Eye Spy: Why Yash Chopra deserved better than The Romantics
New Netflix series did late great filmmaker a disservice
By ASJAD NAZIRMar 04, 2023
EVERYONE has been talking about how great recently released Bollywood documentary The Romantics is, without noticing the key elements it missed out, along with flaws that ultimately made it inauthentic.
The four-part Netflix series details the iconic rise of legendary Hindi production house Yash Raj Films (YRF), from Yash Chopra making his mark as a director and founding the banner, to his son Aditya Chopra taking it forward. There are contributions from a stellar line-up of Bollywood stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Ranbir Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Rani Mukerji and so many more, along with industry pundits. Collectively they tell the story of a production and film family that changed Hindi cinema forever. This is cut together with amazing unseen footage, photographs and fascinating behind-the-scenes stories.
The opening episode is about the rise of Yash and part two offers up the biggest surprise. It focuses on his movie-making mogul son Aditya and gets him to speak on camera for the first time in around 27 years. The publicity-shy filmmaker and studio head finally gives an insight into his influential career.
While the story, anecdotes and the presence of many stars offering their personal insights make this a must watch for Bollywood fans, there were many fascinating pieces of information that were strangely omitted.
The addition of these elements would have really made The Romantics great, instead of it coming across as incomplete and under-researched. Director Smriti Mundhra didn’t seem to have the deep knowledge that could have made this series fly higher.
The Romantics poster
For instance, there is no mention of how deeply poetry influenced the late filmmaker and pushed him towards the romantic genre. I remember Yash talking to me in depth about this and how it shaped him. This love for poetry fed into him having a great ear for music, and the wonderful songs that helped build YRF into the powerhouse it is today.
But there is next to no mention of the dream partnerships the director had with iconic lyricists, musicians and singers who helped create some of cinema’s greatest songs. Considering Bollywood is an industry built on music, it was a surprising omission.
There were plenty of fascinating stories behind YRF-produced movies, but not for the blockbuster Dil To Pagal Hai, which is comfortably one of the top five films the banner has ever made. Yash being born in Lahore should have encouraged the documentary to take a deep dive into cross-border classic Veer-Zaara, which had also innovatively used compositions of a late musician in a way never seen before in cinema, but the movie was barely mentioned at all.
When Silsila was spoken about, there was no reference to perhaps the greatest casting coup of all time that mirrored real life. There was also no mention of Aamir Khan starting work on Darr before he parted ways with the project and opened the door to Shah Rukh Khan’s rise to stardom.
In telling the story of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, it was painted as if Shah Rukh Khan was the only choice for leading man, without mentioning that Aditya had remarkably wanted to cast Tom Cruise, and that Saif Ali Khan made the biggest mistake of his career by rejecting the role.
Similarly, in recounting the story of Ranveer Singh’s debut, there was no comment about Ranbir Kapoor rejecting that same role first.
The banner’s most successful franchise has been the two Tiger movies, which has given rise to a blockbuster spy universe, but that wasn’t really covered either.
While Aditya was admirably honest about early failures at YRF, including his brother Uday not making it as an actor, he didn’t include YRF’s many wrong turns in the past 13 years. He also tried playing down the obvious nepotism that exists in Hindi cinema.
In addition, the YRF casting/talent agency was painted as a beacon of success, when it seems to have had far more failures than successes.
There were other minor errors, like a montage mistake. By not going a little deeper, TheRomantics didn’t reach the great heights it could have. What started off as a tribute to India’s greatest filmmaker turned into a PR exercise that attempted to paper over cracks in Bollywood.
In the end, Yash deserved much more than what The Romantics offered because he really was the greatest Bollywood filmmaker of all time.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu
BUSY SAMANTHA’S MAKING WAVES
WITH all eyes constantly on Bollywood, it seems to have gone unnoticed that Samantha Ruth Prabhu is arguably doing the best work of all the frontline Indian female stars. The Telugu super star will make her Hollywood debut with Arrangements of Love, playing a bisexual Tamil woman running a detective agency.
She is also currently shooting for the Indian version of high-profile spy series Citadel and has undergone rigorous training for the action sequences. In terms of Telugu cinema, Samantha will next headline historical movie Shaakuntalam, which is due in cinemas on April 14, and star in romantic drama Kushi opposite Vijay Deverakonda.
With producers lining up to sign the versatile actress, expect even more exciting projects from her in the months ahead.
AKSHAY’S SELFIEE OUT OF FOCUS
LAST week I had written about how Akshay Kumar will follow up five film disasters in 2022 with more of the same this year, starting with his new release Selfiee. The Bollywood remake of 2019 Malayalam movie Driving Licence turned out to be another commercial failure, just as I had predicted. This continues to illustrate how his strategy of quantity over quality is just not working, and that audiences are sick of seeing the ageing actor on screen.
MC STAN: NOT A RAP BOSS
HE MAY have been the winner of recently concluded reality TV show Bigg Boss 16, but MC Stan just isn’t a good illustration of the exciting Indian hip hop scene. Although his story of rising from the slums to riches is inspiring, there are far better rappers than him in India, who deserve a much bigger platform. He just isn’t good enough musically to be at the forefront of a cutting-edge Indian rap scene that has actual world-class talents.
Jannat Zubair Rahmani
JANNAT HITS THE WRONG NOTES
FROM dancers and singers to world-class comedians, social media has amazing content creators entertaining many millions globally. But sites like Instagram are also a reminder that you don’t need talent to become popular. Jannat Zubair Rahmani has more than 45 million followers on Instagram, despite having had an average acting career and online reels that are really basic. The 22-year-old confirmed that lack of talent by releasing awful recent song Babu Shona Mona, which she described as a new-age sound for millennials but is, in fact, ear-achingly bad. Even though it is impossible to listen to the terrible track from start to finish, it has received nearly five million YouTube views, thanks to the social media influencer’s 3.66 million subscribers on the video-sharing site.
Iman Vellani (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for CNN)
IMAN ‘STEALS THE MARVELS’
THE release of hotly anticipated superhero movie The Marvels being postponed from July 28 to November 10 is bad news. But the great news for fans is lead star Iman Vellani generating great excitement for the action adventure. Although it is technically a direct sequel to hit movie Captain Marvel, the studio head, Kevin Feige, revealed that Vellani as Kamala Khan is the stand-out in the movie, adding she is “a great new character in the pantheon, and essentially steals The Marvels”.
The 20-year-old stars alongside Brie Larson as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel in a story that sees them swapping places between a spaceship and the teenage superhero’s house. It is now inevitable that Ms Marvel will be seen in further films.
MUSICAL GEMS KABIR CAFE SET TO SPARKLE
THERE is a great opportunity to see Mumbai-based indie-folk fusion band Kabir Café in concert at London Spiritual Centre in Bushey on March 17 and at the Rich Mix Arts centre in London on March 24. The talented band, with a formidable reputation on the live circuit, perform contemporary Sufi music-inspired songs with powerful social messages. They have released acclaimed albums and are hidden musical gems, well-worth finding. YouTube: Kabir Cafe Official & Instagram: @kabircafelive
Fawad Khan
FAWAD: THRILL GUARANTEED
WHEN The Legend Of Maula Jatt came out in 2016, Fawad Khan had amazingly not had a major film release for six years, despite being a huge global star. He is making up for lost time because his next film Money Back Guarantee is due out on April 21. The heist caper’s trailer has received a positive response, and it looks like adding to the impressive recent momentum generated by Pakistani cinema.
The movie with a huge star cast, including cricket legend Wasim Akram making his acting debut, looks like a sure-fire winner. It will consolidate Khan’s position as the hottest property in Pakistani cinema.
Pooja Hedge with Salman Khan in Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan
SHAMEFUL SALMAN’S NOT ACTING HIS AGE
AGEING Bollywood actors regularly embarrass themselves trying to romance a heroine young enough to be their daughter. Another example of this can be seen in new song Naiyo Lagda, which is taken from forthcoming film Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. It sees 57-year-old Salman Khan trying to look cool as he romances Pooja Hegde, who is 32. His silly dad dance moves in front of a leading lady who wasn’t even born when he made his movie debut, are just cringeworthy.
NO END TO COPYWOOD
THE era of Hindi film remakes being over should have been indicated by the recent failure of Shehzada. Despite starring hot-right-now actor Kartik Aaryan, the Hindi adaptation of 2020 Telugu hit Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo was a huge box-office disaster. This latest film in a long line of flops should motivate producers to make more original movies, but unfortunately Bollywood will carry on being Copywood, with more remakes on the way.
Hotly anticipated sci-fi film Project K will be cinemas on January 12, 2024. The action entertainer starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan will be released in two parts, and in multiple Indian languages.
The Tiger Shroff starrer Ganapath – Part 1 will be out on October 20. Like his other Bollywood films, it will likely have a silly storyline loaded with self-indulgent action sequences.
Popular Indian mentalist Suhani Shah makes her UK debut at the Soho Theatre in London from April 22-27. She will mix up mind-reading and unbelievable feats with sharing her story in the laughter-filled show.
Sitar maestro Roopa Panesar delivered a great concert at Barbican Theatre in London recently and is looking forward to the release of her new album Atma. Catch my interview with her later this month.
Pakistani horror film GulaboRani has won multiple awards at a number of international festivals.
Mark your calendars: 31 May isn’t just another Saturday. It’s Netflix’s blockbuster bonanza, Tudum 2025, arriving with a bang. And although the actual event hasn’t streamed yet, the internet is already simmering with spicy leaks, juicy first looks, and cryptic clues.
From long-awaited finales to fresh faces in familiar worlds, here’s everything Netflix is bringing to the table. No spoilers, just pure hype.
1. Stranger Things 5 : The Hawkins finale that might emotionally destroy you
The Upside Down is gearing up for its final roar. The fifth and final season of Stranger Things drops in November, and whispers are already circulating that someone major might not make it out alive. The Duffer Brothers are teasing heartbreak, chaos, and a full-circle moment that could break Netflix’s servers all over again.
2. Wednesday season 2: Forget cute, it’s going full gothic beast mode
Wednesday Addams is back but meaner, moodier, and battling even weirder creatures at Nevermore Academy. Premiering 6 August, Season 2 leans heavily into horror, supernatural folklore, and gloriously dysfunctional friendships. Jenna Ortega has hinted at darker twists… and possibly a new love interest?
Thought Season 1 was brutal? Wait until Gi-hun goes head-to-head with the Front Man. Squid Game Season 3, launching 27 June, is being framed as a revenge saga soaked in betrayal and moral rot. No games. Just war.
4. Wake Up Dead Man: Benoit Blanc is back, and the vibes are off
Rian Johnson’s third Knives Out mystery returns with Daniel Craig, but this time, the mood? Less whodunnit, more existential chaos. Featuring a stellar cast including Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, and Mila Kunis, this late 2025 release might be the weirdest Blanc case yet.
5. Frankenstein: del Toro’s creature feature might haunt your sleep
Guillermo del Toro isn’t pulling punches. His upcoming Frankenstein, starring Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi, promises shadow-drenched horror, poetic violence, and zero romanticism. Think less “tragic monster” and more “run, and don’t look back.” Arriving November 2025.
Adam Sandler is dusting off the clubs. Thirty years on, Happy Gilmore 2 lands in July 2025 with Shooter McGavin returning to stir trouble. Expect golf, grudges, and Sandler’s signature cocktail of stupidity and sincerity.
7. One Piece season 2: Meet Chopper (yes, the reindeer doctor is real)
The Straw Hat crew is expanding. Season 2 of the live-action One Piece introduces fan favourites Tony Tony Chopper and Dr Kureha. With filming wrapped and post-production underway, fans are bracing for adorable talking reindeers and inevitable heartbreak.
The most introverted Bridgerton finally gets his turn. Though Season 4 won’t arrive until 2026, Tudum is expected to tease Benedict’s love arc with Sophie Beckett. Will it be scandalous? Naturally. Will there be waistcoats and whispered secrets? Absolutely.
The Pogues are calling it quits but not before one last sun-drenched, danger-packed ride. The fifth and final season of Outer Banks promises utter chaos and, just maybe, a little closure.
10. Emily in Paris 5: Emily does Rome (but leaves drama in Paris)
Emily’s off to Rome with a new bob and, inevitably, more bad decisions. Season 5 follows Lily Collins navigating Italian flair, post-breakup messiness, and what might be her best wardrobe yet. Camille is out, Alfie is in and filming is already underway.
Tudum 2025 feels less like a streaming event and more like Netflix flexing every muscle it has. It’s goodbyes (Stranger Things, Outer Banks), glow-ups (Wednesday, Emily in Paris), and glorious chaos (Squid Game, Wake Up Dead Man). Cancel your plans, grab the snacks, and prepare to be bombarded because if this is what we know before the event, just imagine what Netflix is saving for showtime.
Tudum goes live on 31 May 2025. See you on the other side.
The National Theatre’s annual Connections Festival will return this June, celebrating its 30th anniversary with a week-long programme of youth theatre performances from across the UK.
Running from 24 to 28 June, the festival will also mark the reopening of the Dorfman Theatre, which has been closed since November 2024 for government-funded refurbishment works.
Over the past three months, more than 5,000 young people from over 270 schools and youth theatre groups have performed in venues across 33 professional stages nationwide. From this wide participation, ten theatre groups have been selected to perform at the National Theatre in London.
Each group will stage one of ten newly commissioned plays, offering young performers the opportunity to explore contemporary themes including identity, climate change, and community.
The selected groups and their plays are:
Fresh Air by Vickie Donoghue – Central Foundation Boys’ School, London
Ravers by Rikki Beadle-Blair – HOME Young Company, Manchester
Mia and the Fish by Satinder Chohan – Abbey Grange Academy, Leeds
The Company of Trees by Jane Bodie – Hamilton District Youth Theatre, Lanarkshire
Their Name is Joy by May Sumbwanyambe – Nottingham Girls Academy Theatre Company
Saba’s Swim by Danusia Samal – Central Youth Theatre, Wolverhampton
Normalised by Amanda Verlaque – Brassneck Youth, Belfast
No Regrets by Gary McNair – Glasgow Acting Academy
Brain Play by Chloë Lawrence-Taylor and Paul Sirett – Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School, Ramsgate
YOU 2.0 by Alys Metcalf – Everyman Youth Theatre, Cardiff
Young participants have also been involved in backstage roles, including lighting, costume design, directing and composing, helping to realise their productions from start to finish.
Indhu Rubasingham, Director and Co-Chief Executive of the National Theatre, said: “I am really pleased to welcome ten youth groups from all corners of the UK to the NT for this landmark anniversary festival of Connections. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience the power of theatre-making.”
Since launching, the festival has engaged over 125,000 young people, with former participants including actors Keira Knightley, David Oyelowo, Rose Ayling-Ellis, and Callum Scott Howells.
Each year, ten new plays are commissioned for Connections, contributing to a growing archive of over 235 scripts written specifically for young performers.
Tickets are available for £5 per show, or £8 for two performances in one evening. All shows will feature captioning for accessibility.
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The initiative will empower more women to speak openly about their health
A new community-led initiative has been launched in the UK to provide culturally sensitive support for South Asian women navigating midlife and menopause.
The Sattva Collective, founded by certified Midlife and Menopause Coach Kiran Singh, officially launched on 14 May 2025 as a registered Community Interest Company (CIC). It is the first initiative in the UK focused specifically on the experiences of South Asian women during what Singh describes as a “deeply personal and often stigmatised” phase of life.
“South Asian women are navigating physical, emotional, and identity shifts in silence – often without the language, space, or support to talk about it,” Singh said. “The Sattva Collective is here to change that. We are reclaiming midlife as a powerful, transformative time – and doing it together.”
The name 'Sattva' is drawn from Sanskrit, referring to clarity, balance, and inner peace – values reflected in the collective’s approach.
The organisation will offer a range of services throughout the year, including:
Monthly community meet-ups in local cafés
Educational workshops on hormone health, mental well-being, and cultural stigma
An annual flagship Midlife Summit launching in January 2026
Public awareness campaigns and digital resources
One-to-one and group coaching sessions
Singh, who is of Indian heritage, aims to address the gaps in both mainstream and cultural conversations around menopause. According to her, many South Asian women face barriers to accessing support due to stigma, lack of awareness, and limited representation in public discourse.
The Sattva Collective is now preparing to roll out its 2025 programme and is actively seeking funding, sponsorship, and community partners to expand its reach and resources.
Describing midlife as “not a crisis, but a calling,” Singh hopes the initiative will empower more women to speak openly about their health and experiences, while building a supportive community.
Further details about upcoming events and resources will be made available through the collective’s official channels in the coming weeks.
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R&B singer Chris Brown arrested in Manchester over alleged bottle attack on music producer Abe Diaw
R&B star Chris Brown was taken into custody early Thursday morning in Manchester, England, over an alleged assault at a London nightclub in 2023. Police arrested the 36-year-old singer at The Lowry Hotel shortly after 2 a.m., charging him with causing grievous bodily harm to music producer Abe Diaw.
The incident dates back to 19 February 2023, when Brown reportedly attacked Diaw at Tape nightclub in Mayfair, central London. According to Diaw’s lawsuit filed last October, Brown struck him multiple times on the head with a bottle of Don Julio 1942 tequila. The assault allegedly continued with Brown stomping and kicking Diaw, leaving him unconscious for about 30 seconds and requiring hospitalisation for head wounds and torn ligaments in his leg.
Chris Brown taken into custody ahead of UK tour following 2023 nightclub assault allegationsGetty Images
Diaw claims Brown’s attack was unprovoked and caused lasting physical and emotional damage. Beyond the physical injuries, Diaw also accuses Brown of spreading false rumours to harm his reputation and business relationships. The producer has filed a civil lawsuit seeking £12 million (₹126 crore) in damages.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest and said detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit are handling the case. Brown remains in police custody as the investigation proceeds.
This latest arrest adds to Brown’s long history of legal troubles linked to violent behaviour. He pleaded guilty to felony assault in 2009 after physically attacking then-girlfriend Rihanna. In 2017, a restraining order was placed on him by ex-partner Karrueche Tran amid allegations of aggressive conduct over financial disputes.
R&B singer Chris Brown appears in court for a probation violation hearing in Los Angeles Court in 2014Getty Images
Brown arrived in Manchester on a private jet just the day before his arrest, possibly preparing for his upcoming UK tour dates scheduled for June. The tour, called Breezy Bowl XX, is meant to mark 20 years of his music career and includes shows in Manchester, Cardiff, London, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Dublin. However, the ongoing police investigation raises questions about whether those dates will go ahead as planned.
Despite his troubled past, Brown remains a major figure in the music world, known for selling out large venues and generating millions in revenue. But with new serious allegations now in play, the future of his career hangs in the balance as legal proceedings move forward.
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Tavistock Road between William Prance Road and Manadon Roundabout
A three-vehicle collision on Tavistock Road in Plymouth led to significant traffic disruption on Thursday, May 15.
The crash occurred at around 11:00 BST and prompted an immediate response from Devon and Cornwall Police, the fire service, and paramedics. Emergency services attended the scene to manage the incident and assess those involved.
According to a witness, it appeared that one vehicle had collided with the rear of another. Photographs from the scene showed emergency crews present amid long queues of traffic.
The collision resulted in the closure of all southbound lanes on Tavistock Road between William Prance Road and Manadon Roundabout, causing substantial delays for motorists. The roads and traffic monitoring service Inrix reported the incident at 11:27 BST, confirming slow traffic and lane closures in the affected area.
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Police stated that investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing. The road remained closed for several hours to allow emergency services to clear the scene safely.
By 14:30 BST, Tavistock Road was reopened to traffic. No further details have been released regarding any injuries sustained or the circumstances leading up to the crash.
Drivers were advised to follow local traffic updates and seek alternative routes during the closure.