Movies and Shows

Hooked on The Ba***ds of Bollywood? Watch These Films About the Dark Side of Showbiz

Did you like 'The Ba***ds of Bollywood'? Peek behind the glittering curtains of Indian cinema. These gripping films reveal the ambition, politics and heartbreak that hide beneath Bollywood’s bright lights.

By : Divya Shah

Luck By Chance (2009)

A sharp, witty look at how ambition and networking drive Bollywood. It peels back the sparkle to show how favours, gatekeeping and opportunism decide who makes it big.

Fashion (2008)

Set in the modelling world but clearly echoing the film industry’s highs and lows. From substance abuse to the price of fame, it lays bare the toll of chasing stardom.

Heroine (2012)

A companion piece to Fashion, this follows a superstar’s breakdown amid cut-throat competition, manipulative publicity and fickle relationships.

Page 3 (2005)

An insider’s view of Page-3 parties and the PR machinery that manufactures celebrity. It shows how gossip columns feed and exploit fame.

The Dirty Picture (2011

Loosely based on Silk Smitha’s life, it captures the way the industry sexualises and discards women while profiting from their image.

Bollywood Calling (2001)

A satirical peek at how international filmmakers and local producers clash, exposing the chaos and compromises behind the glamour.

Om Shanti Om (2007)

Beneath the reincarnation fantasy is a cheeky send-up of industry politics, from shady producers to how rumours and rivalries shape careers.

Bombay Talkies (2013)

This anthology celebrates 100 years of Indian cinema but also questions its heart. From Karan Johar’s story on hidden identities to Dibakar Banerjee’s tale of a failed actor, it reflects both the magic and the bruises of showbiz.

Rangeela (1995)

A ’90s classic that doubles as commentary on the tension between old-school film families and aspiring outsiders trying to break through.

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