When a contestant sits on the hot seat, Amitabh Bachchan — the eternal host of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) — asks the questions appearing on his computer screen. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have questions for the veteran actor. In tonight’s episode of the quiz game show, the cast of Ikkis — Jaideep Ahlawat, Simar Bhatia, and director Sriram Raghavan — finally satisfy their curiosity. But that’s not all.

The episode also features Amitabh’s grandson Agastya Nanda — who plays Param Vir Chakra recipient Arun Khetarpal in Ikkis — along with his sister Navya Naveli Nanda and mother Shweta Bachchan Nanda, albeit on video.

Giving a low-down on the special episode, KBC’s showrunner Sujata Sanghamitra says, “The highlight [tonight] are the Bachchans [and Nandas] coming together to support Agastya and [remembering] late actor Dharamendra. The whole episode is a mix of fun, emotions, and patriotism. Navya and Shweta also expressed their pride in Agastya’s performance in Ikkis.”

The episode begins with a tribute to Dharmendra, followed by Raghavan, Ahlawat, and Agastya recounting the experience of working with the icon. “Throughout the season whenever there is talk on Dharam ji, Amitabh sir spoke about his close [friend]. He has been very disturbed by the loss. [Often seen reciting his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s poems], sir discussed about how Dharam ji wrote his own poetry in the film with the cast,” shares the showrunner.

Sanghamitra recounts how Raghavan compared Agastya to a young Amitabh from his Saat Hindustani (1969) days. “Sriram shared that he met Agastya when he was 21, the same age as the protagonist of his film.”

In the final leg of the episode, an inquisitive Ahlawat takes over the mic to ask Amitabh about his family — “Who is the most pampered? Who keeps track of everybody’s movement?” “[He said that] they have a family group so every morning he knows who is going where. Sir gets embarrassed when questions are asked about the family,” she smiles.

Actor-politician Jaya Bachchan recently revealed during a panel discussion that she does not want her granddaughter, entrepreneur Navya Naveli Nanda, to marry.

When asked whether she would be comfortable seeing Navya, 28, give up her career after marriage like she did, the 77-year-old responded, “I don’t want Navya to get married.”

Pressed about whether she considers marriage an outdated institution, she said, “Yes, absolutely. But I’m a grandmother now and Navya turns 28 in a few days. I’m too old to advise young girls on how to raise children.”

She added that times have changed and that children today “are so smart, they will outsmart you”.

Reflecting on her own five-decade marriage to actor Amitabh Bachchan, she described the idea of marriage with a familiar saying: “Woh Dilli ka ladoo; khao toh mushkil, na khao toh mushkil. Just enjoy life.”

Navya is the daughter of businessman Nikhil Nanda and author Shweta Bachchan-Nanda, and the niece of actor Abhishek Bachchan. She graduated from Fordham University in New York in 2020 and is currently pursuing the blended MBA programme at the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A). She is also the host of a podcast in which her mother and grandmother regularly appear as guests.

Shanaya, Suhana, Ananya and Navya

In an industry where relationships often flicker with the arc lights, Ananya Panday, Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor and Navya Naveli Nanda share a bond that predates their public personas and glamorous debuts. Their friendship isn’t one forged by fame, but one nurtured since childhood — long before red carpets, fan pages, and film offers became part of their vocabulary. They were just little girls then, dressing up in their mothers' saris, mimicking grown-up tea parties and playing make-believe games. From playdates and vacations to stepping into adulthood under a media microscope, these four have grown up together and grown into themselves — with grace and grit, and always cheering for each other.

Ananya made her Bollywood debut first and has since steadily built her career in the film industry. Suhana is a talent waiting to explode, and Shanaya made a fine debut recently. Navya has consciously chosen a path outside showbiz as an entrepreneur and changemaker. But despite their divergent journeys, their bond has remained strong, steady, and refreshingly real.

Talking about their friendship of many years, Ananya says, “We have shared our dreams while growing up, but as much as people think we do, we don't really talk that much about work. We talk about all kinds of things that girls of our age do.”

Ask her what she admires the most about each of her closest friends, and she responds with enthusiasm. “Suhana is very kind and soft-hearted and she gets affected by things very easily. Some people think that ‘sensitive’ is a bad word, but I believe being sensitive is a good quality. As an actor, you need to have sensitivity, and this is Suhana’s huge strength.”

Moving on to Shanaya, who recently made her debut, Ananya adds, “Shanaya is a very strong individual; she can keep going and going, and that’s an admirable quality in her.”

Navya, who chose to stay away from acting despite coming from a legendary film lineage, gets a shoutout too. “Navya is so smart, and she’s found her own path, and that’s amazing. It’s inspiring how she went back to do an MBA. She’s an entrepreneur, has started her own NGO, and has 4-5 businesses running at the same time.”

On a lighter note, we ask Ananya if the four of them were to star in a reality show together twenty years from now, what would it be called, and she bursts into laughter and says, “I don’t know, but we like to call ourselves Charlie's Angels. We actually have a chat group called Ananya's Fans (laughs!). I guess our show could be called Charlie’s Angels.”

This girl gang is a refreshing reminder of the joy of having friends who’ve known you long before the world did.

Ananya, if you were on a road trip with Suhana, Shanaya and Navya, who would take on the following roles:

The Planner: Navya

The Insta Queen: Me

The Adventurer: Shanaya and Navya

The Chiller: Navya and Me

Next on Bombay Times Lounge, we have Ananya Panday, the actress who reigns the Gen-Z glam brigade with rizz and charm. She’s the girl who’s not afraid to keep it real — onscreen, on the ‘gram, or in interviews. She adds a dash of fun and spark to everything she does, and there’s no mistaking she’s carved her spot in tinsel town, and she’s owning it with style.During our chat, she had the audience charmed and hooked from the word go. Here’s a quick glimpse of what’s coming up soon on the full episode, which will drop on the Bombay Times YouTube Channel.

Ananya, who has won love and admiration for her recent roles in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, Kesari Chapter 2 and the web series Call Me Bae, admits that in the beginning, her perspective of cinema, was in a way limited, and her priorities different.

“I always wanted to be an actress. I don’t know if other people believed me or thought whether I could be one. When I started out, the kind of cinema that I had watched until then was very different. I was, and I still am a full-on Bollywood bachcha. Earlier, I only knew there’s one way of acting and one kind of movie. My vision was very microscopic and when I started acting, I was just happy that I was on the big screen. I was singing, dancing and doing all those things that I’ve seen growing up. But with more films and more roles, now I’ve fallen in love with the craft of acting,” she says.

“Now, I enjoy going deeper a lot more. I want to challenge myself. People keep differentiating between commercial cinema and offbeat cinema. I think both are equally tough. People tell me, 'Oh, you have done a film like Kesari Chapter 2, it must have been so challenging',” says Ananya.

She adds, “Even commercial cinema with all the singing, lip-syncing, dancing, and the look of being in love with those glossy eyes – all of that is also a form of acting. It requires as much effort, if not more. It took me time to get comfortable in my space. In my first few films, I was very nervous. I would just do whatever the director asked me to. Gehraiyaan, changed that, it was like a turning point.”

It’s no secret that Ananya is part of B-Town’s coolest girl gang — with Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor and Navya Naveli Nanda. Her face lights up as she talks about her besties – their bond and shared dreams.

She recalls, “We’ve been acting in our own way since we were kids. We would play this game called Ad-Ad where one person would be the judge, and the rest of us had to create an ad for a product and present it to the judge. We played this for years. We would spy on our moms and see what they’re doing at their tea party and then come back and imitate them. When I look at some of those videos now, I am like…what were we doing? We all shared our dreams.”

Seeing her friends chase their paths fills her with pride. “It felt surreal seeing Suhana in The Archies, Shanaya is soon going to make her debut. It’s admirable how Navya has turned an entrepreneur and has chosen her own path.”

I am a romantic at heart and I love everything about love. I believe in 90s kind of love, not the running away from home and all that, but more like pyaar dosti hai and that one person is your everything. I’m quite a hopeless romantic!

“I was going to say good looks, good looks, good looks! (laughs). On a serious note, I’d say someone who is very funny. I need to be laughing all the time because my dad (Chunky Panday) has always made me laugh. Someone who can be a friend and a great companion above everything else, because I believe pyaar dosti hai, however, cliche it sounds. And a man who treats everyone equally and with respect. Good looks can come in fourth! (laughs)”

Last year, Orry (social media star Orhan Awatramani) threw a Halloween bash at his home in Mumbai, and this year, B-town’s favourite boy is celebrating Halloween week, where he will be donning a variety of looks. Orry, who believes the occasion gives you a chance to express yourself through your outfit, will also be doing multiple Aamir Khan looks from his films including Taare Zameen Par and Ghajini.

Contrary to the quirky outfits he’s flaunting this Halloween, Orry invited Bombay Times home, as he slipped into some gory getups to celebrate the spookfest. “Nothing is more glamorous than scariness. Imagine you are running for life, barefoot, someone is chasing you and trying to kill you... isn’t that the most glamorous thing ever, as seen in films. I would love to be running for my life as long as I don’t die,” he says.

Ask him which horror character he identifies himself with, and he says, “Grand High Witch (Anne Hathaway’s character from The Witches, the dark fantasy comedy horror film).”

Orry, who enjoys participating in Halloween bashes as it tests his creative skills as he plans the whole look himself, shares some of his favourite looks from the parties he has attended. He says, “One of my first parties I attended was when I was in boarding school in Kodaikanal. I became a squid. I had blue makeup on my face, wore a blue outfit and on my head, I had a giant squid with its tentacles coming down on my body. In college, I dressed as Miley Cyrus and my friend was the Wrecking Ball. At Sussanne Khan’s party last year, I dressed as Frankenstein.”

While he loves all things spooky, Orry shares that he doesn’t believe in ghosts. “In boarding school, I thought I had paranormal encounters, but then I realized there was a scientific explanation to it.

Scream

Friday the 13th

Sorority Row

Prom Night

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Raaz

Witch: Sara Ali Khan. I think she can be a sexy witch

Nun: Ananya Panday. She can pull off this look well

Chucky: Palak Tiwari. She looks like Chucky

Zombie: Navya Naveli Nanda because I feel zombies have heavy eye makeup, and Navya with big smoky eyes can nail this look

(Halloween props sourced from: Mota’s Party Kingdom, Bandra)

Navya Naveli Nanda – Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Nikhil Nanda’s daughter – comes from an illustrious legacy. Her father’s side boasts four generations in business, and her mother’s family is steeped in cinema, with nana Amitabh Bachchan touching the 55-year milestone in the film industry this year. She tells us that as a family, “We believe and stand for the same things.” Yet, she has found her own voice, and a path that’s different from them all. Excerpts from a conversation with Navya, that’s honest, real, and yes, so refreshing:

My upbringing has shaped who I am, like it does for everyone. When we talk about being an entrepreneur at 21, I owe a lot of that to the privilege and where I come from. A lot of opportunities that I got are because of my privileged background, and I hope in my own way and through my hard work, I can create those opportunities for myself one day.

I am very grateful for everything I have been given, I think I’ve more than I deserve at times, so for me, it is important to see how I can turn around those opportunities and resources I have available and share those with others and maximize it.

I grew up in Delhi, where my dad’s side of the family lives and has been in business for four generations. My dadi, who passed away a few years ago, had a huge influence on me. She was an entrepreneur and an amazing woman. She would talk about her work with such enthusiasm, and always emphasized on women being financially independent, being able to work and having a sense of freedom in their profession. That heavily influenced me as I spent a lot of time with her. A lot of who she was and the way she was has shaped my ideas and thoughts when it came to what I wanted to do with my life.

Our conversations at home are similar to the podcast – unfiltered. We thought it would be nice to discuss the themes and kind of conversations we were having at home in a public forum. We wanted it to be as raw and organic as possible…It’s almost like you are sitting in our living room and hearing us talk. That’s what people really like – an insight into who we are as people rather than what we are supposed to be. Some of these topics are not spoken about with as much transparency, so we wanted to have three different generations put forth their opinions. In hope that by doing this, we can encourage more such transparent conversations amongst people.

When there is diversity of thought at home, there’s so much to learn from each other. My nani and mom are from different generations and their life experiences are very different from mine. There’s so much wisdom that I seek from them. They learn from me as well because what I say is new and different for them. They are very open to learning, especially my nani, who is still able to work at her age as she has adapted to the times. She has reinvented herself and she is open-minded, flexible, and curious. She is always keen to know what the youth is thinking. She always emphasizes how the youth should voice their opinions.

She was very enthusiastic and excited about it. She is the real star of the show. People really enjoy listening to her as she comes with so much wisdom, experience, and knowledge. She was a big driving force in making this possible, as she believes that these conversations should be had.

I don’t consider myself a celebrity, I think I have a lot more to do and achieve in life before I can be given that tag. Even if you see the work that I do or my social media, I always try to keep it real, organic and be myself. Being ourselves is the greatest gift we have, and I think being honest to who we are, where we come from and having respect for that is very important. I have tried to use my platform and my voice for things that are important to me and our society. So, it’s not a challenge (to be real), as I know what I am speaking up for is a genuine cause.

I have a lot to do in life. I have just started my work, I have a long, long way to go, a lot more to achieve and a lot of hard work to put in before I can even think about calling myself a celebrity or having an air about myself. I still believe that I need to do a lot more to prove myself and make my family proud. So, I don’t think of myself as a celebrity. I am working hard to make a change in the world.

One has to acknowledge it (privilege) and respect it. People often try to brush it under the carpet and shy away from it. I think it is important to recognize your privilege and know that there are certain things you have been given in your life which allow you to do what you do, and I am very grateful for that. It pushes you to make the most of what you are getting, because many are not getting that opportunity. I am trying my best to make the most of it, and not just use it for myself but also optimize it for others.

No, never! Even if I create content, it is centered around what I do. I am happy to be doing what I do. The podcast is my voice. It’s my way to express myself and stand up for what I believe in.

We (mom, nani and I) are largely on the same page. That is a testament to who we are as a family. Even during our conversations, we eventually come to the same conclusions. We believe and stand for the same things.

Podcaster Navya Naveli Nanda asserts that disagreements among the three women in her family — mother, author Shweta Bachchan and grandmother, actor Jaya Bachchan — keep them “aligned”. The 26-year-old recently launched the second season of her podcast What The Hell Navya, where the Bachchan women engage in discussions about varied topics, including financial independence, careers, love, parenting, friendship, etc. 

Addressing the dynamics, Navya shares, “There are issues and different life experiences. We are from three different generations. What I say is very Gen Z. That keeps [our relationship] exciting. The relationship between the three of us is the crux of the show.”

The podcast unveils a candid side of Jaya and Shweta, providing a glimpse rarely seen. When questioned about balancing Jaya’s strongly worded opinions in public, Nanda defends her grandmother, stating, “No one can have one side to them. Every time she’s spoken — professionally or personally — that’s her. She’s the most real person I’ve met. Everything we see is on her side. She always speaks her mind.”

Describing the three women as “very vocal and confident in our opinions”,  Nanda expresses her satisfaction that such shows ensure an “unfiltered and organic conversation”. She adds, “In that sense, there was no filter or barrier that we kept,” stating that they “rarely do any preparations before the camera rolls”.

Agastya Nanda, the grandson of actor Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, may appear to have an easy existence, but in a recent podcast with his sister Navya Naveli, he candidly disclosed going through a “bad phase of anxiety” during the shooting and release of his debut, The Archies (2023).

He revealed that religion and spirituality helped him overcome his nervousness and anxiety: “We’re so used to getting things in an instant that it’s easy to lose faith. It came naturally to me; I became religious and spiritual. When I started acting, I didn’t know if people would like me. So, I did my best and left the rest to God, to keep faith in something beyond me.” He added, “Whoever you believe in, whether it’s God, or energy. If you just pass on that burden, it relieves you.”

Sharing how he also found help online, Agastya said, “Today, in the times that we are in now, there’s a lot of stuff that can exhaust us. But there are a lot of available platforms to seek help. You can simply go on YouTube and say, ‘How do I feel less anxious? How do I feel more confident? How do I feel happy? How do I feel secure?’ All these things are out there. I searched on YouTube, ‘I’m feeling anxious, what do I do?’ I swear, it sounds stupid [but I did it].”

Agastya, who is gearing up for his second film, Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, also went on to discuss subjects such as toxic masculinity and male vulnerability on the podcast. He shared, “I believe you should embrace both your masculine and feminine sides, and show emotions. I show emotion, I am in touch with my feminine side. I believe in a healthy balance of both. I’ve never been told not to show emotions, so I don’t think it’s wrong.”

Since late June, Navya Naveli Nanda is on a road trip. But it is far from the classic road trip with friends in the monsoon. Instead, Nanda—granddaughter to Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, and daughter to Shweta Bachchan Nanda—has been travelling the length and breadth of the country, spreading the good word. Through You Grow Girl, a 30-day roadshow in eight cities of India, she wants to equip college students to tackle street harassment.

Delhi was her first stop, followed by Bengaluru. She recently started her Mumbai leg with a visit to the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) campus and Sophia College. “Next up, we have Pillai College [of Engineering],” says Nanda, who is collaborating with Yuvaa for the initiative.

“We are visiting five campuses [in each city] to talk about dealing with street harassment. It also trains people to either help themselves in such a situation, or to step in if they are a bystander.” The programme teaches men and women the 5D methodology— distract, delegate, document, delay and direct.

Her next stops will be Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Pune. Even as she helps women become self-reliant, Nanda emphasizes the role of men in promoting women’s safety. “As fathers, brothers, partners and teachers, men play crucial roles in women’s lives. They have a responsibility of creating safe spaces for women.”

The roadshow also offers a fellowship programme, thus tying in with her efforts towards women empowerment. “We want to create a community where we can foster ideas led by women and support them—be it financially or by way of mentorship and resources.”

What do you get when you have Jaya Bachchan, Shweta Bachchan Nanda and Navya Naveli Nanda together? A series of witty, candid and personal conversations, which can well be a treasure trove of wisdom and life lessons. Starting today, over the next 10 Saturdays, the three women are joining forces for What The Hell Navya, a podcast that will see them discuss a multitude of topics — from work to relationships, from financial independence to women’s health.

For Navya, who has carved a niche as an entrepreneur with EntrepreNaari and Aara Health, the podcast is a way to gain different perspectives. She reveals that the idea germinated from the chats she had with her family during the lockdowns. “We spoke about work, entrepreneurship and women, and realised that we wanted to put it out there, so that people could listen to them. These are important conversations, not just for my generation, but also for those in my mom and grandmother’s age bracket,” she shares.

Her actor-grandmother and mother were her companions of choice for the IVM-backed podcast. “My nani is always evolving with the times, and was excited to do something she hasn’t done before,” she says, adding that the audio medium is the most authentic way to tell a story.

“Some people can feel awkward in front of the camera. For us, it was seamless. So much so that we often forgot there is a mic. It felt as if we were talking in our living room,” she laughs.

Describing themselves as “a mercurial bunch”, Shweta says it was a no-brainer to team up with Bachchan and Navya. She adds, “There were some outbursts and emotions. But that’s the point of throwing three humans with opinions together.”

Navya admits it was a joy to be part of the trio from different generations as they shared their distinct viewpoints and discussed everyday topics that women across the country can relate to. “It’s important to voice your opinion and there’s no better place than your family to do that. There is so much we can learn from our elders. They have a vast experience and listening to what they have to say can be valuable for us. Also, one thing we observed is that even though we would debate [and have] our individual opinions, in the end, we came to the same conclusion.”

While Navya’s favourite episode is where her grandmother and mother discuss financial independence, Shweta says, “My mom and Navya were so candid on the episode about love and relationships.”

The chat would be incomplete without asking Navya what grandfather Amitabh Bachchan and uncle Abhishek thought about her new venture. “They are naturally excited. They know that we’re addressing topics that are important and will resonate with everyone.”

Set to air today, the prime time episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati will be its 1000th. It’s a prominent landmark for both, the show, as well as host Amitabh Bachchan — if the reality offering gave Bachchan’s career a new lease of life in 2000, the legend’s work made the series among the most popular ones on Indian television. It’s only fitting then that this landmark be celebrated. Arun Sheshkumar, who directed Bachchan in almost 600 episodes of KBC, says there was no better way to mark the occasion than to invite Bachchan’s family, including daughter Shweta and grand-daughter Navya Naveli Nanda as guests.

The cherry on the cake, we’re told, will be the debut appearance of Jaya Bachchan, on the show, albeit virtually. “This will be among the top five episodes of the 600 that I have directed. Initially, [Bachchan] had reservations about calling his family, because it could seem like a promotion. When he was convinced, Shweta and Navya were nervous. But, they became comfortable when we rolled. He kept switching from being KBC’s host to a proud father and grandfather,” says Sheshkumar.

Sheshkumar knew that viewers are hungry to see the man behind the star that Bachchan is, or has especially emerged to be in the last 21 years since KBC rolled. “In the years since KBC started, he has become more accessible to the common man; he has been available for the live audience, and has interacted with his fans on the set. In each episode, he talks to them, and acknowledges their importance. Whether in misery or pain, he has respected them.”

As is customary when celebrities attend the show, Navya donated her earnings for a noble cause. “It was to a lady who teaches children, so that nobody remains uneducated,” he reveals.

“We had Jaya ji’s availability for half an hour alone, but [she stayed for longer]. She shared personal anecdotes, pulled Mr Bachchan’s leg, while Navya pulled a lot of pranks on him.”