Bollywood: Secrets of The World's Biggest Film Industry

Go behind the scenes of the world’s biggest film industry with this two-part special providing exclusive access to Bollywood stars and films in production. British TV presenter Anita Rani uncovers the rich history of the famous dance numbers, the secrets behind creating epic action scenes, and the ways that modern Bollywood is using its enormous power to challenge and change Indian society.

00:00 - Beginning in the home of Bollywood, Anita visits a movie set in downtown Mumbai and meets superstar Anil Kapoor. She learns how the famous dance numbers are shot with almost no rehearsal, before heading to an action film starring Ajay Devgan, who explains the secrets of fight scenes. She ends by learning about the elaborate costumes and helping to dress a cast of hundreds for an epic battle scene.

57:32 - Anita reveals how the new generation of Bollywood stars are challenging the industry, from western actors flocking to Bollywood, to a group of female makeup artists who had to fight before the Supreme Court for the right to work on film sets. Kangana Ranaut, one of India’s most famous and outspoken actresses, speaks about confronting the industry’s sexist attitudes.

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[HermannTheGreat]

The biggest secret is that they have the largest and most uninformed fanbase will watch about anything, no matter how bad the plot or the actors, so they will continue to be successful.

[galimir]

to go on the set of Fanney Khan and not meet The Queen of Bollywood Aishwarya Rai is like to go to Rome and not meet the Pope(or not even mention it)😏

[Baileya]

Satyajit Ray it ain’t but still quite fascinating! The colorism, alone, speaks volumes about Bollywood and Indian culture overall.

[barbaralamson]

This is interesting. I've seen a few Bollywood movies, and i enjoyed them. Thank you.

[Sannahmusic]

Thank you for this amazing documentation!

[popcorn]

Ha! The Virus Inverter from "3 Idiots" in the background! (32:32) One of my fave movies of all, not just the Bollywood kind. (I'm American.)

For fellow non-Indians who enjoy comedy/dramas and would like to try a Bollywood film, I recommend "3 Idiots, " "Like Stars on Earth, " "Kal Ho Naa Ho, " "Udaan, " and probably my all-time favorite "Bajrangi Bhaijaan." (This star, song, and dance (40:19, 56:28) are from "Bajrangi Bhaijaan.")

Please offer some Bollywood suggestions of your own for me and others to check out, if you would. 😀

[thomasthomasphilp]

This is just Bollywood. There are film industries in each indian language almost

[stuartday]

How is it the world's largest film industry? When literally every film industry takes its cues from Hollywood? But to be fair since the 1990s Hollywood has taken its cues from Soviet films?

[lynne]

so sad that they are having brits in their movies. once again, Brittan is colonizing India.

[SujanZimba]

World biggest film industry? What aturd claim. India's big actors entire career collection is less then one normal Hollywood movie. What a crap

[SalmanMoody]

They name their movies as "hindi" but where is hindi in their movies, its all urdu, which is national language of pakistan, there is no pakistani song left now which they have not copied and put it in their movies, nobody can speak hindi there expect hindu religious preachers, pandits, only 3% people can speak hindi there, because muslims ruled on sub-continent more than 450 years and left their dominance there in a shape of urdu language which later becomes a national language for pakistan after partition, while on another hand india does not have any national language till now, they beat the drums of diversity and totally relaying on Urdu.