A film directed by a third-year student of the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) here has been selected for Cinefondation under the aegis of the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.
	"Gilles Jacob, president of Cinefondation, has confirmed the selection and has invited Payal Kapadia for presentation of her film at Cannes," the FTII stated in a release today.
	This is for the first time that an FTII film is selected for participation in the Cinefondation, which is created to inspire and support the next generation of international filmmakers.
	Kapadia told PTI her film "Afternoon Clouds" is actually a second-year exercise at FTII, which have to be done as a part of final second-year project.
	She said Cinefondation is actually students' Cannes section and it was FTII, which sent the film.
	To mark its 20th year, the Cinefondation selection has chosen 16 films (14 works of fiction and 2 animations) from among 2600 works submitted this year by film schools from all over the ...

FTII student's film selected for Cannes Cinefondation

PTI Automatic

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch is in negotiations to play a real-life con artist in "Man in the Rockefeller Suit".
	Based on Mark Seal's book, the story follows Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, an imposter who conned his way into various jobs on Wall Street - as well as a marriage - by posing as a member of the Rockefeller family, reported Variety.
	David Bar Katz will write the adapted screenplay based on Seal's book of the same name, while Donald De Line will produce the film. There has not been any director attached to the project.

Cumberbatch in talks to star in 'The Man in the Rockefeller..'

Actress Gal Gadot revealed that Beyonce's music helped her get in the right mindset when she was auditioning for the role of "Wonder Woman".
	In W Magazine's May cover story, the 31-year-old star, who will portray the warrior in an upcoming standalone film, said she listened to Queen B's tracks to slay the audition, reported Entertainment Weekly.
	"When I auditioned for 'Batman v Superman', I didn't know it was for 'Wonder Woman'. The director, Zack Snyder, asked me to do a camera test. That was torture. They were looking at six or seven girls, and we were all in separate trailers and were told to stay inside until they called us.
	"Waiting is my enemy Number One, and I was losing my mind. So, I decided to put on Beyonce. Who runs the world? Girls! I just started to dance, and I let my anxiety go. Thank you, Beyonce," Gadot said.

When Beyonce helped Gal Gadot nab Wonder Woman's role

TV personality Heidi Montag and her husband Spencer Pratt are expecting their first child together.
	The 30-year-old star is due on October 19, reported Us weekly.
	"I have never been more excited. The reality is sinking in that we are going to have a child! I've read every pregnancy book, and now I realise I don't know anything," she said.
	While Pratt added, "the click-click-click of the roller coaster going up. That's how I feel right now."
	The two tied the knot in April 2009.

Heidi Montag expecting baby with Spencer Pratt

During an upheaval in the colonial India, a Dalit bowler became known for his heroic struggle.
	Filmmaker Tigmanshu Dhulia is now all set to make a biopic on the cricketer.
	Titled "Baloo", the film will chronicle the story of the left-arm spinner Baloo Palwankar, who played for the Hindu Gymkhana Club in the early 1900s.
	He is hailed as the first member of the Dalit caste to make a significant impact on the sport.
	"I prefer telling stories about unsung heroes. Like Paan Singh, Baloo Palwankar too is unknown outside cricketing circle. His story is the story of India and what better backdrop to have than cricket," Tigmanshu told PTI.
	Produced by Vinay Sinha and Priti Sinha, the film is expected to roll out next year as currently the makers are finishing the research work of the movie, being carried out by historian Dr Ramachandra Guha.
	"Tigmanshu had read a book by Ramachandra Guha which had a chapter about Baloo. He asked me to read it too because the story was absolutely ...

Tigmanshu Dhulia to direct biopic on cricketer Baloo Palwankar

Chunky Pandey has stunned everyone as a menacing guy in "Begum Jaan" trailer, and the actor says he was not sure if he would get that part in the film.
	"After the release of 'Housefull', I was auditioning for 'Begum Jaan' and people on the sets were telling me to say dialogues like 'Aakhri Pasta' (his character in 'Housefull'). At the back of my mind I thought I would not get the film," Chunky told PTI.
	"But Srijit was sure he wanted me to play this evil part. He wanted me to lose real Chunky Pandey... He wanted the world to see my evil side. He saw the evilness in me and he wanted to bring that out in 'Begum Jaan'," he says.
	Chunky, who is known for his comic timing, is playing a villainous character of Kabir in the Vidya Balan starrer but the actor says it was not tough for him to get into the dark zone.
	"He is not a villain... This is the face of evil. Evil will always exist in this world. I always had a wicked streak in me, the sadist side in me also comes in my comedy films. .

When Chunky thought he wouldn't get a role in 'Begum Jaan'

Actor Akshay Kumar has hosted a get together for Amazon head Roy Price and Amazon Video team head.
	Taking to Twitter, the 49-year-old star shared a group picture which also featured his wife and actress-turned-writer Twinkle Khanna.
	"Wonderful to catch up with Amazing Amazon head @RoyPrice and the @AmazonVideoIn team Brad, James and Nitesh. Thanks for coming over," Akshay wrote alongside the photo.
	Price was also impressed with mangoes the actor offered to him at the gathering.
	"Great mangoes and company @akshaykumar! See you soon," he tweeted.
	Though the reason behind the meeting is still unknown, rumour has it the two might collaborate in future.
	Akshay is currently shooting for his wife's maiden- production "Pad Man" alongside Sonam Kapoor.
	He has also collaborated with Salman Khan and Karan Johar for a film, which will be directed by Anurag Singh.

Akshay Kumar meets Amazon head Roy Price

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi has praised Sonam Kapoor as she got a special mention at the 64th National Film Awards for her portrayal of slain air hostess, Neerja Bhanot, in "Neerja".
	The 66-year-old actress, who essayed the role of Bhanot's mother in the movie, said she is glad to see the "Raanjhanaa" star's growth as an artiste and that the prestigious honour will motivate her to do better work.
	"Sonam is like my own bachcha. To see her growth as an artiste is a very fulfilling experience for me personally. The National award for Sonam is such a glorious validation of her talent.
	"It just makes her so much more confident to do better work. I am very proud of her," Azmi said in a poster which was shared by Sonam on social media.
	"This made my day year and everything! Thank you @AzmiShabana and thank you @RamKMadhvani for showing me this," Sonam wrote alongside the photo.
	While, Madhvani, who directed the movie, said, "High praise from @AzmiShabana and well deserved ...

Nat Award for Sonam glorious validation of her talent: Azmi

Joseph David-Jones has joined the cast of Denzel Washington's crime drama "Inner City".
	Dan Gilroy is directing the film, while Jennifer Fox is producing it along with with Escape Artists' Todd Black and Cross Creek's Brian Oliver, reported Variety.
	Washington stars as a driven, idealistic defense attorney who, through a tumultuous series of events, finds himself in a crisis after his partner has a heart attack.
	David-Jones will next be seen in Kathryn Bigelow's upcoming film "Detroit" alongside John Boyega, Kaitlyn Dever, Anthony Mackie and John Krasinski.

Joseph David-Jones joins Denzel Washington's 'Inner City'

Actor Dolph Lundgren has joined Jason Momoa in Warner Bros' standalone film "Aquaman".
	The 59-year-old veteran star, whose credits range from "Rocky IV" to the 'Expendables' movies, will play King Nereus of the aquatic kingdom of Xebel, who claims Mera as his own and wants to kill Aquaman, confirmed The Hollywood Reporter.
	The other cast includes Amber Heard as Mera, Aquaman's royal love interest; Nicole Kidman as Aquaman's mother; and Patrick Wilson as Orm, a villain who happens to be Aquaman's half-brother.
	James Wan is directing the superhero film, while Peter Safran is producing the project.

Dolph Lundgren joins 'Aquaman'

Actress Zoe Saldana reveals she was bullied at school for being an English speaker.
	The 38-year-old star, who moved to the Dominican Republic at the age of nine after her father's demise, calls it a "traumatising" experience, reported Femalefirst.
	"It was a very traumatising time for me because I didn't know how to stand up for myself. I was never equipped, trained or taught to defend myself. My mother never raised me believing that I was different, so the moment me and my sisters started getting attacked, shock was the first reaction.
	"Bullies can reach a depth within you that may cause irreparable damage. There were years that I felt ashamed of myself, thinking, 'I should have known better, I should have always stood up for myself," Saldana told Balance magazine.

Zoe Saldana bullied at school for speaking English

Actor Josh Brolin has been tapped to play the role of Cable opposite Ryan Reynolds in "Deadpool 2".
	Michael Shannon had been the front runner for the role, but the studio and Marvel have opted for the "Sicario" star, who has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the villain Thanos, reported Variety.
	Taking to Twitter, Reynolds also confirmed the casting of Brolin in a humorous post.
	"Fox! You can't play 2 characters in the same universe!! Josh Brolin was in Sicario and I was in Sabrina The Teenage Witch," he wrote.
	Reynolds is reprising his role as the wisecracking mercenary, with the story expanding to include other characters from Deadpool's corner of Marvel's X-Men universe.

Josh Brolin to play Cable in 'Deadpool 2'

Jude Law has been roped in to play young Dumbledore in the "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them" sequel.
	The 44-year-old actor will portray Dumbledore long before the wizard became the headmaster at Hogwarts and Harry Potter's mentor, reported Variety.
	David Yates is returning to direct the follow-up to the 2016 film.
	Eddie Redmayne will be back to star alongside Johnny Depp, who will play the villain Grindelwald.
	Albus Dumbledore is one of the most iconic characters in J K Rowling's wizarding world. Richard Harris made the role popular in the first two "Harry Potter" movies, while Michael Gambon later took over the part after Harris' death in 2002.
	"Jude Law is a phenomenally talented actor whose work I have long admired, and I'm looking forward to finally having the opportunity to work with him," Yates said.
	The sequel, which begins production this summer, also reunites producers Rowling, David Heyman, Steve Kloves and Lionel Wigram.
	It will hit the US theatres on ...

Jude Law to play young Dumbledore in 'Fantastic Beasts' sequel

"Scandal" creator Shonda Rhimes says the team is finding it tough to pen the script for the show after Donald Trump being sworn-in as the President of the United States.
	The 47-year-old scriptwriter says of all events that the TV series showcased are coincidentally aligned with the current political situation in the country, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
	"I'm still trying to come to terms with that. One bad thing after another keeps happening, and the world feels very unstable. So in a world in which all of the things that we would write on 'Scandal' are happening in real life, it's very hard to write 'Scandal' the way we used to, when it was like, 'Let's make Washington the most outrageous, horrifying place it could ever be'," says Rhimes.
	Actress Kerry Washington, who plays the lead Olivia Pope in the show, adds now they are having a "hard time competing with reality".

Rhimes struggles writing her show in present political climate

Singer Katy Perry has gone for another haircut - a shorter pixie cut - after chopping off her long locks barely a month ago.
	The 32-year-old songstress has posted a selfie on Instagram, which show her debuting an even shorter platinum- blond pixie style.
	Dressed in a hoodie, Katy's new hairdo is partially visible in the photograph that she captioned as, "Fifth element flow".
	The "Chained to the Rhythm" singer cut off her bangs shortly after she split with boyfriend Orlando Bloom in February, after being in a relationship for almost a year.

Katy Perry goes for a shorter pixie hairdo

The second season of "Big Little Lies" will concentrate on actress Zoe Kravitz's character, Bonnie and her abusive father.
	The writer of the HBO miniseries, Liane Moriarty has revealed that they are in talks with the studio to develop more ideas for the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
	"(I would like to) bring in more of Bonnie's story from the book. And also what happens next (for Nicole Kidman's Celeste). That's the question that's also a really interesting thing, when you've been through a relationship like that, how do you feel now? How would she feel? ... I think that would be a really interesting thing to explore. So there's a whole lot of different storylines," Moriarty said.
	She also said that she has heard positive feedback from the cast, with star and executive producer Witherspoon lobbying for more of the show.
	"I think everybody is pretty keen. They all loved working together, but I think the thing is the story has to be right," Moriarty said.

'Big Little Lies' next season to focus on Kravitz's character

Musicians, who performed with legendary singer Prince, will make an address at an event marking his first death anniversary.
	 Titled "Celebration 2017", the function will run from April 20-23, where these artists will speak at a four-day celebration of the late superstar at Paisley Park, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
	The speakers include names such as Lisa Coleman, Wendy Melvoin, drummer Bobby Z, keyboardist Matt Fink and bassist BrownMark from Prince's 1980s band The Revolution.
	Other addressees are Levi Seacer from Prince's 1990s band New Power Generation, keyboardist Morris Hayes, costume designer Stacia Lang and singer Shelby J.
	Prince died on April 21 last year of an accidental drug overdose.

Revolution bandmates to address Prince's anniversary event

Writer-Producer Shonda Rhimes has revealed that actress Connie Britton was the original choice for the lead role in "Scandal".
	The 47-year-old creator said that when the TV series was picked up for the pilot the network wanted Britton to play Olivia Pope, the character that eventually went to actress Kerry Washington, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
	"I didn't know that there hadn't been a drama series with a leading black woman for 37 years. When the show got picked up (to pilot), I got a phone call from somebody who said, 'This would be the perfect show for Connie Britton'," Rhimes said.
	But she was convinced that her Olivia was an African- American woman.
	"I said, 'It would be, except Olivia Pope is black'," Rhimes continued.

Connie Britton was the first choice as 'Scandal' lead

Actress Anne Hathaway says she was averse to obliging her admirers with photographs but has changed her mindset over time.
	The 34-year-old Oscar-winning actress says she has grown up as an artiste and hopes she did not hurt anyone in the past due to her behaviour, reported The Independent.
	"I hope I wasn't a jerk to anybody, but in my head I was a jerk to people - a lot, for a period of time. And I just woke up one day and I just became so deeply flattered by it and saw it for what it is: it's just somebody giving you some of their energy in a nice way.
	"I don't know if it's motherhood or just growing up a little bit but people's time matters, you can do whatever you want with it," Hathaway tells Marc Maron's WTF podcast.

Anne Hathaway changed mindset about mingling with fans

Paris Jackson is reportedly worried about her brother Blanket's living arrangements.
	The 19-year-old aspiring actress is said to be upset with her late father Michael Jackson's sister Rebbie, as Paris feels she is trying to stop the "Thriller" hitmaker's brood - also including 20-year-old Prince - from seeing their grandmother Katherine Jackson, TMZ reported.
	The 86-year-old matriarch is staying at Rebbie's leaving Blanket practically alone at his grandparent's Calabasas property.
	Katherine has been away from her home for months having been in London for two months in January before returning to Los Angeles.
	This has sparked concern in Paris as Michael's choice of guardians in Katherine and 38-year-old cousin Tito Jackson are not looking after Blanket.
	TJ Jackson and his spouse Frances Casey are said to be sharing the role as supervisory guardians of the teenager and check up on how he's getting on at his grandmother's, but Paris doesn't think they are doing enough.

Paris Jackson worries about brother Blanket

Pakistani-origin British actor Riz Ahmed has vowed to dedicate the entire month of April to "music time", as he release an EP and tour with other bands.
	The 34-year-old actor and rapper - who is also known as Riz MC - has revealed he is putting his acting career to one side for the upcoming weeks so he can focus on making music and touring with artists Hermes and Swet Shop boys, reported Metro online.
	"Now what we do is bursts of activity. I've been doping a lot of promo over the last several months and then this year I've been writing scripts.
	"April is touring with the band, recording music and releasing an EP, Sufi La, on Record Store Day (April 22). April is music time," Ahmed says.

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