What makes a truly great movie twist?

In this episode, the hosts rank their favourite plot twists from Bollywood and Hindi cinema, including Jewel Thief, Don, Table No. 21, Madhumati, Being Cyrus, Talaash, Gupt and Khakee.

They debate classics versus modern thrillers, revisit unforgettable reveals, discuss why some movies demand an immediate rewatch and celebrate Hindi cinema’s long-standing obsession with pulling the rug out from under the audience.

There’s also Rajeev Khandelwal nostalgia, some Om Shanti Om–Madhumati genealogy and a completely necessary argument about alternate versions of Bollywood songs.

Warning: major spoilers ahead.

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In a truly unique career - Jitendra Kumar started off realizing he’s a performer in IIT of all places. In the pressure cooker environment, Jtiendra outlines how he’s quest to learn English led him to Al Pacino and the world of acting. Gopal Datt and Jitendra talk about the highs and lows of that competitive environment, how struggling there helped him find TVF and he outlines those early days 

Gopal Datt and Jitendra sit down to have a conversation about how being from different backgrounds cannot stop you from pursuing your dreams. How making a video with former engineers trying to make it can sometimes means you’re in one of the biggest films in the year a decade or so later. A truly fascinating journey, one filled with hilarity and life lessons!

Make sure you tune in to the episode and let us know in the comments your favourite part 

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Gajraj Rao ki journey sirf acting tak limited nahi hai. Delhi ke railway quarters se theatre, Bandit Queen, advertising films, TVF aur finally mainstream cinema tak, har mod par ek naya “pehla” unka intezaar kar raha tha.

Iss episode mein Gajraj Rao aur Gopal Datt baat karte hain unki bachpan ki cinema memories, pehle bade theatre role, candlelight mein perform kiye gaye play, Mumbai ke शुरुआती heartbreaks aur advertising director banne ke safar ke baare mein. Woh Bandit Queen ke audition, TVF ko pehli nazar mein underestimate karne aur Akshay Kumar ke saath kaam karne ke baad badle apne opinion ki stories bhi share karte hain.

Saath hi, Gajraj Rao batate hain ki mentors sirf industry ke legends nahi hote, kabhi ek young director, driver, lobby manager ya spot boy bhi aapko zindagi ka sabse important lesson sikha sakta hai.

Ek honest, funny aur inspiring conversation about staying prepared, learning from everyone and never letting pessimism take over.

Watch Gajraj Rao on Pehla Pehla with Gopal Datt.

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What does it mean for a movie to be truly ahead of its time?

Karan and Shreemi dig through Hindi cinema history to pick films whose ideas, themes or formats feel even more relevant today than when they first appeared.

Their selections include Samay: When Time Strikes, Fan, Khamosh, No Smoking, Julie, Darna Mana Hai, Lajja, Gangaajal, Ajnabee and Maachis.

The conversation moves from parasocial fandom and censorship to feminism, political violence, vigilante justice, unconventional relationships and anthology storytelling. Along the way, they revisit cult performances, forgotten Bollywood experiments, songs, strange plot twists and the eternal question: Could some of these movies even be made today?

Listen to the episode and decide which films deserve to be rediscovered.

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Munawar Faruqui aur Gopal Datt ek saath baithe hain, toh conversation serious interview se zyada do artists ki mast baithak ban jaati hai.

Iss Pehla Pehla ke episode mein Munawar le jaate hain humein Junagadh ki childhood memories se lekar Mumbai ke pehle trips, Habitat ke disastrous first open mic aur uss third performance tak jahan unhe laga, haan, main funny hoon.

Phir baat pahunchti hai stand-up comedy ke craft tak, live audiences ke pyaar tak, aur uss moment tak jab Munawar ko realise hua ki log sirf unki comedy nahi, unki personality ko bhi connect karte hain.

Munawar khulke baat karte hain Lock Upp, Bigg Boss, reality show dynamics, international stand-up tours, London audiences aur music ke unexpected start ke baare mein. COVID ke beech Spectra ke saath bana unka pehla rap track? Total budget: around ₹30,000.

Aur haan, Munawar ko travelling, tourist spots aur adventure sports kitne pasand hain… woh answer shayad aap expect nahi kar rahe.

Ek chill conversation about firsts, failures, fame, comedy, music, acting aur woh weird moments jo baad mein great stories ban jaate hain.

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Fresh off The Traitors Season 2, Kullu takes us back to where it all began from Bhopal. From growing up surrounded by comedy and literature to becoming a sharp film commentator, content creator, and successful stand-up comedian, he reflects on the influences that shaped his journey and helped him carve out a unique space in entertainment.

In this episode Kullu talks about his childhood, his brush with failures with laughter challenge and ComicStaan and finding his niche and his success with Farzi Mushaira through  ‪@ZakirKhan‬ and how he reached to ‪@tanmaybhat‬ reacts and his own standup

Gopal Datt and Kullu’s personal relationship sparkles throughout as they have a hilarious conversation that stays with you 

Watch the full clip and share with us your own stories from your childhood home that still stay with you. 

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Actor and writer Gopal Datt joins Cine5 for a celebration of memorable firsts.
The conversation begins with Gopal’s own new beginning hosting his first-ever podcast, Pehla Pehla With Gopal Datt before turning into a freewheeling countdown of unforgettable acting debuts and Bollywood launches.

The gang revisits the frenzy around Hrithik Roshan in Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, Amjad Khan’s Gabbar in Sholay, Ranveer Singh in Band Baaja Baaraat, Deepika Padukone in Om Shanti Om, Vidya Balan in Parineeta, Preity Zinta in Dil Se.., Vivek Oberoi in Company and more.

They also debate the difference between a genuine debut and a star “launch”, why some actors feel completely formed from their first major film, and why a spectacular beginning doesn’t always guarantee a spectacular career. Plus: A.R. Rahman, Irrfan Khan, Imran Khan, Rahul Roy, Kumar Gaurav and a very special Himesh Reshammiya mention. Catch Cine5 and Pehla Pehla With Gopal Datt on IVM Pop.

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Ahsaas’ journey in the industry is a singular one. Her firsts, her Pehlas are often people’s lives after 30 years of experience. From acting as a boy for years in films, to making the adjustment to the changing landscape with TVF and becoming one of its consistent leads - her journey is one that needs to be told 

Through this podcast Gopal and Ahsaas tread through her incredible unbeaten path as she recounts stories to document one of the most unique stories in the industry 

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Zakir Khan’s story is one that we all know - from Indore to Madison Square Garden, it’s an aspirational journey that many look up to. But with Pehla Pehla we dive deeper into things that lie underneath the achievements - a myriad of firsts that go beyond that 

In this episode Zakir talks about his connection to his childhood home, his relationship with music and what it was like growing up surrounded by it, the first brushes with comedy and failure, the low points that informed the successes, his evolution as a comedian. We even get to delve into the AIB connection he had with Gopal Datt and the unique equation that they share - having been good friends and constant collaborators on lauded projects. 

Zakir’s penchant for storytelling isn’t limited to the stage as he captures our attention with his trademark humour and knack for painting a picture - all the while dropping little nuggets of wisdom. With Pehla Pehla we get to dive into these talented brilliant people and the firsts in their journey so far - and starting the show with Zakir a pioneer of firsts, felt like the best way to kick things off

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Were Bollywood’s villains actually wrong or were we simply watching the story from the hero’s perspective?

In Episode 14 of Cine5, Karan Mirchandani and Shreemi Verma defend some of Hindi cinema’s most misunderstood characters. They revisit Fida, Kaun?, Baghban, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Hera Pheri, Yaadein, 8 x 10 Tasveer, Biwi No. 1 and Jaani Dushman to ask who the real villains were.

Along the way, they unpack stalking disguised as romance, parental guilt, relationship gaslighting, suspicious fisheries, abandoned twins and why Sushmita Sen deserved far better.

A spoiler-heavy, deeply unserious examination of Bollywood morality, featuring strong opinions, chaotic theories and several fictional crimes that the hosts do not legally endorse.

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