Instep

So you think you know: Bollywood edition

With the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, India and Pakistan became two countries from one. In the early years, Pakistan had a thriving film industry that was just as strong as Bollywood, if not better. However, as conservatism grew in the country, the film industry began to decline. In the last decade or so, Pakistani cinema has experienced a gradual resurgence. Despite this, it still lags the glamourous world of Bollywood. Many of us grew up watching Shah Rukh Khan or Salman Khan movies. With the advent of social media and streaming services, it’s easier than ever for the millennials to follow their favorite actors and learn a bit about the Khans as well. But for those of us who grew up in the nineties, we had to wait for films to air on TV and rely on magazines to get updates about our favorite stars. Let’s see how well you know Bollywood.

By Nosheen Sabeeh
|
September 29, 2024

1. With which movie did Kareena Kapoor Khan make her debut?

a) Refugee

b) Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai

c) Yaadein

d) Asoka

2. While Shah Rukh Khan rose to
superstardom with the massive success of Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge alongside Kajol, what was his career trajectory
before this and which of his earlier films helped him gain recognition?

a) Deewana

b) Baazigar and Darr

c) Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa

d) Dil To Pagal Hai

3. In which movie
did Sunil Shetty play
a double role as
long-lost twin
brothers?

a) Bhai

b) Mohra

c) Judwaa

d) Gopi Kishan

4. Saif Ali Khan has acted in many films since the early nineties. Which movie, however, propelled him into the
A-list category?

a) Main Khiladi Tu Anari

b) Dil Chahta Hai

c) Hameshaa

d) Hum Saath-Saath Hain

Answers

1. ‑The correct answer is a.
Kareena Kapoor Khan made her debut alongside Abhishek Bachchan in the film, Refugee. This film, which was both a critical and commercial success, launched the careers of Kareena and Abhishek. Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai and Yaadein were romantic films which Kareena did back in 2001, but both were box office failures. Although Asoka was more of a Shah Rukh Khan film, it did mark the first time Kareena and Shahrukh were paired together, and they have since appeared in several films.

2. ‑The correct answer is b.
Although Shah Rukh Khan debuted on the big screen in a supporting role in Deewana, it was his explosive negative roles in Baazigar and Darr that brought him widespread acclaim. At the time, new actors typically avoided playing antagonists, favoring romantic or comedic roles, yet Shahrukh’s performance in these films were memorable. His iconic k-k-kiran from Darr is still remembered today. Dil To Pagal Hai was a romantic film co-starring Madhuri Dixit and Karisma Kapoor, which came much later in his career.

3. ‑The correct answer is d.

Released in 1994, Gopi Kishan is one of the funniest films of Sunil Shetty’s career, revolving around a case of mistaken identity involving twin brothers. While Bhai and Mohra were notable films for Sunil Shetty in the nineties, he didn’t play a double role in those films. In Judwaa, Salman Khan plays twin brothers who are separated at birth.

4. ‑The correct answer is b.

Dil Chahta Hai, a coming-of-age film about three childhood friends, marked the directorial debut of Farhan Akhtar and starred Aamir Khan and Akshaye Khanna alongside Saif Ali Khan. The film dramatically shifted Saif’s career, propelling him into the A-list.

While Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Hameshaa, and Hum Saath-Saath Hain were popular films, none had the same career-defining impact for Saif as Dil Chahta Hai. Afterward, he starred in successful films like Hum Tum, Kal Ho Naa Ho, and Omkara, winning numerous awards along the way including Filmfare Awards and a National Award.