Rajeev Masand is an Indian film critic. He works for Noida based English language news channel CNN-Indian Broadcasting Network (CNN-IBN)

8 min readJan 4, 2021

Rajeev Masand is an Indian film critic. He works for Noida based English language news channel CNN-Indian Broadcasting Network (CNN-IBN).[1] He usually reviews Bollywood films and major Hollywood films released in India in his weekend show Now Showing.

A graduate from Mumbai University, Masand started reporting at the age of 16 at The Times of India newspaper. He later became assistant editor at The Indian Express.[2] In January 2003, he joined STAR News as a special correspondent and as the host of Masand Ki Pasand.[3] In 2005, Masand moved to CNN-IBN where he is currently[clarification needed] the film critic and runs an ongoing video reviews series on the CNN-IBN website, Masand’s Verdict.[4] He also became the host of CNN-IBN’s entertainment series, To Catch a Star.[5][6]

He also has a popular YouTube channel, where he posts weekly his film reviews (filmed as CNN-News18’s ‘Now Showing’ segments, which are also posted concurrently to their channel) and regular interviews with key figures in the entertainment industry (both Indian and occasionally International), mostly actors and directors.[7]

Additionally, he writes as an entertainment-industry columnist for several publications, such as Open Magazine, Firstpost, News18, The Quint and for his own website, Rajeevmasand.com.

Among other recognitions, Masand was thrice awarded ‘Best Entertainment Critic’ by the National Television (NT) Awards, in 2008, 2010 and 2011.[8]

Criticism[edit]

Masand has been accused of giving false ratings to movies and has also been accused of taking money from directors and producers to praise their movies.

Masand was called for questioning by Mumbai Police in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. Reportedly he gave poor reviews to Rajput’s movies at behest of others.[9] Masand has been accused by actress Kangana Ranaut of writing blind items (in which details are reported without identifying the people involved or revealing sources) to discredit Rajput.[10] Actor Manoj Bajpayee and filmmaker Apurva Asrani also called out Masand over his blind items on Rajput.[11]

References[edit]

^ “Rajeev Masand”. News18. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
^ Rajeev Masand Retrieved 12 October 2017.
^ “Rajeev Masand Introduction”. STAR News. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
^ “Film Reviews: Masand’s Verdict”. IBNLive. Archived from the original on 27 October 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2008.
^ “CNN-IBN lines up various specials to bied adieu to 2006”. Indian Television. 30 December 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
^ “CNN-IBN to launch third season of To Catch a Star”. Indian Television. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
^ “Rajeev Masand”. YouTube.
^ “About « Rajeev Masand — movies that matter : from bollywood, hollywood and everywhere else”.
^ “Sushant Singh Rajput death case: Film critic Rajeev Masand to be questioned by Mumbai Police”. 21 July 2020.
^ Radhakrishnan, Manjusha (21 July 2020). “Kangana Ranaut lashes out at Bollywood film critic Rajeev Masand”. Gulf News. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
^ “Sushant Singh Rajput suicide: Film critic Rajeev Masand to be questioned by Mumbai Police over alleged blind articles”. 21 July 2020.

Rajeev Masand is an Indian film critic. He works for Noida based English language news channel CNN-Indian Broadcasting Network (CNN-IBN)

Criticism[edit]

References[edit]

Written by Fojor