Justin  Rao

Justin Rao

Entertainment Correspondent

Justin Rao writes on all things Bollywood. An alumnus of ACJ, he has keen interest in exploring industry features, long form interviews and spreading arms like Shah Rukh Khan.

MORE FROM JUSTIN RAO

2025 turned out to be the Indian film industry’s highest-grossing year ever.
Insight

Indian Box-Office Crosses Historic ₹13,000 Crore as Bollywood Hits Record ₹5,504 Crore, But How Did Other Industries Fare in 2025?

The Ormax box-office report highlighted the rising average ticket price, which coincided with dwindling footfalls recorded across the board.

BY Justin Rao
Mithila Palkar talks about 'Happy Patel'
Interviews

Mithila Palkar on How ‘Happy Patel’ Set Broke Bollywood’s Entourage Culture: 'No Phones, No Personal Teams'

Mithila Palkar traces her journey: from breaking out on the Internet 10 years ago to attempting comedy with her latest film 'Happy Patel' backed by Aamir Khan

BY Justin Rao
If the films land big, 2026 could reset benchmarks across openings, lifetime grosses and global box-office potential.
Rambling Reporter

2026 Box-Office Predictions: 'Dhurandhar 2,' 'Ramayana,' 'King' and More

With 'Ramayana', 'Dhurandhar 2', 'King' and a stacked slate of star-driven tentpoles, 2026 could be Indian cinema’s biggest year yet — if the audience shows up.

BY Justin Rao
Sajid Nadiadwala
Insight

Exclusive | Sajid Nadiadwala in Advanced Discussions for Half-Billion Dollar Strategic Deal With International Company

The major development comes at a time when the producer is awaiting the release of his upcoming biggie, 'O'Romeo' starring Shahid Kapoor.

BY Justin Rao
Kiara Advani in a still from 'Toxic'
Insight

Exclusive | Kiara Advani's Character in Yash's 'Toxic' Inspired by Cirque Du Soleil

Advani will be kicking off 2026 with the Geetu Mohandas directorial, which features her playing Nadia.

BY Justin Rao
Dhanush and Aanand L Rai might reunite after 'Tere Ishk Mein'
Insight

Exclusive | Aanand L Rai Might Plan an Epic Period Action Romance with Dhanush After the Success of 'Tere Ishk Mein'

An ambitious reunion between Aanand L Rai and Dhanush might be on the cards, with the possibility of the duo exploring a large-scale period action romance.

BY Justin Rao
Stills from 'Tere Ishk Mein', 'Saiyaara' and 'Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat'
Insight

Heartbreak High: How ‘Saiyaara’, ‘Tere Ishk Mein’ and ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’ Used Music, Reels and Anguish to Rule the Box-Office

'Saiyaara', 'Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat' and 'Tere Ishk Mein' reshaped the box office conversation in 2025, presenting a heady cocktail of sad songs, broken hearts, and sold-out shows.

BY Justin Rao
Shah Rukh Khan in a still from 'King'
Columns

Lights, Camera, Scoop: Is Shah Rukh Khan's ‘King’ Headed the ‘Dhurandhar’ Way? Decoding Bollywood’s New Two-Part Temptation

The Hollywood Reporter India's weekly column 'Lights, Camera, Scoop' unravels the behind-the-scenes madness of the big Bollywood machinery.

BY Justin Rao
Mr Faisu.
Interviews

Mr. Faisu: The Rise Of An Unlikely Digital Powerhouse

Mr. Faisu has quietly become one of India’s most enduring digital success stories. Now, he’s ready to prove that content creators can become something more.

BY Justin Rao
The Indian box-office in 2025 thrived on shocks and surprises
Insight

Top 10 Highest-Grossing Indian Films of 2025: From 'Dhurandhar' and 'Kantara: Chapter 1' to 'Saiyaara'

India’s 10 highest-grossing films of 2025 have collectively amassed ₹5,500 crore-plus worldwide, underlining a sharply top-heavy year at the box-office; here's a breakdown of the year that went by

BY Justin Rao
Stills from 'The Conjuring: Last Rites', 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' and 'F1'
Columns

Lights, Camera, Scoop | 'F1', 'The Conjuring' and 'Avatar: Fire and Ash': Hollywood Aims for ₹1,400 Crore Finish at 2025 Indian Box-Office

The Hollywood Reporter India's weekly column 'Lights, Camera, Scoop' unravels the behind-the-scenes madness of the big Bollywood machinery.

BY Justin Rao
Shah Rukh Khan in a still from 'King'
Interviews

Shah Rukh Khan's 'King’: Inside the Secretive Race to Cut The Epic Teaser

The team of creative agency MA&TH revealed how the 'King' assets were put together amid huge expectations (and a sea of fan edits).

BY Justin Rao
A still from 'Avatar: Fire and Ash', 'Ikkis' and 'Dhurandhar'
Columns

Lights, Camera, Scoop: 'Dhurandhar' Holds 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' at Box-Office; How Sriram Raghavan Prepped For War Film 'Ikkis'

The Hollywood Reporter India's weekly column 'Lights, Camera, Scoop' unravels the behind-the-scenes madness of the big Bollywood machinery.

BY Justin Rao
Madhuri Dixit
Interviews

Madhuri Dixit on 'Mrs. Deshpande' and 40 Years of Cinema: 'When I Walk Into My House, the Fame Stays Outside'

Madhuri Dixit discusses her ever-expanding screen legacy, and her latest JioHotstar series 'Mrs Deshpande', directed by Nagesh Kukunoor.

BY Justin Rao
Kirti Kulhari
Interviews

Kirti Kulhari: 'Four More Shots Please' Still Continues to Rattle Some Men

As 'Four More Shots Please' gears up for its finale, Kirti Kulhari talks about how the Prime Video show has transformed her over the years

BY Justin Rao
What does it actually cost for a Bollywood star to show up, smile at your wedding ceremony, pose with your uncles and aunts, and accidentally photobomb your cousins?
Columns

Lights, Camera, Scoop | Bollywood’s Wedding Rate Card: What do SRK, Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, Janhvi Kapoor and Others Charge?

The Hollywood Reporter India's weekly column 'Lights, Camera, Scoop' unravels the behind-the-scenes madness of the big Bollywood machinery.

BY Justin Rao
Pankaj Tripathi
Interviews

Exclusive | Pankaj Tripathi To Turn Full-Fledged Producer Soon; Talks Collaborating on 'Feature-Length Productions' Next

Pankaj Tripathi, who has presented the series 'Perfect Family', says stepping into producing would finally give him the creative agency and authorship that acting alone cannot.

BY Justin Rao
Barbara Broccoli at the ongoing Doha Film Festival
Insight

Doha Film Festival 2025 | 'James Bond' Producer Barbara Broccoli Warns That Film Financing Getting ‘Increasingly Difficult’

Barbara Broccoli, producer of the iconic James Bond films, urged the audience to watch movies in cinemas. 'You really need to support them'.

BY Justin Rao
Nicky Bentham, Barbara Broccoli, David Oyelowo, Hassan Al Thawadi and Fatma Hassan Alremaihi
Insight

Doha Film Festival 2025| David Oyelowo, Rachel Brosnahan and Cynthia Erivo Come Together For ‘Othello’ Adaptation

According to the makers, the screenplay reimagines the classic text in a contemporary war-torn desert in the Middle East. 

BY Justin Rao
 Steven Soderbergh attends the premiere of 'The Christophers' during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival
Interviews

Doha Film Festival 2025: Steven Soderbergh on ‘The Christophers,’ His John Lennon Doc, and Why Today’s Box-Office Climate Is Squeezing Young Filmmakers

Speaking at the Doha Film Festival 2025 during the premiere of 'The Christophers,' Soderbergh said the tension between artistic instinct and commercial survival has become sharper than ever.

BY Justin Rao