Shaikh Ayaz
Shaikh Ayaz is a contributor based in Mumbai. He writes about Bollywood.
Articles By Shaikh Ayaz
Film of the Month: Yash Chopra’s Chandni foreshadowed Bollywood gloss
Released on September 14, 1989, the jukebox Chandni came at a time when Yash Chopra, the maker of Deewaar, Trishul and Kaala Patthar, was disenchanted with all the "violence" and action stuff. It was a rare "no-compromises" film, as the director has put it – the ultimate tribute to the budding poet and incurable romantic in him. The Sridevi-starrer was the first of his out-and-out romantic pictures. But thankfully, not his last.
Watch these five Ayushmann Khurrana movies before you see Dream Girl
Touted as the most fun actor in Bollywood today, Ayushmann Khurrana has built a reputation for picking interesting concepts, what he has called a "good marriage between content and entertainment." On the eve of his new film, in which he disguises himself as a 'Dream Girl', we take a trip through his five top films.
Film of the Month: Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi tells us everything that is wrong with the Left
Author Kiran Nagarkar praised Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi as "one of the finest political films." The 2005 political drama exposes the hypocrisy of the Left movement by revealing the huge gap between its naïve romanticism/intellectual activism and its utter failure to make a better and more just world.
Song of the Month: Haqeeqat’s “Ho ke majboor” finds the sweet spot between romance and pining in the time of war
Just as the recent blockbuster Uri had the belligerence of Narendra Modi writ all over it, Haqeeqat is soaked in Nehru-ism. The Chetan Anand film also offers newer and deeper meanings of patriotism in the Modi-era zeitgeist.
Khayyam: The star composer was one of the last links to Hindi cinema’s golden age
"If there was no Khayyam saab, there would be no Rekha," declared Umrao Jaan's alluring leading lady in an award function some years ago. With the passing away of the legend, an era comes to end.
25 years of Tabu: Why sassy Simi is one of Bollywood’s most respected leading ladies
The Andhadhun star is on a roll. While many of her contemporaries have long bowed – or booted – out, the unstoppable Tabu just rolls on. As she recently celebrated her 25th year in Bollywood, here’s assessing the 47-year-old’s career and how she has remained at the top of her game.
Gully Boy, Article 15, Photograph: The best Hindi films of 2019 (so far)
We are more than halfway through 2019, which gives us a good excuse to look at how Bollywood has fared in the first half and which films are among the best.
Here’s looking at the rollercoaster ride that has been Hrithik ‘Mr Nice’ Roshan’s life lately
Rakesh Roshan's son Hrithik Roshan, who heartthrobed his way into stardom at the dawn of the millennium, has spent the last few years fending off one controversy after another. The alleged Kangana Ranaut affair was a PR disaster. To add to his woes, the much-talked-about divorce from childhood sweetheart Sussanne Roshan left the Roshan clan in shock.
Mogambo khush hua: Five most eccentric Amrish Puri characters
On Amrish Puri's 87th birth anniversary, here's remembering the legendary actor with a diverse range of roles that attest to his shape-shifting versatility.
Bharat is yet another Salman Khan film designed singularly to flatter the ‘Bhaijaan’ mythology
A look at what works in Salman Khan's latest Eid release and what doesn't. Mostly though, it plays out like a three-hour-long “Being Human” advertisement, telling us how good Bharat is and how he is a metaphor for India itself.
Here’s why Chembur’s iconic RK Studios will be missed
Raj Kapoor set up RK Films in 1948 and started constructing RK Studios in Chembur in the 50s. It is often said that the studios was not just his workplace but a “temple” from which the man behind classics like Awaara and Shree 420 drew his sustenance. As the famous studio downs its shutters, we revisit its legacy.
Bollywood’s Clint Eastwood: Revisiting the musical hit Qurbani on Feroz Khan’s death anniversary
Feroz Khan passed away a decade ago on this day, sharing his death anniversary with great friend Vinod Khanna. Qurbani is their best-known partnership. A self-styled Clint Eastwood, Khan was 41 when Qurbani released. It's the actor-director's 21-gun salute to male gaze and friendship. A look back at the 1980 hit.
Vinod Khanna: The ‘Number 2’ who was nothing short of numero uno of the 1970s
It is Vinod Khanna's death anniversary today. Here's revisiting the life and times of a star who started out as a villain before achieving fame as a charismatic leading man. And then, one day, he threw it all (the success and stardom) away for spirituality.
Farooq Shaikh’s 71st birth anniversary: An indispensable star who had no wish to be remembered
Investing each of his roles with what Amitabh Bachchan described as “quiet honesty,” the late star of Chashme Buddoor and Saath Saath, who died of a heart attack in 2013, embodied the boy-next-door.
A tribute to Shashi Kapoor on his 81st birth anniversary: The many faces of the legendary Shakespeare Wallah
He was a born star. Starting out as a child artiste, Shashi Kapoor went on to become a leading romantic hero of his time. As a producer, the late star of hits like Deewaar and Trishul showed a rare audacity as he bankrolled parallel cinema classics, putting money where his mouth was. Not to mention, theatre which remained his first love. Here's why Kapoor will always be more than just a good-looking Bollywood hero.
Bollywood’s favourite baddie Danny Denzongpa’s most entertaining performances
Few actors are as iconic as birthday boy Danny Denzongpa, who over the years has entertained and enriched Hindi cinema with his sophisticated and extravagant villainy – and at times, truly memorable character roles.
Happy birthday Sanjay Leela Bhansali: 5 beautiful moments from SLB’s films that prove his auteur touch
Sanjay Leela Bhansali thinks big. His films are grand, baroque and larger-than-life. More often than not, his best is reserved for music. Here's looking at five high watermark moments from his long and distinguished career.
Madhubala’s 86th birth anniversary: Madhubala’s real story is as tragic as her iconic character, Mughal-E-Azam’s Anarkali
Madhubala's 86th birth anniversary: Prithviraj Kapoor is imposing as Emperor Akbar and Dilip Kumar a.k.a Prince Salim is appropriately understated but it is Madhubala’s Anarkali that defines and carries K. Asif’s Mughal-E-Azam on her delicate shoulders.
The meaning of Patriotic Indian, according to Bollywood
Exploring the changing face of nationalism, from the idealistic days of Raj Kapoor and Manoj Kumar down to the jingoistic fervour of Sunny Deol and Akshay Kumar.
From teaching civil engineering to stage acting and cinema, Kader Khan led a dramatic life, both off and on screen
Veteran actor Kader Khan who died today at 81 leaves behind countless cinematic memories. Especially memorable is his legendary pairing with Amitabh Bachchan, Govinda and Johnny Lever.
