Madhya Pradesh has been selected for the  'Most Film-Friendly State' award by the government for its efforts towards creating a comfortable environment for film shooting.
A jury headed by "Sholay" director Ramesh Sippy also awarded a Special Mention Certificate for Film Friendly Environment to Uttarakhand.
The awards are conferred by the central government for "creating a well-structured web site, film friendly infrastructure, offering incentives, maintaining databases, undertaking marketing and promotional initiatives", an official release said.
A total of 16 states participated in the Most Film Friendly State Award 2017 and Madhya Pradesh received positive feedback from filmmakers who have shot in the state.
Sippy said the jury members also appreciated the efforts made by Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat towards creating a film friendly eco system.
"This year Madhya Pradesh where a lot of filmmakers have shot over the years, has won the award due to the ease of filming that the state ...

Most film-friendly state award for Madhya Pradesh

PTI Automatic

Pakistani singer-actor Meesha Shafi has accused a fellow singer-actor, a well-known face in Bollywood, of sexually harassing her, saying the decision to share her #MeToo story was difficult but she felt it was important to break the culture of silence.
Shafi, who belongs to a family of actors, dropped the bombshell on Twitter where she posted a lengthy statement.
"Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out.. but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo," she tweeted.
Shafi said she had been subjected to sexual harassment "of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague" on more than one occasion.
The actor-singer, who has produced a number of successful tracks and acted in high profile films such as Mira Nair's "Reluctant Fundamentalist" and Bollywood film "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag", said it has been a .

Pakistani singer Meesha Shafi accuses fellow singer-actor of sexual harassment

Actor Deepika Padukone is the only Indian actor to feature in Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people.
With a profile by her "xXx: Return of Xander Cage" co-star Vin Diesel, Padukone's name features in the artists' list which has names such as Nicole Kidman, Ryan Coogler, Gal Gadot, Sterling K Brown, Hugh Jackman and others.
Diesel calls Padukone "not just a star" but an "actor's actor" and someone who represents the world, not just India.
"When Deepika Padukone came in to read for one of the Fast and the Furious films, I knew instantly I was in the presence of someone very special. As soon as she entered the room, there was a synchronicity, a synergy, a chemistry - it promised great things to come. Her schedule didn't work for that movie, but I never gave up. She was the first role we cast in 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage'. She said, 'I want to do this movie, but if I do, you have to come to India.' Thank God I made that deal," Diesel wrote.
"Making that movie, Deepika took 

Deepika Padukone in Time's 100 Most Influential People list

Director Umesh Shukla says it was a dream come true moment for him to have versatile actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor in "102 Not Out".
The director says it did not take long to convince Bachchan in the role of a fun-loving centenarian and Kapoor as his grumpy 75-year-old son.
"I had told Abhishek Bachchan that I would like to meet Bachchan sir. He arranged a meeting. When I met him, it was a dream come true moment. I was nervous initially. When I first told him about the hook 'about a father sending his son to old age home'. He immediately said yes.
"We were thinking about Rishi ji for the role of the son. Bachchan sir was excited as he said in the past they had either played brothers or friends."
Kapoor also liked the premise of the story.
"I am glad and fortunate to have this jodi (pair)," Shukla said at the launch of the song 'Badumbaa' from the film.
Shukla initially planned a medley of Bachchan and Kapoor's old songs but Big B wanted a new track as all their ...

Fortunate to have this pair: Shukla on casting Bachchan-Kapoor in '102 Not Out'

Rishi Kapoor, who is working with Amitabh Bachchan in a film after a gap of almost three decades, believes the megastar is one of the most natural performers in the film industry.
The two actors play father and son in "102 Not Out", a slice-of-life film, which also has Jimit Trivedi of "Bhool Bhulaiya" fame.
"He (Bachchan) should not get money for acting, he doesn't act, he is a natural. When someone reacts like this, it makes our job easy. He is a great actor," Kapoor told reporters at the song launch of 'Badoomba', which Bachchan has sung.
The two actors have worked in several hits such as "Amar Akbar Anthony", "Coolie" and "Kabhi Kabhie", among others.
Bachchan said he was grateful to his co-artistes who helped him better his performance.
"It is great to work with Jimit, he is a huge success story. If you appreciate my work, the credit goes to my co-artistes, our performance is a reflection of their performance," Bachchan said.
The film, based on a Gujarati play by the same name, ..

Amitabh Bachchan is a natural actor, says Rishi Kapoor

With the message of women empowerment and saving the girl child, a classical dance festival and seminar will take place here from tomorrow.
Organised by Urvashi Dance, Music, Art and Cultural Society, a Delhi-based NGO working with underprivileged children, the two-day festival will be inaugurated by Vijay Goel, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, at the LTG Auditorium.
Member of Parliament Parvesh Verma, president of National Mahila Morcha Vijaya Rahat Kar, and BJP national secretary Tarun Chug will also attend the inaugural event as Guest of Honour.
"It is a matter of pride that this society has always taken initiatives to directly reach out to the lesser privileged citizens. I extend my greetings and good wishes to 'Urvasi Dance, Music, Art, and Cultural Society' for all the success in organising Samagam and all their future endeavours. I am sure this even will go a long way in creating mass awareness and spreading the noble message of 'Beti Padhao Beti Bachao'," Goel said.
The ...

Dance festival to spread the message of 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao'

Singer Kelly Clarkson has been announced as the host of 2018 Billboard Music Awards.
The announcement was made by NBC studio, which is airing the awards this year. The singer is currently in her first season as a coach on the studio's singing show "The Voice".
"To prepare for hosting the Billboard Music Awards, I already have 20 costume changes planned," Clarkson said in a press release.
"I will be flying in like my girl P!nk, and calling Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman for jokes. Well, or I'm just gonna show up and celebrate my favorite artists and get to know a few more. Yeah, maybe I'll go with that plan," she added.
Clarkson has sold more than 25 million albums and 36 million singles worldwide. She has placed 10 singles in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and is the recipient of three Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards and  two Academy of Country Music Awards.
The 2018 Billboard Music Awards is produced by dick clark ...

Kelly Clarkson to host 2018 Billboard Music Awards

Idris Elba will be starring in the Netflix comedy series "Turn Up Charlie".
The streaming giant has given a eight-episode order for the first season of the show, which Elba co-created with TV producer Gary Reich, reported Variety.
The story follows Charlie (Elba), a struggling DJ and eternal bachelor, who is given a final chance at success when he reluctantly becomes a manny to his famous best friend's problem-child daughter.
Apart from acting, Elba is also an accomplished DJ and has performed at festivals such as Snowbombing, Glastonbury, Creamfields, and Elrow London.
Production is expected to begin in May and shooting will take place in the UK.
Laura Neal, Femi Oyeniran, and Victoria Asare-Archer have penned the script of the series, with Tristram Shapeero and Matt Lipsey directing it.
It will be executive produced by Elba, Reich and Shapeero and co-executive produced by Martin Joyce and Ana Garanito.
This marks the second series from "Thor: Ragnorok" star, who had earlier created .

Idris Elba to star in Netflix comedy series 'Turn Up Charlie'

Actors-comics Amy Schumer and Tina Fey are all set to host the final two episodes of the 43rd season of "Saturday Night Live".
The current installment of the late-night live television variety show ends on May 19, which will be presented by frequent collaborator Fey and will have Nicki Minaj as musical guest.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Schumer will host the penultimate episode on May 12, which will feature Kacey Musgraves as the musical guest.
This will be "I Feel Pretty" actor's second "SNL" hosting stint.
As previously announced, Donald Glover will pull a double act in his "SNL" debut as both host and musical guest on the May 5 episode.

'SNL' to wrap 43rd season with Amy Schumer and Tina Fey as hosts

"Okja" star Lily Collins has been cast in the survival thriller "Titan".
The 29-year-old actor will play the role of a young musician in the film, which will be directed by Austin Bunn, reported Variety.
The story follows a strong-willed young musician on a quest to understand the life of her environmental activist older sister, who was killed years before in a tragic fall.
Christine Vachon and David Hinojosa are producing for Killer Films.
It will be executive produced by XYZ Films which will introduce the film during the upcoming Cannes Film Festival.
Last year, Collins starred in Netflix's eating disorder drama "To the Bone" and is currently shooting for the thriller "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile", co-starring Zac Efron.

Lily Collins to star in 'Titan'

Veteran star Kevin Costner is in negotiations to lend his voice to a dog's character in the film "The Art of Racing in the Rain".
The film is an adaptation of Garth Stein's best-selling novel of the same and is told through the perspective of a family dog, who looks back on his life and the lessons he has learned from his professional race car-driver owner named Denny.
If finalised, Costner, 63, will voice Enzo, the family dog, and will join "This is Us" star Milo Ventimiglia, who will be playing Denny, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The movie will be directed by "Goodbye Christopher Robin" helmer Simon Curtin.
Costner is best known for films such as "The Bodyguard", "Hidden Figures", "Field of Dreams", "Waterworld" and "Dances with Wolves", which fetched the Oscar for Best Director.
He will be next seen in the series "Yellowstone" and also in Netflix crime drama "The Highwaymen", co-starring Woody Harrelson and Kathy Bates.

Kevin Costner to lend his voice for 'The Art of Racing in the Rain'

The organisers of the Dubai International Film Festival have officially called off this year's film extravaganza, announcing from now on the event will take place every two years, starting 2019.
The news comes in after a week of rumours regarding the future of the DIFF and the organisers said they plan to adopt "a new strategy to support the growth and evolution of the film and content industries".
According to a press release on DIFF's official website, the decision to hold the festival  biennially from next year is a "strategic shift" to respond to the evolving creative landscape in the region.
"The strategic shift aims to embrace the significant changes taking place in the region's creative and entertainment landscape. The new strategy also seeks to leverage the emergence of exciting new talent and innovative new technologies that are rapidly transforming the content landscape in the region.
"The Festival will occur every two years with the 15th edition, which will reflect DIFF's ..

Dubai International Film Festival 2018 officially cancelled

Sinegr Lauryn Hill is going on tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her multiple-Grammy-winning debut solo album 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill'.
The 42-year-old singer will embark on a trek of North America from July 5 in Virginia and end in October 5 in St Louis. It will be followed by international dates to follow, Variety reported.
Hill said she wanted to share the record with world again, which is "an intimate piece" of her "young existence" with her community that needs both love and encouragement in today's times.
"This album chronicled an intimate piece of my young existence. It was the summation of most, if not all, of my most hopeful and positive emotions experienced to that date. I loved and believed deeply in my community's ability to both love and heal itself provided it received the right amount of support and encouragement.
"Our world today, both complex and changing, is in need of the balance between moral fortitude and cathartic expression. I hope the love and .

Lauryn Hill announces 'Miseducation' 20th anniversary tour

F Gary Gray has set up his next directorial project in "M.A.S.K" from Paramount.
The 48-year-old director, who is best known for films such as "The Fate of the Furious" and "Straight Outta Compton", will be teaming up with Hasbro to develop the project, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
M.A.S.K stands for Mobile Armored Strike Kommand, a task force led by Matt Trakker whose goal is to take out the criminal organization V.E.N.O.M.
Gray will also produce the film along with Hasbro.
He is also tackling the "Men in Black" reboot for Sony Pictures that will star Chris Hemsworth and Tessa Thompson.

F. Gary Gray to develop 'M.A.S.K' film for Paramount

Edgar Ramirez has been cast opposite Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in Disney's "Jungle Cruise".
The "Bright" star will be playing a villain with a conquistador (soldiers and explorers of the Spanish Empire) background in the film, which will also star comedian Jack Whitehall, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The film, a feature adaptation of Disney's theme park ride, follows a boat captain who takes his sister and her brother on a mission to find a tree believed to possess healing powers. Wild animals and a competing German expedition figure into the proceedings.
Johnson, who was recently seen in "Rampage", will portray the role of the boat captain, while Blunt and Whitehall will the play the sister and the brother.
The project also serves as a reunion for Ramirez and Blunt, who earlier worked together on the 2016 thriller "The Girl On the Train".
Jaume Collet-Serra, best known for helming "The Shallows", will direct the project with a from "Logan" scribe Michael Green.
Beau ...

Edgar Ramirez to star in 'Jungle Cruise' alongside Dwayne Johnson

The BBC has ordered a documentary on former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, titled "Thatcher".
The docu series, based on the life of the "Iron Lady", will be five-hours long in duration, Variety reported.
The show comes almost four decades after Thatcher came to power. She served as UK PM from 1979 to 1990 and passed away in 2013.
"Thatcher" will explore the legacy of the Conservative politician often voted as both Britain's best and worst post-war leader.
Distributed in five chapters of one hour each, the film will air on BBC Two in the UK and the Studios plan on selling it internationally.
The BBC promises "a front-row seat as Thatcher rides the tumultuous tides of public support through three election victories, as the nation yo-yos and divides itself between soaring adulation and violent unrest."
The series will tell the story of how a young girl from a modest English market town, who trained as a chemist, went on to become a world leader.
Aysha Rafaele, creative ...

BBC orders docu on former UK PM Margaret Thatcher

"Homeland" star Claire Danes and her husband actor Hugh Dancy are pregnant with their second child.
The 39-year-old actor broke the news when she appeared on "The Howard Stern Show", according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Danes, who already shares five-year-old son Cyrus with Dancy, said she was "seriously preggo".
"I'm pregnant. I'm deep into my second trimester," she confessed on the radio.
When Stern said she looked "so thin", Danes responded, "I'm seated."
It was her official announcement.
When asked about the gender of their second child, the actor said, "I'm going to keep that to myself."
She also confirmed that "Homeland" is all set to end after season eight.

Claire Danes expecting second child with Hugh Dancy

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is the latest celebrity from Bollywood to condemn the Kathua rape incident, saying he feels "disgusted" by it.
When asked about his reaction, the 75-year-old star, who has been the face of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, said it was painful to even talk about it.
"Mujhe uss vishay par charcha karne mein ghin aati hai. So uss vishay ko uchhalo mat. It's terrible to even talk about it.
"(I feel disgusted even talking about it. So, don't rake up this issue. It is terrible to even talk about it," Bachchan told reporters.
The actor was speaking at the song launch of his upcoming film "102 Not Out", in which he stars along with Rishi Kapoor.
Several Bollywood celebrities have reacted angrily over the incidents and have demanded justice for the victims of the Kathua, Unnao and Surat rape cases that have generated a massive outrage against the perpetrators.
In Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, an eight-year-old child from a minority nomadic community was ...

It's terrible to even talk about it: Bachchan on Kathua

The release of Rajkummar Rao-starrer "Omerta" has been postponed to May 6 as the clearance from the censor board on the film came in recently.
Directed by Hansal Mehta, the movie is based on the life of character of British-born Pakistani terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh, played by Rao.
The film was earlier scheduled to arrive in cinema halls tomorrow.
Mehta says "Omerta" had "fair bit of violence and strong language" pertaining to the story and as the team did not want any cuts, waiting till the process was complete by the Central Board of Film Certification was the only answer.
"We knew that it wouldn't be a cake walk with the Censor Board given that the film has a fair bit of violence and strong language. We didn't want cuts that would take away the essence of the film, so we had to wait.
"The Censor Board Chief and members of the revising committee understood how certain scenes could not be removed since they are essential for audiences to understand how a terrorist's mind works. Hence 

'Omerta' release pushed to May 6

CIA drama "Homeland" is ending after season eight.
Actor Claire Danes, who is expecting her second child with husband Hugh Dancey, confirmed the news in an interview with Howard Stern on his Sirius XM show.
"Yeah, that's it," she said when Stern asked her about rumours that the show was ending after its next season.
A representative for Showtime said that the network has not made a decision beyond season eight. The series is currently airing its seventh season, the finale for which is set to air on April 29, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
When Stern asked Danes how she's dealing with the upcoming season being the last, the actress acknowledged that she feels "really conflicted" about it. "I mean, I'll be ready. She's a lot, this Carrie-freakin' Mathison character," she said.
"It's a workout, so I'll be ready for a reprieve from that.

'Homeland' to end with season 8

Actor Isabella Rossellini says she is not comfortable telling her #MeToo story as she does not believe there is any value in naming the man who raped her as a teenager.
The 65-year-old actor, in an interview with Vulture, said she is a supporter of the #MeToo movement, which shows the many obvious and subtle ways women are diminished.
"I do understand the value for some people to talk about their experiences, but for me, there is no value. The person that raped me  I was 15 or 16, he was a year older than I, why would I dig out this story 48 years later? What if people start to say, No, you have to say the person's name?' I don't know what happened to him. He might be married. He might have children. I am a superstar in Italy. If I said who did this, I would destroy him," the actor said.
Rossellini said date rape was a common occurrence among young men and women in Italy while she was growing up.
"This man hurt me in the context of a culture that we are all trying to change. I don't ..

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