Let’s be totally honest: Bollywood has lost its spark. The movies coming out today feel too commercial, the musical rom-com has been replaced with storylines desperately trying to be progressive, and both production quality and acting are subpar at best.

I tend to find myself watching nostalgic classics on repeat. As much as I love watching Shah Rukh Khan (Raj, Rahul, Ram, or any other basic brown boy name everyone's ex happens to have) realize that he actually has feelings for the beautiful leading lady while they dance in an exotic location like Switzerland or Egypt, my Prime Video definitely judges me as I re-watch for the hundredth time this year. 

So when I learned about Drunk Bollywood Live, I was ecstatic. 

What is Drunk Bollywood?

Drunk Bollywood Live (DBL) is a live stage parody of beloved Bollywood movies, but remixed with a new cast, jokes, and alcohol. Each show is made to be absolutely ridiculous and insane. The idea is that you are watching your favorite Bollywood movies, but funnier, with hundreds of your closest friends. 

Meet Proma and Raashi: the two powerhouse women behind the entire operation.

Proma Khosla and Raashi Desai are the founders of production company Lion Party Films. They met on the set of a music video shoot in 2016, quickly becoming friends and business partners. 

Proma is a Senior TV Writer at IndieWire, while Raashi balances multiple freelance gigs such as photography and teaching Bollywood dance. 

After meeting, the dynamic duo figured out that they were each “interested in similar stuff.” Proma said that Raashi “messaged me on Facebook (not to date the story) to get a drink and chat, and we have not shut up ever since… We create core memories together, day after day.” Together, the two have produced over 30 video projects and also created Drunk Bollywood. 

How was Drunk Bollywood born? 

Khosla came up with the idea of Drunk Bollywood in 2023 at a drunk stage parody of The Parent Trap by ADG NYC. She “quickly realized that this was missing for the South Asian community in New York.” 

By the time she left the show, she had decided that this needed to come to life. Raashi was quickly on board to execute. The idea initially started as a stage-reading (the name came from their own web series inspired by Drunk History), but quickly evolved into something beyond their wildest imaginings. 

Which movies have been done so far? How are the movies picked?

Drunk Bollywood has done three movies and 11 shows total: Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Main Hoon Na, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Their new shows on March 29th, April 9, and April 12th, will be Kal Ho Naa Ho. 

You may notice that these are all Shah Rukh Khan movies. When asked if this was on purpose, Khosla said “no, but I can’t help that he comes out with bangers… We tend to pick movies with nostalgia and popularity, the movies that everyone still quotes decades later. We need a big ensemble cast, because we also have a big ensemble cast. But we also really want movies with good, multi-dimensional roles for women.” 

The binding factor: a superstar cast 

After holding an open casting-call with over 60 submissions in the fall of 2023, 11 outstanding actors were brought together — and the chemistry was instant. 

Proma described how Drunk Bollywood  “got really lucky with our first cast… They clicked amazingly, they understood the concept when we hadn’t even pinned down what it was, they were down to joke around and rehearse extra, and make it bigger and better. That’s really rare.” 

After meeting the cast myself at a four-hour Saturday rehearsal, it was easy to understand what the founders of DBL meant. From Anu Mysore teaching full choreographed routines to other cast members while simultaneously taking on the roles of Jenny and Priya in Kal Ho Naa Ho, to actors Aditya Shahani (playing Kamo) and Karthik Muddu (playing Vimmo) perfecting their Hindi and Punjabi skills on the spot, the cast embodied an all hands on deck mindset. Meanwhile, the central love triangle led by actors Nabeel Tarique, Suhail Kumar, and Mariya Reza strongly benefits from their rapport with one another. This cast is clearly willing to go above and beyond, but they stand out in their ability to turn work into pure enjoyment. 

As Khosla puts it, the secret to Drunk Bollywood is being able to “take the unserious parts seriously. The cast knows how to have fun, which makes the synergies last that much longer.” 

The cast has come back for each and every parody Drunk Bollywood has done, with the crew coming for call-backs to get assigned their roles. When additional cast is needed, opportunities are posted and filled separately. This has included the addition of dancers as the show expanded.

What puts the “drunk” in Drunk Bollywood? 

The cast typically drinks to various levels throughout the show. This started as a loosely instructed but largely unscripted addition to the show, and has now become an incorporated part of the script building process. 

The cast will take shots on stage, invite the audience to drink with them, and create an atmosphere of a big, fun party, even for those who choose to remain sober. 

What is the Dream Celebrity Guest for DBL?

Proma instantly jumped in to claim “Kal Penn, so we can use the Instagram caption Kal Ho Naa Ho!” (Apparently Kal knows about Drunk Bollywood… my bet is that he will show up). 

Raashi mentioned Uday Chopra (somewhat jokingly), but overall said that a “comedy writer’s approval” would mean so much more to her than any celebrity. 

Both Khosla and Desai agreed that their ultimate dream guest is anyone who “thinks they will hate the show, but ends up loving it.”

What needs to change in Bollywood? 

“Bollywood has catered too much to the Western gaze lately” Proma said. “They're trying too hard to be ‘cool’, but the original movies we all loved were uncool. That’s what made them authentic and lovable.” 

Raashi mentioned that the chemistry in Bollywood movies “isn’t hitting anymore.” The golden age of rom-coms that happened as we were growing up is over, just as it is in Hollywood too. “The stories are weak, and they need a refresh.” 

Both also discussed that Bollywood movies today feel increasingly AI generated, and the mise-en-scene has become too simple. Raashi pointed out that “the screen used to be comprised of background dancers, detailed sets, fuller frames. But today, the scenes have become focused on the vertical, catering to cuts that will work well on TikTok. This just lacks substance.” 

What needs to change in Hollywood? 

Proma described Hollywood as having a “puritanical fear of fun! Not everything needs to make sense.” She also asks that Hollywood learn “how to direct a movie musical — we are available to help!” 

What needs to change about South Asian representation in Hollywood?

The rise of South Asian representation in media is undeniable, and Proma has found this really exciting to watch. She finds it important to be critical of media that is not good for our culture, but cautions that speaking on the bad can be detrimental. "It’s so difficult to get something with representation made in the first place. Let’s not disservice those artists.”

Raashi also mentioned that “no one writer can encapsulate the entire South Asian experience in one movie or TV show. We need to remember that.” She highly encourages young creatives to start early and invest in their skills, so once they get the opportunities to be in the right rooms, they are already trained and ready to go. 

Finally, how can YOU get involved with Drunk Bollywood? 

“Come to a show!” 

Tickets are always listed in the Drunk Bollywood Instagram. This is where you will find out about upcoming shows, news about the cast, and more interactive content! Though both the March 29th and April 12th shows are now sold out, the recently added April 9 show still has tickets available — get them before they are gone! 

For those interested in getting involved, there is an interest form for the potential to join cast and crew when positions become available. 

“Don't be shy, come say hi to us at the shows! We would love to meet you, put a name to the face, and get you involved!”