Page 1451 - Entertainment Culture

'Welcome To New York': Trips on tactless plot (IANS Review, Rating: *1/2)

Film: "Welcome To New York"; Director: Chakri Toleti; Cast: Diljit Dosanjh, Sonakshi Sinha, Karan Johar, Sushant Singh Rajput, Rana Daggubati, Aditya Roy Kapur, Lara Dutta, Riteish Deshmukh, Boman Irani; Rating: *1/2

Netflix commisions three new Indian original series

Streaming giant Netflix has announced three new original series in addition to "Sacred Games". "Sacred Games", being directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap and starring Saif Ali Khan, Nawazzudin Siddiqui and Radhika Apte, is based on Vikram Chandras novel of the same name. The first look of the characters was unveiled today. The three new originals are -- "Leila", "Ghoul" and "Crocodile". "We are proud to continue to invest in original content in India. These three series, from the scary to the supernatural, represent the tremendous diversity that Indian storytelling holds for a global audience. "We are thrilled to work with some of the world's most talented writers and producers to bring these stories to life for India and the world," said Erik Barmack, vice president of international original series, at Netflix. "Leila" has been written by Urmi Juvekar, who will also serve as the executive producer on the series. It is based on the book by Prayaag Akbar and will tell ...

Ramdev's show leads to clash between Yadav, Brahmin organisations

First, the Brahmin Mahasabha took objection to Baba Ramdev's show on Discovery JEET, which it said spoke against the Brahmins, portraying them in poor light. The Mahasabha asked for criminal action against the show "Swami Ramdev: Ek Sangharsh".

Parineeti, Arjun start shooting for 'Namastey England'

Actors Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor started shooting for their upcoming film "Namastey England" here on Friday.

A unique book reading session for kids with hearing loss

A special sign-language storytelling session for children with hearing loss will be held next week. HarperCollins Childrens Books, in association with Atulyakala and the Sanket Foundation, will host the session to make the world of stories more accessible to these children. The first reading will be held at the Mount Carmel School in Sector 22, Dwarka, here February 27. The event will feature an author reading by Deepa Agarwal from her latest book, "Sacked! Folktales You Can Carry Around". An official interpreter will simultaneously translate the story for the children. The reading will be aided with visual cues and stickers. "As childrens publishers, it is our constant endeavour to reach out to the reader. And one of the best ways of doing so is through storytelling sessions," says Tina Narang, Publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books. According to Agarwal, storytelling by an author is a memorable experience for any child. "But differently abled children don't often get this ...

'Artiste of Rahat's calibre should respect sentiments of Indians'

Union Minister Babul Supriyo says over 90 per cent of Indians agreed with him when he said that there should be a temporary restriction on Pakistani artistes working in the Hindi film industry and that an artiste of singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khans calibre should respect the sentiments of Indians.

Netflix working on three more Indian originals

American video streaming service Netflix is expanding its India slate with the addition of three new originals -- "Leila", "Ghoul" and "Crocodile".

She should get paid more: Dominic West on Ruth Wilson's pay claim

Actor Dominic West has said his "The Affair" co-star Ruth Wilson should get paid more than him on the show, not less, as she earlier claimed was the case. West was put on the spot after Wilson had told the Radio Times she got paid less than her male peers, and her co-star on "The Affair," which has been renewed for a fourth season. He said neither actor knew what the other was paid, but he supports his co-star in the wake of her comments. "In fact she should get paid more because she won a Golden Globe for the part. There was absolutely no reason for her to get paid less than me, and that's part of what is being hopefully confronted now. You can't get away with it anymore and there's no reason why a producer should get away with that," West told Channel 4 news in the UK. The 48-year-old actor, who was promoting Palme d'Or-winning film "The Square," said he would be willing to take a pay cut to ensure parity with female co-stars on an indie project where funds were tight. "I would as ..

Can't afford luxury of being depressed: Salman Khan

Superstar Salman Khan, who is busy shooting for his upcoming film "Race 3", says he cant afford the luxury of being depressed or emotional.

Lankan author Wijeratne to come out with Commonwealth empire trilogy

Sri Lankan author Yudhanjaya Wijeratne will deal with a surreal landscape where technology and humanity intersect as he pens a trilogy on the "Commonwealth Empire", with the first volume of the speculative fiction series to hit book stores in November. The "Commonwealth Empire" trilogy will be published by HarperCollins India, which has also acquired Yudhanjaya's award-winning science-fiction work "Numbercaste". "The Inhuman Race", the first part of trilogy, will be published in November along with "Numbercaste". "The Inhuman Race" is about what it means to be human, and how the gears of history come to haunt us even as we race into the future. "Science fiction and fantasy are still very thin on the ground in these parts of the world, and I'm glad that Harper's decided to offer me a much longer-term working relationship than we usually expect from publishers," said Wijeratne. Diya Kar, Publisher (Fiction) at HarperCollins India, described Wijeratne as one of the most original and ...

'7 Days in Entebbe' to open in India on March 16

Anil Dhirubhai Ambani-led Reliance Entertainments "7 Days in Entebbe" will release in India on March 16.

Welcome to family: Arjun Kapoor to Motiwala

Actor Arjun Kapoor has welcomed his sister-in-law Antara Motiwala to the family. He says he will make sure that her husband and his brother Mohit Marwah will keep her happy.

Was advised to consider bigger star for 'Tanu Weds Manu': Rai

After two failures, his turnaround as a filmmaker happened with "Tanu Weds Manu" but Aanand L Rai was initially told to rope in a bigger star to grab more eyeballs. He made his directional debut with "Strangers" in 2007 and followed it up with "Thodi Life Thoda Magic" the next year but both the films failed at the box office. Rai says when he was working on "Tanu Weds Manu", which featured Kangana Ranaut and R Madhavan, he was advised to make the character of Manu more "macho" to fit in a bigger star. The director is happy that he did not consider the advice. "A big producer told me if I change the storyline a bit and make Manu a little macho, he can get me a bigger star. I said, 'But that's not the story I am looking at!' After those two failures behind me, it was a great temptation to get a bigger star," Rai told PTI. "But there was a little bit of confidence in my story and myself. I thought if I change Manu, then the story won't be the one which I want to narrate. If it is not ...

Sam Rockwell to voice gorilla in Jolie's 'One and Only Ivan'

Actor Sam Rockwell has signed on to voice a silverback gorilla, Ivan, in Disney's drama "The One and Only Ivan." Thea Sharrock is directing the live-action/CG hybrid project from a script by Mike White, reported Variety. Angelina Jolie is producing and voicing an elephant named Stella while Brooklynn Prince is voicing a baby elephant named Ruby. The book, published by HarpersCollins in 2011, revolves around a gorilla named Ivan who lives in a cage in a shopping mall along with the elephant Stella and a stray dog called Bob. Ivan does not remember life before the mall, but when the baby elephant Ruby enters his life, Ivan finds himself taking care of her and working on a plan to take Ruby away from their abusive owner.

Weinstein apologises for citing Streep and Lawrence in legal defense

Harvey Weinstein has apologised for using statements by veteran actor Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence in his defense against a class-action sexual harassment lawsuit. Weinstein's attorneys, Phyllis Kupferstein and Mary Flynn, had mentioned the names of prominent Hollywood A-listers, including Streep, Lawrence and Gwyneth Paltrow to prove that not all women had a negative experience of working with him. The motion claimed that Streep had stated publicly that "Weinstein had always been respectful to her in their working relationship." The document also included comments Lawrence made to Oprah Winfrey where she had said the producer had "only ever been nice" to her. However, the move did not go down well with Streep and Lawrence, who objected to being invoked in Weinstein's defense, reported Variety. "Even though Mr Weinstein has worked with hundreds of actresses and actors who had only professional and mutually respectful experiences with him, Mr Weinstein has directed in the future

Brendan Fraser accuses HFPA's former president of sexual misconduct

Actor Brendan Fraser has claimed that he was once groped by the former president of Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The non-profit organisation, formed 75 years ago, is the main organiser of the Golden Globes Awards ceremony, which is held annually in January. In an interview with GQ magazine, the "Mummy" star said the alleged incident took place during HFPA luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2003. He alleged that former HFPA president, Philip Berk, came to shake his hand when he was leaving the crowded room. "His left hand reaches around, grabs my a** cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. And he starts moving it around," Fraser said, adding that in that moment he was overcome with panic and fear. "I felt ill. I felt like a little kid. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. I thought I was going to cry," Fraser added. In a statement to GQ, Berk, who is still a member of HFPA, denied the allegations and said, "Mr Fraser's version is a total ...

Fraser says HFPA's ex-chief sexually assaulted him

Hollywood star Brendan Fraser is joining the #MeToo movement, with allegations of sexual assault by Philip Berk, former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) that organises Golden Globes ceremony.

Working in south Indian films will help me grow: Sunny Leone (IANS Interview)

Former adult film actress Sunny Leone made a swift move into the Hindi film industry in 2012. And now the Indo-Canadian actress is all set to make her debut in a Tamil film. She says south Indian films would help her grow as a person and an actress.

Complaint against Papon under POSCO for kissing minor

A complaint has been registered against Bollywood singer Angarag Papon Mahanta, famously known as Papon, for 'inappropriately kissing a minor girl'.The incident reportedly took place during the shoot of a Holi celebration on the sets of a Hindi singing reality show where the girl is among the contestants.Supreme Court lawyer, Runa Bhuyan filed a complaint against him under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act."I have raised the concern before the commission as this is a grave concern regarding the safety and security of those kids who participate in reality shows. They are at the disposal of those TV channels. We don't know how these kids are treated inside the platform. I hope the commission gives a proper response and also hold a proper enquiry," Bhuyan told ANI.Echoing similar sentiments, Bhuyan in her complaint said, "I am shocked to see the behaviour of Papon towards the minor girl where he is seen to be applying colours on the girl and inappropriately ...

Manoj Tiwari refuses to comment on calls for ban on Pakistani artistes

Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Manoj Tiwari, who made a name for himself as an entertainment personality before entering politics, wants to keep the artiste in himself alive, but refrains from expressing his viewpoint on the demand for putting a two-year ban on Pakistani talent working in Hindi film industry.