Director Robert Rodriguez has  revealed that he knew actor Rose McGowan was sexually  assaulted by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
"My first reaction was one of shock. I recall clearly  what I said next, 'My God, why didn't you say anything? People  would have stood up for you! And where was your fiance during  all this? I would have at least beaten the crap out of Harvey  if I had heard that,'" Rodriguez said in a statement to  Variety.
Rose McGowan, was one of the first women to accuse  disgraced movie mogul of sexual harassment in the New York  Times expose.
The director said he met McGowan at an amfAR after party  in Cannes in 2005 where he asked her if she has auditioned for  "Sin City".
"She told me she was a film noir fan and that she wished  she could have been cast in 'Sin City'. I asked her 'Why  didn't you audition for it? You would have been terrific.' She  said that she couldn't because she had been blacklisted from  working on any Weinstein movies," he said.
"When I 

McGowan told me that Weinstein assaulted her: Robert Rodriguez

PTI Automatic

Calling out the sexism that  persists in the hip-hop industry, singer Nicki Minaj has said  that female artistes are not recognised as much as their male  counterparts.
The singer's comments come after rapper Russ said in an  interview that Minaj has not got her due in the industry.
"You know who else people really need to start putting  respect on is Nicki Minaj -- period," the rapper had said.
Minaj thanked the rapper on Twitter and then posted, "In  any field, women must work TWICE as hard to get even HALF the  respect her male counterparts get. When does this stop?"
She also said that rappers who collaborate with Drake,  Kendrick Lamar, and J Cole are called "dope" but if someone  does the same with a woman, then it is because "someone pulled  a gun to their heads".
"Putting people in the same sentence as me after my 10  years of consistent winning. What are you teaching THEM?  They'd never do this to a man," she tweeted.

Nicky Minaj slams hip hop industry over blatant sexism

Actor Gal Gadot is not  attending an award function honouring director Brett Ratner.
The "Wonder Woman" star was to present the 'Tree of Life  Award' to Ratner at a dinner for the Jewish National Fund but  the actor backed out of the event, reported Variety.
A representative for the award function has said that the  actor had a scheduling conflict.
"Apparently she is stuck on promo stuff for 'Justice  League' for China, and she Is not going to be back in time. We  just found this out and everyone is scrambling," said Nina  Gorden, who works for the organisation behind the award.
Gadot will reprise her role as Diana Prince in "Justice  League", which opens in theatres on November 17.

Gal Gadot opts out of award show honouring Brett Ratner

Popular television actor Meghna  Malik is back as 'Ammaji' in the second season of "Laado -  Veerpur Ki Mardaani" and she says this time the team is trying  its best to tell a progressive story.
The earlier show "Na Aana Is Des Laado" premiered in  2009 on Colors channel and enjoyed a good run till its end  in 2012. Now, the makers are back with chapter two - "Laado -  Veerpur Ki Mardaani"
Meghna, who was seen as a powerful antagonist in the  previous show, is back but with a progressive thought process.
"Earlier Ammaji was against women, now she is for  them. She shares the vision of 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao', she  is the voice for weaker section of society, she is the  torch-bearer and alternative for people who have not got  justice," the actor says in an interview with PTI.
"This character is coming with greater energy and  experience," she adds.
Meghna says there is a fresh take on Ammaji's personality  and the plotline of the show.
"With time TV needs to change and so with this .

'Laado 2...' an attempt to tell a progressive story: Meghna

Character artiste Raj Arjun says  the constant struggle in the initial days of his acting career  was to make sure that filmmakers and audiences recognise him.
Raj, who has worked in films like "Raees" and "Rowdy  Rathore", was recently seen in Aamir Khan's "Secret  Superstar".
In an interview to PTI, he says, "I can say it was a  deliberate move (to be part of big films) to get footage.  (But the fact is) I was not in a situation to choose. Before  'Secret Superstar' I was like a beggar. I was just called for  a job, I was doing it and going home.
"Till 'Secret Superstar' happened, it was just a fight  within myself to prove my existence as an actor, to earn some  money and all. In that process whatever I was offered I was  doing it."
Raj considers "Secret Superstar" and "Shabri" as his  best works till date.
"... I want to do something that hits me inside. And  'Secret Superstar' is the only film that touched me.
"'Shabri' was one of the good works and 'Secret  Superstar' is the ...

Before 'Secret Superstar' I was like a beggar: Raj Arjun

Irrfan Khan is all set to team up  again with his "Piku" co-star Deepika Padukone for their next  venture "Sapna Didi" and the actor reveals that their  on-screen chemistry will be different this time.
The film is an adaptation of S Hussain Zaidi's book  "Mafia Queens of Mumbai" and is based on the life and times of  Ashraf Khan, popularly known as Sapna Didi, to be played by  Deepika.
Irrfan will play a grey character in the movie, to be  directed by Honey Trehan.
In an interview with PTI, Irrfan says, "I will always be  excited to work with Deepika. I am all the more excited this  time (as to) how our chemistry (will) work. In this film, I am  not (portraying) a decent or civilised man, so our equation in  this film is completely (different from 'Piku')...
"She is the most beautiful person and a good human  being. It gives me happiness when I see Deepika."
Irrfan says the makers are currently working on the final  draft of the film's script.
The movie, produced by Vishal Bhardwaj, ..

My equation with Deepika different in 'Sapna Didi': Irrfan

At a time when most of the Bollywood  stars are making a switch to television with reality shows,  Tabu says if she ever turns to the small screen she would like  to start her journey with a travel show.
This year, TV has seen the return of superstar Shah  Rukh Khan with his new show "TED Talks" and Akshay Kumar with  comedy show "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge" as a super  judge. Salman Khan is also back as the host for "Bigg Boss".
Besides this, Farah Khan has her own show "Lip Sing  Battle" while Sonakshi Sinha is judging a devotional music  show "Om Shanti Om".
In an interview with PTI, Tabu says, "As far as TV shows  are concerned I would love to do a travel show. It interests  me and takes me out of this crazy world. I wanted to be an air  hostess because I wanted to see the world.
"Now I want to do a travel show as I would love to  travel. I have not been to South America, Australia, East  Africa and many other places."
The actor, who is fresh out of the success of her ...

I would love to do a travel show: Tabu

Actress Annabella Sciorra has  accused Harvey Weinstein of rape, detailing her harrowing  encounter with the now-disgraced movie mogul.
She joins dozens of women who have already leveled  allegations of sexual abuse against the 65-year-old Weinstein.
Sciorra -- who received an Emmy nomination for her  role in the acclaimed television series "The Sopranos" -- said  in the early 1990s Weinstein forced his way into her apartment  and violently raped her.
She told The New Yorker Magazine that before the  alleged attack Weinstein came in "like he owned the place, and  started unbuttoning his shirt."
"It was very clear where he thought this was going to  go."
She urged Weinstein to leave but "he shoved me onto  the bed, and he got on top of me," Sciorra said.
Despite her resistance Weinstein forced sexual  intercourse with her and "attempted to perform oral sex on  me," she told the magazine.
"I struggled, but I had very little strength left in  me."
"I was so ashamed," Sciorra, now 57, ...

Actress Annabella Sciorra accuses Weinstein of rape

Bollywood films are becoming popular  in Egypt and steps are being taken to bring Indian movies,  including classics like "Sangam", "Mother India" and others,  onto the big screen, the Indian envoy has said here.
India's Ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharyya and  popular Egyptian star Rania Farid Shawky were speaking at the  inauguration ceremony of the Indian Film Festival at Al-  Hanager cinema, which also saw participation from many  Bollywood fans.
The festival, which is organised by the Maulana Azad  Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC) of the Embassy of India in  Cairo, in collaboration with the Culture Development Fund of  the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, runs until November 2,  presenting a variety of Indian films.
The Film Festival features an eclectic mix of  contemporary and evergreen Hindi films featuring leading stars  Shahrukh Khan to Amitabh Bachchan and others. The films  include "Devdas", "Mera Naam Joker", "Drishyam", "Mother  India", "Black", "Swades" and ...

Bollywood classics screened at Indian Film Festival in Cairo

The first edition of Guwahati  International Film Festival was kicked off on a grand note  today with the screening of Oscar-winning movie 'The  Salesman', a joint collaboration of Iran and France.
As many as 78 films from 35 nations would be showcased  at the fest over the next six days.
Turkey being the "focus country" this year, cine  lovers would be treated to five gems from the land, including  'Ember' directed by Zeki Demirkubuz, 'Yarim' by Cagil Nurhak  Aydogdu and 'Toz Bezi' by Ahu Ozturk.
Inaugurating the festival, Assam Chief Minister  Sarbananda Sonowal said, "Cinema is a strong medium that  reflects the philosophy of life... It also plays an important  role in transforming the society."
The government has decided to make the festival an  annual event, the chief minister said.
"Assamese film industry is plagued with various  problems. The government is preparing a roadmap to strengthen  infrastructure to give the industry a major impetus," Sonowal  said.
He also announced ..

Curtains go up for first Guwahati Int'l Film Festival

Alia Bhatt has finished the shooting  of her upcoming film "Raazi" and the actor said she hopes the  audiences will enjoy watching the movie as much as she loved  working on it.
Directed by Meghna Gulzar, the movie also features Vicky  Kaushal.
"And we wrapped RAAZI last night... Last days are always  very emotional because you live with the character for so many  months and then you have to let it go.
"This is pretty much how our life looked like on set - My  director and I just totally lost in our own little world. Hope  you guys love the film as much as we loved making it," Alia,  24, wrote on Instagram along side a photo with Meghna.
The film, produced by Junglee Pictures and Dharma  Productions, is based on Harinder Sikkas novel, "Calling  Sehmat", a thrilling saga of a spy who gave all of herself and  that of her family in the service of her nation.

Alia Bhatt gets emotional as she wraps up 'Raazi' shoot

The producer of a Gujarati film,  based on Hardik Patel and the quota stir he spearheaded, which  was denied certification by the Censor Board, today claimed  that he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress  vice president Rahul Gandhi seeking their intervention so that  he does not suffer losses.
The movie "Power of Patidar" did not see the light of the  day after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC)  refused it clearance last year. The film is based on Patel's  agitation for quota for Patidars in government jobs and  education.
The producer of the film, Deepak Soni, claimed that he  has written to Gandhi with a request to bail him out after a  similar letter to Modi went unanswered.
The CBFC refused certification to the film in June last  year on multiple grounds, including that names of persons  like that of Hardik Patel and other leaders of Patidar Anamat  Andolan Samiti (PAAS), which is leading an agitation to get  OBC status for the Patel community, were not 

Patidar stir film producer says wrote to Modi, Gandhi for help

The agitating students of the  Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) here  gheraoed its director Debamitra Mitra till the early hours  today, but she refused to accept their demand of an  unconditional revocation of the expulsion of 14 girl students  from the institute.
The expulsion of the 14 girl students had triggered  protests at the institute's campus on October 17.
Mitra said the students gheraoed her last evening as she  was about to leave the campus and continued it till around 2  am.
She added that it was not possible to accept the  students' demand of an unconditional revocation of the  expulsion of the 14 students, who refused to vacate an old  hostel and shift to a new one.
"We cannot accept their demand even if they keep me  gheraoed for a year," Mitra said, adding, "I will go to the  campus on Monday. If they want to gherao me, let them do it."
She said the SRFTI management was ready for a meaningful  dialogue with the students and added that it seemed that .

Agitating students gherao SRFTI director

Actor Sanjay Mishra has come out  in support of stand-up comic Shyam Rangeela, saying artistes  should have the freedom to perform and no one can influence  their choice of content.
Rangeela, who has become popular for his mimicry of  political leaders on the social media, was invited to perform  on the show "The Great Indian Laughter Challenge".
The comic, however, has claimed that he was asked by the  makers of the show to not poke fun at Prime Minister Narendra  Modi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in his skit.
"Yesterday, I was told about Shyam Rangeela. I haven't  seen it nor do I know what happened. But you mimic a person  who has influenced you. Nobody (in India) would mimic a person  from Nigeria," said Mishra.
"We should not be told what to do. We are being told  since our childhood about things that we should do and should  not do," he added.
Mishra was speaking at a panel discussion titled 'Cinema  Ka Hasya Rang' at poetry festival 'Jashn-e-Adab' here.
Actor Piyush 

A group of people can't filter our acts, says Sanjay Mishra

They are known for their  excellent comic timing, but actors Sanjay Mishra, Rajpal Yadav  and Piyush Mishra believe making people laugh through films is  a tough job.
The trio, who took part in a panel discussion titled  'Cinema Ka Hasya Rang' at poetry festival Jashn-e-Adab, said  humour has different meaning for everyone.
"Humour is subjective. Some people used to like Mehmood  sir but in all honesty I have never laughed on his jokes. I  was never impressed by the antics that he did on-screen.
"However, in case of Kishore Kumar, I was impressed by  his way of talking and walking. That is why he is a Bollywood  legend," said Piyush.
The "Gangs of Wasseypur" actor added that it is hard to  write and perform comedy on-screen.
"It is difficult to make a farce in cinema. It is a  difficult job to make people laugh."
Joining the discussion, Rajpal said that as a comedian  his aim is never to hurt sentiments and all he wants is to  make people laugh.
"We do art, and in art there is a ...

Humour is subjective: Piyush Mishra

Love, lust, politics, poetry and  singing songs on a harmonium were only few of the striking  notes of actor-lyricist Piyush Mishra's session here at the  second day of Jashn-e-Adab poetry festival.
But, it was the distinctly young audience's response to  one of his yet-to-be published poems written around the life  of a prostitute that triggered him to say, "It is our  responsibilty to give them something better".
"Today's youth wants to do so much, but we are not  inspiring them. They want us to give them Gulaal, else they  would go and watch some senseless film. It is our  responsibility to give them something better.
Visibly impressed by the audience's response after the  poem, "Tum meri jaan ho Raziya bi", the actor said that the  young people always surprise him.
"Each time I come with a new poem I feel I will be hooted  out. I feel you would not understand the topic, but you always  prove me wrong," he said.
Mishra, who will be speaking at a number of sessions  during the 6th ..

It's our responsibilty to inspire youth to do better: Piyush

"Stranger Things" star Charlie  Heaton was detained at LAX Airport here after being found to  be in possession of cocaine.
The 23-year-old English actor, who plays Jonathan Byers  on the hit Netflix show, was denied entry to the US by airport  officials after traces of the drug were allegedly discovered  in his luggage, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Foreign nationals may be inadmissible due to the  commission of a crime involving drug possession. CBP officers  treat all international travellers with integrity, respect and  professionalism while keeping the highest standards of  security," Jaime Ruiz, branch chief of strategic media  engagement for U S Customs and Border Protection said.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that they found  traces of cocaine on Heaton and that the actor admitted the  consumption of drugs to them.
The actor was flying into the U S ahead of Netflix's A-  list premiere party for his show's second season.

'Stranger Things' actor Charlie Heaton detained at airport

Italian-American actor  Annabella Sciorra has claimed that disgraced film producer  Harvey Weinstein raped her in the 1990s, and sexually harassed  her for years later.
In a followup report on Weinstein by The New Yorker, the  actor, who featured in Miramax's "The Night We Never Met,"  says she had to receive therapy after the movie mogul forced  sexual intercourse on her and subsequently harassed her on  numerous occasions afterwards.
Sciorra said after a dinner meeting Weinstein forced  entry into her apartment and cornered her until she was backed  into her bedroom.
The actor said she resisted while Weinstein raped her.
Sciorra said her body then began to shake violently,  almost as if she were "having a seizure," and Weinstein left.
The 57-year-old actor said she got so scared after the  alleged attack that she started sleeping with a baseball bat  by her bedside and sought therapy.
"Like most of these women, I was so ashamed of what  happened. And I fought. I fought. But still I .

Annabella Sciorra claims Harvey Weinstein raped her

Actor Zachary Levi is the  newest DC superhero.
The actor will star in the DC comic book adaptation  "Shazam!," which follows a boy named Billy Batson, who can  transform into an adult superhero by uttering the magic word  "Shazam!".
David F Sandberg will direct the film for New Line,  according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Sandberg is directing "Shazam!" from a screenplay by  Henry Gayden and Darren Lemke.
"Shazam!" is an acronym of the ancient world gods and  historical figures Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles  and Mercury, from which the big Batson derives his heroic  attributes when in adult form.
The film is being developed concurrently with a film  focusing on Shazam villain Black Adam featuring Dwayne  Johnson.

Zachary Levi to play the lead role in DC's 'Shazam!'

Filmmaker Alejandro G  Inarritu's virtual reality installation 'Carne y Arena' will  receive a special Oscar statuette this year.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will give  the trophy to the filmmaker "in recognition of a visionary and  powerful experience in storytelling," reported Variety.
The award will be presented at the ninth annual Governors  Awards on November 11.
"Inarritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki have  opened for us new doors of cinematic perception. Inarritu's  multimedia art and cinema experience is a deeply emotional and  physically immersive venture into the world of migrants  crossing the desert of the American southwest in early dawn  light.
"More than even a creative breakthrough in the still  emerging form of virtual reality, it viscerally connects us to  the hot-button political and social realities of the U S -  Mexico border," AMPAS president John Bailey said.
"Carne y Arena" is currently on display at the Los  Angeles County Museum of .

Inarritu's VR installation to receive special Oscar award

Actor Isla Fisher will star  opposite Matthew McConaughey in Harmony Korine's upcoming  movie titled "Beach Bum".
The film is a comedy that follows the misadventures of  Moondog (McConaughey), a rebellious and lovable rogue who  lives life large. Fisher will play Moondog's wife, reported  Variety.
The movie will be written and directed by Korine.
Le Grisbi Productions' John Lesher, Anonymous Content's  Steve Golin, Iconoclast's Charles-Marie Anthonioz, Mourad  Belkeddar, and Nicolas Lhermitte will produce the project.

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