7 Movies and Shows That Explore the Dark, Glamorous Side of Bollywood

Behind the glittering lights and red carpets lies a world filled with power struggles, hidden politics, and stories of struggle versus privilege.

These films and series pull back the curtain on the Hindi film industry, blending glamour with raw reality.

Luck By Chance (Netflix): A small-town dreamer sets out to make it big in films. His journey reveals how fame is often shaped as much by luck and connections as by true talent, exposing the compromises and rivalries behind the screen.

Page 3 (Prime Video): Through the eyes of an entertainment journalist, this story uncovers the transactional relationships, moral compromises, and exploitation that fuel the fame-driven world of showbiz.

Om Shanti Om (Netflix): A vibrant tale that doubles as satire, it shines a light on themes of nepotism, revenge, and forgotten stars. The reincarnation arc underscores how corruption and ambition can destroy lives.

Heroine (Netflix): The decline of a once-celebrated star illustrates the brutal reality of an industry that often sidelines women past their peak, forcing them into difficult choices to stay relevant.

The Dirty Picture (Prime Video): Based on the life of an actress typecast as a sex symbol, it portrays the stigma, objectification, and emotional toll that accompany fame and desire in cinema.

Jubilee (Prime Video): Set in the 1940s and 50s, this historical drama traces the rise of cinema’s golden era. It captures the price of ambition, the manipulations of producers, and the sacrifices demanded from those chasing stardom.

Showtime (JioHotstar): This series dives into the politics of filmmaking, showing how journalists, assistants, and others behind the scenes shape and endure the industry’s murky power structures.