Take a tour to see how Indian cinema has found foreign fans - Hindustan Times
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Take a tour to see how Indian cinema has found foreign fans

Hindustan Times | By
Oct 25, 2015 10:41 AM IST

Badey badey deshon mein... Bollywood is flourishing in crazy and unexpected ways. Take a filmi chakkar through Peru, Israel, Germany, Africa, Afghanistan, Korea and beyond to see how our cinema has found foreign fans

Three hours of drameybaazi, dishoom-dishoom, dialogue, song-and-dance, herogiri and maybe a few tears. Our brand of cinema is thriving (dubbed, subtitled, pirated or officially released) in the unlikeliest of places. In faraway continents, young women are falling for our heroes at first sight. In nations ravaged by war, viewers have treasured our love stories across generations. Fans who don’t speak a word of Hindi can sing our songs; cold cultures have warmed to our comedies. And even at hostile borders, all it takes is a mention of Bollywood for the doors (and hearts) to open.

Shah Rukh Khan at the Berlin Film Festival in 2012. German women love Indian heroes as they are not afraid to show their emotional side. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Shah Rukh Khan at the Berlin Film Festival in 2012. German women love Indian heroes as they are not afraid to show their emotional side. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Ishq, a German magazine, at 6.50 euros, is not cheap. But it boasts a readership of 10,000 across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Ishq, a German magazine, at 6.50 euros, is not cheap. But it boasts a readership of 10,000 across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Salman’s scarves in Ek Tha Tiger set off a craze in Afghanistan, while Shah Rukh fans in Peru perform flash mobs when his films open.
Salman’s scarves in Ek Tha Tiger set off a craze in Afghanistan, while Shah Rukh fans in Peru perform flash mobs when his films open.
Khuda Gawah is still playing on Azerbaijani TV.
Khuda Gawah is still playing on Azerbaijani TV.
Disco Dancer songs are still sung on Russian TV shows, Awara is popular in East Europe.
Disco Dancer songs are still sung on Russian TV shows, Awara is popular in East Europe.
Israeli fan Moses Sapir loves Amitabh so much, he named his firstborn son (right) Amit after him.
Israeli fan Moses Sapir loves Amitabh so much, he named his firstborn son (right) Amit after him.
Rajkumar Hirani and Aamir Khan at a promotional event for PK. (Photos: Yogen Shah)
Rajkumar Hirani and Aamir Khan at a promotional event for PK. (Photos: Yogen Shah)
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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Rachel Lopez is a a writer and editor with the Hindustan Times. She has worked with the Times Group, Time Out and Vogue and has a special interest in city history, culture, etymology and internet and society.

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