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Kho Gaye Hum Kahan Review: Siddhant, Ananya, Adarsh Deliver A Fitting Year-End Reminder To Rediscover Your Lost Sense Of Purpose

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Director: Arjun Varain Singh

Cast: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Adarsh Gourav, Kalki Koechlin, Anya Singh, Rohan Gurbaxani, Vijay Maurya, Divya Jagdale, Suchitra Pillai, Rahul Vohra, Kashyap Kapoor

Where: Streaming now on Netflix

Rating: 4 stars

Within moments of the movie starting, you’ll likely sense that first-time director Arjun Varain Singh has been observing you throughout. It’s the closest I can get to describing the profoundly personal and intimate experience of watching Kho Gaye Hum Kahan. The latest Netflix offering can be aptly described as a straightforward examination of our perpetual craving for validation, driven by our excessive reliance on social media and its many perils.

Ahana Singh (Ananya Panday), Imaad Ali (Siddhant Chaturvedi), and Neil Pereira (Adarsh Gourav) embody the Gen Z equivalent of Amar, Akbar and Anthony. Ahana, a dynamic executive in a digital agency, finds her self-esteem taking a beating when her boyfriend Rohan (Rohan Gurbaxani) unexpectedly ends their relationship. Neil, an uprising physical trainer, finds himself misled by his influencer client Lala (Anya Singh), who makes him believe that a genuine connection could exist between them. Imaad, an emerging stand-up comedian, harbors a fear of commitment and intimacy. However, he inevitably finds himself drawn towards Simran (Kalki Koechlin), an emotionally intelligent woman with clear priorities. Incapable of facing their truths, the trio paint individual facades both online and among their close circles, unaware of how will it consume them all.

Penned by Singh along with Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti, Kho Gaye Hum Kahan efficiently utilizes its 2-hour runtime to make its point without intending to force its messaging upon the audience. From searching for our purpose and value through the multiple times our phones vibrate, to the reflexive urge to check social media the moment we wake up, from adopting alternative identities to express our frustration to how we knowingly or unknowingly perpetuate negative offline behavior, the film packs in a lot without leaving an end untied. The assembled technical team seamlessly aligns with the narrative that the film aims to convey. Tanay Satam’s cinematography and Sally White’s production design introduces an abundance of colors during Instagram-worthy situations, while also skillfully employing darker and earthier shades to depict everyday realities. Notice how the club that the three friends frequent is called Hideaway. However, the film’s greatest strength lies in Yash Sahai’s dialogues, complemented by the stand-up pieces written by comedian Sapan Verma. The essence of these dialogues is similar to a comforting hug rather than boring sermons from an overbearing parent. Additionally, the film also slyly pokes fun at itself, even at Netflix. The narrative is further complimented with music by Ankur Tewari, OAFF, Savera, Lothika, Rashmeet Kaur, Yashraj, Karan Kanchan, Saba Azad and Achint Thakkar.

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan though, is strengthened by the impressive performances of its three charming leads. Siddhant allows Imaad to hide his pain behind a mischievous smile and philandering eyes. His performance is so controlled that I couldn’t help but be deeply moved when he makes the ultimate revelation about himself in the climax. Ananya captures Ahana’s essence in a way that resonates with any woman who, at some juncture in her life, has sought validation through the lenses of someone inconsequential. However, it’s Adarsh’s portrayal of Neil that hits like a punch in the gut. His struggle to overcome his circumstances and the desperate measures he takes to whitewash his reality will resonate as a stark and uncomfortable truth. Watch out for the moment where he feels seen when an influential personality acknowledges him.

Kho Gaye Hum Kahan comes just in time as a year-end reminder to disconnect from your phones, appreciate what you have, and prioritize friends over followers. The film also serves as a much-needed affirmation for days when you question your place in this world. Include it in your holiday watch list, and as you do so, try your luck in spotting one of our most loved influencers somewhere in the film.

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Indian cinemas biggest stars rally behind WAVES 2025 event in Mumbai

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Mumbai, April 19: The who’s who of the Indian film industry are set to attend the WAVES (World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit) in Mumbai.

On Saturday, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister of Railways of India took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared a promotional video featuring the biggest stars of Indian cinema including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Vikrant Massey and Nagarjuna.

In the video, the actors talk about the upcoming event, and also reveal that the conversation will be taken forward by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

It’s also revealed in the video that the event will see thought leaders from the entertainment industry, and pioneers across the industries lending their inputs to the event.

The World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) is a global platform that unites pioneers, visionaries, and aspiring creatives from the Media and Entertainment (M&E) industry.

The event is organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and the Create in India Challenge, and is poised to be a groundbreaking forum for discussions, collaborations, and transformative innovations.

It is sponsored by Netflix and orchestrated by Reskilll, and is set to redefine the future of storytelling, filmmaking, and digital content creation.

Waves Summit 2025 has been nothing short of extraordinary. With over 3,000 applications, only the top 600 candidates were meticulously selected and trained, ensuring a pool of highly skilled and passionate participants. The ‘Trailer Making Competition’, the event’s crown jewel, saw an overwhelming 134 entries, showcasing an array of creative talents eager to make their mark in the industry.

The event has seen over 3,000 applications, of which top 600 candidates have been selected and trained, ensuring a pool of highly skilled and passionate participants. The event is set to be held in Mumbai from May 1 to May 4 in the BKC area of Mumbai.

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A.R. Rahman reveals how news about his personal life affects his mental state

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Mumbai, April 17: Music maestro A.R. Rahman, currently preparing for his ambitious “Wonderment” tour, has admitted that news and rumours about him do take a toll on his mental well-being. In an exclusive conversation with Media, A.R. Rahman opened up about his preparation for the ‘Wonderment’ tour, the use of AI in music, his mental state, and much more.

When asked, “Music requires a happy state of mind, do news and rumours about you that circulate everywhere affect you?”

Rahman replied, “I think every artist goes through this. Sometimes they are in a very, very sad state, and they have to do ‘Chhaiya Chhaiya’ or ‘Hamma Hamma’. You can’t say I’m not in the mood. They will go to somebody else. Sometimes you are very happy, and they want you to do the saddest song. You should be ready for it. In music, you have to be in a very neutral condition. You are almost like an actor. You are sad inside but you have to play happy.”

When further inquired , “But as an artist and as a human being, does it really affect you when you read so much about yourself.” Opening about it Rahman quipped, ‘It does, It does affect but it’s part of the game. The ups and downs.”

For the unversed, A.R. Rahman’s wife announced her divorce with him in the month of November 2024. Soon a social media post went viral accusing Rahman of having an extra-marital affair with one of his band members which led Rahman to issue a statement. He also announced to take a legal action against those spreading defamatory news about him.

Further during the conversation, A.R. also spoke about his health and shared a message with his fans stating “Thank you for all the love. Sorry to have scared you. The hospital gave something which went viral. I am here healthy with all your prayers and love. See you on the 3rd at D.Y. Patil stadium.”

In the month of March, A.R. Rahman was admitted to the hospital in Chennai due to chest pain.

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R Madhavan reflects on his glorious 25 Years: ‘A Journey beyond my wildest dreams’

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Mumbai, April 14: One of the most versatile actors, R Madhavan marked 25 glorious years in the Indian film industry on Monday.

The ‘Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein’ actor chose to commemorate the occasion in the most soulful and humble way, with a visit to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Joining him were his ‘Kesari Chapter 2’ co-stars, Akshay Kumar, and Ananya Panday, as the trio sought blessings ahead of their much-anticipated film’s release on April 18.

Madhavan took to his official IG and dropped a picture of him offering prayers, alongside Akshay and Ananya.

He penned a heartfelt note on the photo-sharing app, reflecting on his 25 wonderful years in the Indian cinema.

He said, “25 Glorious, Wonderful, Rewarding and Blessed years as a Film actor…. Journeys beyond my wildest dreams…with Ecstasy and Agony for constant companion, yet with all the LOVE earned that overwhelms my Heart to this day…. And So… during this very spontaneous Pilgrimage on this very Auspicious and Special day (14th April 2000 when my FIRST FILM ALAIPAYUTHEY Released)..Just To Surrender and show GRATITUDE for all the blessings that can either be Explained nor Justified AAAAA.. Thank You and Guide me.”

As mentioned in the post, Madhavan made his debut with Mani Ratnam’s 2000 flick “Alai Payuthey” and never looked back since.

From memorable roles in “Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein”, “3 Idiots”, and “Tanu Weds Manu” to the critically acclaimed “Shaitaan”, Madhavan’s journey has been rich with diverse characters and impactful stories.

Now, he is looking at another powerful performance as Advocate Neville McKinley in “Kesari Chapter 2”.

A spiritual sequel to the 2019 outing, “Kesari”, the film is a cinematic adaptation of the book “The Case That Shook The Empire” by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat, centred around C. Sankaran Nair and the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

The Karan Singh Tyagi’s directorial has been produced by Dharma Productions, Leo Media Collective, and Cape of Good Films.

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