The Artists: Arts, Culture, and Cinema with Suchita Bhhatia

We are HUGE Tony Leung fans! What a great artist!
We wanted to take this opportunity to bring film scholar Mark Gallagher, author of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, to The Artists for a fascinating exploration of a question: What separates a great artist from a good actor?
Tony Leung has this extraordinary ability to say so much with so little. A fleeting expression, the smallest gesture, a pause, a look — and suddenly, he conveys the entire emotional spectrum of a scene. Yet he can also move effortlessly between comedy, action and deeply nuanced collaborations with filmmakers like Wong Kar-wai.
If you’ve seen Chungking Express, Happy Together, Lust, Caution and so many of his other films, you’ll know what makes him such a compelling artist.
In this new episode of The Artists, Mark Gallagher and Suchita Bhhatia explore Tony Leung’s artistry through these three remarkable films, examining what makes his performances so extraordinary.
For artists across disciplines, this is a must-watch conversation. And of course, if you’re an actor, this episode is especially for you!
The arts are interconnected, and there is so much to learn about our own creative practice by studying the work of a great artist.
Watch the full episode on YouTube and Spotify. Listen on Apple Podcasts. #theartistspodcast #tonyleung #chungkingexpress #lustcaution

I am a HUGEEEE Tony Leung fan! What a great artist!And so, I wanted to take this opportunity to invite film scholar Mark Gallagher, author of Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, to explore a question I find fascinating: What separates a great artist from a good actor?Tony Leung has this extraordinary ability to say so much with so little. A fleeting expression, the smallest gesture, a pause, a look — and suddenly, he conveys the entire emotional spectrum of a scene. Yet he can also move effortlessly between comedy, action and deeply nuanced collaborations with filmmakers like Wong Kar-wai.If you’ve seen Chungking Express, Happy Together, Lust, Caution and so many of his other films, you’ll know what I mean.In this new episode of The Artists, Mark and I explore Tony Leung’s artistry through these three remarkable films and examine what makes his performances so compelling.If you’re an artist practising any art form, this is a must-watch conversation. And of course, if you’re an actor, this episode is a must-watch for you! The arts are interconnected, and there is so much we can learn about our own creative practice by studying the work of a great artist.Watch the full episode on YouTube and Spotify. Listen on Apple Podcasts.If you enjoy this conversation, like, share, subscribe and leave us a review. Follow @the.artistspodcast for more conversations exploring how extraordinary artists think and work.Film stills: Chungking Express (1994) and Happy Together (1997), directed by Wong Kar-wai. Images courtesy of Janus Films.

One of the best episodes of The Artists Podcast is back — this time in WATCH MODE.
What does it take to become a better screenwriter? How do you develop your craft, find your own process, and write stories that connect with millions?
In this deeply insightful conversation, Niren Bhatt, the screenwriter behind blockbusters including Stree 2 (which crossed ₹400 crore at the box office), Bala, Munjya and Bhediya, takes us inside the mind and process of a working writer.
This is an episode to return to, revisit and learn from. Whether you’re an aspiring screenwriter, an established writer, a filmmaker or simply someone interested in the art of storytelling, there is something here for you.
IN THIS CONVERSATION, WE DISCUSS:
Writing is a thinking process: How does a writer think, and how do you find your own creative process?

The purpose of writing: Maslow’s hierarchy, self-actualisation and the search for creative fulfilment.

From theatre to screenwriting: What playwriting taught Niren about dialogue, scenes and storytelling.

Learning the craft: Syd Field, Robert McKee — and the advice Niren received from Gulzar Saab.

The writing process: Research, procrastination and knowing when to stop preparing and start writing.

The first draft to the 15th: Why Stree 2 went through multiple drafts, and why rewriting is central to the craft.

Script literacy and bouncing boards: Who should read your script, and why the right feedback matters.

Rejection and self-doubt: The realities of a writer’s life and the importance of a supportive creative collaborator.

Market research and algorithms: When analysis helps — and when it can become a trap.

The anatomy of genre: What successful genre films get right, and what writers can learn from them.

Every writer has a different process. This conversation may help you refine yours — or discover it.
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE on YouTube and Spotify. Listen on Apple Podcasts.
If this conversation helps you, like, share, subscribe and leave us a review. Follow @the.artistspodcast for more conversations exploring how extraordinary artists think and work.

HOW DO YOU BECOME A BETTER SCREENWRITER & THINKER?One of the most insightful episodes of The Artists Podcast — with Niren Bhatt, the writer behind blockbuster hits across genres, including Stree 2, Bala, Munjya and Bhediya.This is a masterclass in the craft of writing — from finding your process to surviving rejection, writer’s block and endless drafts.We get into:How writers think — and find their own processWhy writer’s block might be a mythFrom the first “vomit draft” to the 15th or 16th draftScript literacy, feedback and finding your writing circleRejection, imposter syndrome and mental healthGenre, market research and what successful producers get rightEvery writer has a different process. This conversation might help you refine yours — or discover it.WATCH MODE: For the first time, watch the full episode on YouTube and Spotify. Link in bio.If you’re a writer, filmmaker or storyteller, don’t miss this one.Like, share, subscribe and follow @the.artistspodcast for more conversations that go deeper into the minds and craft of extraordinary artists.

HOW DO YOU GET DISCOVERED AS AN ARTIST?Al Pacino was doing plays when Francis Ford Coppola saw him and fought to cast him as Michael Corleone in The Godfather — even when the studio wasn't convinced. Pacino's early footage didn't impress them either, until Coppola shot the restaurant scene that changed everything.The lesson? Put yourself out there. Keep showing up. You never know who's watching.Hear the full story with Lawrence Grobel on The Artists Podcast.Watch the full episode on YouTube & Spotify. Listen on Apple Podcasts.Like, share, subscribe & follow @the.artistspodcast.