EVERY month of 2023 had its winners and losers, with successes being balanced out by less-than-memorable moments.
Eastern Eye looks back on some of the Bollywood highs and lows from the past year, with a month-by-month guide.
January
Good: Shah Rukh Khan reclaimed his crown as the king of Bollywood with the blockbuster hit Pathaan. It would set up a dream year for the actor that was followed up with blockbuster films Jawan and Dunki.
Bad: Arjun Kapoor added to his many film failures with the flop Bollywood release Kuttey. He would headline an even bigger disaster, The Lady Killer, later in the year.
February
Good: Anil Kapoor delivers a winning performance in the Indian adaptation of The Night Manager. He makes the villainous role his own.
Bad: After a strong 2022, Kartik Aaryan had high hopes for Shehzada. Unfortunately, the film turned out to be a box-office dud despite being a remake of a Telugu hit.
March
Good: Legendary actress Sharmila Tagore makes a great comeback after over a decade with a strong performance in the acclaimed family drama, Gulmohar.
Bad: Ajay Devgn directed and starred in flop film Bholaa. The action remake of the Tamil hit, Kaithi, did so badly that it will likely be the last film he attempts to direct.
April
Good: Priyanka Chopra-Jonas delivers a riproaring performance in the mega-budget web series Citadel, which has been renewed for a second season.
Bad: Salman Khan, once the king of Eid film releases, added to his increasing number of failures on the annual holiday with the boxoffice disaster, Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.
May
Good: Sonam Kapoor is the surprise choice to represent India at King Charles’ coronation concert held outside Windsor Castle and joins a star-studded line-up on stage.
Bad: Sara Ali Khan makes her debut on the Cannes red carpet, but is heavily trolled for her choice of outfits, including a lehenga that made her look like a bride.
June
Good: Award-winning playback singer Asees Kaur gets married to musician Goldie Sohel. A month later, in July, she delivers arguably the best Bollywood-led concert of 2023 in the UK.
Bad: Kangana Ranaut’s production debut, Tiku Weds Sheru, is a colossal failure. She would follow that up later in the year by headlining one of the year’s biggest flops, Tejas.
July
Good: Alia Bhatt scores a big international win with the romantic comedy Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Weeks later, she makes her Hollywood debut opposite Gal Gadot in the high-profile film, Heart of Stone.
Bad:Bawaal, starring Varun Dhawan and Jahnvi Kapoor, is heavily criticised for trivialising the Holocaust, and there are calls for the film to be removed from Amazon Prime.
August
Good: After a prolonged spell in the Bollywood wilderness, Sunny Deol strikes back with a starring role in Gadar 2. The action sequel defies negative reviews to become a super hit.
Bad: Abhishek Bachchan is left disappointed when his film Ghoomer massively underperforms at the box office and adds to his many disappointments in recent years.
September
Good: Richa Chadha and her Fukrey 3 co-stars score a surprise success with the third instalment of the comedy franchise. Great boxoffice numbers result in the film being declared a hit.
Bad: Sadly, former Miss World Manushi Chhillar makes it two flops in a row with The Great Indian Family.
October
Good: Ali Fazal followed up a winning performance in the Hollywood blockbuster, Kandahar, in May, with a terrific turn in the Indian film, Khufiya.
Bad: Tiger Shroff stars in one of the year’s biggest box office disasters, Ganapath. The film clocks up shockingly low figures and kills any chance of a planned sequel.
November
Bad: Mrunal Thakur’s comedy Aankh Micholi is a box-office disaster. Her other November release, Pippa, is dumped straight onto a streaming site and received largely negative reviews. That makes it three film failures for the actress in 2023.
December
Good: Ranbir Kapoor delivers the year’s best performances in the hit film, Animal, and demonstrates why he is the most in-demand of the younger Bollywood stars.
Bad: Vicky Kaushal delivers a spirited performance in Sam Bahadur, but it isn’t enough to save the army drama from adding to his many recent failures as a leading man.
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Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner during the Knicks vs Pacers playoff game
Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner spark buzz with courtside PDA at Knicks game
The New York Knicks may have won Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers, but it was Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner who truly stole the spotlight at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night. Sitting courtside among a sea of celebrities, the couple’s very public display of affection became the real talking point of the evening, with videos of their kiss flooding social media.
Cameras captured the duo leaning in close, whispering, kissing, and holding hands while seated next to actors Miles Teller and Ben Stiller. Chalamet, in a blue-and-orange Knicks jacket inspired by Patrick Ewing, looked completely at ease next to Jenner, who kept it sleek in a white top, leather trousers, and a Knicks cap. The two looked more like a couple on a romantic night out than high-profile guests at a tense playoff game.
Online reactions were swift and fierce. Some joked that Chalamet was whispering spoilers for Dune: Part Two, while others compared the couple to overly affectionate teens in a school hallway. Criticism also surfaced, with users questioning Jenner’s absence from her children’s lives during such outings. Still, many were amused and intrigued by their chemistry.
Chalamet, a known Knicks fan and frequent attendee, has been spotted courtside multiple times throughout the playoff season. Jenner joined him earlier this month for a game against the Celtics, though their PDA was more subdued then.
Their latest appearance marked Jenner’s return to MSG, and this time, the couple didn’t hold back. After the Knicks clinched the win, the two were seen celebrating in the Garden’s back hallways, high-fiving fans and soaking in the playoff energy. Jenner raised her arms in triumph as she ran past the Knicks dancers, while Chalamet cheered with fans along the tunnel.
The pair, who went public with their relationship in late 2023 after being spotted at a Beyoncé concert, have slowly become regulars at major events, walking red carpets and appearing at festivals together and their appearance at the Knicks game was no different.
And fans are now playfully noting a trend: the Knicks are undefeated whenever Jenner shows up. Coincidence? Perhaps. But it’s certainly working for now.