Here is the astonishing true story of Bollywood, a sweeping portrait about a country finding its identity, a movie industry that changed the face of India, and one man's struggle to become a star. Shah Rukh Khan's larger than life tale takes us through the colorful and idiosyncratic Bollywood movie industry, where fantastic dreams and outrageous obsessions share the spotlight with extortion, murder, and corruption. Shah Rukh Khan broke into this $1.5 billion business despite the fact that it has always been controlled by a handful of legendary film families and sometimes funded by black market money. As a Muslim in a Hindu majority nation, exulting in classic Indian cultural values, Shah Rukh Khan has come to embody the aspirations and contradictions of a complicated culture tumbling headlong into American style capitalism. His story is the mirror to view the greater Indian story and the underbelly of the culture of Bollywood. "A bounty for cinema lovers everywhere." --Mira Nair, Director, The Namesake and Monsoon Wedding "King of Bollywood is the all-singing, all-dancing back stage pass to Bollywood. Anupama Chopra chronicles the political and cultural story of India with finesse and insight, through fly-on-wall access to one of its biggest, most charming and charismatic stars." -- Gurinder Chadha, director of Bend it Like Beckham "The "Easy Rider Raging Bull" of the Bollywood industry and essential reading for any Shah Rukh Khan fan." --Emma Thompson, actress "Anu Chopra infuses the pivotal moments of Shah Rukh Khan's life with an edge-of-your-seat tension worthy of the best Bollywood blockbusters." --Kirkus

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, How I wonder what you are? We all wonder what it is to be a star. But can you imagine being a superstar, someone who is all-powerful, loved, and revered? Now can you imagine what happens when they get kidnapped? King of Bollywood takes you through the happenings around the kidnapping of Kumar Omkar Bharadwaj, India's most revered superstar. The reactions of his fans and the media circus that ensues... The journey of the hysteria that follows the kidnapping and the police investigation of this incident... Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, let me tell you what you are...

I invite you to come with me on a journey of love and discovery. When life dealt me a crushing blow, I fell into a very dark place. The auto accident taking the life of my 23 year old daughter cut me to my core. Somehow, I believe by Divine Providence, I blindly found my way to a TedTalk where I discovered the harbinger of love known as Shah Rukh Khan. He is a world renowned mega star of Indian films from Bollywood, known and loved by billions the world over. I sat before the tv screen, my broken, bleeding heart torn asunder and met this man whose every word exuded love, humility, wisdom and joy. My heart began to heal. Since that day, I've devoured the films he's made, interviews he's given, and articles he has written. I have taken away another modicum This collection of poems I have penned is a reflection of what I and millions of others feel for Shah Rukh Khan, both the actor and the man. I hope to have captured a fraction of what lies within this amazing person's own heart, as well as the love and devotion with which all of his fans adore him. Tania Ioannou

In this pathbreaking work, Shrayana Bhattacharya maps the economic and personal trajectories--the jobs, desires, prayers, love affairs and rivalries--of a diverse group of women. Divided by class but united in fandom, they remain steadfast in their search for intimacy, independence and fun. Embracing Hindi film idol Shah Rukh Khan allows them a small respite from an oppressive culture, a fillip to their fantasies of a friendlier masculinity in Indian men. Most struggle to find the freedom-or income-to follow their favourite actor. Bobbing along in this stream of multiple lives for more than a decade-from Manju's boredom in 'rurban' Rampur and Gold's anger at having to compete with Western women for male attention in Delhi's nightclubs, to Zahira's break from domestic abuse in Ahmedabad-Bhattacharya gleans the details on what Indian women think about men, money, movies, beauty, helplessness, agency and love. A most unusual and compelling book on the female gaze, this is the story of how women have experienced post-liberalization India.

Collection of 30 essays from directors who worked closely with Shah Rukh Khan; includes hand-painted film posters.

Dear Mister Bollywood is a letter to the most famous man in India, Shah Rukh Khan. This letter spins off into Rinas life story of her struggle to survive and her hunger to succeed, but not at any price. Rina is set to make it big her way, without compromising on her principles. She wont sell her soul. She meets adversities and defeat. She is on quest for success, a journey that she has taken to find her destiny in life and make something of herself. This journey brings her to an encounter with her beloved hero Shah Rukh Khan and then to life in Mumbai where she tries to make it big it in Bollywood. Although she fails, she still loves India, Bollywood, and Shah Rukh Khan, but she also realizes that she is actually on a journey to learn to love herself. This book is meant to inspire people to live with passion, pursue their dreams, and never give up on innocence, truth, and justice.

Take the trip of a lifetime into the past and present of Bollywood Fascinated by the high energy, high emotion, high color, endless dance routines, and sheer scale of Bollywood—but afraid you'll never really know your Ghazals from your Qawwalis, or your Khans from your Kapoors? Well, in the immortal line from the Hindi-language blockbuster Sultan, "No one can defeat you unless you accept defeat yourself," and there's no need to be defeated at all when you can sit back with Bollywood For Dummies and immerse yourself in the glamorous whirl of one of the most exciting movie industries on Earth. Starting with the time-travel adventure of the book’s main feature—the history of the Hindi-speaking industry from people and events of early to mid 20th century Mumbai—you'll also journey in space, taking fascinating documentary side trips to get to know Tollywood’s Telegu-language cinema in southern India, as well as the growing influence of Lollywood across the border in Pakistan. Written by the cohosts of Desi Standard Time, a podcast that explores Bollywood and South Asian movies and media, you'll see how the unique cinema culture of Bollywood in particular has become a global phenomenon, reflecting the rise of India as an independent nation and presenting its long history—and it’s exciting and multifaceted present—in new, influential, and enduring forms. Whatever you paid the price of entry for: the popular Bollywood "Masala" movie style that emphasizes music, comedy, romance, and action; sensitive critiques of a fast-changing society by the Indian Social Realism movement; new forms of music from Indian disco to Sufi boogie; or a look at the lives and talents of the great acting dynasties—it's all here. And there'll still be plenty more plot twists beyond these to surprise and delight you. Get to know the people who built Bollywood Discover the main music and dance styles Explore and recognize Bollywood’s influence on Western cinema Go social and join up with the liveliest Bollywood fan communities You're right to be excited: for newbies a whole new world awaits, and for aficionados, there's always so much more to know. So, sit back with this book, grab some popcorn or a plate of samosas—or why not both—and prepare to begin an electric feast to sizzle all your senses.

"Justine Hardy follows the meteoric rise of Hollywood's new mega-star Hrithik Roshan" -- Back cover.

For more than a hundred years now, Indians have watched movies made in the subcontinent, sung the songs and gossiped about the stars. Bollywood has been a pion, a popular tradition and a shared national conversation. In recent decades, as India has experienced economic and social change, both the film industry and the entertainment it produces have transformed themselves as well. First Day First Show is Anupama Chopra's guide to this dazzling world of lights, cameras and stars but also to its shadowing darkness. She takes us into the lives of the stars and into the struggles of those who never make it to centre stage; she lets us participate in the making of legendary hits like Sholay and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and also the hard-won successes of independent film-makers; she shows us the glamour as well as the murky links with the underworld. There is also the odd story of the royal bodyguard of Bhutan who became a scriptwriter; of the embarred Pakistani soldiers at Wagah border who did not allow their favourite Indian superstars to shoot.

A lively, inside look at how Bollywood, Turkish soap operas, and K-Pop are challenging America's cultural dominance around the world.