A firm believer that culture connects countries and people across continents, India's well-known Sufi singer Zila Khan wants to leave a legacy of 15-20 musicians of at least her calibre who will perform globally, showcasing India's soft power.
"Culture is such an important bridge for every kind of country to be tied together. We all feel that politics and economy can change, but culture is one thing that remains the same. It is built on a very, very solid foundation, which stays and sustains itself," she told PTI in a recent interview.
Daughter of sitar maestro Ustad Vilayat Khan, Kolkata-born Zila was in Washington DC this week to perform as part of the "India@70" celebrations organised by the Indian Embassy here. She also delivered mesmerising performances in Houston and New York.
As such, Zila passionately argues that "it is important to feel that (culture) in your music". This is the reason why, she explained, she set musicians from across the world -- the US, Egypt, Africa, and ..

Culture binds countries together: Zila Khan

PTI Automatic

Director Dan Fogelman has slammed the "white male critics" for their poor reviews of his upcoming feature "Life Itself".
The drama, which features an ensemble cast of Oscar Isaac, Olivia Wilde, Olivia Cooke, Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas, has been criticised by the reviewers for its melodramatic plot and acting.
Fogelman, best known for creating "This is Us" and writing "Crazy, Stupid, Love", said something is "inherently a little bit broken in our film criticism right now".
"I also think it's somewhat broken in our television criticism, I think that the people with the widest reach are getting increasingly cynical and vitriolic and I think there are a couple of genres and a couple of ideas that they (attack, which) doesn't speak to not just a mainstream audience, but also a sophisticated audience," Fogelman told TooFab.
"There's a disconnect between something that is happening between our primarily white male critics who don't like anything that has any emotion," he added.
He ..

Dan Fogelman responds to poor reviews of 'Life Itself'

Actor Ellen Pompeo has hinted that the hit medical drama series "Grey's Anatomy" might end after season 16.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Pompeo, who plays Meredith Grey on the ABC medical drama, was asked whether she would be there on the show after the upcoming season.
"I'm clearly not prepared right now to make any formal announcement about what my future is on the show, but I am really feeling like we have told the majority of the stories that we can tell," the 48-year-old actor replied.
"It's about time that I mix it up. I'm definitely looking for a change," she added.
Show creator Shonda Rhimes said she had penned several endings for the series but the story still continues on.
"I have written the end of the show at least six times. But we just don't end. Every time, I thought, 'This is how the show should end,' we've gone past those moments, so I've stopped trying. I have no idea now," she said.

Ellen Pompeo hints 'Grey's Anatomy' could end after season 16

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana's wife Tahira Kashyap has revealed that she was diagnosed with "stage 0" breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy procedure.
In an optimistic Instagram post, Tahira said she was "detected with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) in my right breast with high grade malignant cells".
"Simply put stage 0 cancer/ pre-cancerous stage, with cancer cells multiplying in a contained area. The result I have become a half Indian version of Angelina Jolie (since only one breast was involved)! I told my doctor now is the time to give some competition to the Kardashians since Pamela is pass. But no one listened to me, so now I have a portion of my back tissue in my breast. Perhaps now I can do chin-ups with my breasts!" she wrote.
Ayushmann said that Tahira is doing well and has been discharged after the surgery.
"Today is the good day as she is discharged now. We got the shocker. I am glad the surgery happened and was successful. She is a fighter. The last four days I was in ...

Ayushmann' wife Tahira reveals cancer diagnosis, actor says she is a fighter

Bollywood actor Neil Nitin Mukesh and wife Rukimi have welcomed a baby girl, their first child together.
The 36-year-old actor announced the good news on Twitter and also shared that they have named their little one, Nurvi.
"Rukmini and I are proud to announce the arrival of our darling daughter, Nurvi. The entire Mukesh family is elated. Both mother and daughter are well by the Grace of God," Neil tweeted.
The couple tied the knot last year on February 9.

Neil Nitin Mukesh, wife Rukmini welcome baby girl

Pop star Rihanna has been announced as an ambassador by the government of her home country Barbados.
In a statement, the Barbados government said the singer, whose full name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, has been given the role of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, with specific responsibility for promoting education, tourism and investment for the island.
The 30-year-old singer said she "couldn't be more proud to take on such a prestigious title" in her home country.
"Every Barbadian is going to have to play their role in this current effort, and I'm ready and excited to take on the responsibility.  I look forward to working with Prime Minister Mottley and her team to reimagine Barbados," Rihanna said.
Rihanna is one of the best-selling singers of all time, with 250 million record sales globally. She has also acted in a number films, such as "Battleship" and "Ocean's 8".
The prime minister of the country, Mia Amor Mottley, hailed the singer, saying she was honoured to confer the 

Rihanna named as ambassador by Barbados

Rohit Shetty, one of the most successful commercial directors of the Hindi film industry, says love and acceptance of the audience motivates him to give his best to every project.
The director said his aim is to provide entertainment to the people and he wants them to enjoy his films, irrespective of what the critics are saying.
"I think of audience, especially my family audience, while writing or making or editing a film. I want them to enjoy my films. I am more happy when audience is happy. When they are laughing and cheering.
"It gives me high and happiness. If a person goes to watch a film, he puts 10 per cent of his earning in it. So I should see to it that they are entertained. When audience is not happy, I feel restless," Rohit told reporters here Friday at the Jagran Cinema Summit.
The director said whenever his film releases, his team goes to the theatres to gauge the audiences reaction.
"For me personally, after my film releases we have a team that goes to check and ...

When audience is unhappy I get restless: Rohit Shetty

Actor-comedian Kenan Thompson is set to star in a comedy series that has received a production commitment at NBC.
The series, titled "Saving Larry", is a single-camera comedy in which Thomson would star as a dad who has to be both mother and father to his kids after his wife dies.
Jackie Clarke is the writer and also executive producer, with Lorne Michaels and Andrew Singer also executive producing, reported Deadline.
Universal Television will produce along with Michaels' Broadway Video.
If things get finalised, it would likely mean Thompson's exit from "SNL", where he recently broke the record as the longest-serving cast member in the show's four plus decades on the air.

Kenan Thompson to star in NBC comedy series

Filmmaker Todd Haynes has been roped in to direct Participant Media's "Dry Run".
The film is based on the New York Times Magazine article about the lawyer who took on the chemical company DuPont, reported Variety.
Participant and Mark Ruffalo are producing the film from a rewrite by Mario Correa. Matthew Carnahan had penned the first draft.
Based on Nathaniel Rich's New York Times Magazine article "The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare," the film revolves around Robert Bilott, who had been practicing as a corporate defense attorney for eight years when he took on an environmental lawsuit against the chemical company DuPont.
The suit turned into a battle exposing a decades-long history of chemical pollution.

Todd Haynes to direct 'Dry Run'

Actor Alec Baldwin will be back as President Donald Trump in the upcoming 44th season of "Saturday Night Live".
The news was revealed during James Andrew Miller's Origins podcast focused on the new season, which kicks off September 29. The premiere will be hosted by Adam Driver and feature a performance by Kanye West.
"Trump is insane. I think most people know, the guy  he is insane. We have a man who is president who is insane. You can't go far enough with this idiot. You can't go far enough. You can't go far enough" Baldwin said.
Lorne Michaels, the executive producer of "Saturday Night Live," told Miller that he was glad to have Baldwin return to the role.
"I think there is probably no other actor who is looking to take that and follow Alec. And I think, for a new cast member to come in and try that would be a really tough thing to do," Michaels said.
Baldwin's return had been in doubt given comments he had made during SNL's Season 43. "Every time I do it now, it's like agony. ...

Alec Baldwin will return to 'SNL' as Donald Trump

Actor Abhishek Bachchan says going forward he will be conscious to not be a part of any film which will make his daughter Aaradhya feel awkward while watching.
"I will now choose whatever work I do in professional career based on Aaradhya. I would not personally, currently, like to make a film which I feel Aaradhya would feel awkward watching," Bachchan said.
The actor was in conversation with journalist Mayank Shekhar at Jagran Cinema Summit, here Friday.
Bachchan said both him and his actor-wife Aishwarya Rai are very clear that they won't force their daughter to pick a profession of their choice and would stand by her decision irrespectively.
"As far as Aishwarya and I are concerned, be it tomorrow, twenty years down the line or whenever, whatever she decides, we will support her no matter what. That's what our parents did for us as well.
"As a parent you want the best for your child. What she decides to do is completely her choice. We will never weigh down on her, that this is ...

Won't do any film which will make Aaradhya feel awkward: Abhishek

Actor Abhishek Bachchan has defended the decision of the makers to delete three scenes from his latest "Manmarziyaan" and said the sequences did not impact the story anyway.
The scenes in questionfeaturing Abhishek and Taapsee Pannu smoking had upset a certain section of the Sikh community, following which they were omitted from the film.
When asked about the issue, Abhishek said, "Each individual is allowed to react the way they have, and they want to. It's their personal opinion. For me, it's not a big deal. My film isn't about anyone smoking, I have no problem cutting that out if someone has taken objection to it."
The actor stressed that the intention of the makers was not to hurt anyone.
"The intention of the makers is upset any community or ruffle any feathers. We just wanted to make a nice love story and that's what the film is about. If by cutting out one or two shots if it's going to placate someone and make them feel better, I've no problem doing that."
Abhishek was in ...

No big deal: Abhishek on cuts in 'Manmarziyaan'

Rohit Shetty revealed Friday that his upcoming film "Simmba" and Shah Rukh Khan's "Zero" will not release on the same day.
Rohit said but both the teams mutually decided to avert the clash.
Shah Rukh's "Zero" is releasing on December 21 while "Simmba" is now arriving in theatres on December 28.
"One week is enough, where is the competition. We were coming on the same date earlier but then me, Karan Johar and Shah Rukh sat and discussed that if we come on the same day then business will be get affected.
"There was no competition as such. It was like a mutual thing. If the film is good it will run," Rohit told reporters at the Jagran Film Festival here.
In Aanand L Rai's "Zero", SRK plays the role of a dwarf. The film also stars Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma.
"Simmba" will see Ranveer Singh as a cop. The film will also features Sara Ali Khan.
"It is a remake and remakes are being made since years. And there's no harm in making remakes as maybe the younger generation has not caught up .

'Simmba' and 'Zero' box office clash now averted, says Rohit Shetty

Tabrez Noorani's "Love Sonia" has been invited for a special screening at the United Nations this October.
Inspired by true events, "Love Sonia" is the shocking story of a young Indian village girl whose life is irrevocably changed when she gets entrapped in the global sex trade while trying to save her sister.
It will be screened at the UN on October 11 which is the International Day of the Girl Child.
"It's an honour for us to screen our film 'Love Sonia' for the United Nations. I feel privileged and am looking forward to the screening on the 11th October in New York," Noorani said in a statement.
The screening will be hosted by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime and Indian anti-trafficking organization, Apne Aap Women Worldwide.
"Art is a powerful advocacy tool to raise awareness and we hope this beautifully acted thoughtful film will move people to take action against the scourge of sex trafficking," said Simone Monasebian, Director of the United Nations Office for ...

'Love Sonia' to be screened at United Nations

Coming from a middle class family, "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" director Shree Narayan Singh says he has seen all the problems that a common man goes through and this is why they find a space in his cinema.
After highlighting the issue of sanitation, Singh is exploring the undersupply of electricity in small towns in his latest release "Batti Gul Meter Chalu", starring Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Yami Gautam and Divyendu Sharma.
"I come from a small town Balrampur in UP. There is a small village near there, called Mahadev, I was born there. I have faced issues like sanitation, electricity, etc. Since I have faced real issues,  I can connect with it," Singh told PTI.
As a director, Singh considers himself lucky as he did not feel burdened despite the presence of stars like Akshay Kumar and Shahid.
"In the two films, both Akshay and Shahid have played roles that are against their image and I am grateful for the support. I want more people to listen to the issue so the reach is wider with 

I connect well with real issues, says Shree Narayan Singh

"Manto" is finally screening in theatres across India following cancelation of its first show.
"Manto", starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui as legendary Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto released Friday, but multiplex chain PVR Cinemas had to cancel the morning shows due to  technical glitch .
"Hugely disappointed... six years of work and many people's collective intent and commitment was to find its culmination this morning.
"Am assured by @Viacom18Movies it will be fixed at noon today. Please let us know if it has not been. Spreading #Mantoiyat will not stop," Nandita had posted on Twitter.
PVR had assured fans and the director that they were working towards solving the problem and would soon start screening the film.
"Hi, We would like to inform you that due to some technical glitch, the shows of the movie, 'Manto' were cancelled. However, we would never want you to miss out on a good movie and are trying our best to bring you the shows of this most awaited movie.
"Stay tuned to our ...

'Manto' screening restored after initial hiccups

Filmmaker Damian Chazelle's "First Man", starring Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy in the lead, will hit the theatres in India on October 12.
The biographical drama, which had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival last month, is the director's follow-up to 2016 blockbuster "La La Land".
It marks yet another collaboration between Chazelle and Gosling after "La La Land". Chazelle won the best director Oscar for the musical at the 2017 Academy Awards.
The film, which also features "The Crown" star Claire Foy, narrates the story of NASA's mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969.
Gosling, 37, plays Armstrong while Foy, 34, portrays his wife Janet Shearon.
The film has so far received positive reviews with critics praising Gosling's performance and Chazelle's direction. It has emerged as a strong contender for the next year's Oscars.
"There are many other stories that tell about the moon landing, but I wanted to  know what it ..

Ryan Gosling-starrer 'First Man' to release in India on October 12

Filmmaker Nandita Das is "hugely disappointed" by Manto's morning screening being cancelled on the first day of the film's release.
"Manto", starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui as legendary Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto released Friday, but multiplex chain PVR Cinemas had to cancel the morning shows due to "technical glitch".
"Hugely disappointed... six years of work and many people's collective intent and commitment was to find its culmination this morning.
"Am assured by @Viacom18Movies it will be fixed at noon today. Please let us know if it has not been. Spreading #Mantoiyat will not stop," Nandita posted on Twitter.
PVR assured fans and the director that they are working towards solving the problem and will soon start screening the film.
"Hi, We would like to inform you that due to some technical glitch, the shows of the movie, 'Manto' were cancelled. However, we would never want you to miss out on a good movie and are trying our best to bring you the shows of this most awaited ...

Hugely disappointed: Nandita Das on cancellation of Manto's morning shows

Once he is on screen, the characters Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays feel like his second skin, inseparable from his psyche.
But the actor says after playing the title role in Saadat Hasan Manto's biopic, a part of the famed short-story writer still lives inside him; a quality he imbibed - not to be judgemental.
Siddiqui believes every time one takes up a character, it adds something to the personality of the actor but also takes something away from them.
"I feel an actor should be like water. They should take the shape of the character when poured inside the mould What I learnt from Manto is that he never judged anyone, not even the ones in his stories.
"He always managed to find something admirable, especially in those people whom the society had rejected. I will always cherish this gift by Manto that you shouldn't judge anybody. You never know what heights they end up achieving one day, the actor told PTI in an interview.
Asked what Manto took away from him, Siddiqui says the writer ...

Manto taught me not to judge anyone: Nawazuddin Siddiqui

James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal-starrer "The Deuce" has been renewed by HBO for a third and final season.
The series has been created by David Simon and George Pelecanos, and follows the rise of the adult industry in New York's seedy Times Square of the 1970s and '80s.
The show's sophomore season premiered on the network on September 9.
Simon took to Twitter to share the news and wrote, "We're always conjuring the last scene before we write the first. So much the better when we work for people who allow us to consistently plan, arc and execute as intended."
"Thanks, @HBO, for the third and final season renewal and the chance for #thedeuce to tell its full story," he added.
The first season of the series premiered in 2017 and received mainly positive reviews from the critics and audience.
The third and final season of "The Deuce" will air sometime in 2019.

'The Deuce' to end after third and final season

Disney CEO Bob Iger has hinted at a "slowdown" in the making of Star Wars films in the aftermath of the below par performance of "Solo: A Star Wars Story" at the box office.
Since 2014, the studio has made four films in the famous franchise, starting with JJ Abrams "Stars Wars: The Force Awakens".
In an interview, the media mogul said he made a mistake of pushing the franchise "too much, too fast".
"I made the timing decision, and as I look back, I think the mistake that I made  I take the blame  was a little too much, too fast. You can expect some slowdown, but that doesn't mean we're not going to make films.
"JJ (Abrams) is busy making (Episode) IX. We have creative entities, including ('Game of Thrones' creators David) Benioff and (DB) Weiss, who are developing sagas of their own, which we haven't been specific about. And we are just at the point where we're going to start making decisions about what comes next after JJ's," Iger said.
He also said that the studio will be careful ...

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