Deep Dive into Bollywood with Saleena Jafry

Discover your newest binge and get to know our staff a little better with the Asia Society Texas Center team's favorite ways to stay entertained indoors! With our Deep Dives each week, we take you on a journey into the obsessions of individual staff members for an in-depth look at a specific art form or cultural production.

Meet Saleena

Saleena Jafry is Asia Society Texas Center's Director of Business and Policy. She loves to read, travel, and volunteer. She also enjoys watching American and British TV shows and Bollywood films in her downtime.

What I am currently enjoying

I am currently enjoying Made in Heaven, which is a nine-episode series telling the story of two Delhi-based wedding planners who know that India is a society in transition, with tradition clashing with modern individual aspirations. With each ceremony, planners Tara and Karan enter into the lives of a different bride and groom, and are introduced to the complexities of Indian life which in some ways mirrors their own lives — Tara, a woman from the wrong side of the tracks who clawed her way up into high society through marriage, and Karan, a gay man living in a country where homosexuality is illegal.

Find it on: Amazon Prime

What I find myself returning to again and again

I would happily rewatch any movie with Shah Rukh Khan, a Bollywood legend who is affectionally called "King Khan" — one of my favorite actors. To understand the SRK mania, watch his movies Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Kabhi Khushie Kabhie Gham, Kal Ho Na Ho, and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai; they'll make you want to fall in love again and again.

Find these titles on: Amazon Prime (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge | Kabhi Khushie Kabhie Gham | Kal Ho Naa Ho | Kuch Kuch Hota Hai)

Projects that aren't yet available that I am looking forward to seeing

I am eagerly waiting for a movie titled Laal Singh Chaddha featuring Aamir Khan (another Bollywood legend) as the title character, slated for release in December 2020. I have been told that this is a Bollywood adaptation of Forrest Gump.

Teaser Trailer: IMDb

An artist that excites me

Aamir Khan is known for his humanitarian, social, and political causes. He is a method actor who picks challenging storylines and socially relevant topics. He is always entertaining and pushing boundaries with the films he selects.

My wildcard recommendation

Three Idiots — it features Aamir Khan as the lead in a very engaging (and wise) story about college friends and life.

Find it on: Netflix

Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, United Airlines, and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Presenting Sponsor of the Japan Series. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Hearts Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as Friends of Asia Society.

About Asia Society at Home

Though Asia Society is temporarily closed, we are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.

About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.