Break Ke Baad

Welcome to Break Ke Baad!

🎙 Episode 20: Real Heroes, Reel Drama

How much of a real person's life makes it to the big screen, and how much gets lost somewhere between the scriptwriter and the box office?

This week on Break Ke Baad, we're diving into Bollywood's world of biopics – the brilliant, the bizarre, and the downright disappointing.

We also get into Bollywood's curious gender gap – why are there so few biopics about extraordinary Indian women? Are female stories considered less commercially viable, or does the industry simply have a limited imagination when it comes to women's lives?

And of course, we discuss the other side of the spectrum – films that took fascinating real-life stories and somehow managed to make a mess of them.

Because sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction. And sometimes Bollywood still manages to mess it up.

Tune in for nostalgia, hot takes, questionable cinematic liberties, and a healthy dose of Bollywood gupshup!

💌 Follow us on Instagram at @breakkebaadpodcast for more Bollywood trivia, and follow us on Letterboxd at @adesai20 for more reviews.

Welcome to Break Ke Baad!

🎙 Episode 19: Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani

In this episode of Break Ke Baad, we go down the rabbit hole of Bollywood's many versions of patriotism — from JP Dutta's war movies and the women waiting at home, to the evolution of the Indian spy from Agent Vinod to the YRF Spy Universe. We revisit the post-9/11 anxieties of My Name Is Khan, and look at how Raazi complicates the familiar India-Pakistan binary.

We also get into Partition through Pinjar, Manto, and Main Vaapis Aaunga; the mythology of patriotic biopics like Mangal Pandey and the many cinematic versions of Bhagat Singh; and why sports films like Lagaan can turn a victory on the field into a national memory.

Because maybe patriotism isn't just about loving your country. Maybe it's also about questioning it, demanding more from it, and deciding what kind of India is actually worth loving.

Plus: patriotic songs, forgotten films, Bollywood trivia, and a few opinions we may or may not regret.

💌 Follow us on Instagram at @breakkebaadpodcast for more Bollywood trivia, and follow us on Letterboxd at @adesai20 for more reviews.

Welcome to Break Ke Baad!

🎙 Episode 18: Bollywood's Love Shapes Explained

Everyone remembers the iconic Bollywood love triangles—but were they ever really about choosing between two people?

This week on Break Ke Baad, we're looking beyond Team Rahul vs. Team Aman to unpack what these stories were actually trying to tell us. From Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Cocktail to Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Manmarziyaan, we debate chemistry vs. compatibility, first love vs. forever love, why Bollywood keeps punishing green flags, and why the person who loses often becomes the audience's favourite.

Along the way, we ask some impossible questions:

• Is the "safe choice" actually the better choice?
• Why do we romanticize emotional chaos?
• Which Bollywood endings deserve a rewrite?
• And which characters deserved so much better?

Whether you're Team Veronica, Team Nisha, Team Sameer, Team Sam—or still recovering from Cocktail 2—this one's for you.

Welcome to Break Ke Baad!

🎙 Episode 17: Darr Ke Aage Bollywood Hai

In this episode of Break Ke Baad, we're tracing the evolution of Hindi horror—why it was dismissed for decades, how horror comedies became the genre's biggest success story, and whether Bollywood has finally figured out how to scare audiences without relying on creaky doors and questionable CGI.

We also dive into our favourite horror films, the rise of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, why psychological horror still struggles to find mainstream audiences, and the films that genuinely managed to keep us awake at night.

Whether you grew up terrified of Ramsay films, still think Raaz has one of Bollywood's best soundtracks, or can't wait for the next Stree film, this episode is for you.

💌 Follow us on Instagram at @breakkebaadpodcast for more Bollywood trivia, and follow us on Letterboxd at @adesai20 for more reviews.

Welcome to Break Ke Baad!

🎙 Episode 16: Original Kaun Tha?

In this episode of Break Ke Baad, we dive into some of Bollywood's most iconic remakes and adaptations. We unpack what these films borrowed, what they changed, and why they've managed to outlive the "remake" label altogether.

Expect trivia, hot takes, deep dives, and a healthy amount of disagreement as we explore the fine line between copying a film and reinventing it.

Plus: the remakes we think are better than the originals, the ones that completely transformed their source material, and the question that sparked this entire episode—if most people don't even know these movies are remakes, does it still matter?

Grab your chai and press play.

💌 Follow us on Instagram at @breakkebaadpodcast for more Bollywood trivia, and follow us on Letterboxd at @adesai20 for more reviews.

Welcome to Break Ke Baad!

🎙 Episode 15: Picture Abhi Baaki Hai Mere Dost

This week on Break Ke Baad, we dive into the chaotic world of Bollywood sequels and franchises — from iconic continuations, funny franchises, to confusing “universes” that are just vibes. We break down what works, what doesn’t, and why Bollywood still struggles to build cohesive franchises. Expect hot takes on Dhurandhar, the Spy Universe, and a long list of sequels that should’ve never happened.

💌 Follow us on Instagram at @breakkebaadpodcast for more Bollywood trivia, and follow us on Letterboxd at @adesai20 for more reviews.

Welcome to Break Ke Baad!

🎙 Episode 14: Rahman Revisited: The Soundtrack of Our Lives!

In this episode of Break Ke Baad, we deep-dive into the genius of A.R. Rahman — the man who didn’t just compose music, but redefined the sound of Bollywood.

From the revolutionary energy of Rang De Basanti to the emotional intensity of Rockstar, the intimacy of Saathiya, and the quiet patriotism of Swades, we break down the Mozart of Madras' most iconic albums and what makes them timeless.

This isn’t just about nostalgia — it’s about how ARR builds entire emotional worlds through music, shaping characters, stories, and even generations of listeners.

Also featuring: our favourite tracks, hot takes, and the impossible task of not getting stuck on Chaiyya Chaiyya.

💌 Follow us on Instagram at @breakkebaadpodcast for more Bollywood trivia, and follow us on Letterboxd at @adesai20 for more reviews.

Welcome to Break Ke Baad!

🎙 Episode 13: The Baddies of Bollywood

From Gabbar’s lawless terror to Mogambo’s theatrical evil… from anti-love patriarchs to emotionally manipulative MILs — Bollywood villains have never been one-note.

In this episode of Break Ke Baad, we go beyond ranking “bad guys” and unpack the many shades of villainy in Hindi cinema. We’re talking crime lords, obsessive lovers, toxic parents, domestic disruptors, and even the rare but iconic female antagonists. Why did 70s films fear dacoits? Why were 90s dads the ultimate romantic roadblock? And why is Bollywood still uncomfortable writing powerful female villains?

Expect psychological deep-dives, hot takes, and of course — our very chaotic Villain Awards.

Because sometimes the real villain isn’t the one with the gun… it’s the one saying “log kya kahenge.”

💌 Follow us on Instagram at @breakkebaadpodcast for more Bollywood trivia, and follow us on Letterboxd at @adesai20 for more reviews.

Welcome to Break Ke Baad!

🎙 Episode 12: 2025 Bollywood Recap: Trying, Failing, Occasionally Succeeding

2025 was the year Bollywood finally ran out of excuses.

In this episode of Break Ke Baad, we look back at a year that made one thing painfully clear: the Hindi film industry no longer knows who it’s making movies for — or why. From quietly devastating indie gems to confused big-ticket sequels and misfiring “important” cinema, we break down what worked, what absolutely didn’t, and what this year says about Bollywood’s creative crisis.

We talk about films that tried to hold onto soul, films that took bold risks, and films that proved how exhausted the system really is. Along the way, we ask the uncomfortable question no one in the industry seems ready to answer: is this just a bad phase, or are we watching the slow collapse of Bollywood as we know it?

A recap, a critique, and a bit of a post-mortem — this is our 2025 Bollywood review, unfiltered.

💌 Follow us on Instagram at @breakkebaadpodcast for more Bollywood trivia.

Welcome to Break Ke Baad!

🎙 Episode 11: Aye Bachchu, Kya Re?

From schoolyard mischief 🎒 and unlikely friendships to talking animals, superhero experiments 🦸🏻, and films that were far more emotional than we expected — Bollywood children’s movies shaped our earliest movie memories more than we realize.

In this episode of Break Ke Baad, we rewind to the children’s films we grew up on — the good, the strange, and the surprisingly moving. We talk about what made these movies work, which ones still hold up, and why Bollywood’s approach to kids’ cinema feels so distinct (and occasionally unhinged) and leaves us wanting for more.

Expect nostalgia, trivia, forgotten gems, and plenty of side tangents — because children’s movies were never just for children.

Press play and relive the magic.

💌 Follow us on Instagram at @breakkebaadpodcast for more Bollywood trivia.

Disclaimer: All music clips used in this episode are for commentary and review purposes only, with no intention of copyright infringement.