Bhaag Viru Bhaag
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- Aug 20, 2013
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Happens consistently in few decades- Bobby in 70s, Lovestory in 80s, Aashiqui 90, Kaho na Pyaar hai 2000 and now Saiyaara lolHow such 90s style Romance movies are still getting box office hit? What is wrong with our subcontinental appetite for entertainment?
It is not even the Walmart of film industry. its more like TEMU or SHEIN.Bollywood films have come in for much criticism on here, many Pakistanis deriding the industry as Bollycrap, or other derogatory terms...and I admit I have done my share as well. But in my defence, I am going to offer an explanation: I don't connect with Bollywood films having been born and bred in England. Hence all the drama and dancing seems foreign to me. We Brits don't like cheesy nonsense and gaudy colours.
But I can contend that it is not the foreigners job to stick up for the Indian film industry, that should be done by Indians themselves, and only one member ever really did that here, the "it's getting better" king, IgnitedMind himself ( or herself, not really sure).
So the question is: Is Bollywood really a terrible film industry, or is it we westerners simply don't understand it's nuances and in fact it it is only those who live on another spiritual and emotional level who can access the fruits on the higher branches?
Discuss.
P.S. I am not looking for accolades or POTW nominations, this is a serious subject which deserves some thought.
Bollywood has always been fake and an escape for ordinary Indians.Bollywood films have come in for much criticism on here, many Pakistanis deriding the industry as Bollycrap, or other derogatory terms...and I admit I have done my share as well. But in my defence, I am going to offer an explanation: I don't connect with Bollywood films having been born and bred in England. Hence all the drama and dancing seems foreign to me. We Brits don't like cheesy nonsense and gaudy colours.
But I can contend that it is not the foreigners job to stick up for the Indian film industry, that should be done by Indians themselves, and only one member ever really did that here, the "it's getting better" king, IgnitedMind himself ( or herself, not really sure).
So the question is: Is Bollywood really a terrible film industry, or is it we westerners simply don't understand it's nuances and in fact it it is only those who live on another spiritual and emotional level who can access the fruits on the higher branches?
Discuss.
P.S. I am not looking for accolades or POTW nominations, this is a serious subject which deserves some thought.
This is how women everyone in America lookBollywood has always been fake and an escape for ordinary Indians.
Since the beginning of Bollywood, ordinary Indians:
Its "Indian Fantasy".
- Don't look anything like Bollywood
- Don't speak anything like Bollywood
This is a typical Pushtun woman in skin tone, hair, body, limbs and measurements, ordinary Indians don't look anything like this and this is the height of "Bollywood" beauty and the benchmark from the beginning.
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Bollywood has always been fake and an escape for ordinary Indians.
Since the beginning of Bollywood, ordinary Indians:
Its "Indian Fantasy".
- Don't look anything like Bollywood
- Don't speak anything like Bollywood
This is a typical Pushtun woman in skin tone, hair, body, limbs and measurements, ordinary Indians don't look anything like this and this is the height of "Bollywood" beauty and the benchmark from the beginning.
![]()
Marilyn Monroe was not a natural Blond and even if she was, it is common across US, look at her eyebrows in the same picture!This is how women everyone in America look
What do you mean when you say "ordinary Indians don't look like this" ? Are you saying there has not been any Indian woman that's more beautiful than Madhubala ?
What do you mean when you say "ordinary Indians don't look like this" ? Are you saying there has not been any Indian woman that's more beautiful than Madhubala ?
Because south Indians have their own film industry, RRR a telugu film even has an oscar.I think what he's saying is that Indians think fair skinned men and women are more beautiful and that's why they are overrepresented in Bollywood. This is also true in Pakistan media by the way although Pakistan does have more regions where you would find people that look like that. Loads of south Indians coming into the UK over the last couple of decades and they are pretty distinctive, but they don't seem well represented in Bollywood.
I think what he's saying is that Indians think fair skinned men and women are more beautiful and that's why they are overrepresented in Bollywood. This is also true in Pakistan media by the way although Pakistan does have more regions where you would find people that look like that. Loads of south Indians coming into the UK over the last couple of decades and they are pretty distinctive, but they don't seem well represented in Bollywood.
Because south Indians have their own film industry, RRR a telugu film even has an oscar.
Second , south Indian women: Hema Malini, Sridevi, Rekha, Waheeda Rehman, Vijayanthimala, Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone aren’t well represented in bollywood?
It’s a film industry for entertainment, I hope you know hollywood is fake too Terminator, Avatar, Interstellar… not all women don’t look like Meryl Streep or Marlyn Manroe here..Kind of what I am saying and on that front... I don't mean that fair skinned people are more beautiful which is absolutely not true either.
I am then going beyond that and saying that even the body type of a typical Pushtun/Afghan woman is not the same as Indian women who are generally slimmer and petite.
The body structure, bone density etc of a typical Indian man is not the same as an Pushtun man either, nothing to do with skin tone. Afghans are average/medium height and many particularly Uzbek/Hazara and Tajik are shorter then Pushtun, Mullah Omar was exceptionally tall because he was from Kandhahar and Kandaharis are on avergae taller but 6'6" is exceptionally tall even for them!
I put this picture up on purpose and it is not just skin tone. In movies, look at her limbs and body and it is not a typical Indian woman.
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This is a typical Pushtun woman and not a typical Indian woman and that is the FAKENESS which Bollywood peddles
Nothing to discuss beauty standards or skin tone etc.
The fake narrative which Bollywood has been peddling for decades.
Not an expert so no idea.
All I know is that just about everything about Bollywood is fake
It’s a film industry for entertainment, I hope you know hollywood is fake too Terminator, Avatar, Interstellar… not all women don’t look like Meryl Streep or Marlyn Manroe here..
Bollywood has always been fake and an escape for ordinary Indians.
Since the beginning of Bollywood, ordinary Indians:
Its "Indian Fantasy".
- Don't look anything like Bollywood
- Don't speak anything like Bollywood
This is a typical Pushtun woman in skin tone, hair, body, limbs and measurements, ordinary Indians don't look anything like this and this is the height of "Bollywood" beauty and the benchmark from the beginning.
![]()
Yes like Hollywood.. or even reels nowadaysDidn't I say that in the first post?
Bollywood has women from Bengal, South India, North India and also West, not sure what about representation is an issue here..
Google search helps everyone,
Bollywood’s issue is story telling, the story tellers aren’t good anymore .. but being fake is definitely a thing associated with movie industry..
Yes like Hollywood.. or even reels nowadays
Are you saying Hollywood doesn’t copy or take stuff from others?Hollywood doesn't steal National Anthem of another country without Credit
I understand that due to Indian Nationalism you will defend everything right or wrong associated with your country relentlessly no matter how much evidence is provided so that's fine.
Because south Indians have their own film industry, RRR a telugu film even has an oscar.
Second , south Indian women: Hema Malini, Sridevi, Rekha, Waheeda Rehman, Vijayanthimala, Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone aren’t well represented in bollywood?
Bollywood has always been fake and an escape for ordinary Indians.
Are you saying Hollywood doesn’t copy or take stuff from others?
You have gone from saying its fake to it copying /stealing..
Here Yes Bollywood copies, is it only a copycat ofcourse not, can it be better yes, but being fake is how movies are told.
Akira Kurosawa is a legendary folm maker probably better than 99% Indian directors, his movies’ spray of blood in samurai fight is fake..
Hollywood doesn't steal National Anthem of another country without Credit
I understand that due to Indian Nationalism you will defend everything right or wrong associated with your country relentlessly no matter how much evidence is provided so that's fine.
Yeah like Meryl Streep, Marlyn Monroe.. list goes on for every industry..Well how many of those could you look at and say "Yes for sure, those girls are definitely from South India". The ones who are picked for Bollywood stardom don't exactly look representative.
Yes like Hollywood.. or even reels nowadays
@JaDed will keep going on without reading, without comprehension because he believes critique of Bollywood is an attack on India.Hollywood has it's own hang ups. The big heroes tend to be of European ancestry, blacks are breaking through, but tend to be specialised roles. Romantic roles are still generally segregated for the ethnic male stars.
If you go into Rural areas you will be surprised to think what a common American thinks of Rambo.@JaDed will keep going on without reading, without comprehension because he believes critique of Bollywood is an attack on India.
For example, The Man in the High Castle is not portrayed as "actual history" by Hollywood, it is marketed and labelled as dystopian history. When Hollywood crosses the line and they do there is an uproar and discussions.
- Hollywood DOES NOT steal copyrighted material without credit
- Hollywood DOES NOT completely inverse history unless it is stated and projected as "fantasy" and fiction"
- It also distinguishes between "Documentary" and "DocuDrama"
Bollywood is FAKE GALORE and deliberately blurs the line without making that distinction and keeps on peddling falsehood from actors to stories to songs and keeping on passing false narratives.
Bollywood stole the National Anthem of Israel and copied it into a song! I mean, what else???
I think @JaDed is right that it is entertainment of course it is but the issue is when a vast majority of Indians take it as truth!
A common American knows that a single Rambo cannot be dropped into Afghanistan or Thailand and fight and kill hundreds and come out alive! Does a common Indian knows that a single RAW agent cannot be dropped into Pakistan kill hundreds and come back alive?
Every nation takes pride in its fighters but Bollywood is next level!
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Marilyn Monroe was not a natural Blond and even if she was, it is common across US, look at her eyebrows in the same picture!
No, because there is no universal definition of beauty.
What I am saying is "Bollywood is fake" and it has a laser focus on certain traits which are not commonly found in Indians.
The physical characteristics of Madhubala are not common in Indian women, it doesn't mean that Indian women are not beautiful...in general Indian women are a lot slimmer and petite then Pushtun women, the skin tone and hair are also different etc.. The frame of a typical Indian (man or woman) is different to a Pushtun or Afghan (Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek etc) as it is to someone from North Punjab (typically taller)
So in my opinion, Bollywood is an escapist fantasy and it presents those outside of India and always has.
Revisionist history, fake people, fake lifestyle, fake narratives, copied plots and songs = Bollywood.

Well how many of those could you look at and say "Yes for sure, those girls are definitely from South India". The ones who are picked for Bollywood stardom don't exactly look representative.
Thats not true at all ... here is a 57 year old Madhuri Dixit a proper Mahrashtrian Brahmin at age 57 ( so almost twice the age of Madhubala in that photo you posted ).
She has very similar physical characteristics to Madhubala. Let me know what do you find to be "Fake" about Madhuri Dixit.
View attachment 157529
Looks like Madhuri Dixit has got a lot of work done, plastic surgeons have ruined her.
That beautiful face of yesteryear has vanished.![]()
She did cosmetic surgery now.. not back then..Highly unlikely ... considering that her career was practically over some 20+ yrs ago when Plastic surgery was unheard of. She has no reason to undergo any plastic surgery. What you are seeing is natural signs of ageing and being a mother of two children. She looks stunning for her age.
She did cosmetic surgery now.. not back then..
Highly unlikely ... considering that her career was practically over some 20+ yrs ago when Plastic surgery was unheard of. She has no reason to undergo any plastic surgery. What you are seeing is natural signs of ageing and being a mother of two children. She looks stunning for her age.
It’s probably a cosmetic thing done across the world, Madhuri isn’t immune to pressure of ageing.just curious how do you know that ? ... and if true what is the point when it wont get her back as a top tier actress.
You are not a good judge of face pics.
Any doctor who sees that image will immediately know she has had work done, especially a lot of botox/filler injections to her cheek.
and which film industry in the world picks random people from the street and casts them as-is without makeup and props ?
I'm assuming you are deliberately missing the point and deflecting because the truth of what I said hit home hard. We are not talking about make up or Hollywood ignoring uglies. All film industries pick beautiful people. But at least Hollywood picks the beautiful people from across the European-stock spectrum. Bollywood seems to ignore regional racial differences and pick actors/actresses who look they come from the north. To put it bluntly, you don't see smaller stature heroes with darker skin so often. There has been a couple of darker skin female leads for which credit should be given, but even they are generally taller than average. Hollywood has many diminutive stars both female and male down the years.
I'm assuming you are deliberately missing the point and deflecting because the truth of what I said hit home hard. We are not talking about make up or Hollywood ignoring uglies. All film industries pick beautiful people. But at least Hollywood picks the beautiful people from across the European-stock spectrum. Bollywood seems to ignore regional racial differences and pick actors/actresses who look they come from the north. To put it bluntly, you don't see smaller stature heroes with darker skin so often. There has been a couple of darker skin female leads for which credit should be given, but even they are generally taller than average. Hollywood has many diminutive stars both female and male down the years.
So you agree that by-and-large the European looking stars are considered beautiful then ? How is that "representative" of the entire USA where ~ 40% of the population is non-White ?
How do you expect me to answer that? I am not American so I can't speak for the people that represent the population there.
So why did you ask me such a dumb question then.
When was the last time he didn't miss the point deliberately?I'm assuming you are deliberately missing the point and deflecting because the truth of what I said hit home hard. We are not talking about make up or Hollywood ignoring uglies. All film industries pick beautiful people. But at least Hollywood picks the beautiful people from across the European-stock spectrum. Bollywood seems to ignore regional racial differences and pick actors/actresses who look they come from the north. To put it bluntly, you don't see smaller stature heroes with darker skin so often. There has been a couple of darker skin female leads for which credit should be given, but even they are generally taller than average. Hollywood has many diminutive stars both female and male down the years.

Clearing it again for you: Bollywood is Bombay Hindi industry it represents Hindi cinema which is mostly a North Indian industryI'm assuming you are deliberately missing the point and deflecting because the truth of what I said hit home hard. We are not talking about make up or Hollywood ignoring uglies. All film industries pick beautiful people. But at least Hollywood picks the beautiful people from across the European-stock spectrum. Bollywood seems to ignore regional racial differences and pick actors/actresses who look they come from the north. To put it bluntly, you don't see smaller stature heroes with darker skin so often. There has been a couple of darker skin female leads for which credit should be given, but even they are generally taller than average. Hollywood has many diminutive stars both female and male down the years.
Because you made a dumb assertion that Hollywood is "representative" by picking across the European stock when the reality is that a whopping 40% of USA is Non-White.
Clearing it again for you: Bollywood is Bombay Hindi industry it represents Hindi cinema which is mostly a North Indian industry
South Indians have their own movies industry which are even bigger than any other industry and gives competition to Bollywood as well, they pick women from their region and outside.
Madhuri and Sri Devi are Indian ethnic women from West and South India , but Sri Devi always had to play North Indian roles in Bollywood.
Not sure where the confusion is?
Lol RRR has an oscar and golden globe , success that no bollywood movie has until now(Russo brothers reviewed it), it doesn't matter what outsiders think it represents Hindi cinema, not entire Indian cinema.Bollywood is well known outside of India, this is what the rest of the world assumes represents Indian cinema. South Indian movies are probably for home consumption only, they are not usually recognised outside of India. So when we talk about Bollywood I don't think anyone expects to be discussing Indian regional cinema.
America is 40% non-white Europeans they aren’t represented in Hollywood on regular basis esp for big projects.I'm talking about the Hollywood which people actually watch, not sure which Hollywood you are talking about where the 40% non-whites are represented.
America is 40% non-white Europeans they aren’t represented in Hollywood on regular basis esp for big projects.
Bollywood is an Indian film industry totally locally based.
Yeah for same reason South Indians have never been associated with bollywood, it has been Marathis Bengalis Punjabis UP .I am not disagreeing with you, I made the same point in post #98.
But that is because Europeans dominated USA for 200 years, and they came from outside. Bollywood is an Indian film industry totally locally based.
Bollywood is not pan-indian .. tis actually a punjabi dominated industry and always has been.
Yes, and this is the Indian film industry that most outsiders recognise.
So ? I don't see the point. Kudos to punjabi film industry for catching the eye of 'outsiders', whoever that is.
Your deep admiration for bollywood has been noted.
If I had any admiration for Bollywood I would have no problem in saying it. I used to like it when I was a kid, I am a Punjabi myself so was like seeing family representation. I think it was more suitable for kids back then, I haven't watched any in a long time now, maybe it has grown up.
I'm talking about the Hollywood which people actually watch, not sure which Hollywood you are talking about where the 40% non-whites are represented.
The purpose of movies is to escape from reality. It’s 2.5 hrs of forgetting your personal problems and get engrossed in the movie even if the plot looks like a joke.Bollywood has always been fake and an escape for ordinary Indians.
Since the beginning of Bollywood, ordinary Indians:
Its "Indian Fantasy".
- Don't look anything like Bollywood
- Don't speak anything like Bollywood
This is a typical Pushtun woman in skin tone, hair, body, limbs and measurements, ordinary Indians don't look anything like this and this is the height of "Bollywood" beauty and the benchmark from the beginning.
![]()
Where did I even claim that !!! Reading comprehension issues much or you are falling back to your tried-and-tested methods of digressing, diversion, confusion and gymnastics to save face ?
Go read my responses to you in this thread again ... this time slowly.
I read some of the posts from usual suspects. They are bitter that Bollywood has some Pashtun actors and actresses who achieved stardom.
I have seen some clips from Lollywood on social media. They all looked like c-grade Bollywood movies from 70’s. May be these usual suspects should worry about their own film industry and leave Bollywood alone if they do not like it.
I most certainly did as have others ... just that it did not end well for you as your flimsy knowledge about the topic got laid threadbare in a matter of 2-3 posts and as sure as the event of darkness following sunset you got all bent-out of shape when you couldnt handle the rude facts.
ignore you ?? ... naah whats the fun in that ... mucho fun to rag-doll you and the other usual green lot in your own backyard to expose your blatant green tinge and bigotry and watch you guys squirm in impotent rage when you invariably get caught pants down peddling the most idiotic theories, conspiracies and what have you. Majorily fun and eye-opening to the silent viewers.
For people who knows little about India, forming prejudices is fine. Bollywood represents only the Hindi film Industry and has major representation across may be 5+ states - Maharashtra, UP, Punjab etc. Other regions have their own regional Film industries. So, the representation of broad spectrum is limited in Bollywood, let alone the cast even the story lines have limiter appeal. That is the reason why Bollywood revenues are little compared to China movie when population is similar.Bollywood seems to ignore regional racial differences and pick actors/actresses who look they come from the north.
I am not sure about Pakistan’s film industry but Indian film industry is very professional now. Copy rights issue is pretty serious that can half a movie release.ithout comprehension because he believes critique of Bollywood is an attack on India.
- Hollywood DOES NOT steal copyrighted material without credit
- Hollywood DOES NOT completely inverse history unless it is stated and projected as "fantasy" and fiction"
- It also distinguishes between "Documentary" and "DocuDrama"
I am not sure about Pakistan’s film industry but Indian film industry is very professional now. Copy rights issue is pretty serious that can halt a movie release.ithout comprehension because he believes critique of Bollywood is an attack on India.
- Hollywood DOES NOT steal copyrighted material without credit
- Hollywood DOES NOT completely inverse history unless it is stated and projected as "fantasy" and fiction"
- It also distinguishes between "Documentary" and "DocuDrama"
I always have this doubt. Few Islamic preachers claim Movies and music are haram. Yet, Pakistan still has a film industry. Its like people are neither here nor there. Religious scholars want complete ban but people cannot stop it. Whats this suffering in between?Lollywood is an embarrassment. No Pakistani pretends otherwise so this is just defensive whataboutism with no basis. You must really love Bollywood I am guessing. That's fine, no one is going to label you a lunati
I always have this doubt. Few Islamic preachers claim Movies and music are haram. Yet, Pakistan still has a film industry. Its like people are neither here nor there. Religious scholars want complete ban but people cannot stop it.
Yes because music plays with emotion and can cause many negative effects in people. It has even created whole sub-cultures such as emo where kids were cutting their wrists. Music is not harmless to society.Music with instruments is prohibited in Islam. That is what their scholars say. However pakistanis prefer to look the other way and love bollywood music and western music. #corrupted
You will have to read some of the posts in this thread then. Very salty and bitter.Why would Pakistanis be bitter about Pashtun actors achieving stardom? They are the only reason most Pakistanis watch Bollywood in the first place.
Lollywood is an embarrassment. No Pakistani pretends otherwise so this is just defensive whataboutism with no basis. You must really love Bollywood I am guessing. That's fine, no one is going to label you a lunatic for it.
Maybe you can quote one then because I haven't seen any, but admittedly I come back to these threads after a long absence and maybe I missed them.You will have to read some of the posts in this thread then. Very salty and bitter.
Not quoting and taking out anyone's name. But saying Indians do not look anything like some Pashtun actors, but they still have them on their screens.... He sounds bitter about what Indian audience want to see on the screen.Maybe you can quote one then because I haven't seen any, but admittedly I come back to these threads after a long absence and maybe I missed them.
This Satish Shah was anti Muslim, anti Pakistan bigot. Good riddance.Veteran actor Satish Shah, best known for ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’, dies at 74 in Mumbai
Ramesh Kadatala, who has been the actor’s personal assistant for over 30 years, said he passed away at his residence in Bandra east
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Veteran Bollywood actor Satish Shah, known for his performances in films like “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro”, “Main Hoon Na” and hit TV show “Sarabhai vs Sarabhai”, died on Saturday (October 25, 2025), his manager said. He was 74.
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Veteran actor Satish Shah, best known for ‘Sarabhai vs Sarabhai’, dies at 74 in Mumbai
Veteran actor Satish Shah, famed for 'Sarabhai vs Sarabhai', passes away at 74 in Mumbai due to a suspected heart attack.www.thehindu.com