From Malaika to Aditi, celeb-recommended films & shows to watch this weekend: Exclusive

As far as recommendations of shows and films go, there is no one better qualified to make suggestions than actors themselves. From Malaika Arora, Aditi Rao Hydari and Tejasswi Prakash to Rasika Dugal and Tillotama Shome - actors from across Indian cinema and television - have come together in a Hook exclusive to reveal their favourite shows and films that are guaranteed to make for a great viewing experience this weekend. Let's dive right in.

As Hook spoke to multiple celebrities at The Hollywood Reporter's Women In Entertainment Power List 2025 event held in Mumbai recently, one clear winner emerged and is something most celebrities have on their watchlist - the limited Netflix series, 'Adolescence'. "I really liked it," quipped Malaika Arora, adding that "although it is about male toxicity, people need to watch it just to understand what is going on and how we can change that narrative." Arora made reference to the show's premise, which is based around but doesn't directly reference the impact of toxic male influencers who weaponize patriarchy and prey on impressionable minds (read Andrew Tate and incel culture!). In a nod to Malaika's top recommendation, actor Aditi Rao Hydari also named 'Adolescence' as her top pick to watch and called it "incredible".

Apart from the show's subject revolving around problematic trends perpetuated by influencers, the filming process has also captured the imagination of a large audience - specifically the fact that each episode of this stunning example of filmmaking, was shot in one take. 'Adolescence' is currently streaming on Netflix and holds an impressive 8.5/10 rating on IMDb.

Hydari also gave the film, 'Disclaimer' by Alfonso Cuaron, a shoutout and mentioned that she was "blown away by it." The psychological-thriller miniseries was released in 2024 and is based on a novel of the same name by Renée Knight. The series features a star-studded cast with Cate Blanchett, Sacha Baron Cohen, Kevin Kline, Jung Ho-yeon and Leila George and follows the story of a famed documentary journalist who strives to protect a secret, only to find out that she is part of a novel which purports to reveal it.

'Disclaimer' follows a non-linear sequence of storytelling and events in the storyline are narrated from different perspectives as the series unfolds. The series currently holds a rating of 7.5/10 on IMDb and can be streamed on AppleTV.

Considering actor Tillotama Shome's incredible lineup of work, her recommendation is something we truly looked forward to and she did not disappoint. In fact, she recommended a film she has watched multiple times and emphasized on the fact that it breaks her heart every single time. "I recently rewatched 'Joyland' and while I thought I could distance myself from it (because she has watched it multiple times), I just couldn't get over it," she said.

'Joyland' is a 2022 Pakistani drama written and directed by Saim Sadiq in his feature film debut and the story revolves around the low-income Rana family, headed by a patriarch who aspires to have a grandson. 'Joyland' marked many firsts for the Pakistani film industry as it became the first film to be premiered at Cannes 2022 and also the first Pakistani film to be shortlisted for the Best International Feature Film category at the 95^th Academy Awards. The film holds a 7.5/10 rating on IMDb and can be streamed on Prime Video.

Actor Tejasswi Prakash didn't just name 'Laapataa Ladies' as one of her top recommendations, she also mentioned how Kiran Rao (the director of the film) was a woman who inspires her. "I am obsessed with the film and I can't believe Kiran ma'am spared time to talk to me, she is so down to Earth," she said, in complete of awe of the film and its maker.

Rao was recently accused of copying the film from a 2019 short film called 'Burqa City', directed by French filmmaker Fabrice Bracq. And while such claims haven't been proven and Rao is yet to respond to them, 'Laapataa Ladies' is still a great watch to binge on over the weekend. It follows the misadventures of two brides who get lost on the same train and its underlying message of lost female autonomy shines through Rao's lens This is probably why the film was India's official entry to the Oscars 2025. 'Laapataa Ladies' has an 8.4/10 rating on IMDb and is currently streaming on Netflix.

Prakash also mentioned that she is currently watching 'Dabba Cartel', another Netflix series about drugs and its delivery through a dabba service. The series starts veteran actor Shabana Azmi in the lead, with actors Jyotika and Shalini Pandey sharing screen space. It has a 7.1/10 rating on IMDb. When Prakash was encouraged to talk about 'Dabba Cartel' further, by mentioning how it had amazing characters, she was quick to ask Hook's host to avoid giving her spoilers - a true serial series watcher!

Rasika Dugal fleetingly mentioned during her interaction with Hook that she was in awe of "the strong female characters" in the Netflix series 'Apple Cider Vinegar' and she strong recommends watching it. "It is the story of this woman who cons the world," she said before breaking into laughter.

'Apple Cider Vinegar' follows the story of wellness influencer Belle Gibson who falsely claims to have cured multiple cancers by simply eating clean and various self-care remedies. The miniseries is loosely based on Australian blogger Belle Gibson, her multi-million dollar deal with Apple and a book publishing deal with Penguin. The series has a 7.1/10 rating on IMDb and is an easy watch with multiple ick-points in its plot, mainly due to the actions of its protagonist portrayed by Kaitlyn Dever.

Watch this space for another celebrity-approved watchlist next weekend and happy couch-potato-ing for this one!