‘A riveting reading, Swapnil Rai’s book greatly deepened and broadened my understanding of Indian cinema’s global presence in two spheres. First, it brought into consideration a great deal of archive-derived information about various contextual factors (festivals, award ceremonies, workshops, diplomatic events, delegations, media stints) that perpetuated and consolidated Bollywood’s global reach over the decades. Second, it provided a deep analysis of the family(-and-friends) cluster production models that characterize India’s commercial cinema. From Raj Kapoor and entourage in the post-colonial 1950s to the present-day sprawling family set-ups springing off from the Bachchans, the study brings together a great deal of material in a way that allows for the seamless integration of Indian film history in a comprehensive global narrative of stars, celebrity culture, and circulation.’