About This Quiz
Bollywood filmmakers aren't called dream merchants for nothing. They take glamour, glitz and spectacle to breathtaking levels. Although it's named after Hollywood, it has its own niche in world cinema. It's been around as long as Hollywood, but the Bollywood film industry has its own spin on movie-making.
Bollywood is only the Hindi-language segment of the Indian film industry. However, it's the most popular in India. The first Bollywood movie was released in 1913, and the first movies with sound were released in 1931. In a short period, Bollywood became a player on the world stage when the film "Mother India" was nominated for an Oscar. The stars, Sunil Dutt and Nargis, ignited the imaginations of the public when their on-screen chemistry continued off-screen and they were married.
Glamorous Bollywood stars like Madhubala and Vijaytinmala were not only stunning but classically trained dancers. Raj Kapoor was the Clark Gable of Bollywood. His talent extended to other areas of film-making when he not only starred in but directed enduring classics like "Bobby" and "Mera Naam Joker." In the '70s, films like "Sholay" ran in theaters for four years straight. Then the '90s ushered in another golden era with films like "Pardes" and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai." The magic continues to this day.
How well do you know your Bollywood? Take our quiz and see if your knowledge of Bollywood stars goes beyond the stratosphere or goes bust! Have fun!
Big B's iconic status started with "Zanjeer," and his fiery performance as a rebel police officer. He followed it up with "Namaak Haraam" and cemented his "angry young man" title.
This song was the only part of the original film that was shot in Technicolor. Shooting this song alone cost 10 million rupees. At the time (in the late '90s), entire films were shot for under a million!
"Lagaan" was the first film ever produced by Aamir Khan. He pierced his ears and wore earrings to play the villager Bhuvan. The original cut of the film lasted over seven hours, and the final cut that made it to theaters was just under four.
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Shah Rukh Khan was the first choice to play the "Kaun Banega Crorepati?" host in the film before Anil Kapoor stepped in. Kapoor actually appeared on the show and won 5,000,000 rupees for charity.
The film's director, Farah Khan, thought Deepika Padukone's Hindi diction was so poor in her original screen test she turned the sound off. She was cast anyway, and the filmmakers dubbed her sound in some scenes.
The filmmakers moved the exciting train sequence in "Dhoom 2" from Rajasthan to Namibia. You would think it would be hot in the desert, but it was actually only a little over 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
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One of Priyanka Chopra's co-stars gave her an interesting nickname while shooting for a film: "piggy chops." The slim actress and former Miss World (and newly married to pop star Nick Jonas), it seems, has a fondness for food.
King Khan almost didn't make this Bollywood blockbuster because of his previous roles playing negative characters. He wasn't comfortable playing a lover boy. We're all glad he changed his mind!
As if "the greatest showman" isn't enough of a title, two major publications named Raj Kapoor "Best Director of the Millenium" and "Showman of the Millenium." India Post also made a stamp with his face on it.
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Although "Bobby" made her a breakout star, Dimple Kapadia left films after marrying Bollywood star Rajesh Khanna who was 15 years older. After separating from him, she starred in "Saagar."
Saif Ali Khan is literally Bollywood royalty because his father, cricketer Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, was also the Nawab or ruler of Bhopal. After his passing, Saif assumed the title.
Sometimes, you need the perfect hair for the perfect shot. The filmmakers opted to shoot the film "Rockstar" in reverse because they wanted to make sure Ranbir's hairstyle would stay intact.
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A true heroine has to have the clothes. It's reported that Kareena Kapoor had 130 dresses from international designers and that her wardrobe was the most expensive ever for a Bollywood film.
With films like "Arzoo," "Deedar," "Daag" and "Devdas," Dilip Kumar earned the nickname The Tragedy King of Bollywood. He also tied with Shah Rukh Khan for the most Filmfare awards, winning eight.
Madhuri Dixit has made many songs famous with her captivating dance moves. One of her most famous, "Choli Ke Peeche," raised controversy and was protested by about 42 political parties around India.
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Ameesha Patel impressed in her first film, "Kaho Naa ... Pyaar Hai." But the film itself has a unique distinction: It made it to the Guinness Book of World Records in 2002 for most awards for a movie, with a whopping 92.
A popular Bollywood villain, Amjad Khan played the most iconic villain with the character of Gabbar Singh. Believe it or not, he was almost fired from the movie because the scriptwriter thought his voice was too weak.
Kajol took a break from acting. and made her comeback with "Dilwale." Despite her and Shah Rukh Khan being one of the most beloved couples in the history of Hindi cinema, she was not the first choice for the role.
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Aishwarya Rai was not the first (or even second!) choice for the role of Mansi in "Taal." Mahima Chaudhry was the first choice, but when she violated her contract, Manisha Koirala was the second choice, not Ash.
Even though Nargis played Sunil Dutt's mother in "Mother India," their chemistry jumped off the screen. They married soon after the movie was made. The film was the first Oscar nomination for an Indian film.
Ranveer Singh and director Rohit Shetty's "Simmba" is a record-breaker in the Hindi film industry. It's Shetty's highest-grossing film to date, and it's Singh's biggest opening movie.
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Abhishek Bachchan's first film didn't make a big splash because of the inevitable comparison to his father. Later, he received high praise and critical acclaim with the movie "Guru."
Since many of the fight scenes in the movie are real, Salman Khan went through some of his toughest training to prepare for his role as a wrestler. He could train for up to six hours a day!
Katrina Kaif has made it big in Bollywood despite not being fluent in Hindi and the other languages of India. Her voice was dubbed in most of the movies she worked in until "New York."
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Hema Malini was more than "India's Dream Girl." She could give you the glamorous, beautiful diva, but she could actually act, too. She rode horses, danced on shrapnel and fought bad guys.
John Abraham is another model turned actor who found success in Bollywood. His Hindi diction wasn't perfect, and, like some other model-actors, his first film ("Jism") dubbed his voice.
Rani Mukherjee isn't just a beautiful diva; she's a major talent. This former model and trained Odissi dancer won two acting Filmfare awards for playing a deaf-mute woman in “Black.â€
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Akshay Kumar has the nickname "Khiladi Kumar." He got it because he has made eight films with the word "Khiladi" somewhere in the title. He definitely knows the Bollywood game, as he ranked No. 12 on the Forbes Highest-Paid Actors List of 2016.
Rishi Kapoor has acted in over 100 romantic movies in his career, but that doesn't stop him from being a prankster. He was constantly playing pranks on his wife, Neetu Singh, on set.
Bipasha Basu was still new to films when she made "Raaz." It went on to become the second-highest-grossing film of 2002 after "Devdas" and brought the horror genre back to Bollywood.
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Sonam Kapoor was more interested in writing and directing when she first entered films. She even assisted Sanjay Leela Bhansali in "Black." Then he convinced her to do "Saawariya."
Ajay Devgan did five movies with his "Omkara" co-star Vivek Oberoi. By the time they did this movie, Devgan had made him his assistant when he played pranks on people on the set of the film.
Dev Anand produced and acted in "Kala Pani." His double-duty paid off when the movie won him the Filmfare Best Actor award that year. The Bollywood legend starred in over 110 films in his long career.
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"Junglee" was one of Shammi Kapoor's most beloved movies. He went on to make "Bluffmaster" with his "Junglee" co-star Saira Banu. Years later, he played her father in the film "Zameer."
One of Manoj Kumar's co-stars from "Patthar Ke Sanam," Waheeda Rehman, was not fond of the movie's screenplay. Since Kumar was also known as a writer, she wanted her co-star to rewrite it.
Despite her model looks, Zeenat Aman was a serious actress who became known for bold roles. In the films "Dhund" and "Roti Kapada Aur Makaan," her characters weren't the perfect Bollywood glamour doll.
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By the time "Guide" came Waheeda Rehman's way in 1965, she was an established star. People said her role as a woman who leaves her husband for her lover would ruin her. They were wrong!
Starting as an MTV India VJ, Malaika Arora made her way to the Hindi film industry in the '90s. She will always be remembered as the dancer on the train making moves in "Chaiyya, Chaiyya."
Mallika Sherawat made her film debut in "Jeena Sirf Mere Liye" with her real name, Reema Lamba. After the name change, she rocked the industry with films like "Murder" and "Pyar Ke Side Effects."
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Urmila Matondkar's breakthrough movie "Rangeela" happened because of the film "Drohi" she did with the director, Ram Gopal Verma. One day, he asked her to dance without a choreographer. She did so well that he cast her for "Rangeela."