Deepa Mehta

Filmmaker Onir's latest work, 'We Are Faheem and Karun', explores LGBTQ+ themes with a narrative centered around the romance between a security officer and a Kashmiri man. Premiering at DIFF, the film addresses the underrepresentation of queer stories in mainstream cinema and emphasizes authentic representation with local talent.

Bapsi Sidhwa, an acclaimed author specializing in cultural and partition literature, passed away at 86. Her impactful works like 'Cracking India' and collaborations with filmmaker Deepa Mehta highlighted South Asian experiences. She was honored with numerous accolades, including Pakistan's Sitara-i-Imtiaz, and leaves behind a significant literary legacy acknowledged global-wide.

Shabana Azmi opens up on being awkward during the love-making scenes with Nandita Das in Deepa Mehta's 'Fire'. She recalls how Mehta scolded them when they were rehearsing for a scene because it just did not look romantic!

Shabana Azmi opens up on how Javed Akhtar hilariously told her to remove her make-up to play a witch in 'Makdee, recalls how they are each other's biggest critics and supporters!

Onir's latest film, 'We Are Faheem & Karun,' is set to premiere at the Dharamshala International Film Festival. The film, starring Tawseef Mir and Akash Menon, tells a poignant love story between a Kashmiri student and a Keralan security guard against the backdrop of political turmoil.

Shabana Azmi has secured a significant space in the Indian film industry over the years with her talent and dedication to the art. As an actress who has won five National Film Awards for Best Actress, her movie choices also stand out as unique. One such project was Deepa Mehta’s 'Fire' in 1996, which explored homosexuality.

Filmmaker Deepa Mehta has joined hands with acclaimed director Onir for his upcoming feature film, 'We Are Faheem & Karun,' a heartfelt queer love story set against the breathtaking yet turbulent landscape of Gurez, Kashmir. This new project promises to explore themes of love, identity, and resilience within the unique socio-political context of Kashmir.

The 19th Tasveer Film Festival & Market is scheduled from October 15 to 20 in Seattle. This edition marks the launch of the Tasveer Film Market, North America's first global film market for South Asian filmmakers. Key events include co-production markets and industry panels. Filmmaker Deepa Mehta will give the inaugural keynote speech.

Javed Akhtar discussed his collaboration with AR Rahman and his initial doubts about Rahman writing the song ‘Ishwar Allah’ from the movie 1947 Earth.

Deepa Mehta's 'Fire' sparked LGBTQ+ dialogue at Kashish Pride Film Festival. Nandita Das discussed her acting debut and the importance of advocacy in LGBTQ+ issues.

Transnational arts collective led by Myna Mukherjee hosted an exclusive screening of I AM SIRAT, a documentary by filmmaker Deepa Mehta at India International Centre in Delhi capturing the journey of transgender woman Sirat and her gender reassignment surgery.

Celebrating 50 years in cinema, Shabana Azmi reflects on her career from 'Ankur' debut to recent ventures like 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.' Her global recognition includes the London Freedom to City award and the New York Indian Film Festival's feature of 'Fire.' She notes industry changes and reunites with Zeenat Aman for 'Bun Tikki.'

KASHISH Pride Film Festival's 15th edition includes Deepa Mehta's documentary 'I am Sirat'. Mehta and Nandita Das will discuss LGBTQ+ themes from 'Fire' to 'I am Sirat', exploring self-determination and LGBTQ+ representation in cinema.

Beyond Damsels: From Deepa Mehta's Fire (1996) to Alankrita Shrivastava’s Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016), Bollywood's portrayal of female desire on-screen

Actor Anupam Kher celebrates his birthday today, and among the numerous well-wishes, a special message from his close friend Anil Kapoor stands out. Sharing heartfelt sentiments on Instagram, Kapoor praised Kher's journey into directing after 22 years, expressing confidence in his upcoming film, 'Tanvi The Great', and lauding his talent and vision. Kher, known for his versatility spanning nearly four decades in Indian cinema and beyond, announced his directorial venture 'Tanvi The Great' on his birthday, a project he has been nurturing for three years. In addition to this, Kher is set to star in 'Vijay 69', a YRF Entertainment production directed by Akshay Roy. The film portrays the life of a sexagenarian man competing in a triathlon contest. With projects like 'Emergency' and 'Signature' also in the pipeline, Kher continues to captivate audiences with his diverse roles and unwavering passion for storytelling.

Freida Pinto talked about her future projects and said that she doesn't want to confine herself to Hollywood.

Water is arguably the most difficult film of Indian origin to have ever been shot. Deepa Mehta began shooting it in 2000 in Varanasi with Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das and Akshay Kumar playing the three main leads.

Here’s what we know…

Many actors have worn the dhoti to pinnacles of success in the 1950s and 60s. To cite some striking examples: Balraj Sahni in Do Bigha Zameen, Dilip Kumar in Devdas, Dharmendra in Devar and Rajesh Khanna in Amar Prem.