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Aseem Chhabra

Senior Rediff.com Contributor Aseem Chhabra is director of the New York Indian Film Festival, an entertainment writer and author of Irrfan Khan: The Man, The Dreamer, The Star. You can e-mail the author at aseem.chhabra@gmail.com

All stories by Aseem Chhabra

4 Palestinian Women: A Touching Story

4 Palestinian Women: A Touching Story

Rediff.com19 Oct 2023

'The idea of this movie is to trace these journeys and not to blame.' 'We could have talked what happened in 1948. This is what the Israelis did. This is what the Palestinians and Arabs did.' 'We didn't want to go there.'

'I was attacked for being anti-national'

'I was attacked for being anti-national'

Rediff.com12 Oct 2023

'What the film shows is an India, which was headed in a completely different direction than where we are headed.'

Kiran Rao Has Made A WOW Film!

Kiran Rao Has Made A WOW Film!

Rediff.com4 Oct 2023

'I guess things happen when they have to happen.' 'And the film got delayed by COVID a little bit. But yeah, it's been a decade which I do not regret.' 'I feel like I have grown so much, as an artist, as well as just a human being.' 'So much life experience to channel into films that I think is an advantage almost.'

Karan Johar Makes 'Most Violent Film' In India

Karan Johar Makes 'Most Violent Film' In India

Rediff.com29 Sep 2023

'The only violence I have had in any film of mine is a slap.' 'When Nikhil narrated the film to me, I was blown away.' 'I was literally screaming out of my chair.'

Why Veerappan's Story Needed To Be Told

Why Veerappan's Story Needed To Be Told

Rediff.com24 Aug 2023

'He killed so many people, doing the kind of horrible things he did, and yet, he believed he was making the right choices.'

Depp Vs Heard Review: Trashy Gossip!

Depp Vs Heard Review: Trashy Gossip!

Rediff.com18 Aug 2023

If there is one lesson we get from Depp vs Heard, it is that the American legal system is deeply flawed and the court of public opinion and social media make it harder for victims to get justice, observes Aseem Chhabra.

'People are suddenly treating me like a star'

'People are suddenly treating me like a star'

Rediff.com1 Aug 2023

'Once I left my photographs at Ram Gopal Varma's office.' 'I told a friend I was concerned no one had contacted me. My friend said, "Itni jaldi nahin hota idhar. Time lagega".'

Does Rocky Aur Rani Bring Out Karan Johar 2.0?

Does Rocky Aur Rani Bring Out Karan Johar 2.0?

Rediff.com28 Jul 2023

Rocky Aur Rani is definitely Karan's most subversive project, discovers Aseem Chhabra.

'Maybe Hollywood wasn't for me'

'Maybe Hollywood wasn't for me'

Rediff.com25 Jul 2023

'I never got respect as an actress.' 'But when I became a director and worked with actresses like Cate Blanchett and Jessica Chastain, I felt such pride of being an actress.'

Kohrra Review: Haunting

Kohrra Review: Haunting

Rediff.com18 Jul 2023

Kohrra is a terrific ensemble piece but the two fine leads keep show glued together, applauds Aseem Chhabra.

'Women in Pakistan feel like they are being watched'

'Women in Pakistan feel like they are being watched'

Rediff.com26 Jun 2023

'There's this presence, a sense of patrolling and surveillance. And it's not coming from a place of safety.' 'It's coming from a place of 'You don't belong here'.' 'It's a malevolent force, the society at large is observing them.'

10 STUNNING Films I Watched In Cannes

10 STUNNING Films I Watched In Cannes

Rediff.com6 Jun 2023

Twelve days of movie madness and 36 films later, Aseem Chhabra lists his top 10 favourite films from this year's Cannes Film Festival.

'I love Devdas so much'

'I love Devdas so much'

Rediff.com28 Apr 2023

'I didn't want to use contemporary Bollywood music.'

'Now I see who my real and fake friends are'

'Now I see who my real and fake friends are'

Rediff.com25 Apr 2023

'It's everyone's dream to have their pictures show up on Google.' 'In the beginning, you're not used to it.' 'It's a bit weird and even now it's weird.'

When A Country Erases Its Film-makers

When A Country Erases Its Film-makers

Rediff.com5 Apr 2023

'The Iranians are very resilient people. So even when they are throttled, they try their best to survive.'

10 Lovely Stories From Across The World

10 Lovely Stories From Across The World

Rediff.com24 Mar 2023

Aseem Chhabra highlights 10 films that moved him, films that may show up in theatres near you.

Yes, India Shone At The Oscars, But....

Yes, India Shone At The Oscars, But....

Rediff.com14 Mar 2023

India is shining, although I will argue that it is a temporary acceptance until India once again makes a mega-successful film like RRR or another beautiful, moving, documentary like The Elephant Whisperers, notes Aseem Chhabra.

'I knew my film would not have a hero or villain'

'I knew my film would not have a hero or villain'

Rediff.com6 Mar 2023

'Rakesh's life is hard, but he knows how to find joy.' 'He doesn't think his life's value comes from money. He sees no shame in his poverty.'

'Will I die without ever knowing love?'

'Will I die without ever knowing love?'

Rediff.com3 Mar 2023

'Love will always be a mystery.' 'The day it stops being a mystery it won't exist.'

'Marriages are going out of fashion'

'Marriages are going out of fashion'

Rediff.com16 Feb 2023

'The point about arranged marriages is -- because I come from a progressive family -- the idea was completely alien. But I have realised over time that there are instances of assisted marriages working very well. If you look at it, really, in a microcosm, it is the same thing as Tinder, isn't it? I mean, if you are trying to meet -- yes, no, yes, no, no.'

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