Beyond Bollywood

The Oscar-winning composer says he wanted a new challenge so set himself the task of writing and producing a musical romantic film - 99 Songs - with a new director, new actor AND it will be in three languages. AR believes times are changing and if you don't keep up with the ever-changing demands of music videos and churning out films within months then composers won't be relevant anymore. In this candid conversation with Haroon Rashid, find out what he thinks about remix culture and what he hums along to while chilling out at home.

Junior Bachchan takes a look back on his two decades in Bollywood - from the roles that made him uncomfortable to his new experimental phase. He's never seen a film as risky - whether it was pretending to be gay in Dostana, or playing the husband who loses his wife to another man in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. Abhishek thinks the audiences are now demanding more realistic films but he can't resist a "full-on masala film" with all the pomp and melodrama. Haroon also catches up with actress Aditi Rao Hydari as well as writer, director Neeraj on the anthology Ajeeb Daastaans, which is the latest Bollywood release on Netflix. Aditi says she doesn't mind being typecast - even if its for her forever glazed eyes!

From Dangal to Pagglait; Sanya Malhotra is trying to pick up roles that empower women. Her latest is a Netflix slice of life comedy where she plays a young widow. The actress says she’s been inundated with women saying how they relate to her character not previously seen in Bollywood films. Also, Haroon chats with Aadar Jain – hailing from the Kapoor family with hugely successful cousins like Kareena and Ranbir; Aadar hopes his second film, Hello Charlie will prove his talent. From attending film school in in the USA, being an assistant director on films like Happy New Year, to performing in front of the camera – he wants to find success through hard work and not because of his family’s legacy.

‘Ghisi Piti Mohabbat’ wasn’t a blockbuster but got a lot of critical acclaim and was praised for its positive portrayal of women. The drama dealt with taboos around divorce, women being breadwinners of the family to girls taking up self-defence. Ramsha Khan says playing Samia has changed her as a person. She just hopes she can bag another role that gets her as excited to get out of bed! Also Haroon gives his top five Pakistani drama recommendations that have strong female characters playing the lead.

Three-time National Award-winner Manoj Bajpayee gets candid with Haroon Rashid about his struggles, success and his latest Zee5 global release, Silence. He’s mastered mainstream Bollywood with films like Satya and Baaghi 3, marvelled critics with non-commercial films like Aligarh and even adapted to OTT platforms with dramas like The Family Man. Find out what he has in common with Shah Rukh Khan as they started their acting careers together. Manoj also talks about the pressure of box office and streaming platforms. Despite being in the business for over twenty years there is still hunger to learn from other actors – his current acting homework is binge-watching The Crown on Netflix!

Actor Adnan Siddiqui tells Haroon how he landed the role of executive producer to a big-budget period Pakistani drama with the makers of the Turkish phenomena, Ertugrul. He says his success in Meray Paas Tum Ho and Yeh Mera Dil is hard to match because no other scripts are anywhere near as good. He reckons he hasn't been typecast because he's willing to take on roles that his contemporaries would shy away from. And Adnan says he has a lot to learn from young stars like Sajal Aly and Ahad Raza Mir.

Pooja Bhatt can finally play her age, Ekta Kapoor is done with being asked about marriage and Tahira Kashyup is more than just Ayushmann’s wife. Haroon Rashid speaks to these powerful ladies to celebrate their achievements and mark International Women’s Day. Pooja and Alankrita Shrivastava tell Haroon about their new Netflix series, Bombay Begums. Ekta, Tahira and producer Guneet Monga talk about their new initiative; ‘India Women Rising’ and their goal of bagging an Oscar nomination.

Haroon is back with the biggest Bollywood interviews and entertainment chat! This series he will be joined by the biggest Bollywood stars and all the entertainment and gossip from the big screen and the small screen. It's your number one fix for South Asian entertainment chat.