Latest / Cait & Court's Cozy Corner: Romance Readers / Let's Talk About: Bollywood and Romance Conventions with Actor Simmi Singh
Transcript
- Simmi Singh: we go. Hi. Caitlin Stryker: Executive producers and hosts, Caitlin Stryker and Courtney Richter, producers, Canasia Ngo and Hollie Lobosky Original music, Cassie De Silva. Welcome back to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner, where we always start off with you realizing that clearly we were going through something before we hit record. ⁓ Courtney Richter: Hi! Caitlin Stryker: This is a podcast for lovers of romance and romantasy novels who want to go on a deep dive into their favorite genre. Honest discussions and salacious details giving romance books the respect they deserve. We are two friends, actors, moms and romance readers who like a bit of spice and everything nice in their books. Simmi Singh: 1000%. Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: You know the drill. Be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to our podcast. You know the drill. Be sure to like and subscribe wherever you listen to our podcast. Gosh, so today we have a very special guest with us. We have actress Simmi Singh joining us. She's joining us because she is an actress on a movie that I am also an actress on and that I produced ⁓ with my husband, Bradley Stryker, who wrote, directed and starred in it. It is called Days. It is a beautiful indie film that is a love letter to Venice and Los Angeles ⁓ Courtney Richter: Thank Courtney: Thanks for tuning in to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner Romance Readers. Caitlin Stryker: has the very ambitious goal giving back the proceeds from the sale of the film to local charities that are ⁓ still helping the most vulnerable victims of the LA fires ⁓ our unhoused community. ⁓ So welcome Simmi Singh, thanks for joining us today. Yeah. Hi, I'm Cait Courtney: And I'm Court. Welcome to Cait and Court's Cozy Corner Romance Readers. Simmi Singh: Thank you for having me. Thanks for having me. before we start, beautiful family, you guys ⁓ so talented, on board with everything. And I just want to say that I'm so thankful that I was a part of something that, you know, isn't just for your own gain. It's for, you know, giving back to the community and helping and just the ambitious goal. like, regardless of anything, it's going to be great. We're going to do great. It's going to be great. Yes. Courtney: As we like to say, you don't need spice for a book to be good. Well, you don't need running shoes to run, but they sure do help. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, yeah, we got this. Courtney Richter: Yes, definitely. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: that's our attitude over here at Cait and Court's Cozy Corner. like, we got this, let's go. know, Simmi and I were talking Court and Simmi does these incredible videos. I think you have a massive audience, YouTube. Incredible, hilarious, wonderful videos. And I was talking with her, was like, know, she's like, yeah, I just do stuff. you know, sometimes I'm falling and the parachute opens and sometimes it crashes. And I was like, oh, that's like me and my partner on the podcast. Simmi Singh: as we should. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: Yeah, 100%. 100%. Yeah! Caitlin Stryker: gonna go for it and then halfway down we're like did we pack a parachute? Courtney Richter: you What's gonna happen today? Simmi Singh: feel like that's all of life in general, right? Like, I feel like anybody that has like a, you know, anything to offer to the world, I feel like it's all just a big parachute that they just were like, sure, we're just gonna jump and hope that, you know, this one just opens up and we'll float down instead of just crashing and burning. Caitlin Stryker: And if we crash... Courtney Richter: Or we'll tuck and roll. We'll just do a tuck and roll and get back up and get the next one. Simmi Singh: Yeah, yeah, ninja roll. Ninja roll, tuck it in. Caitlin Stryker: Did you roll? Courtney Richter: you Caitlin Stryker: Exactly. Okay, so today with Simmi, Simmi grew up with a lot of Bollywood influences and I was like, okay, I see a tie in with Bollywood and romance. So we are gonna have a discussion today about just that. Simmi, can you tell us the movie that you had us both watch? Thank you. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: Yes, I totally can. So it's called Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham it is just it's like, OK, nowadays, obviously, like Bollywood is moving into more like action and things like that, which is really cool because I just watched this amazing movie called They're Under and two part one and two. And both of them were over three hours long. ⁓ it was crazy. ⁓ mean, that's most Indian Bollywood movies, right. And it's because of. Yeah, because they're musicals. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Yes, they are long. Caitlin Stryker: This one's cubby cushy. that was three hours. Yeah Simmi Singh: Yeah, they're musicals and they really fully tell a story and there's always like so many storylines that are happening at the same time that, you know, coincide and so cool. But this movie was like one of the coolest things I've seen come out of Bollywood in such a long time that wasn't just romantic and it was just done in such a different way. Anyways, that movie, the fact that it had such a big audience and had us like sit there for seven plus hours if you watch one in part one and part two. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah Simmi Singh: as know, this generation that is constantly watching the videos and you've been to keep our attention for seven plus hours. ⁓ Lovey. Kabhi Kabhie Gham is all, that's the era that was growing up watching Bollywood movies and it was all romance, family ties, know, musicals. ⁓ And not that still not musical. It was just such a beautiful time to grow up and watch those movies. and everything was based on romance. So all of our expectations growing up have been in love, have been fairy tales, you know? And everything is gonna work out at the end. The parachute is gonna open up when you fall and you're gonna land safely and there's gonna be people singing and dancing when you land and it's gonna be such a good time. that's, and you know, your man is right there waiting for you and he's just with open arms. And that's what we grew up. Caitlin Stryker: you Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Great. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Hahaha Yes. Simmi Singh: like watching and doing. So I'm so glad you guys like that was your it was like if you're watch a Bollywood movie and know what really like romance where we get it that our version from is that movie. So Courtney Richter: Yes. Caitlin Stryker: I love that so much. you know, I think, I think it's so, you know, I think it's okay to have those expectations because maybe then you draw that reality in for yourself. If you expect bad, you're gonna get it. But if you expect good and great, eventually you'll get there. And even in these movies, it's not right away, you know, or even in a romance story, there is, there's a build to a romance story. It's not like, boom, we got it. It's like, there's this... Courtney Richter: We do. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: process ⁓ to get there and so which is Courtney Richter: Okay. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Yeah. I also, I also think like these movies, I've realized like, as I'm watching those, and I'm watching like other dramas and stuff, I'm like, it's not the damsel in distress story, or like the princess who's being saved by the prince and whatever. And that is what makes her life, you know, the best. It's just like, no, she's finding herself but also understanding. Caitlin Stryker: No. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: you know what love is supposed to be like through whether it's her relationship or like her parents or her family or whatever. She's finding that and I think it's so cool that they've shown us like with your own strength, you'll find the person that you can stand with who's going to treat you to understand that you're a strong person, but also treat you with love and respect and loyalty and all that. And you should be expecting all of that and allowing yourself to only be saved. It's like, no, you do your thing. You stayed up for yourself. And then, you know, you Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: you find love and love is supposed to be this magical thing and it's very true, it's very honest and that's how should be. Caitlin Stryker: Yes, and I think that's true of the romance genre. Wouldn't you agree, Court? Like even the romance books that we read? Like it's not a damsel in distress being saved. Simmi Singh: Yeah. 100%. Courtney Richter: it's no, it's her and usually it's someone grow like having their own personal growth. When they find it coincides with finding that person that helps you to look in and, and see the things that you want to hold on to and the things you do want to change because they are there and you want that partnership and until I think personally like until you have grown in yourself confident in yourself, you can't truly be a partner with someone else. And so Simmi Singh: No, no. Courtney Richter: that tends to compliment each other and help someone not be a damsel in distress, but own themselves so that they can also then appreciate the relationship and the person that is there to help lift them up to that. Does that make sense? did I ramble? It's one of my favorite things about my husband and also one of my least favorite things, like the holding of the mirror, because no one calls me out on my shit more than my husband. ⁓ But also... Simmi Singh: Absolutely. Absolutely. 100%. 100 %! Caitlin Stryker: Hmm. Mm-hmm. Agreed. Courtney Richter: He's right. Like I can't, I don't tell him in the moment, of course, because he's wrong in the moment. ⁓ Read the room, yes. But, you know, a few days later, I'm like, fine. No. Yeah, just listen for second. Simmi Singh: Right. Caitlin Stryker: No! No, I fight and cry actually in the moment. Simmi Singh: Yeah, I didn't come to you for this, I came to you for a hug, dammit! Tell me I'm being rational! Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Exactly. Yeah. Don't like, like hold the mirror to my problem and what's wrong with me right now. Tell me how great I am and that I'm the best. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Don't hug me and tell me that I'm gonna, you know, be fine and I'm gonna do this. Bitch, I wanna cry on your shoulder right now and I want you to hold me and tell me, hey man, I know you feel like you can't do it, but you can. You're deserving, you're strong, you're powerful. Let's go. Versus like, hey, like get off your ass and go do it. And you're like, what do you want from me? that's not what I want. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Yeah, I don't need the solution. Yes Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Courtney Richter: Yeah! Caitlin Stryker: No! This is not what I want right now! Courtney Richter: Yeah. No. Simmi Singh: I wanna be a child, let me be a child. Courtney Richter: you you panic for a minute but you're gonna be okay no no no just just exactly like you said I don't need to hear that I've done this before ⁓ Simmi Singh: Yeah, yeah, let me, yeah, let me have my pity party and be a part of it, bring a cake, please. Bring a cake. Caitlin Stryker: You Thank you! Be a market for my cake! Courtney Richter: Yes, bring cake! ⁓ my gosh. The amount of arguments that can be solved if someone just showed up with cake. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, and just sat there and listened and was like, let's eat the cake while you cry it out. I'll give you a hug and maybe we'll reconvene tomorrow and we can talk about this. Courtney Richter: Yeah, that will be good. Simmi Singh: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, let me know when you're ready to, you know, listen to Rational Solutions. Right now, I guess you're not. that's what I need. Courtney Richter: Yes. No, not the time. How did it so, I'm curious with like my deep dive, I've gone into the Bollywood and ⁓ into the Bollywood book that Cait and I will read down the line. How did the idea of that with the romance play with then often the theme of the arranged marriage? Like did it, does it change that? Caitlin Stryker: No. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, like in kavi Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham that's the big, big Courtney Richter: Yes, yes, of course. So for you, though, like the one growing up with that being your romantic influence, like, was that part of your story? Like, is it that you want to find that arrangement? Like that kind of battle? Like, did that play for you? Or did it always just come across as like the ⁓ fixed like the story part of it? Simmi Singh: Yes. Well, I think, no, I don't think that that was ever really an influence because I went to India when I was eight years old and I came back when I was 12. So it was never really like, you know, embedded in my system that like we're getting arranged. was like, you know, my parents gave us the choice to like, hey, if you find love, great. If you don't and you want us to arrange it, let us know if when you're ready, like if you want to find it that way. So which was great. So I didn't have that influence of like you. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Okay, that's cool. Courtney Richter: Cool. Simmi Singh: it like growing up knowing that I'm going to be arranged, marriaged and whatever, right? But I grew up on both sides too, where like I learned like as far as my grandparents, right? They were arranged. They fell in love and they were together until my grandma passed and for 64 years, right? So I've had that version of love in my life that I've, you know, been influenced by. And then my parents Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: Even though they were arranged, they knew each other, they knew of each other, they knew they liked each other. And even them, like they're 43 years in now. And same with that as well, you know God bless. then, and then my siblings and I, we've all fallen in love and now all three of my siblings are married. They've fallen in love, they've picked their people and that's who, you know, they got married to and now are living their lives with So I like, yeah, we got the choice. I think that like, Caitlin Stryker: Wow. Wow. Simmi Singh: Even my parents, again, giving us that choice, we never really grew up with that influence. It has to be arranged. so, yeah, I don't think that that part was ever influenced, but it was also like, it did teach me something beautiful that like, marriage, love or not, it's gonna work out or it's not gonna work out, whether it's a choice that you've made or whether it's somebody that you've been arranged to. And you can find love that way too, but you can also... Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: Either way, like it's your choice. It should be your choice whether you want to be arranged, but beautiful things come out of both sides, you know, I think. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. It almost like relieves some pressure to like know like hey you can like figure it out or if you want well like Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, I love that. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you guys want to like, let us know if you find somebody and you know, that was what my parents always told us. Let us know if you find somebody and you're ready to get married and or like, let us know if you're just like, hey, like, what do we got in them on the market? You know, what do we have on the, you know, who do you guys know? And who do you know? Yeah, what are my options? Let me just see. Yeah, let me just see if I want to date that or if I want to. But even then it was never like, hey, when if you do want to get arranged and we're just going to Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. the options. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, you're like, I'm just curious. Courtney Richter: you Simmi Singh: you know, this is we're going to pick this person for you. It was like, hey, you know, there'll there'll be like all the kids that like, you know, the the, you know, ⁓ sons of who has who's ever like our friends, their sons. And if we know that they're good people, whatever, then we'll bring those to the table and see how you guys mesh. And then you again, you guys may get to make the decision. So you're not like, you know, and I think that's very that's all that. Yeah. And I think that that's basically all of. Courtney Richter: Right. Caitlin Stryker: Right. Yeah, that's very cool. Simmi Singh: as far as I know, because I also haven't been back to India, but like as far as I know, it's very much free will at the moment. it's not in the choice is yours as far as I know. And I think, of course, you know, like any other place in certain places, I'm sure there's yeah, exactly villages or whatever. But, you know, for the most part of friends or people that I know, everybody has kind of made their choice of what they who they want to spend the rest of their lives with. And even in the movies. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: There's varying degrees of, yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Simmi Singh: they get to pick, you know? So it's like, I think that that is also. Mm-hmm. Yes. Yes. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Well, that's what's so interesting. Can you actually give us ⁓ a synopsis? We've watched it. I want to discuss a little bit. But can you give us the synopsis of Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham through the tears, through the smiles, ⁓ Simmi Singh: Yes. Yes, absolutely. ⁓ It's just, yeah, basically, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham just means sometimes there's happiness, sometimes there's sorrow, like in life, right? that's just what it means. So, ⁓ yes. So the synopsis of this movie is it's about a family of this one, you know, businessman who's probably come up from nothing, right? I'm assuming they really didn't show his backstory, but that's usually what the case is. They come up from nothing. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. you Simmi Singh: And he is, you know, the father figure and he makes all the decisions and you know, he grew up in a way, you know, where like his dad probably made all the decisions and stuff and like, know, whoever they married, just, it's just what it is. So he was arranged into this and it was probably like a business, you know, decision that his dad probably made to get him married to somebody that's wealthy, whose daughter is wealthy or whose parents are wealthy and then, you know, they get married. Then. they have kids and they, you now have given them a better life where they have like gone to other places and studied and, you know, learned that culture and whatever, and then brought that back to where there is more freedom and, know, where they can, they can, they're all allowed to fall in love and things like that. And then, ⁓ you know, but he's still stuck in, the dad is still stuck in like, Hey, no, I've given you everything. I have worked so hard to make sure you guys have good lives. So, Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: obviously I will make the right decision for you by picking your woman. But he has, you know, in his way made the mistake of falling in love with a simple girl from the village, you know, who does not come from a wealthy background and cannot help the dad with the business in any way. She's just there as, you know, a person who's a good person. And so he decides that he wants to marry her. And, you know, and that Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: brings like a rift in the family and the dad disowns the son and then there's a younger brother there. And then it's basically them just rebuilding like their lives and trying to come back together after something that was looked at as a mistake that a son made by just falling in love and wanting to make his own choice. After the parents feel like the kids owe them something. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: because they have lived their lives for the kids, if that makes any sense. So I think that's, yeah, yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: No, it does make sense. And that's like basically what happens in the movie that dad, the mom is like, I found it very interesting. When the mom was like, No, you know, times have changed, you can decide and the dad is sitting there in the in the living room and he kind of pipes up from the corner like, no, they haven't, you know, and that's the moment where you're like, ⁓ he's picking this like very pretty girl, you know, who's been around and like, you know, Courtney Richter: Yeah. Simmi Singh: No. Yeah, everything is the same. Courtney Richter: you Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: has definitely been like working her way in with the family and we already see that you know our MMC our main male character like he wrote Rohan I think his name is he's fallen for this other gal who is you know your classic romantic heroine she's she's from sort of a bit of a lower class but not like you know but but not from the same upper class as him and ⁓ Simmi Singh: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: and she's sassy and she's fun and she seems very like free and open and ⁓ in that moment, dad's like, no they haven't. And the mom is kind of like, yes they have. And then he just shuts it down. And then it's like, okay, we're like, that dad is gonna take over the situation and we're gonna have problems. And then, you know, that's where, and then we time jump and the little brother is the one who has a glow up. Simmi Singh: It's fun! Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: Yeah. shuts her down. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Huge glow up. Simmi Singh: that is, so Hrithik Roshan is the actor's name. And I remember he debuted, I think in 2000 or 2001. I was 11, maybe at the time, 11 or 12. Yeah, 11 or 12. And I just remember seeing just this guy who looked like a Greek God for, you know, India and just like blow up overnight who came out of nowhere. Caitlin Stryker: What? Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. How'd that go for ya? Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: you Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Or anywhere. Courtney Richter: you Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: Yeah, his dad obviously was an actor and their whole family is, you know, that's kind of how the industry is there. Like, you know, people know each other and it's just families, just their kids and their kids and their kids. And that's kind of how the whole thing is. yeah, but they, they just, just remember seeing him on screen and I was like, who the hell is this guy? You know, at 11 and everybody, I just remember he blew up. But anyways, that glow up is Caitlin Stryker: Mmm, you're born into it. Yeah. No, just. Simmi Singh: one of the most talked about glow ups and that younger version of him ⁓ has also actually had a glow up in recent years. In real life, like, yeah, he put himself on social media and now we can see the kids and we're like, wait, we get it. He's grown up too. And he's like, he's had his own glow up and it's great for him. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. No way I'd love that! Courtney Richter: Ugh. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ my gosh, I love that. Cause in this story, I mean, you know, we jump ahead and then he shows up and you're like, ⁓ my gosh, he's a knockout from this like chumpy chubby, really annoying bratty little kid to like an absolute, yeah, like, like Indian Greek God. Yes. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Yeah. Simmi Singh: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Courtney Richter: She's the fantasy of who you hope your childhood friend you haven't seen in years would then show up as, basically. Cool, cool, cool, cool, cool. Yeah, yeah, is that arrangement still on the table? Yeah. Simmi Singh: Right, right. You're like, ⁓ great, okay, cool. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We're fated as well. Let's, this makes sense. This is good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Also, I don't know if any Bollywood fans will know this, but when she says that line, that long line as a child, Pooja's character, when she says it as a child, she says one extra like phrase that Ritigrash and as an adult does not say. Caitlin Stryker: show up and you're like hi when did you get hot ⁓ Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: And I have been dying for someone to like say something about it, but no one has. And I'm like. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ gosh, ⁓ my gosh, because that's when he shows up and he does the like, you know, in our the translation was like, whatever, right? And then she's like, and so you're saying he like misses the line. it's like Courtney Richter: You're calling it out! Simmi Singh: Yeah. Yeah. He misses one little phrase and I'm like, anybody else catch that or we're just gonna like let it go? And I'm like, somebody needs to say it. Somebody needs to say it. Caitlin Stryker: that's funny. my gosh. I love when we catch those things of like our favorite movies that we watch over and over. Yeah, that's when you catch those. that's you catch it when you've seen it like, yeah, yeah. Courtney Richter: Yep. Well, here it is. And we're like, they missed it. Simmi Singh: Also, I've seen this movie like 300 times. So that's probably why. Three hours, 300 times. Courtney Richter: Ugh. It's look it is three hours, but it doesn't feel like it like it is very much you're just in it for the ride and going and then you're like, holy crap that was three hours, but you don't realize it when you're watching it at all Simmi Singh: No. Caitlin Stryker: No. Yes. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: And like every time the dance sequence, I was like, this can go on forever. I love this. And they do go on forever, but I was like, this is bringing me so much joy right now. Courtney Richter: Hmm. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yes. Simmi Singh: They did a lot of melody stuff in that movie where it was like one song led to another song that like just kind of, it just like, whenever they were celebrating, there was always like a long song situation that I was like, ⁓ okay, cool. But those songs were so popular back in the day. To this day, every now and again, they'll play that Shava Shava song at weddings, at a reception. And you'll just, and everybody does the move. We know it and we all do it. We all are in a circle and we do it. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yes. Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: ⁓ really? Caitlin Stryker: and moves. Courtney Richter: Ugh. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: that's so fun. that's really fun. Yeah. Simmi Singh: Yeah, yeah, no matter what your background is, you know that. Like if you're Punjabi or Hindu, whatever, you watch Punjabi movies or Hindi movies or English, whatever. If you know that song, you know the moves and you know you're going to come in and do that. And it's like four steps. It's so great. So fun. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: Ugh. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ that's awesome. I love that. ⁓ And then I love how you have like the double romance going on in this one. So we have our first romance and that of course is like, that leads to this family rift and the first two of them, they wind up over in London and they're basically exiled but doing very well. ⁓ Courtney Richter: I love it so much. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Right. Simmi Singh: Right? When I saw that house, was like, what? It's that he got an MBA. that's what happened when he went away for work, like or went away for schooling. He was gonna, he was supposed to take over his dad's business. that's kind of like they build a business for the kids to take over. So ⁓ kind of what I think he was supposed to be going for. that's why. Caitlin Stryker: Yes! Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. I feel like dad exiled him, but was like, here, let me set you up with a good contact over there. Like somebody, like that's. Simmi Singh: Yeah, right. Oh, no, no, No, the way the dad disowned him and how angry he was and whatever, there's no way he was like, you're not even an afterthought. Like he wants, that's the thing. He wanted to punish him. He wanted to tell him you're going against me, how dare you? And, you know, at the end of the day, even though it's son, you know, and I also think that there's a part of, and this is again, probably the Courtney Richter: It definitely did burn too hard. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: you Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, that was harsh. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: romanticized Bollywood version of me where I'm like, but there's probably a part of the dad that was like, you know what, this is how he's gonna learn and he's gonna be on his two feet and he's got this, you know? And deep down hoping that he succeeds. But they didn't show that in the movie, but that's just my own want. Yeah, cause that's what my mom and dad would do. So I'm like, ⁓ yeah, I know for a fact that that's probably what it was. Deep down, deep, deep down. Deep, deep, deep down. He wanted to. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Bye. Yeah. No, they didn't. Yeah. So you're like, I just put that out there. Courtney Richter: Or just hoping he comes crawling back. Yeah. This is a nice version. Deep, deep, deep, deep, deep underneath it all. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Deep, deep, down. Yes. Yeah. And then we have our younger brother who shows up with the massive glow up and then and then her younger sister who now is overtly she's like she was sassy when she was younger but she's like sassy and like very overtly sexy and all of these things and then it's kind of like their sort of childhood friend romance thing that we get we kind of get two romances in one in this in this movie which is really really fun plus all the dances. ⁓ Now Simmi Singh: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: Yes. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. ⁓ Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Simmi Singh: Yeah. And we also see the parents, you know, like the mom also gaining, gaining like respect, self-respect and like also understanding like, Hey, just because I'm your wife doesn't mean that you, you know, get to keep my kids away from me. The most important thing, like I'll take everything, but you do not take my children away from me because you're so stubborn that in your own ways that you like, no, she's putting, and she puts her foot down and I think that's another, and they find Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: you Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: themselves too and I think over the years they just lost that because she, you know, he probably pushed one time and she just allowed it and then just like never, they never got that dynamic of like actual husband and wife and what that would mean to be like, hey, we make decisions together and it's not just, you know, and and that was another thing I feel like they also found themselves and back to each other. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yeah. I agree. Yeah, yeah, I agree, which is really fun. and you know, when we read a lot of our romance books, it's nice when there are those other layers in there as well, you know, like, where it's not just like the one it's like, ⁓ and then this story, something's going on in this story, too. And it's all romantic and swirling. ⁓ And Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah. the B and the C. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: And not easy, mean the audacity to disown your child without your wife agreeing to it is like, it's a big move to try to pull off and pretend it's Yes, which is like on her too, like there's a shock aspect to it I suppose, but. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Simmi Singh: Yeah, well, she also didn't. Yeah, she also didn't say anything to stop it. Yeah. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Simmi Singh: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: Yeah, like same, like, are you kidding me? There's no one in the world that would ever make me disown my kids. Like they have, they couldn't do anything to make me disown them. Caitlin Stryker: No. Yeah. Yeah. Simmi Singh: Yeah. And I think that they were showing the actual family dynamic that a lot of people have experienced in our culture that the dads are like, they're looked at as the head of the family. So whatever they decide, the women have been taught, and this is like back in the day, it's not the same, but the women were taught to like, okay, Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Generational, yeah, yeah. Simmi Singh: you listen to your parents. And then when you get married, your next house that you get married into, you listen to that man and whatever he says and whatever he does is what you kind of have to abide by. He's the rules. He makes the money. He does all that. But obviously times have changed. But it was it was great that they were able to show that dynamic of like, she's a stay at home mom. He is the working dad, you know, and and the head of the family. And he's positioned himself there and she's allowed it. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: versus ask for like, hey, yes, I'm a housewife because maybe you've told me to be one and you want me to take care of the kids and I've done amazing. I feel like nowadays and also other cultures, 100 % you'll speak up. But when it comes to the Indian dynamic, that culture back in the day, they've shown, and it was really cool to see the difference of like, they showed the mom and dad dynamic. They showed, like even when, Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: yet how it's changed. Simmi Singh: you know, yeah, our main character Shah Rukh Khan's character and ⁓ ⁓ and Anjali when they got married and they moved to London or whatever, you can see like just how he is with her. She still, even though she is a housewife, she still makes the decisions. He's still like, you know, they have like their cute romance. And then of course the younger generation with the Rohan and Pooja, they also have their dynamic of like, this is the new generation. They, they are, they, Caitlin Stryker: you Yeah. Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: dress, you know, not the same as what the mom was dressing as, you know, they go out clubbing, they go out partying, they're allowed to have fun and fall in love and be out late and whatever. So like, they just showed the time difference too and generational differences in each one, which I thought was brilliant to show, because we could all relate. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Yeah. Yes, every generation watching as well could relate and yeah, yeah, yeah. And you really feel that like watching the movie, ⁓ which was very cool. Okay. So listen to, this is the like sort of, we're going to read a book called A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev. Courtney Richter: Yes. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Yeah. Ooh! ⁓ Caitlin Stryker: And it's a contemporary romance novel about Mili Rathod, a young Indian woman in an arranged marriage, and Samir Rathod, her husband's charming Bollywood director brother, who comes to America to convince her to sign divorce papers but falls for her instead. The story explores themes of tradition versus modernity, duty and love set against a vibrant backdrop of Indian culture, food and Bollywood glamour. And I'm like, okay, I'm excited. Now having Simmi Singh: that sounds fun. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: watched this movie, which This was the first time I've like, watched, sat down and watched a full Bollywood movie. Like they've been on in the background, you know, when I've been somewhere or I've seen clips. But this was really, was telling Court I was like, I'm so excited because now I know, now I get like the classic romantic Bollywood, like that was growing up now. And it's interesting now that it's kind of shifted to more action films and stuff. But hopefully we get some more classic romantic ones because I love Courtney Richter: Me too. Yes. Simmi Singh: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: Yes. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: that musical romance, you know. Simmi Singh: Yeah, well, I think like, okay, back in the day, they had action and romance, right? At the same time, then there was like this era that I was in India for and growing up and there was this era of just straight up romance. And it was was Karan Johar films. He's the he's the director for these films, right? And it was him and Shah Rukh Khan And they just always it was like when they got together because he wanted to do action. Shah Rukh Khan, when he came into the industry, he was ⁓ the first Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: like few films he did, he was a villain. He never played the hero. And somebody was like, hey man, have you seen your eyes? Like they are romance. Like you should not be playing the bad guy. And he's like, bro, I just want to do action. Like I don't want to be doing romance. And they're like, one more time, your eyes give you away. You have kind eyes. They told him like, you have kind eyes. they just, they have so much to say other than, you know, action and being a villain and whatever. Courtney Richter: you Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ Yeah. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Simmi Singh: So he was like, okay, so then as soon as his first film as a romantic lead came out, he became, it was like, it. Like we learned our romance from Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar and them put together. yeah, and then now it's moving like the, it's still, they still do romance, but now they're doing like the younger generation romance where it's not, where it's more like in your face. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Okay, Yeah. Simmi Singh: ⁓ you know, love and, you know, that kind of stuff versus like the little things of like, ⁓ let's, it's kind of forbidden because my parents don't need to know, or like, you know, like that kind of stuff that our generation grew up with. And then you have the younger generation now, Gen Z now that when we see the romance, we're like, yeah, they're more carefree. They're more, they're standing up for their rights. They're, know, they're standing up against the parents and whatever versus my generation. And you know, when Shah Rukh Khan was doing his romantic films, it Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: very much, ⁓ you know, OK, I like this person, but like maybe her family, because she's a woman and she's a girl, her family is not going to like they don't want they don't want to see the love. They don't want to see us holding hands and kissing and, you know, doing whatever. They don't want to see that because they're just like, that's a private thing versus the romance we see nowadays. It's more in your face versus what we were used to. And then, of course, ⁓ Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Simmi Singh: the action movies, I mean the last two that I've watched, they've been action movies and they just did such a good job with it because it told a real story of like India and Pakistan, ⁓ which is really cool. So it's like we saw history but like done really well and we're like, ⁓ finally it's not just the hero comes out on top. It's just like, bro, there's real life and everything, you know, is not just him winning at the end by looking beautiful. It's like, he's like. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Mmm. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Thank you Simmi Singh: gritty and you know, like having to fight his way out of everything and we're like and losing in the process and we're like what you want him to win but he loses in the process and you're just like, okay, so it's one of those feel good movies at the end because you're like, what did I just watch for seven hours and how did you keep my attention for seven hours? Also, when you go to the movies to watch a Bollywood movie in ⁓ like a theater, you get intermission. it's yeah, so you have they'll give you Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Yes. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: ⁓ wow. Caitlin Stryker: Nice. Simmi Singh: 10 to 15 minutes, and you know what's crazy? Those movies are three hours and you still get a 10 to 15 minute thing, but now we're watching movies for three hours in Hollywood and we're not getting our 10 to 15 minutes. Caitlin Stryker: Right? Courtney Richter: that's true. Yeah. Give me a break. Caitlin Stryker: And quite frankly, we need one. We need one. Actually, they did do one. They did one for one of the big, the last Adrian Brody one that was like three hours. ⁓ Was it four? They did though, and it was really nice. And I was like, I really like this. I want that. Anytime a movie is over two hours and 20 minutes, give me an intermission. Simmi Singh: One. that was four hours long. They should have. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Well. Yep. Simmi Singh: 100 % 100 % pause it at a good moment to where I can leave and use the restroom and maybe refill my drink and come back. Like I need that. Yeah. And they do that in in in yeah, they do that in Bollywood movies. Yeah, 100 % Caitlin Stryker: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Or make the movie less than two hours. One or the other. Courtney Richter: would people be down for? Yeah, one or the other. even with the tension, like people want to go out, they want to check their phone, they want to do like, I think that really would make the movie going audience ⁓ more keen to come see the longer movies if you got that break, like theater and like we're doing. But I really love this dive into Bollywood. I'm so glad you brought this film to us because I haven't watched a full one either. And I loved it. And I also love like how much love stories romance no matter. Caitlin Stryker: ⁓ Yeah. Simmi Singh: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yes. Simmi Singh: Yes. Courtney Richter: where in the world, what the tradition like there's just this through line that we can all connect to and understand. And the joy that romance and love stories bring is just always there. it's just whichever form you're watching it in or reading it in. And it was so enjoyable this movie. It's just hope and it's oxytocin and like, yeah, things can be okay. It's a great escape and reminder all in one. Caitlin Stryker: you Yes. Simmi Singh: Yeah. It's just hope. It's, it's, yeah, it's hope. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah. Simmi Singh: Yeah, 100%. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, it's just yeah, I felt so great watching it. It was beautiful again. Yes. Thank you, Simmi for bringing to our attention. And I said, we're going to read that Bollywood romance book and yes, ⁓ Simmi Singh: Of course. Courtney Richter: Thank you. Yep. Simmi Singh: You know, I'm going to read it too. And we could talk about that. Yeah, I'll read it too, because I've never read it. A Bollywood Affair. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Okay, amazing. So you read it too and we will reconvene in a couple months and talk about it. And then we can go even deeper and be like, my gosh, this gave us behind the scenes on making of these movies and everything. ⁓ that's what I'm kind of picturing. I wonder what it's gonna be like. ⁓ Simmi Singh: Okay. It's so great. Yeah, as we should, as we should. Let's, that's probably what it is. If your backdrop is anything to do with colors and music and dancing and food, you have a full backdrop. You can make 1,700 books out it. You just, you know? So yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Yeah, all right. Yeah. Yeah. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Caitlin Stryker: Right? Yeah, yeah. All right. Well, on that note, that is it for our discussion today with Simmi Singh about Bollywood and romance. And we will be back. We've committed. We will be back with Simmi. We will be discussing A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev. We'll be back in a couple of months with that one for you and we'll talk about it some more. Thank you so much. Stay cozy. Simmi Singh: Yes. Thank you. Courtney Richter: Mm-hmm. Part two. Simmi Singh: Absolutely. Courtney Richter: Yeah. Simmi Singh: Thank you for having me. Courtney Richter: See? Caitlin Stryker: Yes, stay cozy, keep reading and we will talk to you later. Bye.