Comedians Shaan Baig and Saagar Shaikh review and reminisce over classic Bollywood films in "Bollywood Boys," a podcast they started a few months ago. We asked them to give us an inside look at why they started this project, their favorite Bollywood films and what other podcasts they're currently listening to. Keep up with "Bollywood Boys" on Facebook and listen here.
How did you two meet?
We met in Switzerland in 1995. We were both on trips with our friends and we sat next to each other on a train. Saagar was trying to read his book, while I (Shaan) kept bothering him, trying to start a conversation. While at first we didn't like each other, we eventually got lost on the countryside together and had to find our way back to the city. It was this adventure and time spent together that made us friends for life.
What made you want to start a podcast together about Bollywood films?
One night we were listening to Bollywood songs in the car and started to feel really nostalgic. We drove around LA playing different songs for each other recounting how much we loved them as kids. We then thought it would be fun to start a podcast to have longer and more in-depth discussions about these movies that mean so much to us and countless fans around the world.
What has the response been like online and among your personal friend groups?
The response from friends, family, and random fans has been incredible. We knew people loved Bollywood movies, but we didn't know just how passionate and rabid the fanbase was. The amount of requests we get is overwhelming. People chime in on Twitter and Instagram all the time with fun facts and personal opinions about every movie we cover. This started off as something we were doing for fun, and it's come to the point where we're having to build a team to help us keep producing episodes and grow.
Which film that you've watched for the podcast has been your favorite so far?
Shaan: My favorite has definitely been "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai." I’ve seen it so many times, but I still go through all the emotions the movie wants me to go through. I’ll laugh and cry on cue every time. It was great to dive deep into it and try to dissect why I and millions of others love it so much.
Saagar: This is a tough question cause I like a bunch of these films for different reasons. I grew up on "Andaz Apna Apna" and it makes me laugh so hard every time, it's definitely somewhere at the top of my list. However, "Kabhi Kushi Kabhie Gham" and "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" just pull so hard on my heart strings. Those are my top three all tied at first place.
Shaan Baig and Saagar Shaikh reenact a photo from "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai."
What podcasts are you currently loving?
Shaan: Right now I'm really loving 2 Dope Queens, Sooo Many White Guys, Politically Reactive, Fish Out Of Water, and On 1 with Angela Rye.
Saagar: I kinda stopped listening to podcasts since we came out with pretty much the best one. I feel like we've really elevated the form and nothing else compares. BUT if I had to pick some that I currently listen to, UCB Longform Conversations, The Apartment w/ Asif and Baluch, With Special Guest: Lauren Lapkus, and WTF w/ Marc Maron are all pretty good.
Do you have a favorite Bollywood film?
Both of us said out loud in unison: DDLJ ("Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge") is the best film ever made. All other responses are objectively false, racist, sexist, homophobic, arachnophobic, and xenophobic.