The first trailer of one of the most  anticipated films of this year, "Padmavati", is out and as  expected director Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus promises  to be a heady cocktail of passion and power.
The three lead characters - Padmavati (Deepika  Padukone), Maharawal Ratan Singh (Shahid Kapoor) and Sultan  Alauddin Khilji (Ranveer Singh) - come alive after their first  looks were released recently.
The romance-war drama looks every bit a spectacle that  transports the audience to the 14th century, where the Rajputs  ruled.
The long-shot war sequences, which Bhansali appears to  have mastered in the last year's "Bajirao Mastani", honour the  grandeur and colour of the royal landscape.
Deepika comes across as headstrong and righteous as Rani  Padmavati in her majestic traditional 'poshak' (outfit), never  seen without her 'nath', while Shahid does justice to the  gutsy and never-say-die attitude that Rajputs swear by.
Ranveer, as the antagonist Khilji, appears darkly  eccentric, 

Bhansali's 'Padmavati' trailer an intense visual treat

PTI Automatic

Actor Anton Yelchin was  commemorated by his family and co-stars at the Hollywood  Forever Cemetery here.
Yelchin died at the age of 27 in June 2016 after he was  pinned by his own car at his Studio City, California.
Zoe Saldana, Jennifer Lawrence, JJ Abrams, Simon Pegg,  Demi Moore, Rumer Willis and more celebs joined Yelchin's  mother, famed Russian figure skater Irina Yelchin at the  memorial, reported People magazine.
"It is a bitter sweet moment, because we're here for  Anton, and he's not here with us. But, it alleviates my heart  knowing that we'll keep him alive.
"We're going to keep remembering him in the hopes that by  practicing all the things he believed in and remembering all  the love that he gave us, and all the joy he gave us, we're  able to just keep him here with us," Saldana said.
Yelchin's mother, Irina, delivered a speech as well,  remembering her son as a "beautiful human being," and touching  on the foundation created in memory of him, the Anton Yelchin  ...

Anton Yelchin honoured by friends, family at statue unveiling

Hollywood star Angelina Jolie  reportedly offered to help capture notorious African warlord  Joseph Kony.
According to a report published in The Sunday Times in  the UK, Luis Moreno Ocampo, the former chief prosecutor for  the International Criminal Court, asked the mother of six to  take part in a plan to lure Kony, 56, out of hiding.
The details were given in the emails shared with the  Times by French website Mediapart.
"Forget other celebrities, she is the one. She loves to  arrest Kony. She is ready. Probably Brad will go also," Moreno  Ocampo wrote in one email.
The 42-year-old star, who is a United Nations Special  Envoy, had spoken out in the past about Kony, saying in a 2010  interview that she would be tempted to "take down" certain  people, like Kony, if she was left alone in a room with them.
"He's an extraordinarily horrible human being," she told  the Telegraph in 2012 of the leader of the Lord's Resistance  Army, a guerrilla group then operating in Uganda.
The plot to ..

Angelina Jolie offered to help to capture warlord Joseph Kony

Veteran singer Dolly Parton has no  plans to retire from the music industry.
The 71-year-old country music legend says if she ever  decides to retire it would be because of health concerns,  reported Femalefirst.
"I don't know what in the world I would do, I don't even  know what that word retire means. I'd only do that if my  husband was ill and needed me to be there, or if I was too  sick to go on.
"And then I would still be writing songs, coming up with  business ideas, being on the phone, creating. That old saying,  'I'd rather wear out that rust out', I think I would rust out  pretty quickly if I wasn't busy," Parton says.
The "9 to 5" hitmaker credits her fans for her success  and says she keeps all the presents they give.
"A lot of wonderful things. Some of them are beautiful  and some of them are not. But I haven't the heart to throw any  of it away. I have a big old bunch of storage on my property  and I have an area I call the arts and crap building, so I put  all the arts ..

I don't even know what that word retire means: Dolly Parton

Veteran singer Shirley Bassey says  she would be happy to do another Bond theme.
The 80-year-old singing legend previously lent her voice  to three of the popular film franchise's iconic themes, having  famously sang "Goldfinger" for the movie of the same name in  1964, "Diamonds Are Forever" for the 1971 feature, and  "Moonraker" for the 1979 movie.
"I have to be asked, of course, and perhaps there are  other plans in place, but I like the James Bond films and I'd  certainly be happy to do another one," she told Daily Star.
The singer says while she was happy with the success of  "Goldfinger" she still cannot stop noticing the mistakes in  her recording of "Moonraker".
"I was delighted ('Goldfinger') became so popular and  people still want to hear it. With ('Moonraker') there were a  couple of notes not quite right in the recording. Every time I  hear it, I notice it.

Shirley Bassey open to record another Bond theme

Director Ayan Mukerji says his good  friend and frequent collaborator Ranbir Kapoor will undergo  training in horse-riding and gymnastics for their next  venture, "Dragon".
The "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani" director says his upcoming  project will be physically taxing for Ranbir.
In a interview with PTI, Ayan says, "There is lot of  action in 'Dragon', so there is lot of training, like  gymnastics kind of training, horse-riding, fighting and lot of  physical stuff that Ranbir will have to do. And then there is  internal work, like to get the spirit of the character right.
"Ranbir has to observe the flavour of the film and  communicate it with the audience. We are trying to imagine  things, this (fantasy) world, and work accordingly."
Tentatively titled "Dragon", the film will see Ranbir  playing a character with special powers.
Ayan adds with the movie he will be venturing into a new  arena of filmmaking and "wants to make it an interesting watch  for the audience."
The director says they 

Ranbir to learn gymnastics and horse-riding for 'Dragon'

Gal Gadot reprised her role as  Diana of Themyscira, also known as Wonder Woman on "Saturday  Night Live" and shared a kiss with actor Kate McKinnon.
In a sketch that spoofed her blockbuster, "Wonder  Woman", Gadot meets castmembers Kate McKinnon and Aidy Bryant  who are excited to have found the lost island of Themyscira.
As it turned out, McKinnon and Bryant were lesbians who  came to the island looking for companionship, but  unfortunately for them the women of the island were not on the  same page.
Gadot, however, was willing to experiment and planted a  long kiss on McKinnon. "I felt nothing," Gadot, 32, said after  the kiss.
Spurned but undeterred, McKinnon and Bryant left to set  sail for the nearby isle of Lesbos.
The actor also starred in a sketch in which she teased a  hallucinating Thompson lost in the desert, and in a spoof on  Cinderella in which she was gifted a less-than-luxurious gown  by a group of well-meaning mice.

Gal Gadot kisses Kate McKinnon in 'SNL' Wonder Woman skit

Actor Ben Affleck has revealed that  he is still invested in the role of Batman as it was his dream  to play the superhero while growing up.
There were reports that Affleck would no longer play  Bruce Wayne after "Justice League", especially after he  dropped out of directing the upcoming "The Batman" movie.
However, in an interview with Geek Magazine, the 45-  year-old actor said the role has been a special one for him.
"Playing Batman was a boyhood dream come true for me, so  playing Batman alongside the Justice League? I mean, what can  you say?
"The first time we all stood on set in costume, we just  looked around at each other and you could tell it was a big  moment for each one of us," Affleck said.
The star previously reassured fans that he would star in  Matt Reeves' upcoming DC movie, saying he was "the luckiest  guy in the world".

Playing Batman is a boyhood dream come true: Ben Affleck

Press Trust of India

Varun Dhawan is happy that his latest  release "Judwaa 2" has done significantly well at the box  office but the actor said he is not part any rat race and his  only aim is to entertain people.
The 30-year-old actor, who has had a great run at the  ticket window since his first film "Student of the Year", said  he is not working to outshine anyone else in the film  industry.
"After 'Judwaa 2', trade feels your are a bit ahead in  the race right now... There is no race. There is 'Race 3'  which Remo D'Souza is directing with Salman Khan while will be  very cool but there is no race between any of us. If there is  a race, then what is the finish line? How is there ever a  finish line?
"As artistes, we are just working towards entertaining  people and making good films and hopefully, we will get to  make a career. I feel amazing about being able to do that and  provide for my family and my loved ones. But I am not working  so I can be better than someone," Varun wrote on Twitter.
The ...

I am not working to be better than someone else: Varun Dhawan

Ryan Murphy says the mass  shooting scene from his show "American Horror Story: Cult" has  been edited to be less graphic following last week's Las Vegas  shooting in which at least 59 people were killed and over 500  more were injured.
The scene in Murphy's horror anthology, which stars Sarah  Paulson and Evan Peters, was filmed prior to the Vegas  incident and Murphy says he was unsure of how to handle the  "locked" episode in the wake of the tragedy, reported E!  online.
"I believe I have the right to air it, but I also believe  in victims' rights. I believe that now is probably not the  week to have something explosive or incendiary in the culture  because someone who was affected might watch that and it could  trigger something or make them feel upset.
So our decision was to re-edit it and I felt that that  was the right move. Nobody ever talks about victims' rights.  That's sort of a weird emotional discussion that's never  bridged... But I felt great sympathy for people who ...

'AHS: Cult' mass shooting scene edited after Las Vegas tragedy

Akshay Kumar has completed the  Patiala schedule of his upcoming film "Gold" and the actor is  touched by the love he received from the people of the city.
The 50-year-old actor took to Instagram to share a  picture of his fans seeing him off.
"Another fantastic schedule of #Gold comes to an end,  this time in Patiala! So much love and warmth literally till  the point of taking off... Nothing but grateful," he wrote.
"Gold" directed by Reema Kagti is about India's first  Olympic medal win as a free nation in the year 1948 at Games  of the XIV Olympiad, London.
The first schedule of the film was shot in London in  July.
The movie also marks the Bollywood debut of actress Mouni  Roy.
The film, being produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan  Akhtar under their banner Excel Entertainment, will hit the  theatres on August 15 next year.

Akshay Kumar wraps Patiala schedule of 'Gold'

Veteran actor James Woods is not  retiring from entertainment business.
The 70-year-old Oscar-nominated actor, known for movies  such as "Once Upon a Time in America", "Ghosts of Mississippi"  and Disney's "Hercules", took to Twitter to clear the air  around his retirement plans.
"The reports of my retirement are greatly exaggerated,"  Woods tweeted alongside a tribute to Mark Twain, who once  coined a similar phrase in response to a death hoax.
Last week, a real estate agent who worked with Woods put  out a press release that stated the actor is selling his  family's Rhode Island vacation home for USD 1.4 million and  had recently announced that he has retired from the  entertainment business.
The release had also quoted Woods as saying that selling  the home, as well as several more properties, is part of his  plan to "simplify his life" and that retirement will give him  more time to "enjoy his many passions," such as travelling,  photography, antiquing, golfing, and poker.
"My ...

Reports of my retirement are greatly exaggerated: James Woods

Hollywood producer Harvey  Weinstein was fired from his film studio the Weinstein Company  following reports that he sexually harassed women over several  decades, according to US media.
"In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey  Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days, the directors  of The Weinstein Company -- Robert Weinstein, Lance Maerov,  Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar -- have determined,  and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with  The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately,"  the company's board said in a statement quoted by US media  yesterday.
The firing came after the New York Times published a  bombshell report earlier this week that alleged Weinstein,  whose company produced such hits as "The King's Speech" and  "Django Unchained," preyed on young women hoping to break into  the film industry.
The accusers say Weinstein pressured them to massage him,  watch him naked and promised to help advance their ...

Hollywood mogul Weinstein fired after sex harassment claims:

Actor Winona Ryder said she finds it  really hard to use social media platforms.
The 45-year-old actress said that her 13-year-old  "Stranger Things" co-star Millie Bobby Brown gave her a crash  course in social media, reported Marie Clarie.
"Millie teases me. I'm like the old grandma. 'Snack chat?  Give me a piece of that!' I'm like the confused older person  (on the set)," Ryder said.
The "Beetlejuice" actor, however, is happy that she  started out as a young actress without the pressures of social  media.
"I'm grateful that I got to start at the time I did. As  much as I love it, I don't know if I would even have become an  actor (if I was starting out now). I wouldn't know how to  (handle it). I do worry about the massive exposure at that  age.

Winona Ryder's social media struggles

Singer Liam Gallagher said he wants  to hug it out and stop feuding with his brother Noel.
The 45-year-old musician has been warring with his older  sibling and musical rival Noel since their band Oasis split in  2009, and although the pair are still at loggerheads, Liam has  said that he would be open to the possibility of them  reconciling, reported Femalefirst.
"I hope we make up. Not just for Oasis but for brothers.  Enough is enough now.
"I know I wind him up. I have put it out there enough  times, but I think he doesn't want to know. I reckon we would  have to meet up and hug it out, as they say," Liam said.

Liam Gallagher wants to make up with brother Noel

Singer Lady Gaga has filmed an  inspiring video after learning her friend's daughter is being  bullied.
The pop star took to Instagram and posted a video talking  directly to the children at the girl's school and encouraging  them to "be kinder" and be brave enough to stand up to the  popular kids who are picking on her.
"Hi everybody at El Marino Elementary. This is Lady Gaga.  I'm friends with Venice, and I work with Venice's mommy,  Julie. I'm really, really sad to hear that Venice is being  bullied at school.
"... I encourage you all to be kind to one another and to  search within your community for bravery. Sometimes, it's hard  to stand up to the popular kids and hang out with someone  who's being bullied. Be kinder. Be braver. Go and sit with  Venice and have lunch. Be a rebel," Gaga said.

Lady Gaga films an inspiring anti-bullying video

Actor Scott Eastwood said he would  like to play adamantium clawed-mutant Wolverine now that Hugh  Jackman has bid adieu to the popular role.
Eastwood told ComicBook when asked which superhero he  would most like to play. "I mean, Logan! You gotta give it to  Wolverine! Wolverine, all day."
Logan was played by Hugh Jackman until very recently.  First appearing as Wolverine in "X-Men" in 2000, Jackman went  on to reprise the role in now fewer-than-seven follow-up  movies, but bowed out from the Marvel franchise after "Logan"  released earlier this year.

Scott Eastwood wants to play Wolverine

Filmmaker Luc Besson has denied that  he is working on the sequel to surprise 2014 hit "Lucy".
The statement comes days after head of Besson's studio,  EuropaCorp, "confirmed" that the sequel would happen, reported  Digital Spy.
Near the end of a lengthy post aimed at journalists on  his Instagram, the director said: "For info: no I do not  prepare Lucy 2. Neither yesterday nor tomorrow. Yet this fake  News has been around the world thanks to you ...."
"You will say to me: 'It is not very serious.' It is  true, you are right... But it is 'false' and normally this  word should not be part of your vocabulary, because if we can  no longer (believe you), how do we hold a democracy?" Our  freedom depends on your integrity," he added.
The initial report read that CEO Marc Shmuger had said  EuropaCorp was actively developing a sequel to "Lucy".

Luc Besson not working on 'Lucy' sequel

Actor Orlando Bloom says meditation  helps him cope with stardom and keeps him sane.
The 40-year-old actor, who is a practising Buddhist, says  he is able to maintain grace and integrity because of  meditation, reported Femalefirst.
"(I meditate every day), it allows me to set my intention  for the day. It helped me to cope with my sudden rise to  celebritydom, a process a little bit like getting inside a  burning car.
"You see these victims all around you - 15 minutes of  fame, a YouTube sensation, whatever it may be. They don't  realise what it takes. What you want to do is learn how to  suit up and get out of that burning car with grace, ease, and  integrity," Bloom says.

Meditation helped me to cope with sudden fame: Orlando Bloom

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen  says he does not feel the need to pen a song slamming US  President Donald Trump right now.
The 68-year-old musician said journalists are doing a  good job at speaking up about the current administration's  shortcomings and that people primarily turn to music to be  entertained.
"I'm not driven to write any anti-Trump diatribe; that  doesn't feel necessary at the moment... Well, if you read  Charles Blow in The New York Times, he carries the flag pretty  well. I'm ambivalent about... Sort of getting on a soapbox.
"I still believe people fundamentally come to music to be  entertained  yes, to address their daily concerns, and yes,  also to address political topics, I believe music can do that  well. But I still believe fundamentally it's an affair of the  heart," Springsteen told Variety.
The "Ain't Got You' singer said that he would never  create a song which is loaded with political critique.
Springsteen added, if he did make a track, it would never  ...

Not driven to write any anti-Trump diatribe: Bruce Springsteen

Actor Peter Capladi's last  outing in and as "Doctor Who" will be screened in the cinemas  as the Christmas special, apart from its TV premiere.
'Twice Upon a Time' will be the 59-year-old actor's last  appearance as the Time Lord, before he regenerates into Jodie  Whittaker, reported Entertainment Weekly.
But the upcoming chapter will only be on the big screen  in the US.
The episode will be broadcast nationwide in cinemas  across the Pond on December 27 from 7pm local time.
In addition, the audiences will get two special features  - behind-the-scenes footage of the episode and snippets  celebrating the tenures of Capaldi and outgoing showrunner  Steven Moffat.
'Twice Upon a Time' will see David Bradley back as the  First Doctor, as well as a return for Pearl Mackie as the  Doctor's latest companion Bill Potts.
The show will air on Christmas Day in the UK on BBC One  and BBC America in the US.

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