Park Ji-hoon’s upcoming Weak Hero Class 2 has been gaining traction for a while. In the run-up to its release, anticipation for the intense action high school drama has doubled since Netflix, in [what I believe] was a strategic acquisition, made the first installment, Weak Hero Class 1, available just before launching the new season, reviving the show’s popularity almost three years after its initial airing. In effect, it has also influenced the popularity of its cast, notably Park Ji-hoon, known for his consummate portrayal in the titular role.
Park has had a protracted career in Korean entertainment since 2006, making his mark in diverse roles and projects. Speaking of K-dramas, the following are his best works in the genre that I suggest you watch before Weak Hero Class 2 arrives.
Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency (2019)
This period drama unfolds in the Joseon era, when Hanyang’s famous Flower Crew marriage agency—comprising Ma Hoon (Kim Min-jae), Young-soo (Park Ji-hoon), and Do Joon (Byeon Woo-seok)—is approached by the new king to help him win a commoner girl he loves. As the matchmaking team undertakes the challenge of changing her so she can blend in with the royalty, several secrets and mysteries are unveiled while relationship dynamics evolve through various plotlines in this engaging romantic comedy.
Park Ji-hoon’s Young-soo adds to the appeal of Flower Crew with style, energy, and cuteness (often flashed in his aegyo moments). An adept groomer, Young-soo is loved for his impeccable fashion sense and makeover skills. However, he’s scarred from a harrowing past, pushing him to camouflage his reality and live life as a different person—a portrayal that Park breathes life into seamlessly, inhabiting the contrasting and complex aspects of Young-soo’s narrative.
Love Revolution (2020)
Based on the webtoon of the same name, this teen drama follows Gong Joo-young (Park Ji-hoon), an extroverted high schooler who falls in love with the very withdrawn Wang Ja-rim (Lee Ruby). She’s disinterested, bothered even by Joo-young’s advances and his flashy displays of affection. Even so, Ja-rim is compelled to accept his proposal when he keeps pursuing her and never gives up on her.
Known for deft acting, especially in playing nuanced characters, Park Ji-hoon was appreciated for precisely capturing the subtleties of adolescence as Joo-young navigates the feelings of first love, the various heartwarming moments of camaraderie, his burgeoning emotions for Ja-rim, and his challenges while coming to terms with his sense of self, all of which contribute to the overall charm of the drama.
At a Distance, Spring Is Green (2021)
At a Distance, Spring Is Green draws attention to the youth—their behavioral and mental health issues through the challenges of college life, peer and academic pressures, financial worries, and relationship struggles—dramatizing the hit webtoon but in a way diverging from the original story by removing the BL (boy love) angle.
The main protagonist, Yeo Joon (Park Ji-hoon), is a rich kid, jovial and the cynosure of eyes in his college circle. However, beneath his cheerful exterior lies a deeper, troubled self, hidden from the world. When a serious and cynical senior enters the campus, Yeo Joon seeks to befriend him for want of a real friend. They hit a rocky start with contrasting personalities and backgrounds, causing friction, but their shared pain bridges the gap as the plot progresses.
Park aptly captures the complex and often unspoken emotions of Yeo Joon, especially when he’s struggling with himself. He very convincingly portrays that suppressed pain, his desperate need for validation and love, and his struggle to find them outside of a dismissive family.
Weak Hero Class 1 (2022)
One of my favorite high school dramas to date, this one has only eight episodes but is so fully fleshed out and ends with the most intriguing cliffhanger, foreshadowing what’s to come in the second season.
Certainly one of his best portrayals, Park Ji-hoon had me hooked throughout his run in the episodes as he etched out in detail Yeon Si-eun and his experiences in the violent and notorious world of his school, plagued with bullying, social stratification, and, of course, teenage problems.
Another excellent live-action version of this acclaimed webtoon, Weak Hero Class 1, centers on Si-eun, who is meritorious but physically weak, leveraging his erudite brain to outwit his bullies. He beats and is beaten, attracting more foes when his classmate and expert fighter Ahn Su-ho (Choi Hyun-wook) comes to his rescue, as does the timid Oh Beom-seok (Hong Kyung), the son of an influential assemblyman. The three forge a uniquely solid bond, only to have it broken when bullying worsens, fights escalate, and misunderstandings deepen, resulting in a graphic tale of action, emotion, and betrayal.
The profound emotional connection between the standoffish Si-eun and the outgoing Su-ho hits a raw nerve, amped by phenomenal performances. The role earned Park multiple nods and awards, including Best New Actor at the prestigious Blue Dragon Series Awards (2023).
Love Song for Illusion (2024)
Sajo Hyun, an enigmatic crown prince who doubles as a fashion designer, and the accursed Ak-hee, his alter ego who suffers severe pain anytime Yeon Wol (Hong Ye-ji) touches him, are played by Park Ji-hoon in this webtoon-based fantasy period romance. Yeon Wol is actually from a royal family and a victim of political scheming who now intends to kill the king, but things get mired when she becomes Sajo Hyun’s concubine after losing her memories.
Park brings nuance to his characters, transitioning between being sensitive and fierce in a detailed portrayal of each side’s emotions and agendas effectively. His onscreen rapport with Hong makes their relationship engaging as they traverse the intricacies of their situations and finally fall in love.
Alia Bhatt’s half-brother Rahul Bhatt says he respects Ranbir Kapoor as he is a ‘great father’ to daughter Raha: ‘Who Animal, who Kapoor, I don’t care’ | – The Times of India
Alia Bhatt’s half-brother, Rahul Bhatt, recently talked about his relationship with her husband, actor Ranbir Kapoor. In a straightforward conversation with Hindi Rush, Rahul avoided discussing Ranbir’s acting career and instead highlighted his qualities as a father. A Father’s Qualities Matter Most Rahul Bhatt praised Ranbir Kapoor for being a great father, emphasizing that it’s the most important quality a man can have. When asked about Ranbir’s acting career, Rahul admitted he didn’t really understand or care about it, stating that labels like actor or Kapoor didn’t matter to him. He expressed that what truly mattered was Ranbir’s love for his daughter and respect for his step-sister, with everything else being secondary.A Childhood Bond Rahul Bhatt shared a memory from the preparation for Animal, where Ranbir Kapoor sought his advice before heading to Abu Dhabi for weapons training. He mentioned that Ranbir was sincere and curious. Rahul also pointed out that their bond goes way back to childhood, as they both attended different schools in Mumbai—Ranbir at Bombay Scottish and Rahul at Arya Mandir.
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Alia Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt In the same interview, Rahul expressed that in terms of stardom, Alia is comparatively less prominent than their sister Pooja Bhatt. He acknowledged Pooja’s significant role in advancing their father Mahesh Bhatt‘s legacy in the film industry. Rahul emphasized that Pooja’s contributions have been instrumental in carrying forward the family’s cinematic heritage. Ranbir Kapoor’s Upcoming Projects Ranbir Kapoor has an exciting lineup of projects ahead. He is set to star in the Ramayana trilogy, Animal Park (the sequel to Animal), Dhoom 4, and Brahmastra: Part Two – Dev. He is also rumored to be collaborating with director Rajkumar Hirani on another film, although the official release dates for these projects are yet to be announced.
Netflix India on Tuesday (April 22) launched the trailer for The Royals, a self-described ‘royalty rom-com’ set to stream on the platform from May 9. Directed by Priyanka Ghose and Nupur Asthana, the series is headlined by Ishaan Khatter, Bhumi Pednekar and Bollywood veteran Zeenat Aman. The ballroom-filing ensemble includes Sakshi Tanwar, Nora Fatehi, Dino Morea, Milind Soman, Chunky Panday, Vihaan Samat, Kavya Trehan, Sumukhi Suresh, Udit Arora, Lisa Mishra and Luke Kenny.
Written by Neha Veena Sharma, The Royals chronicles the fortuitous romance between an entitled royal scion, Aviraaj (Ishaan) and a self-made entrepreneur, Sophia (Bhumi). With his father, the maharaj of Morpur, passing on, Aviraaj has to graduate from polo and take on the royal reins. Enter Sophia: who wants to their the pristine Moti Mahal into a Royal B&B.
Against this foreground of blossoming love, the show tracks the comic, cacophonic dysfunctions of an Indian royal family, its profligate members stuck between tradition and change.
Speaking about the show, Bhumi Pednekar said: ““This show gave me a chance to play with my wardrobe, which I love so deeply. I’ve never chased playing an urban girl or playing a character that is away from what I usually do. I always go for scripts”. She called the series “sensitive” and “progressive” in core, adding that all types of audiences will feel represented watching it.
“It’s a fresh take on the romance between royal and a commoner. Most people thought this was a period piece when there were early talks about ‘The Royals’, but there is going to be a lot more,” Ishaan Khatter said.
Me and My Golden Image, from Kartab, a solo show by artist Gurmeet Marwah
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Every individual is engaged in activities to move forward in life; an ongoing stunt to achieve something. “That is Kartab for you,” says artist Gurmeet Marwah, who is presenting his first solo exhibition in the city. As Gurmeet puts it, the show delves into the many levels or angles of kartab, a Hindi word that means act, deed, or undertaking, as it plays out in everyday life.
Gurmeet’s artistic exploration is driven by this idea or concept of human nature, where there is more to every act than what is visible on the surface.
“Everyone is involved in kartab, hoping to gain something. Then we strive to balance and maintain it. We are constantly in that loop,” he says.
Gurmeet says his artworks are an exploration of this concept, and is in keeping with his belief that an idea should not be confined to a single dimension, whilst also upholding minimalism.
Hazaaron Khawaishein Aisi, from Kartab, a solo show by artist Gurmeet Marwah.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“When I think of an idea, I want to explore its possibilities. I don’t understand the point of limiting it. Painting is the simplest form of expression, but I enjoy going beyond it,” says Gurmeet, explaining how he always visualises a concept from different angles and perspectives.
Animals feature regularly in Gurmeet’s works — goats, donkeys, monkeys, owls and frogs — both in paintings and woodcuts. “Local slang in conversations inspired me to use animals as my subjects. For instance, words such as gadha (donkey) and bakhra (goat) are often part of casual conversations, so I began using them in my work. It is not symbolic; it is just the language I speak and have grown up with,” says the Delhi-based artist.
Talking about how some of his recent works portray humanoid figures, Gurmeet says it is symbolic of a subject he wants to present, and the depiction happened incidentally. “This is the first time I have used a human figure in my art. It was not conscious, but some concepts needed such a protagonist, so it was brought in.”
What distinguishes Gurmeet’s work is the simplicity, and his knack of presenting ideas important to him without complexities. In this exhibition, Gurmeet has presented artworks built on everyday experiences, his middle-class upbringing, hierarchies, and societal structures.
Tiger In The City, from Kartab, a solo show by artist Gurmeet Marwah.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
“I come from a middle-class family, and live a regular life in a metro. Many things influence our lives, and they can be personal, societal, or political. Everyone has a perspective or opinion on different topics and they choose to express them in their own way.I do it in the language I know, which is visual art. If I were a poet, I would have written poems.”
Describing the choice of titles for his works, he says it is a way to connect with the audience. “It is a way of directing the viewer toward what I’m trying to say without overloading them with information.”
His artworks often feature subtle, almost monochromatic backgrounds, bringing focus to a central object or figure that carries the message.
“I feel an artist’s job is to simplify things. Art is not meant to confuse the viewer. I want the viewer to look straight at the subject and understand my idea.”
Kartab by Gurmeet Marwah is on display at Artisera in Indiranagar, till May 4
