With the year coming to a close, we’re taking a look back at some of the best Bollywood-centric pieces we’ve read around the internet in 2016 – including interviews, essays, reviews, opinion pieces, and more. Here are some of our favourites.
(Titles are links.)
Fast Forward: How Ranveer Singh Made It
Taran N Khan for Caravan, February
Ranveer Singh is at the top of his game, and everyone wants a piece of him. This story is an in-depth look at the actor, the person behind the actor, and his growth and struggles.
Fan—How Social Media Changed Passion Into Power
Mohini Chaudhuri for Film Companion, April
An insightful look into fan culture as it relates to Bollywood celebrities, and how important social media fan clubs are to a celebrity’s digital image.
I Am Begging On Bended Knee For Freedom For Films
Karan Johar for NDTV, June
Karan Johar‘s first in a series of candid columns, where he talks about censorship and moral policing. Even more interesting when you consider what he went through a few months later for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Dear Intelligent Salman Khan Fan, It’s Finally Time For Us To Talk
Rega Jha for BuzzFeed India, June
A brave piece on how defending Salman Khan – and his comments – equals defending misogyny, violence, goonism, and a whole host of other moral and legal issues.
The SRK Interview
Ankur Pathak for Huffington Post, July
Even after giving thousands of interviews, there’s still more to Shah Rukh Khan that needs to be uncovered. This interview – and its subsequent part – is amongst the best reads on the superstar, and really makes you feel like you’ve spent some time in his head.
“Sultan” Is A Bloody Salman Khan Film So This Review Is Kinda Sorta Super Fucking Pointless
Sahil Rizwan for BuzzFeed India, July
The Vigil Idiot’s most viral review of 2016, which rips apart Sultan, points out plotholes, and acknowledges that everyone will watch it anyway.
What Are Bollywood Films Really Trying To Say About Women?
Proma Khosla for Brown Girl Magazine, August
If you’ve ever rewatched a film you loved, only to realise that it’s problematic, sexist, and full of stereotypes, you’ll want to read this piece on the portrayal of women in Bollywood films.
An Insider’s View: Why is Bollywood Going Bust?
A Krishna for The Quint, September
An insightful look into potential reasons Bollywood studios are shutting shop. There was a lot of chatter about this online, and many disagreed with the author, but it’s an interesting read nonetheless.
I Didn’t Wake Up Like This
Sonam Kapoor for BuzzFeed India, September
Sonam Kapoor‘s viral essay about body image, unrealistic beauty standards, and celebrity culture.
The Truth Behind Fawad Khan’s Alleged Comments Against India
Suresh Mathew for The Quint, October
While many took Fawad Khan‘s alleged anti-national statement with a pinch of salt, it was still widely shared online and believed to be the truth. This piece tracks the story in the media, with an aim to find the original source.
What Karan Johar’s Statement Says About The India We Live In Today
Suprateek Chatterjee for Huffington Post India, October
A much-needed sensible take on the controversy surrounding Pakistani artists working in India, posing the question: How did we get here?
Review: Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
Raja Sen, October
Raja Sen’s beautifully-written review of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil that’s a treat to read even if you don’t agree with his thoughts on the film.