Veteran theatre, film and television  actor Tom Alter has passed away. He was 67.
According to the family sources, Alter, who was battling  skin cancer, passed away last night at his residence here.
"It is with sadness we announce the death of Tom Alter,  actor, writer, director, Padma Shri, and our dear husband and  father.
"Tom passed away Friday night at home with his family and  close family members in attendance. We ask for their privacy  to be respected at this time," statement released on behalf of  his family read.
Indian actor of American descent, Alter was the son of  American missionary parents. He was born in 1950 in Mussoorie.  He studied at Woodstock School in Mussoorie and later at  Pune's Film and Television Institute.
The actor appeared in over 300 films which included  Satyajit Ray's acclaimed movie "Shatranj Ke Khiladi" and  "Junoon".
His first Hindi film to be released was Ramanand Sagar's  Charas in 1976. His acting credits also include "Aashiqui",  "Parinda", ...

Noted actor Tom Alter dead at 67

PTI Automatic

The Prasar Bharati has decided to  phase out analog terrestrial TV transmitters of Doordarshan  and move towards a digital network which will open the  possibility of city-specific channels, the public broadcaster  said today.
The in-principle approval was given to this effect at the  Prasar Bharati board meeting recently.
"Landmark decision by Prasar Bharati to shutdown analog  terrestrial TV transmitters of Doordarshan (DD), which was  long pending," Prasar Bharati, which runs Doordarshan, said in  a tweet.
Quoting its CEO Shashi S Vempati, the public broadcaster  said, "Long pending move, which, as per Prasar Bharati's own  deadline, was to be completed by 2017".
In case of analog transmission, only one channel can be  transmitted through a transponder whereas in case of digital  transmission, multiple channels can be transmitted.
The digitisation could also open the possibility of new  channels catering exclusively to cities, with local content  like informing public about traffic 

Prasar Bharati to phase out DD's analogue terrestrial

Dharamshala International Film  Festival (DIFF) will be promoting independent cinema by young  filmmakers this year.
The fellowship programme will target young up-and-coming  filmmakers from the Indian Himalayan region.
One of the organisers of the festival, Ritu Sarin, said  that this year's fellowship candidates will attend screenings  of the best of contemporary independent cinema at DIFF 2017  and will participate in master classes delivered by visiting  directors and industry professionals.
They will also receive one-to-one mentorship sessions  from accomplished filmmakers.
The 2017 jury includes film editor and artistic director  of the International Film Festival of Kerala, Bina Paul,  feature filmmaker Shubhashish Bhutiani, and Tibetan-American  documentary filmmaker Tenzin Tsetan Choklay.
The mentors for this year's film fellows programme are  National Award-winning filmmaker Gurvinder Singh, who  currently resides in Bir, Himachal Pradesh, and Nepali-Tibetan  screenwriter ...

DIFF to target young filmmakers from Himalayan region

Anushka Sharma, who recently joined  the Swachh Bharata Abhiyan, says as a citizen it is everyone's  duty to keep the country clean.
The 29-year-old actor says keeping the surroundings clean  will help people live in a healthy environment.
Anushka today joined the cleanliness drive at the Versova  beach here and shared the picture of the same on Instagram.
"To keep our country clean is our duty. Everyday we do  things for ourselves, just a little bit of awareness and  consciousness in keeping our surroundings clean will enable us  to live in a healthy environment..." she wrote.
She also quoted Mahatma Gandhi, "An ounce of practice is  worth more than tons of preaching". And urged people to do  their bit to keep the environment clean.
Other B-Town stars who are part of the Swachh Bharat  Abhiyan include Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Aamir Khan  and Vidya Balan.

To keep our country clean is our duty: Anushka Sharma

Films set in small towns have  clicked well with the audience but Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub says  the trend is getting "formulaic" with every other movie  repeating the same setting.
This year several films set in heartland India have  worked at the box office be it "Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya",  "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha", "Barailey Ki Barfi" or "Shubh Mangal  Saavdhan".
"This new pattern (of films set in small town) is  irritating me. It's definitely a good thing that we have gone  away from those dreamy films set in la la land, but I think  while winning that war, we are making a new set of formula  films," Zeeshan tells PTI.
"Suddenly every film is about Uttar Pradesh, every film  is talking about a small town based there, local people and  same faces."
Zeeshan, who has played Imran Khan, Dhanush and Shah  Rukh Khan's friend in films "Mere Brother Ki Dulhan",  "Raanjhanaa", "Raees" respectively, says today more actors  are willing to play the hero's friend because it is better  written.
"In 

New pattern of films set in small town is irritating: Zeeshan

Sanjay Dutt's comeback "Bhoomi"  failed to click with the audiences and director Omung Kumar  said he is disappointed as the expectations were more in terms  of box office collection.
The film, made under Bhushan Kumar's T-Series banner and  Legend Studios, saw the 58-year-old actor for the first time  on the big screen after he completed his jail term.
"We had expected more (numbers). We were expecting it  to open really well because it was Sanjay's comeback film. We  are disappointed," Omung said in an interview.
The movie released on September 22 with two other films -  Rajkummar Rao-starrer "Newton" and Shraddha Kapoor's "Haseena  Parkar".
The film is an emotional revenge drama, that revolves  around the relationship between a father and daughter. It also  features Aditi Rao Hydari and Sharad Kelkar.

Disappointed with the response to 'Bhoomi': Omung Kumar

Music maestro A R Rahman is all set  to embark on a multi-city tour to commemorate 25 years in  music that began with his debut with Mani Ratnam's 1992 film  "Roja".
The tour, A R Rahman ENCORE- The Concert, will travel to  Hyderabad (November 26), Ahmedabad (December 3), Mumbai  (December 17) and Delhi (December 23).
"It has been an incredible journey over these last 25  years. Sometimes when I ponder I get goose bumps because the  Almighty has been kind in giving me happiness that has only  multiplied year after year.  I've been immensely blessed to  have the love and support of my fans, friends and family.
"From husband to father to composer to mentor, I have  embraced different roles but the music has always been  constant. Music for me serves as the spiritual bond between  the audience and myself. I am excited to be performing at home  after such a long gap," Rahman said in a statement.
The Oscar-winning composer is expected to be accompanied  by talented musicians from across ...

A R Rahman to tour India to celebrate 25 years in music

Singer Miley Cyrus today  released her sixth studio album titled "Younger Now".
The singer had earlier released tracks "Malibu,"  "Inspired," "Younger Now," and "Week Without You," from the  LP.
The complete 11-song collection is now available at all  digital retail providers.
"The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" will also  celebrate the release of the album by hosting "Miley Week"  from October 2 to 6, with Cyrus scheduled to perform each  night.

Miley Cyrus releases sixth studio album 'Younger Now'

Saif Ali Khan, who got embroiled  in a much publicised debate after he chanted "nepotism rocks"  at an awards function, says he may have benefited from his  lineage but is "totally against nepotism".
The actor, who had to apologise to Kangana Ranaut for his  remarks at the IIFA function in July, says nepotism is  "horrible" specially if it results in pushing forward the  undeserving person.
In an interview with PTI, Saif says, "Nepotism is a  horrible thing. I am totally against nepotism. I have  benefited from it for sure. Definitely, we have more  opportunities than people who are not connected to movies.
"But how long can one survives depends on talent and hard  work. There are so many people like Shah Rukh Khan who have  survived without any conjunctions. For one star kid succeeding  there are fifty star kids which are failing."
Saif, who is the son of yesteryear actor Sharmila Tagore,  is looking forward to the acting debut of his daughter Sara  Ali Khan. He says nepotism by ...

Nepotism is a horrible thing, I am totally against it: Saif

Hollywood star Tom Cruise has  denied using prosthetic butt for a scene in 2008 movie  "Valkyrie".
In an interview with Screen Rant, the 55-year-old actor  discussed the rumours, which started when a Twitter user  shared a screen shot in August of Cruise's backside in a scene  from the film.
In the tweet, the user wrote, "Hello, please, I present  the theory that for one single shot in Valkyrie (2008), at  5:12, Tom Cruise wears a fake butt. Observe."
"There was no prosthetic in Valkyrie," Cruise said.
Cruise added that the butt featured in several scenes  throughout his new film "American Made" is also all him.
"It's me. It's not CGI, it's me. I do my own mooning in  films. So let it be known  I do my own mooning," he said.

Tom Cruise did not wear a prosthetic butt for 'Valkyrie'

Singer Ricky Martin said he wants  his wedding to be a great event that he can share with the  world.
The 45-year-old singer announced his engagement to Jwan  Yosef last year, and the pair are planning to make their  wedding a public event, reported Femalefirst.
"It's going to be a great event. And people will be  talking about it. We're a modern family, and I think people  need to see, and I want to normalise the beauty of our family.  That's why I'm making it public and I'm going to share my  wedding with the world," Martin said.
The "Livin' La Vida Loca" hitmaker and his fiance are  currently planning their invitations, and have yet to decide  on a location for their wedding.
"Right now we're just dealing with the invitations and  everything. We also have to deal with the fact that most of my  fiance's family is from Syria. So maybe they won't be able to  come into this country. So we might consider doing it in  Stockholm or in Spain.

I'm going to share my wedding with the world: Ricky Martin

Press Trust of India

Actor Sofia Vergara says her  husband Joe Manganiello loves the fact that she is an  independent woman.
The acting duo have been married since 2015, and the  "Modern Family" star says her man supports her in everything,  reported Entertainment Tonight.
"I think he realises how important it is for (women to  have) opportunities, for women to have (their) own thing going  (on).
"He always, actually, tells me, he's like, 'You know, one  of the things that draws me so much to you is that you were,  like, the first woman (who) I went out with that is really,  really, like, independent.'" Vergara says.
The 45-year-old star acknowledges her independence, and  says it is the fact she does not "need to ask anyone for  anything" makes Manganiello fall in love with her every day.
"And I don't need to ask anyone for anything. You know,  you want to give it to me, then give it to me. I'm not asking.  I receive gifts, but (I don't need them). And he loves that  and, you know, he supports everything 

Joe Manganiello adores Sofia Vergara's independence

Actor LisaGay Hamilton has been  roped in to play the role of former Secretary of State  Condoleezza Rice, in Adam McKay-helmed Dick Cheney biopic
The movie also features Christian Bale and Amy Adams,  reported Deadline.
The film details the career of Dick Cheney, from  Halliburton CEO to Vice President of US.
Rice served as the 20th National Security Advisor in  President George W Bush's first term and the 66th US Secretary  of State during Bush's second term.
McKay and his Gary Sanchez Productions partners Will  Ferrell and Kevin Messick are producing along with Brad Pitt  and Dede Garner via their Plan B label.

LisaGay Hamilton to play Condoleezza Rice in Cheney biopic

Actor Dylan Baker has been  roped in to star in the upcoming season seven of Showtime  drama "Homeland".
Baker will play Sam Paley, a maverick politician from the  Southwest who is leading an aggressive investigation into the  Keane administration, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Homeland", toplined by Claire Danes, recently added  Morgan Spector and Mackenzie Astin to its upcoming season as  well.
Production of the new installment started up on September  11 in Richmond, Virginia, with plans for the Fox 21 Television  Studios-produced series to premiere on Showtime in early 2018.

Dylan Baker to star in 'Homeland' season seven

Actor Idris Elba says falling  in love with his girlfriend Sabrina Dhowre was special.
The 45-year-old actor, who started dating the former Miss  Vancouver winner whilst filming his upcoming romance movie  "The Mountain Between Us" in Canada, says meeting his love  during the making of the romantic film was like a dream come  true, reported People magazine.
"Falling in love while making a movie about falling in  love is pretty special," Elba says.
The duo made their red carpet debut as a couple at  Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month, and  the actor says it was nice to be able to go public with their  romance.
"It definitely got noticed because I try to keep my  personal life different. I think it's an interesting space,  especially for her. She'd never done a red carpet before and I  tend not to do that. It was nice actually.

Falling in love is special: Idris Elba

Singer Emeli Sande said she would  love to start a family soon.
The 30-year-old singer said she is in a happy  relationship and is thinking of having kids with her mystery  man, reported Contactmusic.
"I think it would be really fun. I mean, I imagine the  children so perfect, like they just love watching me write  songs and sitting silently. That's the dream. When I think  about it there, yeah, I'd love it, I'd love children," Sande  said.
The "Hurts" hitmaker, who parted way with her childhood  sweetheart Adam Gouraguine in 2014, said she is open to tying  the knot for a second time as she has reached the right level  of maturity to handle a marriage.
"I feel at the point in my life where I just know myself  so well. I can be honest with someone if I don't like certain  things, or they don't like things about me. There's maturity  that I think you need for marriage and I feel like I've  reached that level, I hope, now.

Emeli Sande wants to have kids

Grammy-winning artiste Jason  Mraz is set to make his Broadway debut with musical  "Waitress".
The musical will have songs written by Sara Bareilles,  with whom Mraz recorded the tunes "Bad Idea" and "You Matter  to Me" on Bareilles' 2015 album "What's Inside: Songs From  Waitress," reported Variety.
Mraz, 40, will play Dr Pomatter, the love interest for  the title character in the show about a woman who decides to  follow her dream and participate in a pie-baking contest.
Bareilles also had her own 10-week run on Broadway,  taking over the show's lead role from late March through June.
"Waitress" tells the story of small town pie maker Jenna,  who's newly pregnant but unhappy with her marriage. She has an  affair with her new ob-gyn, Dr Pomatter, and sets her sights  on winning the grand prize in a pie contest in an effort to  change her life.
The musical is based on the 2007 film, written by  Adrienne Shelly, and currently stars Betsy Wolfe as Jenna.

Jason Mraz to star in Broadway musical 'Waitress'

Responding to the reports that  he will soon stop working in action movies, Liam Neeson has  said that he can never retire from the genre.
The 65-year-old actor had contemplated bowing out of  action movies back in 2015, and he predicted earlier this  month that "Hard Powder" and "The Commuter" would be two of  his last thrillers.
However, according to Variety, while speaking at the  premiere of "Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White  House," Neeson said, "It's not true, look at me! Youre  talking in the past tense. I'm going to be doing action movies  until they bury me in the ground. I'm unretired."
Neeson's action credits include "Taken," "The A-Team,"  "Unknown," "The Grey," "Non-Stop," "A Walk Among the  Tombstones," "Run All Night," and the upcoming movies "The  Commuter" and "Widows."
Outside of the action realm the actor has also starred in  timeless films such as "Schindler's List," "Michael Collins,"  "Star Wars: Episode I  The Phantom Menace," "Gangs of New  York" ..

I'm unretired from action movies: Liam Neeson

Actor Julia Louis-Dreyfus has  revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The "Veep" star broke the news on Instagram.
"1 in 8 women get breast cancer. Today I'm the one. The  good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive  and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through  my union.
"The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so  let's fight all cancers and make universal health care a  reality," Louis-Dreyfus wrote in her announcement.
"Just when you thought...," she captioned the post.
Louis-Dreyfus most recently made history at the Emmy  Awards this month, winning her sixth trophy in a row for her  work on HBO's "Veep" and tying Cloris Leachman's record eight  Emmy wins by a singular performer.
"Veep" will return for its seventh and final season in  2018.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus diagnosed with breast cancer

Actors Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu  today welcomed their first child, a baby girl.
Kemmu took to Twitter to share the news with his fans and  followers.
"We are over the moon to share we have been blessed with  a beautiful baby girl on this auspicious day. Thank you for  the love and blessings," the 34-year-old actor wrote.
Soha, 38, and Kunal got engaged in July 2014 in Paris and  tied the knot in Mumbai on January 25, 2015.
Soha announced her pregnancy in April 2017.
On the work front, Soha was last seen in the film "31st  October". Kunal will be seen next in "Golmaal Again" scheduled  to release on Diwali.

Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu blessed with a baby girl

Actor Tim Roth has revealed  that filmmaker Quentin Tarantino got him drunk to persuade him  to audition for "Reservoir Dogs".
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Roth recalled  how he got involved with Tarantino's directorial debut.
"Within 20 pages, I was going, 'Oh, I want to be in  this'. It's so beautifully written. It's so keenly and  intelligently written. And it's also very funny," he said of  the script.
Roth said he met Tarantino and Harvey Keitel, who was  already signed on as an actor and co-producer but despite the  duo's attempts to convince him, Roth refused to read for the  part of Mr Orange, saying he was "crap" at auditioning.
After Keitel left, Tarantino and Roth went to pub for  some drinks and, then, to a convenience store to bring more  beer back to Roth's place.
"And proceeded to read the entire script... Every part in  it about 10 times because we were hammered by then. And that's  how I got the job," the 56-year-old actor said.
Roth has also starred in .

Page 985 -