Food, according to Hansal Mehta, is one of the strongest places memory lives. And Khana Dil Se, his way of holding on to his family’s memories. “I realized the recipes my mother, aunt, and father-in-law made would slip away if no one held on to them,” reflected the filmmaker.

The filmmaker, known for politically charged dramas like Shahid, Scam 1992 and Scoop, says food became another way to talk about memory. “Food is one of the last places memory lives,” he says, adding that the pilot episode is an attempt to “find and reinvent” his mother’s Undhiyu. 

So, Mehta went back to the kitchen for Khana Dil Se, just as he had done in the early 1990s when he directed the genre-defining cooking show, Khana Khazana. But this time, there’s a new ingredient — Artificial Intelligence (AI). Agreeing that filmmakers’ concerns about AI replacing artistes are legitimate, he asserted that AI is not at the forefront of his show.

“The families and their recipes are what the show is about. AI is a tool that helps me tell that story. Working the conventional way means animation budgets, period reconstructions, and location shoots. These costs put this kind of show out of reach for almost everyone. AI lets me do that visual work at a fraction of the time and cost.” 

Even as we have seen a surge in competitive cooking shows, meaningful culinary storytelling is absent from Indian platforms. That’s a void Mehta hopes to fill with his YouTube show. 

“We have travel-and-eat shows, we have competitions, we have celebrity chef formats. What we don’t have are enough shows documenting our recipes. Somebody Feed Phil is a wonderful show, but it’s an outsider’s affectionate gaze, and that’s not the same as an insider’s archive. India has, conservatively, a few hundred distinct culinary traditions, most of them undocumented in any serious filmed form. The platforms might not be wrong that conventional food shows have lost captivity. They’re wrong about why. Audiences haven’t stopped caring about food. They’ve stopped accepting cooking shows that have become more like a sports league than a kitchen. The plan is to make something good enough that the question of where it sits primary network, streaming, somewhere we haven’t thought of yet becomes a happy problem rather than a strategic one. I’ve been around long enough to know you can’t reverse-engineer a hit by deciding the platform first. You make the show. If it’s the show people are talking about, the platforms come. I’d love for ambitious, archival, slow-cooked food television to find its way back to the kind of mainstream audience Khana Khazana once had. There’s a generation that grew up watching Sanjeev on Sunday mornings and is now raising children of their own. I think they’re ready for a food show that takes them, and the food, seriously again."

The show also leans heavily into the politics of food, something Mehta says was inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s worldview. “Bourdain was right about nearly everything, and food being political was the most important thing he kept saying. Take Gosht Nihari. We tend to think of nihari as a single dish, Lucknow’s, Delhi’s, or Karachi’s. It’s actually three different preparations across a border that didn’t exist when the recipe was written. Nihari was perhaps born in 18th-century Shahjahanabad as labourers’ food. A pot left on dying embers overnight so it would be ready before fajr prayer. The Nawabs of Awadh refined it in Lucknow, perfumed it with kewra and rose. After Partition, it crossed into Karachi in the mouths of refugees and became a national obsession in Pakistan. Three cities, three versions of a single dish, separated by a line on a map. Most of the great Indian dishes are working-class food that the courts later adopted, not the other way around. Nihari belonged to soldiers and dyers before it belonged to Nawabs. Undhiyu was farmers’ communal food, with multiple Patidar and Koli families contributing vegetables to a single pot buried in a shared field at Uttarayan. Butter chicken, which will be featured in our third episode, was invented by Punjabi refugees in 1947 Delhi who had to figure out what to do with leftover tandoori chicken. Almost every dish we celebrate as heritage was, at some point, a survival strategy."

Punjabi singer Karan Aujla’s upcoming concerts in Lucknow and Ludhiana, scheduled for April 10 and 14, respectively, have been cancelled.

An official from the Lucknow administration confirmed the development, saying, “There were multiple issues, including being unable to procure a liquor license. The location, due to scheduled IPL matches, was also an issue. But majorly, it was about the inability to break even; it was not a sold-out show, maybe due to being overpriced: priced over lakhs for a table of 10-15.”

A source from the organising team said there were also concerns following issues at the Mumbai show last month on Holi, where fans alleged poor management, a near stampede-like situation, and several people fainting in the scorching afternoon heat.

They added, “Till now, what we know is that after the Mumbai fiasco, Aujla and his team want to make sure to take up concerts in other cities only with everything in place. So, the reason cited is logistics. Pricing and all, I am not sure of.”

We reached out to Aujla, but there was no response till the time of going to press.

Singer-songwriter Rabbi Shergill, the voice behind Bullah Ki Jaana, Challa, and Tere Bin, recently performed in Lucknow, delivering a powerful set that left audiences inspired. In an exclusive conversation, the artist known for his uncompromising approach reflected on the city’s cultural depth, the evolving landscape for independent musicians and Bollywood’s shifting music industry.

“What I like about Lucknow is that it’s an ancient city. It has all the elements which can inspire an artist. It has authentic cuisine, rich authentic history and culture. Wajid Ali Shah was here. In Delhi as well, we had so many beautiful poets, and you guys have a glossary of literary giants here.”

He further revealed that Lucknow’s vibe might inspire a new song. “Maybe my next song will be inspired by Lucknow. It has kind of become my muse.”

Shergill sees promise in today’s music scene, with streaming, social media, and live concerts making it easier for independents to thrive.

“It’s definitely a good time to be an independent artist, much better than for us when we were starting out, breaking through,” he says. Yet he laments a key shortfall, “I don’t see that many people speaking the truth of the moment.”

He elaborated, “Because the economics of this thing have taken over so much, to the extent people just really want something quickly and do shows and earn fast.”

For Shergill, art’s true role runs deeper than virality. “The art’s job is to clear the path for a new politics to emerge, a politics that really has its ears to hear what the janta really wants.”

He hesitated to urge others to tackle tough issues, admitting self-reflection first. “I can’t really exhort others to say their piece. I find myself that I may have lagged behind a little bit myself. I don’t think I’ve really spoken my piece over the last few years. So I am in no place to tell anyone what to do.”

Still, he stresses, “There are a lot of inconvenient truths people are not talking about And I think it needs to be said in a way.”

His move from Mumbai back to Delhi spoke volumes. “I lived in Mumbai and I went away to live in Delhi. That should pretty much tell you where my heart was. I didn’t want to be a film artist.”

Lately, though, he’s nuanced that view. “Off late I think I’ve come to realize that films is the pop music of India. And if you really want to reach out to people, you have to balance it. But the thing is that I say some inconvenient truths and then Bollywood runs away in the other direction. So it’s very hard for me to say what I want to say and still be able to do some film work. I guess it’s up to the filmy janta. I’m here. If they want me to do something, great. But they gotta figure out what they want.”

He reminisced about a lost Indian originality: “There was a neat little Indian trick, it was very unique to India. You gave a guy and he created the songs and he created the background score. So there was a definite stamp of one person. Which is always nice to hear.”

On Bollywood’s music today, Shergill stays detached but hears troubling trends from peers: “From what I gather when I talk to people, it’s like there are a few big monopolies ­like production houses. Earlier you’d have directors or production houses giving the entire film to one party and saying, ‘Okay, do it.’ Right now you have OST, so those people are just asking people to do one song or two songs and remixes. That means they’re pretty much trying to manipulate the IPR. If somebody has an IPR, it stays with them. So those are some logistical things that are happening, some issues around IPR which are dictating what kind of music, and what is the sound design for a film. But largely you don’t really have filmmakers giving new music directors free rein and saying, ‘Okay, this is the film.’”

The Urdu Academy in Lucknow was housefull as writers, professors, theatre practitioners, historians, veterans and cultural figures gathered to welcome literary stalwart Javed Akhtar on the occasion commemorating theatre doyen Shankar Dayal Tewari’s 105th birth anniversary. At the event, the free-wheeling conversation on art, literature, society and cinema naturally opened with Lucknow, as Javed Akhtar spoke about the pride he feels in having spent his early formative years in the city.

Lucknow’s influence, he said, has never faded. “From etiquette to morality, everything I am, comes from here, and even today, that influence remains. Main jab Lucknow aata hoon, toh ehsaas hota hai logon ke manners, taur-tareeqa, baat-cheet mein ki aaj bhi kitna Awadh baaki hai. You see people who left Lucknow 25 years ago, settled elsewhere, still hold pride that they are from this city. They know that if you’re from Lucknow, you have to carry yourself in a certain language and demeanour.”

Drawing a vivid metaphor, he compared his relationship with the city to a fish and water. “It’s like a fish living in water. As long as it’s there, it doesn’t realise the value of water. But when the fish goes out and then comes back, only then does it truly understand what water means. That’s Lucknow for me,” he said.

Lucknow’s distinctive Language, too, became part of the discussion. “It is interesting that people of Lucknow traditionally do not use main; they use hum. People who are not from Lucknow find it a symbol of arrogance. The reason was never pride. Hum speaks of promoting a neutral gender. It is almost vulgar to say, “main jaa rahi hoon or main jaa raha hoon that’s a crude way to talk.”

An alumnus of Colvin Taluqdars College, Akhtar credited the school with shaping his ambition and taste. Recalling an anecdote when he got taunted for asking for expensive shoes, “Children today are born and brought up with sensitivity; it was not the case during our childhood,” he said.

“Today’s parents talk about childcare and understand sensitivity, abhi toh sheeshe ke bachche hain. Hamare zamaane mein jab chaaha peet diya, jab chaaha kuch keh diya. Ya toh mujhe meri aukaat ke hisaab ka school milta, par mujhe Colvin bhej diya. I was around eight years old and wanted the expensive shoes my classmates wore. Rona dhona macha kar, mujhe vo joote dila diye gaye the. Later, I was taunted so much for it that it is still etched fresh in my mind, ‘Bhai, inke toh ameer shauq hain. 19 rupaye ka joota pehente hain, jo ki school fees se zyada ke hain. 17 rupaye school fees aur 15 rupaye inki tuition fee hai’. So altogether I was an expensive child of the family,’’ he laughs.

Javed, who spent days struggling on the roads of Mumbai before finding his footing, reflected on his journey from Jaadu to Javed Akhtar. Asked whether he inherited literature or struggle from his father, the veteran lyricist-poet Jaanisar Akhtar, he expressed, “A child, while growing up, never receives lectures on upbringing. However, the environment involuntarily affects him. Through the osmosis process, he somehow absorbs the air of the atmosphere he lives in.”

That atmosphere, he said, was steeped in literature. “The kind of home I grew up in, there used to be detailed discussions of poets and literature on a day-to-day basis. Poets were discussed like important people. Ghar mein kitaabon ki baat hoti thi. Kaafi literary magazines toh free mein aa jaati thi because of Majaaz Lakhnawi, the famous poet and writer. He was my maternal uncle. ”

Reflecting on his personal life, Javed Akhtar spoke with usual candour about his marriage to ex-wife Honey Irani and his relationship with actress Shabana Azmi. “I have been fortunate in these matters. Honey is an exceptionally good person. It’s okay if our thoughts, value system, thinking and aesthetic had big gaps. However, fundamentally, a person who might share a different personality from you can also be an amazing person. The fact that I share such a cordial bond with Honey goes to her more than me. Both of us have been very civilized right from the beginning,’’ he said.

Their priority, he said, was always the children. “We made sure nothing touched them, that the father isn’t saying one thing and the mother another. Both of us were sensitive that things should not go sour. There is no parting which is not painful, but it’s the job of civilized people to minimize that. If you ask me who my three best friends are today, Honey would definitely be one of them. In this whole scenario, there was also a great deal of grace, large-heartedness and maturity from Shabana too. She never resented these matters. In fact, she was always helping and cooperating with Honey, which resulted in no collateral damage to the kids. Now they are very good friends. I think all the parties have behaved extremely maturely and civilized, which is rare.”

Asked about growing up in the city of Nawabs, the legendary lyricist-screenwriter held forth on his Awadhi roots, expressing, “Once I was having a debate with someone on language, and he said but weren’t you born in Gwalior? Yes, I was, but I stayed there for only a few months. I came to Lucknow as a child and left when I was 12. Psychologists say that by the age of eight, your personality is already shaped. So if there’s anything good or bad in my personality, Lucknow is responsible for it,” said Akhtar.

Shifting to contemporary cinema, when asked how present-day storytelling can reflect the anger of today’s youth, Javed Akhtar said that while aggression continues to exist, society has grown increasingly uncomfortable acknowledging emotional vulnerability. “We all have a lot of aggression. However, society has developed a morality where people do not want to accept that they are hurt.”

Drawing a comparison with Hindi cinema of earlier decades, Akhtar pointed out how emotional expression has significantly changed. “In an average Hindi film of the 1950s and 1960s, you would find at least two sad songs. Today, you hardly see that. We are no longer ready to accept our hurt and our defeat. For us, everything appears hunky-dory. In such a pretentious world, if a middle-class individual grows up, how will he express his anger? He develops a complex about showing sadness,” he said.

The body always tells you. During a shoot for ‘Single Salma’ in Lucknow, I felt unusually tired and a strange lump in my throat after an intense action sequence. I sat down for a bit, brushed it off, and told myself I’m fine. But something felt off. Around that time, singer KK passed away after suddenly falling ill during a performance. That shook all of us, made us think about health.

I decided to visit a doctor. I went for an ECG and 2D echo and both tests came back normal. I didn’t ignore it, but I didn’t dig deeper. I just assumed everything was fine.

It wasn’t. Months later, in December 2023, I faced a major cardiac episode that would transform my life in ways I hadn’t imagined. I was only in my mid-40s. But physically and emotionally, it changed everything for me. Physically, there are certain precautions I will have to take throughout my life to make sure something like that never happens again. I need to take regular medication, go for follow-ups and checkups, and listen to my doctors.

Emotionally, the impact has been even more profound. I had none of the four risk factors that trigger a heart attack — smoking, drinking, diabetes or hypertension — yet it happened. It brought realization about how uncertain life can be.

But there are many things within our control, and we must take care of those aspects. After an experience like that, you realize your priorities need to change. Your family becomes your number one priority. And to ensure they get quality time with you, you must take care of yourself. That also means sleeping well, for seven-eight hours daily, exercising four to five days a week and eating nutritious, timely meals.

By proper diet, I don’t mean surviving just on salads. I eat everything in moderation. I avoid fried and sugary foods, but I do consume a little ghee. Eating nutritious food is important, but eating on time is even more crucial. Maintain fixed timings for your meals. Have dinner as early as possible as it gives your stomach enough time to digest and rest. The best diet won’t help if your meal timings are erratic.

My earlier discipline of clean eating and regular workouts played a big role in my recovery. I do think the Covid vaccine and post-pandemic health effects may have triggered complications. Still, my active lifestyle helped me bounce back faster. It’s important to understand that nutrition, regular exercise, good sleep and a balanced diet strengthen your body. If it had not been for these habits, things could have been very different. Your body repays the care you give it.

Stress is a part of life. That said, I also believe that we need to learn to manage it. You have to learn to let go of what’s not in your control. I’ve realized that wisdom comes with time, but when someone shares their learnings with you, it is important to listen. Don’t wait for your own crisis to teach you the same thing the hard way.

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.

Actress Khushi Kapoor, has definitely come into her own with films like The Archies, Loveyapa and Nadaaniyan to her credit. Khushi’s films may not have made as much of a buzz, but her presence on and off screen is enough to make up for it. In Lucknow sometime back, the actress shared her candid experiences in an exclusive chat with us, opening up about her visits to Lucknow, her debut film The Archies, and her take on industry debates. She revealed why she finds the City of Nawabs so appealing, how she faced her first camera jitters, and why she believes honesty about personal choices matters.

Khushi said she first visited Lucknow with her sister Janhvi Kapoor, who filmed here earlier. The young actress admitted she did not see much of the city at that time. “I was here for a couple of days, just spending time on her sets, but Janhvi always has great things to say about Lucknow. She specifically told me that Lucknow’s food is amazing, especially the kebabs.”

Comparing her personality with Janhvi, Khushi highlighted her reserved nature. “Oh yes! I am more of a quiet person and not much of a talker,” she confessed. She then recalled her nerves during her first on-set experience for The Archies, acknowledging that she felt frightened while shooting.

“During the time of The Archies, I was really very nervous and scared. But after that movie got over, immediately the nerves went away. Zoya (Akhtar) was an amazing team captain and taught me and the whole team everything, even the basics like catching the light, hitting the mark, etc. But I would admit that there was a lot of fear while shooting that film. Even though I have been a part of this industry, but I have always been behind the scenes. As a kid, when I used to be on the sets with my mom and dad, I didn’t bother to take any notes of the process as I never thought ki kabhi yeh mere kaam aayega though I wanted to always be an actress,” said Khushi.

Addressing her openness about undergoing cosmetic procedures, Khushi, who is rumoured to have gone under the knife, stated, “Yes, I have changed my looks. But everyone thinks I have done some 10-20 things on myself. It is obviously not the case. I don’t think going under the knife for your looks is such a big deal. For me, it is not okay to be dishonest with people around me about my looks. There are a lot of impressionable youngsters who follow us on the internet. Plus, if we don’t do something about our looks, then it is a problem and people will judge you for your looks, and if we do something for ourselves, feeding your insecurities, then also people have a problem. People will say that why did she change herself and did not stick to her original looks? So, you are not going to win either way. I am going to live my life the way I want to. Also, I was not born like this and all actor’s groom themselves, and of course vanity is a large part of our life! I care about my looks, but haven’t changed every single thing about my face. I don’t want to set unrealistic standards of beauty and so I became open about the procedures I had done to look like this,” stated Khushi.

Khushi admitted she had certain expectations from her first venture and learned much in the process. “I think everyone has certain expectations for themselves, but I learnt a lot from that process. I worked with such an amazing cast, mentor and made so many friends. For The Archies, for the response we got, all I can say is that not everything is for everyone. Before the project was released on OTT, there was a certain opinion about it. It wasn’t like I was oblivious to what was going to come when The Archies would be released. There is a certain stigma coming from a family like mine and I understand that people have certain perceptions and opinions about me. I was aware and prepared, and I learnt from my shortcomings,” she remarked.

With her second project, she felt more confident. “From the first project to the second and now third, the level of confidence has changed. I had a lot of self-doubt despite taking my own decisions. For an actor confidence is the key as it translates into the performance. My mindset is different while the approach still remains the same. I have miles to go,” she said.

On the subject of nepotism, Khushi acknowledged her privileged background. “It is important to recognize when you come from a space of privilege and understand that you have an upper hand over other people. And the issue that people have is when we don’t acknowledge this fact. People think that because we come from this family, we take things for granted but that is not the case,” she emphasized, adding, “Of course, things are easier for us, and you can’t debate about that. It is important to acknowledge that and make the most of the opportunities coming our way and prove ourselves. Once we have proven ourselves, no one is ever going to question us. There are so many people who have come from this privileged space and were able to stay for so long because they have proven themselves as good actors. I don’t blame people for having an opinion about me right now, thinking I am not good or worthy enough to get these opportunities. I have had an unfair advantage, but I want to make the most of it now.”

Commenting on her personal life, Khushi stayed tight-lipped about rumoured boyfriend Vedang Raina. “I am very new to the industry and want my work to be the focus. Of course, I’m not going to sneak around and hide from the paps but it is important to keep your work the main conversation,” she said.

While box office numbers are extremely crucial, and Kartik Aaryan has enjoyed several box office successes, he believes that actors should learn to have a certain sense of detachment from the pressure that comes with the Friday performance of a film.

Addressing how he copes with industry demands, the Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 actor said, “I think it’s crucial to know the reality. Everything is temporary in the industry, whether it is success or failure. Woh Friday se detach hona bahut zaruri hai. You must not attach yourself to opening-day figures. When you know that, aap, apne aap mein successful ho jate ho.”

Kartik says that he hasn’t let fame entirely change the way he likes living his life. “Main jo bhi pehle karna chahta tha, woh sab kuch ab bhi kar raha hoon. Mere jo shauk thay maine pure kar liye hain, and I am still enjoying them. I still go to malls and enjoy roadside food. I don’t let fame stop me from enjoying the simple pleasures of life,” he says.

Kartik, who spent considerable time in the City of Nawabs (Lucknow) while shooting Pati Patni Aur Woh, said he was overjoyed to return. “I shot Pati Patni Aur Woh here, and it was very special,” he recalled. “When I stayed for a long shoot, I explored the city in depth. Now that I am back, I see many changes. The airport changed, the roads look so different, and there is so much development — I was pleasantly surprised.”

He mentioned that Lucknow holds a personal connection for him. “Lucknow is a city where our Hindi films are widely loved across UP,” he said, adding with a smile, “Yaha aakar muskurahat khud hi aa jati hai!”

-With inputs by Manas Mishra

Come next week, Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan will be back in theatres, 44 years after its release. On June 26, ahead of its premiere in Mumbai, the veteran filmmaker will launch a book dedicated to his celebrated film. In a conversation with us, the filmmaker takes us down a nostalgic path as he revisits his timeless classic. Excerpts:

Umrao Jaan is a serious tragedy, a tale of entrapment. The story revolves around a woman’s helplessness and, at the same time, her resilience to face reality. When she wipes a mirror in which she sees herself, she comes to terms with what’s happened to her. It’s about the realization of losing yourself. The whole Lucknow ambience was so compelling and romantic that it gave birth to the persona of Rekha.

Only Shahryar (lyricist) and I were from Lucknow. Farooq Shaikh was Gujarati, and the legendary music director Khayyam was Punjabi, yes. I wanted to break this myth of who’s from where. They belong to the world. When I chose Rekha, I realized that there was this resilience in her eyes which could make her fall and rise in the same moment. She can be broken and not defeated. I couldn't see that in anybody else. I found in her a sense of total surrender. For this film, she knew something organic was taking place in her system to become what she could never become otherwise. Had she been reluctant about it, she wouldn’t have reached where she did. She flowed with the wind. She was weightless. Asha ji and I had a lot of discussion, and she asked a lot of questions. Shahryar (lyricist) would complain, ‘why do you make me do women's poetry’? Mushkil nahi hai, kuch bhi agar thaan lijiye. He created that kind of optimism for a woman who was abducted from her home. That was special.

A lot of our imagination is based on truth. So, Umrao Jaan, for the writer, Mirza Ruswa, was also a compendium of many characters he must have met in life. Coming from Awadh, I wanted to tell the story of this region. I realized that many people who've come from Awadh have got lost in the ocean of Bollywood. They had these beautiful nuances, words and cultural imagination, which became a part of someone else's agenda. So, all these rich minds that went into Bollywood, they were not themselves, you know what I mean? Particularly the poets. Even Sahir Ludhianvi was not himself, in that sense. All these people probably had as rich an imagination as mine, and that imagination needed freedom. So, for me, it was that liberated mindset, which could create an authentic artistic statement. I wanted to tell the story of Umrao Jaan the way I felt it. Be it Umrao or the protagonist, who’s a taxi driver in my film Gaman (1978), the latter doesn’t realize that he would go to Mumbai and drive a taxi with no freedom and reason to come back to his village. Umrao was also trapped in a situation where she couldn't get out of it, and she then was also unacceptable in her own home. This was many people's predicament in Bollywood.

This is a good question because we were all battling between art and commerce at the time. Umrao Jaan is not a box office potboiler. My film was costless; it was the most inexpensive film made at the time. I don’t think expensive, and opulence translates into emotion. Fortunately, I didn't struggle as much because I was working for Air India while making the film. After six months into the film’s making, I myself decided to quit the job because I realized the film will take almost 3 years to be made. Mr. Ratan Tata was gracious and said, “Don't we have employees who play cricket and hockey? Let him make his movie.” I worked for them for 11 years. They were extremely generous.

I didn't watch the remake but saw bits of it and I didn't find anything. I didn't want to disturb my own world of Umrao Jaan. I had no point of reference when I made Umrao jaan. My point of reference was me looking inside. The remake’s point of reference was my film. They had to reinterpret it to make it look originally different and that’s not an easy step. The thing is that people don't understand the kind of layering that goes into a film that’s emotional and artistic. You're telling the story of textiles, the story of sunsets and sunrises in Awadh. You're telling the story of this light going into Rekha's eyes and coming out as a tear, so these are the nuances that the story contains. It is not my story now. I'm very fortunate that it has gone into a domain where viewers are the fortress protecting the film. They won’t allow any contamination. They want the purity of what Rekha could present to the audience. A melody which goes into people’s souls cannot be erased by some limb shaking music.

It's not easy for Umrao Jaan to find Rekha and for Rekha to find Umrao Jaan. There were layers of preparation that went into essaying this role. You must also be the right age. Kareena Kapoor has something. Alia Bhatt has something. They have a lot of magic, but I can't say till I open the book. I think actors today work in shifts. They have too many commitments, they're spread out too thin, so they don't immerse themselves in their roles as much as they should. Also, it's not just them, everybody is in a hurry these days. Everyone’s attention span has depleted.

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While he admits that biopics are demanding, actor Anant V Joshi is thrilled to play the lead role in the upcoming biopic on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Anant, who has been noticed for his roles in Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein (2022), 12th Fail (2023), and Maamla Legal Hai (2024), says, “I am eager to do different roles. I feel flattered to get this opportunity, especially since I am not an industry kid or a social media influencer. At a time when we talk about nepotism, outsiders like me getting such an opportunity makes me hopeful.”

The movie, titled Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi, is based on author-political analyst Shantanu Gupta’s book The Monk Who Became Chief Minister. It is directed by Ravindra Gautam, who is known for helming Maharani Season 2 (2022) and Ekkees Toppon Ki Salaami (2024). The film has been extensively shot in Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) and Lucknow.

Ask Anant about biopics connecting with the audience, and he says, “Any biopic made with honesty and integrity will work. It’s tough to make a film about a person in a powerful position who is loved by many. As an actor, it is a tightrope walk to work in a biopic; it can look like a caricature if you try to imitate someone.”

A recent event hosted by the Lucknow chapter of FICCI FLO, turned into a significant one with the National Award winning actress Shefali Shah interacting with the lady members in a session titled ‘Rise and Roar’.

Sharing her thoughts on various topics including her career, OTT, relationships and courage with Swati Verma and Vandita Agarwal, the Darlings actress began the session by sharing her warm first impression of the city. “What I loved about Lucknow is how clean the roads are, the city is spaced out and well-planned. Yes, Chowk is a little different, but that’s supposed to be like an old city,” she said with a smile.

Reflecting on her upbringing, Shefali spoke of her humble roots, being the daughter of a doctor and a Reserve Bank of India employee. “I’m extremely lucky and a privileged daughter because of my parents, whom I credit for my values,” she shared. She further shared about her journey into acting, Shefali revealed that it was never a planned move.

“I hated studies, and going into acting was never on the horizon. I wanted to be an air hostess. However, I started with theatre, and then it all just happened organically,” she said with a smile.

The Satya and Dil Dhadakne Do actress also spoke about some defining moments of her life, receiving cheers and applause from the women in the room. “As an actor, it might seem shocking, but my defining moment came just a couple of years ago, even after working for so long. That moment translated into more work. That happened with Delhi Crime for me, where my art was appreciated and I had the opportunity to play a lead role and work at my age,” she said, adding, “Earlier, our traditional films mostly revolved around a hero-heroine and a pair of friends. For a very long time, there was no space for real characters. However, with the arrival of OTT, we now give space and consideration to characters.”

Touching upon the evolution of content, Shefali called OTT a game-changer. “It’s not led by numbers, age, skin colour, or how beautiful or thin you are. OTT gives space for the real you and real characters. But yes, the charm of samosas and watching a movie in a theatre is irreplaceable. Still, OTT is a boon for actors like me, a platform where, in films, there hadn’t been much character work for someone like me.”

Speaking of another turning point in her life that required courage, she shared, “The second was when I chose to walk out of an unhappy relationship. Whether there is something else or not, the question was, do I want to live like this all my life? I probably could have been alone for the rest of my life, but I’m glad I took that step.”

On relationships and tolerance, the Hasratein and Juice actress, who is married to filmmaker Vipul Shah, added, “There is a basic level of tolerance, and anyone in a marriage will stretch themselves. But when taking someone for granted piles up, that’s when trouble begins. You may disagree, but respect towards each other must be there. Humour and wit are important to get through the journey of life, but we should also pay heed to situations when the jokes become too much,” she emphasized.

Known for her strong opinions and powerful characters, Shefali has perhaps not done many films but says she has always chosen roles with substance. “When you decide to be that kind of actor, then you don’t get to do many films, because characters like these don’t come often. The kind of work I do doesn’t come often, and I’ve learned to say no—and I have the privilege to do so. I am happiest on set. Even though I don’t necessarily love all the people, I love the give and take in this craft.”

As the session drew to a close, and the women keenly listened to the profound conversation, Shefali, who has two sons Aryaman and Maurya, also reflected on parenting. “Earlier, it used to be our mothers who led the narrative; now our children do. My parents taught me to be selfless. But now our kids are teaching us how self-preservation is important too. Parenting is both a bane and a boon, and it’s a different journey for each parent,” she reflected.

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Bollywood actor Arshad Warsi, known for his iconic role in Munna Bhai MBBS and timeless performances, was in the city for work. In an exclusive interview, he reflected on his career, his affection for Lucknow, and the changes in the entertainment industry. Having visited Lucknow several times in the past, the Jolly LLB and Golmaal actor shared his thoughts about the city’s charm, saying, “There are many beautiful places around the world, but only a few cities have their own character, and that’s Lucknow for me.”

Having shot two of his films Sehar and Dedh Ishqiya in the city, the actor recalled his connection with Lucknow and shared about the city’s warmth and generosity. “Once, while shooting, Naseer Sahab mentioned we hadn’t had a decent kebab in days. All we had to do was say it out loud and suddenly people started bringing kebabs for us. That’s the kind of generosity I noticed, especially in places like Punjab and Lucknow.”

Noting that today’s platforms, especially OTT, have made it easier for new talent to thrive, Warsi reflecting on the evolution of the film industry, said “It’s always been difficult to be an actor, but I’d say it’s easier now than when I started. Back then, we didn’t have the luxury of multiple platforms, it was just films. Either you succeeded in films or you went back home but with the advent of OTT and other digital spaces, actors today have more spaces to showcase their craft.”

When asked if he would approach his career differently if he was to start his acting career today, he said, “Maybe I wouldn’t have started with comedy. Once people see you in a genre, it sticks with them and you end up doing more of the same. But for me, it worked out because I started with comedy and then took on serious roles. Acting, I enjoy every bit of it, be it comedy or drama. I just played a dacoit in a film recently, I love exploring all these shades.”

In discussing the rise of OTT platforms, Arshad Warsi expressed a genuine appreciation, saying, “These spaces have given jobs, passion and bread and butter to so many talented actors, writers, directors.” He continued, “Because of OTT, we can witness many talented people, whom we never saw on the big screen earlier because they never did that sort of film. And today they have a platform.”

When asked if OTT has affected the magic of traditional cinema, Warsi responded, “The charm can never be reduced because there are certain things you can only enjoy on the big screen. Movies like Pathaan and Avengers cannot be enjoyed on a small screen.”

Reflecting on his long span of career, when Arshad was asked if he thinks the industry has still not utilized his talent fully he said, “I will be selfish to say, but I have an immense amount of talent and as much as you use me, I still feel I’m wasted. Even Shah Rukh would probably feel he’s underutilized, it’s boundless.”

He further added, “No matter how many years later you ask me this question, I’ll still say I wish people had used more of my ability.”

When asked if he felt apprehensive about taking on brief yet memorable roles that aren’t always central, the Dhamaal and Kabul Express actor shared, “It doesn’t make me apprehensive playing characters that are not always centrally located. I’m interested in doing good films and things that I’ll be proud of when I get old. But not otherwise, it doesn’t matter to me.”

When discussing his upcoming projects, Arshad Warsi shared a glimpse, saying, “There’s a film called Ghamasan that’s coming, and another one called Bhagwat. There are a few others I’m going to start soon.”

As for the return of his beloved character Circuit, he said, “I am also hoping that Munna Bhai MBBS could happen again soon.”

In Lucknow recently as a chief guest and mentor at a creative session in an all-girls school, actor Iqbal Khan shared that the city has held a special place in his heart for reasons more than one. In an exclusive chat with us, the Na Umra Ki Seema Ho actor shared about what all he did in Lucknow and how being a part of the television industry for more than two decades feels like. Excerpts...

I first visited Lucknow to promote my show Kaisa Ye Pyar Hai in 2005. But I hadn’t had the chance to go out and promote it as I was shooting continuously. So, we went to a mall in Gomti Nagar, where a stage was set for the actors of the show. So, when I climbed the stage I saw hundreds of youngsters surrounding the stage and cheering for me and going crazy for me. That’s when I realized that a lot had changed for me professionally as far as stardom was concerned. This realization hit me when I was in Lucknow so definitely this place holds a special place in my heart. Lucknow is a beautiful place to be in. This time since I had some time at hand so I went to Deva Sharif Dargah early in the cold morning and the trip was amazing.

Also, at the school I visited, I was blown away by the sheer talent in the city. The students painted amazing artworks. They were such confident girls, and it was good to interact with them and share my experience with them too. I considered myself lucky that I was invited to interact with the girls, as I myself am a father to two beautiful daughters.

Everybody has their own way of doing things and their own maths and science, but I believe so many shows are going off-air because nobody is really understanding that we have to make shows with emotions. We need to put less of maths in making a television show for it to work. Now there is so much of research on the taste of television audiences, as in what is working and what’s not, whereas there was a time when there was no research and shows were made from the heart and they worked so well. Strangely, because of these researches and surveys, these shows are not able to work and are going off air so soon. This analysis is harming TV shows rather than working for them.

As far as the content is concerned, we do have one or two shows which are nice and change the pattern that people are used to watching. When I had started working on television, the content was really cool. The research done now on the viewing says that the TV audience wants the present content, but I wonder why are the shows not working then.

Working for the TV industry has definitely changed a lot in the decade since I began working. It used to be crazy hours working on TV when I had started working on the medium. Nobody used to go home then which included not only the actors but the whole cast and crew and the producers too. At that time, I used to go home just to take a shower and then come back on set. Now things are much better and streamlined. In fact I haven’t shot for more than 10-12 hours a day for my last few shows and I have also seen the unit packing up at the same time. It has become more disciplined and regularized.

In Lucknow recently, the Aaj Ki Raat fame actress Tamannaah Bhatia shared how she has a special connection with the City of Nawabs. The Sikandar Ka Muqaddar actress also talked about her journey in the entertainment world, her spiritual side and more. Excerpts...

Actually, Lucknow is my father’s birthplace. My dad was born in Lucknow, and it is always special to be here. He hasn’t shared with me much about the city, as he himself was quite young when he left Lucknow, but it feels really nice to come to a place that is your parent’s birthplace. It is more emotional than anything else. I don’t know anything about the city, but wherever I am going to a place, being a foodie, I want to know about the food there. So, I am getting a lot of food recommendations for Lucknow - both vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

Haan bahot bachpan mein I had changed it to this. When I started working in my teens. usi time pe. I changed it to Tamannaah. And clearly, it has been a fairly good decision.

For me, it was a very strong urge to do what I am doing today. While I was doing theatre and some kind of work initially, the performing arts also brought a kind of joy to me. Even though sometimes the timings have been crazy, it never felt like work to me. Strangely, people keep asking me what I do for pleasure, but for me, work only has been my pleasure, and I never seek pleasure anywhere else. Having said that, do I like that every day, maybe not! Do I have boring days, yes! Do I have dreadful days, yes! And would I still do this? Yes! I do have days like ‘Mummy mujhe school nahi jaana hai’ but largely I wake up enthusiastically for my work.

The OTT boom has actually done a great thing by giving people variety. Now the viewers are not restricted to watching a certain kind of genre. When we were growing up, I remember we didn’t have that kind of exposure and had to rent out a handful of international CDs available in the market. Today, literally everybody has choice. So, what OTT brought is a platform for different kinds of cinema to be showcased. Now because of the OTT one can be focused on the art form more and not worry so much about the numbers. With theatres, there is always a number game, which is very important for it to survive because it is very expensive art form. We can’t make very experimental films with theatre audience because it is still community viewing and has to appeal to the masses to do well. But with OTT, now we have movies that only a certain section enjoys. OTT has created a choice situation for the viewers.

I am not in the right position to answer this question, but I do feel like there has to be some space for creative people to make things that they really feel strongly about. I do feel that something that is really problematic, the platforms are taking care of it. OTT platforms today are so careful about the kind of content they are putting out and they are doing a great job of being sensitive to most people and understanding that we want people to consume content.

We have always been doing good work, but somehow it has gotten into the limelight now. With films, we are now more bothered about whether they evoke some kind of emotion in us as a viewer, language no bar. South has told a lot of rooted stories that are about their land and about their people and projects there are now magnum opus kind, especially the folklore ones. And we also have a Baahubali from the South, which is exceptional.

For me, I was always intrigued as in who am I? Those questions were very prevalent at a very young age. I feel lucky to have been in an artistic field where exploration is a part of the job we do. We are playing different people in each character, and you can’t do that unless you understand yourself well. The best thing that spirituality has done for me is that I can’t be emotionally manipulated anymore. Spirituality makes a lot of things very apparent, like you start seeing things for what they are. I am a regular meditator now.

For me, it is different when actors try to attempt a song. Because I felt like I wanted to perform like the character Shama would do it. I had a character to back it up and not do just another dance number. And I think that’s why it also got a distinct flavour of its own. Also, there was fluidity and grace in a rather fast-paced song. It was a fusion of a ghazal and techno. But yes, we didn’t imagine it while shooting that people would love it so much. I still get so much love for Aaj Ki Raat.

Shilpa Rao with husband Ritesh Krishnan in Lucknow

Since she sang her first playback song Tose Naina Lage Re in the film Anwar in 2007, Shilpa Rao has captivated music afficianados. Be it Khuda Jane from the Ranbir Kapoor-Deepika Padukone starrer Bachna Ae Haseeno, or Tere Hawale from Laal Singh Chaddha, Chaleya from the SRK starrer Jawan and Besharam Rang from Pathaan, Shilpa’s unusual voice has garnered much love and appreciation from her fans across.

Her love for Urdu poetry and ghazals is well-known and the singer has been a very successful independent artiste as well. In Lucknow recently, the singer shared thoughts on Lucknow, which also happens to be her sasural, to changes in the music industry, and more...

My first memory of Lucknow is from when my dad used to visit the city for work here. He would always bring back beautiful chikankari sarees or suits for my mom. Later, when I started visiting Lucknow for my concerts, I fell in love with the food and the language. There’s a charm and beauty in Lucknow that is truly special.

Art, in any form—whether it’s music, painting, dance, or poetry—brings people closer. That’s what I felt while working on the music platform. Music has the unique ability to cross borders and connect people, and that’s what made the experience so meaningful to me.

We listen to Pakistani compositions and songs, and they listen to our music. This exchange of music and culture has always existed and will continue, driven by a never-ending love for art and tradition.

The industry evolves every six months. There are constant changes, phases, and trends. It’s important to keep evolving and growing with the times to stay relevant in this ever-changing industry. There was a time when female voices were scarce in the industry. Now, there are many female-driven albums, songs, and even films. This is a beautiful change to witness.

Autotune is just a symptom, not the main problem. The real issue is that people aren’t taking the time to learn music properly. They’re not understanding the art and skill behind it. If people learn music well, the whole system will improve. So, the real problem is not learning music.

Every time I see people reacting to my songs, it feels surreal. That feeling never gets old, and it’s always magical to see how music touches lives.

It’s about creating equal opportunities for all genders. I want to see more independent, unique, and authentic voices coming forward. The more diverse voices we have, the richer our industry will be.

Rao’s two looks in Maalik—bearded (right) and clean-shaven (left)

Four releases in 2024 have kept Rajkummar Rao busy, but he is in no mood to slow down. Last week, the actor wrapped up the shoot of Maalik in Kanpur. What makes the Pulkit-directed film special for the leading man is that it marks his first out-and-out action entertainer.

Exploring a genre for the first time requires intense prep. Sure enough, Rao started prepping for the action fare as soon as he wrapped up the shoot of his last offering, Vicky Aur Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, in April.

A source reveals, “Raj rigorously worked out to build a lithe physique. Jigra’s action director Vikram Dahiya was roped in to design the action set-pieces, and helped the leading man in his prep. While the actor has flirted with the genre earlier in Hit: The First Case [2022], this is the first time he will be seen doing action on such a massive scale. The film rolled in Lucknow in the last week of August, and since then, it was a straight three-month schedule as the unit filmed in Lucknow, Benares and Unnao. They shot a grand Diwali celebration scene in Brahmavart Ghat, lighting thousands of diyas. Their last leg was in Kanpur where they shot the protagonist’s wedding sequence, before calling it a wrap three days ago.”

Maalik, also starring Manushi Chhillar, marks Rao’s second collaboration with Pulkit. If the actor-director duo’s maiden project was the historical drama, Bose: Dead/Alive (2017), their next outing hails from a different school of cinema.

The source elaborates, “It has been designed as a massy offering. Rajkummar sports two looks in the movie—a clean-shaven one, and the other is a rugged, bearded look. His character transforms from a ruffian to a gangster. He has shot several action set-pieces that include using weapons as well as performing hand-to-hand combat.”

Bengali superstar Prosenjit plays Rao’s mentor in Maalik.

Although The Legend Of Maula Jatt has not yet received clearance to release in India, Fawad Khan has begun his return to Bollywood. The Pakistani actor and Vaani Kapoor kickstarted the shoot of their romantic comedy in London on September 28. “It is a 40-day schedule from start to finish,” a source said about the film directed by Aarti S Bagdi.

Tentatively titled Abir Gulal and produced by Vivek Agrawal of Udta Punjab (2016), Super 30 (2019), and Vikram Vedha (2023) fame, the film revolves around two emotionally wounded individuals who cross paths by fate, help heal each other, and eventually fall in love.

After Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), this will be Khan’s first appearance in Hindi cinema. The ban on Pakistani artistes in India began after the 2016 Uri terror attack. “The movie is about a London-based chef [Khan] and a simple, traditional girl from India [Kapoor], who has come to visit the city,” said the source, adding that  it is a simple yet well-crafted love story.

“[The cast and crew] will shoot across the city until November 10. Malaika Arora and Ridhi Dogra will join the unit in London. After that, Fawad will return to Pakistan, while the team will resume the shoot in Mumbai for a week. The principal shoot and songs are being shot in London,” said the source.

On October 17, 2023, the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking an absolute or complete ban on Pakistani artistes in India, noting that it would hinder efforts to promote peace, unity, and cultural harmony.