Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

‘I didn’t want to make romcoms with white people’: Mira Nair

Nair is currently serving as Head of the Jury for the South Asia Competition at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023.

‘I didn’t want to make romcoms with white people’: Mira Nair

Mira Nair, who is globally known for such notable films as Salaam Bombay, The Namesake, and Monsoon Wedding to name a few, is currently serving as Head of the Jury for the South Asia Competition at the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2023.

During her masterclass at the festival, Nairsaid that she did not want to be like everyone else and did not want to make romcoms with white people.


“I deeply understand what it's like to look outside the window in New York City and instead of the Hudson River see my garden in Kampala. Cinema allows you the notion of living between worlds. Always keep your distinctiveness as your calling card. I didn’t want to be a cupcake. I didn’t want to be like everyone else. I didn’t want to make romcoms with white people. I was not interested in being in the A list of Hollywood,” she said.

The filmmaker further added, “Salaam Bombay became a smash hit and they thought they could use my sensibility to say their things and I didn’t want that. I was interested in being a brown person and telling stories that only I could tell and that became Mississippi Masala, the hierarchy of colour.”

Crediting her instinct as her guiding force, she said, ‘Don’t ever hold back with the actors. The instinct for me is very powerful. I do not give up until I get what I want from my actors. I am not Woody Allen to reshoot movies. Always listen to your intuition and don’t subscribe to what the next person asks of you. Try to steer clear of boredom and nobility. Just telling the stories of the downtrodden doesn’t sell tickets. The downtrodden are never down. They have the greatest spirit of all. Whatever moves you make it come alive.”

Stay tuned to this space for more updates!

More For You

Will Smith’s shout-out to Diljit Dosanjh sparks viral collaboration buzz

Will Smith’s comment on Diljit Dosanjh’s latest song sparks excitement among fans

Instagram/diljitdosanjh

Will Smith’s shout-out to Diljit Dosanjh sparks viral collaboration buzz

When Hollywood superstar Will Smith drops a comment on your Instagram post, you know something big is brewing. That’s exactly what happened when Diljit Dosanjh, the Punjabi music sensation, shared a snippet of his latest track, Tension, on social media. Smith, known for his iconic roles and global influence, left a simple yet impactful comment: “Fire!.” Diljit, clearly thrilled, responded with, “@willsmith BIG BROTHER 🦾.”

This brief exchange sent fans into a frenzy, with many speculating if a collaboration between the two stars is on the horizon. One fan wrote, “This is BIG!,” while another chimed in, “Hopefully, there are plans for you two to work together!”

Will Smith drops a "Fire!" comment on Diljit Dosanjh’s post, fuelling collaboration rumoursInstagram/diljitdosanjh

Keep ReadingShow less
Police halt Ed Sheeran’s street performance

Sheeran, who began his career as a busker in the UK, said later on his Instagram account that he did have permission to perform.

Police halt Ed Sheeran’s street performance in Bengaluru

A STREET performance by Ed Sheeran in Bengaluru was stopped abruptly by police last Sunday (9), outraging fans and prompting the British singer to issue a clarification.

Sheeran, dressed in a white t-shirt and shorts was seen singing and playing his guitar on a pavement in the centre of Bengaluru ahead of his concert last Sunday night.

Keep ReadingShow less
NIFFA 2025 to open with ‘Superboys of Malegaon,’ biggest line-up yet

Superboys of Malegaon’ set to open NIFFA 2025, Australia’s biggest Indian film festival

Instagram/shashank.arora

NIFFA 2025 to open with ‘Superboys of Malegaon,’ biggest line-up yet

The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) is gearing up for its most ambitious edition yet, bringing over 40 Indian films to Australian audiences. In collaboration with Dendy, the festival will showcase three world premieres and 36 Australian premieres, featuring a diverse mix of films across multiple Indian languages, including some never seen before in Australian theatres.

Reema Kagti’s much-anticipated Superboys of Malegaon will open the festival on February 13, 2025, with a grand red-carpet gala in Sydney. The film, which previously screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival, will travel across major cities, including Canberra, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Melbourne, before a nationwide release by Forum Films.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ranveer Allahbadia’s controversy sparks Parliament row after YouTube takedown

Ranveer Allahbadia faces backlash as controversy sparks national debate

Youtube/Samay Raina

Ranveer Allahbadia’s controversy sparks Parliament row after YouTube takedown

Popular YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, known as ‘BeerBiceps,’ is under fire for his controversial comments on comedian Samay Raina’s YouTube show, India’s Got Latent. The episode, which has since been removed from YouTube, featured Ranveer asking a contestant inappropriate and vulgar questions, sparking widespread outrage.

The controversy has escalated to the highest levels, with Members of Parliament raising concerns and demanding action. A parliamentary panel on Information Technology is reportedly considering summoning Ranveer to address the issue. MPs like Shiv Sena’s Priyanka Chaturvedi and Biju Janata Dal’s Sasmit Patra have criticised the use of offensive language under the guise of comedy, emphasising the need for stricter content guidelines on social media platforms.

Ranveer Allahbadia faces backlash and legal probe over controversial remarks on \u2018India\u2019s Got Latent\u2019Ranveer Allahbadia faces backlash and legal probe over controversial remarks on ‘India’s Got Latent’ Instagram/beerbiceps

Keep ReadingShow less
Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh’s scooter ride: A viral internet hit!

Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh share the stage, creating musical magic together.

Instagram/arijitsingh

Ed Sheeran and Arijit Singh’s scooter ride: A viral internet hit!

When two of the world’s most beloved singers come together, magic happens. Ed Sheeran, the global pop sensation, and Arijit Singh, India’s soulful voice, recently made headlines for their viral scooter ride through the streets of Jiaganj, Arijit’s hometown in West Bengal. The video of their casual outing has taken the internet by storm, with fans calling it the “most wholesome moment ever.”

In the viral clip, Arijit is seen driving the scooter while Ed enjoys the ride as a pillion passenger. The duo, accompanied by a few friends on other scooters, ditched heavy security and opted for the real small-town vibe. Their adventure didn’t stop there though, they also took a quiet boat ride along the Bhagirathi River enjoying the quiet beauty of Jiaganj like a true local.

Keep ReadingShow less