When Farah Khan announced her latest venture—a quirky talent hunt titled Aunty Kisko Bola—she joined a growing list of Bollywood names who are moving beyond the big screen and stepping into the world of talk shows, podcasts, and YouTube shows. The trend is unmistakable; celebrities are no longer satisfied with films alone; they want a platform where they can be in control, talk directly to audiences, and reinvent themselves.
For decades, Bollywood stars relied on films, interviews, and reality shows to remain in the public eye. But the audience now craves unfiltered conversations, candid stories, and bite-sized entertainment. Talk shows and podcasts give stars exactly that—a stage where they can experiment without box-office pressure. In a video, she's seen encouraging "aunties" whom she refers to as "housewives with hidden talents," who've never gotten a chance to showcase their passion for the sake of the welfare of their families. She asks for a one-minute video - solo, group - to be sent to an Instagram handle with the same name.
Known for her blockbuster choreography and directing credits, Farah Khan is now packaging her wit into her latest digital talent show.
With her trademark irreverence, she positions herself as a no-nonsense judge who can laugh at herself. For Farah, this is as much about staying relevant in a social-media-driven era as it is about discovering fresh talent.
Kareena’s What Women Want has already run multiple seasons, drawing everyone from actors to politicians to entrepreneurs into heartfelt conversations. What makes it work is her mix of stardom and relatability—she slips easily between glamorous diva and candid mother, and audiences lap it up. Her conversations with Rani Mukerji, Bharti Singh, Neena Gupta, Alia Bhatt and others seem as if she and the guest are both seated next to you in a cafe. Such is the candid nature of the conversation. For instance in one episode, Mukerji is seen narrating her experience of delivering a premature daughter and seeing her spend days in the NICU, and then leaving her back home at 14 months for 'Hitchki,' her first film post motherhood.
In many ways, Kareena set the template for A-listers experimenting with the podcast format.
With No Filter Neha, Neha Dhupia carved out a niche long before podcasts were fashionable in India. Her show thrived on juicy confessions and unscripted banter, proving that stars speaking to stars—without the filter of traditional PR—could draw huge audiences. One of the highlight episodes was when Vicky Kaushal opened up about his love affair with Katrina on Dhupia's show.
At a time when attention spans are shrinking, these shows allow stars to speak without middlemen. Actors whose film careers may be slowing find a new identity here—as hosts, curators, or commentators, say experts. They further explain that unlike films, these projects are relatively low-investment, high-return, and give celebrities complete creative control.
From Amitabh Bachchan anchoring Kaun Banega Crorepati to Karan Johar’s Koffee with Karan, celebrity-led talk shows aren’t new. What’s changed is the medium - podcasts, YouTube channels, and OTT formats have democratised distribution. Now, it’s not just about prime-time TV but about owning a digital space.
As more Bollywood stars embrace the mic and camera outside film sets, the lines between entertainer, influencer, and entrepreneur will blur further, caution those who know the industry from the inside.
Expect more hybrid formats—part chat show, part game show, part influencer collab, they say. For audiences, that means endless content; for stars, it’s a reinvention strategy that ensures they’re never out of sight.
