Page 710 - Entertainment Culture

Love, loss and betrayal in 19th century Delhi

Noted writer-historian Rana Safvi has translated four Urdu narratives spanning the period of turmoil that led to the revolt of 1857, and culminated in the fall of the Mughal Empire.

Idris Elba to be part of 'Cats' movie adaptation?

Idris Elba is in talks to join the movie adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Broadway musical 'Cats'.The 'Avengers: Infinity War' star will star alongside Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, James Corden and Ian McKellen, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film will be directed by Tom Hooper, who previously helmed a big-screen adaptation of the much-loved musical 'Les Miserables'.Based on T.S. Eliot's 'Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats', the musical - which follows a tribe of cats known as Jellicles - is the one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history.Elba might portray Macavity, a master criminal. The 46-year-old is currently filming 'Hobbs & Shaw' with Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.The untitled 'Cats' film is expected to release in December 2019.

Ariana Grande belts out 'wicked' tune after Pete Davidson split

American singer Ariana Grande belted out a big 'wicked' tune during her first public appearance since ending things with fiance Pete Davidson.The "One Last Time" singer performed 'The Wizard and I' on Tuesday (local time) in a pre-taped TV special for the Broadway musical 'Wicked.' Grande assured of her presence at the event, even after the split with Davidson, and she delivered on her promise.Taking to her Instagram story, she posted a now-deleted note with white text on a black background. "Ok today was very special and I'm so grateful that I was able to be there," she wrote.This Instagram post was also the first time she outwardly addressed the end of her engagement as she added, "Time to say bye bye to the internet for just a lil bit. It's hard not to bump news and stuff that I'm not tryna to see right now.""It's very sad and we're all trying very hard to keep going. Love u. and thank u for being here always," she continued.On the other hand, Davidson was supposed to headline a ...

Brief Answers to the Big Questions: "There's no God", Stephen Hawking in his final book

The final book of late physicist Stephen Hawking was published on Tuesday, October 16, week and one of the most prominent explanations coming from the renowned personality is about God.In the book titled,'Brief Answers to the Big Questions', Hawking writes, "Do I have faith? We are each free to believe what we want, and it's my view that the simplest explanation is that there is no God. No one created the universe, and no one directs our fate."As Cnet reported, Hawking goes on to say in his book that the realisation about God made him to decide that belief in an afterlife was just "wishful thinking" and that "when we die, we return to dust."However, the scientist does not completely rule out the possibility of the existence of God. He wrote that if there was God, he had a question for him. "If there were such a God, I would like to ask, however did he think of anything as complicated as M-theory in eleven dimensions."The book tackles many of such complex questions, including if ...

Idris Elba joins Taylor Swift in 'Cats' movie adaptation

Actor Idris Elba is in final negotiations to join the film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical "Cats".

We were all aware of casting couch in Hollywood: Micheal Caine

Veteran actor Michael Caine has said casting couch was an open secret in Hollywood. The 85-year-old actor said though he knew about producers like Harvey Weinstein asking for sexual favours from aspiring starlets in return for a role, he did not know the extent of the problem. "In Hollywood, we were all aware of the casting couch. It was almost a joke. We knew it existed. But my view of the casting couch was that a young lady went to do an audition, the producer said, 'Well you've got the part if you did this', she said 'I'm not doing that' and he said 'well you haven't got the part' and she left. "I thought it was terribly unfair that a talented actress might not get a part because she wouldn't do something sexual with the producer. But it happened and there was nothing I could do about it. I was a nobody in Hollywood. I didn't have the power of the big producers. But I never thought there were any actual physical attacks," Caine told Radio Times magazine. The "King of Thieves" actor

Lady Gaga confirms engagement after she calls Christian Carino as her 'fiance'

Actor-singer Lady Gaga has confirmed her engagement to boyfriend Christian Carino. During her emotional speech at Elle's 25th Annual Women in Hollywood Celebration here, the 32-year-old singer referred to Carino as "my fiance, Christian". The "A Star Is Born" actor wiped away her tears as she spoke and thanked "all the loved ones" in her life who take care of her every day, reported EOnline. Gaga and Carino, a talent agent, have kept their relationship low-key from the beginning. They had started dating in January 2017. She was previously engaged to actor Taylor Kinney, whom she dated for four years before he proposed on Valentine's Day 2015. The couple announced their split in July, 2016.

Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga to star in third 'Annabelle' movie

Actors Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga will reprise their roles as Ed and Lorraine Warren in New Lines "The Conjuring" spin-off, the untitled third "Annabelle" movie.

'Girls like you' Volume 2 music video released

Grammy-winning band Maroon 5 has unveiled the "Girls like you" Volume 2 music video. The original music video has surpassed one billion views on YouTube. The single remains at number one on Billboard Hot 100 for four consecutive weeks.

'A Prophet' to turn into TV series

Jacques Audiard-directed movie "A Prophet" is being made into a TV series by producer Marco Cherqui.

Hope films I make become mainstream, says Anand Gandhi

After putting his might behind independent projects, "Ship of Theseus" director Anand Gandhi hopes his stories find more mainstream relevance in future. Gandhi has penned the screenplay for his maiden mainstream outing "Helicopter Eela", starring Kajol. The feature, which released on October 12, is based on his play "Beta Kaagdo". He has also written and produced "Tumbbad", a historical period horror featuring Sohum Shah, which also released on the same day. A mythological horror, the film has has received unanimous praise by critics. Gandhi, 38, is glad to contribute in this shifting ecosystem where viewers are warming up to content-driven stories. "There is a beautiful churning happening. It is exciting to be part of this change and make films. The biggest challenge is to optimise these possibilities and keep pushing and reinventing oneself," Gandhi told PTI. "I will continue to make the kind of films I want to make. I hope the films I make reach a wider audience. So the definition .

Can't believe we still have conversation about unlikable women on TV: Lena Dunham

Actor-writer Lena Dunham has said she find it difficult to understand why projecting "unlikable women" on the small screen continues to be a task. Dunham, co-creator of "Girls" and most recently "Camping", called out the hypocrisy of the TV industry, saying grey male characters like Tony Soprano of "The Sopranos" and Walter White of "Breaking Bad" are lapped up sans any objections. "I can't believe that we're still having a conversation about unlikable women on television. It doesn't matter if you like our lead character. It truly doesn't matter. What matters is that you relate and you understand. "It just drives me nuts that we can have a Tony Soprano or a Walter White or any of these characters who are wreaking literal havoc on the world around them and killing people, and then when you have a woman who's thorny and complicated, and there's no way to find empathy for her," Dunham told The Hollywood Reporter. "Girls" showrunner Jenni Konner has co-created "Camping", which is an ...

Making men priority was a big mistake: Neena Gupta

Her on-screen characters challenged social norms but in real life Neena Gupta says men became a priority and her focus shifted from career to finding the right partner. The 64-year-old actor, who is known for her performance in TV shows such as "Khandaan", "Bharat Ek Khoj" and "Saans" and movies like "Woh Chokri", "Gandhi" and "Muhafiz", says her desire to have a healthy relationship diverted her attention from work. "I always wanted to do good work and play strong parts. But when I look back now, I feel men became my priority and it was a big mistake. My focus shifted from career to finding the right man. Men should never be the prime focus of women's life," Gupta told PTI. "I was doing really well. I was writing, directing and producing some great things on television. What I went through in personal life had a big impression on my professional choices," she added. The veteran actor believes women are conditioned to keep their relationships above their personal goals. "As women, we .

Ralph Fiennes to be felicitated with European Achievement in World Cinema Award

Ralph Fiennes will be honoured by European Achievement in World Cinema Award at the European Film Awards 2018. The announcement was made by The European Film Academy in a press release, saying the 55-year-old actor is being recognised for his "rich and extensive career in front of and behind the camera". Over the years, Fiennes has featured in many memorable films such "The Grand Budapest Hotel", "The English Patient" and "Schindler's List". His ardent fans know him as the man who essayed the role of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter franchise and as the most recent "M" in James Bond films "Skyfall" and "Spectre". Fiennes played Nazi officer Amon Goeth in Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List" in 1993 which earned him a BAFTA and an Oscar nod. His filmography also includes blockbusters such as "Strange Days", "A Bigger Splash", "Sunshine" and "The Hurt Locker", among others. Fiennes made his directorial debut in 2011 with "Coriolanus", the film adaptation of Shakespearean tragedy of ..

Charlize Theron condemns Trump mockery of Prof Ford

Charlize Theron has condemned Donald Trump's mockery of Christine Blasey Ford, saying watching the US President belittle the professor was a moment of "extreme sadness" for her. Theron said it was "worse than high school" to see an adult engage in such behaviour. When asked to comment on Trump's reaction, the actor told Variety, "You don't have to agree with her but you don't have to belittle her. You don't have to do that. For me, it's worse than high school to see an adult do that, especially the leader of the free world. It's sad." "If that was his daughter how would he feel if somebody did that? And I think that sometimes it's really hard for people to themselves in other people's shoes and I don't know why it's just plain empathy. Just to have empathy for somebody," she added. Earlier this month, Trump publicly mocked Blasey Ford, the professor who has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, 36 years ago. The #MeToo movement shifted from .

Sophie Turner studied hard to understand her 'Dark Phoenix' role

"Game of Thrones" star Sophie Turner says she studied about schizophrenia and mental disorders to prepare for her role in "X-Men: Dark Phoenix". The 22-year-old actor, who reprises her "X-Men: Apocalypse" role of Jean Grey in the new film, told Screenrant that director Simon Kinberg provided her the study material and she almost experienced what it was like to hear voices in the head. "As soon as Simon [Kinberg] kind of told me what the movie was about we just started straight away sharing ideas, sharing materials. Simon gave me a big, big book on schizophrenia," Turner said. "I actually found this thing online, on YouTube. And it was just kind of repeating, repeating, repeating, what it sounds like being a schizophrenic. So I used to walk around town with all these voices in my head. Kind of feel it out. And see what it felt like," she added. The actor said she wanted to understand the complexity of her character and that is why she devoted so much time in prep work. "Jean is just ...

My focus in life right now is acting, films: Ranveer Singh (IANS Interview)

There has been immense buzz surrounding his coming wedding with actress Deepika Padukone, but Bollywood star Ranveer Singh says his focus in life right now is acting and films.

Keira Knightley has 'banned' her daughter from watching Disney's 'Cinderalla', 'The Little Mermaid'

Actor Keira Knightley says she has barred her daughter from watching Disney films "Cinderella" and "The Little Mermaid". During her appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show", the 33-year-old actor said she is not a fan of every Disney film. Knightley said she has "banned" her three-year-old daughter, Edie Knightley Righton, from watching 1950 classic "Cinderella" because "she waits around for a rich guy to rescue her". "Don't! Rescue yourself. Obviously!" she said. "And this is the one that I'm quite annoyed about because I really like the film, but "Little Mermaid" (is banned, too). I mean, the songs are great, but do not give your voice up for a man. Hello! But the problem with 'The Little Mermaid' is I love 'The Little Mermaid'! That one's a little tricky but I'm keeping to it," she added. Knightley, however, said Disney's "Finding Dory" is not banned and added that the film is "a big favourite in our house". "'Frozen' is huge and 'Moana' is totally fine," she added. Knightley will .

I don't understand scripts: Shah Rukh Khan

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan says he never listens to a script and rather chooses to understand the filmmaker's vision while choosing a film. "I normally, and even till date -- which might finally, ultimately, 75 years from now lead to my downfall -- never listen to a script. I listen to the heartbeats of people I work with. There are young actors who sit with me and say 'Sir you left that script, it was so amazing!' "I never understand a script. I can say this openly, cross my heart and say, I've never understood a script. I've understood the script maker or filmmaker at the end of the whole pages of dialogues," he said. The actor was speaking at a special celebration to mark 20 years of "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", along with director Karan Johar and co-stars Kajol and Rani Mukerji, Tuesday night. Shah Rukh said he remembers the first time Karan narrated the story of "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai" to him while he was shooting for "Chahat". "The story he narrated to me in that hotel, on the steps of ...

Someday, work with me again: Salman tells Karan Johar

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, who became a part of a celebration for 20 years of "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", says the film's director Karan Johar is the "busiest man" in the Hindi film industry today. The actor has urged the filmmaker to work with him again.