Podcast · Film & TV

Filmi Ladies

Filmi Ladies takes a woman-centered look at Indian cinema, with occasional detours into books, tv, and other pop culture. Hosted by Pitu Sultan and Beth Loves Bollywood.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 11 min
Latest: 14 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 18 minNew

Filmi Ladies episode 217: Rekha's controversial era (Aastha and Kama Sutra)

Happy Rekha Divas to all who celebrate! Our queen turned 72 a few days ago (October 10—get it on your calendar, mortals!) so we decided to celebrate her IDGAF era with two controversial films she starred in: Kamasutra (1996) and Aastha (1997). Have you seen either? What are your thoughts? Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is @bethlovesbollywood on Bluesky Email us at filmiladies at gmail See…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E216 · 7 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Filmi Ladies episode 216: Lust Stories 3
We recently watched Lust Stories 3 and enjoyed it a lot! Have you seen this anthology? What are your thoughts? Do you agree with Pitu that the third segment is a little too talky and a little too long? Do you agree with Beth that the appearance of Konkona Sen Sharma solves everything?Click here to see our episode on Lust Stories 2.https://youtu.be/pwhdWVNwgMs?is=vf5gi_DZ83goQXDUSubscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062@filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on…
E214 · 30 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
Filmi Ladies episode 214: Nadira
She is wicked and stunning, a fashionista and a scheming paisewali, and we love her to bits! We discuss retro baddie Nadira in Aan, Shree 420 and Kahin Din Kahin Raat. What are your thoughts on Nadira and would you let her crush you under her stiletto? We would! Read about other Jewish actresses in Hindi cinema: https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/jewish-actresses-bollywood
23 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Filmi Ladies episode 214: Dor
Dor completes 20 years! Such a sweet, heartwarming film about friendship, and women supporting each other despite harrowing circumstances. Have you seen Dor? What are your thoughts? Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is @bethlovesbollywood on Bluesky Email us at filmiladies at gmail See our letterboxd for everything discussed on this podcast. https://boxd.it/qSpfy Our logo was designed by…
E213 · 16 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
Filmi Ladies episode 213: Saudagar (1991)
It's equal parts awesome and horrendous, it's melodramatic, silly and campy and we had to do an episode on it! We are discussing 1991's blockbuster Saudagar! Have you seen it? What are your thoughts about this unhinged movie? Does it maybe just need to be MORE unhinged???
E212 · 9 Sep 2026 · 53 min
Filmi Ladies episode 212: A Death in the Gunj
It has been 10 years since Konkona Sen Sharma's debut film 'A Death In The Gunj' released and boy does it hold up! Absolutely amazing direction and wonderful acting from an ensemble cast in this movie athat is a murder mystery but also a film about games people play. A great piece from the Hindustan Times about the history of McCluskieganj https://www.hindustantimes.com/static/mccluskieganj-ranchi-jharkand-anglo-indian/ Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062…
E211 · 2 Sep 2026 · 1 hr
Filmi Ladies episode 211: our top 5 Rishi Kapoor films and songs
It's a celebration of Rishi! In honor of his birth anniversary, we pick our top 5 Rishi performances and songs! Expect much nostalgia! Tell us your favorite Rishi moments. And which of his films from the late 80s into the early 2000s should Beth watch? Here's our qawwali episode with special guest Sujoy from Khandaan! https://youtu.be/wTINpaD0Htc?si=Wdpw94Pnr6FU_2O6 Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on…
E210 · 26 Aug 2026 · 58 min
Filmi Ladies episode 210: Geeta Bali
For the second episode of our Retro Ladies series, we take a look at Geeta Bali, who starred in 75 films and worked in the film industry for 2 decades. This is an actor we know very little about, and we were very charmed by her ebulience, natural acting, and girl-next-door wholesomeness. Pitu watched the delightful Albela (1951) and Beth watched Pocket Maar (1956), where her co-star is Filmi Ladies podcast patron saint Shri Dev. Thank goodness - it's been ages since we saw Dev! Read "Remembering Geeta Bali As More Than Just Mrs Shammi Kapoor" by Ananya Surana at Feminism in India…
E209 · 19 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Filmi Ladies episode 209: Sridevi films we've been meaning to watch
To mark Sridevi's birthday this year, we gave ourselves an assignment: finally watch some of her films that have been on our lists but we just haven't gotten around to yet. Pitu picked Jaag Utha Insan, and she will explain her choice and regrets. Beth picked Sri's first Hindi film as a lead, Solva Sawan, which was, frankly, rough going. Then we have a long discussion on the perpetual issue with Sridevi films: she's always so much better than the men opposite her, and if you want to prioritize the films that are written for her to be the unquestioned number one lead, you run out of options…
E208 · 12 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Filmi Ladies episode 208: Dil Chahta Hai 25th Anniversary
Come celebrate the 25th anniversary of the very iconic Dil Chahta Hai! Let's peek into this sunny, golden, aspirationally emotionally open world inhabited by Akash, Sid, Sam, Shalini, Tara, Pooja, and Deepa! There will be much discussion of 2000s fashionz too. Forgive us for forgetting about Deepa, the deeply relatable queen of unrequited love. Way back in 2006, a friend challenged fellow writers to name a Hindi film character who should have a blog, and OBVIOUSLY it's her. https://www.bethlovesbollywood.com/2006/10/aaaaakaaaaash-dot-blogspot-dot-com.html Want to talk about Sid some more?…
E207 · 5 Aug 2026 · 54 min
Filmi Ladies episode 207: Ikka (2026)
(This episode contains spoilers!) We are always curious to see what Akshaye Khanna and Sunny Deol are up to these days so we watched Ikka (2026), a courtroom drama on Netflix. Although we watched it for them, the only actor worth watching turned out to be Tillotama Shome, who we didn't even know was in the film. Ha! Did you watch Ikka? What did you think? Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is…
E206 · 29 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 11 min
Filmi Ladies episode 206: Omkara 20th Anniversary
It's the 20th anniversary of Omkara! Does this movie belong to Saif's evil Langda Tyagi? Absolutely! But we are also excited to discuss Omi, Kesu, Dolly, Indu, and Billo! Tell us what you think! Our friend Vikas Raheja and his guest discuss Omkara as their #1 Indian film of 2000–2025 in this episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/my/podcast/e48-the-5-best-indian-movies-of-the-21st/id1724615125?i=1000739198605&l=ms Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062…
E205 · 22 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Filmi Ladies episode 205: Sunil Dutt
Have you ever heard anyone say they don't like Sunil Dutt? No, you haven't coz it's not allowed. We shine a spotlight on his acting career, directorial work as well as his specific "brand". There is also a Venn diagram of "decent, green flag men." Movies discussed are Humraaz (1967), Bhai Bhai (1970), Reshma Aur Shera (1971), and Ganga Aur Suraj (1980). Look at Beth's screengrabs of Ganga aur Surag to see how the sparkle contest between the two leads lands squarely in Shashi's favor. And also how fun Aruna Irani and Reena Roy are!…
E204 · 15 Jul 2026 · 36 min
Filmi Ladies episode 204: Bhooth Bangla (2026)
We watched Priyadarshan and Akki's latest venture - Bhooth Bangla (2026) and had several thoughts about bhoots, haunted havelis, bad wigs, demons, bats and horror comedies as a genre.Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062@filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on InstagramBeth is @bethlovesbollywood on BlueskyEmail us at filmiladies at gmailSee our letterboxd for everything discussed on this podcast. https://boxd.it/qSpfyOur logo was designed by…
E203 · 8 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Filmi Ladies episode 203: catching up with Alpha, Disclosure Day, Single Salma, and more
Just a catch-up episode where we discuss movies and tv shows we are watching or plan to watch. Beth discusses Alpha and Single Salma, and Pitu discusses Disclosure Day and America's Sweethearts. What are you guys watching? Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is @bethlovesbollywood on Bluesky Email us at filmiladies at gmail See our letterboxd for everything discussed on this podcast.…
E202 · 1 Jul 2026 · 59 min
Filmi Ladies episode 202: Love in Simla (1960) and Love in Tokyo (1966)
Love and cherry blossoms are in the air! Our actors Sadhana, Asha Parekh, and Joy Mukherjee x2 fall in love, hijinks, and misadventures in Love in Simla (1960) and Love in Tokyo (1966). Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is @bethlovesbollywood on Bluesky Email us at filmiladies at gmail See our letterboxd for everything discussed on this podcast. https://boxd.it/qSpfy Our logo was designed by…
E201 · 24 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 17 min
Filmi Ladies episode 201: Meena Kumari
It's a new series, fully embracing the RETRO LADIES we are at heart! (Some of these people should have been in our superstars series the first time through, and we beg their forgiveness.)Where better to start than Meena Kumari, one of the great queens of all time? We look at Azaad (1955), Sharada (1957), Aarti (1962), and—finally—Pakeezah (1972), with the latter two forming the bulk of our discussion. Other episodes centered on Meena Kumari's work: • Merry Meena, focused on her light-hearted roles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ2tuaYv05U (this also contains a long discussion of the burden…
E200 · 17 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Filmi Ladies episode 200: Harishchandrachi Factory (2009)
To mark our 200th—yes TWO HUNDREDTH—episode, we chose a film that celebrates cinematic history. Harishchandrachi Factory is a Marathi film about the making of the very first feature film in India, and it's a peculiarly light-hearted approach to an event with massive consequences. Dadasaheb Phalke is portrayed as a less crabby Willy Wonka, surrounded by people who mostly say yes, easily, to all his whims. This film is missing much commentary on the significance of Phalke's work beyond "it was the first feature film" and spends no energy investigating anything juicy—what was it like to…
10 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 22 min
Filmi Ladies episode 199: Maa Behen
So much to say about Maa Behen! Madhuri, Triptii, and Dharna portray wily, crafty, endearing, complicated, entrapped, strong, powerful, confusing ladies in this character study of what it means to be a woman in our world. This episode is spoiler-free until we issue a warning at 24 minutes in! Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is @bethlovesbollywood on Bluesky Email us at filmiladies at gmail…
E198 · 3 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Filmi Ladies episode 198: Yalgaar and Apradh
If "Feroz Khan"="more is more," then the theme of today's episode is More More Is More. How perfectly filmi! We needed to escape the nonsense and disappointment of the modern world, so we traveled back to a mod Mumtaz in Apradh (1972) and shiny Sanjay Dutt in Yalgaar (1992), all in the very good company of the always macho, always winkingly fun Feroz Khan. For more FK, check out Beth's appearance on Let's Talk Melbourne's special episode devoted to the actor-director https://open.spotify.com/show/39TgxeixQXM4v8qkWfBIEo or read this great interview about him with Kabir Bedi…
E197 · 27 May 2026 · 43 min
Filmi Ladies episode 197: Kartavya
Pitu said "Let's watch Saif's new film!!" and Beth said "OK!" before realizing what it was about, and then she wanted to scream into the abyss. Overall we found this a rough watch - but only because it's far too real. This episode starts with a spoiler-free general discussion, and we tell you when we're getting into spoiler territory later on. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is…
E196 · 20 May 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Filmi Ladies episode 196: Varun Dhawan
Affable, energetic, talented, excellent hip swiveler and very versatile Varun Dhawan takes center stage in this episode. We discuss Badlapur, Dishoom, October and Street Dancer 3. For more VD discussion, here are links to the Alia and Bhediya episodes. https://youtu.be/aGoFNXxQm3o and https://youtu.be/JYyRDXVWWPw What are your favorite Varun films? Do we need to watch Baby John or Border 2? (Please say no.)Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062@filmiladies on…
E195 · 13 May 2026 · 53 min
Filmi Ladies episode 195: Dil Apne Aur Preet Parai (1960)
A doctor and a nurse having a romantic moment at the hospital, drinking coffee in the moonlight...this romantic drama from 1960 ticks a lot of boxes (and we literally keep count). Meena Kumari, Nadira, and Raaj Kumar star. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is @bethlovesbollywood on Bluesky Email us at filmiladies at gmail See our letterboxd for everything discussed on this podcast.…
E194 · 6 May 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Filmi Ladies episode 194: The Burning Train (1980)
This movie is everything the title promises plus so much more! Starring half of the 1980 film industry and putting most of them on a speeding death trap is a recipe for a great time. We discuss what makes this work so well (bravo to editors R. P. Bapat, S. B. Mane, and Pran Mehra), its songs, and what various players bring to their roles. Watch The Burning Train in youtube with English subtitles here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5SWfxtScsk And at the very least watch the amazing qawwali Pal Do Pal Ka Saath Hamara https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtlW1geOWxM Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on…
E193 · 29 Apr 2026 · 53 min
Filmi Ladies episode 193: Toaster
We watched Toaster, the new release on Netflix with Rajkummar Rao, Sanya Malhotra, Archana Puran Singh, Abhishek Banerjee, and others in a great cast stuck a misfiring machine that somehow never really goes ding and pops out a well-done, crunchy treat. And if you _that_ was a belabored point, just wait til you watch the film. (Or don't.) What do you wish for Rajkummar Rao's career? Because for us, it sure wasn't this. Remembering the great Bhanu Athaiya in our episode about film saris. https://youtu.be/pZySdkLAgVM?si=80p8i8JBlueR8cbx Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify…
E192 · 22 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 15 min
Filmi Ladies episode 192: Unishe April (Rituparno Ghosh)
Happy Unishe April to all who celebrate! We discuss this much-loved Rituparno Ghosh film about a mother daughter duo (Aparna Sen and Debashree Roy) who have a relationship that is anything but "shodhoran" (ordinary). Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is @bethlovesbollywood on Bluesky Email us at filmiladies at gmail See our letterboxd for everything discussed on this podcast.…
E191 · 15 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
Filmi Ladies episode 191: Fan 10th Anniversary
In our opinion, Maneesh Sharma's Fan (2016) is a deeply unsettling work of experimentation, creativity, and importance. Join us for a long chat about why it's so weird and yet so great, what it means that Shah Rukh made this artistic commitment and statement, plus speculation on why audiences didn't seem to connect with it the way the makers hoped. Read Beth's original take on the film when it came out: https://www.bethlovesbollywood.com/2016/04/cause-i-can-play-part-so-well-fan.html Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts…
E190 · 8 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 13 min
Filmi Ladies episode 190:Alia Bhatt (superstars series 29)
One more before this series is a wrap: ALIA! We love her. But what's her special sauce? To answer this, we looked at Highway (2014), Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014), Shaandaar (2015), Dear Zindagi (2016), and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017). We also briefly touch on Gangubai, Gully Boy, and Udta Punjab. If you want more Alia, check out our episodes on Darlings, Rocky aur Rani, Brahmastra, Udta Punjab, Kapoor and Sons, Jigra, and Student of the Year. She might be the filmiest lady of our entire podcast! Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or…
E189 · 1 Apr 2026 · 58 min
Filmi Ladies episode 189: Govinda + David Dhawan
Sometimes you just need to get stuck in the 90s. We watched Raja Babu (1994) and Haseena Maan Jayegi (1999) and wonder whether this epic partnership is worthy of so much (possibly mostly nostalgic) love and discuss what else we wish Govinda would get the chance to do now. Subscribe to Filmi Ladies on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/7Ib9C1X5ObvN18u9WR0TK9 or Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmi-ladies/id1642425062 @filmiladies on Instagram Pitu is @pitusultan on Instagram Beth is @bethlovesbollywood on Bluesky Email us at filmiladies at gmail See our letterboxd for…
E188 · 25 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Filmi Ladies episode 188: BINDU
Bindu is the last and most wicked of our trio of vamps! If Helen is glamorous and amoral, and Aruna Irani is desi and moral, Bindu is scheming and immoral. We explore two of her films: Hawas (1974) and Do Raaste (1969) that resulted in Filmfare nominations for her. We also discuss her amazing dance numbers! A great Bindu playlist includes Hangama Ho Gaya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xG5J8YJWW-s Mera Naam Hai Shabnam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P402srRYCOA Tera Dimag aur Mera Shabab: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTlyYGltVUk Her interview on Bollywood Hungama part 1…

About Filmi Ladies

Filmi Ladies takes a woman-centered look at Indian cinema, with occasional detours into books, tv, and other pop culture. Hosted by Pitu Sultan and Beth Loves Bollywood.

Filmi Ladies is a English film & tv podcast from Filmi Ladies. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Filmi Ladies
Language: English
Category: Film & TV
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 1 hr 11 min
Latest episode: 14 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1642425062
Rights: Filmi Ladies

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