~By Hafizur Rahman

Had he been alive today, the legendary singer Mohammad Rafi would have stepped into his 102nd year. He left us on July 31, 1980, at the young age of 56. His departure came just a week after the passing of the great Uttam Kumar. Before fans could recover from one blow, a second tragedy struck the world of cinema. Forty-five years have passed, yet the film industry has found no substitute for Rafi—and it is doubtful if it ever will.

December 24th remains a momentous day for music lovers across the Indian subcontinent, for it was on this day that we were gifted the “Kohinoor” of playback singers. His career began as a substitute. At an event where the legendary K.L. Saigal was the lead performer, a sudden power outage led Saigal to return to his hotel to rest. To pacify the restless crowd, a twelve-year-old boy was forcibly pushed onto the stage. That young boy mesmerized the agitated audience with song after song. When the lights returned, Saigal blessed him. That was the beginning. That boy hadn’t even dreamt of music as a profession then, but Bombay followed, and the rest is history.

The composer Naushad mentored Rafi, helping him shed his Punjabi accent and focusing on pure Urdu diction to refine his playback skills. The song “Suhani Raat Dhal Chuki” from the film Dulari proved to be the turning point of his career. From the mid-1940s to the mid-60s, Rafi was peerless—unbeatable and untouchable. However, his career faced its first setback in 1967, for which Rafi himself was indirectly responsible.

During the filming of Shakti Samanta’s Aradhana, Rafi went on a pilgrimage (Hajj). There, someone advised him that music was ‘haram’ (forbidden). Being a God-fearing man, Rafi left Bombay and moved to London to stay with his sons. The film industry soon felt the void, but Rafi continued to turn down offers. Finally, Naushad stepped in as the problem-solver; he convinced Rafi to return to singing. By then, however, Kishore Kumar had stepped into the shoes Rafi had left behind. The “Rajesh Khanna storm” was blowing through the industry, sweeping everything away like straw.

Amidst this, Dharmendra remained an exception. Following the advice of his mentor Dilip Kumar, Dharmendra shifted his focus from romantic films to action and comedy. Rafi began playback for Dharmendra, and hits like “Aaj Mausam Bada Beimaan” from Loafer followed. With the cult song “Main Jatt Yamla Pagla Deewana,” Rafi reclaimed his territory.

Rafi’s biggest fan, director Manmohan Desai, helped him win back the audience’s hearts with a string of hits in Amar Akbar Anthony. Another notable incident—better late than never—involved the film Laila Majnu. Rishi Kapoor initially wanted Kishore Kumar to be his voice, while music director Jaidev insisted on Rafi. To resolve the clash of egos, Shammi Kapoor intervened. Rishi could not refuse Shammi’s request, and the results were historic. Following the success of Laila Majnu, Rishi Kapoor became a devoted fan of Rafi. Subsequently, Rafi provided the voice for Rishi Kapoor alongside Kishore Kumar. It is also worth noting that Manmohan Desai ignored all outside opinions to cast Rafi for Rishi Kapoor in Amar Akbar Anthony, resulting in the intoxicating magic of their collaboration. The journey didn’t end there; his song “Kya Hua Tera Wada” from Nasir Hussain’s Hum Kisise Kum Naheen won a National Award, proving that Rafi was far from finished.

According to Manna Dey, “Rafi is number one; the count for the rest of us begins from number four.” I once had the privilege of speaking with Manna Dey at his villa, ‘Anandam’ in Juhu. His words are a testament to the immense respect a great artist can have for a peer.

Many have received the Bharat Ratna, but Rafi has not. Fans often complain about this, but personally, I don’t give it much weight because the Bharat Ratna has lost some of its gravity. Nowadays, the award is often linked to lobbying and political alignment. The second reason is Kishore Kumar; surprisingly, even Kishore Kumar never received any state honors. Therefore, there is no room for regret. In a market where “wheat and chaff” are valued the same, expecting true recognition is a waste of time.

What do you think? To me, Rafi is not just a ‘Bharat Ratna’ (Jewel of India), but a ‘Vishwa Ratna’ (Jewel of the World). I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Media is often called the Fourth Pillar of Democracy. Yet, it is a double-edged sword; if not wielded with care, it can harm the user, or in this case, the victims. Let me share a secret few will divulge.

Ajay Devgn and Kajol married and had two children. Kajol proved her mettle as an actress, and her pairing with Shah Rukh Khan was hugely popular, making them an iconic lead pair. Their on-screen romance was so electrifying and real that fans began to believe something was truly “brewing” between them off-screen.

Ajay was helpless. Being an industry insider, he understood the dynamics, but he grew increasingly uneasy about the intensity of the chemistry between Shah Rukh and Kajol. Ajay is a tough man on the outside, but he began to decay internally.

Kajol sensed his distress but knew she couldn’t risk her career by completely abandoning Shah Rukh. Now, she is aging gracefully and hardly acts. Shah Rukh Khan still wanted to work with her, but…

Shah Rukh once met Ajay and showed him some marked fan mail where some crazy fans urged Ajay to “let Kajol go” to Shah Rukh. Shah Rukh Khan was deeply embarrassed and left red-faced. He had no alternative but to work with junior actresses like Deepika and Anushka et al.

Both Shah Rukh and Kajol became victims of social media and crazy fans—all through no fault of their own.

2. Abhishek Bachchan: Trapped Between Comparisons and Gossip

Amitabh Bachchan is a colossal figure in the Hindi film industry. Everyone knows it. Being his son, Abhishek Bachchan, is not easy; it comes with both positive and negative baggage. Abhishek is all too aware of this truth throughout his acting career.

He is a good actor—he comes from the lineage of both Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan, two formidable performers. That’s the tragedy of “Ab Junior”: he is constantly compared to his father, which has contributed to his career’s slow trajectory. Adding to his trouble is his more successful wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. He feels crumbled between his struggling career and being unfairly labeled his wife’s “secretary.” Both facts are a real and constant pain for him.

Now, an old case is haunting him like a bad nightmare: the old stories about Salman Khan and Aishwarya’s past romance. Social media is full of stories, most of which are trash. Aishwarya pays no attention to it, but Abhishek took it seriously. He went to court, trying to resolve it and silence the rumors.

Aishwarya didn’t like this approach. Her daughter is growing up, and Aishwarya felt: what is the point of washing dirty laundry in public? She is right in her own way—why attach importance to gossip mongers?

Now, readers, who do you think is being more mature in resolving this?

3. Long Live the King!

The King trailer has launched, and as expected, it has set the screen on fire. If the trailer alone can create such a hype, then the main feature is certain to storm the big screens and multiplexes.

Shah Rukh is in a new look this time, looking dapper with his salt-and-pepper beard and silver hair. The inaugural shot shows King Khan appearing out of nowhere with fireballs in the background, complemented by a perfect background score. It’s clear that Shah Rukh is now opting for action movies.

In an interview, he candidly stated that he wanted to do action films earlier in his career, but Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra steered him toward the ‘lover boy’ image.

Now, after the success of Aryan Khan’s Bads of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan is relaxed and is doing movies according to his own choice. It is evident that King is going to follow the blockbuster path of Pathaan and Jawan.

King is coming. Long live the King!

Aryan Khan has suddenly become Bollywood’s hottest property. Once an introvert who preferred not to bask in his famous father’s limelight, he delivered a fitting reply—a tight slap—to the trollers and hate-mongers with his series, ‘Bads of Bollywood’.

Following the unprecedented success of the seven-part series, the distributor, Netflix, is desperate to sign him up again. Everyone in Bollywood, from spot boys to the biggest bigwigs, has lauded and blessed him after the thunderous success of the OTT series.

At a recent party thrown to celebrate the success, Aryan Khan made a stunning announcement: he would donate his entire earnings from the series to the flood victims of Punjab.

A proud father, Shah Rukh Khan, couldn’t hold back his tears. After composing himself, he thanked everyone associated with the project. A Mumbai scribe gave me a breaking news tip: Superstar Rajinikanth has reportedly warned his South Indian counterparts to “watch out for this boy, he would break many records.”

Shah Rukh has long had no true rivals in Bollywood or regional cinema. Now, his own son is throwing down a challenge. Aryan is currently preparing for a commercial potboiler, while Shah Rukh is busy with King. Let us wait and watch the silent duel between father and son.

2. A Smart Choice: Learning from Stumbled Careers

Kumar Gaurav was launched by his father, the ‘Jubilee Kumar,’ Rajendra Kumar, in the film Love Story. It wasn’t the expected blockbuster but was a hit nonetheless. When he acted in the film Star, it was supposed to be his showcase, but Pakistani siblings Nazia and Zoheb Hassan stole all the credit for the film’s success. Rightly so, as the songs were chartbusters thanks to their music.

Miffed by this, Kumar Gaurav famously let slip the comment that he wasn’t a star, but the ‘sun of the industry.’ What happened next is history: his films started flopping, and he faded into oblivion. His father tried to salvage his career by producing Naam, but it was his brother-in-law, Sanjay Dutt, along with director Mahesh Bhatt, who were catapulted to success, not him. Another rescue attempt, Phool, starring Madhuri Dixit, also flopped.

Let’s look at another case: Big B’s son, Abhishek Bachchan. He debuted with Refugee alongside Kareena Kapoor. Kareena became an A-list star, but Abhishek couldn’t quite make it. He can act, but being the son of the icon Amitabh Bachchan became a stumbling block for his career. He married Aishwarya Rai, a lady who successfully balances her family and career. Now, Abhishek has seemingly become her unofficial secretary.

Seeing their plight, Aryan Khan made a smart choice by pursuing direction and writing. He completed his scriptwriting and direction courses in the USA. He is well aware that he might not be able to match his illustrious father’s acting prowess, so he chose a different path—and that has made all the difference.

3. The World’s Wealthiest Star

Recently, news started circulating that our very own Shah Rukh Khan has become the wealthiest star in the world. A company named Hurun published the news based on their survey.

Hurun is an Indian company, and frankly, we haven’t heard of them before in the same vein as credible sources like Forbes or Fortune. I’m not questioning their analysis, and I certainly hope it’s not just media hype, because I’m a Shah Rukh Khan fan too. I’ve had the opportunity to interview him three times and have seen his incredible rise to success.

Nevertheless, we should rejoice in his success. He has made us proud by reportedly beating international stars like Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. Shah Rukh is in a different league altogether.

He smartly invested his money in his production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, and the successful IPL team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). His relationship with the Dubai royalty catapulted him into a global icon. His film premieres at the Burj Khalifa and his complimentary villa in Al Jumeirah are essentially gifts in exchange for being Dubai’s brand ambassador. Whatever the details, we are happy about his success.

Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are undoubtedly one of Bollywood’s most popular and beloved couples. While they were recently enjoying a holiday and exploring Abu Dhabi, they received a lucrative offer to shoot an ad film. The location was the stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and they were required to wear local attire for the shoot.

Being professionals, both Ranveer and Deepika were completely game. They were well aware of the local customs that prohibit revealing clothing and committed to acting accordingly so as not to hurt public sentiment. Ranveer sporting a beard and Deepika covering herself with a dupatta was not an issue for them at all.

After the shoot, they collected their fee and returned to Mumbai. That’s when all hell broke loose. They were mercilessly trolled, with the baseless accusation that they had converted to Islam. Aware of the potential safety consequences, the couple sought police protection.

It’s truly a pity how clueless these trollers are. If they only knew they were being taken for a ride—that this was just an acting assignment—the whole narrative would have a reverse effect.

2. The Venom of Social Media Trolls

While sitting idle and toying with ideas for what to write, I stumbled upon a disturbing Facebook post. The writer, using a false identity, was spreading pure venom. This ‘lady’ (and I use that term loosely) questioned why a Sanatani Hindu like Rani Mukerji wasn’t receiving attention and praise. She then dragged Kareena Kapoor Khan into the argument, claiming that had it been Kareena, she would have been universally applauded. The poster lamented that Rani was being ignored just because she is a Sanatani.

I’m certain that a no-nonsense go-getter like Rani Mukerji wouldn’t appreciate being tagged with this sort of needless controversy. I truly pity the individual, be it a lady or a gentleman, who is spreading such poison merely to garner a few likes for their Facebook post.

3. Aamir Khan: The Thinking Star

Everyone knows that Aamir Khan is a perfectionist, but he’s also a deep thinker. He carefully chooses his films, and every character he plays is distinctly different from the last. While others are simply actors, Aamir Khan belongs to a different class altogether.

He’s a hypersensitive actor who is never shy about voicing his opinions. As a result, he’s been cornered many times, but he has always emerged victorious.

More importantly, as a responsible person, he tirelessly tries to give back to society through his Paani Foundation. Recognizing that Maharashtra is a drought-prone area, he adopted three villages and transformed them into green, fertile land through rainwater harvesting. When questioned, his simple reply is, “I am repaying my debt to society.”

He also anchored the popular awareness show, Satyamev Jayate.

These qualities are what set Aamir Khan apart. We want him to remain different—not just another star concerned only with materialistic pursuits.

Bobby Deol has now completed 30 years in the tinsel town. Despite being the younger son of our beloved “He-Man,” Dharmendra, he hasn’t quite managed to replicate the stellar success of his legendary father. Neither Bobby nor his elder brother, Sunny Deol, have reached those towering heights.
Sunny kicked off his career with their home production, Betaab (under Vijeta Films), and Bobby got his chance with the family banner’s film, Barsaat. However, the much-hyped Barsaat started with a bang but ended with a whimper. It wasn’t a blockbuster, only a semi-hit that just about managed to make a table profit. Bobby’s career kept going, but he was never quite considered an A-lister.
His career took a nosedive in the middle years. But after a period of self-imposed exile, he has returned in a new avatar. He smartly chose the OTT platform and embraced roles with grey shades. Though well-wishers like Salman Khan tried to salvage his career by offering him a role in the hit franchise Race 3, it didn’t achieve the success of its previous versions.
Bobby’s latest gamble has truly clicked. He has tasted blood with OTT, and recently, Aryan Khan’s series, Bads of Bollywood, brought him a long-overdue success. He is finally hogging the limelight and seems relaxed. He now has just one desire left: to follow in his father Dharmendra’s footsteps and complete 50 years in Bollywood.

2. The Duel: Shah Rukh vs. Aryan

Shah Rukh Khan is currently on cloud nine after his son Aryan Khan’s OTT series, Bads of Bollywood, created an unprecedented sensation both in India and abroad, making history. An elated Netflix is desperate to renew the contract with Aryan, but smelling blood, other OTT platforms are also approaching him with lucrative offers that are hard to resist.
Shah Rukh has faced many challenges in his long career, but now his own son is challenging him. And Shah Rukh loves challenges! He is back in the race with his latest film, King. Let’s wait and watch the duel between the Father and the Son unfold.

3. Missing the Maestro: Kamal Haasan

Veteran pan-Indian actor Kamal Haasan has just turned 70. Although I primarily cover Bollywood, I have never managed to meet him.
Once, I came agonizingly close but missed him by a whisker. It was Dilip Kumar’s birthday, and I had heard that Kamal, a great admirer of the Bollywood icon, had come to pay his respects and wish him. Your truly, along with his friend from Screen, Peter Mar, was waiting outside Dilip Saab’s Pali Hill bungalow. Just as we were losing patience, a black car sped out, and our dream was shattered. We were told Kamal had to catch a flight, which is why no interview would take place. We were so shocked we ended up leaving without even having dinner there.
Though I haven’t met him, I did receive a handwritten note from him for his film, Hey Ram. I have seen his mind-boggling act alongside Sridevi in Sadma, though his film Ek Duuje Ke Liye remains my all-time favorite. This maverick actor constantly surprises us with his innovative acting skills and mastery of make-up. I hope the star, Kamal Haasan, continues to thrill us with his performances in the years to come.

1. Jaya Bachchan’s Current Complex: Jaya Bachchan seems to be suffering from a complex lately, constantly losing her temper. Her own party, the Samajwadi Party, is embarrassed by the MP, finding themselves in a tough, “swallowing a snake” sort of situation.The main target of Jaya’s anger is her daughter-in-law, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

The relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law has hit rock bottom. Apparently, Abhishek was forced to move to a different bungalow.And yet, this is the same Jaya who introduced Arshad Warsi to Bollywood. Otherwise, Arshad Warsi would still be selling lipsticks door-to-door!Jaya loses her cool every time she sees the press. I don’t know the cure for this disease—do you?

2. The Energizer Khans and Singh: There was a time when Mahesh Bhatt was the man—full of energy, and incredibly quick-witted in interviews. I remember interviewing him and seeing him effortlessly drop quotable quotes and clever remarks. That’s why Mahesh was, and is, the darling of the press.Then, a young man from Delhi entered the arena. He caused a sensation by signing five films in a single day. That newcomer was Shah Rukh Khan. Shah Rukh, too, was bubbling with energy, much like Mahesh Bhatt. Interviewing him was tough, but according to journalists, Shah Rukh was also a master of the quotable quote. He’s incredibly well-read and can speak on any subject for hours.The newest member of this club is Ranveer Singh.

This bundle of energy can give Shah Rukh or Mahesh Bhatt a run for their money. He’s a motor-mouth. While he might not be as articulate as Mahesh or Shah Rukh, he’s always clowning around in colorful outfits.Ranveer is completely honest; he says whatever is on his mind. If someone makes fun of him, he laughs it off and accepts it with a smile. In this regard, Ranveer Singh has surpassed both Shah Rukh Khan and Mahesh Bhatt. He married the famous actress Deepika Padukone and is now a father to a daughter, but our dear Ranveer is still the same.

3. The Singer Who Shot Himself in the Foot: This singer was once quite good, but his career was ruined after getting involved with the wrong people. This artist, who always craved the spotlight, tried to become a hero like Himesh Reshammiya. But he’s a better singer than he is a hero—just like Himesh.Our leading man, or rather, our singer, left his home and is now in self-imposed exile abroad because of an affair with a divorced woman from the family of a former ruling party in Maharashtra.

Dubai is only three hours from Mumbai, but everyone is afraid to offer him songs because of the potential trouble. This singer, who so desperately wanted publicity, destroyed his own career by making controversial and thoughtless remarks. He’s as good a singer as he is a controversial person.As physics dictates, nature abhors a vacuum.

Therefore, our Bengali boy, Arijit Singh, took advantage of the opportunity and is now the number one playback singer. And now, the pencil is in that singer’s hand (meaning Arijit is now ruling the roost).Can you guess the name of the exiled singer?

Let me know if you can—there’s an exciting prize for the correct answer!

Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan’s son, Aryan Khan, an introvert who  hid in his father’s shadow, has quietly accomplished something without wasting words or energy on the trolIERS who tried to break his spirit by labeling him a “nepo kid” or “big shot’s son” who would amount to nothing. He didn’t say anything but chose to work in silence. His work has captured the attention of not only Bollywood, but the whole world.

Aryan answered the trolls with his self-written,/ directed seven-episode web series, ‘Bads of Bollywood,’ a sleekly mounted production. The teaser suggested a storm was coming, but no one anticipated that this storm would turn into a tsunami that would engulf everything.

Netflix’s presentation, ‘Bads of Bollywood,’ has become the number  one series on charts not just in India but across the globe. Beyond the entire country, it has become a chart-topper in the Gulf (Sharjah, Dubai-Abu Dhabi), the USA, the UK, Germany,  and all of Europe. This seven-episode series, released Sept. 18 has written a new history, Impressed Mr. Perfectionist, Aamir Khan, commented that Aryan is a “long-distance horse” who will go far. Salman Khan, another pillar of Bollywood, openly commented that ‘Bads of Bollywood’ will cross a business of ₹2000 crores. Bobby Deol, LEADING ACTOR in ‘Bads of Bollywood,’ stated that Aryan Khan has brought a new awakening to Bollywood. Just as Aryan’s father, Shah Rukh, saved Bollywood during its bad phase with films like Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki, Aryan has similarly saved Bollywood from the unilateral aggression of the South with ‘Bads of Bollywood.’

Netflix hadn’t anticipated such success, and seeing the massive response, they immediately wanted to sign Aryan for the next series. However, other global channels are also entering the fray, seeking to bask in the glow of his success. Now, we wait to see what happens.

Even though his father is the number one star in Bollywood, Aryan’s success has stolen Shah Rukh’s limelight. The proud father, Shah Rukh, announced that Aryan has lightened his workload, and now he will selectively act in films of his choice.

The final verdict on Aryan came from the He-Man, Dharmendra, the jubilant hero from the sixties who stated that they can now sleep peacefully, entrusting the future of Bollywood to a young man like Aryan—should add more!