In this insightful roundtable discussion, six accomplished Indian filmmakers - Imtiaz Ali, C. Prem Kumar, Kiran Rao, Christo Tomy, Venky Atluri, and Rajkumar Periasamy - engage in a candid conversation about their creative journeys and the art of filmmaking. From the intensely personal process of writing to managing the complexities of a film set, these directors share fascinating perspectives on their craft.

Through conversations about extracting authentic performances, dealing with box office pressures, and their unique relationships with producers, these filmmakers offer an honest glimpse into the evolving landscape of Indian cinema, while emphasizing the importance of staying true to one's creative vision despite commercial pressures.

The Hollywood Reporter India's Series Roundtable 2025, hosted by Suchin Mehrotra, brings together five of Indian streaming's most compelling performers for a candid conversation about craft, career, and the evolving landscape of long-form storytelling. The panel features Zahan Kapoor (Black Warrant), Amit Sial (The Hunt: The Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Case), Pratik Gandhi (Scam 1992), Huma Qureshi (Maharani), and Tillotama Shome (Paatal Lok) as they discuss everything from the worst advice they've received to how they approach playing real-life characters. Suchin guides the conversation through deeply personal revelations about process, the pressure of expectations after breakout roles, and the unique challenges of returning to beloved characters across multiple seasons.

The actors share insights on finding humanity in their performances, with Pratik explaining his meticulous approach to playing multiple age groups, Zahan recounting his journey from theatre to streaming stardom, and Huma reflecting on four seasons of political drama. Tillotama speaks movingly about the rituals that help her embody characters like Meghna Barua, while Amit discusses breaking free from typecasting. The roundtable culminates in a hopeful discussion about the future of Indian entertainment, with each actor finding reasons for optimism despite industry upheaval—from the success of small-budget regional films to the kinship they share as storytellers navigating an evolving medium.

The Hollywood Reporter India's Deputy Editor Sneha Menon Desai hosts an intimate roundtable bringing together six of Indian cinema's most influential technicians who shaped the look, feel, and impact of 2025's biggest films. Cinematographer Arvind S. Kashyap discusses the gruelling 200-day shoot of Kantara: A Legend - Chapter 1, while colorist and producer Sidharth Meer opens up about the distribution challenges facing independent cinema and his festival calendar slam spanning Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, and Venice. Production designer Banglan reveals the jugaad magic behind crafting worlds for both Kantara and Lokah, and costume designer Sheetal Iqbal Sharma breaks down the 30-plus look tests required to create Saiyaara's refreshingly relatable aesthetic for YRF. Casting director Nandini Shrikent reflects on assembling the ensemble for Superboys of Malegaon, while editor Nitin Baid shares the surreal experience of receiving notes from executive producer Martin Scorsese on Homebound.

From Sneha's probing questions about AI tools and fair pay to candid confessions about interdepartmental clashes, the conversation traverses everything from Arvind's sleepless 23-hour workdays to Sheetal's battles with actors who refuse to dress like villagers. Nitin recalls watching Jafar Panahi's A Simple Accident at Cannes and tearing up alongside the filmmaker, while Sidharth and Vinesh discuss the Kannada industry's unique equity model that gives technicians ownership stakes in their films. The roundtable captures a transformative moment in Indian cinema where technicians are finally stepping into the spotlight, demanding recognition, fair compensation, and creative respect.

In this edition of The Hollywood Reporter India's Producers Roundtable, Anupama Chopra sits down with four powerhouse producers who have shaped some of the year's most talked-about films. Dulquer Salmaan, the Malayalam actor-producer behind the blockbuster Lokah, Vikramaditya Motwane, the visionary director-producer of Sacred Games and Black Warrant, Rana Daggubati, the Telugu actor-producer driving Spirit Media's ambitious slate, and Archana Kalpathi, the Tamil producer whose AGS Entertainment delivered both the 300-crore GOAT and the breakout hit Dragon, come together for an unfiltered conversation about the state of Indian cinema. From the highs of 2025 potentially becoming the highest-grossing year ever to the struggles of indie filmmakers finding screens, the panel doesn't hold back.

The conversation spans everything from how stories find their way to these producers—Archana reveals she personally reads every WhatsApp pitch—to the challenges of streaming's pullback, entourage costs spiralling out of control, and the lack of structured support for writers. Dulquer shares how shooting in Hindi made him realise perception matters more than talent on certain sets, while Vikramaditya laments the confusion plaguing Bollywood about its audience. Rana speaks passionately about building ecosystems for indie cinema and his optimism about AI, and Archana breaks down the simple math that every creator should understand: for every crore spent, you need two-and-a-half crores at the box office. It's a masterclass in the business, art, and madness of making movies in India today.

Fashion designer turned film producer Manish Malhotra sits down with The Hollywood Reporter India alongside Shabana Azmi, Divyenndu, Abhay Deol, Vijay Varma, and Fatima Sana Shaikh to discuss his ambitious new venture, Stage 5 Films. Manish reveals his intentional decision to produce "unexpected" content that defies what people would traditionally expect from his brand, including three diverse projects: the thriller Saali Mohabbat, the LGBTQ+ drama Bun Tikki, and the romantic film Gustakh.

The conversation explores Manish's transition from the fashion world to independent film production, his collaborative approach with debut directors, and his commitment to theatrical releases in an increasingly streaming-dominated landscape. The panel discusses the challenges facing mid-budget, content-driven cinema and the importance of supporting intimate storytelling. Shabana and Zeenat share their experience reuniting after decades for Bun Tikki, while Vijay and Fatima discuss embodying old-school romance in Gustaakh Ishq. The roundtable emphasizes the need for more independent producers willing to take creative risks and support quality filmmaking.

Kiran Rao, Sidharth Roy Kapur, Sameer Nair and Raj Nidimoru are on the THR Roundtable with editor Anupama Chopra to discuss Indian cinema in the 21st century. The key reference for this chat is a report released by IMDb, which analyzed 130 films released in the last 25 years. For each year, the top five films were ranked by their all-time IMDb page views to break down shifting trends, audience interest and popularity.

From the changing nature of stardom, the rise of the star director and how women have made their way into the rankings - we deep dive into fascinating trends and insights that make for a delightful conversation for cinema lovers.

Read the full IMDb report here: Link: https://www.imdb.com/india/25-years-o...

In this groundbreaking roundtable discussion, some of Indian cinema's finest technicians - including cinematographers, choreographers, sound designers, editors, and production designers - come together to share their behind-the-scenes experiences and industry insights. Sudeep Chatterjee, Anaita Shroff Adajania, Bosco Martis, Mayur Sharma, Pooja Lady Surti, Sidharth Meer and Resul Pookutty are on The Hollywood Reporter India. From tackling complex one-take action sequences to creating viral dance moves, these craftsmen offer fascinating glimpses into the technical mastery behind Indian cinema's most memorable moments. The conversation delves deep into the challenges of their craft, from fighting for recognition and fair compensation to maintaining creative integrity under tight deadlines. Their candid discussion about the evolution of filmmaking technology, the importance of interdepartmental collaboration, and the emotional investment in each project reveals the unseen backbone of Indian cinema. Through stories of resilience, artistic vision, and technical innovation, these masters of their craft demonstrate why Indian cinema's technical excellence continues to push boundaries worldwide.

In this engaging roundtable conversation, seven of Indian cinema's most compelling performers - Shabana Azmi, Pratik Gandhi, Kani Kusruti, Anna Ben, Rajkummar Rao, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Vicky Kaushal - come together to discuss the craft of acting and the evolving landscape of Indian entertainment. From the technical aspects of performance to finding authenticity in characters, these artists offer fascinating insights into their creative processes, while candidly sharing their experiences with success, failure, and staying grounded in an industry of extremes.

The discussion takes particularly interesting turns when Rajkummar Rao reflects on the aftermath of Stree 2's massive success, Kareena Kapoor Khan reveals her approach to different genres, and veteran actor Shabana Azmi shares wisdom from her 50-year journey in cinema. Through conversations about the art of comedy, dealing with criticism, and hopes for 2025, these performers paint an honest picture of Indian cinema in transition, emphasizing the importance of good writing, authentic storytelling, and maintaining perspective in an industry driven by box office numbers.

The actors behind some of the year's finest performances - Ali Fazal (Mirzapur), Sonakshi Sinha (Heeramandi), Aditi Rao Hydari (Heeramandi), Anjali Anand (Raat Jawaan Hai), Roshan Mathew (Poacher) - gathered to discuss the scenes that kept them up at night, their processes of finding a character, the differences between tackling a series vs a film, the uncertain, shaky state of the film industry in 2024, the revelations of the Hema Committee report, and the kinds of roles they're tired of getting offered.

The discussion delves into pressing industry issues, their experiences working on major streaming productions, and their hopes for the future of Indian entertainment. Through candid conversations about typecasting, industry transformations, and dream roles, these artists paint a compelling picture of the creative freedom and storytelling possibilities that digital platforms have unlocked, while also addressing the challenges faced by the streaming industry during a year of significant change.

In this intimate roundtable discussion, rising stars Sharvari, Raghav Juyal, Abhay Verma, Anasuya Sengupta, and Pratibha Ranta share their breakthrough moments and reflect on their journeys in Indian entertainment. From their first time seeing themselves on screen to navigating overnight fame, these emerging talents offer candid insights into the emotional rollercoaster of finding success in the industry.

The conversation takes an introspective turn as they discuss maintaining authenticity while dealing with stardom, their most star-struck moments meeting industry icons, and the importance of staying grounded through family and friendships. Their stories of persistence, validation, and hope paint a touching portrait of the next generation of Indian cinema, proving that talent and determination can break through regardless of industry connections.

In this compelling roundtable discussion, leading Indian independent filmmakers including Payal Kapadia, Chaitanya Tamhane, Rima Das, Vikramaditya Motwane, Shaunak Sen and Rana Daggubati explore the current state and future of independent cinema in India. The conversation delves into the challenges of funding, distribution, and reaching audiences, while celebrating recent breakthrough successes on the global stage.

From the struggle to secure theatrical releases to the changing landscape of streaming platforms, these filmmakers share their personal journeys and discuss potential solutions for building a sustainable independent film ecosystem in India. The discussion highlights both the obstacles and opportunities facing indie filmmakers today, offering insights into how the industry might evolve to better support diverse voices and stories.