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Tuesday, March 24, 2026
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Reel Take

Asha Parekh set the tone for 1970s glamour in Aan Milo Sajna

‘Achha toh hum chalte hain’—it’s the songs that stuck around in the 1970 film Aan Milo Sajna.

Vamps, NRIs, and the feudal system — the makings of Rekha’s Hindi film debut Sawan Bhadon

Rekha's spunky portrayal of the traditional Chanda and Navin Nischol's easy-going foreign-returned Vikram steal hearts with their banter and chemistry.

Ittefaq stood out from the musicals and morality of the 1960s. It offered ambiguity

Shot in 28 days, no song & dance—Rajesh Khanna took the spotlight in Yash Chopra's Ittefaq

Indo-Soviet film Ali Baba Aur 40 Chor wasn’t a diplomatic feat but a commercial success

The 1980 blockbuster is the age-old story of “good over evil”,  featuring an ensemble cast of Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Rolan Bykov, among others.

Mother India took Hindi cinema to global stage. Its Oscar nomination was a turning point

The Oscar nomination of the film highlighted how deeply local stories can resonate globally when told with honesty and conviction.

Before Sholay, there was Mera Gaon Mera Desh. Its Gabbar was more ruthless

At its core, Mera Gaon Mera Desh is the story of a prodigal son and his redemption through Ajit, played by Dharmendra.

Mehbooba started Rajesh Khanna’s downfall. He’s playing Hema Malini’s lover from past life

Mehbooba was Khanna's fourth film with Shakti Samanta after Aradhana, Kati Patang, and Amar Prem.

1978 film Shalimar had Dharmendra, Zeenat, and the biggest budget of its time. It still bombed

Featuring actors such as Rex Harrison and John Saxon, the 1978 film ‘Shalimar’ had scale, ambition, and star power. It was undone by a weak screenplay and uneven execution.

Manchali is Bollywood’s masala take on Shakespeare—a husband for hire and his bratty bride

Directed by Raja Nawathe, Manchali is about a rich, spoilt heiress who can access her inheritance only if she marries. So, she hires a husband.

Tiger terror, tangled tales—Shashi Kapoor’s Jaanwar Aur Insaan was a cocktail gone wrong

Jaanwar Aur Insaan feels torn between being a socially aware thriller and a mainstream entertainer, which is why the execution falters multiple times throughout its 2.5-hour runtime.

On Camera

Why Arjun Rampal saying ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ should worry Bollywood audiences

Production houses and big studios are already fast-tracking projects pitched by pro-Hindutva players. Choking those who choose to remain outside these charmed circles is not a big deal.

Two Indian LPG tankers exit Hormuz choke point, 20 vessels remain stuck

With 20 vessels still stranded near Hormuz, govt fast-tracks PNG connections and focuses on raising LPG output

India-Japan to finalise deal to co-develop & co-produce UNICORN mast ‘soon’, says Japanese envoy

The countries signed a memorandum for co-development of UNICORN masts in November 2024. India has been second Asian nation to have such an agreement with Tokyo, after Philippines.

The Vishwaguru delusion, mine vs yours, is ruining our view of the world

One side thinks India is punching way above its weight. The other thinks Modi has undermined India and it punches below its strength. Both are wrong.