Known as one of the most prolific movie industries where larger than life actors have danced their way to the bank, Bollywood is facing one of its worst phases at a time when online streaming is also giving it tough competition.

With its dance numbers and peppy songs, Bollywood movies offer millions an escape from the drudgery of daily life, but deserted cinemas have left India's film industry desperate for a happier plotline next year.

India was recently gripped by a controversy involving the family of one of its most famous actors, Shahrukh Khan. In October 2021, Khan's son was arrested for alleged narcotics consumption. But according to his lawyer, there was no evidence of any wrongdoing. Many Indians believe the arrest was in fact orchestrated by India's Hindu nationalist government as a way of targeting the actor. In recent years, the government has become increasingly hostile towards some members of the country's powerful film industry. Our correspondents report.

Aastha Khanna is working on setting ground rules on Bollywood film sets, focusing on making a safe space for consent during intimate scenes. The industry has a long way to go on building awareness around intimacy.

It's not just boy meets girl but also Bollywood meets Nollywood in a film released by Netflix on Valentine's Day, and created by an Indian-Nigerian restaurateur.

With its dance numbers and peppy songs, Bollywood movies offer millions an escape from the drudgery of daily life, but deaths, drugs scandals and deserted cinemas have left India's film industry desperate for a happier plotline in the new year.

Since 2015, when Kunle Afolayan’s October 1st was onboarded to Netflix, more and more Nigerian films have made their way to the platform. This has become more frequent in recent months. And also, during this pandemic period, one of the things that have kept Millions sane over time is streaming giant – Netflix. So we bring to you the top 10 Nollywood films on Netflix.

Indians fans held Hindu prayer rituals on Sunday after Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and members of his family tested positive for COVID-19.

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, 77, announces on to his 43 million Twitter followers that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

Here is why you should pick up a copy of The Guardian on Monday. Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on the newsstands on Monday.

Violet Johnson returns this week with the top four stories that made our week:

It took a minute for Malhaar Rathod, then an aspiring teenage actress, to realise what the 65-year-old Indian film producer was asking her to do -- and to make the decision to walk away. Her experience with what is euphemistically known as Bollywood's "casting couch" culture underlines the challenges facing anyone seeking to break into India's massive, insiders-only film industry.