'The fun of laughing with everyone and getting scared with everyone is something you cannot recreate anywhere else.'

Aseem Chhabra introduces us to the best of Berlinale.

Ironically, the BJP, which seeks to unseat the TMC from power, has taken a leaf out of Mamata Banerjee's strategy of soliciting tinsel town's support towards causes and fielding actors in elections.

The curse of stardom, especially in a country like India -- which wants its Gods to be tidy and punctilious -- is that stardom forces you to stop exploring the frozen sea inside you, and instead inspires you more and more to perform out of a small puddle, observes Sreehari Nair.

There are as many as 10 theatre releases this month.

For his Bollywood debut, Telugu superstar Vijay Deverakonda will not settle for a dubbing artiste saying his lines.

Sukanya Verma lists significant memories in our 1996 recap.

Many believe Kishore Kumar serenaded the ladies better than any other iconic playback singer.

Subhash K Jha lists the inimitable Mohammad Rafi's five most enduring romantic songs.

Increase in occupancy will pave way for Hindi blockbusters to release, say multiplex operators.

Kunal Kohli's Lahore Confidential isn't a patch on his Fanaa, asserts Moumita Bhattacharjee.

Kumbalangi Nights is one of those movies that will put you in a good mood every time you watch it, promises Anita Aikara.

'It's all that pain that makes you the artist you are.'

If you think the film is gutsy, you are simply being blind to the truth that the whole men-are-worthless slant is saleable right now, argues Sreehari Nair.

'If today, I have to take up a nude role, I will, if I like the script and the director.'' 'It has to affect me as a script and be meaningful.' 'It should not be to titillate the audience.'

Organised players have been the biggest beneficiaries after the lockdowns were lifted. Given real estate is not as expensive now, players want to take advantage of the trend.

'...but from those who control the narrative.' Powerful nations have mastered this art of narrative building. Those nations who aspire to become global powers must do so, observes Shanthie Mariet D'Souza.

Earlier titled Fighter, this much anticipated film from the Arjun Reddy star has been made at a whopping budget of Rs 125 crores.

'I was attracted to Javed because he was exactly like my father.'

'All the guys in this country were stuck in the 'alpha' for the longest time.' 'They were told not to cry, be the man in the house.' 'I wanted to touch upon that vulnerability and innocence that is still alive in men.'

Padmarajan's Thoovanathumbikal has become a part of Malayali mythology, just as its maker himself now possesses mythological status.

Anil Kapoor's mastery shows in how he finds the space between an actor reaching out to his actuality while remaining an actor while Anurag Kashyap's comfort in bullying his co-actor fuels their bickering camaraderie, notes Sukanya Verma.

At a time when thousands of our farmers are sitting on the roads in bitterly cold December nights, protesting another policy measure that 'tightens the noose around their neck', ironically sold as 'beneficial' for them, it becomes all the more necessary for us to watch Gabhricha Paus to understand their problems better, says Utkarsh Mishra.

Mahipal, who has worked with actresses like Madhubala and Meena Kumari, established himself as a hero in the mythological genre.

'While men are brought up to be more vocal, women are taught to be more silent, resilient and self sacrificing. We have tried to explore this.'

If you'd like to know more about Rajini the actor, Saisuresh Sivaswamy offers a wide selection.

The Oscars is prestigious and all artists covet it but ultimately, the business of winning is ruthless and political. And India has seldom risen to the challenge, argues Sukanya Verma.

'I was always a reluctant actor.' 'I kept putting things off and not doing them.' 'But Tenet has really changed that for me.'

Yuvraj Mehta remembers the time he, a first year college student, called on Soumitra Chatterjee at the legendary actor's home.

'He always seemed one of us, part of the great aspiring middle class -- his values, his simplicity, even the intellectual snobbery which he could barely hide,' observes Mousumi Sengupta.

In a career spanning six decades, Chatterjee has acted in more than 300 films.

'I don't look forward to seeing my films because this only sort of gives me a deep sense of dissatisfaction that I could have done better, and I lose my self-confidence.'

Joginder Tuteja takes a look at the film projects that are on floors now.

Sukanya Verma presents a DDLJ special quiz to test your knowledge about one of Hindi cinema's most successful films of all time.

'I didn't know how I would say all the loving, romantic bits.'

Joginder Tuteja offers a fresh recap of its 10 most iconic moments.

'Discussions of favouritism and the #MeToo movement really unearthed a lot.' 'I really hope that these movements force people to look inwards and be nicer to each other.' 'But it's definitely not as bad as it's made out to be.'

'Other designers take empty suitcases and go shopping for the actors's clothes in New York.' 'To me, this is bankruptcy of imagination.'

It was a quiet reopening with few people venturing warily to watch a mix of regional, English and Hindi reruns such as "Chhichhore", "Thappad", "Tanhaji" and "The Spy".

Dominic Xavier captures the uncertainty among theatre owners and movie watching public as the big screen once again promises a magical mystery ride.