Rajesh Khanna once spoke about his comeback and said, “But where had I gone?” There were a bunch of super-elite personalities in Bollywood who continued to be in the news without making an effort to do so. Here’s saluting the immortals (well, almost) of the entertainment industry.

Amitabh Bachchan

This legend refuses to lean towards the ledge’s end. Every year he renews his career and when the family asks him to slow down he growls back asking them to back off. This reporter had once made the mistake of asking him why he continues to work at almost 80 and he snapped back, “Why not? Do you have a problem with that? Will you stop writing when you reach my age?” Point taken, Sir! In 2022 he was seen or heard in 8 — you read that right — 8 films.

If it was a mere voiceover in Radhe Shyam and a cameo in Balki’s Chup: Revenge Of The Artiste and Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmāstra: Part One — Shiva, it was full author-backed roles in Jhund, Goodbye, Unchaai and Runaway 34. He also made a guest appearance in the Gujarati film Fakt Mahilao Mate. Was he hanging up the boots? Not in this life!

Karan Johar

The memes and the trolls are watering off this excellent duck’s back. Karan Johar is hands-down the most successful producer-director-starmaker-chathost-socialite in Bollywood. In 2022 his new season of Koffee With Karan ruffled feathers, as it was meant to. His long-delayed production Brahmastra, which the naysayers thought would sink without a trace, made loads of money. And the Anil Kapoor-Neetu Singh family comedy also made money.

At year-end Karan finds himself sitting in one of the most lucrative business empires of Hindustan. But his twin kids just don’t take him seriously. In spite of his Gucci garments and flashy spectacles Karan’s Yash and Roohi find him boring.

Alia Bhatt

The youngest superstar of Bollywood, and the only Bollywood heroine who brings the audience into theatres. She did it again in 2022 with four back-to-back hits Gangubai Kathiawadi, RRR, Darlings and Brahmastra in which she co-starred with her husband Ranbir Kapoor. Their joint production, daughter Raha, is currently Alia’s favourite project and the best role she has played to date is that of a mother.