Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
Only includes names with the selected topics
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
1-50 of 1,378
- Nushrat Bharucha was born in a Dawoodi Bohra Muslim family to Tanvir Bharucha and Tasneem Bharucha in Mumbai, India. She began her acting career in the year 2002 at the age of 16. As a student of Jai Hind college, she walked into a talent management firm hoping to volunteer as a scout but instead, they hired her to act in Kittie Party (2002), a television show being broadcast on Zee TV. But, the long work hours and poor treatment of newcomers led her to quit the show in a year. During her college days, Nushrat was involved in organizing events and the backstage production of plays. For one such event in the year 2009, she managed to get a leading facewash brand as a sponsor for a talent show. After five days of auditions, the brand announced that they had selected Nushrat to be their 'Fresh Face', as a consequence of which she featured in a couple of advertisements and a feature film.
In the year 2010, Nushrat received a call from casting director Atul Mongia's office for an audition, which turned out to be the first major breakthrough of her career as it led to her selection for Dibakar Banerjee's LSD: Love, Sex Aur Dhokha (2010). - Actress
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sharmin Segal was born on 28 September 1995 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She is an actress and assistant director, known for Bajirao Mastani (2015), Malaal (2019) and Mary Kom (2014). She has been married to Aman Mehta since November 2023.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Freida Selena Pinto was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, India, to Sylvia, a school principal, and Frederick Pinto, a senior bank branch manager. She is from a Mangalorean family.
Pinto traversed the modeling circuit in Mumbai (represented by Elite Model Management India) for two years before gaining her big break when director Danny Boyle picked her out in the audition process to play the female lead, Latika, for his project Slumdog Millionaire (2008). In a promo interview, Boyle likened spotting her to his discovery of Kelly Macdonald for Trainspotting.
Surprisingly, Freida, who studied at Mumbai's St. Xaviers College, began taking acting classes (she has done amateur theater before) only after completing her debut film -- when she attended a three-month workshop by Barry John, the veteran theater guru.
Between 2006 and 2007, she anchored Full Circle, a travel show that was telecast on Zee International Asia Pacific. She went on assignments to Afghanistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Fiji, among other countries.- Producer
- Editor
- Writer
Sanjay Leela Bhansali is among the most celebrated Film Makers of the Bollywood. Having worked with the biggest stars of Indian Film Industry, Bhansali is the most sought-for director of the Bollywood. He started his career as an assistant director to Vidhu Vinod Chopra. If one has to name his 'niche' genre, it would definitely be Mega-Musicals. From Devdas to Bajirao Mastani, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam to Saawariya, love of cinema and music, proclaims through every movie he writes or direct.
His 1999 Romantic-Drama, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, starring heartthrob duo Salman-Aishwarya became one of the most critically cherished movies of the Genre. Amitabh Bachan, starrer Black was equally appreciated by the critics. But he made his presence felt with 2002 adaptation of the Hindi literary masterpiece, Devdas, for a silver-screen experience. He received a nomination for Best Foreign Film at BAFTA for the movie.
Devdas has become a name synonymous with a passionate, intense love that does not find consummation. This similar theme has been repeated numerous time in the literary work. And one of them is Romeo & Juliet. He translated this classic tale into Indian Folk Idiom.- Actress
- Producer
Born in Mumbai, India and raised in Nigeria until the age of seven, Contractor was well-versed in world travels and a variety of cultures at a very young age. She attended boarding school in London from seven to nine years old, then her family moved to Toronto, Canada, where she spent the majority of her childhood and young adulthood. In Toronto, Contractor excelled in academics and trained as a classical ballerina. She attended the Etobicoke School of the Arts, a specialized public arts high school where she not only danced but studied theater as well. At the age of 16, after nearly 10 years of dance Contractor realized she wanted to pursue acting seriously. Upon graduating from high school she accepted a full scholarship to the University of Toronto, where she pursued a masters in theatre and a double major in psychology and sociology. After one year at University, Contractor went to an open call audition for the play Pericles at the prestigious, world-renowned Stratford Shakespeare Festival [Ontario, Canada], and landed the lead role. She received rave reviews for her work in the 92 shows performed, the play was voted the #1 production of the year by Canadian critics, in 2002. Contractor was offered the opportunity to enroll in Stratford's conservatory program, where a select eight men and four women are accepted for a 20-week crash course on classical theater, which she eagerly took. Contractor was guaranteed a spot in the next season of plays, and landed the role of Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream. By the third season with the company, Contractor wanted to pursue film and television. In 2005 she booked a role in a FOX pilot by Anthony Hines [Borat, Bruno, The Dictator]. The role was intense, leaving the actors in character for eight to nine hours a day in front of an audience, and was a precursor to the style of film that Borat would be, just one year later. When the pilot did not get picked up, Contractor decided to go back to school and finish her education. While securing her degrees, she booked "The Border," a Canadian drama for CBC. She starred as Layla Hourani for 26 episodes, and the series aired worldwide. The role also garnered her a Golden Nymph Award at The Montecarlo Television Festival, in 2008. Once the show wrapped, Contractor made the move to Los Angeles.
In 2009, Contractor booked the role of Kayla Hassan, in 21 episodes of the hit FOX series "24." As President Omar Hassan [Anil Kapoor] and Dalia Hassan's [Necar Zadegan] daughter, she was a scene stealer, portraying a seemingly sheltered young woman, whose secret life ends up putting her in horrible conditions. While in production on "24" Contractor also booked a recurring role on CBS' "Rules of Engagement" opposite David Spade and Adhir Kalyan. Other television credits for Contractor include "Lone Star" [FOX] and "Last Resort" [ABC]. On the film front, Contractor has been seen in Seance: The Summoning [Lionsgate] in which she won Best Supporting Actress at WorldFest Houston, in 2012.
In May 2013, Contractor appeared as a devoted wife and mother facing extreme challenges in her family in the highly anticipated, Paramount feature film Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).
When not working, Contractor is an avid runner and yogi. She loves to travel the world, and her preferred method of transportation while in other countries is by motorcycle. She was also born into the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism, and is one of the 150,000 Parsis in the world. Philanthropy is a huge priority for Contractor, she is a strong supporter of the organization Second Harvest to feed the homeless, and Look Good Feel Better, supporting women with cancer. She lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband, son, and border terrier.- Actress
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Aalia Furniturewala, popularly known by her stage name Alaya F started her career in 2020 with a comedy film. She is born into the Bedi family. Her mother is also an Indian actress and TV host, and her father is a businessman.
Her grandparents are late classical dancer Protima Bedi and actor Kabir Bedi.
Furniturewala studied at the Jamnabai Narsee School in Mumbai. She went on to pursue her diploma from the New York Film Academy. She is also training to be a Kathak and contemporary dancer.
On joining the industry, Furniturewala changed her name to Alaya F and made her acting debut in Nitin Kakkar's Jawaani Jaaneman (2020)
In 2020, Alaya F won the Fresh Face female award at the Vogue Beauty Award. In 2021, she received the Best Female Debut at Filmfare Award for her film Jawani Jaaneman.
Later, in 2022, she won the Most Promising Actor at Lions Gold Award for Jawaani Jaaneman.
She co-starred with Kartik Aryan in the film Freddy. Her other projects include Almost Pyaar with DJ Mohabbat (2022), Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024), U Turn (2023) and Srikanth (2024).
Apart from movies, Furniturewala has appeared in Goldie Sohel's music video for Goldie Sohel: Aaj Sajeya (2021). She has also been featured in commercials and print advertisements for brands like Lenskart and Nykaa.Furniturewala was ranked 42nd on the Most Desirable Women List of 2020 by The Times of India. She was the face of Nykaa's 'A Million Nakhras' campaign in 2022. She was also featured in Eastern Eye's '30 under 30 Asians' list in 2023.- Janhvi Kapoor comes from an eminent family of actors and filmmakers who have been famous faces in this industry for a long time.
Kapoor's father is an actor and a producer. Her mother was a renowned actress who acted in Hindi, Tamil, Telegu, Kannada, and Malayalam movies.
Actor Arjun Kapoor is her half-sibling, while actor Sonam Kapoor is her cousin. Actors Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor are her uncles.
Kapoor completed her schooling at Ecole Mondiale World School in Mumbai. Her mother was not keen on Kapoor joining the film industry and wanted her to become a doctor instead. But Kapoor insisted on following her mother's footsteps.
She went on to complete an acting course at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in California. After returning to India, Kapoor made her acting debut with Dhadak (2018), with Ishaan Khattar playing the male lead and directed by Shashank Khaitan under the Dharma Productions banner. The film grossed over Rs.100 crores worldwide within two weeks of its release.
Kapoor's performance in the movie won her the Zee Cine Award for Best Female Debut in 2019.
Her next screen appearance was in Ghost Stories (2020), a horror anthology film. It comprised four short films, each directed by a different director. Kapoor played the role of a young nurse in the short story directed by Zoya Akhtar. Ghost Stories was released on Netflix.
Kapoor played the title role in her next movie Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020), a biopic on aviator Gunjan Saxena. To live up to the demands of the biopic, she underwent physical training and prepared herself to imitate the body language of an air force officer. The film got an OTT release and premiered on Netflix, and it received mixed reviews from critics.
In Roohi (2021), she essayed a double role for the first time in her career. It was a comedy horror film where she acted opposite Rajkummar Rao. The film received a theatrical release after much delay due to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following year, Kapoor appeared in two films. In Good Luck Jerry (2022), directed by debutant Siddharth Sen, she again played the titular lead role, and it was a black comedy crime film that premiered on Disney+ Hotstar.
Good Luck Jerry was the Hindi adaptation of the Tamil movie Kolamavu Kokila (2018).
Her other film Mili (2022), was a survival thriller. In the film, her character Mili gets locked in a freezer, and she does everything possible to fight against the freezing cold and keep herself alive. It was a remake of the Malayalam movie Helen (2019).
Mili was produced by her father and Zee Studios and directed by Mathukutty Xavier, who had directed the original Malayalam version of the movie. While the film received mixed reviews from the critics, they praised Kapoor's performance in the titular role.
Apart from films, Kapoor appeared in a music video in 2020 for the promotional song of Angrezi Medium (2020).
Kapoor is the brand ambassador of Nykaa Fashion. - Sara Ali Khan was born on 12 August 1995 in Mumbai to Saif Ali Khan, son of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore, and Amrita Singh; both actors of the Hindi film industry. A member of the Pataudi family, she is also the maternal granddaughter of Rukhsana Sultana and Shivinder Singh Virk. She has a younger brother, Ibrahim Ali Khan. Her half-brother, Taimur Ali Khan, is Saif's son from his second marriage to Kareena Kapoor. Khan is of predominantly Bengali and Pathan descent on her father's side, and of Punjabi descent on her mother's side.
- Saiyami Kher is an Indian actress and model who made her debut in the Hindi film industry. Saiyami comes from a prominent film and sports background. She is the granddaughter of Usha Kiran, a renowned Marathi actress, and the niece of Tanvi Azmi, a prominent Bollywood actress.
Saiyami Kher gained recognition for her performance in the movie "Mirzya," which was directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and released in 2016. The film marked her debut and showcased her acting skills and dedication to her craft. Saiyami received praise for her portrayal of the character Sahiban and her performance in the visually stunning film.
Apart from her acting career, Saiyami has also been associated with modeling and has been a part of various brand endorsements. She is known for her striking looks and elegant presence on and off-screen. - Actress
- Director
- Writer
Shriya Pilgaonkar is an actress and is the only child of Sachin Pilgaonkar and Supriya Pilgaonkar, both actors by profession.
Pilgaonkar learned Kathak as a child. She trained as a professional swimmer and competed at the state level, winning gold medals in the under-7 and under-9 categories.
She completed her bachelor's degree in Sociology from St. Xavier's College in Mumbai. While in college, she took classes in Japanese as she had considered becoming a linguist or translator.
Pilgaonkar's first stint was as a child actor when she was five. She was cast in Tu Tu Main Main (1994), a popular Hindi comedy series directed by her father, and had her mother as a lead actress.
Her foray into professional filmmaking began at Harvard summer school. After studying screenplay adaptation there, she pursued a film appreciation course at FTII.
She debuted on the big screen in 2013 with Ek Kulti Ek (2013), a Marathi film written, directed, and produced by her father. Her movie debut won her six awards, including the Maharashtra State Government Award for Best Debut Actress (2013).
After appearing in a few other film and stage projects, she bagged a role in Un + Une (2015), a French film directed by Oscar-winning director Claude Lelouch.
Pilgaonkar made her Bollywood debut in 2016 with Fan (2016), a Shah Rukh Khan-starrer written and directed by Maneesh Sharma under the Yash Raj Films banner and produced by Aditya Chopra.
In 2018, she appeared in the Amazon Prime India web series Mirzapur (2018), making her a popular face. She followed it up with several more shows, including The Gone Game (2020), Crackdown (2020), Guilty Minds (2022), and The Broken News (2022).
Over the years, she has been a part of films like Jai Mata Di (2017), linkHouse Arrest (2019), Bhangra Paa Le (2020), and linkKaadan (2021).- Actor
- Producer
Vikrant Massey, a well-known Indian film and television actor was born on 3rd April 1987 in Mumbai (Maharashtra). Vikrant is great at doing more with less. Some of his most magical moments on screen are in projects where he had limited screen time, which is a trait common to gifted actors. He is indeed one of the most talented actors in India.
He scored his successful professional gig with the TV show Balika Vadhu which aired on Color TV and he soon became a household name.
Vikrant made his Bollywood debut in Vikramaditya Motwane's Robber (2013) starring alongside Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha. His first lead role was in Konkona Sen Sharma's debut directorial project, A Death in the Gunj (2016) where he played a shy student. His effortless acting made him win rave reviews. Both the film and his impeccable performance won critical acclaim. It was for this movie he won the 'Best Actor' at Caleidoscope Indian Film Festival Award (2017) and a nomination for Critics choice 'Best Actor' at Filmfare Awards (2018).
Vikrant had also starred in Meghna Gulzar's Chhapaak (2020), where he was the male protagonist opposite Deepika Padukone. For his power-packed role in this movie, he received the 'Best Supporting Actor' at Dadasaheb Phalke-DPIFF Award (2021)
Some of his other notified films include Dil Dhadakne Do (2015), Half Girlfriend (2017), Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), Ginny Weds Sunny (2020) opposite Yami Gautam, Dolly Kitty and Those Twinkling Stars (2019) opposite Bhumi Pednekar, a science fiction film, 'Cargo' (2020) opposite Shweta Tripathi, and Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi (2019). His performances in all these movies were applauded by the audience and critics alike.
Vikrant has also been a part of famous web series such as Rise (2017), Mirzapur (2018), Broken But Beautiful (2018), Made in Heaven (2019), where he played a cameo and Criminal Justice (2019) where he played the lead role. His brilliant performance in 'Criminal Justice' bagged him the 'Best Actor' at the Critics' Choice Shorts & Series Awards (2019). He is ruling the digital space.
In the past, he has been part of some famous TV shows such as 'Dhoom Machaao Dhoom' (2007), Baba Aiso Varr Dhoondo (2010), Dharam Veer (2008), Gumrah End of Innocence (2012), and Yeh Hai Aashiqui (2013), and 'Ajab Gajab Ghar Jamai' (2014), Qubool Hai (2012) (2013) where he played varied roles.
He is also a trained and accomplished contemporary Jazz dancer and has worked with Shiamak Davar. He even acted as a choreographer on the show 'Dhoom Machaao Dhoom' (2007).
He has an exciting lineup of movies which include Haseen Dillruba (2021), 14 Phere (2021), 'Yaar Jigari', Mumbaikar (2023), and Love Hostel (2022) working with some of the biggest banners that include Colour Yellow Productions, Eros International, Zee Studios, Red Chillies Entertainment, and RSVP movies.
He is a sincere, talented, and steady actor who has plodded his way up. He is proof that talent, perseverance and merit can go a long way.
His integrity and effective performances in films, web series and on television have earned him a loyal fan base.- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Estelle Merle Thompson was born in India on February 19, 1911 of Welsh and Ceylonese (now Sri Lankan) descent. She was educated in that country until the age of 17, when she left for London. She began her career in British films with mostly forgettable roles or bit parts. She appeared in an uncredited role in Alf's Button (1930), a pattern that would unfortunately repeat itself regularly over the next three years.
However, movie moguls eventually saw an untapped talent in their midst and began grooming Oberon for something bigger. Finally she landed a part with substance: the role of Ysobel d'Aunay in Men of Tomorrow (1932). That was quickly followed by The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933). After her portrayal of Lady Marguerite Blakeney in The Scarlet Pimpernel (1934), Hollywood beckoned and she left to try her hand in US films. American movie executives already had some idea of her talent due to her role in Vagabond Violinist (1934) (US title: Vagabond Violinist) was a success in that country. With her nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actress as Kitty Vane in The Dark Angel (1935), Oberon became a star in both the UK and the USA.
Her work in that film resulted in offers for more quality pictures, and she appeared in several well received films, such as These Three (1936), Over the Moon (1939) and The Divorce of Lady X (1938). Her most critically acclaimed performance--hailed by some critics as "masterful" -- was as Cathy Linton in Wuthering Heights (1939). The 1940s proved to be a very busy decade for her, as she appeared in no less than 15 films. After her role in Berlin Express (1948) she would not be seen on the screen again until four years later, as Elizabeth Rockwell in Pardon My French (1951). She was off the screen again for more than a year, returning in Désirée (1954).
Unfortunately, Oberon began appearing in fewer and fewer films over the ensuing years. There were no films for her in 1955, only one in 1956 and then none until Of Love and Desire (1963). In between she did appear on television to host Assignment Foreign Legion (1956). Her final film was Interval (1973). After her career finally ended she lived in quiet retirement until her death of a massive stroke on November 23, 1979, in Malibu, California. Oberon was 68 and had kept her beauty to the end.- Chhaya Kadam was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She is known for Andhadhun (2018), Jawan (2023) and Antim: The Final Truth (2021).
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Jai Hemant Shroff, known professionally as Tiger Shroff, is an Indian actor and martial artist. He began learning Wushu and Taekwondo at the age of four, taking inspiration from Bruce Lee.
Shroff studied at the American School of Bombay before pursuing his higher education. However, while pursuing for his higher education, he left Amity University to make his Bollywood Debut in Heropanti (2014), directed by Sabbir Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. Kriti Sanon also debuted in Bollywood alongside Shroff in this romantic action film.
In 2019, he founded Matrix Fight Night (MFN), which has become India's largest mixed martial arts (MMA) event, with ten live performances scheduled in India and the UAE by February 2023.
Tiger Shroff made a remarkable debut in Bollywood with the movie Heropanti (2014), in which he played the character of Bablu. The film not only earned him critical acclaim but also grossed over Rs 77.9 crore worldwide, establishing a strong base for his career. Shroff's outstanding performance in the movie also won him multiple awards, such as "Best Debut Male" at the Filmfare Awards, "Most Promising Newcomer-Male" at the Screen Awards, and "Star Debut of the Year" at the International Indian Film Academy Awards.
Shroff's film Baaghi (2016) was another box-office hit once again directed by Sabbir Khan and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. The action blockbuster grossed Rs 127.05 crore worldwide, making it one of Shroff's highest-grossing movies.
The same year, alongside Jacqueline Fernandez, Shroff starred in Remo D'Souza's superhero comedy-action film, A Flying Jatt (2016). Shroff won the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for Favourite Dancing Star and the BIG Star Entertainment Awards for Most Entertaining Dancer for his role in the film.
Shroff was cast in Sabbir Khan's musical melodrama Munna Michael (2017), where he portrays a homeless youngster who looks up to Michael Jackson and aspires to perform like him. Nidhhi Agerwal, who portrays Shroff's on-screen girlfriend, makes her debut in the film.
Aside from Baaghi 2 (2018), Shroff starred in Punit Malhotra's romantic comedy Student of the Year 2 (2019), produced by Dharma Productions. The film was a sequel to Karan Johar's Student of the Year (2012). Shroff acts opposite Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria where he plays a university student who competes in the school's annual tournament. The film grossed Rs 98.16 crores worldwide.
In 2019, Shroff acted opposite Hrithik Roshan in War (2019), directed by Siddharth Anand. The action film was Shroff's highest-grossing movie at its release and remained one of his most successful blockbusters. The movie was a commercial success, earning Rs 475.5 crores worldwide. War (2019) made over Rs 53.35 crores on its first day in India, ranking it the fourth highest-grossing movie on its opening day.
War (2019) is the third instalment in the YRF Spy Universe, which depict crossovers from other movies in the shared universe, including Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Pathaan (2023), and other RAW agent-centred spy action dramas.
Baaghi 3 (2020) reunited Shroff and Shraddha Kapoor on the big screen. The action thriller film was a hit at the box office, earning Rs 137.05 crores worldwide.
After a two-year break, Shroff acted in Heropanti 2 (2022), directed by Ahmed Khan, and starred opposite Tara Sutaria.
Shroff also serves as a brand ambassador for major brands such as Pepsi, ASICS India, Casio India, 8 PM Premium Black, Macho, Garnier, Forca, and Great White Electronic.
His projects also includes Ganapath (2023) with Kriti Sanon and the action-packed Rambo (2023).- Actress
- Writer
Srishti Rindani was born on 22 May 1995 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She is an actress and writer, known for Rafta Rafta (2023), Campus Diaries (2022) and Romil and Jugal (2017).- Actress
- Music Department
Tara Sutaria was born on 19 November 1995 in a Gujarati family. Her family is Parsi. She has a twin sister named Pia. Both trained in classical ballet, modern dance and Latin American dances at the School of Classical Ballet and Western Dance, Royal Academy of Dance, United Kingdom and the Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing, United Kingdom. She has been a professional singer since she was seven years old, having sung in operas and competitions since then. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media from St. Andrew's College of Arts, Science, and Commerce.- Nikita Dutta was born and brought up in New Delhi. Later, she moved to Mumbai along with her parents. She has completed her college from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. She was one of the finalist in 'The Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2012'. She practices the mix of power yoga, cardio exercises and meditation to stay fit. Now The Lead actress of Ek Duje Ke Vaaste on Sony
- Suhana Khan was born on 22 May 2000 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She is an actress, known for The Archies (2023), King and Untitled SRK-Suhana-Marflix movie.
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Varun Dhawan is the son of the Indian film director David Dhawan. He completed his education at the Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai and went on to graduate from Nottingham Trent University, UK, with a degree in Business Management.
Dhawan debuted in the film industry in 2012 with the film Student of the Year (2012) and has since established himself as a versatile actor known for his acting skills and good looks.
Dhawan's debut film marked a new era in Bollywood and introduced a fresh, energetic, and talented actor to the Indian film industry. He played the role of Rohan Nanda, a college-going student who competes in a series of challenges to win the coveted title of "Student of the Year."
The film was well-received by audiences and established Dhawan as a star to watch out for.
In his next films, Main Tera Hero (2014) and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014), Dhawan took on the role of a quirky and comical character, proving his versatility as an actor.
He then went on to star in films such as Any Body Can Dance 2 (2015), Badlapur (2015), Dilwale (2015), Judwaa 2 (2017) and Sui Dhaaga: Made in India (2018), showcasing his versatility and range as an actor.
Dhawan's performances in films such as Badlapur (2015) and October (2018) were widely appreciated and garnered critical acclaim.
In "Badlapur", he played the role of a man seeking revenge for the murder of his wife and son. The film was a departure from the typical Bollywood potboiler and showcased the actor's skills and prowess in a more serious role. "October" was a heart-warming and emotional film, which saw Dhawan in a completely different avatar, and his performance was widely praised.
In 2019, Dhawan starred in the film Kalank (2019), which was a period drama set in the 1940s. The film was a multi-starrer and featured an ensemble cast, including Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapoor, and Sonakshi Sinha.
Although the film received mixed reviews, His performance was widely appreciated, and he was praised for his ability to carry the emotional weight of the film.
In 2020, he starred in the film Street Dancer 3D (2020), which was a dance-based film set in London. The film was a commercial success and was well-received by audiences, especially for its high-energy dance numbers and Dhawan's performance.
He continued to impress audiences with his dancing skills and has become a popular face in the dance-film genre.
In the same year, Dhawan starred in the film Coolie No. 1 (2020), a reboot of the 1995 film of the same name. The film was a commercial success, and his performance was widely appreciated. He played the lead role opposite actress Sara Ali Khan and was praised for his comic timing.
Dhawan had been busy in 2022 as well, with two releases, Jug Jugg Jeeyo and Bhediya.
Jug Jugg Jeeyo (2022) is a comedy-drama film directed by Raj Mehta and co-starring Kiara Advani and Neetu Kapoor. The film was well-received by audiences, and his performance was praised for his comic timing and chemistry with the cast.
Bhediya (2022) was the third instalment of Dinesh Vijan's horror-comedy series.
Dhawan's project in 2023 was Nitesh Tiwari's action film Bawaal (2023), opposite actress Jahnvi Kapoor.
Throughout his career, Dhawan has won several awards for his outstanding performances. He won the Stardust Award for Breakthrough Performance Male for Student of the Year in 2013. In 2015, he won the Star Guild Awards for Best Actor in a Comic Role for the film Main Tera Hero.
He has also won several other awards, including the Super Stylish Inspirational Youth Idol - Male by Pinkvilla Style Icons in 2022.
In addition to his acting career, Dhawan is also known for his philanthropic work and is actively involved in various charity organizations. He has been a part of campaigns to support causes such as education, healthcare, and animal welfare.
Dhawan married fashion designer Natasha Dalal on January 24, 2021. The wedding took place in Alibaug, a coastal town in Maharashtra, and was attended by close friends and family members.
The couple has been in a long-term relationship for many years, and their wedding was a much-anticipated event in the entertainment industry.- Writer
- Director
- Additional Crew
Tushar Hiranandani was born on 13 July 1975 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He is a writer and director, known for Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? (2010), Saand Ki Aankh (2019) and The Villain (2014).- Aaditi Sudhir Pohankar is an Indian actress and stage performer who works mainly in Bollywood, Marathi, and Tamil films. Both her parents were athletes. During her school days, she represented her state in athletics and even won medals.
She started out as a theatre artist and worked with veteran theatre actor Makrand Deshpande. She was mentored by Pandit Satyadev Dubey and participated in many stage plays in Mumbai.
Pohankar entered the Hindi film industry with the movie LSD: Love, Sex Aur Dhokha (2010).
She got her first break playing longer roles with the Marathi film Lai Bhaari (2014) opposite Riteish Deshmukh, where she played a negative role. She won the IMFAA Award for Best Debutant Female for her performance in this film.
Pohankar made her debut in Tamil films with the movie Gemini Ganeshanum Suruli Raajanum (2017).
She was part of a Hindi Netflix series titled She (2020), in which she played the lead role of Bhumika Pardeshi. The story was written by Imtiaz Ali and Divya Johry.
Later, in the same year, Pohankar was a part of the popular web series Aashram (2020) in all seasons. She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2021 at the Bollywood Life OTT Awards for her performance in the series.
Besides these, she has been a part of movies like Truckbhar Swapna (2018) and Typecaste (2017).
Pohankar was ranked 47th in The Times Most Desirable Women (2020). - Producer
- Writer
- Art Director
An accomplished and award-winning producer-director-writer-actor-singer, Farhan Akhtar is the ultimate Bollywood multi-hyphenate. Born in 1974 to prolific Indian film writer and poet, Javed Akhtar and writer-director, Honey Irani , Farhan was raised in an environment where creativity and originality of thought were encouraged. This has made him a maverick whose films reflect refreshingly new content that easily strikes a chord with filmgoers.
In 1999, Farhan collaborated with Ritesh Sidhwani, a friend who shared his passion for good cinema, to form Excel Entertainment, a production banner that has become synonymous with excellence in film-making.
Debuting at the age of 26, as a writer, director, and producer with Dil Chahta Hai (2001) a coming-of-age film that has gained cult status, Farhan came to be lauded for his honest, path-breaking writing and his ability to extract mature performances from his cast. The film won Farhan his first National Award for 'Best Hindi Feature Film' along with Filmfare awards for 'Best Feature Film - Critics Choice' and 'Best Screenplay'.
Almost two decades later, this film continues to influence a generation of filmmakers.
Seven years after his dream debut as a writer-director, Farhan debuted as an actor-singer in Rock On!! (2008) Yet another runaway success, the film secured him a second National Award for 'Best Hindi Feature Film' and a Filmfare award for 'Best Debut Performance'.
The dream run continued with Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) which released in 2011 to much popular and critical acclaim, winning him three Filmfare awards for 'Best Film', 'Best Actor in a supporting role' and 'Best Dialogue'.
His next, a biopic on Indian athlete Milkha Singh, popularly known as 'the Flying Sikh', was entitled Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013).
He essayed the role with such integrity that it set the standard for other actors considering to play titular protagonists in biopics. Deservingly, Farhan swept all awards that year for 'Best Actor' as did the film for 'Best Film'. It also claimed the National award for 'Best Popular Film providing Wholesome Entertainment.'
His most recent release The Sky Is Pink (2019) premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and received a 15-minute standing ovation from the audience at the Roy Thomson Hall.
In addition to his contribution to Indian cinema, Farhan has initiated and supported a plethora of social causes. In 2012, he founded MARD (Men against Rape & Discrimination), an initiative that raises awareness about gender-related issues amongst the youth of India. Recognizing his sustained efforts, Farhan was made the first male UNwomen goodwill ambassador (South Asia) in 2014.
Additionally, Farhan feeds his passion for music by writing, composing and performing live with his band FarhanLive.
His English language debut album 'Echoes' released in March 2019 to critical acclaim.
He has 2 daughters and lives in Mumbai, India.- Isha Talwar is an Indian film actress and model in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. Born and raised in Mumbai, she is an alumna of St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
At age 10, she debuted as a child actress in the Bollywood film Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai (2000). However, her first full-length film was Thattathin Marayathu (2012) in Malayalam, for which she won the Asianet Film Award for Best Star Pair and Vanitha Film Award for Best Debut (Female). She was next seen in I Love Me (2012).
Talwar made her debut in Telugu movies with Gunde Jaari Gallanthayyinde (2013) and Tamil movies with Thillu Mullu (2013). She has also been a part of many Malayalam films, including Balyakalasakhi (2014), Ulsaha Committee (2014), God's Own Country (2014), and Bangalore Days (2014). She also did a cameo in Bhaskar the Rascal (2015).
Talwar has also acted in the Tamil remake of Thattathin Marayathu, titled Meendum Oru Kadhal Kadhai (2016). She was next seen in the Bollywood film Tubelight (2017), Kaalakaandi (2018), Article 15 (2019), Har Kisse Ke Hisse: Kaamyaab (2018) and did a cameo in Ginny Weds Sunny (2020).
Talwar has also been a part of many web series like Mirzapur (2018) . She also has been a part of Theerppu (2022) and Sharmaji Namkeen (2022). - Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
Babil Khan is an Indian Bollywood actor, who has been making waves in the entertainment industry with his raw talent and captivating performances. He is the son of the legendary late actor Irrfan Khan and screenwriter and producer Sutapa Sikdar.
Khan's father, Irrfan Khan, was a renowned actor who had acted in several critically acclaimed movies like Life of Pi (2012) and Slumdog Millionaire (2008).
Khan completed his schooling at Tridha School in Mumbai and studied further at the University of Westminster in London. After completing his studies, he started his career in Bollywood as a camera assistant in the movie Qarib Qarib Single (2017).
Khan made his acting debut in the web series The Railway Men (2023), which also starred Divyendu Sharma, Kay Kay Menon, and Madhavan. He appeared in the English short film The Mattress Man: A Yawn to Action (2021) in 2021.
He won praise for acting in Qala (2022). In addition, Triptii Dimri, Swastika Mukherjee, and Varun Grover were noteworthy in the psychological drama movie. Khan's second movie is directed by Shoojit Sircar.- Kiran Karmarkar was born on 2 May 1958 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He is an actor, known for Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii (2000), Tamanna (2016) and Article 370 (2024).
- Actress
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Shraddha Kapoor is an Indian film actress. Prior to making her cinematic debut, she took up theatre studies at Boston University, but dropped out after her first year to begin her acting career. She made her screen debut in the 2010 drama fictional Teen Patti for which she earned a nomination for the Filmfare Best Female Debut. The following year, she received appreciation and the Stardust Searchlight Best Actress Award for her role in the teen drama Luv Ka The End. She rose to prominence for her portrayal as Arohi Keshav Shirke in the 2013 romantic musical Aashiqui 2, which emerged as her first commercial success venture in which she gained positive acclaims and numerous nominations including the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.- Amyra Dastur is an Indian Parsi film actress. She was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She is model and also an actress. Amy made her Hindi cinema-acting debut with Issaq (2013), released on July 26, 2013, opposite Prateik Patil Babbar, in which she plays a role named Bachchi Kashyap. The film was directed by Manish Tiwary. Amyra started her career as model in few commercials including Clean & Clear, Dove , Airtel and Micromax. Amyra Dastur, born born 7 May 1993, began her education in Cathedral and John Connon School. She started her Secondary education from Dhirubhai Ambani International School but dropped out to pursue acting. Dastur is Parsi and she speaks English, Tamil, French and Gujarati at home. She got herself studying B.A in Mumbai's HR College. Amyra has finished shooting for her first international project, Kung Fu Yoga (2017) alongside Jackie Chan which is released in India on 3 February 2017. She has also started filming for Oodi Oodi Uzhaikanum (2017).Amyra Dastur will soon be seen in director Akshat Verma's next, titled Kaalakaandi (2018), starring Saif Ali Khan.
- Apeksha Porwal is an Indian actor who made her debut in the 2020 release Undekhi (2020) by Applause Entertainment, directed by Ashish R. Shukla and produced by Siddharth Sengupta and Jyoti Sagar for SonyLIV Originals.
She studied method acting at the Jeff Goldberg Studio in Mumbai through a 9 month diploma programme under Jeff Goldberg, actor, director and previously a faculty member at the world renowned Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, New York. She's also studied acting under the tutelage of acclaimed actor Neeraj Kabi and Atul Mongia.
She was a lead actor in Deranged Marriage, a comedy theatre production that did several shows across India in 2016-17. She was also a part of an adaptation of Pirandello's classical play Six Characters in Search of an Author. Both these plays were produced by the Jeff Goldberg Studio. She was also seen in Anand Tiwari's web series Imperfect (2018) for Zoom Studios.
She holds multiple pageant titles, the two most prestigious ones being Miss Universe India 2017 (2nd RUp), Miss India Delhi 2015 (winner) and Miss Teen India International 2009 (winner).
She is trained in the Indian classical dance form Kathak. Having been born and brought up in Mumbai, she is fluent in Hindi, English and Marathi. She is a voracious reader and consumes everything from fiction and classics to autobiographies. - Actress
- Producer
Geeta Agrawal Sharma was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She is known for 12th Fail (2023), OMG 2 (2023) and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013).- Sahore's acting career took off when he was 12 years old and little did his family know he would make a name for himself in the industry.
He was discovered by a casting director while shopping at a mall with his mother. Although Sahore was an introvert and his parents never thought he would pursue acting. He made his debut in Ferrari Ki Sawaari (2012) and was widely praised for his natural and expressive acting skills. After noticing a similarity to the iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, the casting director cast Sahore as a young cricketer in the movie, and he has since gained recognition as a skilled actor and made significant progress in his career.
Sahore went on to play a young Amir Khan in the hit film Dangal (2016) and also starred in the medical drama series The Good Karma Hospital (2017). He has also appeared in the films Gauru: Journey of Courage (2018) and Super 30 (2019) with Hrithik Roshan in 2019, as well as the short films The Twist (2020) and To Remember Me By (2019) in 2020. For his performance in Gauru: Journey of Courage (2018), he received the best actor prize at the China International Children's Film Festival.
In 2018, Sahore gained popularity for the Flames (2018) and has since appeared in various other web series, including Laakhon Mein Ek (2017) and Matsya Kaand (2021). He has also appeared in other web series and drama movies like Chidiakhana (2023), Ishq Express (2022), Escaype Live (2022), Matsya Kaand (2021), and Yeh Saari Baat (2020).
His portrayal of the character Ishaan in Awkward Conversations with Parents (2018) opposite Ahsaas Channa was widely appreciated. He also went on to appear in its sequel named Awkward Conversations with Girlfriend (2020), opposite Rashmi Agdekar, in 2022. He also appeared in Indori Ishq (2021) opposite Vedika Bhandari.
He was given the Best Actor Award for the film To To Remember Me By (2019) at the Mumbai International Film Festival in 2020. - Actress
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
In 2023, Ananya Panday starred as the leading lady in the sequel "Dream Girl 2," alongside Ayushmann Khurrana. She also starred in the pivotal role in the film 'Kho Gaye Hum Kahaan' alongside Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav, for which the actress received accolades for her role as Ahana. She bagged the Zine Cine Awards' 'Performer of the Year,' Pinkvilla's 'Most Stylish Performer of the Year,' Femina Beautiful Indian's 'Standout Performer of the Year,' and News 18's ShowSha Reel Awards' 'Breakthrough Performance.
Ananya Panday made a special appearance in the song "HeartThrob" from the film "Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani." Her upcoming projects include Vikramaditya Motwane's cyber thriller, "Control," and an Amazon Prime Video series titled "Call Me Bae." Additionally, she is set to star in the period film "Shankara," alongside Akshay Kumar, produced by Dharma Productions.- Sunny has burst upon the Indian film scene in recent years with several noteworthy performances in key roles.
He played the lead role of 'Rustom' in Director Ajita Suchitra Veera's Ballad of Rustom, which was shortlisted as a possible Best Picture for the 2014 Academy Awards out of 3,000 films released globally.
He also featured in the action packed science fiction series Seven produced by the preeminent company Yash Raj Films' TV division.
In 2014, Sunny played a key role in the dramatic film In the Name of Jihad (aka Aasma), directed by the award-winning director Sudipto Sen.
In 2017 Sunny collaborated with Pakistani filmmaker Shazia Ali Khan on a feature film "Pinky Memsaab" where he was appreciated for his role of Santosh. The film won audience choice awards at the UK Asian Film Festival. In the digital series, his role as Sandeep Bhaiya in TVF's Aspirants & Vicky Meheshwari in "Chacha VIdhayak Hain Humare" have won him much popularity amongst the audience. Sunny was also seen in "The Family Man" as Milind. - Writer
- Director
- Editor
Aditya Suhas Jambhale is a two-time National award-winning Goan Film Director, Writer, and Actor. After completing BE in Electronics Engineering, he founded the film production company 'Shree Mahalasa Productions' and a graphic design company 'Logocrazze'. His debut short film "Aaba Aiktaay Naa?" won the National award for best Direction (Golden Lotus) at 64th National Film Awards 2016. His second short film "Kharvas" was selected as the opening film for Indian Panorama (NF) in IFFI 2018 and won his 2nd National Award for Best short film in 2019. He is actively involved in the Marathi theatre arena for the past 10 years and won several state awards for his plays like Nat-SMRT, Are Manasa Manasa, Final Verdict, etc. He is credited as the youngest writer in India for his mega drama "Vande Mataram". His recent film project on national integration, titled "Amritsar Junction" explores the conflicts which shaped the 1947 partition of India.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Hansal Mehta is a film director best known for Shahid (2013), Citylights (2014), Aligarh (2016), Omertà (2018) and Scam 1992 (2020). He is known for films that depict social and political realities in deeply polarised and troubled times. His films are remarkable for their understanding of characters and their worlds, while telling important stories. His films Shahid (2013) and Omertà(2018) premiered as official selections at different editions of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Aligarh (2016) a moving tale about a professor suspended by university for being gay premiered at the BFI London Film Festival in 2015. His films have traveled to festivals around the world and have been extensively written about and discussed in both international and local forums. He won the National Award for Best Direction in 2014 for his film Shahid.- Actress
- Writer
- Director
A former model and beauty queen (both as Miss University World and Miss India talent winner), Shah has acted on the big screen and on stage for over eight years, fast becoming a household name in India. She is best known for her roles in such hits as Yes Boss and Jungle, as well as for her acclaimed dancing numbers in movies like Vaastav and Aankhen. Kashmira started doing theater and soon proved herself as an accomplished actress in her many plays. This may have contributed to her showcase of her talents in 'Jungle' where her performance earned her a coveted Best Supporting Actress nomination in the local film industry. Shah recently graduated from prominent co-starring roles to lead parts - notably, in a anticipated series of films including one wherein which she plays Revati, a poor rag picker who finds her dignity in a journey of self-discovery. And her latest project, My Bollywood Bride, where in addition to co-writing the screenplay she plays the lead role of Reena, a Bollywood film star that falls in love with an American writer played by Jason Lewis (Sex and the City) Kashmera is now slated to star in two more Hollywood films and several Bollywood films all currently in pre-production or production. Whatever the medium, Shah seems to have a knack for being involved in successful projects. She was recently ranked among the Top 35 All Time Actresses in India and she has been promoted as the Worlds Most Exotic Woman and/or India's Most Exotic Export!- Zenobia Shroff has been an actress for thirty years. She got her start in Mumbai under the mentor ship of the legendary Pearl Padamsee. With Padamsee's encouragement, she came to study acting at New York's Circle in the Square Theatre School. Soon after, she honed her craft at the off- Broadway theatre Castillo, where she played several and diverse roles such as Nora in Ibsen's A Doll's House to German avant-gardist Heiner Muller. She also performed in Mario Frattis "Erotic adventures in Venice" at the famed La Mama and Milan Kundera's "Jacques and his Master".
She has taught drama and movement extensively throughout New York City and Mumbai, primarily for inner city and low income children. She has taught at Arts Connection, Education in Dance, and is a proud founding teacher of Youth Onstage, that city's only fully gratis theatre school for inner city children.
A few years ago, she was cast in Sooni Taraporevalas "Little Zizou", presented by Mira Nair. For that role, she was nominated as Best Actress at the New York Indian film festival. Next she was seen in 'When Harry tries to Marry', a Hollywood independent film. She followed that up with her first Bollywood blockbuster, 'Ek main aur ekk tu' playing opposite superstars Kareena Kapoor and Imran Khan.
Her critically acclaimed one woman show 'How to Succeed as an Ethnically Ambiguous Actor' has been performed at the Planet Connection Theatre Festival, at which she was nominated for Best Actress. She also did a successful off Broadway run at the Castillo theatre.
In 2017, she had her breakout role as Kumail Nanjiani's mother in The Big Sick, which was a resounding box office success and garnered her stellar reviews and a SAG nomination for Best Ensemble Cast. She followed up with a recurring role on season 4 of The Affair as Priya Ullah. She also recurred as Himaya Pravesh on The Resident, and on Madam Secretary. She will be back for season 5 of The Affair in August 2019.
Zenobia is an accomplished Bharat Natyam dancer and writes and performs sketch comedy. Her one woman show 'Exotic observations' has been performed at the Guild gallery, the Indo American arts council and the famed UCB. She holds a Masters degree in Psychology. - Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Meezaan Jafri was born on 9 March 1995 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. He is an actor and assistant director, known for Padmaavat (2018), Malaal (2019) and Yaariyan 2 (2023).- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Shefali is a National Award-winning actress with a career spanning over two decades across various genres and formats. She has given power packed performances in films such as Satya, Monsoon Wedding, Gandhi, My Father, Dil Dhadakne Do and Once Again. Shefali has won numerous awards including the Filmfare Award, Stardust Award, Tokyo International Film Festival Award and Asian Academy Creative Award. She received the National Award (Best Supporting Actress) at the 55th National Film Awards for her work in The Last Lear. Shefali was lauded for her restrained and layered performance in director Neeraj Ghaywan's short film Juice, which won multiple awards, including the Filmfare Best Actress Award. She also lent her voice for the character of Raksha in the Hindi version of Jon Favreau's The Jungle Book. Her performance in the Netflix Original Delhi Crime garnered wide critical acclaim with the show winning the Best Drama series at the 48th International Emmy Awards. Shefali recently donned the director's hat with her two short films Someday and Happy Birthday Mummy Ji both dealing with the theme of isolation. Audiences unanimously loved her characterizations of Natasha in Ankahi, part of the Ajeeb Daastaans anthology on Netflix; Gauri Nath in Human and Rukhsana in Jalsa. She was recently seen in multiple films and series such as Darlings, Doctor G and Delhi Crime Season 2 among others.- Pooja Hegde was born on 13th October 1990 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. She is an Indian Film actress. She made her acting debut in a Tamil film, Mugamoodi (2012) followed by her Telugu film debut in Oka Laila Kosam, opposite Naga Chaitanya Akkineni and Hindi film debut in Ashutosh Gowariker's Mohenjo Daro (2016) opposite Hrithik Roshan.
Like her parents Manjunath Hegde and Lata Hegde, Pooja was born and brought up in Mumbai, Maharashtra. She has an elder brother Rishabh Hegde who is an Orthopaedic surgeon. They are originally from Mangalore, Karnataka. Pooja was the second runner-up at the Miss Universe India 2010 pageant. She speaks English, Hindi, Marathi Tulu Telegu and Tamil.
Her upcoming projects are a comedy film Cirkus with Ranveer Singh and directed by Rohit Shetty, romantic multilingual film Radhe Shyam (2022) with Prabhas, Most Eligible Bachelor opposite Akhil Akkineni and Acharya opposite Ram Charan. She will also be seen opposite Salman Khan in their upcoming film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan (2023) - Rudhraksh Jaiswal embarked on his career journey In 2013, securing the role of Sahadev in the epic "Mahabharata". Transitioning to the silver screen, he showcased his talent in films such as "Noor" (2017) and "The Tenant" (2023). His latest milestone includes a significant role in the ensemble cast of the acclaimed film "Extraction (2020)," helmed by director Sam Hargrave and scripted by Joe Russo. Jaiswal's repertoire also extends to a web series, notably starring in the Amazon Prime series "Crushed" (2021-2024) as the lead character Samvidhan. Additionally, he has lent his presence to advertisements for prominent brands such as Dell, Samsung, Google Pay, and Pepsi.
- Actress
- Producer
Aisha Ahmed was born on 8 May 1996 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She is an actress and producer, known for Lock'd IN (2021), Balcony Buddies (2021) and Zindagi inShort (2020).- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Aarti Sequeira, cooking show host, cookbook author, journalist, television producer and tv personality has become a mainstay on Food Network after winning season six of Food Network Star. With her unique signature style of recipes and her great knowledge of spices, she has inevitably been dubbed "The Queen of Spices" and has become a sought-after television host, guest, influencer, commentator, and judge. In addition to hosting her own shows, Aarti Party and the travel show, Hidden Eats, Aarti also serves as judge on hit shows like CandyLand (recently launched on Food Network and hosted by Kristen Chenoweth), Luda Can't Cook (A new show with Ludacris, available on Discovery+ in 2021), Guy's Grocery Games, Cooks vs. Cons, and Christmas Cookie Challenge. She also cooks alongside some of the best chefs in the country, on Guy's Ranch Kitchen. She co- hosted Drop 5 Lbs and has made numerous talking-head appearances on Best Thing I Ever Ate, Best Thing I Ever Made, and Unique Eats on Cooking Channel. A seasoned competitor (or glutton for punishment!), she also won Chopped All-Stars, Cutthroat Kitchen All-Stars, and Guy's Grocery Games.
Off-network appearances include her recent role on the special holiday premiere episode of Season 2 of Selena Gomez' cook-along show, Selena + Chef available now on HBO Max. Aarti has also been a colorful, memorable repeat-guest on Today Show, CBS' The Talk, Home and Family (Hallmark Channel), and Dr. Oz. She also penned a nationally-syndicated column for the Associated Press entitled "World's Fare" in which she taught readers how to use ingredients in the international aisle in simple, weeknight dishes. A gifted writer, Aarti published her first cookbook, Aarti Paarti: An American Kitchen with an Indian Soul in 2014 (Grand Central). You may also recognize her voice while watching the animated character of Chef Shobha in Disney Jr.'s, Mira, The Royal Detective, that featured a star-studded all-Indian cast.
Born in India, brought up in Dubai, and educated in a British school, Aarti grew up against a varied tapestry of food cultures that contribute to her cultured palette as well as an extensive spice rack that goes well and beyond any masala dabba, the fundamental Indian spice box. Aarti also likes to joke that her love of food began in the womb (she was a 10-pound baby) and shows no signs of abating. Now she takes her food knowledge, love for cooking, and enthusiasm for sharing information to the masses!
It was during the first Gulf War that Aarti decided to pursue a career in journalism, eventually earning her bachelors degree at Northwestern's prestigious Medill School of Journalism. She went on to work for CNN straight out of school, covering everything from economic reports to the plight of firefighters after 9/11. She also produced Sand and Sorrow, the HBO documentary about the genocide in Darfur, narrated by George Clooney and directed by Peabody Award- winner Paul Freedman. After staging under James Beard Award-winner Suzanne Goin at Lucques, Aarti began shooting a YouTube cooking-variety show, Aarti Paarti, with her husband behind the camera. At the behest of said spouse, she sent an audition video to Food Network Star, and was immediately called in. The rest is history! Aarti is an ardent advocate for women battling postpartum depression having experienced it herself following the births of each of her two daughters. A passionate Christian, she also speaks to women of faith about overcoming fear and the sacred nature of breaking bread. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband, actor Brendan McNamara and daughters Eliyah and Moses.- Director
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Ashish was born in 1981 in Mumbai, India. He was raised in the neighborhood of Vakola, Santacruz. A commercial artist by qualification, Ashish worked for various ad agencies for 6 years as a creative director. In 2007 he joined Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap for his Film 'Dev.D' as creative head. Since then he directed a short films trilogy, ad films and documentaries. His show Candy has been awarded the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award for best series. His last documentary "26/11 Inside Mumbai Terror Attack" that he directed for the National Geographic channel won him the best director in Indian Telly Awards 2010.
Meanwhile, he directed a variety of films and web series genres for mainstream platforms. He is collaborating with some exciting studios for feature films in future.- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sunny Kaushal is an Indian actor who works in Bollywood. He is the younger brother of actor Vicky Kaushal and son of director Sham Kaushal.
Kaushal studied at The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India which he later left to pursuit acting. He started working as an assistant director on the films My Friend Pinto (2011) and Gunday (2014). He made his acting debut with the film Sunshine Music Tours and Travels (2016). Later he portrayed a hockey player in the sports drama Gold (2018). His latest work is in the amazon prime web series named The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye.- Geetanjali Kulkarni was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. She is known for Gullak (2019), Unpaused: Naya Safar (2022) and Karkhanisanchi Waari: Ashes on a road trip (2021).
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ishaan Khatter's most recent film "Pippa", a war drama, premiered in November 2023 and can be seen worldwide on Amazon. He will next be seen in his upcoming breakout US role as a lead in the limited Netflix series "A Perfect Couple" opposite Liev Schrieber, Nicole Kidman, and Dakota Fanning. He can also be seen as the lead in Mira Nair's limited series "A Suitable Boy" for BBC One for which he received critical acclaim. Ishaan received praise for his first starring role in acclaimed Iranian filmmaker Masjid Majidi's film "Beyond The Clouds" which is available on Netflix and for which Ishaan received the FilmFare Award for Best Newcomer. His first Bollywood film, "Dhadak", which premiered in 2018, was a critical and commercial hit with Ishaan winning the IIFA Award. His next project, a Bollywood action film, "Khaali Peeli" was released in 2022. He currently resides in Mumbai, India, speaks English [various accents] and Urdu fluently and holds an Indian passport as well as US, UK, & Schengen work visas.- Born in the same city and on the same month as his family friend Aamir Khan, Darsheel Safary (born March 9, 1997 in Mumbai, India) is an Indian child movie actor primarily working on starring in Hindi Bollywood films. He is best known for his acclaimed portrayal of a dyslexic child in the 2007 film Taare Zameen Par (Like Stars on Earth), a drama film about a teacher, Ram Shankar Nikumbh (Aamir Khan) and a boy (Darsheel Safary) with learning disabilities share a special bond.
Darsheel was born on March 9, 1997 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. His father, Mitesh Safary is a jeweler and his mother is Sheetal Safary. He had no acting experience prior to Taare Zameen Par. Growing up in Mumbai, he enrolled into Shiamak Davar's dance academy. He had never expected to be a movie actor at such a young age. His parents wanted him to be a businessman executive or a jewelry designer. He has a younger sister and resides in his hometown in Mumbai.
In 2007, Safary made his first big acting debut in Taare Zameen Par, playing the film's protagonist Ishaan Nandkishore Awasthi. Safary was discovered by script writer and creative director, Amol Gupte during fall 2006 when he was looking for a male lead for his film, Taare Zameen Par. After going through hundreds of auditions, Gupte found Safary at Shiamak Davar's dancing school, "Summer Funk". In choosing Safary, Gupte had a number of boys audition for a scene in which they would informally describe how they would "bunk" school after being given a few scenarios. He recalls, "It was a tough call. But Darsheel has the mischief in his eyes to be Ishaan. Everyone just naturally gravitated towards him." Taare Zameen par was filmed from fall 2006 until spring of 2007. Darsheel, at this time was only nine years old and only about 4 feet tall. The child artiste of the film, had to face a lot of opposition from his school when he was shortlisted for the film. The fact that he would have to miss school for such a long period of time did not go down well with the school authorities. However, Aamir Khan insisted that only Darsheel play the character, so he came up with a solution to fix the problem. He personally assured the school authorities that Darsheel's studies wouldn't be hampered with. Aamir arranged for personal tuition for Darsheel all through the academic year so that he wouldn't miss his exams. He also funded his studies as well as his educational expenses. Before starring, Darsheel was a part of Shiamak Davar's dance troupe. During one of the classes, he saw a poster that read, "Hunting for a naughty kid. If you're selected, you will get a chance to act with Aamir Khan." He thought that it would be great if he was able to act in the film. During the same class, Amole Gupte spotted him and asked him to go for an audition. Eventually, he got selected. Darsheel also got an Xbox 360 as a birthday gift from Aamir Khan on 9th March 2007, his tenth birthday. Following the film's release, he became the youngest nominee for Filmfare Award for the Best Actor. He couldn't make it because it was won by Shahrukh Khan for Chak de! India.
Safary's performance as a struggling dyslexic child in the film was unanimously praised and he won several awards for his performance. Many prominent film critics have praised Safary for his performance including, Taran Adarsh from indiaFM who wrote, "Taare Zameen Par belongs to Master Darsheel Safary. A performance that makes the best of performances pale in comparison. A performance that deserves brownie points. A performance that'll always come first on your mind the moment someone mentions Taare Zameen Par. A performance that's impeccable, flawless and astounding. A performance that moves you and makes you reflect on your growing years. A performance that merits a special award!" He won several awards for his performance, including the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Actor and the Star Screen Special Jury Award.
Following his first acting debut, directors of Bollywood films were desperately dying to talk to Darsheel to sign him in to star him in their film. ANd s he returned to the big screen again to impress more fans and win the hearts of more audiences. He also appeared in the 2010 film, Bumm Bumm Bole as Pinu, which tells the story of a family's situation getting from bad to worse after the husband/father of the family is fired from his job, then is suspected of having terrorist connections. The family is living in Northwestern India, a terror dominated region full of crime, corruption and terrorism. The parents are poor, broke and in serious debt and they can barely afford and manage things. They are working at a tea farm. Meanwhile, Pinu loses his sister Rimzim's shoes so they both decide to share a pair of shoes until their father has saved enough money to buy a new pair. The title of the film is based on one of the songs of the same name from taare Zameen par, however this film is not a sequel to Taare Zameen Par. The film was panned by critics and received mixed to mainly negative reviews, however, Darsheel did not mind. The critics however, praised the performances of Darsheel and newcomer Ziyah Vastani, stating that they had great chemistry together and made an adorable brother-sister duo.
Darsheel also starred in the 2011 film Zokkomon as Kunal, directed by Priyadarshan. In this film, abandoned by his heartless uncle who is obsessed with money (Anupam Kher) and aided by a street artist and a petty thief (Manjari Fadnis), an young orphaned boy (Darsheel Safary) discovers his inner superhero within him. Upon learning that Darsheel would play a superhero in a movie for the first time, Aamir Khan was very surprised and impressed and he blessed and praised the film, saying "Darsheel will always be my superhero in my heart". Aamir joked that "In Taare Zameen Par, he was also a superhero". The film, directed by Satyajit Bhatkal was well received by critics and a box office success.
He also played young Saleem Sinai in the 2012 film Midnight's Children, a story tells the audience about children born on the brink of India's independence grow up in a country that is vastly different from their parent's generation. Continuing his career, he played himself as a contestant in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 5 in 2012. In November 2015, he played the role of Abhay in the TV series Sun Yaar Try Maar. He is still active in Indian television and cinema, having acted in 4 films under the age of 17. While not a full time actor, Darsheel has acted from time to time as a hobby. He filmed movies and TV shows during his summer vacations so that he wouldn't be missing out on school. Or if he was out of school, he took his homework and books with him and studied on the sets. He also wrote tests and studied during breaks from filming so he wouldn't miss out on anything. His brilliant performances in Taare Zameen Par and Zokkomon shows that he is an amazing, bright, vibrant, shiny and talented kid with an amazing spark of his own. While he hopes to become an actor full time as a job in the future, he also indicated that his future plans may also include being a singer and a dancer, a businessman executive and a jeweler designer in an interview on rediff on December 26, 2007. - Jinnie Jazz is a popular actress known for her bold works in the Hindi film industry. She was born on 25 Dec 1990 in India. She is well known for her character in Charmsukh Jane Anjane Mein web series that streams on the Ullu app. Jinnie had also done some modeling projects with famous brands.
- Khushi Kapoor is an emerging Indian actress and the younger daughter of film producer Boney Kapoor and the late actress Sridevi. Growing up in a renowned film family, Khushi has garnered attention for her poised presence and style. While details of her acting career are still unfolding, her social media presence and public appearances suggest a promising future in the entertainment industry.
- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Sriram Raghavan is an Indian filmmaker who works in the Hindi film industry. He is regarded as a writer of neo-noir thrillers that fall under the action genre. He was brought up in Pune, where he attended St. Vincent's High School. He went to Fergusson College in Pune to study economics.
After finishing college, Raghavan first wished to build a career in journalism. He took up a job at Stardust magazine but moved on to join the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune to pursue a course in direction.
After completing his studies, Raghavan worked on a short feature, Raman Raghav - A City, A Killer. It was based on the crimes of Raman Raghav (a serial killer of Bombay) and his arrest. Raghavan cast Raghubir Yadav to play the character of Raman. The feature was made on a low budget and was never released.
Raghavan later started writing for television serials. He wrote several episodes of Aahat (1995) and C.I.D. (1998). He also wrote and directed an episode in First Kill.
Raghavan's career took a new turn after Ram Gopal Varma liked his work in Raman Raghav - A City, A Killer. and signed him up to direct Ek Hasina Thi (2004). The film starred Saif Ali Khan and Urmila Matondkar in the lead roles. This thriller received positive reviews from critics. It was shown at the New York Asian Film Festival.
Raghavan's next directorial venture was another thriller, Johnny Gaddaar (2007). It was the debut film of Neil Nitin Mukesh. The story revolves around a group of five individuals who want to make a fortune through a shortcut. But things go out of hand suddenly when one of the group members gets killed, and the money he was holding goes missing. Though the film wasn't a commercial success, it succeeded in impressing the critics.
In 2012, Raghavan released his third film, Agent Vinod (2012), a spy thriller starring Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan. The story revolves around the secret mission of Agent Vinod to discover the reason behind his colleague's death. The film received mixed reviews from critics and failed to make a mark at the box office.
Raghavan's fourth film was Badlapur (2015), a revenge action thriller that features Varun Dhawan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Yami Gautam in lead roles. The storyline is based on Death's Dark Abyss, a novel written by Massimo Carlotto. The story is based on the theme of revenge and shows a devastated man out to avenge the death of his family. The movie got positive reviews from critics. It also earned him a nomination for Best Director at the 61st Filmfare awards.
Raghavan explored the genre of black comedy in his crime thriller Andhadhun (2018). The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana, Tabu, and Radhika Apte. The movie's storyline revolves around a blind piano player involved in the murder of a former actor. The film earned rave reviews from critics. The worldwide collection for the film surpassed Rs. 450 crores, which made it a huge hit. The movie is also one of Indian cinema's biggest-grossing movies.
Raghavan won several awards for Andhadhun (2018), including the National Film Award 2018 for Best Feature Film in Hindi, IIFA Award 2019 for Best Director, Best Story, and Best Screenplay, and Screen Award 2018 for Best Director and Best Film Writing (Story and Screenplay).