From his unforgettable comic timing as Aakhri Pasta in Housefull to early hits like Tezaab, Apna Sapna Money Money and Aankhen, Chunky Panday has carved a niche in Hindi cinema with a career that has seen many turns. In Manali shooting for his upcoming film Rahu Ketu sometime back, Chunky, in an exclusive conversation with us, talked about his new project, a long-lost film that never released, his experience working on The Royals, and watching the women in his life, wife Bhavana and daughter Ananya steal the spotlight in their own ways.

Chunky spent considerable time shooting in Manali in the early monsoon for his new film Rahu Ketu. Telling us about his time spent there, the actor said that this was his second film shoot in Manali, the first one never being released.

“I came back to Manali after ages to shoot. I had done a film here 35 years ago, and I was so excited to come back here for this film. That film, based on a novel by Shashi Tharoor called Bollywood: Show Business, never released,” recalled the 62 year-old actor.

The actor also shared his experience of shooting Rahu Ketu in Manali. “Manali is beautiful, I’d love to come here in winters when it snows. The weather was perfect then in June-July. It was crowded at that time, but very beautiful. It is sad to see how badly it is affected due to floods. I hope and pray that people there are safe. They were so good to us when we were there.”

Lately, Chunky has been happily soaking in the success of the women in his life. Speaking of his wife Bhavana, who found fame after her stint in Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives, he shared, “I was with Bhavana in Paris after the show released. A group foreigners stopped and wanted a photo with her. They were so excited to see her and actually handed me the camera to take a picture of them with her. I was so happy seeing that fandom for her and thought to myself that ‘this is like the ultimate moment’.”

“First I was Chunky Panday, then I became Ananya’s dad and now I’m known as Bhavana’s husband. So I’m loving it. I think I’m enjoying Ananya’s success and whatever success Bhavana is getting now more than I’ve enjoyed my own success. When I was successful, I was too busy working to enjoy it. But this is something I really enjoy. I love being known as Ananya’s father or Bhavana’s husband, it makes me so proud of these women in my life, who have an identity of their own,” said the Don actor.

Speaking of a cherished moment that came from a tribute and not a trophy, the actor shared one of the most emotional moments during an awards function in Mumbai. “The whole theme was fan moments where actors paid tribute to someone they had always admired. Ananya came on stage, did a little number and said she wanted to pay tribute to someone who always made her laugh. I whispered to Bhavana that she’s probably going to call out SRK’s name. But she started the segment with a Neelam song, and I thought maybe it’s for Neelam. But then, she broke into my songs one after the other. I was just stunned with the realization that my daughter was paying a tribute to me,” said the actor.

Seen in the web show The Royals, Chunky again portrayed a flirtatious comic character, one which he has often portrayed on screen. When asked if he views being typecast as limiting he said, “On the contrary, I love to be stereotyped! I’m flattered, in fact. Yes, there definitely is a comfort in playing roles that one can master well. However, I felt so nice doing The Royals. I felt like a star doing it..”

He went on to add, “When I did the character Aakhri Pasta in Housefull, everyone just wanted me to do similar roles. Similarly, when I had done a Nepali character, many people wanted to cast me as a Nepali in their film. It’s very flattering when that one thing clicks. But, I always try to break the image and give a little different taste to the audience. And that’s why in Rahu Ketu, I’m playing a villain.”

Ask if he would change anything about his career trajectory if given a chance, the Tezaab actor shared, “If I went and changed the course of my career, maybe the chances were I would not meet Bhavana, and the chances are that Ananya and Rysa wouldn’t be born. So, I would not want to change anything in my life,” he said.

“I was a very last-moment addition to The Royals. They called me up and asked me two things: ‘are these dates available? And do you know horse-riding?’ And I lied about both,” he chuckled. “I was a horse rider in my first film. But it had been almost 40 years since I got onto a horse. And here I had to play polo with Ishaan Khatter, who had been practicing it for two months. I was surprised that the role fell into my lap. I hope they consider me for a second season as well. My character is a very integral part of the story,” he added.

Neelam came back in the limelight after she appeared in the Bollywood Wives series. The actress who was quite popular in the late 80s and 90s took a break from movies in 2000s. While she’s had quite a few well-known films to her credit, during her course as an actor she regrets letting go of a few of them. One such movie being the Naseeruddin Shah, Sunny Deol starrer Tridev.

As she looks back at the “lost opportunity”, Neelam shares, “I was supposed to do a role in Tridev. The film is known for that Tirchi Topiwale. So, that’s my biggest regret! I regret not doing the film missing out being a part of that song.”

Neelam who was seen in films like Agneepath and Hum Saath Saath Hain feels that it is important to have good numbers associated with your name as an actor. She elaborates saying, “Hit songs always get carried forward from one era to another. Remember my song Aap Ke Aa Jane Se from Khudgarz it’s still so known. So, I feel Tirchi Topiwale could have been another song in my kitty. I mean just look at Saat Samundar Paar. People are still dancing on that number. Like, people from different generations, literally! I mean Chunky Panday (who featured in the song) is still doing shows on that song (laughs).”

Neelam who’s eager to take up interesting work was also seen in web shows like Masaba Masaba and Made In Heaven. In an earlier chat with us she had opened up about the reason behind quitting films. 

She had said, “Back then, I left the industry because I believed my shelf life was over, and I didn’t like the films I was being offered. When I left films, I was almost 30. That was the last time people saw me on screen, and making a comeback in my 50s was a little daunting. But Karan (Johar, maker of Bollywood Wives series) and my husband Samir helped me calm down and pushed me to go for it, and here I am.”

Though she is a part of Hindi cinema’s legendary Kapoor khandaan, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor’s daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahni stayed away from the limelight for a large part of her life. However, her debut on the reality web show Fabulous Lives vs Bollywood Wives changed that. “I was excited. I’ve been such a fan of the series, so I took it up. Once we began shooting it felt like a vibe and like a party because I knew the other ladies on the show,” says Riddhima. In a conversation with BT, she talks about facing the camera at this point in her life and her bond with her family:

Talking about the filmi keeda in her since childhood, she says, “As a child, I was the one who used to perform all the time. I would dance with a dupatta in front of the family. I used to perform to the numbers from my dad’s movies and dance on tracks from Sridevi’s films. I would pose as a newsreader and read the news as they did on Batmya (news in Marathi) on Doordashan. But then, as I grew up, the switch happened. When we were in college, Ranbir said that he wanted to be an actor, and we all were surprised. I guess Ranbir opened up, and I sort of shied away. Then, I went abroad to pursue my studies. I met my husband (Bharat Sahni) in London, and we got married.”

Her attitude on the show is just like it is in real life, and much like that of her father, Rishi Kapoor. Riddhima shares, “If I feel something’s wrong, I will voice it. These things come very naturally because I say it on your face, and likewise, you can do that with me. I am very straightforward and frank. My mother was nervous about how I would be on the show because she knows I am fiery. My dad always said things that he felt honestly. He was mufat. I would rather be mufat than pretend to be something on your face and something else behind your back. I am proud of the fact that I am like him, I speak my mind like he did. Many of my dad’s friends sent me messages and said that he would have been proud seeing my real side on the show,” she shares.

Riddhima says that her equation with her brother has evolved over the years. She recollects, “We would fight a lot. We would start wrestling the minute our parents left the house. He would think I’m his older brother and try all his wrestling moves on me. Over the years, of course, that changed. Ranbir is soft-hearted and genuinely a good person. He’s someone you can talk to, confide in and share your problems with. He’s a good listener.”

About her brother being a father, she added, "Ranbir’s eyes light up when he sees Raha. Maybe he’s not as expressive as my father or me, but he is the most expressive when he is in front of the camera and now when he is with Raha. Otherwise, he keeps to himself."

Being an art collector, fashion patron and philanthropist, Shalini Passi was always used to packed travel itineraries and social calendar blocked for months, but this year, for the first time, she had a new task at hand – managing a fandom obsessed with her diet, skincare routine, wardrobe and her collection of bags. Shalini, a popular name in Delhi’s social circle for years, emerged as the most popular name from the show Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives. Be it her sassy persona, fashion choices or just details about her life, everything about Shalini became a hit on social media in 2024.

Ask Shalini about how her life has changed in the past few months and she says, “There is always a certain kind of fame attached when you come on a huge OTT platform, what I did not anticipate was the love that I am getting from all corners of the world. And not just love, people are also saying how they have been inspired by me, especially young people. That has inspired me to work harder. All these messages and pictures from around the world have been wind beneath my wings. I’m really grateful for the love that I’ve received from all over the world. After the release of the series, I had planned to go on a vacation and travel in the country. I had to drop that plan to have all the media interactions and interviews. It’s been slightly more hectic than my usual pace, but I’m thoroughly enjoying it.”

‘There have been incidents when people saw me, screamed my name and came running for pictures’

She adds that it isn’t just on social media where fans have been following every detail about her, she has had some fun encounters with fans in real life too.

She says, “I have had some very interesting encounters in hotels, which have been real-life experiences with fans. For instance, there have been moments when fans started screaming and running towards me in the hotel lobby while I was shooting. I also had fans when I went for Bigg Boss; there were a lot of fans outside Filmistan theatre, even at Mehboob Studios crowd started gathering outside to take pictures. One of my favourite moments was at Sophia College where I had so many women fans, that was amazing. I had some fun incidents in Chennai too when people came up to me to take pictures and, share their stories.”

Addressing the Passi memes, she says, “I love it when people spend so much of their time on memes and get so creative with them”

Shalini adds that as her beauty regime, diet plans have now become a social media content. She has also read some bizarre things about herself online. “Some odd, bizarre things I read about myself include claims that I’ve had a hair transplant. And yeah, that was very funny because everybody in my family and my friends know that I’ve had long hair for the longest time. I’ve shaved my hair in Tirupati four times, and it always grows back. The texture of my hair is the same as it has always been like that, it is not what people claim it to be. I’m just blessed to have good hair,” she says.

From her old wedding pictures to details about her husband Sanjay Passi’s business, almost everything about Shalini Passi is now on social media, but she says that she never considered this to be intrusive. 

“My old pictures already existed on social media, people just went further and searched them. I feel that a lot of people think it’s an invasion of privacy, but I feel that I’m getting so much love, and I have nothing to hide. If they want to know my age, how many children I have, I think it’s fair enough. I feel that I got onto this platform so that I could be a voice for the people, especially for north India. But I came out as somebody who people were able to relate to. I came out as somebody whose different aspects of personality resonated with various people of different generations. I especially love it when little girls have ‘Sassy-Passi Parties’ and wear hair bands and clips. I think there’s a whole generation of Shalinians who are going to follow what I have done for a long time,” she says.

Shalini Passi’s 13-year-old pet dog Boston is no less than a star now that he has also been part of the show. “He is as popular as I am. He was also a part of the show and now he has got a fan following of his own,” shares Shalini with a big smile as she fixes a scarf in the same print as her dress around Boston’s neck. “He has also become very smart now when it comes to shooting. He knows how to pose and will look straight into the camera once he notices them around,” she adds.

Reality TV star Jessel Taank, the first Indian to feature in The Real Housewives of New York City (RHONY), was in Mumbai recently. Talking about her week-long visit, she shares, “India’s so exciting — economically and culturally — it’s imploding. What drew me to India is the fact that I am labelled as the first Indian on RHONY and though’s a big compliment. Yet, I feel a disconnect.”

Taank, who was born and raised in London before moving to the US, adds, “I have visited (India) earlier for wedding shopping, but it’s been a while. I haven’t really seen India. (During this visit), I met some designers to help them come to the US and also wanted to check Mumbai’s fashion scene. I met many of my friends but missed the Diwali parties. Next year, I will come a little earlier.”

During her trip, she met actors Mouni Roy, Arjun Rampal, and Bhumi Pednekar, among others. But she recalls the one who left her star-struck was actor Salman Khan, though not on this visit. “I grew up watching Bollywood movies and I’m still very star-struck. And years ago, I was holidaying here and met Salman Khan at the hotel. I was stunned. Like a fan girl, I asked him, ‘Can I take a picture with you?’ It was surreal.”

Taank calls the Indian reality series, The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives (TFLOBW), her guilty pleasure: “It’s the mirror show of RHONY. So, I was curious. The women in the show are part of Bollywood in some form, so to get a peek into their lives was interesting. On RHONY, we were all professionally established women, but we didn’t have a history of being in the movie industry. We are going to do a crossover between TFLOBW and RHONY at some point. I can’t say what it is right now, it’s in the works.”

Her arguments on her web series with her husband Samir Soni has the audience realised that it’s quite an ‘opposite attracts’ jodi. While Neelam comes across as a social person, Samir is rather anti-social. And the actress tells us that it takes efforts to make him do things for the show.

Talking about how she convinces him every time he has to come on camera for their show Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives, Neelam shares, “The first day we shot with him he walked in with his boxers and ganji. I objected and he said well, it's a reality show and this is how I am at home. I said at least wear pyjamas and a t-shirt. And he refused saying, ‘You guys want me on the show? You want to shoot with me? This is the way I am!’ Finally, somehow, I convinced him, and he at least wore track pants and a t-shirt. But then the next challenge was to make him sit up as she was lying down on the couch and wanted to talk like that on camera. He just wanted it to be real.”

At home, the other thing Neelam worries about Samir is that “he has no filter”! She elaborates saying, “Sometimes I get scared talking in front of him about anything thinking what if he spills the beans by mistake. If I'm gossiping with my friends, I make sure that he's not around because nothing stays in his stomach. He doesn't realize there's just no filter. Overall, he's just a clean soul so he doesn't realize it.”

The actress is now gearing up for the third season of her reality show – Fabulous Lives Vs Bollywood Wives. This time around there’s an addition to the cast with a bunch of new protagonists. And this change makes Neelam jealous!

In a fun way she reiterates saying, “My first reaction to the new season was, ‘Oh, we have to share screen space with other wives?; But anyway, as we started shooting it was a lot of fun. It definitely added to the track. We needed that little twist because the four (Neelam Kothari, Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey, Seema Khan) of us became very comfortable on the show so this has definitely helped.”

Riddhima Kapoor Sahni is set to make her acting debut with the third instalment of the reality web show Fabulous Lives vs. Bollywood Wives. As she approaches this crucial juncture in her career, she misses her father, late Rishi Kapoor, even more on his death anniversary today. 

“I could have asked so many questions because this is my first time [in front of the camera],” shares Riddhima, adding, “Of course mum (actor Neetu Kapoor) is around to help me all the time, but as a family, we wish Papa was around.”

The jewellery designer also talks about how Rishi would’ve been very “excited” about his granddaughter Raha (brother, actor Ranbir Kapoor and actor Alia Bhatt’s daughter). 

She and the family like to remember the happy time they spent with Rishi before he passed away in 2020. “My dad used to say whatever was in his heart. That is something that I have imbibed from him,” shares Riddhima, who wants to see how her debut is received by the audience before taking on any other project.

Her family is made up of superstars, from her late father Rishi Kapoor, to mother Neetu Kapoor and brother Ranbir. But Riddhima Kapoor Sahni was always certain about not foraying into showbiz, instead establishing herself as a fashion designer and among the top jewellery designers. Now, Bollywood has come calling. We hear Sahni will star in a prominent role in the third season of Karan Johar’s reality web series, The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. The Netflix series gives us a peek into B-Town’s inner circle as Neelam Kothari, Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey and Seema Sajdeh juggle careers, crises, family and friendships.

While the opening season was a binge-fest, thanks to the protagonists’ colourful personalities, the second edition received a lukewarm response due to its bland storytelling. Insiders say that producer Johar took note of the criticism, and decided to feature three powerful women entrepreneurs in the upcoming instalment. Enter Delhi’s glitterati Sahni, Kalyani Saha Chawla and Shalini Passi. 

A source says, “Fabulous Lives is travelling from Mumbai to Delhi. The creative team realised that they needed to introduce new faces into the mix. All three are well-known celebrities based in Delhi, but connected to Bollywood in one way or the other. Shalini Passi is an art and design collector, art advisor and the creative director of Pasco group of companies. She is a long-time friend of Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan. Kalyani Saha Chawla is the founder and chief executive of a silver luxury home decor brand and consultant for an international luxury label. The three women are Karan’s good friends and were happy to feature in his show. The story will move forward as Maheep, Bhavna, Seema and Neelam meet the trio in Delhi.”

Sahni isn’t the only addition we’re excited about. The source adds, “Neetu-ji will make a friendly appearance. The series will offer a glimpse of her deep bond with daughter Riddhima.”

Last week, the team kicked off filming in the capital. After a few days of shooting, they will return to Mumbai, where the second schedule will commence from the first week of November. This time too, the four protagonists will travel to different locations in India and overseas, before calling it a wrap by December.

The cast shot with entrepreneur Kalyani Saha (left) in Delhi yesterday

They came, they saw, and what we didn’t think, happened—they conquered us with their glitz and glamour. The Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives is gearing up for another season, albeit with new additions. The producers of the Netflix reality series are on a hunt to discover two interesting socialites from Delhi to join Bhavna Pandey, Maheep Kapoor, Neelam Soni, and Seema Sajdeh.

The upcoming third season is set to focus on the age-old rivalry between Delhi and Mumbai, and the pursuit to sign on the capital’s most fabulous and influential women is in full swing. A source informs, “Casting calls, high-profile events, and elite social gatherings have become hotspots for scouting potential stars who will grace the screen and bring their own brand of glitz and drama to the show.”

Makers are keen to cast women who embody the essence of Delhi’s high society, its opulent lifestyle, and its unique cultural nuances. While the producers have remained tight-lipped about the potential candidates, insiders suggest that two prominent figures “who have their finger on the pulse of the city, with connections to Bollywood, business moguls, and the elite social circles that define Delhi’s social landscape” will be locked by month’s end.

Fame and adulation aside, being a part of showbiz comes with constant scrutiny, and as a result, something or the other is almost always said about an actor’s love life. But, as someone who has been witness to it all, actor-entrepreneur Bhavana Pandey is unfazed. She believes that such rumours are part and parcel of her husband, actor Chunky Panday and daughter, actor Ananya Panday’s professional life.

“Chunky and Ananya have decided to put themselves in front of the camera, be out there to get judged. They are well aware of what comes with being who they are. However, if anything is said about my younger daughter (Rysa), that would affect me because she has not chosen it (to be out there),” she tells us.

As a mother, Bhavana says she guides her daughter on a lot of aspects, major or minuscule: “I tell her the smallest of things, like comb your hair or wear ironed clothes! But, Ananya knows how to handle herself. She was 18-19 when she joined the industry, that’s the age when the maximum learning happens. You make mistakes, you learn, you grow. She’s done it all while being in the public eye. So considering that, I believe she’s doing great.”

In the last two years, Bhavana has herself gained celeb status through her web outing, Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives. She admits she was apprehensive while filming the first season. “The fact that a lot of people watched the show is amazing. I know so many people who met for coffee, lunch and even created WhatsApp groups to chat about it. We can’t expect everyone to love it. But, it should become a topic of discussion. Love us, hate us, but don’t ignore us,” she wraps up.

Neelam Kothari Soni is thoroughly enjoying her second innings as an actor after the success of Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives and is flooded with opportunities. However, she says whenever approached for a project now, the first question she asks is, ‘How many days do you need to shoot my part?’

“My nine-year-old daughter Ahana takes up most of my time. I can’t sign a project that would require me to shoot 40-45 days and not be there for her,” shares the actor, who has done hits films like Love 86, Ilzaam (both 1986) and Khudgarz (1987).

With back-to-back shoots and promotional events, Neelam says family life ended up taking a back seat. “During this time, my daughter and my dad were unwell, and Sameer (Soni; actor-husband) was also busy with shooting. So none of us were available for Ahana. As a result, she’s giving me a cold shoulder (laughs). You know how children have strange ways of expressing emotions,” she elaborates.

That is why the actor is willing to take on cameo roles, which allow her to spend enough time with family: “Work will come and go, but these precious years with family will never return.”

Having said that, she believes “never say never”. “If something extremely interesting comes my way, I might make time,” shares Neelam, who recently wrapped up the shoot of filmmaker Zoya Akhtar’s Made In Heaven season 2, where she shares the screen with her husband.

Though she doesn’t share details about her part, Neelam says she didn’t have to think much before signing it. “I am friends with Zoya. She called me up one day and asked if I was willing to act, and I said, ‘If it’s for you then yes, 100%’,” she concludes.

Remember the time when Kareena Kapoor Khan revealed that she has a WhatsApp group named Guts — consisting of sister Karisma Kapoor, bestie Amrita Arora, Malaika Arora and Karan Johar — where they dissect fellow stars’ outfits and airport looks? Well, we can’t be privy to their chats, but if the latest rumours are anything to go by, we might just get an insider pass to their glamorous lives.

mid-day has learnt that Bollywood’s OG girl gang — Kareena, Karisma, Malaika and Amrita — are set to team up for a Netflix show titled Guts.

The reality series has apparently been in the making since before the pandemic. A source says, “After months of discussions, it’s only now that the makers have put a structure in place. The series will be shot in the four fashion capitals — Paris, New York, London and Singapore. It will give an inside view into the four friends’ lives as they juggle their work, travel, and party together.”

The OTT giant tasted success with the 2020 reality series, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives. The source adds, “Guts will be different in tonality, focusing more on travel, food and shopping.”

mid-day reached out to Netflix India, which remained unavailable for comment.

Sohail Khan and Seema Khan were spotted at the Family Court in Mumbai yesterday. As per reports, the two filed for divorce after 24 years of marriage. The couple is yet to release an official statement, however, they have been living separately for some time now. Sohail and Seema got married in 1998. They have two sons Nirvan (20) and Yohan (11).

Sohail who began his career as a director with Auzaar, also acted in a number of films, while Seema, who is a fashion designer, was recently seen in an OTT show.

Talking about her relationship with Sohail, on the show, Seema had said, “Sohail and I are not in a conventional marriage but we are a family. We are a unit. For us, him and me and our children matter at the end of the day. ”

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Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar and Netflix have ended their exclusive content deal signed in September 2019 whereby Johar’s digital content studio Dharmatic Entertainment was to supply all its content – fiction and non-fiction series and films – only to the California-based streaming giant.

“The deal has been called off and Dharmatic can now work with other video streaming services too,” a person with direct knowledge of the matter told ET.

Another person said the two will continue to work together on shows and series already signed and announced. “There are multiple projects which have already been green-lighted or announced, and deliveries of these are over the next 12-18 months,” the person said. “Then there are some returning seasons too. However, will they work together after that is not yet clear.” 

Dharmatic, digital content arm of Johar’s Dharma Productions, is currently working on new series ‘Finding Anamika’, and the next season of ‘Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives’. There is also an upcoming film, ‘Meenakshi Sundareshwar’ apart from a few other projects in the pipeline.

Queries sent to Dharma Productions and Netflix did not elicit any response till press time on Monday.

One of the sources cited above alleged that “too much interference” from Netflix has been one of the main reasons for the exclusive deal to be called off.

“The entire (content) industry knows it. They (Netflix) want everything in a certain way and sometimes it's frustrating and confusing. There is a disconnect between what they want and what they say,” he alleged.

At the time of announcing the deal with Johar two years ago, Monika Shergill, vice president – content (then director of international originals, India) at Netflix, had said the company allows its creators “full creative freedom and support”.

At that time Johar had told ET that it was “much more” than just a business transaction. “It is an emotional alliance, a relationship,” he had said.

It was Netflix’ biggest deal yet in the Indian market as an exclusivity clause was attached to it. None of the streamer’s Indian deals, be it with Shahrukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment for films and web series or with Aamir Khan Productions for the actor’s films, had an exclusive arrangement.

ET had also learned that as part of the deal, Johar was exclusive to Netflix and except for pre-existing ‘Koffee With Karan', he wasn’t supposed to be a part of any show for any rival streaming service.

Last month, Netflix announced a multi-year partnership with Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment. As part of the non-exclusive deal, the production house will make a variety of projects under its series banner Excel Media and Entertainment, starting with ‘Dabba Cartel’ and ‘Queen Of The Hill’.

Netflix had entered India in January 2016 as part of its global rollout. It started commissioning content after April 2017 when Netflix was registered as a limited liability partnership (LLP) in India.

The year gone by brought about many changes, one among them being that digital platforms became the new face of Indian entertainment. Naturally then, Netflix India is ready to go full steam ahead, giving the country’s talented storytellers the platform they deserve, thus putting Indian stories on the map. The streaming giant rolled out its 2021 slate of 41 titles — if the year ahead will see Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Raveena Tandon and Sonakshi Sinha making their web debut, it will also have familiar series like Kota Factory, Delhi Crime, Jamtara and Masaba Masaba, among others, returning with their second instalments.

For Srishti Arya, director international original film, Netflix India, the keyword this year is diversity. “We are doing Indian documentaries for the first time. [We are focusing on] unscripted stuff, especially after Fabulous Lives [Of Bollywood Wives], which brought us a lot of encouragement. We are doing the Indian version of Predator, which will be a crime documentary. We also have Searching For Sheela, where we see Ma Anand Sheela returning to her country after 35 years. We’re exploring different kinds of humour through Kapil Sharma’s web show and stand-up comedy,” she says.

On its roster are 13 movies that include Kartik Aaryan’s Dhamaka, Taapsee Pannu’s Haseen Dillruba, Mani Ratnam’s Navrasa and Chaitanya Tamhane’s The Disciple. Having invested in anthologies right from Lust Stories (2018), Arya is particularly excited about Ajeeb Daastaans, a collection of five relationship dramas backed by Karan Johar. It stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Aditi Rao Hydari, among others. “Some stories work better in a condensed form. What is exciting for our viewers is that in an anthology, they get four viewpoints on the same material.”

Dixit will foray into the web world with Finding Anamika while Tandon will play a local cop investigating a big case in Aranyak. “The idea is to do what is best for the story. When you see Madhuri’s show, she adds tremendous value to it because she is Madhuri Dixit,” states Arya.

At a time when OTT platforms have truly come into their own, she asserts that the prudent move is to back stories, not stars. “Last year was a hard time for people, but it gave Netflix the opportunity to be there [for viewers]. We constantly want to find great storytellers and back their vision. We see ourselves as a champion of [powerful] stories.”

She has been known as Chunky Panday’s wife and Ananya Panday’s mum, but after her reality TV series debut, Bhavana Pandey has got her own fan following.

“My Instagram DMs used to be full of messages like, ‘Ma’am, I’m a big fan of Ananya or Chunky but now those messages are, ‘Ma’am, we loved you’,” shares Bhavana. However, she admits that getting on board the series Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives was a tough call to take, and involved lengthy discussions with her family. “I’ve been a VJ and model in my early 20s but that age was different. Now, I’m Chunky’s wife and Ananya and Rysa’s mother. Suddenly putting myself out there for the world to judge you was a little scary,” she confesses.

Other than Bhavana, the show focuses on the lives of her friends, Neelam Kothari, Maheep Kapoor and Seema Khan, wives of Bollywood actors Samir Soni, Sanjay Kapoor and Sohail Khan respectively. “Having them around made the apprehensions slowly go away,” she adds. Asked if it means more on-screen ventures, she says, “I know I’ll not be able to act to save my life. Two actors are enough in the family.”

While the show received a mixed response, Bhavana has seen trolling at close quarters about her daughter, Ananya. “Initially, it used to affect me a lot. I agree they’re actors and should be open to criticism, but it should be constructive and meaningful,” she adds.

Karan Johar’s Netflix drama Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives may have attracted criticism, with people deeming it to be a “cringe-watch”, but actor Bhavana Pandey says the fact that it has been consumed means it was a quality watch.

"I often felt hurt when people said unpleasant things about my loved ones (Ananya Panday and Chunky Panday), but with this show while there were mixed reactions, I also received constructive criticism. That teaches you how to improve. You may love me or hate me, but, don't ignore (the show). If you watch it, you will have an opinion. But, the fact is that you watched it, and that says a lot," says Chunky's wife, who featured in it along with three other Bollywood star-wives, Seema Khan, Maheep Kapoor and Neelam Kothari Soni.

Pandey admits that while a major chunk may disagree, the show has found an audience that appreciated it. “Ananya’s friends, who study overseas, loved the show. Recently, Ananya was on a flight when the captain told her he loved the show, and called it his guilty pleasure,” she makes a case for herself. 

Hoping for the platform to green-light a follow up season of the series, Pandey says, “I would love to do it. I am no longer apprehensive and now we know how to improve. We are waiting to hear the good news.”

When asked why she isn’t considering other offers, she says, “I am not looking to pursue a career in acting nor have I received any offers. This show worked because there was no acting involved. It was natural.”

She never wanted to join films, even though she married into a family where almost everyone is associated with the film industry. Fashion designer Seema Khan found herself in the limelight when she starred in the recently released OTT show, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives.

Wife of actor Sohail Khan, she emphasises that she’s a very “private person”, but her problem wasn’t that she wouldn’t open up in front of the camera. “I don’t know when to hold back. When I decided to do this show, I was sure that whatever I do, I’ll do a 100% and won’t make anything up. I’m not an actress and have never faced the camera. It was definitely a little daunting. The only thing was I wasn’t going to be insensitive to anyone,” she says.

And Seema certainly was herself on the show. No holds barred is how she talked about her personal life, and even termed hers and Sohail’s marriage as “unconventional”.

What also got talked about is how all the star kids — her sons Nirvaan and Yohan, Sanjay Kapoor’s kids Shanaya and Jahaan, Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter Suhana Khan and more, were featured on the show. People thought it was like an audition showreel. Seema has a clear take on this. “It’s a reality show about our lives. These children are our lives. The biggest part of any woman’s life is her family and children. To not have them would be going completely against reality!” she quips.

So tomorrow, will she be okay with her sons getting into acting and the nepotism debate that will follow them? “Talent has to speak. We have actors in the industry, who’ve hailed from big film families, who haven’t made it, including my own husband. Nepotism doesn’t mean you’re going to make it,” concludes Seema.