Page 720 - Entertainment Culture
Nushrat Bharucha defends director Luv Ranjan amid harassment claims
Nushrat Bharucha Saturday came out in support of Luv Ranjan, who has been accused of sexual harassment, saying the director has never made her feel uncomfortable. The actor said Ranjan is "an opposite to the personality that is being painted recently". In an interview with a daily, an anonymous actor had said she was asked to strip down to her inner wear by Ranjan when she was called for an audition for "Pyaar Ka Punchnama", an allegation he has denied. Bharucha, who has worked with Ranjan in the "Pyaar Ka Punchnama" series, "Akaash Vani" and "Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety", defended the director in a lengthy open letter on Twitter. She recounted her experience of meeting Ranjan for a look test for which there will be a photo shoot of different looks they wanted to try - from simple Indian girl to the girl next door to glamorous to sexy for the three female characters in the film. "They also said the film will have a bikini shot and an intimate kissing scene, so only if I was ok with that ...
Indian classical music fascinates me: Reunion's Maya Kamaty
Maya Kamaty, a prominent Maloya musician and singer of Indian origin from Reunion Island, the French overseas territory, thinks good music can transcend all geographical barriers and says she is deeply inspired by Indian classical music and fascinated by the traditional instruments used here.
I don't attach too much value to fame: Soha Ali Khan
Actress, producer, author Soha Ali Khan says that despite coming from a famous family, she prefers to maintain her own individuality and does not attach to much value to fame and stardom. She feels it fades away with time.
We've to market our culture to our kids first: A.R. Rahman
Veteran music composer A.R. Rahman says Indian culture has to be marketed to the children here first. He feels Marathi cinema has been successful in doing over the last few years.
Every organisation should follow Vishakha Guidelines: Kirron Kher
Actress Kirron Kher said that every organisation should follow the Vishakha Guidelines to curb sexual harassment at workplaces.
#MeToo movement will help film industry in good way: Sriram Raghavan
Siram Raghavan says thanks to the #MeToo movement, people will stay within their limits, especially when they are around women. Raghavan believes the campaign is an interesting phenomenon that is finally arrived in the country and it will only grow further with time. "Many years back this was taken for granted but not anymore. It is a necessary thing that has happened and this is only going to help the film industry in a good way. It will stop people from trying and doing these things with women," Raghavan told PTI. The "Andhadhun" director said what is essential is that so many women have opened up but it is the stories which are coming out that have shocked him the most. "Everybody is capable of doing some nonsense... It is not the names but the events that shocked me. The things that I read." The filmmaker said till the time legal action is initiated against those accused of sexual misconduct, removing them from a project is the way forward. "Till truth comes out following the ...
#MeToo: Molestation complaint filed against Subhash Ghai
A molestation complaint has been filed against director Subhash Ghai by Television actor and model Kate Sharma.While addressing the media after filing the complaint, Kate alleged that the Bollywood film director molested her by forcefully trying to kiss and hug her."He called me to his house on August 6. There were about five to six people at his house and in front of everybody, he asked me to give him a massage. It was shocking for me but I respected his seniority and agreed. I massaged him for two to three minutes and then went to the washroom to wash my hand. He followed me to there. He then took me to his room saying that he wanted to talk to me about something. However, he grabbed me and tried to kiss and hug me."When she requested to leave, the 'Khalnayak' director tried to threaten her, she said."I told him that I wanted to leave. He then threatened me and said that he will not launch me if I do not stay with him for the night," Sharma said.Earlier this week, Ghai was accused ..
In a first, Indian-origin blind man to get guide horse in UK
An Indian-origin man based in north-west England, who suffers from a degenerative eye condition, is set to become the first person in the UK to get a guide horse to assist him with daily tasks once he loses his vision completely. Mohammed Salim Patel, a journalist based in Blackburn at Lancashire, suffers from a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, due to which he is left with a very small amount of sight in his right eye and will eventually become totally blind. The 24-year-old, who suffers from a deep-seated fear of dogs since a scary childhood encounter, could not rely on the more commonly used guide dogs for the blind and that is how the concept of a miniature guide horse came to his attention. "Digby (guide horse) is still a baby and will be two years old in May 2019. His training will take around two more years, so I expect to be able to bring him home to Blackburn once he's finished his training," Patel told PTI. "There is no rush though, as there would be for a guide dog. ...
Vishaka guidelines must be followed to control sexual harassment: Kirron Kher
As women's fight against sexual misconduct gains momentum in India with the viral #MeToo movement, actor-politician Kirron Kher on Saturday called for the implementation of the Vishaka guidelines in every organisation in the country."According to me, it's not about the industry, it's about the world. This is happening in the whole world, not just in the film industry. There is a law, called the Vishaka Guidelines. Vishaka Guidelines is supposed to be there in every institution, whether it is in office, an industry, in every production house, they (the guidelines) should be followed. If you are not following the guidelines, you are making a mistake," Kher said.She also stated that it is important for women to speak up when the incident of sexual harassment happens, instead of waiting for so long."Those who wait for these many years ought to have spoken about this a lot earlier so that you stem it right at the beginning.This is happening because of the mindset, which feels a sense of ...
Following sexual harassment allegations, Bhushan Kumar files complaint
T-Series chairman Bhushan Kumar on Saturday filed a police complaint against an unknown person for levelling sexual harassment allegations against him.The complaint, filed at Mumbai's Amboli police station, stated that the person was posting offending remarks and statements against him on social media."My name has been falsely dragged in the MeToo movement, which is currently sweeping the country's landscape," the complaint, dated October 12, stated. "The post makes serious allegations against me that three years back, I had offered an aspiring actress to sleep with me in lieu of a role being offered in my films and when she refused, I dropped her from the films."The producer also stated that the Twitter handle disappeared minutes after uploading the post.In the ongoing #MeToo movement, many big names, including Vikas Bahl, Subhash Ghai, Nana Patekar, Alok Nath and Sajid Khan, among others have been accused of harassment.
Kollam Thulasi apologises for derogatory remark on women
Hours after Kollam Thulasi was booked on account of the derogatory remark made by him on the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple, the actor issued an apology on Saturday."It is due to my deep devotion to Lord Ayyappa I spoke like that. But I later understood that as a celebrity, I shouldn't have made a statement like this. I wholeheartedly apologise for this (remark)," the actor said.On September 28, Supreme Court quashed all restrictions imposed on the entry of women into the Sabarimala Temple, and observed that "no physiological and biological factor can be given legitimacy if it doesn't pass the test of conditionality".While many, including the Kerala state government, welcomed the decision, a large number of devotees have organised protests, demanding to retain the age-old tradition.Thulasi, while addressing a public gathering on Friday, had suggested that women who enter the temple should be ripped into two. "One half should be sent to Delhi and the other half should be ...
Tanushree's lawyer requests for narco test of Patekar, others
Tanushree Dutta's lawyer on Saturday requested the police to conduct narco-analysis, brain mapping and lie detector tests of Nana Patekar in connection with the harassment allegations against the actor.The application, submitted at Mumbai's Oshiwara police station, also included names of choreographer Ganesh Acharya, 'Horn Ok Pleassss' producer Samee Siddiqui and director Rakesh Sarang.Tanushree alleged that Patekar had misbehaved with her on the sets of 'Horn Ok Pleasss' in 2008 while shooting for a special dance number for the movie.Earlier this week, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against Patekar over the harassment allegations made by the 'Dhol' actor.Besides the Bollywood veteran, an FIR was also lodged against Sarang, Siddiqui, and Acharya, under Section 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
'Housefull 4' gets new director
The fourth installment of the 'Housefull' franchise will now be directed by Farhad Samji, who helmed the third part of the film.This comes after Sajid Khan, who has been accused of sexual harassment by three women, stepped down as the director of 'Housefull 4' on Friday.Film critic Taran Adarsh took to Twitter to make the announcement, writing, "IT'S OFFICIAL... Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment official statement: #Housefull3 director Farhad Samji will now direct #Housefull4."Three women, namely actor Rachel White, assistant director Saloni Chopra and journalist Karishma Upadhyay, accused Sajid of sexual harassment and shared their heart-wrenching ordeals on their respective social media handles.Later on Friday, actor Nana Patekar, who was also part of the film and has been accused of harassment by Tanushree Dutta, announced that he is exiting the film.Meanwhile, Akshay Kumar, who is also part of the film, had urged the producers of 'Housefull 4' to cancel the shoot until the ...
AMMA "bias" against survivor, supporting accused actor: WCC
: Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), an outfit of women in the Malayalam film industry, Saturday came down heavily on actors's body AMMA for allegedly showing "bias" against the young actress who was abducted and molested in her car in Kochi last year. In an emotionally charged press meet in Kochi, the WCC leaders said that instead of support, the leadership of the Association for Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) had been indulging in "victim shaming" and publically "mocking" at women who had chosen to speak about the matter. They also alleged that though AMMA is the lone such body in the Malayalam film industry, it was acting against the interests of women and was not a "safe place" to discuss their issues. A platform of women actors, directors, script writers and singers of the Malayalam industry, the WCC was launched soon after the shocking actress assault incident, to ensure gender justice and safeguard women's rights in the film world. The WCC members have been on the .
Farhad Samji replaces Sajid Khan as 'Housefull 4' director
Farhad Samji will take over the reins as director of "Housefull 4" after Sajid Khan stepped down from the role amid sexual misconduct allegations against him.
Saqib dances impromptu on 'Rock You' at LMIFW runway
Actor Saqib Saleem, who turned showstopper for designer Pawan Sachdeva, rocked the Lotus Make-Up India Fashion Week (LMIFW) here on Saturday with an impromptu dance on the runway while the iconic number "Rock You" by Queen was playing in the background.
Maha: Mumbai-South Korea Biennale inaugurated by Tawde
The first edition of the Mumbai- South Korea Biennale titled "Beyond the Frames" was Saturday inaugurated by Maharashtra Education and Culture Minister Vinod Tawde. The biennale, which will be underway till October 18, is jointly organised by Sir JJ School of Art, Mumbai and K-Art International Exchange Association, South Korea in association with Inko Centre, Chennai. Over 120 artists from Korea and 70 from Mumbai will exhibit their works, including contemporary painting, print making and abstract painting, organisers said. Tawde said that the event would help the strengthen the bonds of art and culture between India and South Korea, a nation known more for home appliances and automobiles. A biennale, which is an Italian word for an event that happens every two years, is now commonly used in the art world to describe large scale international contemporary art exhibitions.
Superstar Mohanlal under fire from actresses
The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), led by super star Mohanlal, came under fire on Saturday from the Women's Collective in Cinema (WCC) over the way the kidanpping case of an actress is being handled.
Farhad Samji to direct 'Housefull 4' after Sajid Khan's exit
The producers of "Housefull 4" Saturday announced that Farhad Samji will be taking over the directing duties of the film after the exit of Sajid Khan. Sajid announced his departure on Friday after three women actors and a journalist accused him of sexual harassment. The film is being produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under his banner of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. In a statement, a spokesperson of the production house said, "Director of 'Housefull 3', Farhad Samji, will now direct Housefull 4." Farhad Samji had co-directed the franchise's previous entry "Housefull 3" along with his brother Sajid Samji. The film's lead star Akshay Kumar announced Friday that the shooting has been put on hold for now. "I've just landed back in the country last night and reading all the news has been very disturbing. I've requested the producers of Housefull 4 to cancel the shoot until further investigation," he wrote on Twitter. "This is something that requires stringent action. I will not work with ..
Tochi Raina to sing for Rahul Roy's 'Night and Fog'
Singer Tochi Raina, who crooned "Iktara" and "Kabira", has lent his voice for Aayush Shah and Rahul Roy for their upcoming film "Night and Fog".