Reality show alum Shalini Passi was recently in Mumbai, a city she has long known but sees differently with every visit. From reality television and her work in the creative space to writing, acting and navigating newfound public attention, Passi’s life has expanded considerably over the last two years. She speaks about Mumbai, the people she has known for years, and how she wants to play herself on screen, if at all she chooses to act.

On what keeps bringing her back to Mumbai, Passi says the city’s biggest appeal is its ability to let people be themselves. “Mumbai doesn’t care and I like that. It is very accepting. It’s a place where your dreams come true if you work hard enough,” she says.

While reality television has put her in front of a wider audience, Passi has briefly explored acting. She has auditioned for a couple of projects and will appear in a small part in a Madhur Bhandarkar film but says she is not interested in playing a character simply for the sake of acting. “I’m not an actor. I don’t want to play some other character. I want to play me,” she shares.

Passi has known Shah Rukh Khan for years and the families have been friends. “I only got to know them when I got engaged. He loves his craft and there’s nobody more obsessive about his cinema than him. He loves reading and he’s a great learner. If you tell him something, the next day, he would have learned everything about that topic. He’s a great friend. Anybody who’s worked with him is just in awe of him,” she says.

Passi, who is 50, opens up about beauty and ageing. She says she experimented with fillers and Botox during the pandemic but did not like the result. “I tried it during the pandemic, but I found my face looking not like myself. I didn’t like the way it looked. Today, everybody looks the same. I want to look like me. I want to look like a better version of myself. I don’t want to look like somebody or like a person in Dubai,” she explains.

Passi has also known Aryan Khan since he was a child and worked with him on The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. She recalls that he made her sing Mitwa for the series, though the portion was eventually cut.

She says, “It was wonderful to see him grow up and now on the sets. He’s absolutely obsessive about his work and you know that the way he’s written the show. The show is so him — his kind of humour and the twist. Nobody could have thought of it. He is extremely intelligent. He never wanted to be in front of the camera, but I thought that would change. But even now he doesn’t want to be in front of the camera. Now I’ve asked him for a bigger role in the second season of The Ba***ds Of Bollywood.”

It’s the last season of ‘Koffee With Karan’. That’s something Karan Johar made clear when he announced the ninth season of the JioHotstar show. But is it the filmmaker-host’s final brush with a chat show? Not really. mid-day has learnt that he is planning to launch a new chat show. And since it’s Johar at the helm, you can count on the glitz, glamour, and gossip. 

Sources have indicated that Johar is keen to launch his own creation, considering JioHotstar owns the intellectual property that is ‘Koffee With Karan’.

A source shared, “While speculation is that Karan has decided to wrap up ‘Koffee…’ to focus on direction, he wants to create a new IP. He is a sharp businessman and a brilliant host. So, he is considering making a new chat show that his banner will hold the rights to. Today, there are many shows that first launch on YouTube, become popular, and are eventually picked up by a streamer.”

For now, however, his energy is directed at ‘Koffee With Karan 9’. This year, he has whipped up an all-stars line-up.

The source further revealed, “Salman Khan shot his episode on Thursday. The buzz is that Alia Bhatt will open the show, but Salman is also a strong option. Alia will come with husband Ranbir Kapoor and ‘Love & War’ co-star Vicky Kaushal on the show. Shah Rukh Khan and son Aryan will appear together.”

Farah Khan believes in moving with the times rather than waiting for opportunities. The filmmaker and choreographer reflects on reinventing herself, her successful foray into digital content, collaborating with Aryan Khan and why she’s content letting films happen in their own time.

From choreographer to filmmaker, YouTube creator and now host of the reality show Lock Upp: Sach Ya Sazaa, Farah believes staying relevant means constantly evolving. Speaking about her successful transition into social media content creation with Farah Khan’s Kitchen, she says, “You have to keep up with the times. I’ve always believed in reinventing myself. I was a dancer, then became a choreographer, then a director, followed by a TV reality show judge. I like to do new things. I believe films will happen when they do. Instead of waiting, I chose to do different things.”

Farah believes audiences connected with the show’s honesty. “People took to the organic nature of the show. Literally, it is a slice of life. And I am savvy enough to know that I like seeing other people’s houses. I want to see what’s in their kitchen. So, whatever I like to watch, is what I put out on my show. I knew my cook Dilip would click from episode one. I talk to him exactly the same way off camera.”

Ask the director who has helmed films like Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om, when she will return to that space and she admits, “Har cheez ka time hota hai. Jab uska time hoga, woh bhi aa jayega. I have stopped worrying and fretting about things for quite some time now. At this age, I can’t be worried and anxious about things.”

Interestingly, while she has directed Shah Rukh Khan over the years, she recently found herself working with his son, Aryan Khan. She choreographed the song Ghafoor for his directorial debut series The Ba***ds Of Bollywood.

“I got a chance to choreograph Ghafoor and how wonderful was that. Aryan is a fabulous director. I loved how he made that series. I just loved that he was filmy and commercial. When aspiring filmmakers from here go abroad to study filmmaking, you always worry that they will become the arty-farty types. But he was so filmi and all his references were on point. I love him.”

Would she like to direct Aryan someday? Farah laughs before throwing the question back. “Will Aryan want to act? I don’t think so.”

While she’s made memorable appearances in projects like Khichdi and more recently Toaster, Farah says acting is something she has absolutely no interest in pursuing. “I hate acting. I find the whole process extremely boring. It is not suited for my personality. When I’m on a set as a director, I’m in charge of things. While acting, it is different. Having said that, I think I did a good job in Khichdi and Toaster. I can only be myself. I’m not an actor. I can only play my own personality well.”

It may have dropped months ago, but the buzz around ‘The Ba***ds Of Bollywood’ is far from over. The irreverent industry satire is quietly gearing up for its next act. Sources tell mid-day that work on the Lakshya-led second season is already underway, with the writing process expected to continue till the end of the year.

The Netflix series, which marked Aryan Khan’s debut as a creator and director, is taking a measured approach to its sophomore outing. The makers are focusing on crafting a fresh narrative instead of simply repeating themselves to strike a chord with the audiences.

“Everyone is aware that the second season comes with greater expectations. The effort right now is to make sure the writing feels fresh and original, rather than simply repeating what worked the first time. Bilal Siddiqi, who was a key creative force behind the first season, is actively working on the scripts,” an insider reveals.

If development progresses as planned, the next season is expected to move into production next year. “If all goes as planned, the show will go on floors by the first quarter of 2027. Shoot-related decisions will take place after Shah Rukh Khan’s King releases in December,” confirms another source.

- The second season may feature a plotline where Aasmaan (Lakshya) stars in a biopic about the underworld don, Gafoor.

- It could explore a narrative where the world discovers Aasmaan is Ajay Talwar’s (Bobby Deol) son, potentially making him a nepobaby.

- Netflix is reportedly trying to leverage its global network to lock in a massive Hollywood star or an acclaimed international director for a cameo.

On Thursday, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, appearing for Netflix, told the Delhi High Court that The Ba***ds Of Bollywood is a broad satire on the film industry and former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede should not be oversensitive about a one-and-a-half-minute segment.

According to a Bar & Bench report, Nayar argued: “Everyone has been painted with some element of parody. The theme is to expose Bollywood and its workings. Even if Aryan Khan disliked Wankhede, it still doesn’t meet the threshold of malice.”

A day earlier, actor Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, the producer of the series, had told the court that the show, directed by (Shah Rukh’s son) Aryan Khan, is a work of satire and fiction, not a retelling of the 2021 Cordelia cruise drugs case, reports PTI.

Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul said the series “may be partly inspired by overzealous officers” but does not depict or reference the Cordelia episode, adding that “satire and fiction can co-exist” and that hurt sentiments alone do not amount to defamation. He also pointed to the disclaimers distancing the narrative from real events.

Actor Arshad Warsi, during his recent visit to the city, expressed his deep affection for the people of Lucknow and its culture, recalling warm exchanges with locals on set and praising the city’s renowned hospitality and courteous etiquette. In an exclusive interview with us, the Dedh Ishqiya actor spoke about his three decades in the industry and what keeps him relevant, his kids’ desire to be actors, and the secret behind his ever‑cheerful vibe. Excerpts…

I love Lucknow. Every time I come here, I feel the city is getting better. The people are warm, polite and full of tehzeeb. I have been coming here for the past 30-years and there is a huge difference in Lucknow then and now! The city is cleaner, more organized, and the spirit is still the same.

Also, I love both Lucknow’s chicken and chikan (kurtas). I remember, we were shooting Dedh Ishqiya in the courtyard of a house in old Lucknow and I casually mentioned to Naseer saab (Naseeruddin Shah) that ‘hamein ek hafta ho gaya Lucknow mein aur humne yahan kebabs nahi khaye hain abhi tak’. People around us heard that and in no time a few of them got kebabs from their homes for us! We had so many kebabs that the entire unit could feast on them that day. That’s the kind of affection you get here in Lucknow — instant, sweet and real. Here, even the smallest conversation has respect in it. Mumbaikars are casual in their tone, but Lucknowites’ speech has grace and sweetness.

Honestly, you can’t manufacture these things. You can put up an act and fake for fifteen minutes, but the truth ultimately shows. I think I’m just lucky and have a cheerful nature — maybe school and upbringing shaped that. I stay happy, and that reflects. I believe what you give is what you get. I’ve been nice to people, and they’ve been the same back to me. That’s the real secret. Everybody in the industry has been nice to me and so have I been to them. You get what you give. I teach and tell my kids the same thing.

Yes, both my son and daughter want to act. My son is currently assisting Siddharth Anand and has assisted Rajkumari Hirani. Of course, I’m scared — it is a tough job today. Acting is not an easy profession anymore as the success rate is so low. Out of 150 crore, a handful become actors.

Nobody can help anybody here — you have to make your own way. I can’t make a call to a director and ask them to invest hundreds of crores on my kids. Koi mere bete pe satta kyun lagayega? Even a casual call to a filmmaker to meet my kids means to expect them take them in their project, which I will not do. Why would anybody do that? Why would filmmakers bet on my kids if I ask them to do so? Why should I recommend my kids to anyone?

Oh yes, definitely! I am going to direct someday, I don’t know when but I know it will happen for sure. If you ask me what’s delaying my direction dream, it’s the continuous flow of acting offers. I do not make much noise about myself but I am pretty busy. I really need to get off my acting work to direct.

Not really. Aryan (Khan), the director of the series, is a very special kid. He is one of those directors who has a movie playing in his head. I did a small part in the series because I like him and Shah Rukh (Khan). But the outcome was huge. And working with him I realized that he is one of those directors whom you listen to when he speaks and act on it. While doing the series, I was 100 per cent sure the youngsters will love it. But I wasn’t sure about the grownups. And nothing what you saw in my character was impromptu, it was all scripted and envisioned by Aryan. The success of the song and my character Ghafoor is due to Aryan.

Emraan Hashmi and Yami Gautam Dhar were in Delhi recently to meet the winners of the latest edition of HT City Stars In The City. The actors, who will soon be seen together in Haq, were game for any questions that came their way.

The conversation with Sonal Kalra, Chief Managing Editor-Entertainment & Lifestyle, began with a light-hearted chat about Delhi and its food, but soon ventured into serious territory. The duo’s upcoming film, revolving around the landmark Shah Bano case, deals with a sensitive theme: a divorced Muslim woman fighting for maintenance from her husband.

Sharing how he approached the role and the nuances it demanded, Emraan said, “I had to see it from the lens of a Muslim for the first time. The script wanted to humanize the man a bit, although in retrospect, it might seem like a patriarchal angle. Hero vs villain would have been typical; that’s what we generally do in Bollywood to sell our films. But this film takes a very unbiased look at the case.”

As for Yami, who has often been labelled the ‘poster girl of nationalism’ and is now taking what could be seen as a ‘risk’ with Haq, she said, “I have been in the industry since 2012. I made my debut with a film unconventional for its time, Vicky Donor (2012). I’m trying to stick to being that person I always was. The only reason I should exist here, or mean something to someone, is through my work. For that, my role, my script, and my team are very important.”

Bobby Deol is as raw, honest and real as it gets. His reinvention as Lord Bobby is what stories are made of, but he carries his renewed stardom with quiet grace. The actor who marks 30 years in the industry this year, has reignited the audience’s interest with bold, dark roles – totally redefining the heartthrob Bobby of Barsaat and Bichhoo days. In the latest episode of Philips LatteGo presents Bombay Times Lounge powered by instax FUJIFILM, Bobby bares his heart and talks about stardom, family bonds, lasting friendships and his remarkable resurgence. Watch the full episode that just dropped on the Bombay Times YouTube channel.

The problem in the world is that people who are bad don’t think they’re bad, because if they knew that, they wouldn’t be bad. So, whenever I play negative characters, I don’t think I’m bad, because if you think that way, then your performance becomes unreal. You have to be the character. You have your own backstory about why you are reacting or feeling this way. If you really look at Animal, my past is sadder than Ranbir’s character. So, I thought about myself as a guy who wanted to protect his family, and for that, he would give his life or take others’ lives.

As an actor, OTT platforms gave me the opportunity to play characters I was seeking, which were outside my comfort zone and away from my image. I am very proud of Class Of '83, which many might not have seen because it released a week after Aashram. For me, the only thing that mattered was to be accepted as an actor, not a star.

I don’t think of myself as a star. I never do. I’m just a normal person who’s trying to do his job, and luckily, it’s a creative job. To be an actor, to be on a set and create different characters - that is what I really enjoy doing.

I got a phone call from their team saying, ‘We’re producing this web series and Aryan Khan is directing it, would you be interested?’ I just said, ‘I’m doing it’. Because I’m a father myself, I have kids (Aryaman and Dharam) who want to be actors, and I know how difficult it is and how much pressure there is. Whatever people say about the industry, we are very close-knit in many ways. We have a great bond, and we care about each other. I sat with Aryan for seven hours for the narration, and the conviction with which he narrated the whole story to me – I was just taken in by it. He was like this child. I call him a child because he’s like a child to me.

The funniest thing is, I never thought about all these things when I was starting out. I really didn’t. In fact, not for a very long time in my career. Later on, when people would say, ‘You were always under the shadow of your dad and your brother,’ and I would think, was I? I never felt it. I never looked at my career like that.

Yes, I have, and it has really helped me. Everyone is genetically different, and no one realizes how any kind of intoxication can affect you. And some people have those genes where you get addicted to things. I just decided that God has given me a second chance, and I really, really want to do my best. You don’t get these kinds of chances in life. The voice has to come from within. I think I’m a better person after I stopped drinking, and I think my relationship has become a hundred times better with everyone I know.

Talking about being directed by Aryan Khan for The Ba**ads Of Bollywood, he says, “Aryan is so mature in his thinking. He’s a real taskmaster and a perfectionist. It was like my own son telling me, ‘I want this, I want you to do it this way.’ If The Ba**ads Of Bollywood is what it is, it’s because of Aryan. He’s proved it to the world. With the pressure he was under… being a superstar like Shah Rukh Khan’s son, to have the guts to step out and have his own voice as a director – hats off to him. I feel so proud of him!”

"Life can never be easy, no matter how talented you are. There are so many cases of people being talented, but not getting work. And there have been cases of so many people who are not talented, but are getting work. But that shouldn’t make you want to make excuses or give up on yourself."

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Actor Ashish Kumar’s role of a cop in Aryan Khan’s debut directorial The Ba***ds Of Bollywood and even though his screen time was much less that other characters, he has perhaps generated maximum buzz. The audience was quick to allegedly compare Ashish with real life cop Sameer Wankhade. However, the newcomer says he wasn’t given any brief for the role.

Speaking exclusively to HT City, when asked what brief was given to him, Ashish says, “As such no brief was given. Casting director gave me the scene and said ‘it’s a cop character. Whatever you feel by reading the script just perform in your manner’. I followed the lines and they liked it the way I approach the scene and I got selected!”

The actor, who hails from Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, went through the regular process of auditioning and was called with a confirmed role within two days. The shooting of Ashish’s scene took just one day, “Ye ek hi din mein shoot ho gaya tha but wo time period, with the team with Aryan was great. Puri team itni active thi ki ache se kaam karna hai. Team bilkul focused thi.”

Given the controversy surrounding the role, ask if he he regrets doing this role, and Ashish says, “No comment.”

“Maine ye nahin socha ki screentime kam hai, but ek hai, achcha hai, aur mujhe acha karna hai bas,” he says.

“Kyunki ye scene bhale hi ek hai lekin iske peeche 1.5 lag gaye isko shoot hone mein. Main humesha se ye hi soch ke iss field mein aaya tha ki main jo bhi karunga, mera presence hona chahiye. Main as a filler use nahi ho sakta,” he signs off.

Actor Raghav Juyal has emerged as a breakout performer from Aryan Khan’s The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. Crediting their collaboration, he says, “Mera aur Aryan ka combination bahut deadly hai. Our thought process is similar in comedy. We created a lot of my scenes on the spot.”

Raghav will be seen in Shah Rukh Khan-starrer King, which also features his daughter Suhana. With Ba***ds and the upcoming film, Raghav has effectively become the first person to work with SRK’s entire family on screen.

“Abhi wo mujhe adopt karne wale hain bas,” he quips, adding, “I have a lot of injuries. So one day, he was asking me about my health. And I told him, ‘Sir, meri saari chotein aapki wali hain, bas aapke jaisa paisa aa jaye aur’, and he started laughing.”

Raghav admits that he is getting recognized as an actor now thanks to Kill (2023). “After Kill, I got 400 scripts. My team got tired going through them, but all I was looking at was the writing and the director. I’ve decided not to take up any work jiska koi kaam na ho,” he says, adding, “I want to be the biggest superstar of the country. I was the side dancer in Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer ABCD 2 (2015). My dream now is to be the lead in ABCD 3.”

One of the most viral clips from The Ba***ds Of Bollywood is Raghav serenading actor Emraan Hashmi (playing himself) with Kaho Naa Kaho (Murder, 2004).

“It’s a crazy one. Ab wo gaana mera ban gaya hai,” Raghav shares, adding, “Aryan and I had planned this before, but didn’t rehearse or enact with Emraan sir. He is a serious and committed actor who didn’t break character even when everyone in the crew was laughing. Even Aryan was covering his mouth and laughing throughout the scene.”

Aryan Khan’s directorial debut The Ba***ds Of Bollywood courted controversy within weeks of release, with former NCB officer Sameer Wankhede filing a defamation suit against Red Chillies Entertainment and Netflix. Amid the row, Aryan has stated that he wanted to be “self-deprecating” with the series, not “disrespectful”.

“Making something about the industry and being a part of the industry, there has to be a lot of respect. People being able to take jokes on themselves is the first and most important thing about comedy. People were extremely sporting, and we also made an effort not to push boundaries in terms of being disrespectful, only being self-deprecating,” the 27-year-old told Variety.

He added that there are scenes inspired from “certain realities” but with exaggerations: “It’s not obviously a documentary.”

But he, along with his co-writers Bilal Siddiqi and Manav Chauhan, had “no external guardrails” put on them. “It was just us discussing things that were best for the story we wanted to tell. The tropes that we used, we wanted to subvert them,” the filmmaker said, adding, “In Bollywood, there are many truths, many lies, that are disguised. It’s just the novelty of the mystery or the wonder that entices audiences.”

In a tell-all interview, former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede calls his defamation case against The Ba***ds Of Bollywood a fight to preserve the dignity of his family and officers of the law. He also addresses ‘misleading narratives’ circulating in the media and claims of animosity towards actor Shah Rukh Khan.

It was reported by some portals that my petition was ‘dismissed’, when I was asked just to file an amendment. We brought to the Court’s notice, too, that some PR campaign is running about my case being ‘dismissed’ or ‘rejected’. I have immense faith in our judiciary. I know that, if there is truth in whatever you are saying, the judiciary will take cognisance. I am happy that the High Court took a look at what we had to say. The hearing is scheduled for October 30.

Some meme pages related to the entertainment industry have been putting out half-baked news with flashy headlines without going into the merits of the case. My wife and sister have received humiliating messages on the lines of ‘Aapka case reject ho gaya, yahaan se laat mil gayi’, and dirty words I can’t say in the media. They humiliated the women of my house.

I don’t want to allege anything, but some fan pages and fan groups are deliberately sent to troll or send dirty messages to women so that they get offended, humiliated; it is mental torture. It doesn’t matter because we have taken all those things and presented before the court.

I am an officer of the law; whatever books and Acts are there, I act as per that. We are not living in some kind of a banana republic out here. We have a constitution, a system, a set up. There’s a chain of command. I am a very small man — just a government servant. How can anybody have such a grudge and (do) all those things? There is a system for checks and balances. These claims are just loose talks.

It’s being said that my portrayal (in the show) was some kind of ‘satire’, but I’d like to state three things. First, I am fighting for the honour of my family. Self-respect is very important for any individual. Secondly, it is for the honour of the law enforcement officers, be it NCB, Customs or any department. Anti-drug operations are a serious thing. Officers shed their blood to fight (for the country): I have seen and been on operations where my staff suffered head injuries and legs were broken. You can’t make a satire at the expense of this. Thirdly, it is a matter of the national emblem — you cannot show a middle finger and play with national honour! As a citizen, I will definitely fight for these things.

I had filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court, wherein I had to present evidence. So, why will I ‘leak’ (the chats), what is my motive? I will bring it to court. In any case, these things will come out when arguments happen (in court). The matter is subjudice. I have also submitted the 65B certificate (A 65B certificate is a legal document required under India’s Evidence Act, 1872 to authenticate electronic records, making them admissible as evidence in court).

This is a matter handled by my legal counsel, so it will be very immature to comment on anything that I’m not aware of. I’m not that well aware of these kinds of issues. It’s the first time I’m dealing with this.

No, nothing as of now. I’m just focusing on the suit which I have filed, and I’ll be fighting for justice.

(cuts in) Not just my own, but the dignity of the department and officers also. So that next time, nobody makes a satire on cops or the law enforcement.

I am serving the government of India. So, like a loyal soldier, wherever I’m posted, I will be serving there. I will do my duty, that’s it.

Have you ever heard a song that made you laugh? Arshad Warsi hadn’t, until he heard Ghafoor, his entry song in The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. Among the many things in the Netflix series that the internet can’t get enough of is the actor’s extended cameo as Ghafoor, a dreaded gangster. Warsi attributes it to the song.

“Wherever I enter now, they start playing the song. It’s because of the song that my character has become so popular. For the first time, I heard a song that made me laugh,” chuckles Warsi.

Being part of Aryan Khan’s directorial debut — led by Bobby Deol, Mona Singh, Lakshya, and Raghav Juyal — was a no-brainer for Warsi, given his adoration for the first-time director and his superstar-father Shah Rukh Khan.

“When Aryan said he needed me for two days, I simply asked, ‘When do you want me to come?’ Then he was trying to sell the role to me, but I said, ‘Aryan, I am doing it regardless because I love you and SRK.’ I did it without hearing the script or my role. I love Shah Rukh and his family. The amount Shah Rukh has done for the film industry, I think it owes him! He has brought us international fame and respect,” says the actor.

When Warsi signed up for the series, he didn’t know the bizarre world that he was entering. He just knew one thing — that he trusted Aryan’s quirky ideas. “When he told me about my entry, I asked him which country the boat is coming from. Aryan said, ‘Pata nahin sir, maybe Somalia.’ That’s [when I figured] the boat is not relevant. I realised that a lot of quirky stuff was in store. Some directors have a bizarre vision; don’t try to understand it, you should just put yourself in their hands.”

As they shot together, Warsi saw shades of Shah Rukh in Aryan. Both have tremendous clarity, he observes. “Aryan is also hard-working like his father. Also, they both don’t sleep. The abundant energy they have is unbelievable,” he laughs, before adding, “Shah Rukh came on the sets as he knew I was shooting. He also gave me ideas [about my role]. The day SRK directs, he will be a very good director.”

Arshad Warsi reveals Ghafoor’s look, comprising a black silk Pathani and kohl-lined eyes, was designed by Aryan. In fact, the actor notes, “My look was like Shah Rukh’s in ‘Raees’.” Up next, the actor will be seen as a cop in ‘Bhagwat Chapter One: Rakshas’, directed by Akshay Shere. “After ‘Seher’, this is the first time I’m playing a serious cop.”

Udit Narayan is basking in a new wave of love as his 1997 chartbuster Duniya Haseeno Ka Mela is back in the spotlight. More than two decades after its release, the track (heard in the thriller Gupt) has become a viral sensation, after it was used in The Ba***ds Of Bollywood.

“Seeing this song come alive after so many years feels very special,” the playback singer tells us, adding, “I always believed there was something timeless about it. When I was recording it, there was so much energy in the studio, and I could feel this song would be special.”

The track’s newfound virality has been staggering. Days after the show dropped online on September 18, the original music video clocked over 5 million new views on YouTube, while streams surged across Spotify and even Instagram. Now, as he sees youngsters dancing to the number, Udit admits that his initial instincts about the song feel validated.

“I feel very happy when I see so many Reels being made on this song. People are enjoying it in their own way — it shows that good music never gets old,” he tells us.

The 69-year-old also points out that this isn’t an isolated case. “Songs like Mere Mehboob Mere Sanam (from Duplicate, 1998) and Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast (Mohra, 1994) are also popular again. I think it all comes down to melody. That’s what stays, across time and across generations of listeners,” he muses.

For Gupt’s director Rajiv Rai, the renewed popularity of Duniya Haseeno Ka Mela is less about nostalgia and more about creativity. “The credit for its success this time does not belong to me, but to Aryan (Khan, director of The Ba***ds Of Bollywood),” he says, adding, “Sometimes all it takes is the right moment and the right storyteller to bring it back.”

Rajiv, who helmed the Bobby Deol–Kajol starrer that the track is from, shares he doesn’t usually allow his music to be repurposed: “I generally don’t give my music away; I don’t like overusing. But, this time I didn’t blink an eyelid. Shah Rukh Khan has been gracious to me, so when he asked me [for the song], I said, ‘Whatever you want’. So happy it worked out.”

Did you see it coming?’ Everyone’s asking this question after watching The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. If the Netflix series made news before its release for marking the directorial debut of Aryan Khan, it’s making waves now for the plot twist in the end. Sahher Bambba, who plays the female lead in the show, reveals that the cast and she were just as surprised by the climax, which revolves around male lead Lakshya and her characters.

“None of us knew the climax. Half an hour before the climax shoot, Aryan called us all into his van and told us. Our jaws were on the floor! Looking back, it was smart of him to keep it hidden, because the surprise made our reactions much more authentic,” says the actor, who plays a star kid in the series.

Landing the project, which also stars Bobby Deol and Raghav Juyal, was surreal for her. Bambba remembers giving multiple auditions for it since August 2022. Her final audition took place at the Red Chillies’ office under Khan’s direction. “That was the most exhausting round. We had to do so many variations. Then in March 2023, Aryan called me and said, ‘Congratulations, welcome on board’,’” she recalls.

With The Ba***ds Of Bollywood, the first-time director has offered a satirical take on the Hindi film industry. Ask Bambba the experience of working with Khan and she describes him as “a detail-oriented” director.

“Sometimes he’d even enact scenes for us. What struck me was how much clarity and conviction he had — it never felt like he was a first-time filmmaker. He paid attention to even the smallest things, asking why my hair didn’t have enough volume on a particular day.”

Bambba also notes that the director was a source of motivation on set. “Even when we were on our 10th take, he would say, ‘This was amazing, but let’s try something else.’ His vocabulary was motivating.”

Audacious tone, star-studded cameos, and a cheeky take on the Hindi film industry — Aryan Khan’s maiden directorial venture, The Ba***ds of Bollywood, promises all this. And it turns out, a throwback to the late 1990s. mid-day has learnt that Shah Rukh Khan personally ensured an iconic entry sequence for Bobby Deol in the series by securing the actor’s popular track, Duniya Haseeno Ka Mela, from Gupt (1997).

Deol stars alongside Mona Singh, Lakshya, and Saher Bambba in the Netflix offering. Sources tell us that Shah Rukh, who is among the series’ producers, felt that the dance number — which served as Deol’s entry song in Gupt — would serve the perfect balance of nostalgia and impact as he would be introduced in The Ba***ds of Bollywood. With that in mind, the superstar picked up the phone on the popular murder mystery’s maker Rajiv Rai and requested him for the song’s rights.

A source reveals, “Aryan’s debut series is an entertaining mix of love, satire, and insider commentary on Bollywood. Bobby, who has gained second wind in his career in recent years, has one of the show’s most memorable entries. His song is among the many real-life references that have been used in the show.”

When mid-day contacted Rai, he confirmed the development, revealing that the superstar first reached out to him through his manager Pooja Dadlani. He said, “Shah Rukh and I spoke over the phone a few times. He asked me for the music rights of Duniya Haseeno Ka Mela.”

The filmmaker added that he usually doesn’t part with his rights but happily made an exception for Shah Rukh. “Many people have asked me over the years, but usually I don’t give my rights. [That said], I know Shah Rukh very well. He is a gracious person and a thorough gentleman. Also, it was for his son. So how could I refuse? Shah Rukh also asked for my blessings to Aryan in his first venture. Giving the rights was a gesture and I did it for free. There was no financial deal involved.”

Ananya Panday has navigated fame, criticism, and personal evolution in the public eye. Starting out at 18, today, she’s no longer just the industry’s young entrant — she’s a voice for Gen Z battling the complexities of stardom, social media, and self-worth. In this honest, light-hearted, yet meaningful conversation on Bombay Times Lounge, Ananya talks about the weight and pride of legacy, the nuances of modern relationships and why she’s finally free of the fear of being judged. Over to her...

At the start, I was very eager to please everyone. Even now I am, and I hope that people like me, but I don’t feel the pressure. Earlier, I would take a lot of effort to make everyone happy at the risk of not being myself. I am not scared of judgment anymore, because too much has happened for me to be scared of that. I think I am a lot more comfortable in my skin now.

The people around me keep me grounded. In the beginning, I used to think that if I said something, for instance, in an interview, then things would change. But I realized it doesn’t function like that, and only your work really speaks for everything. People will only come and pay their hard-earned money to watch you if they like your work and if they like you as a person.

Honestly, by the time I was born, my dad wasn’t acting that much, and he wasn’t getting too much work. It wasn’t like my parents were discussing it or aisa kuch chal raha tha ki ghar mein kuch problems hai, because my dad always kept doing something, even if he wasn’t on a film set. But while growing up, I sensed the way people reacted to my friends’ parents who were actors versus my dad. So, I would be like, ‘Oh, maybe there’s something different.’ Maybe in my subconscious, it was there. I learned to appreciate and value what I have in the moment and to also give it my best because you’re not going to keep getting chances. You have only one shot at it really.

I’ve always been the kind of person to acknowledge my privilege. Even when I went on Koffee With Karan for the first time, I said that I know that I’m privileged. I know that there are probably people out there who are more talented, better looking and more hardworking than I am. But now I’ve got this opportunity, and I don’t want to waste it, as this has also been my dream since I was a child. So, I’ve taken the shame out of being privileged and I look at it with a sense of pride. My father was a child of two doctors, and his dream was to become an actor, and he became one. He’s worked for 40-plus years, and if I can carry forward his legacy and make him proud, it will be a very big achievement for me. I don’t want to not be known as Chunky Pandey’s daughter. I’m so proud that he’s my father. I don’t want to look at it as a negative thing anymore because people will always have something to say.

There are days when I feel bogged down, when I read some comment or thread online that’s untrue, I kind of spiral. At the start, I would get really emotional and want to come out and say something. Over time, I think I have developed a thick skin, but at the end of the day, I’m human and I do feel bad. So, I would just say: feel whatever you’re feeling. If someone tells you not to cry, don’t listen to them. It’s okay to have days where you’re crying and you are angry and want to let it out. Bottling it up only makes it worse.

Yes, it happens. I think you make excuses for people, and you think that things will change. That happens with me where I change myself a lot for the person I am with – like I start watching the films he likes or if he dresses a certain way, I start dressing like that, which is not good. Again, it comes from that people-pleasing personality trait that I have. You should actually be yourself, and your partner should accept you for who you are. For me, the biggest red flags are the obvious ones – like cheating, lying, disrespecting you in public and all of that. I think someone who can’t be happy for you when you are doing well is a big red flag, especially for successful women. I also feel bad for men because they are often put under this societal pressure that they need to be a certain way. So, given this societal construct, a lot of people can’t fully be what they want to be and who they want to be.

Ask her about the kind influence Shah Rukh Khan has had in her life, as she’s seen him closely since her childhood days, and she says, “I think the way Shah Rukh Khan handles his personal and professional life -- there’s no one like him. While growing up, I saw first-hand what an amazing father he is to Aryan, Suhana and AbRam and the way he’s been with all of us. He would train us all for our sports day and taekwondo competitions. He was very, very present in what was happening in our lives. Even now, he wants to know what we’re doing and is very involved. Also, when he is talking to you, he has this quality of making you feel that you are the only person in the world. There is no one like him!

Whenever there is a series about the entertainment industry, an award show sequence is almost always woven into it. It seems to be true of Aryan Khan’s debut series, Stardom, as well. mid-day has learnt that the first-time writer-director began shooting an award function scene in Mehboob Studios in Bandra yesterday. Sources tell us that as many as 18 stars have been lined up for the sequence.

On Friday, Rajkummar Rao, Arjun Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, and Shanaya Kapoor filmed their portions. A source reveals further, “On Saturday, Aryan will shoot with his superstar-father Shah Rukh Khan, Sara Ali Khan, and social media influencer Orhan Awatramani aka Orry. Seasoned actors Karisma Kapoor and Neelam, as well as personalities from Bollywood’s inner circle, including Seema Khan, Bhavana Pandey, and Maheep Kapoor, are expected to join. With so many industry figures making cameos, it will be an exhaustive affair. The director plans to wrap up filming by Sunday.” The sequence, we are told, serves as a crucial plot point in the show.

For his maiden directorial venture that is led by Mona Singh and Lakshya, Aryan has chosen to take an intimate look at the world that he knows best—showbiz. Stardom, slated to drop on Netflix next year, has been described as the story of “an ambitious outsider navigating the glitzy yet tricky world of Bollywood.”

Barely a week after the grand announcement of his directorial debut, Aryan Khan has stepped on the campus of Whistling Woods International to shoot the final leg of his series, tentatively titled Stardom. Sources say that the first-time director has a seven-day schedule lined up in the film institute located in Goregaon, after which the unit will move to another venue for a brief period before calling it a wrap.

The show is led by Mona Singh and Lakshya. A source reveals, “On Sunday, Aryan kicked off the patch schedule, in which he will largely take some location shots and can some scenes. While Mona and the leading man were not required on Sunday, they are expected to join the shoot later this week. After the Goregaon shoot, the team will head to an office in Worli where they will film some entry scenes. Stardom, which is gearing up for an early 2025 release, is being edited simultaneously.”

Last week, as part of its 2025 slate, Netflix officially announced the project, describing it as “an entertaining ride through the adventures of a charming, ambitious outsider navigating the glitzy yet tricky world of Bollywood”. It has star-studded cameos by Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, and of course, Aryan’s superstar-father Shah Rukh Khan.