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Director Hansal Mehta has continued to post his thoughts on X (@mehtahansal) about the fact that the Hindi film industry as a whole needs a reset. This time, he focuses on the actresses in the industry who stand out. He also brings forth the change he feels needs to be made for there to be more challenging and intriguing, full-of-depth roles for actresses. As he said, this is not a list (he hates lists). It is his thoughts on who should be celebrated. As he writes, “It’s about recognizing talent and demanding better.”

“Cinema Needs a Reset – Women Leading the Change

When I wrote my previous post (you can read it here) about emerging male actors, my intention was simple—to illustrate the need for bolder casting choices in Hindi cinema. But, as always, hyperactive voices found a different narrative to latch onto: “Where are the female actors?” That wasn’t the point.

Picture Courtesy of Netflix

Director Hansal Mehta known for his brilliant work in film and series, most recently for his hit The Buckingham Murders starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, penned a lengthy post on his X account (@mehtahansal) about his thoughts on the state of Hindi cinema. It is a fascinating look from inside the industry and a first-hand knowledge of what it was, what it is, and where it should go. Pointing out some of the problems he feels are happening within the filmmaking industry and highlighting some of the actors he wants to see more of, he also expands on what he thinks can help. We thought we would share the entire post to showcase his point of view.

“Hindi Cinema Needs a Reset

For those predicting doom for Bollywood—pause. The industry isn’t dying. It’s waiting to be disrupted. The problem isn’t the audience losing interest.

Celebrating 25 years of cinematic brilliance, the International Indian Film Academy Weekend & Awards silver jubilee edition took centre stage in Jaipur, Rajasthan March 8th–9th, 2025! Featuring incredible performances, the weekend was filled stars, applause and the answer to… and the winner is…

We will have more about the incredible events but we wanted to give you the list of who took home the prestigious statue in both the Iifa Digital Awards and the Iifa Award ceremonies

Iifa Award Winners

Best Picture

Laapataa Ladies

Best Director:

Kiran Rao – Laapataa Ladies

Best Performance in a Leading Role (Female)

Nitanshi Goel – Laapataa Ladies

Performance In A Leading Role (Male)

Kartik Aaryan- Bhool Bhulaiya 3

Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Female)

Janki Bodiwala – Shaitaan

Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Male)

Ravi Kishan – Laapataa Ladies

Heartwarming Performance In A Leading Role

Nitanshi Goel – Laapataa Ladies

Best Performance in a Negative Role

Raghav Juyal – Kill...

The nominations for the 2025 Critics Choice Awards have been unveiled and we have the list! According to the website, The Film Critics Guild, in collaboration with GroupM Motion Entertainment, will proudly present the Critics’ Choice Awards, a prestigious event dedicated to celebrating the captivating diversity and artistic excellence within Indian cinema on March 25th. This distinguished ceremony will acknowledge and reward the profound ingenuity, creativity, and unwavering commitment to quality in the cinematic arts in India. This year, winners will be announced in the Short Film, Documentary, Web Series, and Feature Film varied categories at a special ceremony.

And the nominees for the some of the major Feature Film award categories include…

Best Actor

Prithviraj Sukumaran for Aadujeevitham (The Goat Life)

Diljit Dosanjh for Amar Singh Chamkila

Abhishek Bachchan for I Want To Talk

Soori for Kottukkaali (The Adamant Girl)

Chandan Sen for Manikbabur Megh (The Cloud and the Man...

What Did Aamir Khan Reveal About His Dream Projects? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Aamir Khan, often hailed as Bollywood’s “Mr. Perfectionist,” has been a defining force in Indian cinema for over three decades. Known for his meticulous approach to filmmaking, Khan has delivered several landmark films such as Lagaan (2001), Rang De Basanti (2006), 3 Idiots (2009), and Dangal (2016). Beyond acting, he has been actively involved in production, shaping content that resonates with audiences on a deeper level.

In recent years, Khan has shifted focus toward producing films that introduce fresh talent. His latest production, Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao, is a prime example of this. As he approaches 60, the actor has set his sights on two major creative endeavors: bringing his dream project, Mahabharat, to life and increasing children’s content in Indian cinema.

Aamir Khan Opens Up About His Plans For The Next 10 To 15 Years

During Abp Network’s Ideas of India 2025 event,...

Loveyapa Box Office Collection Day 1: Junaid Khan-Khushi Kapoor In Trouble! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor seem to be walking on a rocky road ahead as their latest release, Loveyapa, opens at the box office on the lower side. The film, in fact, faces tough competition from the re-release of Sanam Teri Kasam currently!

Lowest Opening Of 2025

Junaid and Khushi’s romantic comedy has brought the lowest opening of 2025, failing to surpass Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani’s Azaad as well. This number comes in despite good word-of-mouth for the film that is helmed by Advait Chandan.

Loveyapa Box Office Day 1

Loveyapa, on the opening day, February 7, Friday, has opened at 1.25 crore at the box office. Only Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’s re-release earned 1.15 crore on the opening day, only 10 lakh less than Loveyapa’s day 1 box office.

Trending Vidaamuyarchi Worldwide Box Office Day 1:...

Pushpa 2 Hindi Box Office: Enjoys Impressive Returns But Stays Lower Than Part 1 (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 was a rage at the Indian box office, and after two months of record-breaking run, it finally closed its theatrical run. It was released in five Indian languages, and among them, the Hindi-dubbed version earned the maximum moolah. With the kind of momentum it enjoyed in the pre-release phase, it was clear that the film was going to become an industry hit in Hindi. Yesterday, we talked about the closing collection of the magnum opus. Today, let’s have a look at the return on investment it has made!

The first installment was released in 2021 amid Covid-19 restrictions. Despite the presence of two big films, Spider-Man: No Way Home and 83, it enjoyed a superb run in the Hindi market. After a decent start, it displayed strong legs and stayed in theatres for a long.

Vidaamuyarchi Worldwide Box Office Day 1 (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Ajith Kumar, aka Thala Ajith, has made noise with his latest release, Vidaamuyarchi. Released on Thursday, the film clocked a good number on the board. As the superstar made a big-screen return after a gap of over two years, his biggie was expected to register a career-best opening for him, but it missed the chance by just a few lakh. Nonetheless, a strong collection at the worldwide box office has come on day 1. In the overseas market, Thala has secured his best-ever start.

The Kollywood action thriller marked the reunion of Ajith, Trisha Krishnan, and Arjun Sarja. The trio was last seen in Mankatha (2011). Released on February 6, the film opened to mixed reviews from critics. While the performances and action are being praised, the tedious narration and overall execution are being criticized. Even among the ticket-buying audience, the word-of-mouth is mixed.

Backed...

Loveyapa Box Office: Junaid Khan Performs Better Than Kiran Rao!(Photo Credit – YouTube)

Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor’s Loveyapa has taken a slow start at the box office despite good reviews. The romantic comedy marks the theatrical debut of the two star kids at the box office but has brought underwhelming numbers.

Junaid Khan Beats Kiran Rao Twice!

Interestingly, Junaid Khan, with his theatrical debut, has beat Kiran Rao for the second time. His romantic comedy, directed by Advait Chandan, has opened better than Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies, which opened at 1.02 crore. Earlier, Junaid Khan’s Bollywood debut Maharaj garnered better views in its opening week on Netflix as compared to Laapataa Ladies!

Loveyapa Box Office Day 1 Estimates

On the opening day, February 7, Friday, Loveyapa has earned in the range of 1.5 – 2 crore at the box office as per the early trends. This is on the lower side since...

Loveyapa Movie Review Rating:

Star Cast: Junaid Khan, Khushi Kapoor, Ashutosh Rana, Grusha Kapoor, Kiku Sharda, Tanvika Parlikar

Director: Advait Chandan

Loveyapa Movie Review Out ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

What’s Good: A breezy, youthful tenor and a non-stop supply of lifelike humor with some subtle messages for Gen Z.

What’s Bad: A l-e-e-t-t-t-le far-fetched logic by one of the main characters, who is a dentist.

Loo Break: No, no!

Watch or Not?: It’s a no-brainer: Yes!

Language: Hindi

Available On: Theatrical Release

Runtime: 138 Minutes

User Rating:

Set in Delhi, this remake of the 2022 Tamil rom-com Love Today is about a young man, Gaurav, a.k.a. Gucci (Junaid Khan), who is going steady with Baani (Khushi Kapoor). The two have not yet disclosed their relationship to their families, and Baani even tells her musically-inclined advocate father, Atul Sharma (Ashutosh Rana), that she has won her new mobile...

Kiran Rao On Her Divorce! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao announced their separation in July 2021, after ending their 16-year marriage. However, the former couple has maintained good professional relations and are co-parenting their son Azad. Read on.

In an interview with Faye D’Souza, Kiran shared her post-divorce bond with Aamir and her desire to be independent. She said, “I wanted to have my space and feel independent again. We have a strong equation as co-parents and as a family to survive the divorce. I’d have individual time to myself with the comfort of knowing that Azad’s dad is also my friend and my family. It took me a while to get there, mentally and emotionally. Even for Aamir to get there. We needed to be secure and ensure that we were not going anywhere. We’re there for each other for the long term. It...

The International Indian Film Academy (Iifa) Weekend & Awards will be celebrating the historic Silver Jubilee edition, a landmark celebration honouring 25 years of Indian cinema’s global legacy. Set to take place from March 8th to 9th, 2025, in the enchanting Pink City of Jaipur, Rajasthan, this milestone event promises an extraordinary fusion of cinematic artistry and cultural heritage.

The festivities begin on Saturday, March 8th, with Sobha Realty Iifa Digital Awards Co-Presented By Nexa as they make their debut, celebrating the innovative brilliance of Ott and digital entertainment and underscoring Iifa’s embrace of the industry’s evolving landscape. The grand finale unfolds on Sunday, March 9th, with the iconic Nexa Presents Iifa Awards Co-Presented by Sobha Realty, honouring cinematic excellence and celebrating Indian cinema’s profound impact on the global stage.

The nominations for the Iifa Digital and Iifa Awards have been revealed and we have the list! By the...

The brilliant Laapataa Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao released on 4th October 2024 in Japan and it is a huge hit. In fact, Laapataa Ladies, which is titled, Where is the Bride in Japanese, is now celebrating an uninterrupted theatrical run of 115 days and still counting. Now in its 17th week, the film, a Jio Studios and Aamir Khan Productions, has achieved a significant milestone by being shortlisted for the prestigious Best International Film category at the Japan Academy Film Prize 2024. The Best International Film winner will be announced on March 14, 2025, during the Japan Academy Film Prize ceremony.

The story, which revolves around two young brides who become separated on a train and find themselves in a series of hilarious and heart-warming situations, has resonated deeply with Japanese audiences. Starring an impressive cast, including Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Ravi Kishan.

Japan’s rich cinematic tradition, which also values...

Here’s When Padmaavat Will Re-Release In Theatres (Photo Credit – Prime Video)

Sanjay Leela Bhansali redefined Indian cinema with his magnum opus, Padmaavat, in 2018. The film, starring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, and Shahid Kapoor, set new benchmarks with its grand visuals, lavish sets, exquisite costumes, and unforgettable music. The cast showcased phenomenal performances that elevated the cinematic experience of Padmaavat.

The movie earned immense critical and commercial recognition and became one of Bhansali’s most ambitious ventures. The mesmerizing storytelling and unparalleled visual grandeur make it one of the finest Bollywood movies ever. Nearly 7 years after its release, Padmaavat is all set to hit Indian cinemas again. The movie will return to theatres with a grand re-release on February 6, 2025.

Padmaavat earned a staggering ₹560 crores at the box office in 2018, making it the second-highest grosser of the year and cementing its legacy as a historic blockbuster. These incredible numbers reflect the...

Laapataa Ladies Is Now One Of The 5 Greatest International Movies (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Jio Studios and Aamir Khan Productions’ Laapataa Ladies has certainly created a stir with its release from the get-go. It was an amalgamation of all the right ingredients—A heartwarming story, great actors, humor, and a beautiful social message. The film directed by Kiran Rao has won the hearts of audiences across the globe. While the film received tremendous love on the big screen, it also impressed viewers with its Ott release.

Transcending boundaries, the film was released in Japan on 4th October 2024, where it is still running successfully after 115 days, and has secured its place as one of the five greatest international films at the Japan Academy Film Prize.

Laapataa Ladies is now in its 17th week in Japan. It has enjoyed an uninterrupted run of 115 days and counting. The film has been selected as one...

Emergency Box Office Day 2 (Early Trends): Kangana Ranaut Starrer Jumps! (Photo Credit – YouTube)

Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency has witnessed audience love on the second day, experiencing a jump at the box office. In two days, the political drama based on the life of Indira Gandhi, stands at a total collection of an estimated 6 crore.

The film was directed and produced by Kangana Ranaut, and it is on par with one of the best films by a female director, who arrived last year. It was Kiran Rao‘s Laapataa Ladies, which did not earn as much as Kangana’s film had in the last two days.

Emergency Box Office Day 2 Estimates

On the second day, Saturday, January 18, Emergency earned in the range of 3.5 – 3.6 crore at the box office, which was a jump of an estimated 48% at the box office, which brought 2.35 crore on the opening day.

Trending Daaku Maharaaj Box...

Azaad Box Office Day 1 (Early Trends): Aaman Devgan & Rasha Thadani Open Well! (Photo Credit – YouTube)

After a long time, a lead debut pair arrives in the theaters with Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani. Azaad has opened at the box office with decent numbers. Ajay Devgn’s nephew and Raveena Tandon’s daughter have surpassed many talked about films of 2024!

Best Debut Since 2024

Aaman and Rasha have delivered the best opening by debut actors in lead roles, surpassing the opening numbers of Lakshya’s Kill, Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, and Sparsh Srivastava’s Laapataa Ladies and Pashmina Roshan – Rohit Saraf’s Ishq Vishq!

Azaad Box Office Day 1 Estimates

On the opening day, January 17, Azaad earned in the range of 1.5 – 1.7 crore at the box office. This number has arrived despite tough competition at the box office from Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency and Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 Reloaded.

Trending Kadhalikka Neramillai...

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Ott Verdict (Week 3): Kartik Aaryan Axes Khel Khel Mein! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

After a successful theatrical run and earning 281.56 crore at the box office, Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is having a successful run on Ott as well. The horror-comedy arrived on Netflix on December 27 and has been churning out good numbers on the platform as well.

Kartik Aaryan Axes Akshay Kumar!

With a total of 9.3 million views in only three weeks of its streaming on Netflix, Kartik Aaryan has axed Akshay Kumar‘s Khel Khel Mein’s total views garnered for the weeks in stayed in the global top 10 trending non-English films. The Mudassar Aziz comedy garnered a total of 8.7 million views.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Ott Verdict Week 3

In the third week, as per Netflix’s data from January 6 to January 12, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 garnered 1.4 million views against 3.6 million viewing hours and secured sixth spot in...

Bollywood Box Office Report (2024): Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Jigra & Others! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

2024 was a tough year for Bollywood. Many new genres were explored, but only a few could triumph at the box office. There were unfortunately more flops than hits as biggies like Maidaan, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan failed to impress audience. Scroll below as we carry out a detailed comparison with Hindi films of 2023.

Hindi industry found its highest-grossing film!

2024 was a year filled with huge surprises. The horror-comedy genre took over and became the go-to choice of audiences. Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao’s Stree 2 became the highest-grossing Hindi film, with domestic earnings of 627.50 crores. Although, it is to be noted that the title has now been snatched by Pushpa 2. Other small-budget films like Munjya, Laapataa Ladies and Article 370 were also successful.

Bollywood flops in 2024

Films led by Akshay Kumar, like Sarfira, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan,...

With “All We Imagine as Light” having won the Grand Prix at Cannes and later earning Best Non-English Feature Film from multiple critics groups, including the New York Film Critics Circle and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, writer/director Payal Kapadia is already planning not only her next project, but potentially the project after that, too. Speaking in a recent interview with Variety, the Golden Globe-nominated filmmaker teased her future plans now that the film has placed such a spotlight on her.

“I started writing my next movie, and it’s also going to be a film in Bombay,” said Kapadia. “It’s a bit early, but I’m thinking about doing two more films in Bombay, to have this kind of a trilogy.”

Despite the success “All We Imagine as Light” has found, it was not chosen to be India’s Oscar submission for Best International Feature Film.

Lucky Baskhar Ott Verdict: Will Dulquer Salmaan Change History? (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Dulquer Salmaan is only an inch away from creating history with its Ott run on Netflix. In six weeks, the period drama has garnered a total of 19.4 million views, becoming the second most-viewed South Indian film of 2024 that arrived on Netflix.

0.3 Million Away From Creating History!

Dulquer Salmaan is now only 0.3 million away from creating history and dethroning Maharaja as the most-viewed Indian film that arrived on Netflix in 2024. Vijay Sethupathi’s film garnered 19.7 million views in the six weeks of its run when it occupied one of the top 10 trending global spots on Netflix for non-English films.

Lucky Baskhar Ott Verdict Week 6

In the sixth week of its Ott run, as per Netflix’s data recorded from December 30 to January 5, Lucky Baskhar garnered 1 million views, against 2.5 million viewing hours occupying the ninth spot in the list of top 10 trending non-English films globally.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa Ott Verdict (Week 2): Kartik Aaryan Nails A Milestone! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is growing in terms of viewership on Netflix in only two weeks of its Ott run on the digital platform. After a theatrical run that brought 281.56 crore, the horror-comedy has garnered 7.9 million views on Netflix in only two weeks.

Enters Top 10 Already

Kartik Aaryan’s film, in only two weeks, has reached the top 10 most-viewed Bollywood films that arrived on Netflix this year after a theatrical run. With a total of 7.9 million views in two weeks, the film has matched the total run of Kareena Kapoor Khan’s The Buckingham Murders, which garnered the same number of views and is the 10th most-viewed Bollywood film.

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Ott Verdict Week 2

In the second week of its Ott run, as per Netflix’s data recorded from December 30 to January 5, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 garnered 4.2 million views,...

Gold House has unveiled its fifth annual Gold List with “Wicked” and “Moana 2” among the films being honored.

The list spotlights the most exceptional achievements in film by Asian Pacific creatives over the past year. It also serves as a guide for awards voters and celebrates a monumental year for Asian Pacific representation in cinema.

Since its launch five years ago, the Gold List has celebrated an emerging tide of increasing representation in film by honoring over 200 Asian Pacific films and creatives, with many proceeding to receive Academy Awards. Among those films are “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” “Minari,” “Rrr,” “Parasite,” “The Boy and the Heron” and “The Elephant Whisperer.”

In a year when Asian Pacific creativity dominated the box office —”Moana 2″ and Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked” alone grossed over $1.2 billion globally — the Gold List celebrates these blockbusters alongside “All We Imagine As Light,” “Dìdi” and “Monkey Man.

Jigra Ott Verdict (Week 5): With 0.2 Million More Views Than Bade Miyan Chote Miyan! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Alia Bhatt’s Jigra, with its digital run on Netflix, has garnered a total of 8.9 million views in 5 weeks. In these weeks, the emotional drama helmed by Vasan Bala and co-starring Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, and Vivek Gomber has maintained a spot in the global top 10 list for non-English films on Netflix.

Strikes Bade Miyan Chote Miyan

With a total of 9.8 million views in four weeks, the action drama surpassed the total views garnered by Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Helmed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the action film garnered 9.6 million views during the 3-week run of the film when it found a spot in the top 10.

Jigra Ott Verdict Week 4

In the fourth week, as per Netflix’s data from December 30 to January 5, Jigra garnered 0.9 million views against...

Jigra Ott Verdict (Week 4): 6th Most-Viewed Female Led Film Of 2024! (Photo Credit – Instagram)

This week, four Hindi films occupied spots in the top 10 trending non-English films on Netflix, including Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Lucky Baskhar, Jigra and Amaran. Apart from these Indian films, Honey Singh’s documentary also found a spot in the top 10 for the second time.

Sixth Most-Viewed Female-Led Film On Netflix

Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina’s emotional action drama is the sixth most viewed female-led film that has arrived on Netflix this year. While it had a lukewarm response at the box office, it is maintaining its pace in its Ott run.

Jigra Ott Verdict Week 4

In the fourth week of its Ott run, as per Netflix’s data from December 23 to December 29, Jigra garnered 1.4 million views against 3.6 million viewing hours and occupied the seventh spot in the global list of trending top 10 non-English films on Netflix.

Lucky Baskhar Ott Verdict (Week 5): Destroys Every Single Indian Film Except 1! (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Dulquer Salmaan’s Lucky Baskhar has been one of the most promising films this year that earned accolades in the theaters turning every applaud into a successful day making 115.05 crore worldwide from its theatrical run. Meanwhile, the period drama has been earning praise ever since its arrival on Netflix as well.

2nd Most Viewed Indian Film On Netflix

Dulquer Salmaan has done the unthinkable, with the film becoming the second most-viewed film on Netflix this year, surpassing the entire viewership of every single Indian film except one!

Lucky Baskhar Ott Verdict Week 5

In the fifth week, as per Netflix’s data recorded from December 23 to December 29, Lucky Baskhar garnered 1.5 million views, against 3.8 million viewing hours occupying the fifth spot in the list of top 10 trending non-English films globally.

Trending Amaran Box Office Vs Lucky Baskhar...

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Ott Verdict: Kartik Aaryan Destroys Shaitaan! (Photo Credit – Facebook)

The last big arrival on Netflix this year was Kartik Aaryan’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. The horror-comedy after a successful theatrical run arrived on Ott on December 27 and has garnered some good viewership in its opening weekend on the streaming platform.

With its opening weekend on Netflix, Kartik Aaryan’s horror-comedy also starring Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit has secured a spot in the top 10 debuts of the year 2024 for Hindi films arriving on Netflix after a theatrical run!

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Ott Verdict

As per the data by Netflix from December 23 to December 29, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 garnered a viewership of 3.7 million on Netflix against 9.8 million viewing hours and secured 2nd spot in the globally trending list of top 10 non-English films on Netflix.

Trending Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 Vs Singham Again: Which Diwali Blockbuster Ruled The Box Office In 2024?

Bhool Bhulaiyaa...

Lucky Baskhar Ott Verdict (Week 4): 4th Most Viewed Indian Film Of 2024! ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

Dulquer Salmaan’s Lucky Baskhar has turned into a phenomenal success on Netflix after a great theatrical run at the box office, earning 74.54 crore in India and 115.05 crore worldwide. The film arrived on Netflix on November 28, and in four weeks, it has garnered a whopping 16.9 million views on the Ott platform.

Most-Viewed Indian Films

With 16.9 million total views, the Telugu period thriller is now the fourth most-viewed Indian film on the platform, surpassing Ajay Devgn‘s Shaitaan, which earned 14.8 million views during its 4-week run in the top 10 global trending non-English films!

Lucky Baskhar Ott Verdict Week 4

In the fourth week, Lucky Baskhar garnered 2 million views, against 5 million viewing hours occupying third rank in the list of top 10 trending non-English films globally. Last week the film occupied rank 5 and jumped by two ranks this week!

Vanvaas Box Office Collection Day 1: Nana Patekar Starrer Opens Higher Than Ajay Devgn & Abhishek Bachchan (Photo Credit – Instagram)

After Gadar 2’s phenomenal outrage of 500+ crore at the box office, director Anil Sharma is back with Vanvaas. While it is totally unfair to compare the film to Sunny Deol and his Dhai Kilo Ka Haath, Nana Patekar and Utkarsh Sharma still could not manage to stand up to the current box office storm.

Vanvaas Box Office Collection Day 1

On the opening day, Friday, December 20, the film opened at the box office with only 0.73 crore coming in. This is a very low number, and certainly, the film could not face Pushpa 2’s storm along with Mufasa: The Lion King’s India run.

5th Worst Opening

The film has registered the fifth-lowest opening for a Hindi film in the year 2024. But, the saving grace might be Nana Patekar and Utkarsh...

Pushpa 2: The Rule has become one of the highest-grossing Indian movies of all time. The Telugu-language movie is the sequel to 2021's Pushpa: The Rise and stars Allu Arjun in the title role as a sandalwood smuggler who is working to maintain his business despite major pushback from Indian Police Service superintendent Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat (Fahadh Faasil). The cast also includes Rashmika Mandanna, Jagadeesh Prathap Bandari, Jagapathi Babu, and Sunil. 2024's Pushpa 2: The Rule had a record-breaking debut in early December, earning the highest-grossing opening day in India for an Indian movie.

Per The Numbers, Pushpa 2: The Rule has now grossed a whopping $154.6 million worldwide. While this pales in comparison to massive Hollywood blockbusters such as Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.34 billion), the movie's worldwide total makes it the third highest-grossing Indian movie of all time. It is also the highest-grossing Indian movie of the decade so far, as the No.

The year 2024 will be noted as a better one for Indian cinema, particularly for its storytellers. It was a year when promising mainstream directors broke their shell to narrate familiar tales with a personal and empathetic touch. A significant national conversation revolved around the country’s need for constructive cinematic literacy. The preference for Kiran Rao’s ‘Laapataa Ladies’, an enjoyable yet flawed film, over Payal Kapadia’s luminous Grand Prix-winning work, highlighted the myopic vision of India’s film circles towards non-Hindi films. It also exposed the inadequate male-centric views of a National Board of thirteen middle-aged male apologists, particularly in their perception of femininity.

This list aims to be broader, more informed, and naturally, more willing to engage. Featuring a mix of surprisingly well-crafted Hindi films and outstanding regional productions, a prominent feature of Indian cinema this year has been the fluidity of spoken dialogue used by many films.

Aamir Khan Productions on Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies) not winning Academy Awards ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

While Indians are of course, disappointed about Laapataa Ladies’ disqualification, we still feel proud of the amazing entry made by Aamir Khan Productions. They are immensely grateful for the incredible support and belief that they have received throughout this inspiring journey.

Aamir Khan Productions, Jio Studios and Kindling Productions exclaimed, “We extend our gratitude to the Academy members and the Ffi jury for considering our film. To be included in this prestigious process alongside some of the finest films from across the world is an honor in itself. Our heartfelt thanks to all the audiences around the world who have expressed their love and support for our film.”

They also went above and beyond to congratulate the teams of all the top 15 shortlisted films and wish them the very best in the next stages of the awards.

Jigra Is Now The 9th Most-Viewed Female Led Film On Netflix In 2024! (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Alia Bhatt has finally used her magic wand and made a brilliant jump with Jigra’s Ott run on Netflix in the second week. The film arrived on Netflix on December 6, and in 10 days, it registered a total viewership of 5.7 million.

Alia Bhatt Vs Janhvi Kapoor

In fact, in two weeks, Alia has entered the top 10 most-viewed female-led Hindi films on Netflix axing Janhvi Kapoor out of the top 10 list. Ulajh, garnered 5.3 million views in the weeks it maintained a spot in the top 10 on Netflix charts.

Jigra Ott Verdict

In its second week run on Netflix, as per the date recorded for December 9 – December 15, it made a jump of almost 100% in its viewership. In the first week, the film recorded a viewership of 1.9 million, followed by a 100% jump in week 2 with 3.8 million views.

Trending...

There’s a big difference between critics groups telling awards groups what they should watch, and lists that represent actual Oscar voters. The shortlists, announced on Tuesday, are actually long lists in 10 Oscar categories, revealing the contenders for animated, documentary, and live-action shorts, crafts such as Hair & Makeup, Sound, and VFX —the branches will soon mount show-and-tells for the voters, or “bakeoffs” — Original Score and Song, and Best International Feature and Documentary Feature.

This is step one on the road to an Oscar: Now, the awards campaigners will kick into high gear to make sure their films make it to the final five nominees. There are plenty of other categories for non-crafty films like “Anora” to land on nominations morning, January 17, 2025.

Netflix is having a good day, landing 15 mentions across nine titles. They landed three out of 15 on the Best Documentary shortlist: Sundance breakouts “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin,” “Daughters,...

France’s “Emilia Pérez,” Germany’s “The Seed of the Sacred Fig” and Brazil’s “I’m Still Here” have been named to the shortlist in the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film category, retaining their frontrunner status in a race that had fewer high-profile contenders than usual this year.

Other films on the list are Canada’s “Universal Language,” the Czech Republic’s “Waves,” Denmark’s “The Girl With the Needle,” Iceland’s “Touch,” Ireland’s “Kneecap,” Italy’s “Vermiglio,” Latvia’s “Flow,” Norway’s “Armand,” Palestine’s “From Ground Zero,” Senegal’s “Dahomey,” Thailand’s “How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies” and the United Kingdom’s “Santosh.”

“Flow” is the only animated film on the list, while “Dahomey” is the only documentary. The Palestinian selection, “From Ground Zero,” is the most unusual of the shortlisted films, consisting of 22 separate short films made over the last year by directors living in Gaza.

If the Oscars shortlist is the equivalent of mid-term exams for awards contenders, then Netflix’s “Emilia Pérez” and Universal Pictures’ “Wicked” just received passing grades.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the shortlists in 10 categories for the upcoming 97th Oscars ceremony.

“Emilia Pérez” landed six mentions overall, including makeup, sound, original score, international feature, and two for original song (“El Mal” and “Mi Camino”). The musical was followed another behometh in the race, Universal Pictures’ “Wicked,” which landed four.

The preliminary voting applies to animated short film, documentary feature, documentary short, international feature, live action short, makeup and hairstyling, original score, original song, sound and visual effects.

Oscar voting to determine the nominees in all 23 categories opens on Wednesday, Jan. 8, and concludes on Sunday, Jan. 12. Nominations will be announced on Friday, Jan. 17.

There are five 2024 Student Academy Award-winning films shortlisted: “Keeper” (documentary short), “Au Revoir...

Aamir Khan, one of India’s biggest movie stars, is currently doing the international media rounds to support Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies), the latest flick he produced through his eponymous production house.

The Hindi film, which is directed by Kiran Rao, follows two brides, whose identities are hidden by an elaborate bridal head covering, who get mixed up on the eve of their wedding days, setting them on the paths of very different destinies from those they had envisaged.

Khan, who has starred in some of India’s most enduring big screen hits like 3 Idiots and Peepli Live, found the screenplay for Laapataa Ladies a few years back while serving on a screenplay competition jury in India.

“I thought it was a beautiful script and knew I wanted to make it into a film,” he told us during an interview in London where he hosted a series of screenings for awards voters.

Sadly, you won't see All We Imagine as Light nominated for Best International Feature at the Oscars next year, since France went with the Golden Globe-nominated Emilia Pérez for its Best International Feature entry, and India went with Lost Ladies. But that doesn't mean the gripping international drama centered on modern Indian life should be any sort of afterthought this awards season. Hey, it rightfully scooped up a pair of Golden Globe nods just recently, and we can't wait to see what other sort of recognition writer-director Payal Kapadia's new feature will garner, ever since it won the coveted Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

All We Imagine as Light is the kind of insightful film that could be showcased down the line as part of an Indian Studies course curriculum (or even a course in feminist film). It offers a grounded, enlightening look at daily life for...

From musicals and body horror to international gems and star-driven documentaries, Tuesday’s Oscar shortlists will reveal who’s acing awards season — and who might be struggling to pass.

The Oscar shortlists in 10 key categories are the awards season equivalent of midterm report cards. For studios and strategists, these announcements offer crucial insight into which contenders resonate with voters and which campaigns might run out of steam. As the industry braces for surprises and snubs, some big players are poised to lead the charge, while others hope for last-minute breakthroughs.

Last year, Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” dominated the shortlists with five mentions, including sound, original score and three songs. However, its omission from makeup and hairstyling — a category where it seemed like a shoo-in — hinted at possible vulnerabilities. Ultimately, the film landed eight Oscar nominations, winning one for Billie Eilish and Finneas’ poignant original song, “What Was I Made For?...

In a candid interview with BBC News, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan spoke about his unexpected hiatus from filming during the Covid-19 outbreak. Fans and media mostly overlooked this period of silence.

Khan, known for his groundbreaking films like Lagaan and 3 Idiots, revealed that he had pondered abandoning acting and directing. “I’m done with acting and films,” he told his family during the worldwide crisis. His decision was motivated by a desire to prioritize his family during these uncertain times.

However, his children urged him to return to the sector. “They said, ‘But we can’t spend 24 hours with you. “So get real and get a life,” Khan recalled. Their encouragement rekindled his enthusiasm for filmmaking.

Khan’s comeback is emphasized by his last film, Laapataa Ladies (Lost Ladies), directed by his ex-wife, Kiran Rao. This film has been selected as India’s official entry for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category.

Aamir Khan has revealed that he secretly quit his stellar career for a period during the Covid pandemic, in order to spend more time with his loved ones.

The Bollywood superstar, known for some of India’s most popular films including Lagaan and 3 Idiots, told BBC News that he said to his family: “I’m done with acting and films.”

He explained “I [didn’t] want to produce or direct or act. I just wanted to be with the family.”

However, Khan added that nobody outside his family really noticed because of the major hiatus in the movie industry caused by the global pandemic – “no-one knew about it” – before his children persuaded him to go back to work.

“They were like, ‘But we can’t spend 24 hours with you. So get real and get a life.’ So they gently nudged me back into the films.”

Khan’s latest film is Laapataa Ladies...

On a sidewalk somewhere near the IndieWire offices, there’s a plaque with a quote from Muriel Rukeyser: “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” Of the many plaques in the area around the New York Public Library, this is the one that “Lost Ladies” (aka “Laapataa Ladies” as it’s also known) director Kiran Rao walked past on her way to our interview about the award-winning film that became India’s Oscar submission for Best International Feature.

“I thought that was so telling,” Rao said, about the plaque. “That’s one of our great strengths as a species, that we’re able to tell stories, to imagine futures, and it makes me really excited as a director to be part of that.”

Rao has been working consistently in the storytelling business since the late ’90s, when she was an assistant director on Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Lagaan”. She continued as an A.

Maharaja Is The Highest-Rated Film Of 2024 But Not The Most Popular On IMDb (Photo Credit- YouTube)

The year 2024 has offered some of the best films in the recent years and audiences have chosen some of their favorites over and over again. IMDb has curated the list of top 10 most popular films on IMDb that include some of the best films that arrived in the year 2024.

Seven Bollywood Titles

This list includes seven Hindi films. Interestingly, this has been a mixed lot with horror, horror comedy, suspense, action, and social dramedies. However, horror-comedy seems to be the flavor of this season since Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Stree 2, both found a spot in the top 10.

Highest-Rated On IMDb

Three South Indian films also found spots in the top 10 list. Out of the three, two of them occupy spots in the top 3. While Vijay Sethupathi’s Maharaja has been the highest-rated film of 2024 on IMDb,...

Jigra Ott Verdict: Alia Bhatt Is Only 3.4 Million Views Away From A Record! (Photo Credit – Facebook)

Alia Bhatt’s Jigra arrived this week on Netflix, and the film has received a lukewarm response on the platform. The film arrived on Netflix on December 6, and it missed entering the top 10 best female-led Hindi film debuts on the platform.

Jigra Ott Verdict

As per Netflix data from December 2 to December 8, Alia Bhatt’s film garnered a viewership of 1.9 million against 5 million viewing hours, claiming the 7th spot in the global list of top 10 trending Non-English Films On Netflix!

Misses The Top 10 Mark

Alia Bhatt fails to enter the top 10 debut week viewership by female-led films that arrived on Netflix this year. Alia Bhatt missed the 10th spot by only 0.1 million views.

Trending Thangalaan On Ott: Chiyaan Vikram Starrer Drops On Netflix After 17 Weeks Of Delay

Lucky Baskhar Ott Verdict (Week 2): Dulquer Salmaan...

After making waves at the Cannes Film Festival, Payal Kapadia’s film, All We Imagine As Light, made history with a Best Director nomination at the Golden Globes. The Indian-French co-production has earned two nominations, including one for Best Motion Picture in a Non-English Language category. Interestingly, it is Kapadia’s debut feature film.

A still from Payal Kapadia’s All We Imagine As Light | Credits: Petit Chaos/Chalk & Cheese

The film depicts the lives of two nurses living in Mumbai, played by Indian actresses Kani Kusruti and Divya Prabha. The film received critical acclaim for the grounded portrayal of working women in modern India. All We Imagine as Light was the recipient of the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Festival.

Payal Kapadia’s Golden Globes Nomination For All We Imagine As Light Is Historical Payal Kapadia with Divya Prabha and Kani Kusruti during the press promotions of All We Imagine As Light...

Sci-fi epic “Kalki 2898 Ad” and Netflix’s period drama series “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar” secured the top spots on IMDb’s Most Popular Indian Movies and Web Series lists for 2024, respectively. The rankings, based on page views from IMDb’s 250 million monthly visitors, showcase the expanding reach of Indian content across genres and languages.

The film rankings reflect India’s multilingual entertainment landscape, with seven Hindi-language films joined by Telugu (“Kalki 2898 Ad”), Tamil (“Maharaja”), and Malayalam (“Manjummel Boys”) entries. Franchise offerings maintained their draw, with “Stree 2: Sarkate Ka Aatank,” “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” and “Singham Again” all landing in the top 10.

“Kalki 2898 Ad” director Nag Ashwin credited the global audience response for the film’s success. “We poured our souls into the film and it’s so humbling to see it resonate with all ages across the world,” said Ashwin.

On the streaming front, Netflix and Prime...

In Kiran Rao’s “Laapataa Ladies,” a train journey is a powerful metaphor for the human condition. Two married brides find themselves ensnared in an unintentional switcheroo that goes beyond conventional farce, wrapped in tradition and expectation.

This narrative invites us to ponder the deeper implications of identity, choice, and societal structures. It is set against the backdrop of rural India in 2001, a time when the world was still discovering the benefits of connectedness. The film elegantly unravels patriarchal standards, revealing the fragility of individual agency within the confines of cultural expectations.

Rao’s art serves as a stinging critique of current Bollywood, where tales frequently bounce between the weight of tradition and the winds of change. “Laapataa Ladies” confronts us with philosophical issues about what it means to be fully seen by combining humour and a critique of gender dynamics.

In a world where identities may be exchanged as casually as luggage,...

An amusing bridal switcheroo, “Laapataa Ladies” (or “Lost Ladies” in some territories) makes effective use of Bollywood’s broad social messaging. This mode of storytelling can be heavy-handed for the sake of mass appeal, but director Kiran Rao deftly combines the literal and symbolic, resulting in a crowd-pleaser filled — for better or worse — with innate goodness.

Rao returns to the director’s chair for the first time since 2011’s “Dhobi Ghat,” the somber Mumbai diary with heartrending music by Gustavo Santaolalla and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Among the most notable departures from her debut film is that the score for “Laapataa Ladies,” composed by Ram Sampath, has a bouncy and propulsive quality, keeping the movie’s comedic musings on track.

A passenger train plays host to a case of mistaken identity when young, lovelorn newlyweds Deepak Kumar (Sparsh Shrivastava) and Phool Kumari (Nitanshi Goel) are separated in an accidental spouse swap en...

When awards season chatter begins around the last quarter of every year, “Oscar buzz” pretty much overshadows every other awards body. Hollywood studio-backed films with recognizable actors, directors and/or producers that made an impact during the year begin appearing on a plethora of “best of” lists that are discussed, analyzed and given substantial media attention. However, this year a handful of South Asian films from the sub-continent are quietly gaining traction, contending for nominations for the 97th Academy Awards, despite a lack of Hollywood studio support and financial bandwidth.

One such film is Lost Ladies, directed by Kiran Rao — India’s official Oscar entry for Best International Feature. Produced by Bollywood giant Jio Studios and Indian megastar Aamir Khan – whose film Lagaan was nominated for an Oscar in 2002 in the same category – over a month of screenings in Los Angeles and New York has helped familiarize the U.S.

by Cláudio Alves

At The Film Experience, we've always loved following and celebrating the Best International Film Oscar race. This season's no different, so you can expect many reviews in the next week as one counts down to the Academy's much-anticipated shortlists, when the competition will be severely cut down from its original 85 contenders. Voting for the shortlists opens on December 9th and closes on the 13th, with results announced on the 17th. Until then, let's dive deep into the wonders of world cinema, starting with a trip to the South of Asia.

Our journey commences with India's Lost Ladies, selected amid controversy because of All We Imagine As Light's politicized snubbing. Then, Thailand's How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, which has become an unlikely blockbuster and worldwide crowd pleaser. And finally, Cambodia's Meeting with Pol Pot, where iconoclast filmmaker Rithy Panh tries his hand at some period drama conventions…...