Ep 287: Kantara Chapter 1 & Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari — Jungle Violence, Dharma Logic & 2000s Rom-Com Vibes

Amrita’s viral tweet about the so-called “AI Film Festival” sparks a fiery Khandaan debate on art, authenticity, and the future of cinema. From lazy prompts to lost funding, Asim, Amrita, and Sujoy unpack what this says about India’s creative ecosystem — and why real filmmaking still matters. 00:00 – Intro & Catch-UpAsim, Amrita, and Sujoy kick off with some friendly chaos, listener hellos, and updates on their YouTube adventures. 01:10 – Listener Comments & Homebound Follow-UpReading your reactions to Homebound and the eternal art-vs-commerce battle in Indian cinema.👉 Key theme: why independent films struggle even with more screens. 05:10 – The AI Film Festival MeltdownAmrita’s viral tweet meets Gen-Z film “democracy.” The trio break down the bizarre online saga of kids running an “AI Film Festival” — prompts, plagiarism, and pure delusion.🔥 Highlight: Amrita’s tweet goes viral; Sujoy’s “AI art can get f***ed” rant. 13:20 – Are We Losing Cinema to Tech?Is AI creativity or theft? Asim plays the optimist while Sujoy loses it. A heated yet hilarious take on authenticity, labour, and the myth of “democratised art.” 14:50 – Listener Mailbag: Languages, Culture & IdentityPatreon listener questions lead to a multilingual detour — Urdu regrets, Manipuri slang, and Amrita’s many accents.🎙️ Warm, nostalgic, and surprisingly deep. 26:00 – The Three Khans & The Arrogance DebateFrom Salman’s disinterest to Aamir’s therapy era and Shah Rukh’s grace — Khandaan debates humility, ego, and survival in 2025 Bollywood. 36:00 – Too Much with Kajol & Twinkle (Govinda & Chunky!)The most deranged TV show on Prime? The team dissects Too Much and the wasted potential of having Govinda and Chunky Pandey together.😂 Includes Kajol’s perfect timing and Twinkle’s chaos energy. 43:20 – Pakistan Idol & The Power of Real TalentAsim and Sujoy celebrate Pakistan Idol’s stunning comeback — Rahat, Fawad, and raw voices that make India’s reality TV look overproduced.💡 Must-watch performances mentioned: Saeed Ahmed Hassan, Lashari Waves. 48:30 – Nilofer Teaser Reaction (Fawad x Mahira)Khandaan swoons over Nilofer’s teaser — a gorgeous reunion for Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan. Asim’s rooting for a UK release. 50:25 – Wrap-Up & Patreon ShoutoutsWhere to find the hosts, join the Patreon, and check out Khandaan merch. Hoodie weather, baby. #Bollywood #BollywoodPodcast #AIFilmFestival #IndianCinema #BollywoodDebate #PopCultureIndia #FilmDiscussion #ArtificialIntelligence #CreativeFuture #KhandaanPodcast #HindiCinema #BollywoodNews

In Episode 287, Asim, Amrita, and Sujoy dive into two very different cinematic worlds — the mythic mayhem of Kantara Chapter 1 and the glossy chaos of Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari. Sujoy kicks things off with his review of Kantara Chapter 1 — a prequel that expands the folklore of Rishab Shetty’s breakout hit. Expect talk of Mad Max set pieces, colonial undertones, and whether the film’s ambition pays off or just gets lost in the jungle fog. Then, the team dives deep into Dharma territory with Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari. What went wrong with this “Humptyverse” rom-com? From Jhanvi Kapoor’s dancing to Varun Dhawan’s “Salman energy,” influencer cameos, baffling product placements, and the mysterious economics of modern rom-coms — no one is safe. Also discussed: feminism that never makes it past the trailer, why nobody has chemistry with Jhanvi Kapoor, and how Bollywood somehow spent ₹180 crores on a movie set in one hotel. Show Notes: 🎥 Kantara Chapter 1 (dir. Rishab Shetty) – reviewed by Sujoy 💍 Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari (dir. Shashank Khaitan) – reviewed by all three hosts Themes: class & feminism in modern rom-coms, product placement overload, nostalgia for the 2000s 🪔 Next up: Patreon Listener’s Pick — Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani 💖 Join Our Patreon & Get Exclusive Perks! 💖 Love Bollywood? Support Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast on Patreon and unlock amazing benefits: 🎬 Early Access & Ad-Free Episodes – Be the first to hear our 80’s Dhamaka series without interruptions! 💃 A Bollywood-Loving Community – Connect with fellow fans who share your passion! 📺 Bonus & Video Content – Get exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, extended discussions, and more! 🗳️ Vote in Polls & Pick Movies – Help decide which films and shows we cover next! ✨ Join now and be part of the ultimate Bollywood experience! 🎧 Link in bio! 🌟 Support the Podcast: Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to leave us a review and a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more Bollywood fans and keeps us inspired to bring you the best content!   We are now on Blue Sky! Asim Sujoy Amrita Follow us on Socials: You can listen to Khandaan- A Bollywood Podcast episodes on the following apps:

🎥 Catch this episode first — now streaming on YouTube!Watch the full video version of this episode (with visuals, clips & chaos) on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@khandaanpodcastDon’t forget to subscribe and join the comment section — that’s where the real drama happens! 💬 Thank you to our Patreon members for making this video series possible!💥 Support and join our community here: patreon.com/khandaanpodcast ============================================ What are the five best Shahrukh Khan movies ever made?After years of reviewing Bollywood’s Badshah, the Khandaan Podcast has finally put together the ultimate SRK list — and it’s as controversial as it is definitive. In this episode, Asim, Amrita, and Sujoy revisit the films that made Shahrukh Khan the King of Bollywood — from iconic Yash Raj romances to overlooked gems. They also dig into the contradictions of his career: the mega-blockbusters, the flops that deserve a second look, and the films that live forever as memes. Whether you’re a die-hard SRK fan who grew up on Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge or a casual Bollywood watcher curious about what makes him the world’s most beloved movie star, this episode is your definitive guide to King Khan’s best work. 🎬 Chapters:0:00 – Precap0:18 – Intro2:25 – Number 54:32 – Number 47:40 – Number 310:52 – Number 213:50 – Honourable Mentions15:57 – Number 119:28 – Outro 🎧 Listen & Subscribe to Khandaan – A Bollywood Podcast everywhere you get your podcasts. 💬 Follow us: @khandaanpodcast🛍️ Merch: redbubble.com/people/khandaanpodcast 👥 Team Khandaan:Asim – @asimburneyAmrita – @amritaiqSujoy – @9e3k ❤️ Like, rate & share if you enjoy the show.📜 Copyright © khandaanpodcast.com

Want early access, hangouts, and bonus episodes like this one? Join our Patreon — it keeps Khandaan ad-free and helps us keep making the content you love. 👉 patreon.com/khandaanpodcast (Sujoy’s London eviction saga, Bollywood remakes that should exist but never will, a surprise Urdu rap track, and Amrita’s reading list.) This week on Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast, we cover two of the most talked-about new releases: ✨ Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound — a moving story of caste, religion, and survival during COVID. Sujoy calls it his favorite Hindi film of the year, and we discuss how it tackles Islamophobia, systemic discrimination, and friendship with empathy and tenderness. ✨ Amazon Prime’s Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle — featuring Salman Khan and Aamir Khan in a chaotic, unfiltered chat. We break down the dost-ki-biwi vibes, the awkward interviews, and why some moments worked while others crashed. Plus: Arshad Warsi erasure, Netflix aesthetics, nostalgia for the 90s, and why Homebound feels like one of the most urgent films of 2025. 💖 Join Our Patreon & Get Exclusive Perks! 💖 Love Bollywood? Support Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast on Patreon and unlock amazing benefits: 🎬 Early Access & Ad-Free Episodes – Be the first to hear our 80’s Dhamaka series without interruptions!💃 A Bollywood-Loving Community – Connect with fellow fans who share your passion!📺 Bonus & Video Content – Get exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, extended discussions, and more!🗳️ Vote in Polls & Pick Movies – Help decide which films and shows we cover next! ✨ Join now and be part of the ultimate Bollywood experience! 🎧 Link in bio! 🌟 Support the Podcast: Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to leave us a review and a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more Bollywood fans and keeps us inspired to bring you the best content!

This episode is part of our first in-studio recordings together in London — and while you’re hearing the audio here, the full video version is available on our YouTube channel. After nearly 300 episodes of dissecting Bollywood’s biggest stars, the Khandaan Podcast finally lays down the definitive Salman list — no discussions allowed! Asim, Amrita, and Sujoy debate, reminisce, and occasionally lose their minds as they revisit Salman’s most iconic performances. From forgotten gems like Jaan-E-Mann to cult comedies that live rent-free in our heads, and the emotional powerhouse of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, this countdown has it all. We’d love your support in growing the channel: please like, share, and subscribe if you enjoy what we’re doing!👉 Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGQ8AQPTGMQ&t=118s 💖 Join Our Patreon & Get Exclusive Perks! 💖 Love Bollywood? Support Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast on Patreon and unlock amazing benefits: 🎬 Early Access & Ad-Free Episodes – Be the first to hear our 80’s Dhamaka series without interruptions!💃 A Bollywood-Loving Community – Connect with fellow fans who share your passion!📺 Bonus & Video Content – Get exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, extended discussions, and more!🗳️ Vote in Polls & Pick Movies – Help decide which films and shows we cover next! ✨ Join now and be part of the ultimate Bollywood experience! 🎧 Link in bio! 🌟 Support the Podcast: Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to leave us a review and a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more Bollywood fans and keeps us inspired to bring you the best content!

Aryan Khan’s debut series The Bastards of Bollywood (aka The Bads of Bollywood) is finally here — but is it satire, chaos, or just one giant middle finger to the industry? In this spoiler-filled review, Asim, Amrita, and guest Suchin Mehrotra break down the cameos (Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Bobby Deol, Emraan Hashmi), the shocking finale twist, and why the show is blowing up online. ✨ Support us on Patreon for bonus episodes and behind-the-scenes discussions:👉 https://www.patreon.com/khandaanpodcast 📺 Follow more of Suchin’s work:YouTube: @suchinmehrotraYouTube: @HollywoodReporterIndia 🔗 Follow & Support Khandaan:Instagram: @khandaanpodcastTikTok: @khandaanpodcastTwitter: @khandaanpodcast 🛍️ Merch: https://www.redbubble.com/people/khandaan Team Khandaan:Asim – @asimburneyAmrita – @amritaiqSujoy – @9e3k

We’ve reached the end of our 80’s Dhamaka journey — and we’re closing it out with the ultimate classic: Mr India(1987). And while our 80’s Dhamaka series is wrapping up, we’ve got something new: our in-studio Khandaan Video Series is now live on YouTube!👉 Watch the first 2 episode here and subscribe: ⁠Khandaan on YouTube⁠ In this episode, we: Look back at the surprises and disappointments of the 80’s Dhamaka series — from unexpected gems like Chashme Buddoor to slogs like Kalia. Talk about how the decade wasn’t as “bad” as Bollywood history suggests, especially for women actors and character performers like Saeed Jaffrey. Debate whether the 80’s really belonged to Amitabh… or if it was secretly Anil Kapoor’s decade. Review Mr India in depth: from Amrish Puri’s legendary Mogambo to Sridevi’s iconic Charlie Chaplin routine and Anil Kapoor’s unsung brilliance. Discuss why Mr India’s emotional core — hungry children, found family, loss, and resilience — still works almost 40 years later. This episode is part nostalgia trip, part critical reflection, and 100% Khandaan. 💖 Join Our Patreon & Get Exclusive Perks! 💖 Love Bollywood? Support Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast on Patreon and unlock amazing benefits: 🎬 Early Access & Ad-Free Episodes – Be the first to hear our 80’s Dhamaka series without interruptions!💃 A Bollywood-Loving Community – Connect with fellow fans who share your passion!📺 Bonus & Video Content – Get exclusive behind-the-scenes clips, extended discussions, and more!🗳️ Vote in Polls & Pick Movies – Help decide which films and shows we cover next! ✨ Join now and be part of the ultimate Bollywood experience! 🎧 Link in bio! 🌟 Support the Podcast: Enjoyed this episode? Don’t forget to leave us a review and a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts. Your support helps us reach more Bollywood fans and keeps us inspired to bring you the best content!

This is a bonus audio version of our Youtube Spoiler Review of Param Sundari Follow, like and subscribe to ⁠our Youtube Channel ⁠for more videos from the Khandaan crew You can also support us and interact with us by joining our PATREON community on: https:///www.patreon.com/khandaanpodcast This week, the Khandaan Podcast takes on Param Sundari, a film that promised a breezy rom-com but left audiences scratching their heads. Starring Janhvi Kapoor as the titular Sundari and Sidharth Malhotra as the clueless “investor” Param, the movie combines poor writing, botched cultural representation, and inexplicable creative choices — like coconut tree confessions and Tamil Nadu boats showing up in Kerala. Amrita unpacks why the portrayal of Malayalis is not just lazy but offensively bad, pointing out how none of the cast seemed to have received even basic language coaching. Asim reads out savage Letterboxd reviews and admits the movie makes nobody look good — Punjabis, Malayalis, or otherwise. Yet both hosts find surprising moments of charm: Janhvi’s sweetness in songs, her occasional Sridevi-esque mannerisms, and Sidharth’s hotness (if not much else). They also debate the bigger picture: Bollywood’s ongoing struggle with authenticity, the lack of genuine rom-coms, and why films like this end up being more “streaming filler” than theatrical event. Still, in a world of War 2 and endless action clones, Asim controversially admits he’d rather watch Param Sundari again than some of Bollywood’s recent blockbusters. Funny, sharp, and slightly irreverent, this is Khandaan at its best — spending more time thinking about a film than its creators ever did. #ParamSundari #JanhviKapoor #SidharthMalhotra #BollywoodPodcast #BollywoodReview #BollywoodFans #KhandaanPodcast #HindiCinema #IndianCinema #BollywoodHotTake #BollywoodDiscussion Follow us on our socials:   / khandaanpodcast    / khandaanpodcast    / khandaanpodcast   Visit our merch store at REDBUBBLE: https://www.redbubble.com/people/khan... You can listen to Khandaan - A Bollywood Podcast on all podcast platforms: Team Khandaan Is: Asim:   / asimburney   Amrita:   / amritaiq   Sujoy:   / 9e3k

This is a bonus audio version of our Youtube Spoiler Free Review of Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra. Follow, like and subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more videos from the Khandaan crew Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast makes the case for why Lokah: Chapter One – Chandra is the female-led superhero movie Indian cinema desperately needed, produced by Dulquer Salmaan, is not just a fun superhero film but a landmark in Indian cinema. If you’ve been looking for the future of Indian superhero cinema, Loka is where you’ll find it. And yes, there are even post-credit scenes you won’t want to miss. #LokaMovie #ParamSundari #BollywoodPodcast #BollywoodReview #FemaleSuperhero #India #Cinema #MalayalamCinema #DulquerSalmaan #BollywoodFans #KhandaanPodcast #SouthAsianCinema #moviediscussion Follow us on our socials:   / khandaanpodcast    / khandaanpodcast    / khandaanpodcast   Visit our merch store at REDBUBBLE: https://www.redbubble.com/people/khan... You can listen to Khandaan - A Bollywood Podcast on all podcast platforms: Team Khandaan Is: Asim:   / asimburney   Amrita:   / amritaiq   Sujoy:   / 9e3k   Like, Subscribe, Share if you like our content. You can also support us and interact with us by joining our PATREON community on: https:///www.patreon.com/khandaanpodcast Copyright: https://www.khandaanpodcast.com

This week on Khandaan: A Bollywood Podcast, we’re tackling two of the most talked-about (and trolled) recent releases — War 2 and Coolie. It’s safe to say neither film blew us away, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have plenty to say. From Hrithik Roshan’s sleepwalking Kabir to NTR Jr. stuck in the wrong movie, from Shruti Haasan’s mannequin-level characterisation to Aamir Khan’s husky-filled cameo, this episode covers it all. We dig into: Why Coolie proves pan-India blockbusters have cracked the “fanbase activation” formula Why War 2 fails as both mass masala and spy-universe film The baffling treatment of female characters in both films The accidental gay rom-com energy of Raghu & Kabbu Whether YRF’s spy universe has any future after this mess It’s ranty, it’s unfiltered, it’s classic Khandaan. Plus: don’t miss our brand new video series now live on YouTube! Our first episode — Ranking All the Salman Khan Movies — is up, with much more coming soon.👉 Watch and subscribe here: Khandaan on YouTube