Page 313 - Entertainment Culture
Sad we haven't made a film on 'Battle of Saragarhi': Akshay Kumar
Akshay Kumar, whose "Kesari" is based on the Battle of Saragarhi, says it is sad that the story has not been made into a film until now. The Battle of Saragarhi was fought between the British Indian army's Sikh Regiment and Afghan tribesmen on September 12, 1897. Saragarhi was a tiny village in the then North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). The British Indian contingent comprised 21 Jat Sikh soldiers of the 36th Sikhs who were stationed at an Army post and were attacked by 10,000 to 12,000 Afghans. Led by Havildar Ishar Singh, the Sikhs chose to fight to the death, in what is touted by some military historians as one of history's greatest battles ever fought. "The Battle of Saragarhi ranks second when one would search about the top battles ever fought by India. Sadly we haven't made a film on it and not many people know about it. I also did not know much about it in detail, but I learnt a lot of things while working on the film," Akshay said in an ...
Alia Bhatt joins SS Rajamouli's 'RRR'
Bollywood star Alia Bhatt has joined the cast of filmmaker SS Rajamouli's upcoming venture "RRR". The 25-year-old actor said she is excited about working with the critically-acclaimed director and south superstars Ram Charan and Jr NTR. "Working with Rajamouli sir is a big tick off my bucket list. Also to be alongside Ram Charan and Jr NTR is an absolute honour. I am very excited about this experience and also working in the south for the first time," Alia said in a statement. The film is set in the 1920s and the actor will soon start filming it. "I begin the shoot in less than a month. I will be playing role of Sita and the film is set in 1920s backdrop," the statement further read. Ajay Devgn, who had earlier given the voice-overs for the Hindi version of Rajamouli's 2012 Telugu blockbuster "Eega" titled "Makkhi", is also set to play a pivotal role in "RRR".
'Wonder Park': Stereotypical yet engaging (IANS Review, Rating: **1/2)
Film: "Wonder Park"; Directors: Dylan Brown, David Feiss, Clare Kilner and Robert Iscove; Voices of: Jennifer Garner, Matthew Broderick, John Oliver, Mila Kunis, Kenan Thompson, Ken Jeong, Norbert Leo Butz, Brianna Denski, Ken Hudson Campbell; Rating: **1/2
If I can get share of both pies, why not: Akshay
Actor Akshay Kumar is on a roll, and when is he ever not? After signing up for a web series, the superstar is now getting ready for his next release "Kesari". He says he is happy getting a share of both the pies.
Success instantly puts you in a position of fear: Raj Nidimoru
Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK scored big as writers with "Stree" and the director duo says they are aware of the pressure which rides on their next venture following the massive success of the film. Written by Raj and DK , "Stree", featuring Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor, went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2018. The horror-comedy not only worked at the box office but also received critical acclaim for its crisp writing and witty dialogues by Sumit Arora. At a panel discussion at the ongoing FICCI Frames, Raj said the pressure of success was so huge that director of the film, Amar Kaushik, wanted the box office collection to stop at Rs 60 crore. The film went on to earn approximately Rs 130 cr. "The biggest thing which comes with success is fear. You're put in a position of fear immediately, thinking 'how the hell am I going to match this damn film'. Amar was telling me 'sir I hope this stops at RS 60 crore. If it goes above 60, I'll die. I don't know what to do next ...
Denzel Washington all set to star in 'Little Things'
American actor Denzel Washington is in talks to star in the upcoming cop thriller titled 'Little Things'.John Lee Hancock, who has previously directed films like 'The Blind Side' and 'The Highwaymen' is going to write the film. He is also being eyed to helm the film, however, there is no official confirmation on that yet, reported Variety.The film tells the story of a burned-out Kern County deputy sheriff named Deke, played by Washington, who teams up with a crack LASD detective, Baxter, to reel in a wily serial killer. All the while, Deke also wrestles with a dark secret from his past.Insiders told Variety that Washington had several options in his mind as his next project, including directing a film titled 'Journal of Jordan', which stars Michael B. Jordan in the lead role. Eventually, a recent meeting with Hancock led to Washington choosing 'Little Things' as his next big project.The upcoming cop thriller is said to go on floors by this summer.The Oscar-winning actor was most ...
Denzel Washington to star in police thriller
Actor-filmmaker Denzel Washington is in talks to star in the police thriller, titled "Little Things".
Varun 'adopts' Deepika, Ranveer as parents
Actor Varun Dhawan says Bollywood star couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone are his "adopted" parents.
Concert featuring Grammy Award Ricky Kej to raise awareness on climate change and health in New Delhi
The Centre for Environmental Health (CEH), a Centre of Excellence at the Public Health Foundation of India and the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) is organizing a one of its kind concert in New Delhi on March 23, 2019, to raise awareness on climate change and health.The theme of the concert - "Let us Live". is themed about raising awareness about the harmful effects of climate change and health and the need to preserve and save our beautiful planet. The concert features Grammy® Winner Ricky Kej, who is a Music Maestro, UNESCO mgiep's Ambassador, UNICEF Celebrity Supporter and United Nations Humanitarian Artist who has enthralled audiences with a Global Symphonic Experience of 'World Music for Environmental Consciousness'.Ricky Kej along with his ensemble of internationally renowned musicians presents to you a unique concert with an exquisite audiovisual blend of cultures, traditions, languages and musical styles. Musically celebrating co-existence, peace, humanity,
I am greedy for interesting roles: Swastika Mukherjee
Actress Swastika Mukherjee says she will play the complex character of a single working mother of a differently abled child in the upcoming Bengali film 'Kia and Cosmos'. Swastika, who describes herself as a 'greedy actress' in search of intriguing roles, told PTI that "my status as a single mom perhaps helped me when I was relating to the script." "An actress extracts from every type of real life experience from her own life depending on the character and the demands from the character," said the actress who appeared in films like 'Family Album', 'Shah Jahan Regency' and 'Detective Byomkesh Bakshy'. On 'Kia And Cosmos', she said, "In my opinion it is one of the very few films which has seriously delved into the issue of autism." Describing it as an important step to take up the issue of autism in the film, Mukherjee said, "Ritwika Pal essays the role of a special child in the film and I play her mother." Showering compliments on Ritwika, Mukherjee, who enacted the ...
Third K-pop star embroiled in sex video scandal
A K-pop star has quit after admitting he watched illicit sex videos received from another artist, his agency said Thursday, the third singer to be engulfed in a scandal sweeping South Korea's music industry. Yong Jun-hyung, 29, who is a member of boy band Highlight -- formerly known as Beast -- said he watched a video of singer Jung Joon-young having sex with women taken without their consent. Jung, 30, was questioned by police on Thursday after admitting he shared the footage with other men, including mega K-pop star Seungri, who is also embroiled in a sex-for-investment criminal investigation. Both Seungri -- a member of boy band BIGBANG -- and Jung, announced their retirement from show business earlier this week. Yong "has watched the footage... and had an inappropriate conversation with (Jung)," the singer's agency Around Us Entertainment said in a statement, adding Yong will leave the band Highlight on Thursday. South Korea has been battling a growing epidemic of so-called ...
Actors make the worst friends: Sunny Leone
Actress Sunny Leone says entertainers make the worst friends because they are never available.
Destin Daniel Cretton to direct Marvel's first Asian-led project 'Shang-Chi'
Marvel has roped in Destin Daniel Cretton to direct its first project with an Asian lead, "Shang-Chi". Cretton broke out with 2013 indie favourite "Short Term 12", which starred "Captain Marvel" star Brie Larson. According to The Hollywood Reporter, other filmmakers who were being considered to helm the film were Justin Tipping ("Dear White People"), Alan Yang ("Master of Young") and Deborah Chow ("Jessica Jones"). As per the comics, Shang-Chi was born in China to a Chinese father and a Caucasian American mother. The character first appeared in 1973's Special Marvel Edition No 15. It was created by Steve Englehart and Jim Starlin after Marvel failed to acquire the comic book rights to TV series "Kung Fu". Shang-Chi was trained as a martial artist assassin by his father, the infamous pulp villain Fu Manchu, but later became a hero after rebelling against his father. A hit character in the '70s, Shang-Chi recently witnessed a revival as a member of the Avengers during 2012's Marvel Now!
Kit Harington, Emma Stone to host SNL
"Game of Thrones" star Kit Harington will debut as the host of "Saturday Night Live" in the April 6 episode, NBC announced. According to EW, the actor will be joined by Sara Bareilles, who will serve as musical guest. Harington's hosting duties come ahead of the much anticipated April 14 premiere of the HBO fantasy drama's final season. "The Favourite" star Emma Stone will emcee the April 13th episode, with popular South Korean boy band BTS attached to perform. This will be Stone's fourth stint at the "SNL". The late-night stand-up show had previously announced that "Killing Eve" star Sandra Oh is set to host the March 30 episode, to be joined by Australian music group Tame Impala.
Hugh Jackman-starrer 'The Music Man' revival coming to Broadway
Hugh Jackman is bracing for his Broadway return in a 2020 revival of Meredith Willson's 1957 classic musical "The Music Man". According to Variety, this marks the actor's first Broadway musical role in 16 years; his last one being "The Boy From Oz" which earned him a Best Actor Tony. Jackman confirmed the news on Twitter on Wednesday. He tweeted an image of a suitcase, a trombone and an ID tag with the name 'Professor Harold Hill'. The suitcase had a sticker reading "Opening Night October 22, 2020." Jackman will play conman Harold Hill, a role made famous on screen and stage by late actor Robert Preston. The show follows Hill's latest scheme, one that finds him posing as the head of boys' marching band called 76 Trombones. Scott Rudin of "The Truman Show" and "Revolutionary Road" fame will produce the revival. Jackman will also perform the tracks from his musical film "The Greatest Showman" on a worldwide arena tour of his one-man stage show this year. Film's director Michael Gracey ..
TMC continues to add glitz and glamour to poll arena
Continuing with her penchant for bringing in silver screen personalities to politics, Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has fielded five film stars, including two greenhorns, for the coming Lok Sabha elections. In the 2014 general elections, Banerjee had fielded the same number of cinestars and all the five had won. It was Banerjee who had in 2009 started the practice of fielding people from the glamour world in West Bengal elections, which was considered to be the forte of southern states. Of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, the TMC had won 19 seats in 2009 and 34 in 2014. The party also adds a dash of colour to major public meetings, where celebrities from the film and television world assemble. Fielding of Mimi Chakraborty, a popular actress in Bengali cinema and a political greenhorn, from the prestigious Jadavpur constituency for the 2019 elections has come as a surprise to many. It was from this constituency in the city that Mamata Banerjee .
Huge honour for Anand Pandit to back Modi's biopic
Producer Anand Pandit says it's a huge honour to produce "PM Narendra Modi", which is also backed by Sandeep Ssingh.
'Hellboy' to release in India in April
Superhero film "Hellboy" will release in India on April 12.
Beckinsale 'really happy' with Pete Davidson
Actress Kate Beckinsale is reportedly "really happy" with Pete Davidson as their budding romance continues to heat up.
No body double: Trump blasts #FakeMelania theories
US President Donald Trump is not amused by the #FakeMelania conspiracy theories circulating on social media. He spun off a new theory on Wednesday to debunk the idea that there's a body double of his wife who steps in for her at times. The "fake news" did it, he claimed without evidence. Trump alleged on Wednesday in a tweet that photos of his wife had been altered to make them appear as though a look-alike accompanied him to Alabama last week to survey tornado damage. His favourite morning TV programme, "Fox & Friends," reported on the body-double theory Wednesday as the show's hosts weighed in on a discussion that aired Monday on ABC's "The View." Hosts of the ABC programme debated whether an impostor had travelled with Trump. "The Fake News photoshopped pictures of Melania, then propelled conspiracy theories that it's actually not her by my side in Alabama and other places," the president tweeted. "They are only getting more deranged with time!" Hosts of "The View" had ...