Actor Idris Elba says he had a  great time working on "Thor: Ragnarok" and wishes to have a  bigger role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Elba, who returns as the Asgardian gatekeeper Heimdall,  in the third film of the "Thor" franchise, says that unlike  most people his age who complain about the ubiquity of  superhero films, he loves the genre, reports E! Online.
"I've never felt that way. Weirdly enough, I've got like  the Peter Pan syndrome when it comes to the kinds of films I  like... I like that I have a little part in 'Thor'. I'm  neither movie star or day player. It allows me to do other  things I love...
"(But) I wish I was more present in the Marvel family. I  like what I have, but I also wish that I had a bigger  character in the Marvel universe," he says.
The 45-year-old actor says that he has never been  approached to play anyone but Heimdall, including a role in  the upcoming "Black Panther" film  or any of the studio's  other superhero properties.
But Elba adds .

I wish I was more present in the Marvel family: Idris Elba

PTI Automatic

An Assamese feature film  highlighting the menace of witch-hunting, which has claimed  hundreds of lives in many rural areas, has received all-round  appreciation from cine-lovers across the state.
"Aei Maatite", directed and produced by noted playwright  Sitanath Lahkar, has stirred the conscience of cine-goers who  are hopeful that the film will chart a positive course in  resolving the issue.
"Hundreds of people in Assam have lost their lives in the  name of witch-hunting, and this is the reason why I chose it  as the subject of my first feature film with the hope that  people will become aware of the problem," Lahkar, a former  principal of the prestigious Cotton College here, told PTI.
Witch-hunting is a big challenge as it is born out of  superstition and all-round backwardness of people which is  aggravated by a small powerful section of society with the  help of sorcerers, he said.
"Aei Maatite" is an adaptation of Lahkar's acclaimed  stage play "Tamasaa" and he has also ...

Assamese film crusades against witch-hunting

Before a film hits cinema houses,  some Bollywood filmmakers often keep multiple screenings for  the fraternity, but director Kabir Khan said he usually does  not buy the feedback given by his peers.
The "Tubelight" director said, for him, the reaction of  the audiences is what matters the most.
Kabir said, "Very rarely feedback at trial shows are  genuine. Arshad Warsi once said 'let's go for trial show, it's  releasing in two days'... People are talking good things.  (But) I don't take it seriously. If kept for friends then I  take it. Bollywood trials (I) don't trust. Salman (Khan) once  told me, after the screening the director who is silent has  liked the film."
"Dangal" filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari shared a similar  opinion.
"I am more interested in the audience's reaction... That  is the genuine feedback. I don't take reviews seriously," he  said.
The two directors were present at the Jio MAMI Movie Mela  event along with Anurag Kashyap, Alankrita Shrivastava and  Ayan ...

I don't trust feedback given at the film screenings: Kabir

Bollywood has become all about  shouting from the rooftops and promoting films, but filmmakers  Kabir Khan and Anurag Kashyap despise marketing their films.
Kashyap said promotion of the movie is the worst part  that the director has to deal with.
"I hate marketing... It's the worst part of filmmaking.  Besides this, it is difficult to shoot with kids, water and  animals," he said.
To this Kabir added that all said and done, but it is the  good, old trailer that gets the audiences to the cinema halls.
"Marketing is the worst part. It doesn't make a  difference... (I) Don't understand why (people are) jumping up  like a monkey. I think only the trailer works."
The two filmmakers, along with Nitesh Tiwari, Ayan  Mukherjee, Alankrita Shrivastava, were talking at 'Director's  Special' session with film critics Anupama Chopra and Rajeev  Masand at the Jio MAMI Movie Mela.
On being asked one rule the directors followed on the  film sets, Anurag said, "My rule was that no one should fall  in 

Kabir, Anurag Kashyap hate marketing their films

Filmmaker Karan Johar says he is  jealous of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ability to create a  visually-appealing cinematic experience for the audiences  through his films.
Karan also said Bhansali is "on the top of his game" and  that he is eagerly waiting for his magnum opus, "Padmavati" to  release.
"I am jealous. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is one of the most  visually amazing filmmakers and he is on top of his game. The  way he paints a visual, it is amazing and no one else can do  it. I am envious. He is brilliant and I aspire to be there. It  motivates me to see his work.
"When I see Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and  Ranveer Singh on the posters of 'Padmavati'... I am dying to  see the film, I want to see the film. We all should keep  pushing ourselves to better ourselves," Karan said.
The director was speaking with Alia Bhatt and Ranbir  Kapoor at the Jio MAMI Movie Mela's 'The Big Talk'.
Talking about the work of contemporaries, Ranbir said he  once used to be a jealous competitor, ..

I am jealous of Sanjay Leela Bhansali: Karan Johar

Actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt  are grateful of the fact that they are a product of nepotism  but they are equally aware that eventually it is the hard work  that matters the most.
At the Jio MAMI Movie Mela, filmmaker Karan Johar was in  conversation with the two actors and quizzed them on their  views on the ever-trending hashtag.
The director said nepotism had become "the awful word of  the season".
"It seems like we are criminals. It's like everywhere we  are slapped with legal notices as we are children of parents  who are within the film industry," Karan said.
According to Ranbir, the topic has become a part of a  sensitive conversation, which cannot be trivialised anymore.
"It is a sensitive conservation. At one point you could  be amused by it, but it is sensitive thing now. My great-  grandfather worked hard so that he could give his children the  opportunity to do something in life. So on and so forth and it  came to me. When I have children, I would like them to have  .

Karan Johar picks up nepotism debate again

Grammy Award-winning rapper  Nelly was arrested today after a woman accused him of raping  her in his tour bus, police in the northwestern state of  Washington said.
Just before 4 am local time a woman called the emergency  911 line "to report that she was sexually assaulted by a male,  who is known as the rapper 'Nelly,'" police in Auburn,  Washington said.
After police investigated the incident, "at 4:37 AM Nelly  was taken into custody and booked" at the local jail, the  police statement read.
The alleged assault reportedly took place on the tour bus  hours after Nelly had performed at the White River  Amphitheatre just east of Auburn.
A lawyer for Nelly vehemently denied the charges.
Nelly -- born Cornell Haynes Jr. -- "is the victim of a  completely fabricated allegation," the unnamed lawyer told the  TMZ celebrity news site.
The allegation "is motivated by greed and  vindictiveness," the lawyer said, adding that Nelly "is  prepared to pursue all legal avenues to redress any ...

US rapper Nelly arrested over tour-bus rape allegations

Singer Adnan Sami today dished out  a medley of his hit songs to a mesmerised audience on the  shores of the Dal Lake in Srinagar.
The Pakistan-born singer said he was blown away by the  natural beauty of Kashmir.
Sami, who performed in front of a select audience at the  SKICC lawns, started off with his famous number "Mai Sirf Tera  Mehboob".
"Today I have come to realise that there is hell; because  today I have seen heaven (Kashmir)," the singer said to  thunderous applause from the crowd.
Sharing anecdotes from his life in between songs, Sami  said he has a very deep connection with Jammu and Kashmir.
"Not only because my mother is from Jammu but I learned  Hindustani classical from santoor maestro Pandit Shiv Kumar  Sharma, who hails from Jammu as well.
"It was because of him that I could show the world that  Hindustani classical can be played on piano as well," he  added.
The concert was organised by the tourism department to a  boost to tourist footfall in the state.
Union ...

Sami enthralls crowd on banks of Dal Lake

Parineeti Chopra was new to "Golmaal  Again" but the actor said her cast members made her feel  welcome and a part of the team.
The movie, directed by Rohit Shetty, features Devgn,  Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Kunal Khemu,  Parineeti and Tabu in prominent roles.
The "Ishqzaade" actor said she was completely  star-struck by her co-actors.
"There was this bond between them and they understood  each other... They knew exactly what to do. As I was new I  thought I might just mess this up, I didn't know what to do.
"But within 10 minutes of being on the sets, I was  welcomed. These people are so mad that I realised why I was  cast for this film... because I am like them. I really found  friends for life and that is my biggest takeaway from the  film," Parineeti told reporters here at the Jio MAMI  Movie Mela, where the entire "Golmaal Again" team was present.
Shetty is known to be a prankster on the sets but  Parineeti said her co-star Ajay Devgn was equally bad.
"Ajay ..

Have made friends for life on 'Golmaal Again' set: Parineeti

Director Rohit Shetty, who has  teamed up with Tabu for "Golmaal Again", said the actor was  keen to do a commercial film.
"Tabu once told me she wanted to do a commercial film.  When we were working on this ('Golmaal Again') I felt she was  the apt choice. She is great at whatever she does," Rohit said  at the Jio MAMI Movie Mela event here.
Kunal Khemu, who shared screen space with Tabu for the  first time, said he was initially nervous.
"Tabu is a very funny person and I relate to her as a  serious person because of the work she has done. I was  nervous initially. She also takes time to open up. She is fun  to work with."
According to Rohit, "Golmaal 4" was made after three-four  years of hard work on the script.
"We had a basic story when we did 'Singham' but it did  not work out. We were thinking what new element to bring in  the 'Golmaal' series... We thought of horror comedy space. It  took three-four years to get the script right. We are hopeful  audience will enjoy this space 

Tabu was yearning to do a comedy film, says Rohit Shetty

The Telangana government today  launched a computerised ticketing portal for all the cinema  halls in the state.
State Cinematography Minister T Srinivas Yadav  launched the portal -- tsboxoffice.in -- developed by the  Telangana State Film Development Corporation (TSFDC).
The portal acts as a single platform for all new and  existing cinema halls and online ticketing websites to sell  tickets, a state government release said.
It facilitates transparency and provides accurate data on  sale of tickets and tax collection as per the GST regime, it  said.
The state government also announced an online system  of giving permissions for shooting through a single  window.
As per the single window system, all permissions would  be given in seven days and permission is deemed to have been  given if not given in seven days, the release added.

Ticketing portal for all cinema halls in Telangana

National Award-winning director  Kundan Shah, best known for his dark satire "Jaane Bhi Do  Yaaro" and coming-of-age comedy "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa", passed  away at his residence early today. He was 69.
Shah died of a heart attack, a family member told PTI.
His last rites were performed at Shivaji Park crematorium  here by daughter Shilpa with close family members and friends  from the film fraternity in attendance.
"Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro" actors Naseeruddin Shah, Satish Shah  and writer Sudhir Mishra came to pay tributes to the director  at his residence and were also present at the crematorium.
Others who attended the funeral included celebrities such  as Anil Kapoor, Inder Kumar, Deepak Dobriyal, Prahlad Kakkar,  Ratna Pathak, Rakesh Bedi, Mita Vashisht, Raveena Tandon and  Ashoke Pandit.
Born on October 19, 1947, Shah studied direction at the  Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and made his  directorial debut with "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro" in 1983.
The movie, featuring ...

'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' director Kundan Shah is dead

Satish Shah, who memorably  played the role of a dead body in Kundan Shah's cult satire  "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro", said he would not have been an actor had  the director not given him a chance.
Shah in his directorial debut "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro" had  cast actors who did not belong to the conventionally good  looking lot and Satish was one of them.
Remembering his friend, who died of cardiac arrest today  at the age of 69, Satish said Shah, like the character in  "Waghle Ki Duniya", was a simple man in real life and did not  believe in publicity much.
In an interview with PTI, Satish, who became one of the  most popular character artistes in the '90s and early 2000,  recalled how his director friend could never adjust in the  money-driven "filmy culture".
Here is an excerpt:
"Kundan was a simple man. He always kept a low profile.  He was too involved with his work. We would often tease him,  'come out, see the world'. But he didn't change over the  years. He would be a butt of our jokes and 

I own my success to Kundan Shah: Satish Shah

Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's "Rang De  Basanti" is being screened at the first-ever Mauritius Film  Festival.
Mauritius is celebrating 50 years of independence next  year and the inaugural annual festival is a part of the  celebrations.
Given the close ties with India, "Rang De Basanti" is one  of the films that is being screened at the festival today and  tomorrow.
Mehra has been invited as a guest of honour by Mauritian  Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth to be part of the  celebrations.
He will also be a part of a Film Directing Masterclass  with actor and director Justin Chadwick.
"It's a rare honour to be invited for the inaugural  Mauritius film festival. 'Rang de Basanti' has been chosen to  be showcased among a prestigious selection of movies from  around the globe like 'Gandhi', 'Amistad', '12 years of a  Slave' and 'Mandela' to name a few.
"The honourable prime minister of Mauritius will himself  be there to inaugurate and welcome the delegates. The event  celebrates 50 years of ..

'Rang De Basanti' to be screened at Mauritius festival

Kundan Shah's "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro"  was made on a shoestring budget and had its origin in the  struggles of his friends  two FTII graduates who ended up  opening a photo studio in Hyderabad.
The 1983 cult classic came into being "by chance" for  Shah, who died of cardiac arrest today.
"I was very clear that I wanted to make a comedy. At that  time, (early 1980s) I was actually writing another film based  on the idea from 'One Wonderful Sunday (1947)' by Akira  Kurusawa. It is the story of two penniless lovers and how they  spend a Sunday together.
"I had not seen that film (One Wonderful Sunday) but I  was inspired by the idea and was trying to write a screenplay.  'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' happened in between. By very, what you  call, chance of circumstance," Shah recalled in an interview  with 'NFDCCinemasofIndia' in 2012.
There were not many opportunities when Shah graduated  from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune  in 1976.
"There was no television then and we did .

'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro'  a serendipity that became a cult

Congress President Sonia Gandhi  today condoled the demise of National Award-winning director  Kundan Shah and said he was a "path-breaking filmmaker".
"Kundan Shah's contribution to alternate cinema is  remarkable. His movies and television series are epic and will  inspire generations to come," she said in a statement.
"Gandhi has expressed solidarity with the friends and  members of family of Kundan Shah and prayed that his soul  finds eternal peace," a statement from the Congress said.
Shah, best known for his dark satire "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro"  and coming-of-age comedy "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa", passed away  at his residence in Mumbai early today. He was 69.
Shah died of a heart attack, a family member said.

Sonia condoles death of Kundan Shah

Veteran musician and sarod maestro  Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has expressed the hope that the new  generation understands the spiritual nature of the Indian  classical music and will keep the tradition alive.
Addressing an interactive session organised by the  Consulate General of India in New York and moderated by Consul  General Sandeep Chakravorty, Khan spoke about his new book-  'Master on Masters'.
Khan also shed some light on the individual musical  styles of the 12 eminent musicians of the 20th century who  appear in the book- Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Amir Khan, Begum  Akhtar, Alla Rakha, Kesarbai Kerkar, Kumar Gandharva, MS  Subbulakshmi, Bhimsen Joshi, Bismillah Khan, Ravi Shankar,  Vilayat Khan and Kishan Maharaj.
Through pictures, anecdotes and personal experiences the  book provides interesting insights into lives of the stalwarts  who contributed to the glory of the Indian classical musical  tradition in India, a press release from the Consulate said.
"I hope the new generation ..

Amjad Ali Khan hopes new generation will keep Indian classical

Singer-actor Hilary Duff has  started seeing Matthew Koma again.
Duff and Koma had dated for a few months before calling  it quits in March.
In July, the actor was photographed indulging in PDA with  Ely Sandvik, CEO of SOLr Energy Consulting.
Duff posted on Instagram pictures from her recent 30th  birthday party and Koma, who is also 30, is featured with her  in one of the pictures.
He also posted a photo of the two at the party, looking  lovingly at each other.
"#tBt birthday girl," he wrote.
"Since Matt got back from tour, they've been seeing each  other again. Him being gone on tour was the main reason things  didn't work out the first time around so now that he's back  they picked up right where they left off," a source told E!  online.

Hilary Duff and Matthew Koma are back together

Singer Aaron Carter has left  rehab just two weeks after checking in to address "several  legal and personal matters".
"Aaron has left the facility where he has been working on  his wellness. Several legal and personal matters arose that  required his immediate and in-person attention.
"He is still very much committed to his wellness and will  be continually working toward being the best person possible,"  Carter's representative Steve Honig told Us Weekly in a  statement.
The 29-year-old singer previously signed off on Twitter  saying his fans would not be hearing from him until a tour  next year.
He recently appeared on US TV show "The Doctors" to  express his health concerns.

Aaron Carter leaves rehab after two weeks

Stating that India has all the  facilities and resources to become a "film tourism hub", Union  minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today said movies can play an  important role in exposing and eliminating the menace of  terrorism and radicalism.
The Minority Affairs Minister was addressing a  'Global Film Tourism Conclave' organised by PHD Chamber of  Commerce and Industry in suburban Mumbai.
Naqvi said that Indian film industry has been playing  a key role in eliminating various social evils, creating an  atmosphere against various social problems and also towards  bringing social reforms.
"Indian films have succeeded in delivering effective  messages social, cultural and reformist issues. Films can play  an important role in eliminating the menace of terrorism and  radicalism," he said.
He added that film makers from across the world have  their own favourite places in India to shoot films.
"India is geographically, socially and culturally a  rich and beautiful country. In India, from ...

Films can eliminate terrorism, radicalism: Naqvi

Actor Ajay Devgn, who has dabbled  in both commercial and alternative cinema, says the gap  between the two is reducing.
"Today the gap between popular cinema and alternate  cinema is reducing, every kind of film is doing good provided  they are well made. The gap between content driven cinema and  popular cinema is reducing and it is good," Ajay told  reporters here.
Ajay was talking on the sidelines of Movie Mela of  MAMI festival.
"We are happy to be here at MAMI. More than the  promotions of 'Golmaal 4' we are here to support MAMI. MAMI is  a platform where all kinds of films are shown and some films  don't get released are also shown here. MAMI is the best  platform to push such films," he added.
Accompanying him was the entire "Golmaal 4" team ---  director Rohit Shetty, actors Parineeti Chopra, Arshad Warsi,  Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor and Kunal Khemu.
"Don't know how much successful the film will be. We  are happy that the people have liked the trailer. After seven  years 

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