Akshay Kumar’s first modelling assignment
Before becoming an actor, Akshay Kumar did only one modelling assignment and it was for a gym called Perfect 10. And from the money that he earned from his first…Continue Reading →
Mao Tse-tung’s favourite Bollywood song
It is a little difficult to imagine Chairman Mao, humming along a Hindi film song. But it is said that…
Shammi Kapoor’s unrealised desire
One of Shammi Kapoor’s unfulfilled desires was to be a horse-riding tea garden manager in Assam. [tbpspa]
Guru Dutt the reluctant actor
Shammi Kapoor was to be the hero in Aar Paar (1954) and Dilip Kumar was the choice for the role of Vijay in Pyaasa (1957) but Guru Dutt, ever the…Continue Reading →
Don (1975) and the curious case of duplicates
In Chandra Barot’s Don (1978) Pran’s duplicate (for stunts) was a woman, while Zeenat Aman’s was a man. (Hat tip:…
Filmfare magazine cover dated April 2, 1954 featuring the first Filmfare Award winners
60 years ago on Sunday, March 31, 1954 the first Filmfare Awards ceremony (for films released in 1952-53) was held…
First Ghazib ghazal to be used in a film
‘Aah ko chahiye ek umr asar hone tak’ was the first Mirza Ghalib ghazal to be used in a movie (Masoom – 1941).Continue Reading →
Why Gulzar learnt Bangla
Gulzar learnt Bangla because having read the translations, he wanted to read Rabindranath Tagore’s writings in their original form.
Prem Nath as Gabbar
When Danny Denzongpa refused, Salim-Javed had thought of casting Prem Nath as Gabbar, but many in the Sholay team were…
Hum Aapke Hain Koun and piracy
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) is possibly the first Bollywood movie to be CamRipped. Pre-HAHK films had simultaneous theatre/VHS releases.Continue Reading →
The Sholay scene that didn’t follow the script
The only Sholay scene that didn’t follow the script is the one in which Veeru asks Jai to talk to…
Why Govind Nihalani had to be given police protection
Govind Nihalani faced threats from Hindu right-wing groups for making ‘Tamas’ (1987) and had to be given police protection.
