2024 has seen a bounty of incredible films that wield the capacity to educate and illuminate, as well as simply entertain. Below are our picks of the 12 best films released this year across Asia. 12. How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies A box office smash hit across Southeast Asia, this tear-jerking Thai blockbuster stars... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3291128/12-best-asian-films-2024-ranked-last-dance-all-we-imagine-light?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3291128/12-best-asian-films-2024-ranked-last-dance-all-we-imagine-light?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Dec 2024 23:15:13 +0000 Indian superstar Aamir Khan, one of Bollywood’s highest-grossing actors, said he was on the verge of retirement during the global Covid-19 pandemic until his ex-wife forced him to reconsider. Khan, 59, is in the United States to promote Lost Ladies, India’s official entry to the foreign language category at the coming Academy Awards, which he has co-produced with ex-wife Kiran Rao. He said that his family was shocked at his decision to retire. “I felt that I had not given enough time or... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3288070/bollywood-star-aamir-khan-nearly-retired-during-covid-19-pandemic-ex-wife-brought-him-back?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3288070/bollywood-star-aamir-khan-nearly-retired-during-covid-19-pandemic-ex-wife-brought-him-back?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Nov 2024 12:00:13 +0000 Despite Bollywood’s worldwide popularity, the mammoth Hindi-language film industry has made barely a dent in Hollywood’s Academy Awards, with just 10 Indian Oscar wins since 1957. Kiran Rao is hoping to change that with Lost Ladies – India’s official entry for best international film in 2025 – which she said comes at a “special moment” for South Asian cinema centring women’s stories. Only three Indian entries in the category have been nominated and none has won. The last entry to be nominated... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3282907/indian-women-filmmakers-our-time-has-come-says-laapataa-ladies-director-kiran-rao?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3282907/indian-women-filmmakers-our-time-has-come-says-laapataa-ladies-director-kiran-rao?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Oct 2024 23:15:08 +0000 For its latest high jewellery collection, unveiled in Vienna in May, Cartier once again paid homage to a menagerie of creatures. Named Nature Sauvage (“savage nature”), the collection offers a new take on Cartier’s signature animals – chief among them the celebrated panther – with pieces that blur the lines between figurative and abstract. While previewing the creations in the Austrian capital, editors and VIP guests had fun trying to figure out which beasts or birds were the inspiration behind... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3282729/how-cartier-designed-its-latest-nature-sauvage-collection-according-creative-director-high-jewellery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/jewellery/article/3282729/how-cartier-designed-its-latest-nature-sauvage-collection-according-creative-director-high-jewellery?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Oct 2024 20:00:09 +0000 This year’s Hong Kong Asian Film Festival (HKAFF) promises to be one of the most ambitious yet. Beyond showcasing many of 2024’s most highly anticipated titles from across the region, as well as a number of acclaimed hits from the global festival circuit, this year’s programme shines a spotlights on New Kazakh Cinema, has a sidebar examining how Palestinian filmmakers are documenting the Israel-Gaza war, and a New Talent Award section elevating new filmmakers from the region. Below are 10... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3282278/hong-kong-asian-film-festival-2024-10-best-movies-see-including-last-dance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3282278/hong-kong-asian-film-festival-2024-10-best-movies-see-including-last-dance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Oct 2024 23:15:07 +0000 From a Bollywood heartthrob’s little brother to a rising star in Hollywood himself, Ishaan Khatter has come a long way. He currently has the internet swooning after his US debut in the Nicole Kidman-fronted Netflix thriller series The Perfect Couple. About working with the Oscar-winning actress, Khatter told People, “She certainly has hypnotising eyes, which I enjoyed playing off of.” Khatter plays the enigmatic Shooter Dival in the show, who captivates the bride-to-be, Amelia (Eve Hewson). So,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3278346/how-ishaan-khatter-went-bollywood-stars-brother-hollywood-actor-currently-netflix-mystery-series?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3278346/how-ishaan-khatter-went-bollywood-stars-brother-hollywood-actor-currently-netflix-mystery-series?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Sep 2024 10:00:14 +0000 Tirupur Subramaniam has spent a lifetime in the movie business, from hawking tickets at his family’s modest cinema hall to presiding over the Tamil Nadu Theatre and Multiplex Owners Association. But these days, the 73-year-old film distributor can’t help feeling that the golden era of India’s grand moviegoing tradition is dimming. “Running a cinema hall in India is no longer profitable,” Subramaniam told This Week in Asia, surveying the once-bustling lobby of his Sri Sakthi chain. His words cut... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3274810/lights-camera-disruption-indias-storied-cinema-halls-struggle-under-digital-onslaught?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3274810/lights-camera-disruption-indias-storied-cinema-halls-struggle-under-digital-onslaught?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Aug 2024 10:00:20 +0000 “Bollywood’s BFF” Orhan Awatramani, better known as “Orry”, is an Indian socialite who is famous for … well, being famous. He claimed the limelight late last year when pictures of him and his Bollywood (and Hollywood) friends went viral on social media. Now, Orry has built a robust fan base and boasts an Instagram following of 1.3 million at the time of writing. He parties with the Ambanis – the richest family in Asia while patriarch Mukesh is the ninth richest person in the world, per Forbes –... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3270063/meet-orhan-orry-awatramani-who-partied-anant-ambani-and-radhika-merchants-pre-wedding-bash-liver?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3270063/meet-orhan-orry-awatramani-who-partied-anant-ambani-and-radhika-merchants-pre-wedding-bash-liver?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Jul 2024 09:00:16 +0000 Several Bollywood stars have come under fire from their peers and others for supporting Palestinians in the ongoing Israel-Gaza war while ignoring issues that affect millions in India. Some industry observers, however, say the recent Indian general election in which the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party lost its majority could spur more celebrities to speak up on issues in general. Last month, amid Israel’s attacks in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, the “Eyes on Rafah” social media campaign... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3265862/indias-bollywood-stars-slammed-supporting-palestinians-ignoring-domestic-issues?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3265862/indias-bollywood-stars-slammed-supporting-palestinians-ignoring-domestic-issues?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 09 Jun 2024 10:00:15 +0000 The Ambanis are still pulling out all the stops to celebrate their upcoming wedding. Anant Ambani is the son of one of India’s richest people, Mukesh Ambani. Along with his fiancée, Radhika Merchant, Anant threw yet another star-studded bash ahead of their nuptials in July – this time on a luxury cruise. The Ambanis are still pulling out all the stops to celebrate their upcoming wedding. Anant Ambani is the son of one of India's richest people, Mukesh Ambani. Along with his fiancée, Radhika... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3265304/which-stars-went-latest-ambani-pre-wedding-celebration-anant-ambani-and-radhika-merchant-went-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3265304/which-stars-went-latest-ambani-pre-wedding-celebration-anant-ambani-and-radhika-merchant-went-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Jun 2024 20:00:34 +0000 Two members of a notorious criminal gang were arrested by Indian police on Tuesday for firing at the home of Bollywood actor Salman Khan in retaliation for the superstar’s killing of two antelopes. The Bishnoi gang, accused of several murders and extortion rackets, hails from a wider desert-based religious sect that considers the species to be the reincarnation of their guru. Khan, 58, has been in the cross hairs of the group since 1998 for shooting two black bucks on a recreational hunting... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3259190/indias-bishnoi-gang-members-arrested-shooting-bollywood-star-salman-khans-home-payback-antelope?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3259190/indias-bishnoi-gang-members-arrested-shooting-bollywood-star-salman-khans-home-payback-antelope?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 16 Apr 2024 08:49:34 +0000 Chuck has found his Blair – IRL! Gossip Girl alum Ed Westwick – who played Chuck Bass in the iconic TV drama that ran from 2007 to 2012 – recently announced his engagement to fiancée Amy Jackson in a joint Instagram post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Jackson (@iamamyjackson) “Hell YES” Jackson wrote in the photo’s caption. Celeb pals including Princess Diana’s niece Lady Amelia Spencer, model Sara Sampaio, singer Pixie Lott and Westwick’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3251066/meet-ed-westwicks-bollywood-star-fiancee-amy-jackson-gossip-girl-alum-met-british-former-beauty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3251066/meet-ed-westwicks-bollywood-star-fiancee-amy-jackson-gossip-girl-alum-met-british-former-beauty?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Feb 2024 22:00:30 +0000 When Indian writer Khushwant Singh in 2014 published his novel, Maharaja in Denims, he did not foresee that it would one day be adapted for the big screen – much less that it would make history as a film with no sets, actors, or even cameras. The story – about a Punjab teenager who believes he is a reincarnation of a prominent historical figure – may well be the world’s first feature-length film generated entirely by artificial intelligence (AI), and its production marks a potentially huge shift... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3248487/does-ai-generated-film-maharaja-denims-mark-shift-indian-cinema?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3248487/does-ai-generated-film-maharaja-denims-mark-shift-indian-cinema?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Jan 2024 12:00:15 +0000 Korean historical epic 12.12: The Day and Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Evil Does Not Exist lead the field with six nominations apiece in the 17th Asian Film Awards, the organisers announced on Friday. Director Kim Sung-soo’s 12.12: The Day, which was the highest grossing film in South Korea last year, is an action-packed drama that is based on a real-life military coup in 1979. Hamaguchi’s latest film was the winner of the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the 2023 Venice Film Festival,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3248251/asian-film-awards-2024-nominations-full-evil-does-not-exist-and-1212-day-lead-field-2-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3248251/asian-film-awards-2024-nominations-full-evil-does-not-exist-and-1212-day-lead-field-2-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Jan 2024 10:04:23 +0000 The success of the Telugu-language film RRR (2022), helmed by S.S. Rajamouli and starring N.T. Rama Rao Jr and Ram Charan, during the Hollywood awards season in 2022-2023, put a global spotlight on the Indian film industry, which produces films in multiple languages each year. While Indian stars have been making a mark in the West for decades, and have been seamlessly transitioning between industries, they also have been breaking stereotypes and expanding the global influence of Indian cinema.... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3247221/10-bollywood-stars-who-made-it-big-hollywood-alia-bhatt-amitabh-bachchan-and-aishwarya-rai-bachchan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/celebrities/article/3247221/10-bollywood-stars-who-made-it-big-hollywood-alia-bhatt-amitabh-bachchan-and-aishwarya-rai-bachchan?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 04 Jan 2024 06:00:16 +0000 Cheerleading squads, trips to Pop Tates’ soda shop, feasting on burgers and hot dogs, love triangles, as well as academic challenges – the Archie comics, first produced in the 1940s, were iconic in the sense that they defined an entire American generation. Comics have always been an escape, and Archie was no exception. Now, the beloved Archie characters, also popular in India since the 1980s, will be adapted into a musical film by Indian director Zoya Akhtar. Called The Archies, the story of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3242730/archie-bollywood-how-american-comic-became-subject-indian-netflix-film?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3242730/archie-bollywood-how-american-comic-became-subject-indian-netflix-film?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Nov 2023 06:00:14 +0000 India is facing a wave of deep fake videos that are causing outrage and legal turmoil that could spill across its borders, featuring everything from Bollywood celebrities engaged in inappropriate behaviour to Prime Minister Narendra Modi dancing at a festival that he did not attend. Tech lawyers say India’s outdated legal and law enforcement system has been caught flat-footed by the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which is concerning not just for the world’s most populous... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3242365/india-urged-act-quickly-deep-fake-videos-hit-modi-bollywood-laws-are-fragmented?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3242365/india-urged-act-quickly-deep-fake-videos-hit-modi-bollywood-laws-are-fragmented?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Nov 2023 04:00:15 +0000 At the opening of Mumbai’s first luxury mall, almost all of Bollywood’s A-list stars turned out for the red carpet event in haute couture outfits, with photographers snapping away, reminiscent of the annual Met Gala in New York. Some 66 global luxury brands – such as Balenciaga, Saint Laurent, Versace, Tiffany & Co – have set up shop in Mumbai’s Jio World Plaza, a one-stop luxury shopping centre in India’s richest city that is also home to 169 billionaires and 59,000 millionaires. With China’s... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3240384/mumbais-first-luxury-shopping-centre-taps-indias-cultural-understanding-affluence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3240384/mumbais-first-luxury-shopping-centre-taps-indias-cultural-understanding-affluence?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Nov 2023 04:00:16 +0000 India has one of the world’s most ancient civilisations, and a rich cultural heritage seen in, among other things, philosophy, food and dance. Around the world today, its culture is most obviously represented by Bollywood, the billion-dollar Hindi-language film industry that churns out 1,000 films a year, leaving Hollywood – which makes about 600 films a year – in its wake. “It’s true that much of what is known about India in places such as Hong Kong is Bollywood driven, because that is the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3236079/bollywood-yoga-music-and-more-hong-kongs-india-bay-festival-celebration-indian-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3236079/bollywood-yoga-music-and-more-hong-kongs-india-bay-festival-celebration-indian-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Sep 2023 04:45:09 +0000 Female protagonists are often the biggest stars in Bollywood films, but behind the scenes, the Indian film industry is dominated by men. Tired of being sidelined, women are banding together to ensure their voices are heard – on set and off. “We’d have at least 80 to 90 people on a set and only three or four of them were women,” says Petrina D’Rozario, a film producer. “We’d bump into each other [and say] ‘Oh, my God, why can’t we get a toilet?’,” says D’Rozario, founder and president of Women in... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3233086/women-bollywood-bypass-boys-club-trade-unions-their-fight-equal-opportunities-and-better-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3233086/women-bollywood-bypass-boys-club-trade-unions-their-fight-equal-opportunities-and-better-treatment?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Sep 2023 08:15:09 +0000 Alia Bhatt had been weighing her Hollywood options for a few years. A popular star of Hindi films for over a decade with nearly 79 million Instagram followers, she had been interested in making an English-language film, but nothing had been working out. Then Bhatt got word of a new action franchise led and produced by Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot, and within a week of reading the script the deal had closed. It was, she concludes, fate. “Your first film chooses you,” says Bhatt. “Technically,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3230482/bollywood-actress-alia-bhatt-netflix-film-heart-stone-gal-gadot-her-hollywood-debut-and-why-friend?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3230482/bollywood-actress-alia-bhatt-netflix-film-heart-stone-gal-gadot-her-hollywood-debut-and-why-friend?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Aug 2023 03:15:08 +0000 “Quiet luxury” has been the buzzword of the year so far as one of the most alluring trends in fashion right now. Often characterised by timeless silhouettes, premium materials and neutral tones, the “old-money aesthetic” is all about easy-going and discreet elegance with little to no obvious branding – but don’t let the absence of monograms fool you. The fine tailoring and quality materials of “stealth wealth” comes with eye-watering price tags. This sartorial shift may look simple, but it’s not... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3223933/7-asian-celebrities-owning-quiet-luxury-trend-valentino-rep-bts-suga-and-glorys-song-hye-kyo-oscar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3223933/7-asian-celebrities-owning-quiet-luxury-trend-valentino-rep-bts-suga-and-glorys-song-hye-kyo-oscar?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Jun 2023 23:00:15 +0000 Hitesh Amarnani has some advice for those thinking about learning Bollywood dance, the dynamic and theatrical style seen in Indian films: just be yourself. “As long as you love music, as long as you love to move, it’s going to be great,” says Amarnani, who has been busting Bollywood moves for almost 30 years, starting at his home in India and sharing his skills from Bangkok to Hong Kong, where he founded the World Dance Company in 2017. “Don’t be shy or worry about whether you’re doing it right,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3223493/dance-it-out-learn-bollywood-moves-practise-yoga-moonlight-fit-well-festival-20-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/short-reads/article/3223493/dance-it-out-learn-bollywood-moves-practise-yoga-moonlight-fit-well-festival-20-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:15:14 +0000 Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Miranda Kerr and Jessica Alba have all gracefully stepped into the realm of entrepreneurship, launching highly successful lifestyle brands. These ventures have not only generated substantial returns for their superstar founders but have also laid the foundation for enduring business empires. Asia has witnessed its own wave of celebrity-driven business ventures too. These stars are not content with merely being the face of a brand or occasional collaborators,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3222747/move-over-goop-4-asian-celebrities-who-own-lifestyle-brands-priyanka-chopra-jonas-anomaly-haircare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3222747/move-over-goop-4-asian-celebrities-who-own-lifestyle-brands-priyanka-chopra-jonas-anomaly-haircare?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jun 2023 23:00:14 +0000 The Delhi High Court on Thursday ordered YouTube to remove fake news videos about the granddaughter of Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, in response to her petition to stop circulation of false rumours about her health, lawyers said. Judge C. Hari Shankar ordered YouTube to ensure the videos about Aaradhya Bachchan, 11, were taken down immediately. “Dissemination of misleading information about a child, especially as regards physical and mental health, is completely intolerable under the... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3217768/indian-court-orders-youtube-remove-fake-news-about-bollywood-stars-grandchild-landmark-decision?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3217768/indian-court-orders-youtube-remove-fake-news-about-bollywood-stars-grandchild-landmark-decision?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:42:33 +0000 A foot-tapping Bollywood retro tune that emerges from a compact stereo at a tiny spice store in Queens, New York City, evokes memories of the grand old days of Hindi cinema. More than 50 years have passed since the song Ae Meri Zohra Jabeen burst onto the scene as the part of the soundtrack of the 1965 film Waqt by acclaimed Indian director Yash Chopra, but its appeal has been enduring, notably the chorus “dil ko jitne ka faan, jo tujh meh hai kanhi nehi” (“no one knows how to win a heart, the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3213143/bollywoods-father-romance-yash-chopra-celebrated-new-netflix-docuseries-hindi-cinema?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3213143/bollywoods-father-romance-yash-chopra-celebrated-new-netflix-docuseries-hindi-cinema?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Mar 2023 06:00:15 +0000 As Indian-Americans anticipate the day a much-loved Bollywood musical romance will reach Broadway, the US staging of DDLJ continues to be mired in controversy over its producers’ decision to cast a white actor in the lead male role. DDLJ was first released in 1995 in India and is so iconic, it continues to be screened today at a cinema in Mumbai, where tickets are sold for around 40 rupees (US$0.50). One projectionist is said to have watched the film more than 9,000 times. DDLJ tells the story... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3209083/ddljs-us-musical-tale-love-and-diversity-or-whitewashing-indian-culture?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3209083/ddljs-us-musical-tale-love-and-diversity-or-whitewashing-indian-culture?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Feb 2023 06:00:18 +0000