IVM Pop

In the final episode of the season, we end it with a bang - standup comedian Anubhav Singh Bassi joins Gopal Datt to talk about his Pehla Pehlas! A man that looks at every hurdle and shrugs his shoulders and moves on - Bassis career is a very special one. Normal setbacks can be outlined with a heartfelt story or an inspirational quote but with Bassi, he looks at it through the eye of comedy, and not taking himself too seriously. 

We get him recounting his early days preparing and attempting IIT and UPSC, his realization that these were out of his reach and his pivot, almost on a whim, to standup comedy. His first open mic and how it was a crucial rejection that led him to record his first standup video that went viral. 

From then on not only has he put out great specials, he’s also appeared on KBC and starred in a movie. With regular people these would be stories of pride and achievement but once again Bassi approaches them with the lens of hte absurdity of human experience, a consistent comedy of errors and steadfast attempt to never take anything seriously. Make sure to watch the episode and tell us in the comments what your favourite part of the episode was 

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In this candid and heartwarming episode of Pehla Pehla, host Gopal Datt welcomes his close friend, acclaimed actor and writer Sharib Hashmi, for a nostalgic trip tracing the roots of his remarkable Bollywood journey. Sharib opens up about his humble beginnings growing up in Malad, Malvani, sharing laugh-out-loud childhood memories ranging from dramatic ploys to skip school to earning his very first performance fee of ₹20 singing Kishore Kumar classics at a local bus stop. From visiting film sets where legend Dilip Kumar scooped him into his arms to navigating life as an extreme introvert who found confidence through theatre and music, the conversation highlights the quirks and foundational moments that quietly shaped his creative soul.

The discussion shifts behind the camera as Sharib recounts his unplanned transition into television writing for MTV, sharing hysterical behind-the-scenes escapades from the cult-favorite MTV Bakra and early directing assistant gigs. He reflects on the resilience required across years of struggling and auditioning, touching upon his breakthrough opportunity with Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire and the battle fought by director Nitin Kakkar to cast him as the lead in Filmistaan despite industry resistance. Packed with warmth, self-deprecating humor, and deep personal insight, this episode offers an intimate masterclass in staying passionate and persevering against the odds in Indian cinema.

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What happens when a serious film critic is asked to defend the movies he loves for all the “wrong” reasons?

Rahul Desai joins Karan Mirchandani and Shreemi Verma on Cine5 to rank their top five guilty-pleasure Hindi films, although none of them feels particularly guilty. The conversation travels from Hrithik Roshan’s face vibrations in Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage and the fake Undertaker in Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi to Sridevi selling Anil Kapoor for two crores in Judaai.

The lists get wilder with Koyla, Karzzzz, Naseeb Apna Apna, Swarg, Garam Masala, No Entry, Raaz, Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal, What’s Your Raashee?, Kites, Kaante, Mujhse Dosti Karoge! and Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge.

Expect copied soundtracks, questionable heroes, iconic wigs, reincarnation, domestic chaos, football melodrama, ghosts, sad pole dancing and films that are impossible to defend—but even harder to stop watching.

Tell us your own Top 5 guilty-pleasure films in the comments.
Cine5 is hosted by Karan Mirchandani and Shreemi Verma.

Watch the full episode on IVM Pop. Listen on all major audio platforms.

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#Cine5 #RahulDesai #Bollywood #GuiltyPleasureMovies #HindiCinema #IVMPop

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One of the most broad spanning careers in the digital and theatrical space, Prajakta Koli has many firsts that are the first of that genre. She was in Youtube as a content creator before the influx of influencers, she was acting before content creators were being cast as actors and now ahs written a book of her own. This is a career of Pehla Pehlas that we are able to see in this conversation with Gopal Datt

In this chat, Gopal and Prajakta go through her early memories as a kid, her supportive parents, her early days as a radio jockey, switching to content creation, and the global recognition that that got her. Her transition into acting and writing to the point where now she has her own production studio! Of course these are just the highlights and the milestones but the true gold of this conversation lies in the in betweens. The moments of self doubt and hurdles that come your way, like hating your dream job or not being sure about Youtube - but all of it works out brilliantly. Let us know when you became a Prajakta Koli fan and your Pehla Pehla time coming across her work

Watch Pehla Pehla with Gopal Datt, featuring Prajakta Koli. Full episode coming soon on the IVM Pop YouTube channel.

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#PrajaktaKoli #Mismatched #MostlySane #PehlaPehla #GopalDatt #DimpleAhuja

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Ali Fazal has had a unique career that honestly is hard to quantify in just a headline. He has played several iconic roles in Indian cinema, whether its Joy Lobo in 3 idiots, Zafar in Fukrey or now, Guddu Bhaiya in Mirzapur. But that doesn’t capture the expanse of his career. His work abroad, whether its playing Abdul opposite Dame Judi Dench in Victoria and Abdul or being in Fast and Furious or Death in the Nile - Ali has pulled off this incredible balancing act. On this episode we start from the beginning, his early influences, mentors and everyone that helped him along the way and the takeaways from the journey. 

WIth his partner Richa Chadda, the two have combined forces to start their own production houses to tell stories that shape the landscape of Indian cinema for the better and provide and alternative to the mainstream. A truly unique career and an incredibly insightful man in different fronts - his conversation with Gopal Datt ranges from theatre, schooling life, early start in his career, navigating failure and the lessons he learnt along the way. 

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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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