In this candid conversation on The Hollywood Reporter India's InFocus series, host Anupama Chopra sits down with Tamil cinema's rising star Pradeep Ranganathan in a luxurious Chennai hotel suite. Pradeep opens up about his upcoming Diwali releases - the romantic comedy Dude and the sci-fi romance Love Insurance Kompany - revealing how scheduling conflicts were resolved to avoid a box-office clash. The actor-director shares intimate details about his journey from IT professional to filmmaker, his childhood admiration for Rajinikanth, and his recent singing debut in Dude.

The interview delves deep into Pradeep's creative process, from his hands-on approach to selecting scripts based on market viability to his future plans for a science fiction directorial venture. He reflects on the success of Dragon and his previous blockbuster Love Today, while discussing the challenges of maintaining relatability despite growing fame. Particularly touching are his revelations about his family's initial skepticism about his career change, his father's journey from disapproval to pride, and the validation he received when Rajinikanth praised his work and mimicked his style from Dragon.

At the 5th edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Kriti Sanon sits down with Sneha Menon Desai for an InFocus conversation. Fresh off the success of Tere Ishk Mein, Kriti opens up about playing flawed, layered women, the return of love stories in Indian cinema, and why this generation seemed scared to go deep with romance. She reflects on the emotional toll of intense characters, her habit of asking too many questions on set, and what drew her to stories about domestic violence with her production debut Do Patti.

From being an entrepreneur juggling multiple ventures to manifesting a female superhero film rooted in Indian culture, Kriti shares her philosophy on staying a newcomer in new fields and the beautiful privilege of being exhausted by work you once prayed for.

In this intimate Cover Star conversation with Anupama Chopra, Rashmika Mandanna reflects on a landmark 2025 that saw her deliver five diverse releases—from the blockbuster Chhaava opposite Vicky Kaushal to the deeply personal The Girlfriend directed by Rahul Ravindran. Rashmika opens up about her journey from Coorg to becoming one of Indian cinema's most versatile stars, her struggles with being a people pleaser, and how playing Bhooma Devi finally gave her peace as an actor after nine years of feeling she had something to prove.

The actress discusses her instinctive approach to performance, her relationship with Vijay Deverakonda, her upcoming pan-Indian action film Mysaa, and why kindness remains non-negotiable in a brutal industry. From her collaboration with Sukumar on Pushpa to working with Allu Arjun and Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika reveals the emotional depths behind her stardom—and why The Girlfriend's overwhelming response left her wanting to hold the world in a warm embrace.

In an exclusive conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India's Anupama Chopra, actors and producers Dulquer Salmaan and Rana Daggubati open up about their upcoming period drama "Kaantha," directed by Selvamani Selvaraj. The film, set in 1950s Madras and inspired by the life of Tamil cinema's first superstar M.K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar, has been seven years in the making, with Dulquer hearing about it first in 2018-19 and both actors serving as producers through their respective companies, Wayfarer Films and Spirit Media. The duo discusses the marathon six-hour narration sessions with Selvamani, their initial hesitations, and the unique challenges of creating a film-within-a-film that captures the heightened acting style of that era.

The conversation reveals fascinating insights into their creative process, from the fights and delays that marked the production to their shared philosophy as producers who prioritize storytelling over commercial formulas. Dulquer reflects on his successful 2024 film "Lucky Baskhar" and shares his eclectic list of favorite films including "Good Will Hunting," "A Good Year," and "Bangalore Days," while Rana discusses lessons learned from director S.S. Rajamouli during the five-year journey of making "Baahubali." Both actors emphasize their commitment to creating original, authentic cinema that respects audience intelligence, with Rana playing a no-nonsense cop named Phoenix whose character was discovered on set, and Dulquer portraying the complex role of a 1950s superstar navigating fame, ego, and betrayal.

Anupama Chopra sits down with Yami Gautam and Emraan Hashmi for an in-depth conversation about their latest film, a gripping courtroom drama inspired by the landmark 1985 Shah Bano case. Yami and Emraan discuss their approach to choosing impactful roles over conventional lead parts, drawing inspiration from iconic performances like Dame Judi Dench's Oscar-winning eight-minute role. The actors reflect on the evolution of their careers, with Emraan addressing his "serial kisser" image with humor and honesty, while Yami shares her philosophy of seeking original scripts that challenge the status quo.

The conversation takes a nostalgic turn as Anupama, Yami, and Emraan explore the changing landscape of Bollywood music, from lip-sync songs to modern montages, and the shift in cinema's emotional bandwidth post-2014. Yami opens up about her husband Aditya Dhar's upcoming directorial venture, while both actors share their personal top films including classics like Sholay and Smita Patil's iconic performances. This candid discussion offers rare insights into the craft, choices, and convictions that drive two of Hindi cinema's most versatile performers.

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In this exclusive InFocus conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, host Anupama Chopra sits down with Ajey Nagar, better known as CarryMinati, India's #1 creator on THR India's inaugural Creator A-List 2025. Ajey opens up about his remarkable journey from uploading his first video at age 10 to becoming the most influential digital creator in India with over 45 million subscribers. He shares candid insights about dropping out of school in 12th grade to pursue YouTube full-time, the pressure of sudden fame after the YouTube vs TikTok controversy that gained him 6 million subscribers in days, and how success has changed his life - including enabling his mother to retire from her government hospital job.

The conversation delves deep into Ajey's creative process, his defense of Delhi's casual swearing culture, and his ambitious plans to transition from content creator to filmmaker. He reflects on the loneliness that comes with unprecedented success, the challenge of maintaining authenticity while managing the "CarryMinati myth," and his aspirations to write and direct feature films. From touching moments about fans battling cancer to hilarious anecdotes about his father's reaction to his dropout decision, Ajey reveals the person behind India's biggest YouTube persona in this intimate discussion at The Hollywood Reporter India's Creator A-List event in collaboration with Ormax Media.

In this exclusive InFocus conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, host Anupama Chopra sits down with Rishab Shetty, the National Award-winning actor-director behind the phenomenal success of "Kantara." Rishab opens up about his ambitious prequel "Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1," revealing the incredible journey of 250 shooting days, near-death experiences during production, and the unwavering support from producer Vijay Kiragandur and Hombale Films. The filmmaker discusses working with a budget exceeding ₹100 crore, setting up a private studio for the production, and the challenges of recreating the Kadamba dynasty era from the 4th-5th century.

Rishab shares intimate details about his creative process, the importance of his wife Pragathi Shetty's support as both costume designer and life partner, and his philosophy of leaving ego outside filmmaking. He also addresses criticisms of the original "Kantara," his approach to depicting Bhuta Kola traditions authentically, and his future projects including "Jai Hanuman" with Prashanth Neel. The conversation touches on his inspiration from Dr. Rajkumar, his thoughts on being typecast in mythological roles, and his ambitious plans for the Kantara universe. This candid interview captures Rishab at his most vulnerable and determined as he prepares for the October 2, 2025 release of what promises to be Indian cinema's next epic.

In this deeply moving InFocus interview for The Hollywood Reporter India, host Sneha Menon Desai sits down with actress-filmmaker Tannishtha Chatterjee for an inspiring conversation about resilience, creativity, and the power of human connection. Tannishtha opens up about her extraordinary journey of completing her directorial film "Full Plate" while battling stage 4 oligometastatic cancer, sharing how she managed post-production work between chemotherapy cycles. The interview reveals her remarkable strength as she balanced caring for her 70-year-old mother and 9-year-old daughter while fighting for her own life, having lost her father to cancer just a year and a half earlier.

What emerges from this conversation is a testament to the transformative power of love and community support. Tannishtha discusses how her circle of female friends, including luminaries like Shabana Azmi, Dia Mirza, and Vidya Balan, created an incredible support system that helped her through the darkest moments. She speaks candidly about learning to be vulnerable for the first time, becoming "fearless and shameless" in asking for help, and finding humor even in the hospital rooms during treatment. The interview also explores how completing "Full Plate" – a film about a Muslim homemaker's transformation – became part of her healing journey, with the film now headed to its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival, marking a full-circle moment of triumph over adversity.

In this exclusive InFocus interview for The Hollywood Reporter India, host Justin Rao sat down with the stellar ensemble cast of Netflix's most anticipated series of 2025, "The Ba***ds Of Bollywood." The conversation featured Bobby Deol, Lakshya, Anya Singh, Raghav Juyal, and Manoj Pahwa, who opened up about working on Aryan Khan's directorial debut. The cast shared candid insights into the show's unique take on Bollywood's insider-outsider dynamics, with Lakshya discussing his role as Aasmaan Singh, an ambitious outsider navigating the film industry, while Anya revealed her preparation for playing a star kid trying to establish herself beyond her father's legacy. The energy was palpable as they recounted the infectious on-set atmosphere, where even the cinematographer would shake with laughter during takes.

What emerged most powerfully from the conversation was the cast's unanimous praise for Aryan's directorial vision and his ability to capture both the glamour and grit of Bollywood authentically. Bobby and Manoj highlighted Aryan's remarkable maturity as a first-time director, noting his deep understanding of both privileged and struggling perspectives in the industry. The actors revealed how Aryan encouraged improvisation and creative freedom, creating what they described as a "family atmosphere" on set. They also touched upon Aryan's potential as an actor himself, with several cast members suggesting he possesses natural talent that shines through even behind the camera. This InFocus special captures the genuine camaraderie among the cast and their excitement for audiences to experience this bold, satirical take on the Hindi film industry.

In this in-depth conversation on The Hollywood Reporter India's InFocus, host Anupama Chopra sits down with the powerhouse team behind the blockbuster Malayalam superhero film "Lokah: Chapter 1 - Chandra." Director Dominic Arun, producer Dulquer Salmaan, and lead actress Kalyani Priyadarshan discuss the film's unprecedented success, having crossed the ₹220 crore mark worldwide and becoming the first female-led Malayalam film to achieve such heights. The trio reveals how what started as a small-budget independent film transformed into an ambitious cinematic universe when Dulquer encouraged them to think bigger, telling them not to worry about the budget and focus on making the film they truly wanted to create.

The conversation delves deep into the creative process, with Dominic sharing his handwritten approach to screenwriting and his specific vision for Chandra as a character who moves like someone hundreds of years old. Kalyani opens up about her initial insecurities with the role, requiring reassurance from Dulquer when she felt the character's stillness was too unnatural for her typically animated personality. The team discusses their collaborative approach, with additional screenplay contributions from Santhy Balachandran ensuring authentic feminist perspectives, and how surprise cameos from Tovino Thomas created theater-erupting moments. They also explore the challenge of balancing melancholy with entertainment, the decision to make their antagonist a representation of toxic masculinity, and their plans for the remaining four chapters in what promises to be Malayalam cinema's first mythological superhero universe.

In this episode of The Hollywood Reporter India, host Anupama Chopra sits down with director Varsha Bharath and actor Anjali Sivaraman to discuss their groundbreaking Tamil film 'Bad Girl.' The coming-of-age drama, produced by acclaimed filmmakers Vetrimaaran and presented by Anurag Kashyap, recently won the NETPAC Award at the 54th International Film Festival Rotterdam. Varsha shares insights into her rapid 10-day writing process and the film's unconventional production approach, including shooting in her own home with a crew of less than 20 people. The conversation delves into creating the complex protagonist Rama, a flawed and relatable character whose journey from high school to her 30s challenges traditional portrayals of women in Tamil cinema.

The duo opens up about the creative process behind bringing Rama to life, from Anjali's transformation from Sabyasachi model to letting go of vanity for the role, to the careful decisions around how much the character should smile or cry. They discuss the controversial reception of the film's teaser, which sparked debates about representation and storytelling in Tamil cinema. Varsha and Anjali also reflect on the film's successful festival run at Rotterdam, where it received standing ovations and resonated deeply with international audiences. The episode touches on broader themes including the scarcity of female filmmakers in Tamil cinema, the challenges of telling women's stories, and how 'Bad Girl' fits into the changing landscape of Indian cinema alongside recent successes like 'All We Imagine as Light' and 'Laapataa Ladies.'

In this exclusive InFocus conversation, Sneha Menon sits down with Punjabi pop sensation Karan Aujla ahead of his highly anticipated album P-POP (Punjabi Pop Culture) release. The global music icon opens up about his journey from writing songs for others to becoming the world's most-streamed Punjabi artist, his sold-out arena tours across North America, and the creative process behind hits like "Gabru." Karan shares candid insights about staying grounded despite fame, the challenges of balancing global appeal with Punjabi roots, and his close friendships with cricket stars like Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah, as well as Bollywood actor Vicky Kaushal.

The conversation takes an emotional turn as Karan reflects on the loss of his parents at a young age and how those experiences shaped his perspective on life and success. He discusses his nickname "Geeta the Machine," coined by producer Deep Jandu, his dream collaborations with artists like Arijit Singh and international stars like Jay-Z and Snoop Dogg, and the responsibility that comes with influencing millions of fans. From his village in Punjab to private jets and sold-out arenas, Karan's story is one of resilience, authenticity, and the transformative power of music.

In this exclusive InFocus interview, Anupama Chopra sits down with Pooja Hegde for an in-depth conversation about her remarkable journey in Indian cinema. The actress opens up about her career-defining performance as Rukmani in Karthik Subbaraj's 'Retro' opposite Suriya, revealing how the director saw something special in her performance in 'Radhe Shyam' that led to this transformative role. She discusses the challenges of working across multiple film industries, mastering different languages including Tamil dubbing for the first time, and how she's strategically breaking free from glamorous typecasting to pursue more substantial, diverse roles.

Pooja also shares insights into creating the viral sensation 'Monica O My Darling' with its 55 million views, the five-day shoot in challenging conditions, and the unexpected validation from Monica Bellucci herself. From her early struggles getting meetings despite her success in South cinema to working with icons like Vijay in his final film, Hrithik Roshan who praised her rare talent, and maintaining perspective through social media trolling, this conversation captures an actress at a pivotal moment in her career. She candidly discusses her upcoming projects, her philosophy on choosing films, and why she believes cinema has the power to change lives.

Anupama Chopra hosts "InFocus: Women in Films," a compelling Women in Film panel powered by YFlo for The Hollywood Reporter India, bringing together four trailblazing women who are reshaping Indian cinema from behind the camera. The panel features Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, the acclaimed director of Nil Battey Sannata (2016), Bareilly Ki Barfi (2017), and Panga (2020); Fatima Sana Shaikh, the versatile actor known for her powerful performances in Dangal and Ludo; Shruti Mahajan, the casting director behind blockbusters including Sanjay Leela Bhansali's films from Bajirao Mastani to Heeramandi; and Neha Parti Matiyani, an award-winning cinematographer with 15 years of experience who has broken barriers in a male-dominated technical field.

The conversation delves deep into the professional challenges these women face in an industry still learning to embrace female talent beyond traditional roles. From Ashwiny's admission about struggling to hustle for opportunities despite her proven track record, to Neha's frustration at still being questioned about her ability to handle handheld cameras after 18 projects, the panelists share candid insights about navigating systemic biases. They discuss the evolving landscape of women-centric narratives, the importance of female representation in technical departments, and their ambitious future goals – including Ashwiny's desire to direct a thousand-crore blockbuster action film. The discussion highlights both the progress made and the journey ahead, as these women continue to challenge stereotypes and create space for more diverse voices in Indian cinema.

In this exclusive episode of InFocus on The Hollywood Reporter India, host Anupama Chopra sits down with Shanoo Sharma, the legendary casting director at Yash Raj Films who has discovered and nurtured some of Bollywood’s biggest stars. With nearly two decades of experience, Shanoo Sharma opens up about her journey of discovering talent like Ranveer Singh, Parineeti Chopra, and Arjun Kapoor, while offering unprecedented insights into the meticulous process behind launching newcomers in the Hindi film industry. The conversation takes a deep dive into her latest triumph with the blockbuster film Saiyaara, which marked the debuts of Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda under director Mohit Suri’s vision.

Throughout this candid conversation on The Hollywood Reporter India’s InFocus, Shanoo Sharma reveals the challenges of keeping faith over nine years while grooming Ahaan Panday for his eventual debut, the instant chemistry she felt with Aneet Padda, and her unique philosophy of treating casting as a maternal profession. She shares fascinating anecdotes about working with Aditya Chopra, the importance of watchability in actors, and why she believes in looking for talent everywhere—from Instagram to wedding celebrations. This rare interview offers aspiring actors invaluable advice while showcasing the woman whose keen eye for talent has shaped modern Bollywood.

In this exclusive interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, acclaimed Kannada actor-filmmaker Raj B Shetty sits down with Anupama Chopra to discuss the phenomenal success of his production venture "Su From So," which has taken Karnataka by storm. The film, directed by debutant JP Thuminad, has shattered box office expectations, earning over ₹35 crore in just 10 days despite having no star cast or big-budget promotions. Raj reveals the unconventional no-marketing strategy behind the film's release, his philosophy of instinctive filmmaking where "I don't know" becomes a creative process, and why he refuses to make sequels despite commercial pressure.

The conversation explores Raj's journey from radio jockey to one of Kannada cinema's most innovative voices, his collaboration with the "Shetty trinity" (Rishab and Rakshit Shetty), and his commitment to nurturing fresh talent through Lighter Buddha Films. Raj also opens up about his "accidental actor" approach, the importance of authentic storytelling rooted in local culture, and why he believes content-driven cinema will always triumph over star-driven projects. He discusses his upcoming thriller project, his refusal to work with big stars due to scheduling constraints, and his vision for the future of Kannada cinema.