Page 1681 - Entertainment Culture
Actor molestation case: Arrested executive gets bail
A court here today granted bail to Vikas Sachdev, a private firm executive arrested for allegedly molesting teenage Bollywood actor Zaira Wasim onboard a Delhi-Mumbai flight on December 9. City civil and sessions court judge A D Deo granted bail to Sachdev (39) on a personal bond of Rs 25,000. The court also directed Sachdev, a resident of suburban Kandivli, to visit the Sahar police station on the first Sunday of every month and not influence any witness in the case. Opposing the bail, Assistant Public Prosecutor Munna Inamdar said the relief should not be granted to Sachdev since the offence is of serious nature. Defence lawyer Harvinder Singh Anand said the complaint lodged by the actor with police was an afterthought as she had not raised the issue with the cabin crew of the flight. He also argued that Sachdev was illegally detained by the police before his arrest. The court accepted the defence argument and granted bail to Sachdev. Sachdev is working as western ...
T J Miller refutes allegations of sexual assault
Actor T J Miller has denied the allegations sexual assault after a woman claimed that he punched her. The woman, who spoke to The Daily Beast on the condition of anonymity, claimed that she and Miller started dating while attending George Washington University in 2001, where they joined the same comedy troupe. She claimed she remembered Miller "shaking (her) violently", choking her to the extent that she could not breathe, and punching her in the mouth during their sexual encounters. She also accused Miller of sodomy. In a joint statement, posted on his official Instagram account, Miller and his wife, Kate Gorney, denied the allegations and said the woman was using the current movement against sexual harassment, where many women have opened up and came forward with their stories of abuse. "We met this woman over a decade ago while studying together in college, she attempted to break us up back then by plotting for over a year before making contradictory claims and ...
'Aiyaary', 'Padman' trailers to be attached with 'Tiger Zinda
The trailers of Akshay Kumar starrer "Padman" and Neeraj Pandey's "Aiyaary" will be attached with "Tiger Zinda Hai". The Salman Khan-starrer is being touted as the biggest release of this year in terms of screen count. The makers of "Padman" and "Aiyaary" have decided to attach the respective trailer of their films with "Tiger Zinda Hai", which is set to hit theatres on December 22, said a release. Both "Aiyaary" and "Padman" will also clash at the box office upon their release on January 26 next year. "Aiyaary" is a thriller film revolving around the relationship between a mentor and a protege played by Manoj Bajpayee and Sidharth Malhotra respectively. The film also stars Pooja Chopra, Rakulpreet, Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah. While "Padman" is a biographical comedy-drama film, directed by R Balki, featuring Akshay, Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte in lead roles. It is inspired from the life of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social activist from Tamil Nadu, who ...
Mindy Kaling gives birth to daughter
Actor Mindy Kaling has welcomed her daughter. The Indian origin star has named her daughter Katherine Kaling, who was born on December 15, reported E Online. However, the "Mindy Project" actor, who is known to be a private person, is tight-lipped about her daughter's father. The 38-year-old TV star had earlier revealed the news of her pregnancy on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show". Kaling had also said that she had told her "A Wrinkle In Time" co-stars Oprah Winfrey and Reese Witherspoon that her first child is a girl but asked them to keep it a secret. Kaling will next be seen in Ava DuVernay's "A Wrinkle In Time" and Gary Ross' "Ocean's 8".
Prerna trying to avoid 'Kedarnath' clash with SRK's film
Prerna Arora, the producer of Sushant Singh-starrer "Kedarnath", says she is trying to avert a box-office clash with superstar Shah Rukh Khan's film in December next year. Anand L Rai, the director of the yet-untitled film in which Shah Rukh plays a dwarf, had announced December 21, 2018 as the release date a year ago, while "Kedarnath" producers made the announcement about their film just a couple of months ago. Asked about the face-off between the two movies, Prerna, of KriArj Entertainment, said they do not have an alternate date but she is not too keen on releasing "Kedarnath" on December 21 next year. "We are thinking (to move the release date). We might not compete with Shah Rukh sir. We are still talking to Abhishek (Kapoor, 'Kedarnath' director). We have to figure out which date is suitable for us. Once we get that, we will be able to reply," she said. "Right now it is December 21, and until I get the right date I don't think we will be able to move. But if we ..
Ida Ali and Gaurav Bakshi's short films at Filmfare awards
Three shorts movies -- "Pressure Cooker" by Heena D'souza, "Lift" by Ida Ali, "The Cot" by Gaurav Bakshi -- have been nominated for the Jio Filmfare Short Film Awards 2018. The three short films are among the 56 shortlisted entries and are backed by HumaraMovie, said a release. "Lift" is directed by Imtiaz Ali's daughter Ida and stars Pavail Gulati and Ananya Sharma. The movie is about two strangers who keep meeting in their building's lift and they eventually decide to talk to each other. "The Cot", directed by Gaurav Bakshi and starring Manjari Fadnis and Rahul Bagga, is a hilarious take on the lack of privacy and the need for intimacy among the newlyweds. "Pressure Cooker" is directed by Heena D'souza and stars Pallavi Joshi, Mukul Chadda and Rahul Bagga.
'Mubarakan' could have earned more, says Anees Bazmee
Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor starrer "Mubarakan" enjoyed a good run at the box office, but director Anees Bazmee is not too happy with its earning. "Mubarakan", a wedding drama, opened in theatres on July 28 this year and went on to rake in Rs 77 crore worldwide. "The commercial success of a film is definitely important. I do feel 'Mubarakan' should have done much better business. The release date of the film also plays a crucial role. There were two big films that released after 'Mubarakan' - 'Jab Harry Met Sejal' and 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' -- then naturally the business gets affected. "I feel business-wise our film has underperformed, it could have done better," Bazmee told PTI. "Mubarakan" will be premiering on Sony Max on December 23. "My films are usually family entertainers like 'Welcome', 'Singh is Kinng', 'No Entry', 'Ready' and others, which everyone enjoys. The appreciation is always more when the film comes on TV. I am happy 'Mubarakan' is coming on TV and I .
Punjab cabinet paves way for entertainment tax on DTH, cable
The Punjab cabinet today gave its go-ahead for the levy of entertainment tax on DTH and local cable connections by municipalities and panchayats. 'The Punjab Entertainments & Amusements Taxes (Levy & Collection by Local Bodies) Ordinance, 2017' was approved by the Cabinet during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here. The Cabinet discussed and approved a proposal mooted by the Local Government Department to levy nominal entertainment tax at the rate of Rs 5 per DTH connection and Rs 2 per local cable connection per month by all the Urban Local Bodies and gram panchayats of the state, an official release said here. The move, according to the release, is expected to generate annual income of around Rs 45-47 crore for the Urban Local Bodies and panchayats. Of this, Rs 9.60 crore would accrue on nearly 16 lakh DTH connections and Rs 36.96 crore on 44 lakh cable connections across the state, the release said. However, no entertainment tax has been ...
Arbaaz's 'Nirdosh' release postponed by a week
The release date of actors Arbaaz Khan and Manjari Phadnis starrer "Nirdosh" has been postponed by a week to January 19.
Aim is to create awareness, not earn money: Akshay on 'Padman'
Actor Akshay Kumar today said with "Padman", about a man who develops a low cost sanitary pads, they are trying to reach out to a wider audience without looking at the commercial aspects of the movie. "With 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' we had shown it (film) on Doordarshan channel, the government is also doing a good job by taking the film in a pen-drive and showing it in villages so that more people can see the film and understand it. "We will do something similar for this film ('Padman'). Our aim is not to earn money through the film but it should reach more people, more places where it is needed. We will also take the help of the government," Akshay told reporters here at the song launch of "Padman". Akshay's wife Twinkle, who is one of the producers of the film, said the team got in touch with various ministries about showing the film in schools in smaller towns and cities, to make more people aware about menstrual hygiene. "We would want the film to be shown to school ...
New song is all about PadMan's 'innovative love'
Finally, the makers of upcoming comedy drama 'PadMan' have unveiled its first romantic number 'Aaj Se Teri', starring Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte.The song, which is composed by Amit Trivedi, is a love ballad that is sung by Arijit Singh and highlights the lovely relationship of Lakshmikanth (Akshay) with his wife Gayatri (Radhika Apte).The video beautifully describes the simple, ordinary life and love story of newlyweds - Akshay and Radhika's charaters, where Lakshmikanth tries to comfort his wife with small gestures like buying her a vegetable chopper because he can't tolerate her onion tears, fixing a wooden seat at the back of his bicycle because she has trouble sitting on the head tube, helping her with laundry and frequently buying her flowers.Soon after the song was released, the 50-year-old actor took to his Twitter handle, writing, "Witness a superhero's innovative love! Here's the first song from @PadManTheFilm #AajSeTeri http://bit.ly/AajSeTeriHowever, the trailer, which ..
Akshay not the first choice for 'Padman': Twinkle
Twinkle Khanna, one of the producers of "Padman", said her actor-husband Akshay Kumar was not the first choice to play Arunachalam Muruganantham in the film. Directed by R Balki, "Padman" revolves around Muruganantham, a social activist from Tamil Nadu, who revolutionised the concept of menstrual hygiene in rural India by creating a low-cost sanitary napkin machine. When asked if Akshay was her first choice, Twinkle, said, "No. R Balki convinced me that Akshay should do this part." When prodded further as to who she thought could have played the role when the film was being conceptualised, Twinkle quipped, "Are you trying to create trouble in my marriage now?" Akshay joked, "You already said that now (I was not your first choice for the film), there is already a problem." Twinkle said she had some names in her mind but realised Akshay would be perfect for the role. "The thing is, if we had somebody who the Indian public idolises and men look upto and he who could wear a ..
Happy to be a part of 'Amazon Obhijaan': South African actor
South African actor David James, who plays the role of pianist and explorer Marco Florian in 'Amazon Obhijaan', said he enjoyed his collaboration with director Kamaleshwar Mukherjee and looks forward to working with him again. The actor said that shooting an adventure film in three different continents was no mean feat and Mukherjee has done a commendable job with the script, James said. "Kamal da (director) tells a big, adventurous and grand story that stretches over three continents and falls in the period between 1914 and 1920 It is not a small feat," James said. The actor, known for his role as Koobus Venter in the Oscar-nominated science fiction film 'District 9', said the director was sensitive to his ideas and needs during the shoot. "Kamalda was very sensitive to the fact that I was out of my comfort zone. I was fortunate that he allowed me to approach him with my ideas for my character. I really would like to work with him again," James told PTI. The actor said
Rian Johnson opens up about his news 'Star Wars' trilogy
Hollywood director Rian Johnson, who is enjoying blockbuster success with his new movie 'Star WarsLast month it was announced that Disney has closed a deal with director Rian Johnson to develop a new 'Star Wars' trilogy that will go to a new corner of the galaxy, introducing fresh characters and unique storylines.While doing a press tour for his latest movie, Johnson did open about the new trilogy but did not give away much andHe said, "I'm at the very beginning of trying to come up with it, and honestly, timeline-wise, I'm not sure yet. In a way it's interesting, but in a way it's the least interesting part of it to me. I'm more thinking of what's the story going to be, who is it going to follow? What elements is it going to have? What kind of drama is in it? My head right now is more in that place."The director further stated, "I haven't really, really gotten into it. Right now I'm mostly excited by the potential and just starting to form little clusters of ideas of what it might ...
'The Room' getting wide theatrical release in US
"The Room", which is often remembered as the "Citizen Kane of bad movies" by the critics, is getting a wide theatrical release in the US. The film, financed, produced, written and directed by Tommy Wiseau, will be released by Fathom in theatres on January 10 next year, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film was released in 2003, and since then, it achieved the cult status among the audience, who have regular midnight screenings in and around the US. It was back in spotlight this year with "The Disaster Artist", which chronicles the making of the film, opened in theatres. Actor James Franco played Wiseau in the film, which he also directed. The film is based on Wiseau's co-star Greg Sestero's book by the same name.
Eva Longoria pregnant with her first child
Actor Eva Longoria is expecting her first child with media mogul husband Jose Antonio Baston. A rep for the 42-year-old actor confirmed to People magazine that she is four-months along and all set to welcome a baby boy. The "Desperate Housewives" star started dating Baston, 49, in 2013 and got hitched last year. While it would be Longoria's first child, it is the media magnate's fourth child. In summer 2015, the "Telenovela" alum talked about the possibility of having children shortly after she announced her engagement. "I just turned 40, so I have thought, 'Is time running out? I should be thinking about (children), but I feel like my life is full," she had said.
Working on 'MCA...' was a sheer delight: Vijay Varma
Actor Vijay Varma, who is venturing into southern cinema with Telugu film "MCA - Middle Class Abbayi", says working on the movie has been a sheer delight.
I stand by 'Padmavati' team: Priyanka Chopra
Actor Priyanka Chopra hopes the controversy surrounding "Padmavati" clears up soon and the people get to witness the magnum opus in all its glory. Priyanka, who featured in a song in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram-Leela" and essayed a full-fledged role as Kashibai in his film "Bajirao Mastani", said she would always stand by the filmmaker. The period drama, "Padmavati", is yet to receive a certificate from the CBFC. Several Rajput outfits and political leaders have accused the director of "distorting historical facts" in the movie. Starring Deepika Padukone in the title role, with Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh and Ranveer Singh as Sultan Alauddin Khilji, the film was earlier scheduled to arrive in the theatres on December 1. "I have an incredible relationship with Sanjay sir and I admire him tremendously. I know this film will come out and people will see the art behind it. "They just need to make sure that everything is sorted. I will always
Former assistant of Weinstein breaks silence in TV interview
A former assistant of Harvey Weinstein called him a "master manipulator" and alleged that the disgraced Hollywood producer tried to rape her colleague. Zelda Perkins, who worked as Weinstein's assistant in Miramax's London office two decades ago, told BBC that she signed an Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) in 1998 and received 125,000 pounds (USD 168,000) after accusing the producer of raping the Miramax staffer during the Venice Film Festival. "We were at the Venice Film Festival and he tried to rape (my colleague). We returned to the UK and I spoke to my only senior in the Miramax offices and she suggested I get a lawyer so we both resigned from the company, (feeling) constructively dismissed because of his behaviour. "The lawyers made it clear that we didn't have many options because we hadn't gone to the police when we were in Venice and we didn't have any physical evidence. Ultimately, it would be two under-25 women's word against Harvey Weinstein, Miramax and ...
Anil's career wouldn't be same without Anupam's support
Actor Anil Kapoor credits his life and career to veteran actor Anupam Kher for giving him constant support.