Page 1007 - Entertainment Culture

'Sanju' eyeing China release

After a good run at the Indian box office, the Fox Star Studios is now planning to release the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer "Sanju" in other Asian markets, including China. The biographical drama based on the controversial life of actor Sanjay Dutt released in Indian on June 29 across 4,100 screens and has collected over Rs 300 crore in India, according to the film's producers. "Many distributors in China have reached out to us. They have watched the film and there is a lot of interest in releasing it in the country. We are also looking at the muscle of Fox Star to plan and release the film in Japan, South Korea, etc," Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios, told PTI. "It is all about good writing. Star power helps but the golden rule is you need to have a fantastic script and get someone who can capture the imagination. Audience will not throw money just for the sake of it. They are a reminder that good films will be accepted," Singh, who is on board as a distributor, added. "Sanju" was ...

Springsteen surprises fans at Billy Joel's special event

American singer Bruce Springsteen surprised the audience by making a special appearance with "Piano Man" fame singer Billy Joel on his 100th show at Madison Square Garden here.

Lin-Manuel Miranda to make film directing debut with 'Tick, Tick... Boom!'

"Hamilton" star Lin-Manuel Miranda is set to make his feature directorial debut with "Tick, Tick Boom!", a new film based on "Rent" creator Jonathan Larson's autobiographical musical. Writer Steven Levenson will pen the screen adaptation, while Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's Imagine Entertainment will produce the project, reported Deadline. The story revolves around Jon, an aspiring theater composer working as a table waiter in New York City as he writes what he hopes to be the next great American musical. Close to his 30th birthday, Jon wonders if his dreams are worth the anxiety and uncertainty, especially as his roommate gives up his creative pursuits for an advertising job and his girlfriend grows tired of putting her life on hold for Jon. "'Tick, Tick Boom!' first entered my life in college when I was lucky enough to snag a seat at the Jane Street Theater in 2001. Jonathan Larson's captivating storytelling in 'Rent' first taught me that musicals could be contemporary, true to ...

Thailand seeks control over movies about cave ordeal

Thailand's military government says it wants to have control over how movies portray the ordeal and heroic rescue of young soccer players that drew worldwide interest and the attention of foreign filmmakers. Culture Minister Vira Rojpochanarat says he will propose at next week's Cabinet meeting that a special committee be established to oversee the production of films, documentaries and videos related to the 12 boys and their coach who were trapped in a cave for almost three weeks before being rescued. The government's Thailand Film Office already regulates the production of films shot in Thailand by foreign companies, but Vira said the committee, with members from several ministries, would oversee content, licensing issues and the protection of privacy of the rescued team and their families.

Richard Madden in talks to join Elton John biopic

Scottish actor Richard Madden is in final negotiations to join 'Kingsman' actor Taron Egerton in the Elton John biopic, Rocketman.The actor, who formerly played Robb Stark on Game of Thrones, will star as John's manager for three decades, John Reid, reported The Hollywood Reporter.Financed and distributed by Paramount Pictures, the biopic is being helmed by Dexter Fletcher, who worked with Egerton on 'Eddie the Eagle.English actor Jamie Bell is also in talks to join the biopic.According to The Hollywood Reporter, Bell will play the role of Bernie Taupin, the longtime songwriting partner of Elton John.John and his partner David Furnish are producing Rocketman under their banner, Rocket Pictures, along with Matthew Vaughn.The movie is slated to release in May next year.

Ajay- Atul to compose music for 'Panipat'

Music directors Ajay Gogavale and Atul Gogavale, popularly known as Ajay-Atul are set to compose music for Ashutosh Gowariker's upcoming directorial Panipat.Taking to his Twitter handle, Gowariker confirmed the same, writing, "Food, Conversations, and Music are in the air! Creation of the Songs has begun for #Panipat with the AMAZING Ajay & Atul!!"The duo is currently winning hearts with their music in the latest Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter starrer 'Dhadak' which hit theatres today.'Panipat' is an upcoming historical period drama film, which tells the story of the third iconic battle of Panipat.The film stars Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor, and Kriti Sanon in pivotal roles.It is slated to hit the theaters on December 06, 2019.

'Mega Icons' to feature success stories of Virat Kohli, Kamal Haasan

National Geographic will soon air a "Mega Icons" series that will decipher the success stories of India's different inspiring personalities. The first two to feature are famed cricketer Virat Kohli and actor-filmmaker turned politician Kamal Haasan.

George Takei's memoir 'They Called Us Enemy' to be released next year

Veteran actor George Takei's graphic memoir "They Called Us Enemy" will be published next year. The book, written in collaboration with co-writers Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott, and artist Harmony Becker, will be published by Top Shelf Productions Enemy, the publisher said in a statement. It will revisit the "Star Trek" actor's haunting childhood in American concentration camps, as one of 120,000 Japanese Americans imprisoned by the US government during World War II. According to the official description, the book is described as "Takei's firsthand account of those years behind barbed wire, the terrors and small joys of childhood in the shadow of legalized racism, his mother's hard choices, his father's tested faith in democracy and the way those experiences planted the seeds for his astonishing future." Eisinger and Scott will be discussing the book at the panel "The Human Condition: Connecting Humanity with Graphic Novels" during the Comic-Con International.

Eddie Redmayne calls 'Fantastic Beasts' sequel 'darker'

Actor Eddie Redmayne has described the "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" as a "darker and more rigourous" film than its predecessor. The 36-year-old actor, who reprises his role of magizoologist Newt Scamander from "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", said the film's script has a tonal change which transformed it into a thriller. "The most riveting aspect is the tonal change. It's darker and more rigorous and weaving in the Potter lore we're much more familiar with. So these characters you met in the first film are now in the wizarding world you understand more thoroughly," Redmayne told Entertainment Weekly. "When I read (the script) it had these cryptic elements to it and it played like a thriller that made it a page-turner," he added. The actor also gave a peek into the story of the film, which will also feature Jude Law as professor Albus Dumbledore and Johnny Depp as dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald. "I'm enlisted by Dumbledore to try and track him down and ...

Everything in Hrithik-Tiger film is about scale: Siddharth Anand

Director Siddharth Anand has said that his next film, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff, will be extensively shot around the globe and feature some death-defying stunts. The director said the presence of two actors who have made a name for themselves in the action genre necessitated them to go global for the yet-untitled action film, backed by Yash Raj Films. "Everything in this film is about scale. We have Hrithik and Tiger, so you can imagine they will push their limits do the biggest action sequences that people have seen and we intend to make this film a visual and action spectacle for audiences," Anand said in a statement. The director revealed that the film, which will also feature "Befikre" star Vaani Kapoor, will be filmed in six countries. "We want to stand apart and redefine how action films are made in Bollywood. We are shooting in Spain, Georgia, Italy, Portugal and Sweden and of course India. Some of the biggest action sequences will be shot in these countries," .

Argentine rocker Cristian Pity Alvarez accused of murder

Argentine rock star Cristian "Pity" Alvarez has been charged with murder in connection with the shooting of a man here last week.

Fanney Khan song: Anil Kapoor is waiting for 'Acche Din'

Bollywood star Anil Kapoor has shared a quirky new number from his upcoming film 'Fanney Khan'.In the song, the 'Dil Dhadakne Do' star can be seen as a taxi driver who is waiting for his 'Acche Din'.The third song from the highly anticipated film has been composed by Amit Trivedi and the lyrics have been penned by Irshad Kamil.The 61-year-old took to Twitter to share the track, writing, "Jab sapna dekh hi liya hai, toh #AchcheDin ka bharosa bhi rakhiye! Please lend your ear to my favorite song."'Fanney Khan' is a one of its kind musical comedy, revolving around a father who wishes to fulfill his daughter's dream of becoming a singer.Helmed by Atul Manjrekar, the film also stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Rajkummar Rao.It is slated to hit the screens on August 3.

Inclusive India exists; people trolling with narrow thoughts a negligible minority: Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, whose forthcoming film "Mulk" -- about the plight of a Muslim family accused of treason -- has had online trolls slamming him for being "anti-Hindu", says the idea of inclusive India is very much secure and the people who are trying to ruin the country's communal harmony are really small in number.

Kurosawa's screenwriter Shinobu Hashimoto dead at 100

Japanese screenwriter-director Shinobu Hashimoto, well known for writing Akira Kurosawa's iconic Japanese films including "The Seven Samurai" and "Rashomon", is dead. He was 100.

Ajay-Atul create music for 'Panipat'

National Award-winning music director duo Ajay-Atul, whose music for "Dhadak" has turned out to be hit, are creating tunes for Ashutosh Gowariker's directorial "Panipat".

TDP MP Jayadev names Mahesh Babu's film in LS

TDP MP Galla Jayadev, who initiated the debate on the no trust motion in the Lok Sabha on Friday, mentioned Telugu blockbuster "Bharat Ane Nenu" of his brother-in-law and popular actor Mahesh Babu.

'Game of Thrones' actor to play Elton John's manager in 'Rocketman'

Richard Madden, best known for playing Robb Stark on "Game of Thrones," is in negotiations to join Taron Egerton in Paramounts Elton John biopic "Rocketman" as the music icons longtime manager, John Reid.

Arjun left 'speechless' after watching 'Dhadak'

Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter starrer 'Dhadak' hit the theatres today.As the entire nation awaits Janhvi's debut on the big screens, her brother actor Arjun Kapoor took to Twitter to express that he is extremely proud of her.The '2 States' star wrote, " It's out today #Dhadak !!! @ShashankKhaitan has made a heartwarming & yet gut-wrenching love story....he's handled the 2 Of them so deftly. Ishan u have nailed the simplicity & energy of a young kid who just sees purity in love Janhvi u left me speechless so bloody proud of u..."Arjun is step-brother of Janhvi and her sister Khushi, daughters of his father Boney Kapoor with late actress Sridevi.Meanwhile, actor Varun Dhawan also posted a picture with 'Dhadak' Director Shashank Khaitan, calling it the latter's finest work."#DHADAK is @ShashankKhaitan finest work. Ishaan and Jaanvi are incredible in the film. It's a film which will touch everyone's heart and give an important message. Go catch it in the theatre. Shashank I'm ..

Shaken, not stirred: The unexpected origins of 007 (Book Review)

Title: Forever and a Day; Author: Anthony Horowitz; Publisher: Jonathan Cape/Penguin Random House; Pages: 304; Price: Rs 599

Daniel Kaluuya to star in romantic drama 'Queen and Slim'

"Get Out" star Daniel Kaluuya is all set to star in independent romance drama "Queen & Slim". The film marks the feature directorial debut of Melina Matsoukas, who is best known for helming shows "Insecure" and "Master of None". The script has been penned by Lena Waithe, who most recently starred in Steven Spielberg's "Ready Player One". The project is based on an original idea and treatment from bestselling author James Frey and a story by Frey and Waithe, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Described as a Bonnie and Clyde story, the film is about black man and black woman who go on a first date that goes awry after they are pulled over by a police officer at a traffic stop. They kill the police officer in self-defense and rather than turn themselves in, they go on the run. Kaluuya, best known for starring in horror thriller "Get Out" and Marvel's "Black Panther" will play Slim in the new film. Matsoukas, Waithe and casting director Carmen Cuba are currently looking for a new ...