She might have made Kolkata her  home but her birthplace Kashi always had a special place in  Thumri queen Girija Devi's heart.
The legendary classical singer and a doyen of Banaras  Gharana, Devi, who passed away at the age of 88 in Kolkata  last night, wanted to build a world-class music academy here,  a wish that remained unfulfilled.
"I have been asking for land for a music academy in  Varanasi for the past 50 years but the government never paid  attention. I could not get any land for the proposed academy.  If I was given the land, I would have built a world class  academy of music here," Devi had told PTI in an interview a  few years ago.
"If there was an academy in Varanasi, I would not have  settled in Kolkata," Devi, who was a faculty member of ITC  Music Research Academy.
The singer, affectionately known to people as 'Appaji',  had also expressed a desire to speak to Prime Minister  Narendra Modi in this regard as Varanasi is his constituency.
Meanwhile, Devi's death has ...

Girija Devi's wish for a music academy remained unfulfilled

PTI Automatic

Sarod legend Amjad Ali Khan has  expressed grief over the passing away of queen of 'thumri'  Girija Devi saying he has lost his 'badee didi' who was the  only woman to tie him rakhi.
"It's a great loss for the world of music, especially the  thumri style of singing. She became an institution in her  lifetime," Khan said.
Recalling that Devi was the only woman who tied him  rakhi, Khan said they performed together on many occasions.
"We recorded our duet or sarod-vocal jugalbandee for  London-based label Navras Records," Khan told PTI.
He said Devi, whom he called his 'badee didi', has left  many disciples to continue her legacy.
Devi passed away at a hospital in Kolkata last night  following a cardiac arrest. She was 88. A legendary singer of  the Benaras gharana, she was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972,  the Padma Bhushan in 1989 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2016.

Lost my 'badee didi': Amjad Ali Khan on Girija Devi's demise

Press Trust of India

Singer Fergie has said she did  not want to part ways from her estranged husband actor Josh  Duhamel.
The 42-year-old musician split from her husband after  eight years of marriage earlier this year and confirmed the  news in a joint statement recently.
In an appearance on "The Wendy Williams Show", Fergie  said she believed she would stay married "forever".
"It wasn't my plan. I wanted to stay married forever,"  she said.
The "I Gotta Feeling" singer reiterated that the former  couple will continue to be doting parents to their four-year-  old son, Axl.
"I love Josh, he's the father of my child... You're  making me cry. We forever have that project together and we're  doing the best we can.

I wanted to stay married forever: Fergie on split with Duhamel

"Captain Fantastic" actor  Charlie Shotwell has been roped in to play the title role in  the physiological horror drama "Eli".
The Ciaran Foy-directed movie narrates the story of a  secluded clinic where a boy (Shotwell) with a rare disease is  being treated.
As the story moves forward, one finds that the clinic has  turned into a haunted prison - with no way out.
The film's script has been lifted from the 2015 Black  List, penned by David Chirchirillo and revised by Ian Goldberg  and Richard Naing.
Trevor Macy is producing via his banner, Intrepid  Pictures, along with Bellevue Productions' John Zaozirny.
Last week, it was announced "Eli" is slated for a January  4, 2019 release.

'Captain Fantastic' actor Charlie Shotwell bags 'Eli'

Three Indian films - "The  Brawler", "Ajji" and "S Durga" have been selected to be  screened at the 28th Singapore International Film Festival  (SGIFF).
An international film platform for South East Asia and  part of Singapore Media Festival, SGIFF, announced its full  festival line-up of 112 films from 42 countries.
Directed by Anurag Kashyap, "The Brawler" ("Mukkabaaz")  chronicles the story of a boxer from Uttar Pradesh, Shravan  Singh, enacted by Vineet Kumar Singh, who falls in love with a  Brahmin girl.
Things go awry when he punches the head of boxing  federation and politician-gangster, Bhagwan Das (Jimmy  Shergill). The story addresses the issues of deep-rooted caste  divide and corruption in India.
"Ajji" is dark take by director Devashish Makhija on the  classic fairy tale, "Red Riding Hood".
The story centres on a nine-year-old girl who is denied  justice by the society after she is raped and how her old  grandmother (ajji), played by Sushama Deshpande, turns a  vigilante .

'The Brawler', 'Ajji' to screen at Singapore Film Festival

Justin Long and Donald Faison  are set to star in the indie drama "The Wave".
The plot of the movie follows an image-obsessed attorney,  played by Long, 39, who decides to change his course on a  high-stakes insurance case when a life-altering, drug-induced  night on the town with one of his co-workers, Jeff (Faison,  43), ends up changing his outlook on life, according to The  Hollywood Reporter.
Written by Carl Lucas, the film will be directed by  Gillie Klabin.
Lucas will also produce, along with Joshua Bunting via  their EchoWolf Productions.

Justin Long, Donald Faison to feature in 'The Wave'

"Grey's Anatomy" actor Sara  Ramirez has been roped in to star in the drama series "Madam  Secretary".
The 42-year-old actor, who played Dr Calliope 'Callie'  Torres in the popular medical drama, will play Kat Sandoval,  legendary political strategist from D C, who abruptly left  politics until Elizabeth (Tea Leoni) coaxes her back into the  State Department, reports The Wrap.
Series creator and executive producer Barbara Hall  confirmed the news in a statement.
"We're very excited that Sara is joining the cast. She  brings a fresh perspective and a fun, energetic quality to the  State Department staff," she said.
Ramirez's introduction comes after Bebe Neuwirth's  shocking departure, who played Nadine Tolliver on the show.
A series regular, Neuwirth's Nadine left her position at  the State Department, leaving fans in a lurch.

'Madam Secretary' casts Sara Ramirez after Bebe Neuwirth exit

Ben Mendelsohn is being eyed to  play the antagonist in "Captain Marvel", with Oscar-winning  actor Brie Larson in the title role.
The 48-year-old actor may feature as the film's main  antagonist, who would likely be the leader of the Skrulls,  reported Variety.
Earlier this year, Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige  teased that the audiences may see aliens in the forthcoming  superhero movie.
Mendelsohn has also featured in villainous roles in "Star  Wars" standalone film "Rogue One" and the upcoming "Robin  Hood: Origins", where he plays the Sheriff of Nottingham.
The film may also see Samuel L Jackson reprise his role  as Nick Fury from "The Avengers" franchise.
Geneva Robertson-Dworet has penned the most recent  script, along with Meg LeFauve and Nicole Perlman writing the  previous drafts.
The plot follows Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot whose  DNA is fused with that of an alien during an accident. The  resulting alteration imbues her with the superpowers of  strength, energy ...

Ben Mendelsohn in talks to play villain in 'Captain Marvel'

Actor Nicole Kidman says it was  easy for her to film intimate scenes with Colin Farrell as he  made her feel comfortable.
The 50-year-old actor, who plays Farrell's wife in the  upcoming psychological thriller "The Killing of a Sacred Deer"  says the scenes needed to be shot aesthetically as they form  an important part of the narrative, reports Entertainment  Tonight.
"I think from the minute (Colin and I) met, I just felt  safe, which is always a great place to be with another actor.
"As soon as I take myself out of the equation, it's just  the storytelling. These particular scenes are very much needed  for the relationship. They say so much," says Kidman.
Farrell, 41, said that he considers doing bold scenes as  a part-and-parcel of his acting job.
"You get through (those scenes) as quickly as you can,  while not rushing it at the same time. It's very much  business.
"You're there to tell a story. You're there to honour the  characters that have been written by somebody else and ..

Kidman felt safe while shooting love scenes with Farrell

Supermodel Cindy Crawford's  daughter Kaia Gerber says she is desperate to wear "vintage  pieces" from her mother's wardrobe.
The 16-year-old model, who made her Fashion Week debut  earlier this year, says she often raids her mom's closet and  is waiting for a day she can don the 51-year-old's iconic  outfits, reports Teen Vogue magazine.
"I sometimes raid her vintage pieces which are really  amazing. I'm going to pull those out one day. It's only a  question of: can we do it? She's had such good moments," says  Kaia.
She adds that her mother has advised her not to "get  stressed" because of her career.
"She just told me to be myself. That's important to be  reminded of. She told me that if I take it day by day, then I  won't get stressed. And also to appreciate it.

Kaia Gerber loves mom Cindy Crawford's 'vintage pieces'

Actor Jeff Goldblum, who played Dr  Ian Malcolm in the first two "Jurrasic Park" films, has shared  the details of his return to the franchise with upcoming film  "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom".
The 65-year-old actor said that 'Malcolm' may return in  the "Fallen Kingdom", reported Contactmusic.
"Ian Malcolm, yes, might be back in this one, and he  might have something to say about the current confluence of  circumstances around the use and misuse of technology.
"With some wry irony, deep wise passionate conviction,  and he might put on a nice dark bit of clothing here and  there... And a tint of glass maybe," Goldblum said.

Jeff Goldblum teases 'Jurassic Park' franchise return

Actor George Clooney said he is  still getting used to being a father to twins and is often  scared that he will end up hurting the little ones  inadvertently.
The 56-year-old actor hinted that he is getting used to  the nappy changing as he has to do it regularly, reported  FemaleFirst.
"Listen, I'm scared to death, it's terrifying. You're  afraid of breaking them. They're so little."
"It's like cleaning up your dog's poop," Clooney told  host Jimmy Kimmel on his talk show.
The "Suburbicon" director also said his and lawyer wife  Amal Clooney's four-month-old fraternal twins, Ella and  Alexander, have recently been introduced to solid food.
"We introduced the children to solid food on Friday. How  that goes in as a carrot and how that comes out the way it  comes out is shocking. I don't know what's going from here to  here. What happens?" he said.

George Clooney is 'afraid of breaking' his twins

Singer Camila Cabello says she would  love to work in a coffee shop.
The former Fifth Harmony star says she loves the idea  because she wants to "fall in love" with a customer, reports  Contactmusic.
"I would want to work in a coffee shop. Actually, one day  I would still like to work in a coffee shop, because I have  this dream of meeting someone in a coffee shop, and falling in  love with them and talking to them every day.
"And they only come to the coffee shop to get my coffee.  But it's not because my coffee's good. It's because they like  me. I'm going to apply tomorrow to the nearest coffee shop,"  says Cabello.
The "Crying in the Club" hitmaker adds that her main aim  in life is to "keep travelling the world" and share her music.

Camila Cabello wants to work as a barista

Actor Asin Thottumkal and husband  Rahul Sharma today welcomed their first child - a baby girl.
The "Ghajini" star and Sharma, co-founder of tech company  Micromax, confirmed the news in a statement.
"We are ecstatic to announce the arrival of our angelic  baby girl earlier today. The last nine months have been most  special and exciting for the both of us and we would like to  thank all our wellwishers and everyone who has been part of  our journey for all their love and support," the statement  read.
The couple tied the knot last year on January 19  in a  Christian wedding ceremony followed by Hindu rituals near  Delhi.
Asin's "Khiladi 786" co-star Akshay Kumar served as  Rahul's bestman at the low-key ceremony.

Asin Thottumkal blessed with baby girl

From getting into a scuffle with  co-star Sunil Grover to cancelling shoots with Bollywood  biggies such as Shah Rukh Khan and Anil Kapoor, comedian Kapil  Sharma has been going through a low phase since the beginning  of this year.
The actor-comedian, however, has now said that his  behavioural issues were due to his hectic work schedule.
"I have hurt myself a lot and I think three more months  will pass for me to recover completely. People ask me about my  fight with Sunil and I agree it was my fault, he felt I should  not be talking in abusive language to anyone, if he would have  asked me why I shouted and abused I would have told him. By  the way he also shouted at me," Kapil said.
The actor was speaking at the trailer launch of his  upcoming film "Firangi".
Kapil said he never had a major fight with Sunil, but  things were blown out of proportion. He said he still respects  Sunil and would like to collaborate with him again.
"Something did happen but a lot was said. There was no 

I have hurt myself a lot: Kapil Sharma

The visit by Income Tax officials  to actor Vishal Krishna's office had nothing to do with his  film "Mersal" and it was a routine procedure to check for any  TDS violations, the department today said.
It said the exercise of Tax Deduction at Source to check  for violations had been on since the beginning of the current  fiscal throughout Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Such inspections had been done "in more than 400 cases in  the region" and it was in the same context that the actor's  office was inspected yesterday", an official release said.
The department denied media reports that the inspection  was carried out after Vishal alleged that BJP leader H Raja  had advocated piracy by watching the movie online, a charge  rejected by the latter.
Vishal, head of the Tamil Film Producers Council and  General Secretary of South Indian Artistes' Association, had  also demanded an apology from Raja.
"The income tax department denies that the action taken  against the film producer (Vishal ...

Nothing to do with film: IT dept on visiting actor's office

Congress MP Shashi  Tharoor today slammed the BJP for its criticism of the Vijay-  starrer Tamil movie "Mersal", saying no one has the right to  object to a film once it was cleared by the censor board.
Speaking after a protest meeting here to express  solidarity with thefilm crew, the former Union minister said  it was a democratic right to make films with social and  political commentary and if it has gone through the censor, no  one has the right to object to it.
Alleging that the BJP was intimidating the film's  producers, Tharoor said it was totally unacceptable.
He said GST was a good idea that was "badly implemented"  and the people are up in arms against it.
Consumers and traders are complaining and "every one has  the right to say that", Tharoor said.
The actor's fans, who are in good numbers in the state,  were treating the protest as an "insult" to him, the former  diplomat said.
It was totally unjustifiable for a political party to  demand cuts in the film , he ...

Attack on Mersal infringement on democratic rights: Tharoor

Nawazuddin Siddiqui is "exploiting  and disrespecting" a woman to sell his autobiography, former  Miss India Niharika Singh said today, responding to the  actor's claim that he had an affair with her.
In his memoir, "An Ordinary Life", penned with Rituparna  Chatterjee, the 43-year-old critically acclaimed actor said  he shared a "passionate" relationship with his "Miss Lovely"  co-star.
In a statement issued today, Niharika admitted to an  affair with the actor, but said the details given by him are  laughable.
"Nawaz and I had a brief relationship in 2009 during the  making of 'Miss Lovely' that lasted less than a few months. So  today, when he paints me as a woman in fur enticing him into  her bedroom with candles, or desperately calling him and  mailing other women on his behalf, I can only laugh.
"He obviously wants to sell his book and it would appear  that he is willing to exploit and disrespect a woman just to  do so," she said.
Nawaz has written that his affair with Niharika .

Nawaz willing to exploit a woman to sell his book: Niharika

Musician Sam Smith has confirmed  that he is in a relationship.
The 25-year-old Oscar-winning singer said it is ironic  how he recently released an album which talks about being a  grieving person who is single, at a time when he is dating,  reported FemaleFirst.
When host Ellen DeGeneres asked Smith, "You're not  single right now anymore, right?", he replied saying, "No, I'm  not, which is crazy. It's weird bringing out an album and not  being single.
"Because when I brought out 'In the Lonely Hour' I was so  lonely. But now I'm singing songs about another guy, I'm quite  happy, so it's quite weird."
The "Too Good At Goodbyes" singer was seen kissing "13  Reasons Why" actor Brandon Flynn in New York earlier this  month.
Smith, however, did not confirm to DeGeneres if he is in  a relationship with Flynn.

Sam Smith says he is not single anymore

Actor Sanjay Kapoor said Indian  society is progressing in terms of women's role - be it at  home or workplace - and this will reflect in his debut TV show  "Dil Sambhal Ja Zara".
Directed by Vikram Bhatt, the show focuses on the  relationship of a couple with a huge age gap.
"It is not a show where you show women sitting at home,  and have no opinion about anything. It's bold and bold doesn't  mean there is skin show or has sexual content, it is a family  show.
"The thought of the show is very progressive. The women  are given equal importance in the house. It is about a woman  of today. India is progressing and we need to show the  audience the same thing," Sanjay told PTI.
The actor said the small screen may make shows  predominantly for women but that does not bother him as this  role appealed to him.
"Indian television shows are mostly women-oriented, there  is nothing wrong in that. I want to do something different and  this show suits me, my age and personality.
"I can identify 

India is progressing and we need to show it on TV: Sanjay

Shooting with veteran actor  Dharmendra for "Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se" was an  exhilarating moment for Kriti Kharbanda.
"Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se" is the third film in the  "Yamla Pagla Deewana" franchise which features 81-year-old  Dharmendra along with his sons Sunny and Bobby.
Kriti has joined the franchise and has already finished  her first shooting schedule.
In an interview with PTI, Kriti says, "When I did a  scene with Dharam sir for the first time, I actually cried! I  was very nervous, it was our one-on-one scene, where my back  was facing the camera. The cinematographer noticed that I was  in tears, it was an intense scene too and he said 'relax,  don't worry'.
"Someone later told him that Kriti was crying as she  was nervous about acting with you and he was like, 'Kharbanda,  what happened girl'? He calls me 'Kharbanda', he doesn't like  calling me Kriti. I find it very sweet, it's the first time  someone has done that," she says.
Working with Dharmendra not only ...

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