Happy Monday! My head feels so light! And I have so much more time because washing/brushing/braining is no longer a requirement!
Here is where you get to ask me anything you want from “Are you planning to watch Laal Singh Chaddha?” to “Tell me the life story of Saif Ali Khan whose birthday is tomorrow!” Just keep swinging back here all week as you think of new questions!
Now, question for you! How cute is this?
dontcallitbollywood 
You look lovely! I love the hair and the glasses.
What happened that you decided to have your hair cut?
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I was just getting sick of the time it took to wash and brush and braid and all that.
On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 11:12 AM dontcallitbollywood < comment-reply@wordpress.com> wrote:
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Adorable! Also love your glasses.
Are you planning to see Laal Singh Chaada? I was planning to go this week but we have too much going on for me to get away. I think I’ll see it at some point though. Pros and cons based on your thinking?
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Pros are, always fun to see a big movie in theaters. Cons are, it’s probably a super self-indulgent Aamir Fest with a lot of “message” and not much fun.
On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 11:15 AM dontcallitbollywood < comment-reply@wordpress.com> wrote:
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Aamir’s googly eyes in the trailer put me off.
And you look lovely.
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Love the new hair. You look amazing! Are you planning on watching Liger? That looks far more interesting to me than LSC and based on where it’s playing, I’m wondering if it’s worth watching on the big screen.
Are there any other movies you are planning to watch?
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Oooo, Liger does look good! I’m not committing to any movies because this summer has been CRAZY. I’m still playing catchup on stuff (like a sewing project I promised to get done) that I missed during the whole last minute baby trip thing. Somehow I have in my head that in September everything will be calm and easy, but I don’t know why I think that.
On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 12:28 PM dontcallitbollywood < comment-reply@wordpress.com> wrote:
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Your hair looks great, short or long, as do you! And you look happy!
Check out this popular video if you get a chance. Morgan goes through 500 years of western hairstyles… and cuts her own extremely long hair in the process to demonstrate the various styles! (It is engaging and entertaining but long, so you can multitask while watching it. )
Do you plan to see and review Darlings? Indian Matchmaking S2? Never have I ever S4?
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I’m trying to coordinate with a friend to watch Darlings, we were going to see it last Weds but had to reschedule. Indian matchmaking probably not, just so stressful! Never Have I Ever, I’m waiting until I’m in the mood and then binging the whole thing. Maybe next time I get COVID!
On Mon, Aug 15, 2022 at 3:39 PM dontcallitbollywood < comment-reply@wordpress.com> wrote:
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I’m also not interested in seeing Aamir’s acting tics and ridiculous need to play such young guys (Akshay no longer gets any passes on this, too) and will pass on LSC. I’m only sad that I won’t be able to see Kareena’s performance since it sounds like she’s the best part.
Your haircut looks fab!
I’m doing an Indian rom-com marathon this week (one movie a day, only rule is there has to be a HEA, so no Meri Pyari Bindu or Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu even though I love those two). Started off with BBB, and may just be very predictable and watch the other four of my top 5 comfort watches (Khoobsurat, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, Hassee Toh Phasee, and Jab We Met). But I’m also in the process of listing out my favorite Indian rom-coms of all time…the list is at least at 25 now and I’m trying to watch and add more non-Hindi ones. Finally watched Geetha Govindam recently and though it has some iffy moments and is a little more dramatic than most rom-coms that sequence in the beginning where she teases him and he falls in love with her is classic. Also my list will inevitably be more 2000 forward releases. Sadly I do think the rom-com is going out of favor in Indian cinema and there will be less of them going forward (and they will go the way of Hollywood rom-coms and just be low-budget and on Netflix).
What are your top 5 Indian rom-coms?! I love listicles! I know Jab Harry Met Sejal will be on it!
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Oh man, I know I did a post on this! Off the top of my head, Id say Running Shaadi, Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, mujshe dosti karoge, kuch naa kaho, and ohm shanti oshaana.
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Interesting list and not quite what I expected, especially Kuch Naa Kaho. Didn’t realize you loved that one so much! I watched it years ago and liked it fine, but I don’t remember it very well. Must need to revisit. I did revisit Running Shaadi last night for my marathon (own the DVD even), but it didn’t hold up for me as much as I was hoping. The story is a little meandering, though I did like Taapsee’s performance (it’s basically Rumi 1.0 for Manmarziyaan which almost does break into my top 5) and Amit Sadh is always good. I love the opening bit and how later he also takes care of her so sweetly. This is the kind of film that romance readers that love sick bed and caretaking tropes would love! But I think my issue is with the initial part after the clinic visit where I’m not sure that they are a romantic couple or not and then she throws him over for her college friends causing the initial conflict. The storytelling in this can be as opaque and unfocused. And I’m going to be really shallow and say that the lack of production values and the fogginess of the cinematography (though probably a good representation of air pollution) was frustrating. I don’t think I’ll keep the DVD now that I’ve rewatched it (always weeding my collections!). I’ve seen and loved all of the other ones (JBJ, MDK, and OSO) and all will be revisited soon I think. Always find it interesting how films age for us upon later viewings!
I did to find that old post…I must have read it at some point!
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I should have said, that was my list of 100% rom-coms. DDLJ and JHMS and so on I put more in the “character study family drama” box. If you can see what I mean.
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Interesting! I just commented below with some more of my thoughts on what is a “rom-com” really. Yeah, I would say DDLJ is definitely more of a romantic, coming of age, family dramedy and not a rom-com. JHMS would probably still be in the rom-com category in my book, but I see where you are going with that…there’s huge character growth for both of them. I’m still revising my list below and some will need to drop off the list, like probably Premam because it’s three different romances and that means no Bachna Ae Haseeno either if I’m being this strict! I’m such a librarian, love to “catalog and classify” things.
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I really really want to see your top 25 list! Your top 5 list is awesome! Many of those are my comfort movies too!
You might have already seen these movies, but I also recommend Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahin, Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke, and Chori Chori (the one with Rani). Yes, the first two are Aamir movies, but young Aamir is so different from old Aamir!!! I adore young Aamir.
Oh and if you can manage to find a DVD with subtitles, Kuch Naa Kaho! It’s sooo good but impossible to find with subtitles.
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Here’s my initial draft but not complete draft of the ones I’ve seen and loved, but I’ve decided in order to make my final list, I need to rewatch them all…so I’ll try to remember and share it when it’s complete. I might decide to limit to DDLJ forward in terms of chronology. And Chori Chori (with Rani) is definitely on my list. That one and Mujhse Dosti Karoge are definitely my favorite of the early era. Haven’t seen the other two you mention, but I know I tried to watch the first one I think. I’ve only seen Aamir’s Dil and Andaz Apna Apna from his early romantic period but I just don’t see him as a romantic leading man at all. Maybe in Dil Chatta Hai and that’s it.
I have seen Kuch Naa Kaho and enjoyed it years ago but I don’t remember much of it.
Here’s my very early draft of current rom-com faves. After this I’ll do one of favorite romantic films (the dramas and the ones where one or both die or there is no traditional happy ending). My rules for this rom-com list are that there is a general lighter/fluffier tone through most of it, that the plot is focused primarily on one couple’s love story, preferably some good music and/or dance sequences, and of course great chemistry with the leads. BBB really blew me away in how it still holds up so well. I didn’t mention before, but Maqsood the florist may be one of my favorite supporting characters in all of Indian cinema! There’s just something about his world-weary matchmaker vibe that I love!
Mere Brother Ki Dulhan
Band Bajaa Baarat
Geetha Govindam (Telugu)
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Shaandaar
Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania
Ante Sundaraniki (Telugu)
Hum Tum
Namastey London
Jab We Met
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Tanu Weds Manu
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Hasee Toh Phasee
DDLJ
Salaam Namaste
Love Aaj Kal
Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi
Dum Laga Ke Haisha
I Hate Luv Storys
2 States
Befikre
Shuddh Desi Romance
Dawaat-E-Ishq
Chori Chori (Rani/Ajay)
Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan
Mujhse Dosti Karoge
Meenakshi Sundareshwar
Khoobsurat
Dear Comrade (Telugu)
Fidaa (Telugu)
Pelli Choopulu (Telugu)
Ki & Ka
Manmarziyaan
Om Shanthi Oshana
Premam
(Still adding to the list every day as I review my DVD collection and rewatch). There are some ones not on my list like Namaste England and Jabariya Jodi that I was so disappointed when I first saw them because they are favorite pairings, but I’m hoping those might improve on second viewings (but probably not!). I fee like they were the beginning of the end of a great Bollywood rom-com run. Luka Chuppi was the last really well done rom-com in the Hindi industry? But I have a sever aversion to Karthik Aryan and would never put it on my list. That movie would be high on my list if it weren’t him opposite Kriti. Maybe Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan was the last great Hindi rom-com (but that one is more like a comedy because they are together throughout). I love it but it has the same rom-com issue that Crazy Rich Asians does for me too in calling it a true rom-com. The couple is in love throughout and I’m more of a traditionalist and I think that a rom-com needs to have them meet cute, fall in love, then conflict and happy ending.
So over analyzing this, I know!
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This is such a great list! I know this is very controversial with the DCIB community, but I agree that BBB has really really held up. I adore that movie.
Curious, how would you categorize Bang Bang? Action or Rom Com? I can see it fitting both. And then how about K3G and Hum Aapke Hai Kaun? More ensemble movies focused on family? They both have lots of light moments, happy songs, and happy endings but there are also serious moments in there.
Please do post your list as it changes.
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I will post my final list but it will probably take a while to get through all of my rewatches:) And then the list will still be arbitrary and personal, but still fun to share!
What are your top five or ten if you had to pick (i.e. what you would want on a desert island)?
I didn’t realize (or forgot) that BBB was a controversial pick here:)
Good question about Bang Bang? I would say a “maybe yes” because it definitely has romance and actual comedy that works, but the whole spy/action element is an entirely different movie added on. So I might call it a true masala rom-com instead and not a strict rom-com. Hrithik sadly hasn’t been in enough true rom-coms where I think he might have actually had more big hits in that genre. I’m thinking of him in something like the age appropriate Pierce Brosnan role in Laws of Attraction would still be awesome!
K3G, HAHK, and newer ensemble movies like Dil Dhadakne Do and ZNMD (and Dil Chatta Hi as well) are also special cases, you’re right, because they are more about family or friendship and even though they have big romance tracks (some dramatic, some comedic), have more than one romance or key relationship and I think one of the rules I’ll probably stick to in my list is that there has to be only one central romance.
I could chat forever about rom-coms clearly! And the great thing about Indian cinema is that they also do just pure romantic dramas so well, too. Hollywood really hasn’t done epic romance (tragic or happy) since the golden age and now only occasionally in period films like Titanic.
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Hello! I just wanted to get back to you to say, thank you again for such a detailed response. I have so much to say here and I will definitely provide my list and thoughts, but probably tomorrow or this weekend. It has been a firestorm at work and I have been working 12+ hour days.
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Okay. Here is my list. I have probably watched every movies at least 3 or 4 times and absolutely adore them.
ROM COMS THAT SHOULD FIT TOUR CRITERIA
Khoobsoorat
Kuch Naa Kaho
Dil Bole Hadippa
Humpty Dharma Ki Dulhaniya
Mujhse Dosti Karoge
Band Baaja Baarat
Love Aaj Kal
Janne Tu Yaan Jaanu Na
Bang Bang
Hasee Toh Phasee
Ok Jaanu
Chori Chori
Bareilly Ki Barfi
Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahi
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Hum Hai Rahi Pyar Ke
Aaina
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar
Chupke Chupke
ENSEMBLE MOVIES BUT STILL LIGHT AND FUN WITH LOTS OF ROMANCE AND HAPPY ENDINGS
Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham
Amar Akbar Anthony
Hum Aapke Hai Kaun
Hum Saath Saath Hai
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara
Dil Dhadakne Do
If you have questions on any of these movies, I’m happy to go into why I love the movie.
On a separate note, I would LOVE Hrithik in a Hindi version of Laws of Attraction or
Intolerable Cruelty.
Finally, The Proposal is one of my all time favorite English rom coms and I would love for that to be made into a Hindi movie!
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Thanks for posting your great list below, filmikudhi! Lots of overlap with our lists, so I will definitely try some of the earlier releases you mentioned!
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If you end up watching any of them, do let me know what you think. Even if it didn’t work for you.
I will say that many of earlier movies on my list are Aamir movies because I watched them for the first time when I was a little girl with a crush on Aamir. (But then I realized I’m at least 4 to 6 inches taller than him and soon Kaho Na Pyar Hai came out and well, Hrithik is just so pretty it was easy to forget Aamir.)
However, I have watched the movies I have listed since then, and IMO they still stand the test of time. But if you can’t think of Aamir as a romantic hero, those movies might not have the same appeal.
I’ve sprinkled other non-Aamir movies in there too, like Aaina, which is amazing! And a relatively recent one (well 2017) that I think is underrated, Ok Jaanu!
I think the way you feel about Arjun is how I feel about Aditya Roy Kapur. I have liked so many of his performances, and think he’s very underrated. (IMO he was one of the best parts of Kalank!) But to be fair, he has admitted he’s lazy and that might be why he’s not doing as well as others.
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Jumping in to say that ARK acted Ranbir off the screen in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Even back when I first watched it and actually liked Ranbir, I knew that ARK’s character and performance had oodles more going on than Ranbir did. And that’s just grown in the years since when I think back on it.
On Fri, Aug 19, 2022 at 7:55 AM dontcallitbollywood < comment-reply@wordpress.com> wrote:
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Yes. He was so good in YJHD, and also so much hotter than Ranbir. I really need him in more movies like Daawat Hai Ishq and Ok Jaanu. I adore Daawat Hai Ishq. My ONLY issue with the movie, is how did they manage to make ARK look physically unattractive. I mean his personality more than makes up for it, but come on. I am vain and need him to look pretty also.
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I think I’ve seen Dil Hai Tumaara. That’s the one with the doll song or something and Rekha is an evil stepmom or something? And Arjun does get the girl in the end, you’re right! Maybe I should rewatch that one, too. I remember watching that one and Dik Ka Rishta back to back when I discovered Arjun for the first time.
I’ve seen all of your guilty pleasures and I, too, am very lenient with a rom-com generally when I see it for the first time, but I’m always interested in what endures in my memory and love. Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon is just a fun watch and had its moments (I’m fine with cartoon parrots but I might draw the line at croccodiles so Yaadein is not a rewatch:))
I have the DVD for Break Ke Baad so it definitely made an impression at the time (but I’m a sucker for an Imran Khan romance and always will be…though his debut is too cutesy and feels more like a teen romance). I need to rewatch Break Ke Baad. And the Zoya Factor may still make the final 25:) I think I would rank Sonam’s rom-coms 1) Khoobsurat 2) Zoya Factor/I Hate Luv Storys (tie) 3) Aisha
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Also adding my thoughts about ARK here, but I couldn’t respond to Margaret’s last post, so replying here. I actually quite like ARK, too, especially agree that he was great in YJHD and in Kalank. I actually really liked Kalank and I think his performance may have been my favorite. I like that he’s a more grounded actor…it may come off as laziness, but I think it works for him. Next to Varun and his try hard energy it may have not been as flattering. I’m not a Shraddha fan at all, so OK Jaanu was never going to work for me (I did watch most of it) and I liked the original too much. He did disappoint in Fitoor but that wasn’t entirely his fault…I think that performance suffered for me in comparison to Shahid in Haider because of the similarities of the two stories and roles. But I LOVE him in Daawat-E-Ishq (I may rewatch that this weekend actually now that I think of it!). I’m worried his recent action hero roles will typecast him. He’s also got this weird Kunal Kapoor vibe to him for me. Like maybe their careers will always be limited because they are almost too pretty (though ARK is clearly the better actor). Hopefully, he’ll have more of a Arjun Rampal career than a Kunal Kapoor one though. Arjun has always been underrated (his D-Day performance and character is hands down one of my faves) and he still sometimes gets good roles. Speaking of Arjun Rampal, has he ever been in a great rom-com? We Are Family is definitely a family drama, though he had decent chemistry with both Kareen and Kajol in that. There’s that one with Aishwarya that was definitely a romantic drama (might need to revisit it someday actually).
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I wouldn’t call this great, or even good per se. But it is one of my guilty pleasure movie and one I am slightely embarrassed to admit that I like, but it is a rom com with enough drama in it: Dil Hai Tumaara. I adore Preity Zinta and Rekha and they are both phenomenal in it. It also makes you realize how amazing Preity’s chemistry is with her female costars (Mahima in this movie and of course Rani in others). You can tell she is so confident and not at all threatened with dual heroine roles.
This does make me think of my list of movies I am slightly embarrassed to admit I like but do that are rom coms. Off the top of my head I can think of DHT, Yaadeein, Main Prem Ki Deewani Hoon, Break Ke Baad, Zoya Factor. I am sure there are others. The pattern here seems to be that I have a very high tolerance for bad rom coms, if I like the actors and there is a happy ending.
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SO cute!
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Thank you!
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Popka here, can’t log in to comment anymore for some reason, but the hair is supercute!
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Thank you! And I hope your login returns soon!
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Wow! What a change! It makes you younger and even lovelier. And I love your smile (and the glasses)!
I’m also one of those who who aren’t inclined to watch Aamir in his pet project…all reasons are named here: self-indulgent Aamir, his (again) wide-eyes-open, message-heavy and (most probably) too long.
I understand that you’ll need some time to get the loooong journey and the demanding stay out oif your system…and the sewing project is another demand. So yes, your feel-better feeling will make September a more enjoyable month…(my wish for you 🙂 )
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Your haircut is so cute! While the long was impressive I think the shoulder length is more flattering. Glad you are enjoying it.
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Wow, big change! How long (time-wise, I mean) did you have your hair long? I’ve had long hair since childhood and always worry that, if I cut it, I’m going to get annoyed at not being able to bun/braid it away from my face.
(Shelomit here–I’m logged in on WordPress, but your blog doesn’t seem to believe that : P)
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Popka was having issues too! I bet WordPress just updated something.
I had long hair more or less when I was a kid, but with bangs and trim and things so it wasn’t long-long. And then when I graduated college I cut it short in a “I really don’t want to do this but I am an Adult and I can’t have long hair” moment. And a few years later went “I don’t care, I’m growing it again!”. So this latest growth is about 15 years worth, and also years and years of it just being normal for me. and now I am rediscovering pre-long hair Margaret.
Anyway, I thought of you! I thought “Oh, now Shelomit will have the longest hair on the blog!”
On Tue, Aug 16, 2022 at 4:58 PM dontcallitbollywood < comment-reply@wordpress.com> wrote:
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In my case the log-on thing seems to have been a fluke–it was telling me that I couldn’t log in as I was typing the comment itself, but once I pressed “post comment” it took me to a separate sign-in screen and all was as usual from that point forward. W/e.
I do think I ought to experience short hair as an adult at some point, but am not quite willing to pull the trigger yet. Part of the issue is that, when my hair is short, it’s REALLY curly. The additional weight pulls the longer parts out so that they’re still wavy but not completely uncontrollable. I can deal with bangs-worth of wild curly hair, but I’m not certain I can commit to a full head of it ( ; I do plan to cut my hair next year (it’s a bit below my knees right now), but probably just back to fingertip length or so.
Admittedly, I have the advantage of wearing a mitznefet (headscarf/turban thing) when I’m out of the house, so I can wear my hair in the same boring buns day in and day out without feeling like I’m breaking some kind of social hairdo contract. It doesn’t protect me from “bad scarf days,” though. . .
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OMG OMG this is momentous! Cheers to your new short hair self! Totally dig the look. I think I actually have longer hair than you at the moment, wonder how long that will last.
I’m kind of a Forrest Gump hater so not inclined to go out to see Aamir’s earnest remake. Maybe will watch it streaming, curious about the SRK cameo.
Q: what kind of fall are you expecting for yourself? A back to normal, mostly predictable kind of fall or a get out there and do stuff kind of fall or something else entirely?
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What a nice question! At this point, a normal fall would be exciting. Ive been gone so much this summer, I want to reconnect with friends and get back on a normal hang out schedule (including watchalongs). Plus, maybe some minor personal challenges like a hard sewing project or growing microgreens.
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That sounds lovely. The part where you’ve lived long enough in your house that it’s comfortable and normal, right?
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Yes, thank goodness! I’m now in the house part of “maybe I re-organize the closet” instead of “I am drowning in boxes!”
On Wed, Aug 17, 2022 at 8:44 AM dontcallitbollywood < comment-reply@wordpress.com> wrote:
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Thumbs up! 🙂
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Your hair looks so great!
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Thank you!
On Fri, Aug 19, 2022, 5:14 PM dontcallitbollywood < comment-reply@wordpress.com> wrote:
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Just catching up with posts after the semester ends, but wow, you CUT cut it! It looks great and super cool with the glasses!
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Thank you! I was gonna ask you a thing when you were next on the blog, but now I have forgotten what it was. Oh well.
On Wed, Aug 24, 2022 at 3:17 AM dontcallitbollywood < comment-reply@wordpress.com> wrote:
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