I’m uncomfortable talking in English: Akshay Kumar
Indo-Asian News Service
Monday, November 07, 2011 (Mumbai)
Unlike other Bollywood celebrities, who prefer to converse in English, Bollywood’s desi boy Akshay Kumar says he is more comfortable talking in Hindi.
“After all, we’re Hindi film stars. We earn our bread and butter from Bollywood. I’m uncomfortable talking in English..I’ve always been,” Akshay said in a statement.
“I’ve realized my fans love the dialogues I say on screen. And those are in Hindi. Why speak in a language you are not comfortable with? After all success is about being comfortable in your own skin and I’m finally doing that,” he added.
The actor, who is now gearing up for the release of his new film Desi Boyz with John Abraham, calls himself desi and says he is proud of his roots.
“I’m proud to be desi. I’m a desi boy from Delhi and I’m very proud of who I am and I am proud of my roots. My fans love me for being being humble and hard working. They love me for speaking to them in their language; they connect with me because I remind them of their roots,” he said.
Read more at: NDTV
Dr Hazarika’s mortal remains arriving today
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Nov 6 – The mortal remains of the legendary Dr Bhupen Hazarika are expected to reach the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport around 11-40 am tomorrow.
Dr Hazarika’s body would be brought to Guwahati in a Jet Airways flight which is scheduled to take off from Mumbai around 6-45 am.
“Following brief stops of two minutes at Dharapur and then followed by Gauhati University, Maligaon, Sonaram High School Field near the Santipur-Bharalumukh intersection and Dighalipukhuri, his last remains will be taken to his Nizarapar residence,” Ashutosh Agnihotri, Deputy Commissioner (Metro) told The Assam Tribune.
The body would be kept at his Nizarapar residence for a couple of hours for the family members to pay tributes after which it will be brought to the Judges’ Field for his fans to pay their last respect to the icon, who breathed his last on Saturday. The body would be kept at the Judges’ Field till Tuesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, preparations are on in the capital city to receive Dr Hazarika’s body and the State Government has started construction work of a large auditorium at the Judges’ Field to accommodate a large number of people, who are expected to turn up from across the country to pay their tributes.
District administration sources confirmed that there would be only one entry point near the Gauhati Town Club end while the exit point will be through the gate near the Gauhati High Court so that the movement of mourners does not hinder the proceedings.
Special medical units will be in placed at the venue while the entire artificially constructed auditorium will be air-conditioned.
Police administration has also chalked out a detailed plan to avert any kind of untoward incident. Additional manpower is being deployed for the purpose.
With just two days left for the cremation, the administration, since Sunday morning, is scouting for suitable locations where the legend can be laid to rest.
Earlier today in Mumbai, Dr Hazarika’s body was brought out from the morgue of the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambai Hospital around 4 pm for an hour for the people to pay their last tributes.
Hundreds of people including actress and wife of Anil Ambani, Tina Ambani, filmmaker Jahnu Barua, Assam Minister Pranati Phukan, filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar and singer Ila Arun, turned up and paid their homage.
The Maharashtra Government also accorded State honour to the Dada Saheb Phalke Award winner.
Family sources informed that Dr Hazarika’s son Tej Hazarika would reach Guwahati tomorrow. Dr Hazarika’s wife Priyambada Patel, however, would not be able to make it for the funeral as she recently had knee replacement.
Source: Assam Tribune
Legendary Bhupen Hazarika passes away
GUWAHATI, Nov 5 – Legendary musician Dr Bhupen Hazarika is no more. Death snatched him away around 4-35 pm today at the Mumbai-based Dhirubhai Kokilaben Ambani Hospital. The hospital authorities formally declared his death around 4-37 pm. According to doctors attending on him, Dr Hazarika passed away due to cardiac failure. He was admitted to the hospital on June 29 last following breathing problems.
The body would be brought to Guwahati after arrangements by the State Government for the last rites are finalised. However, Dr Hazarika’s body would be taken to his Mumbai residence before being flown to Guwahati for the last rites.
During his last hours, his sister-in-law and artiste Monisha Hazarika, writer Anuradha Sarma Pujari and her husband Pabitra Pujari, filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi and a host of relatives and fans were there by his side.
Maharashta Chief Minister is expected to pay his last respect to Dr Hazarika at the hospital this evening itself. Renowned singer Lata Mangeshkar has also conveyed her condolence to the bereaved family members over phone.
Fans gathered at the Nizarapar (Guwahati) family residence of the Hazarikas to sympathise with the family members.
Hazarika’s health deteriorated on October 23, after he developed pneumonia. He had to undergo a minor surgery whereby doctors placed a food pipe into his system.
The balladeer, who composed his own lyrics and music, last lent his voice to the film Gandhi To Hitler, where he sang Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan ‘Vaishnav jan’.
Hazarika was regarded as one of the greatest living cultural communicators of South Asia. He had been a poet, journalist, singer, lyricist, musician, filmmaker and writer.
The Padma Bhushan awardee had celebrated his birthday this year in the ICU of the hospital on September 8 when he cut a cake and fans sang his favourite numbers.
Source: Assam Tribune
Bachchans pick suburban hospital for delivery
NDTVMovies.com
Wednesday, November 02, 2011 (New Delhi)
The Bachchans have picked the Seven Hills Hospital at Marol in the Mumbai suburb of Andheri (E) for the birth of Baby B, India’s most awaited baby, soon to be born to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
While we haven’t seen too much of the gorgeous Aishwarya lately save at a few events over the festive season, the little we did see of her showed that Aishwarya was certainly in the festive spirit, even if she was rather protective of her baby bump!
She certainly has every reason to be, with rumours circulating that Baby B is expected on November 11.
Yesterday, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan celebrated her 38th birthday, with some unconfirmed reports suggesting that several gifts would be showered on her by the doting family, including expensive jewellery, a car and even a home!
Meanwhile both Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan responded to the Twitter wishes posted by fans for Aishwarya, promising to deliver them to her.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is not on Twitter, though she has used her husband’s Twitter handle in the past to reach out to fans.
Read more at: NDTV
Chhath Puja from today
Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Oct 31 – Chhath Puja, the festival of worshipping Surya, the Sun God, will be held on the banks of rivers and other water bodies on November 1 and 2.
Though the puja is offered on the riverbank on two days, devotees observe rigorous rituals over a period of four days. Today, being the second day of the rituals, the devotees observed fast for the whole day, breaking it after sunset.
In Guwahati also, lakhs of devotees offer their prayers on the bank of Brahmaputra and other water bodies. River ghats have been cleared and decorated by the puja committees with the help of district administration.
Considering the massive traffic jam that the devotees and other people face due to the movement of people to and from the ghats, special traffic arrangements have been made for the purpose.
The Assam State president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Ranjit Dutta and national vice-president Bijoya Chakraborty have offered their greetings to the people of the State on the occasion of Chhath Puja.
Source: Assam Tribune
Tom Cruise was “inspiring” on sets of M:I 4
BANG Showbiz
Saturday, October 29, 2011 (Los Angeles)
Tom Cruise was “inspiring” to work with on set for Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol.
The 49-year-old actor – who plays American agent Ethan Hunt in the popular sequel – left co-star Paula Patton “paralysed” when she first met him.
Paula – who plays Jane Carter – said: “When you first meet him, if you think about meeting him then you’ll just get paralysed. So I didn’t think about him, and we had this really good connection.
“Then I went home and was like ‘Oh my god! I just met Tom Cruise!’ He’s very compassionate; he can read a room and see who needs something. Because of that working with him is inspiring.”
And Paula wasn’t the only co-star Tom impressed as Jeremy was also in awe of Tom’s talent. He added to Empire magazine: “I was hanging out of that building [The Burj Khalifa] with Tom, I said to him, ‘Tom, you do realise you don’t have to do this, don’t you?’ He just smiled at me. This massive grin. And then he did it. I guess that’s why he’s the biggest movie star in the world.”
Read more at: NDTV
James Cameron unveils scenes from Titanic 3D
Press Trust of India
Saturday, October 29, 2011 (Los Angeles)
Hollywood director James Cameron has unveiled an 18-minute footage from his new 3D version of the 1997 mega-blockbuster hit ‘Titanic’.
The new version of the Oscar-winning film will arrive in theaters on April 6 next year, said the Hollywood Reporter.
Eight scenes were screened so far, including footage of Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose DeWitt Bukater’s (Kate Winslet) encounter on the Titantic’s grand stairwell, their kiss on the bow of the ship and its sinking.
“There are certain films that aren’t being brought back to the theater. There is a whole generation of people who haven’t seen it at all,” Cameron said.
The 1997 disaster epic is being converted into 3D at a cost of USD 18 million and the process, which is ongoing, is expected to take 60 weeks.
Titantic grossed USD 1.84 billion worldwide and won 11 Oscars, including those for best picture and best director.
It is the second highest grossing film of all time, behind Cameron’s own Avatar, which grossed nearly double that amount.
Cameron also said that while he is typically very much against converting traditional films into 3D, he believes the conversion enriches the film.
“I totally believe 3D is an enhancement for the dramatic scenes not just the big action,” he added.
The director said that there would be no changes to the content of the film.
Read more at: NDTV
Stuntman killed on the sets of Expendables 2
Press Trust of India
Sunday, October 30, 2011 (Los Angeles)
The shooting of Sylvester Stallone-starrer Expendables 2 has come to an halt after a stuntman died in an explosion on the set.
Two more people were also injured when the film’s stunt team shot a scene for the sequel in a boat in Bulgaria, reported Deadline.
The film which also stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis along with Stallone were not present at the site of the incident.
“It is with great regret that we confirm this unfortunate accident. Our hearts go out to the families and those on the production affected by this tragedy. The filmmakers are working closely with the authorities in responding to and investigating this accident,” said the production company in a in a statement.
Local police have launched an investigation into the incident.
Read more at: NDTV
Family of KBC Rs. 5 crore winner fears his abduction
Indo-Asian News Service
Sunday, October 30, 2011 (Patna)
The family and friends of Sushil Kumar, who became the first contestant to win Rs.5 crore on Kaun Banega Crorepati, are fearing his abduction.
But the Bihar Police says the apprehension doesn’t hold much ground.
In Motihari, Sushil’s native town, there are rumours doing the rounds that fearing abduction, his family has been reluctant to disclose the date of his much-awaited arrival from Mumbai.
The hundreds of visitors at his house have been told by his family that due to security reasons nothing is certain about his arrival.
Sushil’s elder brother Sunil did not rule out the possibility of abduction attempts by criminal gangs and anti-social elements.
“Nothing can be ruled out,” he said.
Sushil’s close friend Jitendra Singh said the family was afraid.
“It is well known that Motihari and its neighbouring areas are notorious for extortion and abduction for ransom. The family’s fear is natural.”
However, Motihari Superintendent of Police Ganesh Kumar said there was no threat of abduction. “Fear of abduction is baseless if there is any” he said.
Sushil Kumar, a computer operator and tutor who earns Rs.6,000 per month, went on to win the top prize in the show hosted by megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
The 27-year-old is married and lives in a big joint family with five brothers, five nieces and a nephew in East Champaran district.
Read more at: NDTV
I’d love to work with Shah Rukh: Kristen Stewart
Indo-Asian News Service
Sunday, October 30, 2011 (New Delhi)
Hollywood’s fascination with Bollywood stars continues.
The latest to join the list is Twilight actress Kristen Stewart, who is a huge fan of superstar Shah Rukh Khan. She calls him an “epitome of romance” and says she would love to work with him.
“Well, I am a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan who is an epitome of romance in Bollywood,” Stewart said in an e-mail interaction.
She said if given a chance, he would be the one with whom she would love to do the second part of her movie The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn.
“And not just Hollywood but I would love to work with him in Bollywood movies too and for that I am also looking forward to learning Hindi,” said the 21-year-old actress who rose to fame with her role as Bella Swan in the vampire saga Twilight.
“I have also seen the promos of his latest movie Ra.One which are very impressive and I just loved his look in the movie. I’ll definitely watch the movie also. He is truly an inspiration to me,” she added.
Twilight film series is based on four books written by Stephenie Meyer.
The first part of the last installment of the series Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn is set to hit the screens worldwide Nov 18. And the actress calls her journey “beautiful”.
“The journey has been amazingly beautiful for me. I feel like Bella herself now and on the sets I found (beau) Robert Pattinson. So my journey has romance and fun,” Stewart said.
“Everything is only moving ahead and becoming bigger. It is a bigger movie now and also with a huge fan following. Every moment has been a fun moment and there isn’t anything that me or anybody else would detest,” she added.
The actress said she has grown as an actor over a period of three years and wants to do good work every day.
“Certain scenes need spontaneity but most of the time I am (a) methodical actor, I keep looking for logic in everything I do and think and act. My effort is only to perform better every day,” said Stewart, who calls actress Jodie Foster her idol.
The actress has been dating co-star Pattinson ever since they started working together and have happily endured media spotlight. However, marriage is not on cards anytime soon.
“I really have no clue about how to manage; so much of my life is easily googled. As far as marriage is concerned I think we are both too young to think on those grounds,” she said.
Stewart admitted that she felt awkward shooting intimate scenes with her real life boyfriend for the film.
“I guess it would be awkward if there were cameras present, wouldn’t it? There’s times when there’s weird closeups… In the end, I didn’t feel like we had filmed an intimate scene because we were both so uncomfortable and insecure,” she said.
Read more at: NDTV
