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— Raghu

iPhone Face in Heeramandi ?

First of all, I didn’t even know what an “iPhone Face” was till this show came out. Thank you, internet.

What is this about?

This weekend, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the man behind Bollywood classics like Devdas and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, released his first Netflix show, Heeramandi. Set during the Indian independence movement against the British Raj, the show follows the lives of a group of courtesans in the red-light district of Lahore. 

On brand, the show has lavish-looking sets and extra melodrama for good measure but has gotten criticism for shaky writing, historical inconsistencies, murky politics, and a select few casting choices. Fans especially called out Bhansali’s casting of his niece, Sharmin Segal, saying that she’s the wrong fit for the show because of her ‘iPhone face.’ 

What is an iPhone face?

‘iPhone face’ is internet slang for actors who don’t seem to belong in period pieces because, well, they look like someone who knows what an iPhone is. To be clear, the iPhone face is more than just a vibe—it also has to do with a character’s makeup, styling, and the fact that their face seems to fit modern beauty standards rather than those of the time period the show or film are set in. If an actor has visible plastic surgery, botox face, and fillers, there’s a good chance they won’t look straight out of the early 1900s.

Should we care about iPhone faces in period pieces at all? Or is this just a part of making shows like Heeramandi relevant to modern-day audiences? 

For all its missteps, there’s still a lot to love about Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi. At the very least, it’s an opportunity to dive into an overlooked aspect of Indian history.

Upcoming Events: PopShift Summer Sessions

June 9 - New York City - Sunset Party

July 6 - Chicago - Sunset Boat Party

Tickets go on sale later this week.

4 Million Followers & I’m Broke

Sooraj Saxena, a filmmaker and content creator with over 4 million followers on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, just dropped a short film called “4 Million Followers & I’m Broke.”

In the film, Sooraj talks about his journey to building a massive following over the last few years by handling every aspect of his content creation—developing, scripting, producing, editing, and coloring—all while building his brand, SHVKTI.

But now he’s facing a common issue that all creators deal with: money. The film is beautifully made and offers a glimpse into his journey. A creator's path can be unpredictable and, though fulfilling, can also get pretty lonely. But one thing’s clear: Sooraj isn’t giving up anytime soon.

Watch the film here

Wildest Trend Of Them All: ASOKA

If you’ve spent any time on tik tok in the last few weeks, you’ve likely seen videos of creators syncing complicated transitions and choreography from bare-faced to full bridal glam to San Sanana from the 2001 Bollywood movie Asoka.  

@dhivya.srii

asoka makeup trend✨ what do you guys think? happy that i got to wear my wedding lehenga & jewelry for this💕 special thanks to my hisband, ... See more

While it started as an Indian bridal makeup trend, the girls have gotten creative and used it to showcase bridal looks from all over the world. Many creators have also peeled back the curtain on how much work it takes to pull off, needing hours to shoot and up to 8 hours to edit their final videos. It’s a fun trend and mad respect to creators that are committing to having it turn out as seamless as possible. 

Others have decided to sit this one out, turning to lazy girl adaptations, because the task feels too daunting without content studios and professional editors. As the world of content creation gets bigger, the trends get wilder and wilder. The next trend to take desi TikTok by storm might be even more work than this one, and the creators will ultimately decide how many views are worth the effort.

In Case You Missed It

• One On One Series by Popshift - In the latest episode, Singer-songwriters REHMA and Shreea Kaul sat down to discuss the creative process, community, and advice for up-and-coming artists. 

• PopShift Interviews Jazzy B  - Legendary Punjabi singer Jazzy B, the Crown Prince of Bhangra, shares his story of coming to Canada, collaborating with Sukhshinder Shinda, and the inspiration behind his most recent album. 

New Music Releases

• Asad Khan & Raaginder dropped The Awakening EP ahead of their London show

• Music video for Addicted by Tegi Pannu and Navaan Sandhu

• Alternative hip-hop producer Umair released his debut album Rockstar Without A Guitar 

• A new single from Sukha and Manni Sandhu called Sangdi

• Harkalay, a new Pashto-English song for Coke Studios Pakistan by REHMA and Zahoor, is out now

Written By Jeevan Sangha & Raghu Alla