Early Indian cinema took on the role of delivering a distinct moral code particularly when the Mahatma Gandhi-led national movement was at its peak. It was unsurprising that most Bollywood directors and screenplay writers were partial to the Gandhian philosophy. Many directors were passionate about making their films a vehicle for messages of social reform.

During Mahatma Gandhi’s era, Indian commercial cinema reflected Mahatma’s social concerns. Caste based inequalities were tackled in films like Sujata, Acchut and Haasil. Dil Ek Mandir focussed on the oppression of women in family and society. And most prominent perhaps which seems to be most relevant in Bollywood films today is the disparity between rich and poor in films like Pyaasa, Lawaaris and Jaagte Raho.

Now Bollywood is very commercial and as ever before remains an integral part of Indian culture. Just as in the West, many people like to read about the lives of A-list actors in Grazia or Heat magazines; pages brimming with celebrity diets, fitness regimes and DVDs, fans of Bollywood actors and actresses fall over themselves to emulate the lives of their screen icons whether it be their clothes, makeup, dance styles or workout regimes.

In India the trend to copy the lives of Bollywood screen idols is evidentially extreme. The Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor caused a storm when she dropped down to a size zero. Last year, her nutritionist brought out a book detailing Kareena’s eating regime which led to her size zero. The foreword of the book was written by Kareena herself, endorsing her size zero diet. Suddenly women in India were obsessed with becoming the ultimate size zero. On Western catwalks the size zero is frowned upon. And it seems bizarre that Indian women once celebrated for their natural fuller figures are choosing to be more willowy and waif like in favour of their European counterparts.

Before you book your hen party, read Sudha’s article on Bollywood culture

This may come of a surprise to some but Bollywood really has captivated the imagination of British Asians in the UK and has even filtered into the British mainstream. Did you know for instance, that the UK has the largest audience for Indian cinema outside India. (Source: Neilsen EDI).

In 2005, Bollywood films grossed 12.4m in the UK, higher than the total box office of all European releases combined. (Source: UK Film Council). In 2006, almost 16 percent of all films released in the UK were Indian films, higher than the number of British films. And by the end of 2006, 69 Bollywood films had been released in the UK, nine of which made the UK Top 10.

In 2007, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (Never Say Goodbye), a story about married Indian couples living in Manhatten, grossed more than 2m - the UK’s most popular Bollywood release ever.

The success of Bollywood can be attributed in part to British based Indian directors like Gurinder Chadha, who directed the acclaimed Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice, a Indian take on Jane Austen’s classic adaptation of social affairs and hierarchy - both films received critical acclaim. Bollywood’s top actress, Aishwarya Raid played the heroine.

The 3 Idiots, a screwball comedy about three students starring Aamir Khan has broken Bollywood records around the world. At least in commercial terms, Bollywood is more popular than British cinema on its own home ground. The audience of this film and many other Bollywood releases before 3 Idiots, are mainly Asian. Some critics say Bollywood films don’t really appeal to the mainstream.

In February 2010, Shah Rukh Khan was the first Bollywood actor to be interviewed on a British mainstream programme about the release of his new movie, My Name is Khan, based upon a true story about a San Francisco based Muslim with Asperger syndrome. Before that Shilpa Shetty was interviewed by Jonathan Ross after her Big Brother appearance.

Want to find out more about Bollywood hens, then check out our hens site on how to choose the best Bollywood hen night for your needs.