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Rajeev Masand

Articles by Rajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Sun, sand and bromance

Healthy male friendships aren’t often depicted honestly on screen, but when directors get it right, it makes for powerful viewing

It’s been 22 years since Dil Chahta Hai, a generation-defining film about the lives and loves of three male friends, was released. Yet it remains one of the most true-to-life depictions of male friendship in modern Hindi cinema.

lifestyle

Updated on Aug 10, 2023 08:24 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Switched at birth

When one actor turns down a career-defining role over scheduling conflicts or creative differences, another actor wins

The Indian adaptation of The Night Manager stars Aditya Roy Kapur (above), whose performance is being lauded. The role was originally offered to Hrithik Roshan.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 19, 2023 07:24 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: The adjustment bureau

In Bollywood, a trip-up can go viral in minutes. Good PR can distract and course correct, but it comes at a cost. Celebrities often end up looking too rehearsed

Vicky Kaushal and Salman Khan embraced on the IIFA red carpet, after an earlier video of Khan ignoring Kaushal went viral.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 19, 2023 07:47 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: With stars in our eyes

Meeting your childhood idols doesn’t have to be a bad thing; you should tell them how much they mean to you

In the early ’90s, Rajeev Masand was a proud Rishi Kapoor fan. “When I met him, he was brash, opinionated, and – believe it or not – charming,” he writes.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 21, 2023 05:25 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: A few foreign fumbles

India’s attitude to Hollywood celebrities is a weird mix of reverence and revulsion. Surely we can work out a healthier mix?

From Zendaya to Gigi Hadid (above), the foreign celebrities who visited Mumbai last month got more than they bargained for from the Indian paparazzi. (Shutterstock)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 19, 2023 07:12 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: The world is not enough

India is learning from DC and Marvel. Up next: Series and films set in crossover-friendly cop, spy and horror universes

Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas star in Citadel, a new spy series that will also have Indian, Italian and Spanish sister shows.

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 06:57 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: On tour with the stars

From making and breaking friendships to igniting new romances, Bollywood tours involve a lot more than song and dance

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Madhuri Dixit perform to Dola Re, from the 2002 film Devdas, in LA, during the Unforgettable Tour of 2008. (HT ARCHIVES)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 07:21 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Hidden treasures

The big surprise on The Romantics is seeing the reclusive director Aditya Chopra. Why do some celebrities stay out of the spotlight?

The Romantics, the new four-part docuseries on Netflix, celebrates the contribution of Yash Chopra and his banner, Yash Raj Films, to Indian cinema. (@NETFLIX_IN)

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 07:36 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Taking in the sites

Half the fun of watching a movie is checking out the locations and hoping to visit them one day. Here are some favourites

You can’t go to Goa and not recreate that shot of the three friends hanging out at Chapora Fort in Dil Chahta Hai

lifestyle

Updated on Jul 24, 2023 07:57 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Dear world, can we have a recycle bin?

We’re going to be shifting home soon and the folks have been insisting for months now to get rid of anything that one doesn’t need

Director Steven Spielberg signing a copy of the book Jaws: Memories from Martha’s Vineyard in 2013

lifestyle

Published on Jan 20, 2023 10:37 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: The last of the heart to hearts

Tabassum and Barbara Walters set the standards for honest, engaging chat shows. Today’s shows are just PR

Tabassum (left) seen here with actor Chunky Panday, was a child actor (inset) whose talk show was very popular

lifestyle

Published on Jan 06, 2023 10:44 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: ‘Tis the season for feel-good holiday films

Christmas always gets me all warm and fuzzy

Emma Thompson nailed her performance in Love Actually, which still remains one of the most popular Christmas movies

lifestyle

Published on Dec 23, 2022 11:58 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: The mind of a movie star

They’ll be happy to do what you need them to, but only if it aligns with their own interests, and maybe rightly so

Actors could feel insecure about their careers, their talent, and being judged constantly (Hexcode)

lifestyle

Updated on Dec 10, 2022 12:00 AM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Once more, with feeling

Early on in Quentin Tarantino’s brand new book Cinema Speculation, the auteur behind some of contemporary Hollywood’s most seminal films, jogs his mind back to the year 1970, when, at the age of seven, he accompanied his mother and stepfather to watch what he remembers as his first adult film

Jaws 3-D may not have been a very good film, but it was an experience

lifestyle

Published on Nov 25, 2022 10:00 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Same old bottle, same old whine

Remake Fatigue seems to have hit Bollywood’s audiences this year. It’s time now for genuine creativity

Brahmastra, an original film, was one of only four Hindi movies that performed well in 2022

lifestyle

Published on Nov 12, 2022 12:05 AM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Drama in real life

By the time you’re reading this, Bollywood’s two big Diwali releases will be in cinemas already, and each will either be on its way to becoming a hit, or losing ground

Past competitors at the box office during Diwali have been (clockwise from top) Jaan-e-Mann; Housefull 4; Ra. One; and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo

lifestyle

Published on Oct 29, 2022 01:23 AM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoiler’s Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Curveball at the Oscars

It’s nothing short of baffling how some people make the same mistake over and over again

While Chhello Show (Last Film Show; right) is India’s official entry to the Oscars, most believe RRR (left) deserved it more

lifestyle

Published on Oct 15, 2022 12:44 AM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: How not to murder a critic

When filmmakers react to reviews, why do they always lose the plot? Critics have gotten a bad rap for as long as one can remember

R Balki’s new movie, Chup, is about a serial killer who murders film critics

lifestyle

Updated on Oct 01, 2022 12:02 AM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead: Love on a 16-inch screen

The one advantage of a long flight is the opportunity to catch up with films. Do you have any go-to movies you watch while travelling?

Channing Tatum’s latest release, Dog, is a much deeper film than it lets on

lifestyle

Published on Sep 17, 2022 02:17 AM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: A 5-step guide for Bollywood to fix itself

It isn’t the boycotts and the films from the South that are hurting India’s favourite film industry. It’s the industry itself

(Top to bottom) Shefali Shah, Jaideep Ahlawat and Pankaj Tripathi all had massive successes on OTT platforms

lifestyle

Published on Sep 03, 2022 01:43 AM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: 5 things no movie star wants to hear

To avoid full-on drama, tactful diplomacy is the only way one can go about when conducting tough conversations

Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff allegedly slashed their fees for the upcoming movie, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan 2

lifestyle

Published on Aug 19, 2022 07:21 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Previews and the art of the feel-good fib

Filing out of a preview theatre as the lights come back on at the end of a screening, it’s hard to miss the air of anxiety, and occasionally desperation, that hangs over the reception area where director, producer, and lead actors have gathered

Preview screenings or ‘trial shows’ are held before a film is released to gauge reactions

lifestyle

Published on Aug 05, 2022 09:13 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: How the West was won

When Hollywood signs Indian actors, it’s because the industry needs them. Have you watched some of these new films and shows?

Actor Dhanush starring in The Gray Man is a big win for representation

lifestyle

Published on Jul 22, 2022 07:23 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoiler’s Ahead by Rajeev Masand: How Bollywood defanged the paparazzi

‘Paps’ abroad will do anything to snap a once-in-a-lifetime shot. In Mumbai, they’re simply publicity-providers

Deepika Padukone’s ‘airport looks’ are a much-discussed topic

lifestyle

Published on Jul 09, 2022 12:21 AM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: A library of stars

The days of DVD parlours meant great new flicks—and a chance to see what Bollywood itself was watching

In Good Luck to You, Leo Grande Emma Thompson plays a woman who embarks on a journey of sexual self-discovery and acceptance

lifestyle

Published on Jun 24, 2022 10:16 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Heroes of the hustle

It was passion alone that brought us two of the biggest films of all time, including Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar’s Sholay

Javed Akhtar (left)and Salim Khan were an Indian screenwriting duo who worked together on 24 films between 1971–1987

lifestyle

Published on Jun 10, 2022 08:04 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: The madness for movies

Behind the glitz and glamour of the Cannes Film Festival lies 11 days of hectic manoeuvres and negotiations

Deepika Padukone (left) and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan on the Cannes red carpet this year

lifestyle

Published on May 28, 2022 02:04 AM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: Secrets of true superstars

As Shah Rukh Khan and Tom Cruise prove, a big part of being a movie celeb today is about public conduct

Shah Rukh Khan takes a selfie with his fans on Eid (above); a still from Pathaan (inset)

lifestyle

Published on May 14, 2022 02:39 AM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Spoilers Ahead by Rajeev Masand: DQ and the rise of the Southern star

Once dismissed as ‘local heroes’, actors from the film industries of the South seem poised to displace Bollywood celebs

Dulquer Salmaan has already established himself as a crossover star

lifestyle

Published on Apr 29, 2022 08:28 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

Writers Salim-Javed spill the beans about their split

They wrote 21 Bollywood films together, including iconic films like Zanjeer, Deewar and Sholay. Yet, hit script writer duo Salim-Javed split in 1987, over ego issues. The writers talk abou their split in their first ever joint interview in 25 years.

entertainment

Updated on Jan 13, 2014 07:00 PM IST

ByRajeev Masand

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Rajeev Masand

Healthy male friendships aren’t often depicted honestly on screen, but when directors get it right, it makes for powerful viewing

When one actor turns down a career-defining role over scheduling conflicts or creative differences, another actor wins

In Bollywood, a trip-up can go viral in minutes. Good PR can distract and course correct, but it comes at a cost. Celebrities often end up looking too rehearsed

Meeting your childhood idols doesn’t have to be a bad thing; you should tell them how much they mean to you

India’s attitude to Hollywood celebrities is a weird mix of reverence and revulsion. Surely we can work out a healthier mix?

India is learning from DC and Marvel. Up next: Series and films set in crossover-friendly cop, spy and horror universes

From making and breaking friendships to igniting new romances, Bollywood tours involve a lot more than song and dance

The big surprise on The Romantics is seeing the reclusive director Aditya Chopra. Why do some celebrities stay out of the spotlight?

Half the fun of watching a movie is checking out the locations and hoping to visit them one day. Here are some favourites

We’re going to be shifting home soon and the folks have been insisting for months now to get rid of anything that one doesn’t need

Tabassum and Barbara Walters set the standards for honest, engaging chat shows. Today’s shows are just PR

Christmas always gets me all warm and fuzzy

They’ll be happy to do what you need them to, but only if it aligns with their own interests, and maybe rightly so

Early on in Quentin Tarantino’s brand new book Cinema Speculation, the auteur behind some of contemporary Hollywood’s most seminal films, jogs his mind back to the year 1970, when, at the age of seven, he accompanied his mother and stepfather to watch what he remembers as his first adult film

Remake Fatigue seems to have hit Bollywood’s audiences this year. It’s time now for genuine creativity

By the time you’re reading this, Bollywood’s two big Diwali releases will be in cinemas already, and each will either be on its way to becoming a hit, or losing ground

It’s nothing short of baffling how some people make the same mistake over and over again

When filmmakers react to reviews, why do they always lose the plot? Critics have gotten a bad rap for as long as one can remember

The one advantage of a long flight is the opportunity to catch up with films. Do you have any go-to movies you watch while travelling?

It isn’t the boycotts and the films from the South that are hurting India’s favourite film industry. It’s the industry itself

To avoid full-on drama, tactful diplomacy is the only way one can go about when conducting tough conversations

Filing out of a preview theatre as the lights come back on at the end of a screening, it’s hard to miss the air of anxiety, and occasionally desperation, that hangs over the reception area where director, producer, and lead actors have gathered

When Hollywood signs Indian actors, it’s because the industry needs them. Have you watched some of these new films and shows?

‘Paps’ abroad will do anything to snap a once-in-a-lifetime shot. In Mumbai, they’re simply publicity-providers

The days of DVD parlours meant great new flicks—and a chance to see what Bollywood itself was watching

It was passion alone that brought us two of the biggest films of all time, including Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar’s Sholay

Behind the glitz and glamour of the Cannes Film Festival lies 11 days of hectic manoeuvres and negotiations

As Shah Rukh Khan and Tom Cruise prove, a big part of being a movie celeb today is about public conduct

Once dismissed as ‘local heroes’, actors from the film industries of the South seem poised to displace Bollywood celebs

They wrote 21 Bollywood films together, including iconic films like Zanjeer, Deewar and Sholay. Yet, hit script writer duo Salim-Javed split in 1987, over ego issues. The writers talk abou their split in their first ever joint interview in 25 years.

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