All posts tagged: Gajraj Rao

Prosit Roy On Emotional Impact Of Band Baaja Bitiya: ‘We Never Imagined…’ | Bollywood News

Prosit Roy On Emotional Impact Of Band Baaja Bitiya: ‘We Never Imagined…’ | Bollywood News

Last Updated:March 14, 2026, 17:55 IST Director Prosit Roy opens up about the viral ad film Band Baaja Bitiya, starring Gajraj Rao, calling it a powerful social message against domestic abuse. Prosit Roy’s ad film went viral in February. (Photo Credit: Instagram) Director Prosit Roy says his widely discussed short film Band Baaja Bitiya is far more than just an advertisement. According to the filmmaker, the three-and-a-half-minute film is a silent protest of sorts against domestic abuse and outdated societal attitudes that often force women to stay in toxic marriages. Released on February 25, the film features Gajraj Rao as a father who takes an unusual step to bring his daughter back from an abusive marital home. The powerful story has resonated with audiences across India and sparked widespread conversation online. Roy, known for directing Pari and the first season of Paatal Lok, said the story immediately struck a personal chord with him. Inspiration Behind Band Baaja Bitiya Speaking about the emotional core of the film, Roy said he imagined how his own father might …

Gajraj Rao’s new ad that mirrors real-life incidents moves the internet to tears: ‘Din ban gaya ye dekh ke’

Gajraj Rao’s new ad that mirrors real-life incidents moves the internet to tears: ‘Din ban gaya ye dekh ke’

Actor Gajraj Rao features in a new advertisement titled Band Baaja Bitiya for Goel TMT, which has moved people to tears. The advert mirrors real-life incidents in which fathers brought home their divorced daughters with a band in tow. Reactions to the ad range from people in tears to wishing more parents were this understanding. Gajraj Rao stands up for his daughter who’s facing domestic abuse in a beautiful new advertisement. Gajaj Rao’s moving new advert The advertisement shows Gajraj in two timelines – one, when he’s heading somewhere with a wedding band in tow, and another when he receives a heartbreaking call. “Phir se? (Again?)” he asks, as his daughter informs him of her domestic abuse. Even as everybody from his wife to his son and relatives tells him his daughter must learn to ‘adjust’ and ‘accept her fate’, the father cannot seem to accept her suffering. When the two timelines merge, we see that Gajraj had taken the band to his daughter’s marital home to bring her back. He tells her husband and …

‘Ananya Panday kamzor nazar nahi aati’: Gajraj Rao reviews Kesari Chapter 2; gets reactions from her, Akshay, Madhavan | Bollywood

‘Ananya Panday kamzor nazar nahi aati’: Gajraj Rao reviews Kesari Chapter 2; gets reactions from her, Akshay, Madhavan | Bollywood

Actor Gajraj Rao penned several notes as he reviewed Kesari Chapter 2, showering praises on the cast and crew of the film. Taking to Instagram recently, Gajraj called Akshay Kumar‘s performance in the film “one of his bests”. Talking about Ananya Panday, he defended her saying that she doesn’t appear “kamzor (weak)”. (Also Read | Shashi Tharoor praises Kesari Chapter 2, but feels C Sankaran Nair ‘would never use the words Akshay Kumar uses’) Gajraj Rao dedicated a post to Kesari Chapter 2. Gajraj reviews Kesari Chapter 2 Praising the film, Gajraj said, “Loved every bit of it. An extraordinary screenplay packed with sharp, powerful dialogues. The cinematography is breathtaking, the production design top-notch, editing razor-sharp, and the music–absolutely soulful. These pillars hold the film strong and steady throughout.” Gajraj praises Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, Ananya He spoke about how Akshay, as lawyer C Sankaran Nair, left him “vichlit (shaken)”. “Yeh Akshay Kumar ki best performances mein se ek hai…Sir Sankaran Nair ko inhone itihas ke panno se nikal kar screen par zinda khada kar …

Kesari Chapter 2: Gajraj Rao gushes over Ananya Panday’s performance in historical drama; here’s what actor said about Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan

Kesari Chapter 2: Gajraj Rao gushes over Ananya Panday’s performance in historical drama; here’s what actor said about Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan

Kesari Chapter 2, starring Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday in lead roles, has hit the theaters recently and is making waves globally. It has received positive responses from fans and critics. Now, actor Gajraj Rao reviewed the movie, particularly praising Ananya Panday’s performance in the historical drama. He also talked about Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan’s performance in the film. Taking to Instagram, Gajraj Rao shared his experience of watching Kesari Chapter 2 in theaters, and wrote that the theater was about 70 percent occupied. He expressed how amazing it felt to watch the film in a packed cinema.  The Dupahiya actor went on to praise the film, highlighting the “extraordinary screenplay packed with sharp, powerful dialogues.” He also acknowledged the film’s cinematography, production design, editing, music, and more. Talking about the acting, Gajraj called it one of Akshay Kumar‘s best performances and praised him for delivering a fantastic job with minimal dialogue, especially before the interval.  He also added that his performance during the climax was absolutely stunning. Talking about R. Madhavan, the actor said …

Gajraj Rao says high ticket prices are keeping audiences away from theatres: ‘Cinema halls have become half restaurants’ | Bollywood

Gajraj Rao says high ticket prices are keeping audiences away from theatres: ‘Cinema halls have become half restaurants’ | Bollywood

The film industry is going through a tough time, as several Bollywood films, including big names and big budgets, are not doing well at the box office. Salman Khan‘s Eid release Sikandar also failed to meet expectations. As moviegoers continue to stay away from theatres, many within the industry have come forward to discuss what might be going wrong. (Also Read | ₹45 cr”>Kesari Chapter 2 box office collection day 7: Akshay Kumar, Madhavan film rounds off first week with ₹45 cr) Gajraj Rao spoke about how things have changed over time, especially with the rise of OTT platforms. Actor Gajraj Rao recently shared his opinion on the situation and spoke about how things have changed over time, especially with the rise of OTT platforms. The actor also discussed what needs to change to bring audiences back to theatres, and for him, the most important factor is “ticket pricing.” While speaking to ANI, Gajraj said, “Thanks to the digital revolution and OTT platforms, stories and films from around the world that we previously saw only …

‘Shah Rukh Khan is a star, you can’t push him like this,’ Gajraj Rao recalls Mani Ratnam cautioning him during Dil Se shoot | Bollywood News

‘Shah Rukh Khan is a star, you can’t push him like this,’ Gajraj Rao recalls Mani Ratnam cautioning him during Dil Se shoot | Bollywood News

Shah Rukh Khan’s 1998 film Dil Se remains one of the most memorable movies of his career. Recently, actor Gajraj Rao recalled an incident from the sets of the film when director Mani Ratnam cautioned him to be careful while filming a scuffle scene with Shah Rukh. However, the actor eased Gajraj into the scene and encouraged him to perform freely. Gajraj recalled a scene in Dil Se where he played a CBI officer. In the scene, he and two other actors were supposed to nab Shah Rukh’s character, which involved a minor scuffle. Gajraj had to push Shah Rukh during the sequence. While rehearsing, he recalled pushing Shah Rukh against the wall. He said, “In the scene we chase Shah Rukh and we catch him. Then I hold his collar and push him to the wall. After the rehearsal, Mani Ratnam took me aside and said, ‘Shah Rukh is a hero, he is a star. We need to complete this film. You can’t do this. Don’t push him like this.’” Explaining his mindset and …

Dupahiya 2: Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Bhuvan Arora, Sparsh Shrivastava announce new season with fun video. Watch | Web Series

Dupahiya 2: Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Bhuvan Arora, Sparsh Shrivastava announce new season with fun video. Watch | Web Series

Fans of Dupahiya are in for a treat as the show’s makers announced the second season on Friday. It stars Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Bhuvan Arora, Sparsh Shrivastava, Shivani Raghuvanshi, and Yashpal Sharma in key roles. (Also Read | Dupahiya review: A social commentary soaked in classy satire, Hrishikesh Mukherjee-brand humour that never fails) Dupahiya season one has been directed by Sonam Nair. Taking to Instagram, Prime Video posted a video of the cast announcing the next season. The caption read, “Koi daatega nahi na? Kyunki humne Dupahiya Season 2 mangwa liya hai (No one will scold, right? Because we have ordered Dupahiya Season 2.” In the clip, Gajraj, Renuka Shahane, Bhuvan Arora, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Shivani Raghuvanshi sang a song and made the announcement. Dupahiya is set in the fictional crime-free village of Dhadakpur. A heartland comedy, the series won over audiences with its razor-sharp humour, unforgettable characters, stellar performances and heartwarming small-town charm. Speaking about the second season, creators and executive producers Salona Bains Joshi and Shubh Shivdasani, in a press note, said, …

Celeb watchlist | Here’s why Bhuvan Arora recommends Dabba Cartel on OTT

Celeb watchlist | Here’s why Bhuvan Arora recommends Dabba Cartel on OTT

Mar 22, 2025 04:52 PM IST Actor Bhuvan Arora shares his binge-watch pick Shaban Azmi-led ensemble Dabba Cartel on OTT and explains why he recommends it In our weekly series, Bhuvan Arora reveals what has got him hooked to Shabana Azmi-led ensemble Dabba Cartel and why he recommends it to all. Bhuvan Arora recommends Dabba Cartel What I’m Watching: I am currently completely immersed in the experience of Dabba Cartel on Netflix. It has kept me quite intrigued. Why I’m hooked: The show has kept me on the edge of my seat. Every episode leaves you wanting for more. It offers a perfect balance of masala and meaning, and that’s what you want as an audience from a show. Favourite Character: I am quite in awe of both Gajraj Rao sir and Shabana Azmi ma’am’s characters. Because of them have this ‘don’t mess with me’ kind of attitude, and it does keep you hooked to whatever they are doing or are going to do in the show. Why I recommend it: I would recommend this …

Dupahiya: Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Sparsh Shrivastava’s family-entertainer reminds fans of Panchayat and these tweets are proof

Dupahiya: Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Sparsh Shrivastava’s family-entertainer reminds fans of Panchayat and these tweets are proof

Gajraj Rao, Renuka Shahane, Bhuvan Arora, Sparsh Shrivastava, and Shivani Raghuvanshi starrer Dupahiya was released nearly a couple of weeks back. The light-hearted satirical comedy show has been receiving immense love from the fans, while a section of users was also reminded of the acclaimed web show, Panchayat. Check out the reactions shared by the internet users. Prime Video’s family entertainer Dupahiya was released earlier this month on March 7, 2025. It has already been receiving positive reviews from the audience for its beautiful and simple storyline, but many of the users noted it to be one of the rare shows that could come closer to Panchayat. A user shared his review of the show expressing, “In past 4 years anything that came close to Panchayat on OTT is Dupahiya, how beautifully it is made. All the characters shined brightly. With a special mention to Daroga ji Yashpal Sharma outshined.” Another user stated, “‘Dupahiya’ on @PrimeVideo is very well directed, good screenplay and storyline Actors have added the soul to well written script If you …

Dupahiya review: A social commentary soaked in classy satire, Hrishikesh Mukherjee-brand humour that never fails | Web Series

Dupahiya review: A social commentary soaked in classy satire, Hrishikesh Mukherjee-brand humour that never fails | Web Series

There are moments in Amazon Prime Video‘s new rural comedy (yes, it is a genre now) Dupahiya where you are transported to the simpler world of Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Govind Nihalani films. Dupahiya, a scathing satire in the garb of a light comedy, is in the genre of Welcome to Sajjanpur and Nukkad as it is a spiritual successor of Panchayat. The show manages to talk about everything from kleptomania to dowry and even the obsession with fair skin without ever getting preachy or dull. The brilliant acting performances, complemented by a catchy score, make this the most fun watch of the year so far. (Also read: Gajraj Rao says filmmakers ‘assumed audiences wanted item numbers’, brought limitations to Indian cinema) Dupahiya review: This goofy comedy hits all the right notes. What is Dupahiya about Dupahiya is the story of Dhadakpur, ‘India’s only crime-free village’. Situated somewhere deep in Bihar, this village has not seen a crime in 24 years. As the villagers await a new boring well for their crime-free silver jubilee, tragedy strikes. …