Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

'Mughal-e-Azam': From the Oscars to Times Square

How the greatest Bollywood movie of all time is finding big business in America

'Mughal-e-Azam': From the Oscars to Times Square

THE magnificence of Mughal-e-Azam has been demonstrated by the many magical moments connected to the movie since it was released in 1960.

Whether being named as the greatest Bollywood movie of all time or used to describe excellence, the K Asif-directed epic has been on a majestic 63-year journey. It was recently named as the highest-grossing Indian film in history, if inflation is taken into account, and this month has done something extraordinary in America. In 2016, an official live adaptation redefined theatre in India. After more than 200 shows across six countries, including India, Singapore, Malaysia, the UAE, and Qatar, the official Mughal-e-Azam stage show has embarked on a massively successful US tour.


After a stunning dance performance in New York’s Time Square to promote the show in May, it premiered in Atlanta and has been staged at major theatres in multiple States. This American tour, which goes on until August, is particularly special because it is breaking ground in the cinema capital of the world and succeeding where other Bollywood inspired shows have failed. This includes the big-budget Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge stage adaptation, which spent a lot of money modifying itself for western audiences, and ultimately crashed before it could get going in America last year.

Meanwhile, the Mughal-e-Azam theatre play has pulled in audiences of all ages and received critical acclaim, while retaining its authenticity. The American adventure was kickstarted by late filmmaker K Asif’s son Akbar Asif in 2020, when he marked 60 years of the movie, by getting it to become the first classic Indian film to have its screenplay submitted to the Oscars library. So, in essence, the musical has gone from the Oscars library to Times Square to a full American tour.

Lead inset Feroze Abbas Khan Deepesh Salgia Feroze Abbas Khan(L) and Deepesh Salgia

The London-based businessman has worked tirelessly to keep the legacy of his father’s movie alive. From enabling Mughal-e-Azam to lift the Bollywood ban in Pakistan with a charity screening, to getting India’s greatest painter MF Husain to do his last major collection inspired by the movie, to many live events, he has consistently flown the flag for his father’s movie masterpiece.

Lead inset Akbar Asif 59 50 Akbar Asif

A major hero has been Deepesh Salgia of the Shapoorji Pallonji group, who has been a driving force in keeping the Mughal-e-Azam legacy alive, doing everything from colourising the movie to getting the official stage version produced. His passion has inspired a new generation to get behind the magnificent movie, including this current America tour.

Lead Mughal e azam in times square 31 18 A scene from the show

Another notable hero has been ace theatre director Feroze Abbas Khan, who took on the Herculean task of masterminding the official theatre adaptation and delivering a thrilling live experience, equal to anything produced internationally.

Theatre maestro Khan said they had created the kind of product India and Indians can be very proud of. He further stated: “We never expected this kind of a response. We know that this play is something that has a very special place in the heart of the audience because of the original film. But the way they’re responding to the play, it is simply outstanding. I’m speechless with what’s been happening here in the US.”

The live theatre show will inevitably come to the UK and when it does, audiences are in for a spectacular multi-sensory experience. Another certainty is that the 63-year old movie will continue to achieve many more landmarks thanks to heroes like Deepesh Salgia, Akbar Asif and Feroze Abbas Khan.

More For You

Saif Ali Khan’s ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins’ Poster Unveiled

Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, and the ensemble cast shine in the poster of Jewel Thief: The Heist

Instagram/netflix_in

Saif Ali Khan’s latest Netflix film ‘Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins’ drops an intriguing new poster

Netflix released a new poster for Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, and it’s already got fans talking. The image shows Saif Ali Khan with a sharp, focused gaze, his eye cleverly framed by the silhouette of a diamond, hinting at the high-stakes heist at the heart of the film.

Slated for release on April 25, the movie follows a skilled thief hired by a crime boss to steal the legendary African Red Sun diamond. But as expected, things don’t go as planned. The teaser, dropped earlier this year, showed us a tense partnership between Saif and Jaideep Ahlawat, with twists, betrayals, and plenty of action in store.

Keep ReadingShow less
Empuraan Storm: Success, Censorship Debate & Political Attacks

Prithviraj Sukumaran and Mohanlal at a press meet for L2: Empuraan

Instagram/empuraanmovie

L2: Empuraan - A film that shattered records and sparked a political storm

Few films manage to be both a record-breaking success and a lightning rod for controversy at the same time. But L2: Empuraan, the much-hyped sequel to Lucifer, has done exactly that. The Prithviraj Sukumaran directorial, starring Mohanlal, has not only rewritten and shattered box office history but also sparked a nationwide debate on censorship, political narratives, and artistic freedom.

On one hand, it’s the fastest Malayalam film to gross £5.1 million (₹50 crore) in Kerala, the first Malayalam film to cross £10.2 million (₹100 crore) overseas, and a £20.4 million (₹200 crore) club entrant within just five days. On the other hand, it has been accused of pushing a political agenda, leading to 2m 8s, 24 last-minute cuts, a legal battle, and a full-blown culture war.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hayley Atwell Reveals Tom Cruise’s Advice on Social Anxiety

Atwell explained that Cruise’s advice helped her focus on identifying the sources of her anxiety

Getty

Mission Impossible star Hayley Atwell reveals Tom Cruise's advice to overcome social anxiety

Hayley Atwell has opened up about the helpful advice Tom Cruise gave her on how to cope with social anxiety, a topic that resonates with many, including those working in the intense world of Hollywood. Atwell, known for her role as Peggy Carter in Marvel films and for starring alongside Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning (2023), revealed how Cruise's wisdom has helped her deal with nervousness in large social gatherings, something she’s not immune to despite her prominent career.

As Atwell prepares to reprise her role in what is expected to be the last chapter of the Mission: Impossible series, The Final Reckoning, due for release in May, her reflections on social anxiety offer an insightful perspective on how even the most successful stars experience self-doubt. She recently discussed this on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, explaining how she often battles the feelings that come with being in a room full of people.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sam Mendes Unveils Cast for Beatles Biopic Four-Film Event in 2028

The Beatles - A Four-Film Cinematic Event, directed by Sam Mendes

Instagram/Sonypictures

Paul Mescal, Barry Keoghan & more: Sam Mendes’ Beatles Biopics' cast revealed for the epic four-film event in 2028

Hollywood is about to take us on a journey like never before through the lives of ‘The Beatles,’ one member at a time! Director Sam Mendes, known for films like 1917 and Skyfall, has revealed the actors who’ll step into the shoes of John, Paul, George, and Ringo in four separate biopics, all hitting theatres in April 2028.

Harris Dickinson will play John Lennon, Paul Mescal takes on Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan becomes Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn transforms into George Harrison. The announcement came at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, where Mendes and the cast surprised the crowd. Instead of cramming the band’s epic story into one movie or stretching it into a series, Mendes chose a different approach: four interconnected films, each diving deep into a different Beatle’s life.

Keep ReadingShow less