The year that marked the triumphant return of the alpha male to the big screen and ageing star Shah Rukh Khan fronting Bollywood’s march back to the box office after Pathaan, Jawan, and Dunki with Sunny Deol and Karan Johar walking alongside, reviving their careers and the fortunes of the Hindi film industry.
The year, the first after the pandemic, began with Pathaan and finishes with Dunki, the two very different Shah Rukh films bookending the success of Sunny Deol starrer Gadar 2, Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani and the hugely controversial Animal that brought back Bobby Deol into the limelight.
But 2023 was not just about macho heroes fighting their way to victory in high-octane, high-tech thrillers edged with VFX and testosterone. Bollywood’s return to its theatrical glory days was also about sequels and agenda-driven films.
Last year, around this time, Hindi cinema was struggling to make a mark in theatres, while films from the South captured the hearts of audiences across India, the pinnacle being the RRR song "Naatu Naatu" winning at the Oscars.
Major Bollywood titles that failed to work at the ticket window in 2022 included Samrat Prithviraj, Raksha Bandhan, Shamshera, and Laal Singh Chaddha.
The revival kickstarted with Shah Rukh’s spy act in the January release Pathaan which brought him back to movies after a gap of four years. The Siddharth Anand-directed film became one of the biggest hits of the year with its earnings of £100 million worldwide, leading to many think-pieces and discussions for its palatable patriotism in a hero who was found in a theatre and named 'Pathaan' by a group of Afghan women he saves during a mission.
Shah Rukh followed it up with another hit in September's Jawan, which once again saw the actor live up to the hype surrounding his return. Directed by Atlee, the film went on to mint more money than Pathaan by earning over £101 million.
He seems to have hit a hat-trick with Dunki, which has done reasonably well at the box office despite mixed reviews. Though its earnings don’t match up to the earlier two films, the Rajkumar Hirani directorial has grossed over £25 million globally since its December 21 release.
Gadar 2 was the surprise package of the year. It made over £50 million and marked one of the most spectacular returns to forms for Sunny in his 40th year in films.
In fact, the year belonged to the Deol family. It saw Papa Dharmendra playing a hardcore romantic in Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani and younger brother Bobby walk away with praise for his brief but impactful role in Animal.
Besides, Sunny's son Rajveer also made his acting debut with Dono, which did not do the numbers but got its lead actor noticed.
With the film, Johar, whose last full-fledged feature was 2016's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, reminded his fans why he continues to be a filmmaker who knows how to tug at the heartstrings through his larger-than-life cinema.
The family entertainer, starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, is Johar's most realised film, delivering both laughs and lessons on equality and respect in relationships while overturning stereotypes that have long been Hindi movie tropes.
He has acknowledged in interviews that he tried to correct past mistakes in his cinema through the film about a rich Punjabi brat and a Bengali journalist.
While there was a Rocky Aur Rani... giving viewers a progressive vision, the year ended with Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal, starring Ranbir Kapoor, in one of the most divisive films of 2023.
Just like Vanga's Kabir Singh, Animal too courted controversy over its projection of masculinity, violence, and its promotion of the toxic, overtly macho hero. The film, however, is one of the biggest Hindi blockbusters of the year earning over £80 million.
Before Animal, Ranbir had a solid hit in Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, which also raised eyebrows for its depiction of gender dynamics.
There were smaller, quieter successes too.
Three years after Shikara, Vidhu Vinod Chopra returned to the big screen as a director with 12th Fail, a low-budget film whose box office success (over Rs 60 crore) surprised many.
With testosterone seemingly at an all-time high, cine-goers didn't quite warm up to female-led stories, except for Rani Mukerji's Mrs Chatterjee Vs Norway.
Kangana Ranaut's Tejas, Vidya Balan's Neeyat, Akelli featuring Nushrratt Bharuccha, Shilpa Shetty's Sukhee and Dhak Dhak, starring Ratna Pathak Shah and Dia Mirza, didn't work.
It was also a year of sequels with Gadar 2, OMG 2, Tiger 3, Dream Girl 2, and Fukrey 3 releasing and proving the worth of franchise cinema.
Salman Khan had a moderately successful year with one hit and one flop in Tiger 3 and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.
Kartik Aaryan, who delivered his career-best numbers with 2022's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, had a mixed year. His mid-budget film Satyaprem Ki Katha entered the £10 million club after an abysmal show by Shehzada, the Hindi remake of Telugu hit Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo.
His contemporary Vicky Kaushal too had a similar year. Zara Hatke Zara Bachke, a mid-budget family entertainer, was a surprise hit, while Sam Bahadur barely managed to keep its head above water amid fierce competition from Animal.
Kaushal's The Great Indian Family didn't measure up to expectations.
Like 2022, this year also had its fair share of propaganda movies. Some hit the mark like Vipul Shah's The Kerala Story, while others like Om Raut's Adipurush and Vivek Agnihotri's The Vaccine War failed.
Adipurush, a retelling of the Ramayana, was one of the buzziest films of the year but upon its release attracted ridicule over its language, storytelling, and poor quality of VFX.
The films that didn't work at the ticket window were many. Some of them were: Selfiee, Mission Raniganj, Bheed, Sudhir Mishra's Afwaah, IB71, and Khichdi 2: Welcome to Paanthukistan.
IN SIR KEIR STARMER’S cabinet reshuffle last week, triggered by the resignation of Angela Rayner, the prime minister shifted Jonathan Reynolds from business and trade secretary and president of the board of trade after barely a year in the post to chief whip, making him responsible for the party.
The move doesn’t make much sense. At Chequers, the UK-India Free Trade Agreement was signed by Reynolds, and the Indian commerce and industry minister, Piyush Goyal. They had clearly established a friendly working relationship.
Reynolds apparently bought Goyal an ice cream some weeks ago when they were walking in London’s Hyde Park and ironed out the last remaining problems.
Goyal will have to start all over again with Reynolds’s replacement, Peter Kyle.
At least, Lisa Nandy, who managed to sign a cultural agreement with India, remains culture secretary, despite persistent reports she was due for the sack. I have high hopes of Kanishka Narayan, who has been appointed parliamentary under-secretary in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Crucially, chancellor Rachel Reeves has not been given another job.
But, in his heart of hearts, Starmer must know he cannot win the next general election if she remains his chancellor. Her vindictive VAT raid on private schools has ruined the lives of many children and forced school after school to close. And the rules on inheritance tax and non-doms have driven many Indian entrepreneurs to flee to Dubai. Starmer should be “pragmatic” – a word he likes – and reverse these policies for the good of the country.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.
Princess Karam of Kapurthala, photographed by Cecil Beaton in 1935
A FAMOUS photograph taken by Cecil Beaton of an Indian princess features in an exhibition of his work, Fashionable World, at the National Portrait Gallery.
Beaten made his name by taking pictures of the English upper classes and also Hollywood stars, but some of his most striking – and evocative – images are of Indian royalty.
One taken in 1935 was of Sita Devi, Princess Karmajit of Kapurthala, who was also known as Princess Karam and eulogised as “the Pearl of India”.
She was the muse of several photographers, including Beaton, and considered “one of the most beautiful women in the world”. Born into the Hindu Rajput royal family of Kashipur in 1915, she embarked on a remarkable journey at the age of 13 when she married Prince Karamjit Singh, the younger son of Maharajah Jagatjit Singh I of Kapurthala in Punjab. She died in 2002.
According to one report, “her frequent visits to Paris saw her rubbing shoulders with the crème de la crème of European society, enchanting the Parisian elite with her exquisite blend of traditional Indian elegance and European haute couture. Her sartorial choices were a seamless fusion of her royal Indian heritage and the avant-garde fashion of Paris, making her a muse for esteemed designers like Mainbocher and Madame Grès. She effortlessly carried saris with the same grace as she did the luxurious gowns and fur coats designed by these fashion legends, often accessorised with jewels from Cartier and Boucheron.
“At the age of 19, Vogue hailed her as a ‘secular goddess’, a title that reflected her transcendent appeal and impeccable fashion sense. Her influence extended beyond borders, captivating the imagination of the Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli, who was so inspired by the princess’s saris that she dedicated her 1935 collection to them. This collection was a homage to the traditional Indian garment, reimagined through the lens of European haute couture. Schiaparelli’s designs captured the fluidity and grace of the sari, while infusing it with the avantgarde spirit of the time, thus bridging two distinct cultural aesthetics. The princess’s impact on the fashion world was profound, as she brought the elegance of Indian attire to the forefront of the Parisian fashion scene, influencing styles and trends across continents.”
Gayatri Devi, Maharani of Jaipur at Rambagh Palace
Fashionable World will be the first exhibition to exclusively explore Beaton’s pioneering contributions to fashion photography. “From Hollywood stars and titans of art, to high society and royalty, the exhibition will feature portraits of some of the twentieth century’s most iconic figures, including Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando; Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret; as well as Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon and Salvador Dalí,” the NPG has announced.
The exhibition is curated by photographic historian and contributing editor to Vogue, Robin Muir.
In 2020, he curated another Beaton exhibition, Bright Young Things, at the NPG but this had to be closed because of the pandemic. That, too, had a photograph of Princess Karamjit.
The caption to her photograph then read: “A fixture on the social scene in the pre-war years, the Princess was in demand, frequently for jewellery stories, not least because her husband commissioned extravagant pieces from Cartier and Van Cleef and Arpels. Cecil photographed her in diamond bracelet by Cartier, emblazoned with an emerald, which he recalled, was ‘the size of a small fruit’. The princess’s credentials as a style leader were cemented when (Italian fashion designer) Elsa Schiaparelli based a collection on her colourful saris.”
She also merited a whole page in the 2020 catalogue which explained: “Beaton had been transfixed by one Indian in particular, the beautiful Sita Devi, Princess Karam of Kapurthala.
“Her mondaine chic inspired Ira Gershwin’s lyrics to Maharanee(A Night at the Races in Paris), a number from the Broadway revue, The Ziegfield Follies of 1936.”
The lyrics went: Even if you were just half as sweet, /It would still be like heaven to meet/Such a gay Maharanee/Paris is at your feet!
Fashionable World, which will open next month, will display around 250 items, including photographs, letters, sketches and costumes.
Muir commented: “Cecil Beaton needs little introduction as a photographer, fashion illustrator, triple Oscar-winning costume designer, social caricaturist, elegant writer of essays and occasionally waspish diaries, stylist, decorator, dandy and party goer. Beaton’s impact spans the worlds of fashion, photography and design. Unquestionably one of the leading visionary forces of the British twentieth century, he also made a lasting contribution to the artistic lives of New York, Paris and Hollywood.”
Victoria Siddall, director of the NPG, pointed out: “The National Portrait Gallery has a long and distinguished history with Cecil Beaton. His work was the subject of the NPG’s first dedicated photography exhibition in 1968, made in collaboration with Beaton himself, as well as being the first solo survey accorded any living photographer in any national museum in Britain. We are honoured to be working with Vogue’s Robin Muir, whose exhaustive research, vision and flair will guide us through Beaton’s innovative and storied influences on the fashion world.”
Actress Elizabeth Taylor, 1955
The exhibition catalogue will explain why “Cecil Beaton (1904–1980) was an extraordinary force in the 20th century British and American creative scenes. Renowned as a fashion illustrator, Oscarwinning costume designer, social caricaturist, essayist, and decorated writer, Beaton’s impact spans the worlds of fashion, photography, and design.”
The NPG added, “Known as ‘The King of Vogue’, he elevated fashion and portrait photography into an art form. His eradefining photographs captured beauty, glamour, and star power in the interwar and early post-war eras.
“Through several interwoven themes, the world of Cecil Beaton will be examined in detail. The exhibition will follow Beaton’s career from its inception, as a child of the Edwardian era experimenting with his first camera on his earliest subjects, his two sisters and mother (c. 1910), his years of invention and creativity as a student at Cambridge University, to his first images of the high society patrons who put him on the map. Including Stephen Tennant and the Sitwell siblings.
“The exhibition will journey through the London of the 1920s and 1930s, the era of the Bright Young Things and Beaton’s first commissions for his greatest patron, Vogue, to his travels to New York and Paris in the Jazz Age. Drawn to its glamour and star wattage, Beaton photographed the legends of Hollywood in its Golden Age. Cecil Beaton’s first royal photographs appeared in the late 1930s. As the Second World War loomed, he defined the notion of the monarchy for a modern age. Appointed an official war photographer by the Ministry of Information, his wartime service took him around the globe.
Beaton at the opening of his painting exhibition in London, 1966
“The war’s end ushered in a new era of elegance and Beaton captured the high fashion brilliance of the 1950s in vivid, glorious colour. The exhibition will end with what many consider his greatest triumph and by which he is likely best known: the costumes and sets for the musical My Fair Lady, on stage and later on screen.
“Almost entirely self-taught, Beaton established a singular photographic style; a marriage of Edwardian stage portraiture, emerging European surrealism and the modernist approach of the great American photographers of the era, all filtered through a determinedly English sensibility.”
In India he also photographed Gayatri Devi, the Maharani of Jaipur; the Maharani of Pratapgarh, Chimnabai II; and Maharani Kusum Kunwarba of Chhota Udepur in Gujarat.
Photographing Indian royals helped Beaton obscure his own middle-class origins, which greatly embarrassed the photographer. In 1923, he admitted: “I don’t want people to know me as I really am, but as I am trying and pretending to be.”
Keep ReadingShow less
The deal makes Microsoft’s pledges legally binding for at least 7 years
The European Commission accepted Microsoft’s commitments to unbundle Teams from Office 365 and Microsoft 365.
The deal makes Microsoft’s pledges legally binding for at least seven years, avoiding a heavy antitrust fine.
Changes include reduced-price Office suites without Teams, easier switching for long-term customers, and improved interoperability.
The case followed a 2023 complaint by Slack, now owned by Salesforce.
Critics say Microsoft’s bundling harmed competition and denied customers choice.
The European Union has accepted binding commitments from Microsoft to unbundle its Teams communication platform from its Office software suites, sparing the company a potentially heavy antitrust fine. The move follows a lengthy investigation triggered by a complaint from rival service Slack.
EU decision
On Friday, the European Commission confirmed that Microsoft’s commitments would become legally binding under EU competition rules for a period of at least seven years. Regulators had accused the company of “abusive” tying practices by packaging Teams with Office products, a move that they said prevented rivals from competing fairly.
“With today’s decision, we make binding for seven years or more Microsoft’s commitments to put an end to its tying practices,” said Teresa Ribera, the Commission’s executive vice-president for clean, just and competitive transition.
Microsoft’s commitments
The commitments, first announced in May, require Microsoft to:
Offer Office 365 and Microsoft 365 suites without Teams at a reduced price.
Allow long-term licence holders to switch to versions without Teams.
Ensure better interoperability between Teams rivals and Microsoft products.
Facilitate the transfer of data from Teams to competing services.
Following a market test of its initial pledges, Microsoft also agreed to widen the price gap between bundles with and without Teams by 50% and to display alternatives without Teams more clearly on its websites.
“We appreciate the dialogue with the Commission that led to this agreement, and we turn now to implementing these new obligations promptly and fully,” said Nanna-Louise Linde, Microsoft’s vice-president of European government affairs.
Slack’s complaint and industry reaction
The case originated from a July 2023 complaint by Slack, which was acquired by Salesforce in 2021 for $27.7 billion. Salesforce executives argued that Microsoft’s bundling had distorted the market.
Sabastian Niles, Salesforce’s chief legal officer, welcomed the EU’s announcement, saying the ruling confirmed that Microsoft’s practices “harmed businesses, denied customers fair choice, and resulted in many years of lost competition.”
“This settlement is a meaningful step forward, and we applaud the Commission’s efforts to hold Microsoft accountable,” he added.
Keep ReadingShow less
Charli XCX stuns in sheer Danielle Frankel dress at second wedding to George Daniel in Sicily
Charli XCX and George Daniel celebrated their second wedding in Scopello, Sicily.
The pop star wore a sheer custom Danielle Frankel gown with pearls and chiffon layers.
Guests included Troye Sivan, Amelia Dimoldenberg and The 1975’s Matty Healy.
The couple first tied the knot in Hackney, London, in July.
Charli XCX embraced modern bridal fashion once again as she married George Daniel for the second time, this time in Sicily. The Brat singer chose a sheer Danielle Frankel gown for the romantic seaside ceremony, making her ‘Charli XCX wedding dress’ one of the most talked-about celebrity bridal looks of the year. The wedding followed their first civil ceremony in London earlier this summer.
Charli XCX stuns in sheer Danielle Frankel dress at second wedding to George Daniel in Sicily Instagram/billboarditalia
What did Charli XCX wear for her Sicilian wedding?
The singer’s gown was a custom ivory silk chiffon slip by New York designer Danielle Frankel. Bias-cut with delicate spaghetti straps, it featured a contouring internal bustier visible beneath a transparent overlay. Ribbons of chiffon draped across the bodice and back, while the elongated train was embroidered with organza petals and baroque pearls. She paired the look with white silk stiletto Kennedy pumps from the same label and minimal jewellery, letting the gown’s ethereal detail shine.
The look was completed with a simple bouquet of eucalyptus, baby blue and gypsophila. George Daniel matched the understated elegance in a light suit without a tie, paired with black Oxford shoes.
Who attended Charli XCX and George Daniel’s second wedding?
The guest list was starry and happening. Among those spotted were Troye Sivan, presenter Amelia Dimoldenberg, influencer Devon Lee Carlson, and avant-pop artist Shygirl. The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy, a close friend of Daniel, also attended alongside fiancée Gabbriette Bechtel.
The intimate ceremony took place in the small coastal village of Scopello, particularly known for its dramatic cliffs and historic buildings, providing a perfect backdrop to the celebration.
How does this dress compare to her first wedding look?
In July, Charli married Daniel at Hackney Town Hall in London wearing Vivienne Westwood’s Nova Cora mini dress. That outfit, with its sweetheart neckline and corseted bodice, channelled classic bridal chic. She accessorised it with a short veil and Jimmy Choo heels for a simple yet classy nod to tradition.
The Sicilian gown, by contrast, leaned fully into contemporary bridal design, focussing on transparency, layering and statement embellishment. Fashion insiders called it another defining moment for Danielle Frankel, who has quickly become a favourite for high-profile brides.
Charli XCX and George Daniel\u2019s wedding photos spark a new alt-pop moodboard Instagram/charli_xcx
Why is the Charli XCX wedding dress making headlines?
The unique mix of celebrity influence, designer prestige and bold styling has made Charli XCX’s dress a key talking point. Bridal fashion searches around “Charli XCX wedding dress” and “Danielle Frankel sheer gown” surged following the ceremony. Frankel, who founded her label in 2017 and was the first bridal designer included in the CFDA Fashion Fund, has been celebrated for merging structure with fluidity.
Charli XCX carried a bouquet of eucalyptus and gypsophila while George Daniel opted for a light suitInstagram/glowupmag
Her designs have been worn by stars such as Julia Garner and Lucy Williams, and Charli’s choice further heightens her status as a tastemaker and popular choice among modern brides.
Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer talks with Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador's residence on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.
PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer is facing questions within the Labour party after the sacking of US ambassador Peter Mandelson.
Mandelson was removed last week after Bloomberg published emails showing messages of support he sent following Jeffrey Epstein’s conviction for sex offences. The dismissal comes just ahead of US president Donald Trump’s state visit.
Labour MPs have expressed frustration with the prime minister’s leadership. Labour backbencher Richard Burgon told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Starmer would be “gone” if May’s elections in Scotland, Wales and England go badly. “If May’s elections go as people predict and the opinion polls predict, then I think Starmer will be gone at that time,” he said.
Helen Hayes told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour that if the dismissal affected Labour’s performance in the May 2026 local elections, questions about Starmer’s leadership would follow. She said she felt “devastated” about Mandelson but argued he should not have been appointed.
Baroness Smith defended Starmer, telling BBC Breakfast that Burgon had never supported him. She admitted Mandelson’s sacking was “not what we would have wanted” before Trump’s visit but said the prime minister was doing a good job.
Meanwhile, Conservative MP Alex Burghart demanded the release of documents related to Mandelson’s appointment, calling Starmer’s judgement “appalling.” He said the PM ignored warnings about Mandelson’s links to Epstein. Downing Street has said Starmer only learned of the emails on Wednesday and acted immediately.