https://thoughtfulindia.com/category/entertainment/ Bollywood, Hollywood, books and the arts: films, stars, music and the stories Indian audiences in India and abroad are talking about. en Copyright Thoughtful India Sat, 31 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://thoughtfulindia.com/brand/ti-logo-512.png https://thoughtfulindia.com/category/entertainment/ https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/10/ramayana-north-america-premiere-presales-diwali/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/10/ramayana-north-america-premiere-presales-diwali/ Five days before its November 5 release, Sacnilk put Nitesh Tiwari's epic at more than ₹24 crore in Indian advance sales and about $3.5 million overseas. Sat, 31 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/10/jailer-2-rajinikanth-us-box-office-top-10/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/10/jailer-2-rajinikanth-us-box-office-top-10/ Nelson Dilipkumar's Tamil sequel finished ninth on the US weekend chart from 800 theatres, and trade trackers put its four-day worldwide gross above ₹400 crore. Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/kikis-delivery-service-imax-ghiblis-quiet-cultural-conquest/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/kikis-delivery-service-imax-ghiblis-quiet-cultural-conquest/ A 1989 Miyazaki classic is selling out IMAX screens in 2026. Why Kiki's Delivery Service — and Studio Ghibli's whole catalogue — became Gen Z's comfort cinema. Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Culture Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/virat-kohlis-cricket-legacy-individual-excellence-in-collective-sport/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/virat-kohlis-cricket-legacy-individual-excellence-in-collective-sport/ 27,000+ international runs and a T20 World Cup final Player-of-the-Match award: Kohli's career is the case study of individual brilliance inside a team sport. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/nepotism-vs-merit-in-bollywood-ongoing-debate/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/nepotism-vs-merit-in-bollywood-ongoing-debate/ Bollywood's family advantage is real and structural — but new platforms are cracking it open. The nepotism debate is more nuanced than the binary suggests. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Culture https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/indian-classical-music-streaming-reaching-new-audiences/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/indian-classical-music-streaming-reaching-new-audiences/ Streaming made Indian classical music accessible — and stripped the context that makes it comprehensible. Raga on shuffle: democratization without transmission. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Culture Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/indian-classical-music-preservation-vs-evolution-in-digital-age/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/indian-classical-music-preservation-vs-evolution-in-digital-age/ Hindustani and Carnatic are revered high art — yet command a tiny fraction of young India's listening time. Preservation kept them alive but elite. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Culture Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/indian-cinemas-ott-disruption-netflix-vs-bollywood/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/indian-cinemas-ott-disruption-netflix-vs-bollywood/ Bollywood built its empire on opening weekends; Netflix builds on subscriptions and algorithms. Talent, money, audience are moving — theaters now the exception. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Tech Culture https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/india-pakistan-cricket-why-the-rivalry-still-captivates-billions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/india-pakistan-cricket-why-the-rivalry-still-captivates-billions/ India-Pakistan is the world's most politically charged sporting rivalry — hundreds of millions watch, and the match has become a proxy for a conflict Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment World https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/how-indian-film-industry-conquered-south-asia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2026/03/how-indian-film-industry-conquered-south-asia/ Indian films dominate screens from Dhaka to Kathmandu — by scale and storytelling, not force. How Bollywood won the region, and the cost to local cinema. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Culture https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/07/ex-wife-vani-ganapathy-says-if-kamal-haasan-was-bankruptshe-wasnt-the-reason/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/07/ex-wife-vani-ganapathy-says-if-kamal-haasan-was-bankruptshe-wasnt-the-reason/ After Kamal Haasan claimed his 1988 divorce from Vani Ganapathy left him bankrupt, his ex-wife hit back: 'Can alimony make a man bankrupt?' Thu, 09 Jul 2015 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/05/bombay-velvet/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/05/bombay-velvet/ Anurag Kashyap's Bombay Velvet dazzles with jazz, art deco and grandeur, but the storytelling falls flat. Our 2015 review of the Ranbir Kapoor starrer. Sun, 17 May 2015 05:00:00 GMT Arup Raha Bollywood Entertainment Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/05/bolly-volley-piku-peculiarly-pleasant/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/05/bolly-volley-piku-peculiarly-pleasant/ Arup Raha reviews Shoojit Sircar's Piku — a father-daughter road trip built on great performances by Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Irrfan. Sun, 10 May 2015 05:00:00 GMT Arup Raha Bollywood Entertainment Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/02/ekjut-theater-group/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/02/ekjut-theater-group/ Chicago-area Hindi theater group Ekjut called for local talent — stand-up, shayari, and one-act plays — for its May 2015 event. Tue, 10 Feb 2015 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/02/shahrukhs-upcoming-movie-fan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/02/shahrukhs-upcoming-movie-fan/ Shah Rukh Khan's Fan (2016) cast him in a double role — a superstar and his obsessive lookalike fan — in one of his most challenging performances. Thu, 05 Feb 2015 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/01/deepika-padukone-talks-fight-depression/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/01/deepika-padukone-talks-fight-depression/ In January 2015, Deepika Padukone spoke openly about her depression and anxiety — one of Bollywood's first major stars to do so. Fri, 16 Jan 2015 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/01/boyhood-transparent-make-history-golden-globe/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2015/01/boyhood-transparent-make-history-golden-globe/ At the 2015 Golden Globes, Boyhood won Best Drama while Transparent became the first streaming series ever to win a Golden Globe. Mon, 12 Jan 2015 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/12/bolly-volley-pk-top-10-2014/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/12/bolly-volley-pk-top-10-2014/ Arup Raha's Bolly Volley column reviews PK and picks the Top 10 Bollywood films of 2014 — from Queen and Haider to Dedh Ishqiya and Filmistaan. Sat, 20 Dec 2014 06:00:00 GMT Arup Raha Bollywood Entertainment Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/12/pk-aamir-khans-movie-release-dec-18/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/12/pk-aamir-khans-movie-release-dec-18/ Rajkumar Hirani's PK, starring Aamir Khan as an alien baffled by organized religion, released December 19, 2014 — and went on to become the highest-grossing Sat, 06 Dec 2014 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/12/key-turned-surjos-first-full-length-album/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/12/key-turned-surjos-first-full-length-album/ Indian singer-songwriter Surjo released his debut album 'The Key Has Turned' in November 2014 — twelve acoustic songs written over three months. Sat, 06 Dec 2014 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/12/unreleased-sonys-films-leaked-file-sharing-websites/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/12/unreleased-sonys-films-leaked-file-sharing-websites/ After the Sony hack, five films — Annie, Fury, Mr. Turner, Still Alice, To Write Love on Her Arms — leaked onto file-sharing networks. Mon, 01 Dec 2014 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/11/shah-rukh-khan-star-don-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/11/shah-rukh-khan-star-don-3/ A 2014 report claimed SRK would return for Don 3 — but history took a different turn: in August 2023 Farhan Akhtar announced Ranveer Singh as the new Don. Fri, 07 Nov 2014 06:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/10/haider-controversy-lopamudra-banerjee-dhar/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/10/haider-controversy-lopamudra-banerjee-dhar/ Guest critic Lopamudra Banerjee Dhar on Vishal Bhardwaj's Haider — Hamlet in Kashmir, the Army portrayal, and why revenge can't buy freedom. Thu, 09 Oct 2014 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/10/hindi-songs-reactions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/10/hindi-songs-reactions/ Comedian Sahil Shah's reaction video to Hindi film songs captures something universal: the involuntary surrender to Bollywood's joy. From the TI archives. Thu, 02 Oct 2014 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/09/open-letter-deepika-bollywood-supporters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/09/open-letter-deepika-bollywood-supporters/ If you weren’t living under a rock, the Bollywood aficionados among you have read about Deepika Padukone’s recent outburst on Twitter. She accused TOI of… Mon, 22 Sep 2014 05:00:00 GMT Rachana Nair Bollywood Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/09/rajinikanth-schwarzenegger-share-stage/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/09/rajinikanth-schwarzenegger-share-stage/ September 15, 2014: Arnold Schwarzenegger was chief guest at the audio launch of Shankar's 'I' in Chennai, sharing the dais with Rajinikanth. Mon, 15 Sep 2014 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/03/retro-reel-sreepathy-volume-24/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/03/retro-reel-sreepathy-volume-24/ There are actors who desperately seek your notice. And then there are the very few whom you cannot help but notice – even if they are as still as the… Mon, 31 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT Sreepathy Entertainment Hollywood Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/02/retro-reel-sreepathy-volume-23/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/02/retro-reel-sreepathy-volume-23/ I am not a big fan of the ‘Supernatural’ genre in movies. Mainly because, when the key to the central plot of a story is a supernatural event, it closes the… Thu, 27 Feb 2014 06:00:00 GMT Sreepathy Entertainment Hollywood Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/01/retro-reel-sreepathy-volume-22/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2014/01/retro-reel-sreepathy-volume-22/ Sreepathy's Retro Reel recommends The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) — William Wellman's stark western about mob justice and Henry Fonda's man-in-the-minority. Thu, 30 Jan 2014 06:00:00 GMT Sreepathy Entertainment Hollywood Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/09/retro-reel-sreepathy-volume-21/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/09/retro-reel-sreepathy-volume-21/ Retro Reel on Spielberg's Munich (2005): a chilling espionage thriller that becomes a genre-defying meditation on the moral cost of revenge. Thu, 05 Sep 2013 05:00:00 GMT Sreepathy Entertainment Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/08/ben-affleck-will-new-batman/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/08/ben-affleck-will-new-batman/ Warner Bros. announced in August 2013 that Ben Affleck would play Batman opposite Henry Cavill's Superman in Zack Snyder's 'Man of Steel' sequel. Fri, 23 Aug 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/08/racist-shop-clerk-denies-oprah-to-even-look-at-the-handbag-too-expensive-for-her/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/08/racist-shop-clerk-denies-oprah-to-even-look-at-the-handbag-too-expensive-for-her/ In 2013, a Zurich boutique clerk refused to show Oprah a $38,000 handbag, telling her she couldn't afford it — sparking apologies and a global debate. Fri, 09 Aug 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/07/retro-reel-by-sreepathy-volume-20/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/07/retro-reel-by-sreepathy-volume-20/ Now that the name of the movie is out of the bag, let me start Part 2 with the results of the guessing game from Part 1. Many of you made interesting… Thu, 18 Jul 2013 05:00:00 GMT Sreepathy Bollywood Entertainment Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/07/madonna-now-in-controversy-with-polish-priests/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/07/madonna-now-in-controversy-with-polish-priests/ Polish exorcists put Madonna's music on the agenda of a five-day meeting — the latest chapter in her decades-long clash with the Catholic Church. Thu, 11 Jul 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Hollywood Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/exploitation-of-girls-in-the-film-industry/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/exploitation-of-girls-in-the-film-industry/ Jiah Khan's death put Bollywood's treatment of young women back in the headlines — and inspired a film about it. Why do aspiring actresses stay so vulnerable? Mon, 24 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/aishwarya-rai-skips-her-meeting-with-al-pacino-national-news-why/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/aishwarya-rai-skips-her-meeting-with-al-pacino-national-news-why/ Aishwarya Rai Bachchan skipped meeting Al Pacino to look after Aaradhya — and the media made it national news. An essay on judging women's choices. Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/penelope-cruz-to-be-the-next-bond-girl/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/penelope-cruz-to-be-the-next-bond-girl/ A 2013 rumor claimed Penelope Cruz would be the next Bond girl in Sam Mendes' follow-up to Skyfall. The rumor was debunked within weeks. Mon, 03 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Hollywood Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/john-abraham-to-play-rambo-in-the-remake/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/john-abraham-to-play-rambo-in-the-remake/ In 2013, Bollywood planned a Rambo remake with John Abraham — and Stallone reportedly said John was 'built better than I ever was.' Mon, 03 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/actor-jiah-khan-commits-suicide/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/06/actor-jiah-khan-commits-suicide/ Jiah Khan, 25, was found dead at her Juhu residence on June 3, 2013. The Bollywood fraternity mourned the Nishabd and Ghajini actor's death. Mon, 03 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/bolly-volley-picks-from-netflix/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/bolly-volley-picks-from-netflix/ Bolly Volley Vol 13 (May 2013): 22 Bollywood picks — Khosla Ka Ghosla, Dev D, Lagaan and more — plus how digital transformed Indian cinema. Fri, 31 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Arup Raha Bollywood Entertainment https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/retro-reel-by-sreepathy-volume-19/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/retro-reel-by-sreepathy-volume-19/ Retro Reel Vol 19: a true 1996 Hyderabad story — a gun at a cinema ticket window, then 'based on a true story' flashes on screen. Guess the film! Tue, 28 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Sreepathy Bollywood Entertainment Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/review-of-the-lake-effect-presented-by-silk-road-rising-in-chicago/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/review-of-the-lake-effect-presented-by-silk-road-rising-in-chicago/ Suchitra Sharma's 2013 review of Rajiv Joseph's 'The Lake Effect' at Silk Road Rising — a family drama about an Indian American brother and sister, in Chicago. Tue, 21 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/javed-akhtar-and-shabana-azmi-in-the-chicago-area-on-june-8/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/javed-akhtar-and-shabana-azmi-in-the-chicago-area-on-june-8/ Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi opened Chicago's Eye on India Festival 2013 at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace — on cinema's lost depth, Urdu, and art as Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/andaz-apna-apna-2-to-be-filmed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/andaz-apna-apna-2-to-be-filmed/ In May 2013 came word that Rajkumar Santoshi would direct an Andaz Apna Apna sequel. Within months he denied it — and the sequel never got made. Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Bollywood Entertainment Interesting https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/silk-road-rising-presents-the-world-premiere-of-the-lake-effect-by-rajiv-joseph/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/silk-road-rising-presents-the-world-premiere-of-the-lake-effect-by-rajiv-joseph/ Chicago's Silk Road Rising staged the world premiere of Rajiv Joseph's 'The Lake Effect,' a family drama about an Indian American brother and sister. Fri, 03 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Naperville Diary https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/retro-reel-by-sreepathy-volume-18/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/05/retro-reel-by-sreepathy-volume-18/ This movie’s USP is clearly about authenticity – the eye for detail in it is stunning. Its art direction recreates the late 70s, early 80s so perfectly that… Thu, 02 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT Sreepathy Entertainment Hollywood Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/vidya-balan-to-wear-sabyasachi-at-cannes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/vidya-balan-to-wear-sabyasachi-at-cannes/ Newly named Cannes 2013 jury member Vidya Balan turned to designer Sabyasachi for her red-carpet saree looks at the festival. Thu, 25 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/the-criminal-curve-of-the-gentler-gender/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/the-criminal-curve-of-the-gentler-gender/ India's women crime writers — Kalpana Swaminathan, Madhulika Liddle, Swati Kaushal — on plotting murders, female detectives, and gender myths in fiction. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT Ramya Sarma Books Entertainment Interesting Lifestyle https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/retro-reel-by-sreepathy-volume-17/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/retro-reel-by-sreepathy-volume-17/ Spielberg's Minority Report asks whether crime can be stopped before it's committed. A Retro Reel column on fate, free will, and the future of policing. Wed, 03 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT Sreepathy Entertainment Hollywood https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/angelina-jolie-opens-a-girls-school-in-afghanistan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed https://thoughtfulindia.com/2013/04/angelina-jolie-opens-a-girls-school-in-afghanistan/ In 2013, Angelina Jolie funded a girls-only primary school outside Kabul for 200–300 students — with profits from her jewelry line, she told E! News. Tue, 02 Apr 2013 05:00:00 GMT Thoughtful India Staff Entertainment World