The Bengali film industry  presently lacks professional writers who can put up good film  scripts, superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee has said.
In Mumbai, people can send their scripts to various  forums which is seen by globally known script writers and they  can hone up their skills, he said.
A director cannot always be expected to write the  script of his own film, Prosenjit told PTI.
"We really lack good film script writers. People like  Anjan Chowdhury who could churn out scripts of wholesome  entertainers are difficult to find these days," he said.
"There are one or two exceptions like Padmanabha  Dasgupta. But how many scripts can one Padmanabha Dasgupta  write! He has his limitations," Chatterjee told PTI on the  sidelines of the launch of a talent spotting platform on  Tuesday night.
Fifty-eight year old Chatterjee, who had acted in  around 300 films since debuting as a child actor in 1964, said  there was no grooming process of a new talent in the Bengali  entertainment industry 

Prosenjit laments lack of good script writers

PTI Automatic

Blumhouse Productions and Universal Pictures have announced a sequel to 2017 horror hit "Happy Death Day".
The sequel, titled "Happy Death Day 2U", will feature the film's original leads Jessica Rothe and Israel Broussard, who most recently starred in Netflix's rom com "To All the Boys I've Loved Before".
"Life of Pi" star Suraj Sharma will join them in the film, which will be once again written and directed by Christopher Landon, reported Variety.
The first film followed Tree Gelbman (Rothe), who wakes up on her birthday alongside Carter (Broussard) and gets brutally killed later in the day. She relives the day of her murder in "Groundhog Day" style.
In the sequel, Tree will discover that dying over and over was surprisingly easier than the dangers that lie ahead.
The original film hit the theatres in October last year and earned USD 122.7 million worldwide.
The sequel has been given a release date of February 14, 2019.
It will be produced by Jason Blum while Angela Mancuso, John ...

'Happy Death Day' sequel being developed

Anushka Sharma made her big Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" and she says she has become "more comfortable" with the actor.
Anushka, who featured opposite Shah Rukh in 2017's "Jab Harry Met Sejal" and will soon be seen in "Zero" this year end, says she holds her equation with the superstar in high value.
"I think Shah Rukh is definitely somebody who I value a lot in my life. He has been someone who has been extremely kind to me with my very first film. I think as a person he has also changed over the years.
"I feel my relationship with him has changed because now I'm more comfortable with him in talking to him. I can actually have a conversation with him," she told PTI in an interview here.
The actor says as a debutante she would be "too scared" to talk to Shah Rukh.
"Anything I wanted to tell him, I'd feel (it is) so unimportant. 'Why would I share that with him?' Now I'm so much more comfortable," she says.
Anushka says, for Shah Rukh, "Zero" is like .

I'm much more comfortable talking to Shah Rukh today: Anushka Sharma

Filmmaker Remo D'Souza has put the shooting of his next project on hold till he completes filming his reality show "Dance Plus".
The "Race 3" director features on the fourth season of the show as a super judge.
During the auditions, one of the contestant, who is a huge fan of his "ABCD" movie series, asked the director about his next project.
To this, Remo said, "I have kept my project on hold and will begin shooting in January for my movie since I wanted to give undivided attention to both the projects!"
The Star Plus show is scheduled to air on October 6.

Remo puts his next film 'on hold' for TV show

Lady Gaga has said there was a time she believed she would never make it as an actor as she was "bad at auditioning".
The 32-year-old actor, who makes her feature debut with "A Star is Born", said she never thought she would get to act in the films.
"I couldn't make it as an actress, I was bad at auditioning. I never got a job," Gaga told EOnline.
She credits actor Bradley Cooper, who is making his directorial debut with the musical drama, for recognising her potential.
"The most challenging part of this process for me was being as vulnerable as the character needed... but he made me feel so comfortable," Gaga said.
"He challenged me in ways I've never been challenged before and I am so so grateful to him for that," she added.
"A Star Is Born" will hit the theatres on October 5.

I was bad at auditioning: Lady Gaga

Actor Emraan Hashmi says audiences have evolved and do not mind kissing scenes, which he believes were included in films a decade ago purely for the effect.
The actor, who was once labelled as "serial kisser" for his on-screen image, said he gradually stopped doing intimate scenes, where unnecessary.
"There's always an emphasis on that (kissing scenes) which I have tried to stay clear of. It comes with the kind of shows or movies that you do, those things are not sprinkled for effects. They used to be, 15 years back, to titillate the audience. But now the audience has grown up, become matured," Emraan told reporters.
He was speaking at the launch of the book "Bihar Diaries" by Amit Lodha.
The actor said for him, the primary reason for choosing a project has always been the script and the character.
"The youngsters are exposed to a lot more than that. So the underlining which was there during 'Murder' 15 years ago, it's not necessary anymore. I don't choose films just because that's ...

Kissing scenes don't titillate audience anymore, says Emraan Hashmi

Actor Will Smith celebrated his 50th birthday with a daring bungee jump from a helicopter over the Grand Canyon.
The actor had earlier signed a deal with YouTube for the event, titled "Will Smith: The Jump Off", which was streamed live on the website Tuesday.
The 1,000-foot jump was hosted by Smith's friend and his "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air" co-star, Alfonso Ribeiro.
The actor's family -- wife Jada Pinkett Smith and his three children Trey, Jaden and Willow -- cheered him on as he took the leap of faith.
Just before the jump he seemed a little nervous, but he soon got into the groove and blew kisses to the crowd.
At one moment, Smith appeared to have a moment of doubt and said, "Never look down."
After landing back on solid ground, the actor described the experience as "exhilarating" as family rushed to hug him.
"Nothing will ever be scarier than that. It goes from complete absolute terror to the most magnificent bliss you've ever felt in your life... The whole Grand Canyon is ...

Will Smith rings in 50th birthday with bungee jump over Grand Canyon

Anupam Kher wished former prime minister Manmohan Singh on his birthday Wednesday and said he will like the actor's performance in "The Accidental Prime Minister".
He was born in Gag, now in Pakistan, on September 26, 1932.
Kher, who essays Singh in the film, took to Twitter to share his thoughts, saying his portrayal is "full of sincerity and honesty".
"Respected #DrManmohanSingh! Here is wishing you a very happy and healthy birthday. May be I will get an opportunity to have a cup of tea and a piece of cake with you if you ever watch our film.
"I promise, you will like my portrayal. It is full of sincerity and honesty. Regards," the actor wrote.
The film is based on the book of the same name, written by Sanjay Baru, who served as the media advisor of Manmohan Singh from 2004 to 2008.
It is being made in English and Hindi by debutante Vijay Ratnakar Gutte and it produced by Bohra Brothers.

Anupam Kher wishes Manmohan Singh on b'day, says he will like 'The Accidental Prime Minister'

Shah Rukh Khan has lauded "Tumbbad", saying the horror film is a "well-crafted" piece of art.
The period horror, directed by Rahi Anil Barve and Adesh Prasad, features "Ship of Theseus" star Sohum Shah in the lead.
Shah Rukh took to praise the film, which recently had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, on Twitter.
"Saw bits of this extremely well-crafted film. A genre we normally don't push boundaries in. Wishing my friends the best with this venture and hope you all watch it and enjoy it. #Tumbbad the Trailer," he wrote.
The film has been produced by Aanand L Rai, who is directing the actor in his next "Zero".
Actors Rajkummar Rao, Sonakshi Sinha and Arjun Kapoor have also praised "Tumbbad".
"Phenomenal #TumbbadTrailer Congratulations @s0humshah @aanandlrai sir #PankajKumar @rahianil @ErosNow @cypplOfficial @Kanupriya222," Rao wrote.
Sinha called the film "a must watch".
Kapoor said the trailer of the film appears both "intriguing and terrifying" at the same time.
"Tumbbad" is 

Shah Rukh Khan praises 'Tumbbad'

Halle Berry is set to adapt her 1992 movie "Boomerang" for television.
The 52-year-old actor, who got her breakthrough big screen appearance in the romcom, is teaming up with writer-actor Lena Waithe for the show.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, both Berry and Waithe will executive produce the reboot for BET channel.
"I'm thrilled to team up with Lena on this project as she is without a doubt a leading voice of her generation and a trail blazer in her own right.
"I'm truly excited to be a part of bringing this iconic and beloved film to the small screen," the actor said in a statement.
"Boomerang" starred Eddie Murphy as a womaniser, Marcus Graham, who is forced into rethinking his chauvinistic behaviour and outlook on life after meeting his new boss Jacqueline Broyer (Robin Givens). Berry portrayed his colleague and love interest Angela Lewis.
Berry also took to Twitter to share the news.
"Excited to announce that @LenaWaithe, @BET and I are bringing #Boomerang to the small ...

Halle Berry to turn 'Boomerang' into TV series

One of India's first supermodels, Lisa Ray will pen her memoir next year, chronicling her journey from being an actor, her fight with cancer, to attaining motherhood through surrogacy.
"The untitled memoir is an unflinching and deeply moving account of Lisa's nomadic existence: her entry into the Indian entertainment industry; her relationship with her Bengali father and Polish mother; movie sets and the Oscars; her battle with eating disorders; being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma; her spiritual quest; and the heartaches and triumphs of her journey. It is also about Lisa's search for love, publisher HarperCollins India says.
Lisa has had a long career in the entertainment arts spanning multiple countries and films including the Oscar-nominated "Water", television ("Top Chef Canada") and modelling.
When diagnosed with a rare blood cancer in 2009, she chose to share her experiences in a blog called 'The Yellow Diaries' which led to her first book (her forthcoming memoir). She is a ...

Lisa Ray to come out with memoir in 2019

Jaden Smith unveiled his new single "Back on my Sh*t" and the singer-actor is elated with how the song turned out.
The track is part of the upcoming indie film "Skate Kitchen", in which Jaden also stars, according to Billboard.
"The song is completely inspired by the movie 'Skate Kitchen' that just came out," he told Zane Lowe on Beats 1.
"It's about a female crew of skaters in New York City who are trying to find themselves, but they realise that their crew is the only thing that really helps them go through the city and feel like they are a part of something," the singer added.
The trap-heavy track follows Jaden's June release "GHOST".

Jaden Smith releases new single 'Back on my Sh*t'

Alia Bhatt said her upcoming fantasy-adventure trilogy "Brahamastra" will be a step ahead in terms of filmmaking.
Directed by Ayan Mukerji, the series is produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions.
"We are very excited for the film. It is a step ahead. This will take cinema to another level. I am excited for next year," Alia told reporters at an event on Tuesday.
The film also features megastar Amitabh Bachchan and will see Ranbir Kapoor playing a character with special powers.
Alia will also be seen working with father Mahesh Bhatt in "Sadak 2", which co-stars Sanjay Dutt, Pooja Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur.
Talking about collaborating with Bhatt for the first time, the actor said, "It's beautiful, it's amazing. It's a dream come true.
"My father is directing me. One can't ask for anything better. It's going to be very special," she said.
While first part of "Brahmastra" is slated to be released on August 15 next year, "Sadak 2" will hit the screens March 25, 2020.

'Brahmastra' will take cinema to next level: Alia

Netflix has purchased the rights to "Rajma Chawal", headlined by veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, and the film will be available exclusively on the digital platform worldwide on November 30.
The announcement came before the movie, directed by Leena Yadav, premieres at the BFI London Film Festival in October, the streaming giant said in a press release.
Yadav, best known for 2015's critically-acclaimed "Parched", said she is looking forward to her association with Netflix.
Set in the interiors of New Delhi's Chandni Chowk, "Rajma Chawal" is a light-hearted story about family in the age of social media.
Kapoor plays the role of Raj Mathur, the father, whereas debutante Anirudh Tanwar plays the son, Kabir Mathur.
"The father-son dynamic is a universal human theme, and Netflix, with its global reach and ability to address a range of audiences with rich and resonant stories, was the ideal partner for us.
"Being on Netflix invites the whole world into the lives of a family in Chandni Chowk, and .

Netflix acquires rights to Rishi Kapoor-starrer 'Rajma Chawal'

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is all set to start working on filmmaker Nagraj Manjule's next "Jhund" from November.
The actor will embark on the film with a non-stop schedule in Nagpur, after wrapping up his ongoing game show, "Kaun Banega Crorepati".
In the "Sairat" director's "Jhund", Bachchan plays a professor who builds a soccer team with street kids.
"I chose the city of Nagpur because the story is based there. I wanted the look and feel to be as authentic as possible and Nagpur has its own unique charm, feel and locales, different from Mumbai and Pune.
"The language of the film would be best showcased in Nagpur, hence I chose the lanes of that city," Manjule said in a statement.
The director said teaming up with Bachchan, 75, is a "dream come true".
"He has always been my favourite legend and there was nobody other than him who fit the role perfectly and to do justice to this particular character.
"In fact, the other people in the film are all new and since I have been known to work 

Amitabh Bachchan to start filming Nagraj Manjule's 'Jhund' in November

Donald Glover is postponing his upcoming Childish Gambino tour dates due to an injury.
According to Billboard, Glover's final tour as his hip-hop alter-ego has been currently put on hold after reportedly struggling with an injured foot.
Fam Rothstein, co-principal of the creative collective Wolf + Rothstein, a partnership with Glover and Chad "The Wolf" Taylor, took to Twitter to assure fans the dates were "postponed, not cancelled".
"This is America tour is postponed, not cancelled. My guy played through the pain, but has to sit some dates out. Back before the years over," Rothstein wrote.
His comments came after Forum in Inglewood announced the rap star's Wednesday show was postponed and the tickets will be honoured at a new date.
"Tomorrow's Childish Gambino show at the Forum has been postponed. Tickets will be valid at the newly scheduled date when announced. Thank you," the tweet read.
It is currently unclear how many gigs will Glover not perform in.
Besides Forum concert, the ...

'This Is America' tour postponed due to Childish Gambino's injury

Padma Lakshmi, a prominent Indian-American model host, has alleged that she was raped by her boyfriend at the age of 16, saying she wanted to bring out this secret in the wake of allegations of sexual assault on US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
Lakshmi, a former wife of controversial author Salman Rushdie, explained in an article in The New York Times that she kept quiet for 32 years as she feared fingers would point at her for bringing it upon herself.
The 48-year-old model and actress wrote that she was reminded of her feelings about the incident last week by allegations surrounding US President Donald Trump's choice for the Supreme Court.
"I have been turning that incident over in my head throughout the past week, as two women have come forward to detail accusations against the Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh," Lakshmi said in the opinion piece revealing that she was raped on New Year's Eve, just few months after she started dating her boyfriend.
The 'Top Chef' host .

Indian-American model Padma Lakshmi says she was raped at 16

The release of Jennifer Lopez-starrer "Second Act" will now open on December 14.
The film, directed Peter Segal, was initially scheduled to release on November 14.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the date was shifted to avoid the busy Thanksgiving corridor.
The film will face off against Peter Jackson-produced fantasy movie "Mortal Engines" and animated film "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse".
Written by Justin Zackham and Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, it is said to be in the vein of Lopez's "Maid in Manhattan" (2002).
"Second Act" is about a woman who gets a chance to fulfil her career ambitions when a private finance firm is misled into believing that she is an accomplished consultant and hire her to handle a major business deal.
The film also features Milo Ventimiglia, Leah Remini and Vanessa Hudgens.

Jennifer Lopez's 'Second Act' postponed to December 14

A judge declared Bill Cosby a "sexually violent predator" on Tuesday as a first step toward sentencing the 81-year-old comedian for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman over a decade ago.
The classification means that Cosby must undergo monthly counseling for the rest of his life and report quarterly to authorities. His name will appear on a sex-offender registry sent to neighbors, schools and victims.
Montgomery County Judge Steven O'Neill made the decision as he prepared to sentence Cosby for violating Temple University women's basketball administrator Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia estate in 2004.
The comic once known as America's Dad faced anywhere from probation to 10 years in prison after being convicted in April in the first celebrity trial of the #MeToo era.
Prosecutors asked for five to 10 years in prison. The defense requested house arrest, saying Cosby is too old and helpless to do time behind bars. He is legally blind.
Cosby's lawyers had fought the ...

Cosby is declared a 'sexually violent predator'

Saif Ali Khan said Tuesday he is enjoying the current phase in his career and the actor feels he is getting "better" at his job with time.
Fresh off the success and critical acclaim of "Sacred Games", the actor said he is "learning new things" today.
"I feel, as an actor, I am better than ever and more interested than I have ever been. I am getting better every day. I am enjoying the growth," Saif, who will reprise his role of good cop Sartaj Singh in the Netflix series second season, said.
The actor was speaking at the trailer launch of his next feature, "Baazaar".
Saif said he does not view his work from a business angle anymore, where he would do films to make money.
"By the grace of God, I feel secure. I want to choose exciting roles. I want to challenge myself. It's such a great time in the movies.
"The kind of roles that one is offered are so different from what they used to be. We are looking at the future, we are pushing boundaries. It's nice to reinvent," he added.
Directed ..

I'm a better actor today: Saif Ali Khan

Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro has said that he likes "Better Call Saul" more than parent show "Breaking Bad".
Taking to Twitter, del Toro, 53, praised the new season of "Better Call Saul" which he said is "more poignant".
"A small reflection in the middle of 'Better Call Saul' (BCS) new season: I like it even more than Breaking Bad (BB), not to be a contrarian but because the evident stakes seem smaller but the moral downfall strike me as deeper, more poignant..." he wrote.
"With Walter White (who turns Black) you were tracking a massive downfall/transformation. BCS takes you by the hand as Jimmy becomes Saul Goodman (No Good in him) in small painful tumbles," he said in another tweet.
The director also offered "an equation" about the plots and stories of the two shows.
"There is an equation that most screenplay writers will understand and makes the difference between BB and BCS: Less plot, more story. Plot is rhythm, story is melody," he said.
"Breaking Bad", featuring ...

Page 582 -