Anushree Arora

It’s time for the longest weekend of the year – Diwali. From late night card-parties to indulgent feasts, the festivities have already begun. And as traditions go, the festival of lights continues its streak of lighting up our screens with some of the biggest and most exciting releases of the year. Here’s a roundup of 12 new and nostalgic films you can enjoy in cinemas or from the comfort of your couch this Diwali. 

 New Films Releasing In Cinemas This Diwali 

1. Tiger 3 

The latest addition to YRF’s growing spy franchise, Tiger 3 is one of the most eagerly awaited films of the year. Salman Khan’s latest action-thriller follows our beloved agent Tiger as he’s faced with one of the toughest decisions of his life - choosing between the love for his family and the loyalty towards his nation. Originally earmarked for an Eid release the film was postponed due to post-production delays and finally makes its grand worldwide release this Diwali. 

Release: 12th November, 2023.

2. Khichdi 2 

India’s funniest Gujarati family is back to light up the screens with their light hearted humour, infectious energy, and whimsical ways this Diwali. Join Hansa, Praful, Jayshree, and the gang on an adventure to the strange town of Paanthukistan where they cook up a plan to score their next big fortune. 

Need to refresh your memory before the movie hits the screens? Check out our detailed recap to get all caught up.

Release: 17th November, 2023.

3. The Marvels 

Brie Larson reprises her role as Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel in Marvel Studios’ latest superhero flick. The movie is the long-awaited sequel to the billion dollar 2019 film, Captain Marvel. The film will continue the storyline of the previous film and see Danvers team up with Kamala Khan from Ms Marvel, and Monica Rambeau from Wanda Vision to deal with the turmoil caused by the Krees. Expect a lot of superhero action, movie crossovers with past favourites like Secret Invasion and the Infinity War series, and more multiverse madness. 

Release: 10th November, 2023. 

4. Japan 

This Tamil action-comedy follows Japan, one of the most notorious jewellery thieves as he gears up for the biggest mission of his life — a jewellery heist worth Rs 200 crores. Starring award-winning Tamil actor Karthi and Anu Emmanuel alongside comic genius Sunil Varma, this multi-starrer heist comedy promises an entertaining time for the full family.

Release Date: 10th November, 2023. 

New Films and TV Shows Releasing On Streaming 

1. Pippa 

Siddharth Malhotra’s army film Yodha’s release may have gotten pushed again, but we’ve got Ishaan Khattar filling in those patriotic shoes as Captain Balram Singh, a young and fiercely strong willed officer leading India’s 45 Cavalry regiment in the Indo-Pak war of 1971. This coming of age war-action film is inspired by the events of the Battle of Garibpur, and tells the tale of three loving siblings fighting to save their nation. 

Where to watch: Pippa releases on Amazon Prime Video on 10th November, 2023. 

2. BTS: Yet To Come

Looking for something to jam out to after the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Movie? K-Pop sensation BTS’ latest concert film BTS: Yet To Come drops on Amazon this week. The concert film follows Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, Jungkook, and V’s experience performing at the Busan World Expo where they played to a crowd of 50,000+ cheering fans. 

Where to watch: BTS: Yet to Come releases on Amazon Prime Video on 9th November, 2023

With another ten-episode season, Selling Sunset Season 7 has given us another look into the lives of Chrishell, Amanza, Jason, Emma, and the other agents at the O group.Although the new season has only been released a few days, many of us have already binge-watched the entire season and find ourselves eager for more.

Here are seven binge worthy reality series worth checking out if you love Selling Sunset:

1. Selling The OC

If you enjoyed watching Selling Sunset, you should check out their sister show Selling The OC. An official spin-off of Selling Sunset, this show follows the lives of the agents working at the Orange County office of the Oppenheim Group. The newest lot of agents at the O group are just as competitive and dramatic as the ones back in LA. However, unlike Selling Sunset this office doesn’t have an all female crew giving Jason and Brett some much needed company. If you’ve been missing Brett on Selling Sunset, you’ll enjoy watching Selling the OC as he spends most of his time at the new office. With three seasons to catch up on, and several fun crossovers with the Selling Sunset cast members, this is the ideal comfort show to help you get over your Selling Sunset blues.

Where to watch: Netflix. 

2. Selling Tampa 

Although a part of the Selling Sunset series, Selling Tampa, steps away from the Oppenheim group and focuses on the all female black-owned luxury real estate agency, Allure. The show gives viewers a look at the decadent multi-million dollar waterfront houses in Tampa, and packs in as much fun and drama as the rest of the shows in the Selling series. Unfortunately, the show only features one season as it got canceled after its first run. 

Where to watch: Netflix. 

3. Instant Hotel 

Instant Hotel is the love child of Selling Sunset and The Amazing Race. It takes the stunning real estate bits from Selling Sunset and combines it with the fun, travel adventures of The Amazing Race by assembling a group of 10 homeowners who list their property as vacation rentals. The show pits these homeowners in a race against each other to win the title of Australia’s #1 Instant Hotelier. The best part? Instead of having regular judges, the show runs on a voting system where the contestants take turns staying in each other's properties and rank their services. 

Where to watch: Netflix. 

4. The Flipping El Moussas

Love Heather from Selling Sunset? Check out The Flipping El Moussas, a recently released real estate reality show that closely follows Heather and her hubby Tarek as they flip luxury houses all over LA, navigate the highs and lows of being newlyweds, and share the intimate journey of trying to have a child. While Selling Sunset tours several luxury mansions in each episode, this show reveals what it actually takes to get a luxury house ready for sale from the ground up.

Where to watch: Discovery+.

Shah Rukh Khan has been having one of the busiest years in Bollywood. After starring in two of the biggest films of the year, Pathaan and Jawan, King Khan is now shifting his focus from action and gearing towards the release of Dunki, a heartfelt drama that will resonate with millions of immigrants.

SRK celebrated his 58th birthday yesterday. In addition to making the day special by spending it with his fans, he also surprised them by releasing Dunki’s first teaser. From the cast to the release date, here’s a roundup of everything you need to know about his next blockbuster.

What is Dunki about?

Dunki is a story about a soldier and his promise to a group of four young and ambitious people who dream of starting a new life in London. The film’s title, Dunki, translates to Donkey, which is a direct reference to 'Donkey Flight', a popular Indian term used to describe an illegal route that several Indians use to immigrate out of the country.

Shah Rukh Khan described the film in the best way possible on Twitter X by sharing, ‘the film is a story of simple and real people trying to fulfil their dreams and desires. Of friendship, love, and being together… Of being in a relationship called Home!’

The cast of Dunki

In addition to being headlined by Shah Rukh Khan, Dunki features a talented ensemble of actors from all walks of life. Actor Taapsee Pannu will be seen playing the role of Manu, the only female member joining the bandwagon of immigrants looking to start a new life in London. This movie will mark her first collaboration with SRK. Joining her, we also have Vicky Kaushal, who plays the role of Sukhi, another immigrant joining the Dunki tribe.

Balancing out the youthful energy that Vicky Kaushal and Taapsee Pannu bring to the table, we have veteran actor Boman Irani playing the role of a teacher, and possibly Dharmendra, joining in on the action in an undisclosed cameo appearance. 

Dunki shoot locations 

If there’s one thing we love about Shah Rukh Khan’s films, it’s that he takes us on a journey across the world. Whether it’s exploring the serene peaks of Switzerland in Dil Wale Dulhania Le Jayenge, or the moody lanes of Moscow in Pathaan, SRK’s films have become known for their unique locations —and Dunki is no exception.

A major chunk of the film has been shot in international destinations like Budapest and London, and the crew also travelled to Jeddah to shoot a bike chase sequence. Their domestic schedule covered scenic destinations like Sonmarg and Pulwama, along with a four-day underwater schedule in SRK's home city, Mumbai.

Dunki’s First Teaser: Drop 1

SRK’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment, shared the first teaser of Dunki, titled ‘Dunki Drop 1’, earlier today. The teaser’s release coincided with Shah Rukh’s 58th birthday and gave fans an in-depth look at what’s to come in this upcoming family entertainer.

Starting off with visuals of SRK leading a group of immigrants through a desert as an unidentified man tries to gun them down, and intensified by the slow and impactful background score sung beautifully by Sonu Nigam, the teaser sets the stage as an emotional drama documenting the real-life story of millions of immigrants.

India’s funniest Gujarati family are returning to screens with their eccentric humour and odd ways to entertain and thrill everyone this Diwali. It’s been almost five years since we last saw the family in the third and final season of their hit television series titled Khichdi Returns, and almost thirteen years since the release of their first film Khichdi The Movie. A lot of developments have happened both on and off the screen when it comes to the Khichdi franchise, including recasting the iconic character of Jayshree and a drastic shift in the family’s wealth onscreen. 

From an in-depth recap of everything that went down in both the movie and the TV show, to the latest news regarding the upcoming films cast, trailer, and release date, here’s everything you need to know before watching Khichdi 2. 

Everything that went down in Khichdi, Instant Khichdi, and Khichdi Returns 

Khichdi (2002 - 2004)

Making its television debut way back in 2002, Khichdi was one of the first Indian television series to follow the western concept of having multiple seasons. The series centres around the members of the Parekh family, a large and eccentric joint family who live together in an old mansion in the heart of Mumbai, and deal with typical Indian household situations in the most unpredictable and unusual ways possible. 

The first season of the series introduces us to all the key members of the family –Tulsidas Parekh, Hansa, Praful, Jayshree, and the mischievous kids Jacky and Chakki. It centres around their struggle as they try to convince the house patriarch Tulsidas Parekh to sell his ancestral home so they can put an end to their joint family set up and move into smaller nuclear houses.

The series ends with the family deciding to stay together and move into a bigger mansion which is left to them after the demise of a rich relative. While shifting houses, the joint family discover oil under their old ancestral home and end up becoming millionaires overnight. 

Instant Khichdi (2005)

Titled Instant Khichdi, the second season follows the family as they navigate how to live their lives with all this newfound wealth. The Parekhs, who are used to living like a typical middle-class family, try their best to shift their attitude and mannerisms to embody the lifestyle of the super-rich, and find acceptance in the elite society.

This storyline is continued in the first Khichdi movie, wherein the rich family spends lavishly on organising a big fat Indian wedding for Hansa’s brother Himanshu, and even try orchestrating dramatic moments when Himanshu complains of the wedding seeming too boring. An event which is interrupted by the shocking murder of their neighbour Chakku, for which Himanshu is wrongfully accused.

The family put aside their comical differences and come together to solve the mystery of the murder to clear Himanshu’s name and to get him married. One of the most interesting things to note about the film is that they brought in a new actor to play the role of Jayshree. Vandana Pathak who plays the role of Jayshree in the television series was unavailable during the shoot of the feature film. Director Aatish Kapadia, then cast actor Nimisha Vakharia to fill in for Vandana Pathak and take on the role of Jayshree.

Halloween is just around the corner and while Hollywood classics like Saw and The Shining make for a great Halloween watch, there’s plenty of homegrown horror flicks that are worth considering for your next Halloween movie marathon. 

Whether it's films like Chandramukhi or Bhool Bhulaiyaa that explore the age old concept of angsty courtesans looking for redemption, or straight out slasher films like Darna Mana Hai that see a group of seven friends trying to escape the bloody trenches of a serial killer obsessed with wiping out fear out of this world, India has a lot to offer when it comes to horror. 

From mildly scary to films that’ll keep you up at night, here’s a roundup of the best Indian horror films that suit all kinds of scare levels. 

1. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 

Starting the list off with one of my personal favourites, there’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa, a quirky horror-comedy starring Vidya Balan as Manjulika, the spirit of a scorned dancer who died in a tragic manner at the hands of the ancestors that resided in the haveli years ago. 

To balance Manjulika’s frightening scenes there’s the comic trio of Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, and Rajpal Yadav who add a much needed touch of humour in between all the jumpscares making it an ideal watch for those that scare easily. 

Where to watch: Bhool Bhlaiyaa is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar. 

2. 1920 

The first in a series of five standalone horror films, 1920 is a dark horror film about a married couple who get possessed by demons and require intervention from an experienced exorcist to help them get rid of the evil spirits. If you like films like The Exorcist or The Conjuring, this Indian demon franchise is worth checking out. 

Where to watch: 1920 is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.  

3. Darna Mana Hai 

For a unique take on horror I recommend, Darna Mana Hai is an anthology of six short horror stories packed into one long feature film. The film follows a group of seven friends who find themselves lost in the middle of nowhere after their car mysteriously breaks down in the middle of the woods. The group seek refuge in an abandoned house for the night, and narrate horror stories as a way to keep each other amused and kill time. However, at the end of each story the group becomes smaller and smaller, as one friend mysteriously disappears. 

Despite being a box office failure, this film makes for an interesting watch as it combines different sub-genres of horror such as supernatural, psychological-thriller, slasher, and folk horror within one feature film. 

Where to watch: Darna Mana Hai is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. 

4. Krishna Cottage

A classic retro horror flick following a group of friends who lose their way and end up seeking refuge in a strange antique house where strange events begin to unfold. Produced by Ektaa Kapoor, the queen of Indian soap operas, this movie is brimming with drama, sexual tension, and melodramatic scares. Although the film didn’t perform well commercially at the time of its release, it has become a popular watch over the years thanks to its immersive story and the relatable dynamics between the tight knit group of friends. 

Where to watch: Krishna Cottage is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. 

5. Phone Bhoot 

If you’re someone who scares easily like me, ditch the violent horror films for Phone Bhoot. A lighthearted horror comedy starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ishaan Khattar as a duo that can interact with supernatural beings, and Katrina Kaif as a friendly ghost. The film follows the trio as they launch a moksha helpline to help ghosts attain enlightenment by fulfilling their unfulfilled wishes. 

Where to watch: Phone Bhoot is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

An insurance agent teams up with a lawyer to uncover the true reason behind a missing billionaire's disappearance

An insurance agent teams up with a lawyer when she finds out that a missing billionaire might bankrupt her agency. Shika, the insurance agent senses foul play when she learns of the huge payout the billionaire had taken out just before his disappearance. She then teams up with one of the best lawyers in the game to help her connect the missing billionaire and his nominee to the case. Will Shika be able to race against time and uncover the truth before the billionaire is officially declared dead? Watch the movie to find out.

Revisit the rich alleyways of Heera Mandi through three generations of royal courtesans

Heera Mandi's royal courtesans presented the same mystery, talents, and allure as the Geisha's in Japan. From guarding some of the most scandalous royal secrets to providing a rich array of cultural entertainment, the royal courtesans of Heera Mandi have a lifetime of stories and experiences to share. Season 1 follows three graceful generations of royal courtesans as they navigate love, life, and changing politics in an age where mistresses held the secret key to power. 

A look into the dark and alluring lives of yesteryear's courtesans 

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali brings to life the rich and twisted history of Heera Mandi, Pakistan's most well known red-light district's royal historical origins in this fictional period drama. Following a group of royal courtesans, the show takes us through the lives, culture, romance, and hidden power dynamics of Mughal empire's most beautiful and enigmatic group.

A troubled love story between two unlikely strangers 

Starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, Merry Christmas, is a romantic thriller about two strangers who have a chance encounter on the day of Christmas. The film's plot has been kept under wraps to build on the mystery around it, however, the movie is based on an undisclosed novel. 

A messy, confused, and anxious sequel to Pixar's introspective animated feature, Inside Out

Inside Out 2 follows a now grown up Riley as she navigates the complexities of being a teenager which introduce her to new feelings of excitement, curiosity, and anxiety. The movie explores how the Happy, Sad, Angry, and Disgusted voices in Riley's head deal with the messy changes that Anxiety introduces in Riley's head, and sees them trying to restore happiness and confidence to their newly disrupted and chaotic mind where fear and disgust rule with the help of anxiety.