मुंबई। टीवी एक्टर समीर शर्मा की संदिग्ध परिस्थितियों में मौत हो गई। शुरूआती जांच में मामला आत्महत्या से जुड़ा लग रहा है। आपको बता दे कि मुंबई के मलाड वेस्ट के अहिंसा मार्ग पर स्थित नेहा सीएचएस बिल्डिंग में उनका शव मिला है। बताया जा रहा है कि समीर ने इसी साल फ़रवरी में अपार्टमेंट को किराये पर लिया था। सूचना पर पहुंची पुलिस को आशंका है कि समीर शर्मा ने दो दिन पहले किचन में पंखे से फांसी लगाई है। हालांकि समीर की मौत से जुड़ा स्पष्ट कारणों का अभी खुलासा नहीं हो सका है। समीर शर्मा ने स्टार प्लस के शो ‘ ये रिश्ते है प्यार के‘ में कुहू के पिता की भूमिका निभाई थी और इससे उन्हें खासा पहचान भी मिला थी। सूत्रों से मिली जानकारी मुताबिक रात में ड्यूटी पर राउंड मारते वक्त वॉचमैन ने बॉडी को देखा और सोसाइटी के मेबर्स को जानकारी दी। इसके बाद पुलिस को बुलाया गया। हालांकि छानबीन में अब तक कोई सुसाइड नोट नहीं मिला है। समीर की मौत के मामलें में मलाड़ पुलिस थाने के इंस्पेक्टर जॉर्ज फर्नांडिस के मुताबिक, केस दर्ज कर लिया गया है। मामले की जांच की जा रही है। परिवार से संम्पर्क साधा जा रहा है। ये रिश्ते है प्यार के अलावा समीर शर्मा ने कहानी घर घर की, क्योकि सास भी कभी बहू थी, ज्योति और इस प्यार को क्या नाम दूं, लेफ़्ट राइट लेफ़्ट, गीत हुई सबसे पराई, सहारा वन टीवी के धारावाहिक वो रहने वाली महलों की जैसे कई सीरियल्स में भी काम किया है। हालांकि समीर की मौत की खबर मिलते ही छोटे पर्दे से जुड़े तमाम लोग ग़मगीन है। अभी सुशांत सिंह राजपूत की मौत की खबर से लोग अभी उबर भी नहीं पाए थे कि अब एक और झटका टीवी इंडस्ट्री को लगा है। मनोरंजन जगत के छोटे पर्दे के एक्टर समीर शर्मा की मौत ने सबकों हैरान कर दिया है।

सुष्मिता सेन के भाई राजीव सेन की निजी जिंदगी इन दिनों सुर्खियों में बनी हुई है. पत्नी चारू असोपा संग उनकी खटपट अब पब्लिक हो चुकी है. दोनों की शादी को अभी महज 1 साल ही हुआ है और रिश्ते में दरार की खबरें आने लगी हैं.

सुष्मिता सेन के भाई राजीव सेन की निजी जिंदगी इन दिनों सुर्खियों में बनी हुई है. पत्नी चारू असोपा संग उनकी खटपट अब पब्लिक हो चुकी है. दोनों की शादी को अभी महज 1 साल ही हुआ है और रिश्ते में दरार की खबरें आने लगी हैं.

सुष्मिता सेन के भाई राजीव सेन की निजी जिंदगी इन दिनों सुर्खियों में बनी हुई है. पत्नी चारू असोपा संग उनकी खटपट अब पब्लिक हो चुकी है. दोनों की शादी को अभी महज 1 साल ही हुआ है और रिश्ते में दरार की खबरें आने लगी हैं.

सुष्मिता सेन के भाई राजीव सेन की निजी जिंदगी इन दिनों सुर्खियों में बनी हुई है. पत्नी चारू असोपा संग उनकी खटपट अब पब्लिक हो चुकी है. दोनों की शादी को अभी महज 1 साल ही हुआ है और रिश्ते में दरार की खबरें आने लगी हैं.

देश में लगे लॉगडाउन ने वैसे तो लोगों को कई परेशानियां दी हैं, लेकिन ये वो सुनहरा मौका बन गया है जब फैन्स अपने फेवरेट सितारों का अलग रूप देख पा रहे हैं. इस समय सभी कलाकार कुछ ना कुछ अलग कर हैरान कर रहे हैं.

देश में लगे लॉगडाउन ने वैसे तो लोगों को कई परेशानियां दी हैं, लेकिन ये वो सुनहरा मौका बन गया है जब फैन्स अपने फेवरेट सितारों का अलग रूप देख पा रहे हैं. इस समय सभी कलाकार कुछ ना कुछ अलग कर हैरान कर रहे हैं.

देश में लगे लॉगडाउन ने वैसे तो लोगों को कई परेशानियां दी हैं, लेकिन ये वो सुनहरा मौका बन गया है जब फैन्स अपने फेवरेट सितारों का अलग रूप देख पा रहे हैं. इस समय सभी कलाकार कुछ ना कुछ अलग कर हैरान कर रहे हैं.

देश में लगे लॉगडाउन ने वैसे तो लोगों को कई परेशानियां दी हैं, लेकिन ये वो सुनहरा मौका बन गया है जब फैन्स अपने फेवरेट सितारों का अलग रूप देख पा रहे हैं. इस समय सभी कलाकार कुछ ना कुछ अलग कर हैरान कर रहे हैं.

सुशांत सिंह राजपूत के निधन को एक महीना पूरा हो गया है. 14 जून को उन्होंने मुंबई स्थ‍ित अपने घर में फांसी लगाकर आत्महत्या कर ली थी.  इस बात की फैंस में तकलीफ से ज्यादा नारागजी देखने को मिली. फैंस का मानना है क‍ि सुशांत जैसे सफल अभ‍िनेता सुसाइड नहीं कर सकते, उनकी मौत की सीबीआई जांच हो. हालांकि पुलिस अभी भी केस की जांच-पड़ताल जारी रखे हए है. आइए एक महीने बाद कहां तक पहुंचा केस और इन 30 दिनों के पूरे इन्वेस्ट‍िगेशन पर एक नजर डालें.

सुशांत सिंह राजपूत के निधन को एक महीना पूरा हो गया है. 14 जून को उन्होंने मुंबई स्थ‍ित अपने घर में फांसी लगाकर आत्महत्या कर ली थी.  इस बात की फैंस में तकलीफ से ज्यादा नारागजी देखने को मिली. फैंस का मानना है क‍ि सुशांत जैसे सफल अभ‍िनेता सुसाइड नहीं कर सकते, उनकी मौत की सीबीआई जांच हो. हालांकि पुलिस अभी भी केस की जांच-पड़ताल जारी रखे हए है. आइए एक महीने बाद कहां तक पहुंचा केस और इन 30 दिनों के पूरे इन्वेस्ट‍िगेशन पर एक नजर डालें.

टीवी एक्ट्रेस चारु असोपा और सुष्मिता सेन के भाई राजीव सेन अपनी शादीशुदा जिंदगी में चल रही खटपट को लेकर खबरों में बने हुए हैं. खबरें हैं कि दोनों के बीच सबकुछ ठीक नहीं हैं. उनके बीच की इस अनबन से फैंस काफी दुखी हैं.

टीवी एक्ट्रेस चारु असोपा और सुष्मिता सेन के भाई राजीव सेन अपनी शादीशुदा जिंदगी में चल रही खटपट को लेकर खबरों में बने हुए हैं. खबरें हैं कि दोनों के बीच सबकुछ ठीक नहीं हैं. उनके बीच की इस अनबन से फैंस काफी दुखी हैं.

टीवी एक्ट्रेस चारु असोपा और सुष्मिता सेन के भाई राजीव सेन अपनी शादीशुदा जिंदगी में चल रही खटपट को लेकर खबरों में बने हुए हैं. खबरें हैं कि दोनों के बीच सबकुछ ठीक नहीं हैं. उनके बीच की इस अनबन से फैंस काफी दुखी हैं.

टीवी एक्ट्रेस चारु असोपा और सुष्मिता सेन के भाई राजीव सेन अपनी शादीशुदा जिंदगी में चल रही खटपट को लेकर खबरों में बने हुए हैं. खबरें हैं कि दोनों के बीच सबकुछ ठीक नहीं हैं. उनके बीच की इस अनबन से फैंस काफी दुखी हैं.

Actress and global Unicef Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights Priyanka Chopra is visiting the Rohingya refugee camps on a field visit.

Priyanka tweeted a photograph of herself earlier today, looking out of the window from an aircraft.

“Follow my Instagram to share my experiences as I visit the Rohingya refugee camps on this UNICEF field visit. Children uprooted, the world needs to care. We need to care,” she captioned the image.

Priyanka, 35, has worked with UNICEF for a decade and was appointed as the national and global Unicef goodwill ambassador for Child Rights in 2010 and 2016 respectively. She promotes causes such as environment, health and education and women’s rights among many others. Almost 700,000 refugees have fled violence in neighbouring Myanmar and arrived in Cox’s Bazar since August 2017, according to the UN.

Last year, Priyanka had met Syrian refugee children in Jordan. The actress has flown to Dhaka from London, where she attended her friend and actress Meghan Markle’s wedding to British Royal Prince Harry.

If Nirupa Roy, the iconic Bollywood mother, would have known Sehmat, she would have bestowed the Bahu of Year Award title upon her. Even Shashikala and Lalita Pawar could not have denied Sehmat’s bahu-like qualities.

Sehmat, played by Alia Bhatt, is the typical aadarsh bahu that every Bollywood mother-in-law has always dreamed of. Her anklets tinkle as she walks demurely, she wears pastels throughout. She changes flowers in vases, hands her husband his handkerchief and wallet as he steps out for work, and serves food at the dinner table, as the male members of the house sit down to eat.

But Sehmat is anything but an aadarsh bahu. Living in the house of three high profile Pakistani Army personnel, Sehmat is an Indian spy, married to one of them so that she can easily acquire Intel and pass it to the Indian intelligence agency. Thus proceeds the story of Meghna Gulzar’s latest film, Raazi.

For starters, Bhatt’s Sehmat, as the docile bahu, is a far cry from most of the contemporary onscreen female spies that we have seen so far. Sehmat cannot kick butts, and take on an army of men. No, she isn’t Katrina Kaif’s Zoya from Ek Tha Tiger who can look that sexy while simultaneously punching a bunch of people.

Unlike most Bollywood spy films, in Raazi, Sehmat also doesn’t need a male super spy to save her, and bail her out when things go south, like Sonakshi Sinha’s Kamaljeet Kaur needed John Abraham’s Yashwardhan in Force 2 or Taapsee Pannu’s Shabana needed Akshay Kumar’s Ajay Singh Rajput in Naam Shabana. Neither does Sehmat fall for another spy (thank god!) like Kareena Kapoor’s Ruby in Agent Vinod.

In fact, Raazi moves away from all the clichés about female spies that have been propelled by Hollywood for years and have seeped into Bollywood films effortlessly. In popular culture, we always think of female spies as femme fatale, with dashboard flat tummies suited for bikini ads, and Catwoman walks; women who use their sexiness to entice high-ranking enemies and make them divulge their secrets.

They are portrayed as intelligent individuals who are often trained assassins and mostly emotionless (who inevitably develop emotions for some hot dude in the film) and sometimes even with no backstory. These women are contrived to inspire awe in the audience and are often half fleshed characters used as a bait by the villains to lure the hero (who is obviously a guy. Duh!). Take any film, Jane Smith (Angelina Jolie) in Mr and Mrs Smith, Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) in Inglourious Basterds, or Bond girl Giacinta Johnson (Halle Berry) in Die Another Day, and you will see these women characters seamlessly fit into the clichéd notions of female spies.

As spies, you would expect these women to blend in, so that they raise little or no suspicion at all and yet barring few films, every female spy character in movies looks like aspiring Victoria’s Secret model. To be fair, Mata Hari ruined it for all the female spies and their onscreen counterparts. Before her, hardly in the history of the world, had we ever seen a woman, who with her sensuous, exotic way could get any information out of a man. While it is still unclear whose side she was really on, she is by far the most glamorous female spy that ever existed. And when the gorgeous Greta Garbo played her with oozing sex appeal onscreen, she almost set a precedence for all onscreen female spies to look hot.

In this respect, Bhatt’s Sehmat is no different. Although she doesn’t quite fit in the definition of hot, she is pretty as a young gazelle and looks gullible too. That, she uses to her full advantage– not just to manipulate the characters in the film, but also the audiences. With her Bambi eyes, as she cries in practically every shot, Bhatt easily draws in a lot of sympathy, despite doing horrendous things onscreen.

Bhatt, in fact, is the best and the worst thing that has happened to Raazi. On one hand, she plays Sehmat with an earnestness and delicacy that makes the character a living breathing person and yet, she emotes so much in almost every scene, that her performance comes off at times as too conscious, as if she is trying too hard to prove her worth as a heroine. Unlike most spies, Sehmat is a vulnerable and emotional individual, and Bhatt’s only device to show that onscreen is to cry her guts out. After a point, it feels a little overwhelming, as she wails like an infant, you almost tend to zone out of it all, instead of getting more invested in her.

Yet, Bhatt’s Sehmat is by far one of the most real spy characters one would meet in Hindi cinema. The reason for it may be the fact that her character is based on a real person and Gulzar, who is a very talented filmmaker, never veers towards making Sehmat filmy or a Bollywood stereotype of a spy. Sehmat undergoes training and a rigorous one too. Yet, by the end of it, when she chases down a man in the street, like any other normal person, she too pants and sweats. She learns combat, and yet she never morphs into a master assassin; she learns to use a pistol and yet she struggles with the consequences of its use. When she murders someone for the first time, she cannot believe that she has done it and as an audience who have seen her saving a squirrel in the first part of the film, neither can you. She does pass the information to her bosses, and yet she falls in love with the Pakistani man she has married, who happens to be a kind, sensitive person. She is a spy no doubt, and a good one at that, but what makes her real is the fact that she is no less human for it.

Actor Mallika Sherawat who is the ambassador for international NGO ‘Free A Girl India, that fights against human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children, took it upon herself to raise awareness on the horrifying crime of forced child prostitution at the ongoing 71st Cannes Film Festival 2018. As part of Free a Girl’s Lock-Me-Up Campaign, the actor locked herself in a 12×8 feet small cage at Cannes to bring global attention to the issue.

Mallika who has been known for her strong association with ‘Free A Girl’ NGO had represented them last year as well at Cannes. The actor has been known for her active involvement in philanthropic activities over the years and this time around she has pledged to make efforts to end this evil practice.

About the initiative, Mallika says, “It is my ninth year at Cannes and the festival is one of the most cogent platforms to raise the issue of child prostitution not just in India but across the world. Being locked in a cage, I wanted to drive home the imagery of how young girls who are being trafficked are trapped in a small 12×8 foot room. These innocent victims have to live and survive without any aid. There is a woman suffering abuse every minute with no hope of any change. So I thought of doing my bit and raising awareness about an issue which needs to become extinct at the earliest.” 

The actress is also the brand ambassador of the ‘School for Justice’ and shares a firm viewpoint on women’s rights. Having been involved with the UN and an NGO ‘Urja’, Mallika had addressed the problems faced by women in India at the 65th United Nations DPI/NGO Conference in 2014.

With this campaign, Mallika intends to support the School for Justice in India and initiate a change to bring about the extermination of the problem of forced child prostitution in India and internationally.

Yami Gautam is the latest victim of celebrity hacking. Multiple hacking attempts were made on her social media accounts, recently, by a suspected single individual. The actress was alerted a few days back by her social media team about the suspicious movement and has now taken this matter to the authorities.

The break-ins have happened on her personal Twitter page through various devices at different hours of the day where the hacker followed many accounts on her behalf and unblocked various accounts, previously blocked by her.

Yami has now lodged an official complaint and filed a report with the cyber cell which is currently investigating the activities. The reports from the investigations are currently awaited and the actress along with the help from the rightful authorities aims to take action against the perpetrator as soon as possible.

Rasika Dugal, the lead alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Nandita Das’ Manto was seen lending support to the Time’s Up event at Cannes. It was the biggest event of the festival where 82 powerful women from across world cinema took to the red carpet to lend their support to the #METOO campaign globally.

The event was attended by some of the strongest women actors like Jane Fonda, Ava Duvernay, Marion Cottilard, Patty Jenkins and Nandita Das. Cate Blanchett and Kristen Stewart lead the protest along the red carpet before the premiere of Eva Husson’s Girls of The Sun.

Talking about the walk Rasika said, “There are very few times when you are part of a historical moment and you know it. This was one of those. It was a very emotional experience holding hands and walking in solidarity with 82 women at Cannes. Not much was said but yet many of us were moved to tears. The unspoken regard and understanding and solidarity for the challenges we have all had to face to be here was so so powerful.”

Elaborating more on her experience, she said, “It was my first time at the Palais de festivals red carpet at the Cannes film festival and I shared that moment with Salma Hayek, Patty Jenkins, Nandita Das and so many other women. I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction. Cate Blanchett’s powerful speech just made me feel more than ever how important this is. I mean we know there is rampant gender discrimination and we face it every day but just to have the numbers like that makes me feel like it’s about time !”

Ace designers like Manish Malhotra, Anita Dongre and actress Sonakshi Sinha will soon be seen on a to-be-launched web series Intern Diaries by Grazia. The series will give the audience a sneak peak into the working of the fashion magazine via the millennial point of view of the two interns, read a statement.

The designers will be making special appearances in the web series.

Sonakshi, who was a costumer designer before pursuing an acting career, drew a small comparison between the interns of yesteryears and now. “The interns these days are so prim and proper. They are so aware of everything, so focused with their hair and make-up. We used to go as if we just woke up from our beds and just scrammed. It was so much of a hustle but it was a lot of fun actually,” said Sonakshi.

“Whatever I have learnt, I still use it even though I am not a part of the fashion industry directly, but as an actress, I still remember the things that I learnt,” she added.

The 8-episode web series will be launched on May 15.

Ali Fazal and Amyra Dastur are all set to star in the Hindi remake of Telugu filmmaker Deva Katta’s cult classic, Prasthanam, alongside Sanjay Dutt. The director of the original will be returning to helm the Hindi project, titled Prasthaanam that goes on floors in the first week of June.

Sanjay Dutt will be seen as the main lead, playing the patriarch of a powerful political dynasty. Victoria and Abdul actor, Ali Fazal will be essaying the role of his son, whereas Amyra is all set to play his love interest. The film, like the original, will be a political drama, save for a few changes in the script as Deva wants to cater to the pan-India audience.

The Telugu film, starring Sai Kumar, revolved around a young man belonging to a powerful political family who wants to expose the network between politicians and businessmen. The film was a huge blockbuster and even won 3 Filmfare awards down South.

Prasthaanam marks the return of Sanjay Dutt to production after 7 years, following his last stint with David Dhawan’s Rascals in 2011.

After actor Jimmy Sheirgill, who recently bought a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, Bollywood has found another fan of the German luxury car manufacturer in the form of actress Sherlyn Chopra. The model and actress who hosted the MTV Splitsvilla in the past, took the delivery of the flagship SUV of Mercedes-Benz – the GLS 350d Grand Edition.

After actor Jimmy Sheirgill, who recently bought a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG, Bollywood has found another fan of the German luxury car manufacturer in the form of actress Sherlyn Chopra. The model and actress who hosted the MTV Splitsvilla in the past, took the delivery of the flagship SUV of Mercedes-Benz – the GLS 350d Grand Edition.

Sherlyn Chopra with her Mercedes GLS

The SUV was recently launched in India for Rs 86.90 Lakh (ex-showroom, India) and is available in two variants – the GLS 350 d and the GLS 400, both of which are priced the same. Sherlyn Chopra took the delivery of her prized possession from Shaman Wheels, a Mercedes-Benz authorized dealer in Mumbai.

Sherlyn Chopra with her Mercedes GLS. 

The exterior of the GLS Grand Edition comes loaded with LED Intelligent Light System with unique black rings and Corner light function, 50.8 cm (20-inch) 10-spoke light alloy wheels that are painted in Black and with a high-sheen finish, ‘Grand Edition’ exterior badges and chrome fins on the bonnet.

Sherlyn Chopra with her Mercedes GLS.

In terms of storage space, the GLS provides a volume of 680 to 2300 litres. The interiors are offered with high-quality heated 3-spoke multifunction nappa leather steering wheel with steering wheel gearshift paddles, 12 function keys and an airbag cover in nappa leather, semi-integrated colour Media Display.

As standard on the GLS are the PRE-SAFE system, BAS Brake Assist, the electronic all-wheel drive traction system 4ETS, ESP with Curve Dynamic Assist and cruise control. Adaptive, two-stage airbags for driver and front passenger, side bags for driver, front passenger and the middle row seats (combined thorax/pelvis bags) and window bags across all three seat rows are also part of the standard specification.

In its first trial, the Cannes Film Festival’s ban on selfie-taking on the red carpet was adhered to by most, but not all, at Tuesday’s opening night ceremony.

Some attendees were seen taking pictures with their cellphones on their way into the festival’s opening-night premiere of Ashgar Farhadi’s “Nobody Knows.” Festival hosts were seen admonishing some guests who had their cameras out.

Festival Director Thierry Fremaux has called selfie-taking “grotesque” and said they interrupt the elegance of the prestigious red carpet, lined by photographers. On Tuesday, Fremaux said people come to Cannes to see films “not to be seen.”

Sonam Kapoor is all set to sashay down to the mandap to marry her beau Anand Ahuja in a gorgeous traditional red lehenga-choli today. The first photographs of the actress dressed up as a bride were shared by none other than Vogue Fashion Director, Anaita Shroff Adajania on the Instagram recently. Although decked up in heavy jewelry, Kapoor as always is an embodiment of elegance and grace in those photos. In fact, the actress seems very much in her bride-to-be mode as she struck a demure desi bride pose (looking down at the feet and all!) for the camera in one of the pictures.

The bridal lehenga-choli has been designed by Anuradha Vakil who has also made Kapoor’s pastel Mehendi outfit. Kapoor’s wedding dress is in traditional deep red color with heavy zardosi work all over it. Her dupatta, as well as lehenga, has beautiful lotus patterns and heavy borders with delicate patti work on the borders.

The actress, who is popular as a fashionista and has featured on the covers of many bridal magazines before, made a gorgeous bride in real life as well. Kapoor is all set to tie the knot at her aunt’s bungalow in Bandra during the day. Kapoor’s going-to-be husband, Ahuja, has already arrived at the wedding venue wearing a golden sherwani. The wedding will be followed by lunch. There will be a reception held in the honor of the newly-weds in the evening, where the dress code is western formals.

When Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui walks the red carpet at Cannes he may take a moment to ponder just how far he has come and where he is headed. In just over a decade, Siddiqui has gone from a struggling bit-part actor worried about finding food to an acclaimed international star coveted by directors for his versatility across all genres. “When your film gets selected in a good category, you feel confident that you are on the right track and your choice of films is good,” Siddiqui told AFP in an interview.

His latest film sees him play the lead role in Manto, a biopic about the troubled life of Indian-Pakistani writer Saadat Hasan Manto. The movie, directed by Nandita Das, has been selected for the Un Certain Regard category of the film festival which opens Tuesday. “I enjoy Cannes because it is such a big and prestigious platform. It’s a whole world revolving around films,” said Siddiqui.

Manto (1912-1955) is considered to be one of the Indian subcontinent’s greatest ever short story writers. He was lauded for being bold and progressive and a proponent of free speech, writing truthfully about the brutal violence that followed the partition of British India. To others he was a subversive troublemaker whose stories featuring pimps and prostitutes broke too many taboos. Manto was charged with obscenity a total of six times by authorities in colonial and independent India. He died from organ failure caused by excessive alcohol consumption aged just 42.

“Manto was an honest man who wrote what he saw. He was transparent and there was no hypocrisy in his life,” said Siddiqui, who is 43. “He thought about things in the 1940s which we fail to see or think about even today. He spoke and wrote the truth, and truth never gets old. To play him you have to be truthful too,” he added.

Siddiqui is one of Hindi cinema’s great success stories — a poor man, who from humble beginnings in a village in Uttar Pradesh state, defied the odds to make it big in Bollywood after moving to Mumbai in 2000. By his own admission the chances were stacked against him: “I’m a five-foot six-inch, dark, ordinary-looking man. People didn’t imagine I would make it,” he told AFP in 2015.

But after years of playing small parts Siddiqui achieved his breakthrough in 2012 with Talaash, Gangs of Wasseypur, Miss Lovely and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. He has not looked back.

“I spent 10-12 years struggling. My lowest point was to find food and survive. Now I can do the work according to my choices,” he said at his office, a collection of posters from his biggest hits hanging on a wall behind him. Siddiqui has held his own with superstars like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan and also successfully crossed over into Hollywood, appearing in the 2016 hit Lion.

He is considered to be one of the few actors who can straddle both commercial Bollywood and independent film genres, putting him in high demand. After Manto, Siddiqui will be seen in the Netflix adaptation of Vikram Chandra’s novel Sacred Games. It releases on July 6 and will be the site’s first original Indian series.

He is currently shooting for what he describes as his “most difficult” character yet — divisive Mumbai politician Bal Thackeray, who died in 2012. Thackeray founded and led the Hindu far-right Shiv Sena party, which has campaigned against Muslims and sought to bar migrant “outsiders” from Mumbai. Siddiqui is both. “Credit goes to the family and the producer who must have realised I could do justice to this complex and difficult role,” he said.

Siddiqui will be in Cannes from May 13-15 before returning to India to finish shooting Thackeray which releases in January 2019. He has become a fixture on la Croisette since debuting with Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), walking the red carpet more than half a dozen times. The Lunchbox was screened there in 2013 while Raman Raghav followed in 2016.

A suit that Siddiqui had made by a Indian tailor for his first visit has been a feature of all of his appearances. This time, however, he is ditching it for a stylish tuxedo fashioned by one of India’s top designers — symbolic perhaps of how far he has come. “The suit has its own story. But there should be change. We can’t hold onto the past,” said Siddiqui.

Mumbai: Actor Anil Kapoor says it was a proud and heartwarming moment to see his producer brother Boney Kapoor’s children Janhvi and Khushi accepting the National Film Award for late veteran actress and their mother Sridevi. 

“Such a proud and heartwarming moment for all of us to watch these beautiful people accept an honour for the most incredible person there ever was! Sridevi. National Film Awards, Boney Kapoor, Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor,” Anil tweeted.

Boney on Thursday was in the capital with his two daughters Janhvi and Khushi to receive the Best Actress posthumous honour at the 65th National Film Awards ceremony.

In the movie, directed by Ravi Udyawar, Sridevi, whose sudden death in February this year shocked everyone, played a mother who sets out to avenge her step-daughter, essayed by Pakistani actress Sajal Ali.

New Delhi: The world knows him as Bollywood’s Shahenshah, but he prefers to be known as the son of late eminent poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he has been in public life from the day he was born, but has no legacy of his own to leave behind.

The actor, who has successfully transitioned from Bollywood’s “Angry young man” to its Shahenshah to its most globally known ambassador during his over four-decade-old career, says his father’s “public presence is far greater than” his.

“It is coming on to 50 years in public life… That is as far as I am personally concerned… But I have been in public life from the day I was born. I was always the son of Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan, eminent poet, litterateur, having public presence far greater than mine,” Amitabh said in an email interview from Mumbai.

“I have no legacy… My father’s legacy is what I am interested in, and I shall try always to further it.”

Amitabh, who is looking forward to the release of his next film 102 Not Out, has time and again penned his feelings and thoughts about his bond with his father in his elaborate blogs. Earlier this year, he had also expressed displeasure over the stipulation in the copyright law which allows exclusive rights to heirs of original literary work for 60 years after the author’s death.

The 75-year-old, who also enjoys reciting his father’s works, especially “Madhushala” at public events, hopes he has passed on his father’s wisdom to his son and actor Abhishek.

“Memories with my father and time spent with him are personal… But, yes lessons learnt from him would certainly be passed on to Abhishek,” added Big B.

Asked how these were being passed on to the grandchildren, Amitabh said: “These are family oriented. Each family has their own conduct and behaviour, and they are executed in a manner where the next generation continues the legacy of the past. One prays and hopes that this temperament continues for posterity too.”

Amitabh started his journey in showbiz as one of the seven protagonists in Saat Hindustani, and then went on to feature in the Rajesh Khanna-starrer Anand. But once he got noticed in 1973 with Zanjeer. there was no looking back.

Some remember him as the towering lead in films like Deewar, Zanjeer, Don and Sholay; some appreciate his work in Black, Paa and Piku, and some just love to watch him bring characters of myriad shades alive on the silver screen and the small screen.

From touching the pinnacle of stardom to facing failure to his days of bankruptcy to bouncing back in the game and seeing a meteoric rise — Big B has seen it all.

“I never dreamt of being where I am today, not that I am in some special space now, but dreams of the young are never constant, at least mine were never. We keep imagining according to prevailing circumstances. And circumstances keep changing rapidly,” he said.

The cine icon feels it is very important to taste failure to value success.

“Criticism,” he says, “is healthy. If not, we would all be living in a Utopian world, and we know that, that is not possible. Abuse, negativity, criticism is a most important element in our growth. We must know what the rest of the world is thinking of us and our work, and learn from those outputs. It’s like failure; unless you fail, you will never know what success is.”

In Umesh Shukla’s “102 Not Out”, Big B is seen as centenarian father to his 75-year-old son — essayed by Rishi Kapoor — who wants to break the world record of being the oldest man alive. The record is held by an 118-year-old Chinese man. The old man feels his son’s morose attitude would not help him achieve the target and takes step to move his son to an old age home.

Produced by Sony Pictures Entertainment Films India, Treetop Entertainment and Shukla’s Benchmark Pictures, the film opened on Friday.

“Our experience comes from the design of the story and the script. We tried to do what the script demands, and we hope it has been done to audience’s satisfaction,” said the actor, who will also be seen in “Thugs of Hindostan”.

Clearly, there is no slowing down for Big B as he listed the projects in the pipeline.

“There are a few. Ayan Mukerji’s ‘Brahmastra’, Sujoy Ghosh’s ‘the Guest’ (tentative working title or ‘Badla’), R Balki’s next and a few more… Then there is ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’,” he said

If the infamous “hobbling” scene in Rob Reiner’s Misery made you hide behind the sofa, then prepare to wince hard at Mission: Impossible – Fallout — as Tom Cruise shatters his ankle for real.

The injury has threatened or ended the careers of sports legends like Diego Maradona, Yao Ming and Derek Jeter, but 55-year-old Cruise calmly finished the take and was back on set within six weeks.

“I’ve broken bones before in my life, but it was hard,” the Top Gun icon, perhaps the most recognizable movie star in the world over the last four decades, told AFP, adding, “It was very difficult, because they were concerned I wasn’t going to be able to run for nine months at least and I’m in the middle. I’ve got a release date and responsibilities — I didn’t want to stop filming.”

AFP caught up with Cruise at the annual CinemaCon industry gathering in Las Vegas, where he was promoting the sixth film in the lucrative spy franchise ahead of its July 27 release.

“Mission: Impossible – Fallout” was forced to halt production in London last year after Cruise slammed awkwardly into a concrete wall as he leapt between buildings while attached to cables. “I knew instantly my ankle was broken and I really didn’t want to do it again so just got up and carried on with the take,” he said after the incident. Director Chris McQuarrie — who was also at the helm for Cruise’s Mission: Impossible 5 (2015) and Jack Reacher (2012) — said he would “move heaven and earth” to ensure that fateful fourth take got into the movie.

Cruise’s most difficult days were ahead of him, though, as he had to spend hours every day in rehab and climb a mountain in Norway when he returned to filming. “When you see the sprinting in the movie, I’m basically doing it on a broken foot. But I was able to get to a physical point where it wasn’t causing any more damage by doing that,” Cruise told.

A veteran of more than 50 movies, the star is admired for his adventurous attitude to filmmaking, which over the years has involved some hair-raising moments on set. It all started comparatively sedately as Cruise announced himself to Hollywood with a minor role in the 1981 romantic drama Endless Love. It was a memorable scene in 1983’s Risky Business, where he cavorts in a white shirt and his underwear while lip-syncing to Old Time Rock and Roll, which confirmed him as one of the film industry’s brightest talents.

Legendary producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson cast Cruise in 1985’s smash-hit Top Gun as the fighter pilot Maverick, a role that catapulted him into the ranks of Tinseltown’s elite. In the 33 years since, he has established himself as one of the most powerful and bankable players in Hollywood, his movies grossing $9.3 billion and his talents earning three Oscar nominations. His box office successes have included conventional action movies but also edgier roles, such as Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July, Barry Levinson’s Rain Man and Michael Mann’s Collateral.

Born in New York on July 3, 1962, the actor had an unsettled childhood after his father left home when he was 11 and refused to pay child support. Cruise is reported to have attended 15 schools in 12 years. His onscreen success has been matched by an ability to create controversial headlines off it, mostly through his vocal support for the secretive Church of Scientology. Cruise has also been forced to endure persistent innuendo about his sexuality and has sued over claims he is gay or that his second and third marriages to Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes were a sham.

“Almost 40 years. Forty years. For-ty,” Cruise mused backstage at CinemaCon about his longevity in the business as AFP asked how he would rank the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise among his career accomplishments. “It’s been a massive part of my life. It was the first film I ever produced. I love playing this character, something that you kind of dream that hopefully an audience would still want,” he added.

For the coming months, Cruise turns his attention to a sequel of the warmly received 2014 sci-fi movie Edge of Tomorrow and the project most of his fans are buzzing about — long-awaited sequel Top Gun: Maverick.

Director Joseph Kosinski is expected to begin production this summer, ahead of a 2019 release, although the return to perhaps Cruise’s most iconic role is shrouded in secrecy. “We’ll see if it goes through. We’ll see if it happens,” Cruise teased, flashing his trademark mile-wide grin, noting, “I’d tell you but I’d have to kill you.”

“Happy wedding anniversary to my most precious people in the entire world “my mummy & my Papa” without u both I’m nothing(sic),” wrote Esha Deol on the wedding anniversary of her parents and cinema thespians Hema Malini and Dharmendra.

She apologised to her parents for every time she’s hurt them unintentionally and shared that she love them both unconditionally. “I take this opportunity to say sorry for all the times iv hurt u , to say all I know is to love u both unconditionally& to say everything I achieve in life is because of ur blessings… really really proud to be the daughter of 2 of the most humble souls god has ever created! U both are all things love “Pure Love “ ! Stay happy & healthy! Here’s to many many more years of togetherness! I love u, stay blessed!” read the post.

The yesteryear stars fell in love in the year 1970 on the sets of Tum Haseen Main Jawan. She was the dream girl and Dharmendra, the original He-man of Bollywood, and their love story was nothing short of a blockbuster film. The two tied the knot in 1979 in a hush-hush wedding ceremony.

US pop star Ariana Grande is set to serve as the opening act for the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, which will take place in Las Vegas on May 20.

Grande, who first revealed news of her Billboard Awards gig on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, will deliver a performance of music from her upcoming LP during the televised event.

The news comes shortly after Grande revealed the single No Tears Left to Cry, her first new music since her 2016 album Dangerous Woman. Her Manchester show while on tour supporting that album became the site of a terrorist attack, which she alludes to in the uplifting track.

Last week, the singer took to social media to tease another upcoming track, this one apparently titled R.E.M.

At the awards ceremony, Grande will join already announced performers BTS, Camila Cabello, Dua Lipa and Shawn Mendes.

Kelly Clarkson is set to host the Billboard Music Awards, which will be broadcast live on NBC in the US from MGM Grand Garden Arena beginning at 8pm Eastern time.

Popular singer Sona Mohapatra posted a series of tweets to Mumbai Police regarding the threats she’s received for her new song. In her tweets, the singer alleges that Madariya Sufi Foundation had sent her a notice and threatened her to remove the song Tori Surat. The track is a part of Sona’s latest project called Lal Pari Mastani. The Sufi love song was penned by Ameer Khusrau for his beloved Nizammudin Auliya.

However, the video didn’t go down well with the Sufi Foundation as they feel the song doesn’t comply with the Sufi format. In her tweets, Mohapatra claimed the foundation termed the video obscene and objectionable. She alleged after giving the notice, they did not wait for her response and sent her threats through email. She further said the foundation stated that another video from her that came out five years ago was also inappropriate.

Mohapatra recently compiled an album which includes songs from Sufiana Kalam by Baba Bulleh Shah in Raag Bhairavi. Her song Tori Surat has been inspired by poet Ameer Khusrau.

Mumbai Police was quick to respond to her complaint and asked for her personal contact to begin the investigation. The singer thanked the police for their response.

Pahlaj Nihalani, the former CFBC chairperson who had a controversial tenure, is back into the role of a filmmaker with his favourite leading man Govinda as they completed the shooting of a new film.

Giving details of the project Nihalani said, “It is titled ‘Rangeela Raja’ and it’s an out-and-out comedy. But comedy of a kind never attempted by Govinda before. Unlike the streetwise comic characters, Govinda is famous for, he plays a very sophisticated character in ‘Rangeela Raja’.”

In the film shot in Karjat on the outskirts of Mumbai, Govinda has multiple roles.

It’s been 31 years since Nihalani launched Govinda in Ilzaam.

“I feel Govinda is starting all over again with ‘Rangeela Raja’,” he said, adding that “Govinda has never been more suave in any of his films”.

Three debutante heroines are being introduced with Govinda in the film.

Actress Ashley Judd has sued disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein for retaliating against her because she refused his sexual advances.

Judd took the action on Monday in the Superior Court in Los Angeles, according to various media reports.

The actress has claimed that Weinstein smeared her reputation with director Peter Jackson, causing him not to cast her in The Lord of the Rings.

Judd said in a statement: “Mr. Weinstein’s abusive conduct toward others has caused no end of damage to aspiring actors and others in the film and entertainment industry. As my experience and the experience of others shows, even a few false statements from Mr. Weinstein could destroy potentially career-changing professional opportunities. It’s time that Mr. Weinstein be held accountable for that conduct and for the ways in which he’s damaged careers.”

The 50-year-old actress is seeking damages for defamation, sexual harassment and violations of California’s unfair business competition law. Judd’s attorney, Theodore Boutrous of Gibson Dunn, said that any recovery from the suit would be donated to a charity that benefits women. Weinstein has been accused of sexual assault and or misconduct by dozens of women in the entertainment industry.

After launching a multiple records across several countries, SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali 2: The Conclusionhas added another feather to its cap as it completed its 100-day theatrical run successfully in Japan. The film, which hit Japanese theaters on 29 December, 2017, has received a great response from the audience.

Elated over the response, Rajamouli shared a heartfelt post to fans for showering so much love on the film and said “the love for movies surpasses boundaries.”

Baahubali 2: The Conclusion stars Prabhas and Rana Daggubati as the male protagonists. The film’s story is about the battle for the ownership of an ancient kingdom between two brothers. The story is woven together in two parts with dance, music, emotion and drama. It also features Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan, Tamannaah Bhatia and Sathyaraj.

New Delhi: After the outcry generated by Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb’s comments on Diana Hayden, the model and actress spoke, to give her reaction to the chief minister’s statements.

“I am fighting this brown skin bias since my childhood. And I have succeeded. People should be proud of my achievement, rather than belittling it. I am a proud brown-skinned Indian. I am hurt. The minister is in a prominent position and he should be careful about what he says,” Hayden.

After his “Internet in the Mahabharata era” remark, Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday claimed that the international beauty pageants were a farce and questioned the rationale behind crowning Diana Hayden ‘Miss World’ 21 years ago. 

The BJP leader, however, was all praise for Aishwarya Rai, who won the Miss World crown in 1994, saying she “represents the Indian women” in the true sense. “Indian women did not use cosmetics in the old times. Indians did not use shampoo, they washed their hair with methi water and bathed with mud. These beauty pageant organisers are international marketing mafia, who spotted a huge market in the country. Today, there is a beauty parlour in every corner of the country,” he said.

“Why are there no more beauty pageant winners from India? They (the jury) have captured the market in the country and have gone elsewhere,” he claimed. Earlier this month, Deb had claimed that Internet and satellite communication existed in the days of Mahabharata.

Priyanka Chopra hurt her knee while filming the third season of Quantico. The actor on Friday treated her fans with some facts about the American drama show and even chatted with a few users.

“I actually hurt my knee filming this! I had to have a physiologist on set with me and my knee wrapped for the next three weeks. Alex is back, ‘Quantico’,” Priyanka tweeted.

Quantico was created by Joshua Safran, who also served as the showrunner. Priyanka stars as Alex Parrish, an FBI recruit who joins the agency after graduating from the FBI Academy and becomes a prime suspect of a terrorist attack on Grand Central Terminal.

The 35-year-old actor also revealed while shooting in Italy, she and her crew would consume a lot of Tuscan wine.

“While we were in Italy, I was the only actress from the main cast, so I would go out at night with the crew. We consumed a lot of Tuscan wine,” she wrote.

A Twitter user asked if she learned to speak Italian, Chopra replied: “Learning to speak for the show and enjoyed it immensely.”

After completing the shoot of song Paisa Yeh Paisa in Total Dhamal, Madhuri Dixit-Nene has joined actors Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan on the sets of Karan Johar’s upcoming production Kalank. The project marks second collaboration between Dixit and KJo after Marathi film Bucket List, which is yet to be released.

In a statement to IANS, the actor said, “I am excited to start the shoot for ‘Kalank’ today. It’s my second association with Karan Johar after ‘Bucket List’ and it’s been a lovely journey so far. Can’t wait to begin this one.”

Meanwhile, Dixit is also looking into her first production 15th August.

After wrapping up the Kashmir schedule of Race 3, the cast and crew are now headed to Leh and Ladakh for the next leg of their shoot. Remo D’Souza, the film’s director, took to Instagram to share a photograph with Salman Khan and wrote, “#biker boys #leh @beingsalmankhan #race3 #trailerontheway #soon.”

The filmmaker also shared video snippets as Instagram stories where he said, “Love to ride and this is dream #kargiltolesh #bucketlist.”

Mumbai: Three of Bollywood’s celebrated actors — Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhaskar and Sonam Kapoor — known for mincing no words on issues, refrained from commenting on the prevalence of the casting couch in the film industry a day after veteran choreographer Saroj Khan’s controversial remark.

Swara, who is known for being very vocal about women empowerment and gender equality, said: “Firstly, this topic has nothing to do with our film ‘Veere Di Wedding’, and I think today we should keep our focus on the film. For the rest of thing, you please come on my Twitter timeline.”

Sonam promised to answer questions on the casting couch and women empowerment when she gives personal interviews for the movie.

“I would like to say that all these questions which are not related to film, I promise that we will answer them on one-on-one interactions with you people. But not today. We are trying to keep the focus on the film. We will talk about it in our personal time.”

Produced by Rhea Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor, directed by Shashanka Ghosh, the film “Veere Di Wedding” is releasing on June 1.

Saroj Khan, at an event in Sangli, had said the casting couch had been happening since the beginning of time, and that it was not restricted to the film industry where “it provides a livelihood at least”. She later retracted and apologised for the comment.

Priyanka Chopra has always had a very strong style game. Right from the days when she was a newcomer in the Hindi film industry to now when she is ruling the hearts of millions of people from across the globe with her stellar performances, powerful interviews and impactful public appearances. Priyanka has mostly managed to slay it with her confidence and style.

From carefully picked designer outfits to well thought after looks, PeeCee has managed to make a statement with her stunning choice of outfits almost always.

Recently, the international icon was snapped in New York City for the promotion of the her television series Quantico’s upcoming season, donning a bold all-red look.

PeeCee sported a shimmery vertically striped co-ord set by Alejandra Alonso Rojas that featured a plunging neckline and which she teamed with a coat by Vivienne Westwood and red pumps. With her hair pulled back and neatly tied in a ponytail, the actress completed her look with a dash of dazzling red on the lips, stylish sunglasses and a petite black handbag.

A massive fire broke out on the sets of Akshay Kumar’s upcoming period film Kesari at a village in Maharashtra’s Satara district on Tuesday.

The Police said a war sequence was being shot when the incident happened, adding the shoot had a scene depicting a bomb explosion and apparently some embers fell on set material in the vicinity.

The film’s unit has been shooting there for the climax and final portions of the film with Akshay, who had left the spot for the day after completing the shoot, police said. The film is being jointly produced by Dharma Productions, Cape of Good Films and Azure Entertainment.

There has been no word so far from either Akshay or the makers of the film about the incident.

The film is a war drama inspired by the Battle of Saragarhi of 1897, where an army of 21 Sikhs fought against 10,000 Afghans. The film also stars Parineeti Chopra and is being directed by Anurag Singh.

Srinagar: Superstar Salman Khan and producer Ramesh Taurani, who are currently busy here with the shoot of the third instalment of the Race franchise, met Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

Salman and the film’s team reached the picturesque Sonamarg hill station in the state for a two-day shooting schedule of Remo D’Souza directed movie Race 3

A photograph of their meeting was shared by Taurani on his Twitter account.

“We thank Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for welcoming us in Kashmir for the final lap of ‘Race 3’ with Salman Khan,” Taurani tweeted with the image, in which he has posed with Mufti, Salman and the actor’s bodyguard Shera.

Besides Salman, Race 3 will also feature Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Daisy Shah and Saqib Saleem. The film scheduled to be released coinciding with the Eid festival on June 15.

Actress Kangana Ranaut will be making her debut at the red carpet of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival this year.

The “Queen” star will attend the fest in association with liquor brand Grey Goose as part of its global celebration of cinematic craft — Vive Le Cinema.

“It is overwhelming to witness the recognition and appreciation for Indian cinema at international platforms like Cannes,” Kangana said.

“Grey Goose has created a unique platform of celebration to toast the game changing films at Cannes this year and I’m thrilled to partner with this global icon of luxury in the country of its origin,” she added.

Anshuman Goenka, Marketing Head of Bacardi India, feels Kangana “embodies the cinematic expression of Grey Goose through her passion for the field and ability to fly beyond the realm of commercial cinema”.

The 71st Cannes Film Festival will be held from May 8-19.

This year, acclaimed Indian actress-filmmaker Nandita Das’ directorial “Manto”, a biographical on controversial Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto, has made its way to the Un Certain Regard segment of the fest. “Nakkash”, featuring Inaamulhaq, will also be part of the film gala.

Tillotama Shome-starrer “Sir” will be screened at sidebar Cannes Critics’ Week

Actress Richa Chadha will be seen sporting late veteran actress Parveen Babi’s look from the song Jawani janeman for a song in her upcoming film Daas Dev.

“My look happened by accident. When I wore the gold outfit, someone on set said ‘you look exactly like Parveen Babi’. It just felt like it was meant to be as Parveen Babi was one of the biggest actresses and style icons of her time,” Richa said in a statement.

Richa just shot for a promotional video song for the film Daas Dev where she was seen experimenting with her looks that looked like the modernised version of Parveen’s hit song from the 1980s.

Directed by Sudhir Mishra, Daas Dev is a romantic political thriller and stars Rahul Bhat and Aditi Rao Hydari.

It is set to release on April 27.

The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the plea for the chopping of the scenes from Padmaavat which were eulogizing ‘Sati’ and would adversely impact the viewers of the film.

Rejecting the plea by petitioner, Swami Agnivesh, the bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said that once a film is given certification by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), then there is nothing that can constitute an offence.

Padmaavat which saw a lot of protests and resistance before its release, which saw the top court’s intervention, was a roaring success at the box office. Featuring Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, it was filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s take on 16th century Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi’s epic poem Padmavat.

Bollywood’s original bad boy, Sanjay Dutt, has lived an off-screen life that is the stuff of movies, with sorrow, scandal and salaciousness to satiate the most vicarious souls. Small wonder then, that the news of his upcoming biopic has got everyone’s ears pricked.

After much speculation, the first look teaser of Rajkummar Hirani’s Dutt biopic is expected to release later today, during an IPL match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The full trailer of the film will release on April 27 along with Hollywood film Avengers: Infinity War.

The film has been produced by Fox Star Hindi, a sister company of Hollywood giant 21st Fox Century which got acquired by Disney earlier this year. This development might have prompted the makers to attach the trailer to Avengers: Infinity War, cashing on the hype of probably Marvel’s biggest film so far.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on Monday reached the picturesque Sonamarg hill station in Jammu and Kashmir for a two-day shooting schedule of Remo D’Souza-directed movie Race 3. The action packed thriller is being produced jointly by Ramesh S. Taurani and Salman.

Besides Salman, Race 3 will also feature Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Daisy Shah and Saqib Saleem. Like all Salman blockbusters, Race 3 is scheduled to be released coinciding with the Eid festival on June 15.

Director Umesh Shukla’s forthcoming film 102 Not Out will also release in Russia on the same day as it will hit the screens in India on May 4.

Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who will be seen sharing screen space with megastar Amitabh Bachchan after two decades, took to Twitter to announce about the film’s international release.

“Our film releases in Russia on May 4, 2018 also. Enjoy!” Rishi tweeted.

Being described as an unusual father-and-son love story, 102 Not Out is based on a Gujarati stage production by playwright Saumya Joshi. Amitabh plays a 102-year-old father to a 75-year-old character of Rishi in the film.

Hyderabad: Amid the raging row over casting couch in Telugu film industry, the Telangana government on Saturday decided to form a special cell to look into complaints of sexual exploitation.

After a meeting with representatives of Tollywood, Minister for Cinematography T. Srinivas Yadav announced that the special cell will be created in the Film Development Corporation.

The decision came amid a huge row over complaints of sexual exploitation made by actress Sri Reddy, who hit headlines with strip protest and received support from women’s organisations.

Yadav advised all to put an end to the controversy. He urged the industry representatives to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

On the row over MAA membership, he said from now onwards the Film Development Corporation will issue the membership cards.

The minister said if women artists face any problems, they could bring it to the notice of the police or ‘She’ teams of the police force, especially constituted to deal with sexual harassment.

He directed the authorities to provide proper facilities to women at the places of film shooting. The minister said the government would deal firmly with any complaints of harassment of women.

MAA president Shivaji Raja, actress Jevitha Rajasekhar, Tammareddy Bharadwaj, C. Kalyan, Parachuri Venkateshwar Rao, Naresh and officials of Cinematography, Labour and Police departments attended the meeting.

The meeting was called a day after popular actor and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan asked MAA and Telugu Film Chamber to immediately take steps to end the controversy.

Pawan had targeted some Telugu television channels for their coverage of Sri Reddy, who had abused his mother. He had called upon people to boycott three channels for what he calls making business out of nudity and profanity.

Sri Reddy, a television anchor-turned-actress, had created a sensation by resorting to strip protest against casting couch in Tollywood in front of the office of Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce here on April 7.

The actress, who started her career as a news reader on a Telugu channel and also did small roles in a couple of films, named a few prominent personalities of the industry. She had also targeted MAA for denying her membership.

MAA responded with a ban on the actress but later withdrew it after the National Human Rights Commission sent notices to the Telangana government and the Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry over her allegations of sexual exploitation.

The commission took suo moto cognizance of media reports about the allegations raised by Sri Reddy and a lack of grievance redressal mechanism for women in the film industry.

Mumbai: When Shekhar Kapoor opined after chairing the National Film Awards jury that there is no such thing as regional cinema any longer, he hadn’t seen the new Mahesh Babu starrer “Bharath Ane Nenu”, a wish-fulfilment parable on a new political awakening, which has already earned more than Rs 70 crore over the first weekend. And growing stronger by the idea.

The elated director, Koratala Siva, is over the moon.

“We always knew our film will strike a chord among the masses. Indian politics has hit an all-time low in many places. There is widespread disillusionment with the people we elect to represent us in Parliament. Why is there no accountability in governance? This is what bothered me when I got down to writing Bharath Ane Nenu,” says Siva whose four Telugu films so far (Mirchi in 2013, Srimanthudu in 2015, Janatha Garage in 2016 and now Bharath Ane Nenu) reveal a very high level of special commitment.

“Promise,” says Siva, “was the key to the plot in Bharath Ane Nenu. When politicians are elected into public offices, they take an oath to serve the people…we the people for the people by the people… But the promise is soon broken. Why? Here was my protagonist who thinks promises are sacred. This gentleman’s word, whether given in his childhood to his mother or to Mother India in his maturity, is never to be broken. The promise was the key to my film.”

Mahesh Babu was the first and only choice to play the enlightened sophisticated Chief Minister.

Says Siva: “I wanted an actor who can play a politician who is heard without shouting, whom everybody listens to when he talks although he never raises his voice. Someone who could be assertive without getting unnecessarily aggressive. No one fitted the bill except Mahesh Babu. He is soft spoken and yet persuasive. He is exactly like the Chief Minister he plays in my film. I can’t imagine making this film without Mahesh Babu as Bharath.”

And now, so powerful is the impact of Mahesh Babu’s politician’s act that director Siva is now seriously toying with the idea of a sequel.

“I have never liked or entertained the idea of doing sequels or remakes. There are so many fresh stories to be told. But the story of Chief Minister Bharath is too relevant and too pervasive to be forsaken. The country needs a political change. Bharath represents that change.”

Immediate plans for Bharat Ane Nenu are somewhat radical.

Reveals Siva: “Seeing the impact of the film’s political message, we are now planning to dub the film in other Indian languages including Hindi. We should’ve done this from the start. We should’ve known that the craving to see a new political awakening is pan-India. We are taking the film to other parts of India apart from Andhra. We feel the political message of the country is relevant to every Indian.”

New Delhi: The buzz for Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” — an ensemble of 22 superheroes to fight the supervillain Thanos — is high and that has made the studio start the ticket bookings for the film early in India.

Usually the booking starts on Wednesday or Thursday — depending on the screens. But for the Friday release of Avengers: Infinity War in English, it opened on Sunday. It is expected to open in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu later this week.

“‘Avengers: Infinity War’ has been one of the most anticipated movies of the year. We have witnessed a steady flow of early booking requests from fans, exhibitors and cinema owners – a testament of the sheer excitement surrounding the release of the movie,” Bikram Duggal, Executive Director and Head, Studio Entertainment, Disney India.

“Given this unprecedented buzz, we have decided to open ticket bookings earlier than usual to give the audience the opportunity to book early and catch their favourite superheroes in action as soon as the movie hits theatres,” Duggal added.

On the buzz, Ashish Saksena, Chief Operating Officer — Cinemas, BookMyShow, said: “Over the years, Marvel films have cultivated a huge following in India and ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ is definitely a highly anticipated film that audiences are eagerly waiting for.

“This weekend, we expect the film to open as big as any other Hindi blockbuster.”

Marvel Studios’ 10th anniversary will officially begin with the release of “Avengers: Infinity War”. Anthony and Joe Russo returned to Marvel Cinematic Universe to direct “Avengers: Infinity War”, which sees stars Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chadwick Boseman, Tom Holland and Mark Ruffalo reprising their roles.

In the latest instalment, the Avengers will also team up with the Guardians of the Galaxy, led by Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord.

Mumbai: Actor Shahid Kapoor, who bagged the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award (Best Actor) for his performance in Padmaavat, has dedicated the award to wife Mira Rajput.

Talking about the award he won on Saturday, Shahid said: “This is my first award for ‘Padmaavat’ this year, so I am really very happy and I would like to dedicate this award to my wife, Mira because she tolerated me for a year during this period and without her I wouldn’t have been able to do this film. So I am very thankful to her.”

Shahid is married to Mira Rajput and the couple is blessed with a beautiful daughter, Misha. Recently, the couple announced they are waiting for the arrival of their second child.

Talking about becoming a father for the second time, Shahid said: “I am very happy and we just felt like sharing it with everyone. Mira wanted to put it out on Instagram and I thought that the photograph was really cute, it was a spontaneous decision and it just happened. It was a great weekend for the family.”

Shahid is also happy for his brother Ishaan Khattar winning accolades for his debut movie “Beyond The Clouds” helmed by Majid Majidi.

“Ishaan has given a spectacular performance. He is getting a lot of love. He is very deserving of all the applause and appreciation; he is a very talented boy,” he said.

“Of course he just started but he has lots to learn and a long way to go. He has to put his head down, with humility and work hard. He is getting good opportunities to work with people like Majid Majidi and now Shashank Khaitan, I think he should consider himself fortunate,” the “Udta Punjab” actor said.

Next, Shahid Kapoor will be seen in “Batti Gul Meter Chalu” which also stars Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam in Shree Narayan Singh directorial.

Talking about the film’s progress, Shahid said: “Seventy per cent of the film is complete and some 30 per cent is left. Next week we start shooting again and I believe by May the shooting will be complete.”

The Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award 2018 was graced by several Bollywood personalities including Karan Johar, Simi Garewal, Shilpa Shetty, Kartik Aryan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao, and many more.

Actress Amber Rose says she walks around naked in front of her five-year-old son Sebastian “all the time”.

Rose said that parading around her young son while being naked is a part of her process to teach him about female empowerment. She aims to make him comfortable around and respect the female body despite his young age, reports usmagazine.com.

Rose said of Sebastian: “He’s (growing) up to be a male feminist and respect women. I always have this dream where my son is in school and his friends are like, ‘Man, she’s a hoe’ or ‘What’s up with these hoes?’ And my son is gonna be like, ‘You can’t say that. Like, what?’ Cause he’s gonna be raised in a house with me, where it’s…just unheard of. Well he just turned five. But I do have, like, naked women all over my house.”

Rose said that she has “pictures of vaginas” at her home. “So, like, my son, he sees so much and I’m very free with my body,” she added, noting, “I walk around naked around my son all the time. I don’t (stop him when) he walks in a room, I don’t go, ‘Don’t come in! Mommy’s getting changed!’ I don’t make it a bad thing where he’s like, ‘Oh, I’m sorry!’ It’s just like, ‘Oh, my mom’s naked. Who cares.’ You know what I mean?”

Rose said her son is already knowledgeable about female body parts compared to his friends.

Anil Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit are all set to reunite onscreen in Total Dhamaal after 18 years and the first photo of 90s popular couple from the upcoming film is out. Dressed in red sequined gown Madhuri look every bit a diva while Anil looks dapper in a green suit.

The first photo shoot of the actors went viral on social media.

Earlier Anil Kapoor has also shared a photo from the sets of Total Dhamaal and wrote, “How I love the first day of shoot! #TotalDhamaal begins today! @madhuridixitnene #IndraKumar & I are working together after 26 years but the energy and vibe is the same as it was during #Beta! It’s going to be an epic ride! ‬Let’s get the camera rolling! ‪#ADFflims @foxstarhindi”

According to the reports of Pune Mirror, the sizzling jodi who is seen all decked up in this picture will be simply dressed throughout the movie. A close source revealed to the daily, “The beauty lies in their evergreen good looks.” But does it really matter, because we are sure, you all are eagerly waiting to see this duo wooing us one the big screen. The source further added, “Madhuri pulled off the jhatkas and matkas with effortless ease, leaving everyone including her leading man mesmerised. When Ajay (Devgn), Arshad (Warsi), Riteish (Deshmukh), Javed (Jafri) and Sanjay Mishra joined them, it upped the fun and what was supposed to be three days of work was wrapped up in two.”

Earlier, director Indra Kumar had shared, “All three of us are shooting together 26 years after Beta and I’m excited about reuniting with my blockbuster jodi. They play husband and wife in the film and have been prepping for a while but I can’t reveal any details except that Anil goes by the name of Avinash and all of us call him Avi.”

Anil and Madhuri have worked together in several films like Tezaab, Beta, Ram Lakhan and more. Total Dhamaal also stars Ajay Dvgn, Boman Irani and Arshad Warsi. It will release on December 7.

Mumbai: Actor-comedian Sunil Grover is set to star alongside Salman Khan in his upcoming film Bharat.

The film, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, features Priyanka Chopra as the female lead.

Grover, who was last seen on the big screen in 2016 film Baaghi, will play a pivotal role in Bharat.

Bharat is an official adaptation of 2014 South Korean film, “Ode to My Father” which depicted modern Korean history from the 1950s to the present day through the life of an ordinary man and events such as the Hungnam Evacuation during the 1950 Korean War, the government’s decision to dispatch nurses and miners to West Germany in the ’60s and the Vietnam War.

Produced by Atul Agnihotri’s Reel Life Production Pvt Ltd and Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series the film is scheduled to release on Eid 2019.

Lahore: After Pakistani actress-model-singer accused actor Ali Zafar of sexual harassment – a claim he has denied – more women have come forward with similar allegations.

The women, while lending support Shafi, tweeted saying she was not alone and they had faced similar experiences.

Make-up artist Leena Ghani thanked Shafi for being brave enough to speak out.

“Seeing Meesha’s courage it’s impossible for me to not speak now, not only in support of her but also to say she’s not alone. In the many years I have known Ali, he has on several occasions crossed boundaries of what is appropriate behaviour between friends,” Ghani wrote.

Meanwhile, actor Maya Ali posted on Instagram saying she respects Ali and “we shouldn’t judge anyone’s character” until the truth comes out.