In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we rewind to 7 ½ Phere — a smart, satirical look at how reality TV blurs the lines between truth and tamasha.Starring the birthday girl Juhi Chawla and Irrfan Khan, the film follows a TV director who turns a family wedding into a secretly filmed spectacle — only to discover that every family hides its own script. Funny, emotional, and way ahead of its time, 7 ½ Phere reminds us that the most dramatic stories are the ones we don’t intend to tell.

In this special birthday episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we’re celebrating Shah Rukh Khan, the superstar who’s redefined charm, emotion, and energy for over three decades.  And what better way to do that than by revisiting one of his early, often-forgotten gems — King Uncle.Directed by Rakesh Roshan, the film stars Jackie Shroff as the cold, no-nonsense industrialist Ashok Bansal, whose life changes when a mischievous orphan, Munna, enters his mansion and his heart. Along the way, we see a young Shah Rukh Khan in one of his sweetest supporting roles full of warmth, innocence, and that spark that hinted at the megastar he was about to become. It’s a story about family, forgiveness, and how love can melt even the toughest exterior.Tune in as Jyotika looks back at King Uncle, a film that reminds us that before the “King Khan” we know today, there was a young dreamer already winning hearts in his own quiet way.

In this special birthday episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we celebrate Amitabh Bachchan, the legend whose every role has redefined Hindi cinema.This week, we revisit Main Azaad Hoon, one of his most powerful yet underrated performances.Directed by Tinnu Anand, the film follows a down-and-out man who becomes the face of a fake revolution only to truly embody it.It’s political, poetic, and painfully relevant even today, a story about media manipulation, mass hysteria, and one man’s awakening.Tune in as Jyotika breaks down how Amitabh turned fiction into faith, and why Main Azaad Hoon is the perfect reminder, on his birthday, of why he’ll always be the voice of the people.

What happens when a bank manager, pushed to the edge, decides he is going to rob his own bank using blind men as the thieves? Aankhen (2002) is exactly that kind of twisted, clever thriller. In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we dig into how Amitabh Bachchan, an obsessive, short-tempered manager, Vijay Singh Rajput, turns from keeper of order to mastermind of a heist.We’ll explore the unlikely team he assembles, three blind men trained to carry off the impossible and the moral chaos that follows. Add Sushmita Sen’s teacher torn between duty & desperation, and twists that lead to open vs. closed endings depending on where you watched the film. Based on the Gujarati play Andhalo Pato, Aankhen pushed boundaries in Bollywood’s heist genre. It’s suspense, betrayal, sympathy, and shock all rolled into one. Loved by many, debated by more, it’s a story that stays with you. Tune in as we unspool Aankhen’s secrets, the brilliant, the messy, and the moments you probably missed.  

Before Marvel, there was Ajooba! This week on The Watchlist with Jyotika, we’re diving into one of Amitabh Bachchan’s most ambitious and underrated roles, a fantasy adventure straight out of a desi fairy tale. Directed by Shashi Kapoor, Ajooba takes you to the mythical kingdom of Baharistan, where a masked hero fights evil, saves his people, and redefines what it means to be a legend. With capes, genies, magic carpets, and underwater kingdoms, Ajooba was Bollywood’s bold attempt to dream big, way before special effects caught up. And while it didn’t strike gold at the box office, it remains a cult gem for fans who love their cinema grand, experimental, and a little bit wild. So tune in as Jyotika unpacks the charm, chaos, and pure imagination of Ajooba, a reminder that even legends like Amitabh Bachchan have a few forgotten adventures worth rediscovering.

Bhoothnath (2008) – ek aisi film jisme dosti, comedy aur emotion sab kuch tha! Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost, iss film ne Amitabh Bachchan ke Bhoothnath aur chhote Banku ki sweet friendship se sabke dil jeet liye SRK ka extended cameo, Juhi Chawla ki warmth aur Rajpal Yadav ki comedy – full family entertainer vibes! Bachpan ki yaadon ka khazana, aur ek message ki ghar aur rishton ki asli value kya hoti hai

A vision that won’t leave her mind. A murder she sees before it happens. 100 Days is the gripping story of Devi, a woman with psychic powers whose premonition draws her into a chilling mystery. Madhuri Dixit delivers one of her most underrated performances as Devi, while Jackie Shroff and Javed Jaffrey add layers of suspense and intrigue to this psychological thriller.In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we dive into Partho Ghosh’s cult classic — a film that blended supernatural elements with edge-of-the-seat suspense. Expect eerie trivia, unforgettable music by Raamlaxman, and why 100 Days remains one of Bollywood’s most haunting thrillers of the 90s.

Canada, 2001. A tragic accident shatters a family and a business empire. Amar Shah is gone, leaving behind a fiancée drowning in grief, a father who has lost his voice, and a family struggling to hold on. Into this storm walks Shekhar Malhotra, a man who promises to rebuild Shah Industries and unknowingly begins to heal their broken hearts. But Tum Bin isn’t just a love story. It’s a tale of guilt, redemption, and the impossible choice between love and loyalty. Should Pia follow her heart, even if it beats for the man responsible for Amar’s death? Or should she choose a future that looks stable, but loveless? In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we revisit one of the most poignant romantic dramas of the early 2000s. From its soulful Anubhav Sinha direction to the timeless Nikhil-Vinay soundtrack, from Priyanshu Chatterjee’s quiet intensity to Sandali Sinha’s heart-wrenching vulnerability — Tum Bin remains a film that defined love, loss, and second chances for an entire generation. Because sometimes, moving on isn’t about forgetting, it’s about forgiving.

Posters on his wall. Dreams that stretch from Pune to Mumbai. Mast is the story of Kittu, a young arts student whose obsession with film star Mallika turns his life upside down. Urmila Matondkar shines as Mallika, caught in her own struggle with fame, while Aftab Shivdasani in his debut captures Kittu’s innocence and heartbreak.In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we revisit Ram Gopal Varma’s musical romance — a tale where love, obsession, and illusion collide. Expect debut trivia, timeless music, and why Mast remains one of Bollywood’s most fascinating late-90s love stories.

Mumbai, 1991. A quiet afternoon turned into six hours of relentless gunfire as the police and underworld clashed in the heart of Lokhandwala. Apoorva Lakhia’s Shootout at Lokhandwala captures this real-life encounter in all its chaos, raising questions that still haunt us: Was it justice, or just revenge?In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we dive into one of Bollywood’s most hard-hitting gangster dramas. From Vivek Oberoi’s menacing turn as Maya Dolas to Sanjay Dutt’s steely ATS chief, to the way the film blurred lines between cops and criminals, media and spectacle — this is a story where every bullet carried a dilemma.Expect behind-the-scenes trivia, the controversies that shook the film, and why Shootout at Lokhandwala remains one of the finest underworld films in Indian cinema.Because sometimes, real life is more cinematic than the movies.

Some films stay with you long after the credits roll. A Wednesday, directed by Neeraj Pandey, is one of them. A tense thriller set over the course of a single day, it pits an ordinary man (Naseeruddin Shah) against the system, with a police commissioner (Anupam Kher) caught in between. In this episode, Jyotika dives into what makes this story so powerful—the moral dilemmas, the razor-sharp dialogues, and the way it questioned authority without giving easy answers. She also connects the film to Neeraj Pandey’s later work like Special 26 and Baby, and even draws parallels to OTT shows that carry the same urgency and grit. If you love taut storytelling, unforgettable performances, and cinema that makes you think, this episode belongs on your Watchlist.

What happens when you swap fairy-tale endings for champagne hangovers and backstage betrayals? Page 3 pulls back the velvet rope on Mumbai’s high-society circuit and it’s not all glitz and gold.In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we revisit Madhur Bhandarkar’s National Award-winning drama, where Konkona Sen Sharma plays a young journalist navigating the murky space between truth and access. From designer parties to hidden scandals, from starry smiles to silent breakdowns, this is a world where the headlines are just the tip of the iceberg.We’ll talk about the film’s raw honesty, unforgettable performances, and why its critique of celebrity culture still feels painfully relevant. Because sometimes, the most interesting stories aren’t on Page 1… they’re buried on Page 3.

What happens when a broke son-in-law, two struggling roommates, and a fake kidnapping plan come together? Total chaos — and comedy gold.In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we rewind to Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega (2001) — the crime-comedy caper where Saif Ali Khan, Fardeen Khan, and Aftab Shivdasani set out to stage a kidnapping… only for things to take a hilariously dangerous turn. Add Sonali Bendre, Twinkle Khanna, Johnny Lever, and a dash of real kidnappers to the mix, and you’ve got a ride that’s equal parts madness and masti.

Some films don’t just tell a story they hold up a mirror to a generation’s dreams, disillusionments, and deep contradictions. Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi is one of those films. In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we revisit Sudhir Mishra’s quietly explosive political drama set in 1970s India, a time of Emergency, rebellion, and ideological chaos. Through the lives of Siddharth, Geeta, and Vikram, the film explores how love, power, and politics intertwine and how the personal can never really be separated from the political. It’s a film that doesn’t offer easy answers, but leaves you with haunting questions. What is worth fighting for? Who pays the price of change? And how many of our own khwaishein survive the system? Press play to rediscover a cult classic that remains just as relevant and just as devastating today

Before horror meant jump scares and haunted hotels, there was Makdee, a film that turned childhood fears into cinematic gold. In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we revisit Vishal Bhardwaj’s directorial debut a tale of twin sisters, a haunted haveli, and a chudail who turns people into chickens… or so they say. Join me as we unpack this clever, creepy, and charming children's film that blends horror with humour, fantasy with realism, and courage with pure chaos. Featuring a powerhouse performance by Shabana Azmi and a National Award-winning turn by Shweta Basu Prasad, Makdee isn’t just a film it’s a full-on desi fairy tale with a twist. Perfect for those who grew up on stories of bhoot banglas, daantne wali buas, and sibling rivalries with stakes as high as a lifetime of chickenhood.

Before euro trips were the norm and Goa became a plot cliché, there was Papa Kehte Hain. In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we rewind to a gentle coming-of-age film where a teenage daughter sets out to find the father she’s never met, and ends up discovering herself along the way. Featuring a fresh faced Jugal Hansraj, the charming Mayuri Kango, and an unforgettable Anupam Kher, this 90s gem is filled with soft visuals, quieter emotions. Why did this film feel so personal? Why was that moment between estranged father and daughter so quietly powerful? And why don’t we make more films like this anymore? Tune in as Jyotika revisits Papa Kehte Hain — not just a film about finding someone, but about finding where you truly belong.

What do you get when a conman falls in love, fakes a brain tumor, and ends up getting conned himself? Bluffmaster! (2005) was more than just slick suits and snappy songs — it was a full-blown hustle in high style. In this episode of The Watchlist with Jyotika, we rewind to one of Bollywood’s most underrated thrill-comedies, where heartbreak meets hustle, and every twist is a setup for the final masterstroke. Featuring Abhishek Bachchan at his most charismatic, Priyanka Chopra in a refreshingly grounded role, and Riteish Deshmukh as the wildcard you didn't see coming.We’re diving into fake scans, real feels, and that iconic twist ending — plus a fun segment on how to win back your ex (minus the fake tumor drama, of course).So, sit back and let’s decode the con... one bluff at a time.

What happens when a there's a hot-headed cab driver and his passenger is a privileged brat?In this episode, we revisit Taxi No. 9211 (2006) — a sharp, pacy, and surprisingly emotional film where ego, chaos, and class conflict collide inside a single taxi. Directed by Milan Luthria, and powered by unforgettable performances from Nana Patekar and John Abraham, this film is more than just a chase through the city — it’s a journey toward self-awareness, redemption, and maybe even a little unlikely empathy.Tune in as we decode the drama, trivia, and timeless urban energy of this underrated gem. Because sometimes, the road less taken starts with a meter down.

Haasil sirf ek campus love story nahi hai — yeh hai pyaar, power aur politics ka dangerous mix. Allahabad University ke backdrop mein, Anirudh aur Niharika ki innocent love story Ranvijay ke obsession ka shikar ban jaati hai. Iss episode mein, hum baat karenge Tigmanshu Dhulia ke debut film ki — jahan Irrfan Khan ne ek unforgettable villain ko jaan di. Yeh film yaad dilati hai ke kabhi kabhi pyaar jeet nahi, sirf haasil hota hai.

In a world where lines on a map decide who you are and where you belong, Refugee dares to ask: what if love doesn't recognise borders? This week, we revisit J.P. Dutta’s understated but unforgettable film Refugee — the debut of Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor — and a rare Hindi film that places the refugee experience at the centre of a love story. From the haunting visuals of the Rann of Kutch to the quiet rebellion in its lead characters, this episode explores a film that speaks softly but stays with you loudly.