Happy Birthday to the one and only Karan Johar

For him, life as a director didn’t just happen; it took years of dedication and diligence. Truly, Karan Johar has come a long way to have his presence felt in Bollywood, and all his movies speak volumes of his caliber as an ace filmmaker.

A successful director, an ardent fashion-lover, a mastermind at pop culture, a diligent judge in reality shows, the best friend of the top faces in Bollywood, and now, a classy actor, Karan sure is a man with many talents and his personality has something for each one of us to learn.

Starting off as an assistant director to Aditya Chopra’s ‘DDLJ’, Karan has worked his way up the ladder of fame with timeless movies such as ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna', 'My Name Is Khan' and 'Student Of The Year'. Didn’t we absolutely love each of these movies!

There’s a reason all his movies are runaway blockbusters, as he once said, “I firmly believe that emotions are universal, and I know that when they connect with the audience, it works.”

For someone who has valued relationships far more than professionalism, Dharma Productions wishes Karan Johar immense luck, happiness, and several blockbuster movies that live in the hearts of the audiences for a lifetime.

Happy Birthday Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Indian cinema has always had variety of actors. Each generation producing actors who have enthralled audiences. The current generation has had heartthrobs. But, one actor has quietly made his presence felt in Bollywood with his power-packed performances. He is none other than the affable and versatile Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

With humble beginnings and a whole lot of struggle, he made his Bollywood debut in 1999 and has steadily made his way to the top. Many of his movies have made it to top international film festivals, a credit to his talent and ability. His high point came when he starred as ‘Shaikh’ in the much acclaimed movie ‘The Lunchbox’. The critics were raving about his performance and it didn’t go unnoticed in the eyes of the jury as he bagged the Filmfare Award and the Renault Star Guild Award for the Best Supporting Actor.

The journey though has just started and we can expect many more awards and entertaining performances in the coming years. On this day, Dharma wishes him many many happy returns of the day and hope that he achieves greater feats in the world of cinema.

Happy Birthday Madhuri!

The Dancing Diva celebrates her 48^th birthday today with her family in Mumbai. 

The heartthrob of millions said she’s never been scared of aging as age is just a number for her. Something to learn for all her die-hard fans!

The dancing diva has for decades, thrilled us with her incomparable dancing and acting skills. It is as though we can never have enough of her and quite literally that is. From giving many memorable movies to performing evergreen dance numbers, like ‘Ghagra’ from ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, her fans only thank the Almighty for her ecstatic comeback in Bollywood in 2007.

Always lighting up the place with her charming smile, Madhuri has been the role model for many.

Dharma Productions wishes the shining star a very happy birthday and loads of happiness!

Many Many Happy Returns Of The Day – Punit Malhotra

Of late, Bollywood has seen a surge of young talent that has made their presence felt both in front of the screen and behind it. One such talented youngster who has made a mark in the Bollywood circuit is Punit Malhotra.

The young director started his career by assisting Karan Johar in his mega directorial venture Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. From, this experience, he only went on to scale further heights and made his directorial debut with “I Hate Luv Storys”. The movie was liked by audiences across the world. The remarkable way in which the love story was portrayed had many industry veterans raving about him. His latest movie Gori Tere Pyaar Mein starring the talented Imran Khan and the beautiful Kareena Kapoor was also well received.

It is beyond doubt that he is one director that everyone needs to watch out for in the years to come. On this day of celebration, Dharma wishes him a very happy birthday and loads of success in the coming years.

5 Ways To Beat The Summers

Everyone has fond memories of summer… from the school vacations, to the family trips that help you see the world in a different light. Often, there are times when we confuse ourselves too much and the summer ends up being a damp squib of sorts. To avoid such a mess, we at Dharma have 5 interesting options that will help you beat the summers in ways you have never imagined.

1. Go summer camping

Head out into the wilderness, and let your instincts and imagination take over. A summer camp is the perfect place to let loose and learn new things that no school will teach you. Appreciate the world out there and make new friends just like little Anjali did in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’. Seems fun, isn’t it?

2. Bring some adventure into your life

What’s life without a bit of adventure? With summer holidays in place, you have all the time in the world to give way to your adventurous self. Not only will it refresh you, but the experience of thrill will make you fall in love with life once again. And just in case you doubt us, ask Bunny, Avi, Aditi and Naina from ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’ how much fun they had during their hiking trip in Manali.

3. Learn a new skill

Sure, summer is the time to be a free bird; but, some time can also be put aside for learning something new. Take up a hobby like painting, photography, etc. and nurture it, you may never know how it helps you in life. Who better than our very own Sid to tell you about that?

4. Try revamping yourself

Tired of the same old look and feel of the past year? Summers are the perfect time to get in on the act and change things around – be it your look, or your wardrobe. With vacation time, you can look into the latest developments in the fashion circuit and become a new and improved version. And inspiration is always nearby when Gippi is around.

5. Join in the celebrations

With summer holidays going on, most families term this as marriage season. So, if you are lucky enough to have one in your family or your friend circle, go out and have a blast like Abhimanyu, Shanaya and Rohan did at the latter’s brother’s wedding. Take this opportunity to enjoy, as such moments come few and far between.

Gippi completes 2 Years!

Indian cinema has had its fair share of glorious moments, moments that have left an indelible mark on the minds of the people. Some performances and movies have broken the norms laid down by society. ‘Gippi’ was one such movie. Dharma is known for its out of the box thinking, and this was another attempt at establishing the same.

With its unique story centered on a school girl’s journey of self discovery, the audiences were in for a surprise as this was a one of a kind story. It was the first time that a movie was focused on the problems of teens. It gave all the teens and the parents a new perspective about how difficult it is to be a teenager in today’s world. Not only that, it brought to light the important subject of fat shaming that is common amongst teenagers.

The way Gippi fights her inner demons and the awkward feelings that she has is worth noticing. Although her love life and studies are not in the best of conditions, she finds a way to turn things around. A big part in this transformation is played by her cool mother who always supports her during her tough times. The way she backs Gippi during her coming of age days and gets her out of the troubled love life phase is something that every parent must make a note of.

As with every Dharma movie, Gippi also had fabulous music. The compositions of Vishal-Shekhar and the lyrics of Anvita Dutt Guptan worked their magic on the audiences. All the songs went on to become people’s favourites.

But, this didn't end here as the movie also received critical acclaim for touching hearts and successfully executing an unusual tale about the triumph of the underdog.

Two years have gone by, but the story and its characters are still fondly remembered by one and all. We at Dharma wish the entire team of ‘Gippi’ a very happy 2nd movie anniversary and continued success for many more years to come.

Happy Mother’s Day

It won’t be too over the top to say, “Mother is love, mother is life”. The person that has seen your first cry and smiled, held your finger to help take your first steps is the beloved mother. There are so many memories that one can recollect, so many reasons to be grateful about. On this auspicious day, Dharma looks back at the on-screen mothers that have given Indian cinema some of its epic silver screen moments.

When we talk about mothers in Dharma movies, the first name that comes to mind is Nandini Raichand played by Jaya Bachchan. Nandini Raichand’s love for her elder son Rahul is the stuff of legends. Who can forget the epic scene where she senses Rahul’s arrival and stands at the doorstep to welcome him?

Jaya Bachchan added the much needed depth to the character and it was loved by audiences across the world.

If Nandini Raichand was the matriarch, then Sameer’s mom in ‘Dostana’ played by Kirron Kher had people in splits with her humorous yet cool depiction of a Punjabi mom. The way she sacrifices her dreams for Sameer’s happiness is a quality that is to be found in every mother, and women could relate to it.

The word mother and care go hand in hand, and who knows it better than Aman’s mother in ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’ who maintains a smile on her face even when she knows her son is terminally ill. With that she gave her son the much needed strength to face the tough situation he was in.

A mother is the lady for all occasions in a man’s life and when the going gets tough, the mother is the one who stands firmly behind her children. Mrs. Khanna, Rahul’s mother in ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ provided the much needed support to Rahul after he suffered Tina’s loss. Not just that, she also took care of little Anjali and gave her the motherly love which she so dearly needed.

Each aspect of mothers is unique and when it comes to Indian moms, melodrama can’t be far away. Ask Krish Malhotra who had a tough time getting his mother to accept Ananya as her daughter-in-law.

Needless to say, every mother in the world is special and one should cherish that fact. We at Dharma salute them and wish each one of them a very Happy Mother’s Day.

17 Years of Duplicate

In its rich history, the Hindi film industry has seen famous double roles being played by the biggest of stars. Each of these stories has been etched into our minds and is fondly remembered. One such movie that captivated the audiences with its witty and humorous rendition was ‘Duplicate’.

The movie cashes in on the successful formula of duplicates stuck in their own worlds and how they come face to face and what changes it brings about. The king of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan played the roles of both Bablu and Manu. He was ably supported by the beautiful Juhi Chawla and the pretty Sonali Bendre who played the roles of Sonia and Lily respectively. With a star cast like that, the movie was able to captivate the audience and ended up being termed as a laugh riot.

While the general trend of movies having double roles is to have a happy ending with both doppelgangers uniting, trust Dharma to be different and look beyond the norms. The villainous Manu isn’t redeemed and his grey shades add the much needed twist to the plot.

With such an amazing mix of talent, the nominations and awards were sure to follow. Juhi Chawla was named the Most Sensational Actress for her amazing role in the flick.

The years have since rolled on since the film’s release but it still tickles the funny bone of audiences across the world. We wish the entire team of ‘Duplicate’ a very happy anniversary and continued success in the years to come.

9 Reasons Why Every Guy Needs A Girl Best Friend

Friendship between a guy and a girl is not frowned upon anymore and in fact they can be the best friends possible. Surprised? Don’t be, because we will give you 9 reasons you’ll totally agree with.

1. She understands girls

Any guy, who has a girl best friend, will swear by this fact. A girl best friend knows the tricks that girls use. Having a girl best friend means you know the inner details which help you go ahead in the race to get the one you like. Vice versa she can also advise you against choosing the spoilt apple.

2. She is mentally stable

Guys often have a habit of going off the handle. This is where a girl best friend with her calm demeanor comes into the picture and saves the day. Don’t believe us? Ask Sid, whose best friend Laxmi was always there when he needed the most.

3. Guys need that maternal affection
Guys crave for affection, and in testing times, a girl best friend is just the person a guy needs by his side, someone to soothe his nerves, like Neha did for both Kunal and Sameer in Dostana.

4. It is good to have a different opinion

Girls have a thought process that is different from most guys. When you are out of thoughts on certain issues, a girl best friend can instantly sweep in to provide a different perspective that might turn things around.

5. She is a great shopping partner

Whether it’s your Valentine’s Day gift or your own wardrobe needs a makeover, a girl best friend is the best company that a guy can have. She understands what’s best for you and unlike other girls has a genuine concern for your wallet.

6. You are never alone in a party

Come party time, you always need a partner you can rely upon. For those having a girl best friend means that you never have to worry about such a scenario.

7. Your parents trust her

If there’s anything that parents fear most, is their son going on the wrong path. With a girl best friend, they can be rest assured that he is in good company. The same way, Sameer’s mom trusted Neha to be with the former.

8. You can tease her all you want

Out of all the points mentioned, guys having a girl best friend will agree to this fact with much fervor. Teasing her just gets the guy the mood upswing that he needs. And all this, because she’s a better sport than any guy friend can ever be. Rahul in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai can vouch for that.

9. Arguments only strengthen their bond
Rahul and Anjali in KKHH argued over every little thing, but it just made their bond stronger. That kind of trust can only be there with a girl best friend because you know; the relationship will still be the same no matter what.