Tiger Shroff to return with ‘Baaghi 3’ on March 6, 2020

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December 19, 2018

Tiger Shroff will be back with the third installment of “Baaghi” franchise on March 6, 2020.

The sequel to the 2018 film is co-produced by Fox Star Studios and Sajid Nadiadwala, under the banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment.

Tiger took to Twitter to share the news.

And round 3 is on! #SajidNadiadwala’s #Baaghi3 will be out on 6th March 2020. This one’s for you Baaghians. @khan_ahmedasas @foxstarhindi @NGEMovies @WardaNadiadwala,” the actor tweeted, alongside the poster of the new film.

Choreographer-filmmaker Ahmed Khan, who helmed “Baaghi 2”, will return to the director’s chair for the threequel.

“Baaghians, your love has resulted in this – #Baaghi3 is releasing on 6th March 2020. @iTIGERSHROFF #SajidNadiadwala @foxstarhindi @NGEMovies @WardaNadiadwala @shairaahmedkhan,” Ahmed tweeted.

The female lead for the film is yet to be announced.

“Baaghi 2” was one of the highest grossing films of the year.

People in the industry scared: Aahana Kumra on #MeToo

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December 19, 2018

Actor Aahana Kumra, who had accused Sajid Khan of inappropriate behaviour during a professional meeting, says people in the industry are now scared post the #MeToo movement.

The actor says fear, which wasn’t there earlier, has set in the industry and it is a good development.

“Something good that has happened in the film industry because of these conversations (is) that people are scared while speaking to women. At least that fear has come and that fear is important. Respect has always been there but it’s important to have that fear,” Aahana told reporters.

The actor was speaking at the launch of her ZEE5 webseries “Rangbaaz”, Tuesday night.

Aahana said the #MeToo movenent has been a “huge realisation” for both men and women and a time of serious introspection.

“When big CEOs, content writers and casting agents are removed or get their names removed from films, which is happening, they get a huge setback. Then they also realise they have done something bad to someone.

“Life is so long that you don’t realise you have hurt someone because you are living your life comfortably. You don’t even realise that you have made people around you feel bad. #Metoo movement has been a huge realisation for both men and women,” she added.

The actor had herself come out and spoken about Sajid after the filmmaker was outed for indecent behaviour and sexual misconduct by two actors and a journalist.

Aahana said the women who came out were brave and her going public with the ordeal has given her a much needed closure.

It was very heartbreaking, very sad, says Fatima Sana Shaikh on Thugs’ failure

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December 19, 2018

Actor Sana Fatima has said the failure of her most recent release Thugs of Hindostan was “heartbreaking”.

Speaking at the green carpet premiere of Netflix’s original Selection Day on Tuesday, the Dangal actor said she felt dejected by the failure of Thugs, which also featured Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Katrina Kaif.

“Yeah, it hasn’t done well. It is very heartbreaking. It is very sad because we all tried our best to make a good film. That’s what we tried to do. But unfortunately, the film didn’t work, people didn’t like it. I’m just feeling very bad about this, Fatima told reporters.

Asked about the Selection Day, the actor hailed the streaming giant for providing artistes and storytellers an alternate medium to perform.

I found the trailer very interesting. I’m happy that with Netflix there are a lot of Indian show coming up. So we have a lot of opportunities, writers and directors have a lot of opportunities. These days, we have a lot of options for us to perform. It’s great that these series are out. Like Sacred Games’ is an amazing show and I hope Selection Day’ will be great as well.

Fatima, who broke out in Bollywood with her compelling performance in Dangal, rejected the possibility of her doing another sports drama.

I run away from sports. It was a compulsion that I had to do it in Dangal’ but sports and me don’t get along, she said.

Fatima also revealed that she is currently working on a film with Rajkummar Rao which will be directed by filmmaker Anurag Basu.

Death toll in Mumbai hospital fire rises to 9

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December 19, 2018

The death toll in the Mumbai hospital fire rose to nine on Wednesday with a 65-year-old woman succumbing to her injuries, a civic official said.

175 injured people, including some children, are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals across the city.

Shila Murvekar died at Seven Hills hospital this afternoon and with this the death toll reached nine, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said.

The fire broke out in the government-run ESIC Kamgar Hospital at Marol in suburban Andheri Monday, killing six people. The death toll rose to eight on Tuesday with two persons dying in different hospitals.

The 325-bed hospital did not have the Occupation Certificate (OC) from fire department, a mandatory certification needed for such institutes to function.

Nearly 375 people, including patients and visitors, were in the five-floor hospital when the fire broke out, an official said. The blaze appeared to have erupted after a short-circuit near the rubber rolls stored on the ground floor, he said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday ordered a probe and the union labour ministry had announced compensation for the victims.

SC should recall ‘self-contradictory’ Rafale ruling: Congress

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December 19, 2018

The Supreme Court’s judgement in the Rafale case is “self-contradictory” as it was misled by the government, and the court should recall it to restore its credibility, Congress leader Anand Sharma said in Mumbai on Wednesday.

The Supreme Court last week dismissed petitions seeking probe in the deal for purchase of Rafale fighter jets.

“The government has not only misled the court but also insulted it with a curative petition saying the court had misinterpreted (the information submitted by the government),” Sharma said.

“The government misled the court and dented its credibility. It is up to the Supreme Courtto correct the situation by recalling the self-contradictory verdict. It is up to the court to take action,” he said.

“What is the BJP celebrating? The judgement has dented the dignity and credibility of the apex court which needs to be restored,” the Congress leader said and demanded action against the government for perjury.

Reiterating the demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe, Sharma said the SCwas not the right forum to seek a probe in the matter, as only a JPC has the power to summon files, notings and witnesses.

Sharma said the Congress was not interested in what Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley have to say while defending Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Modi alone knows the truth. Former French president (Francois) Hollande has not retracted his statement thatthe India partner (in the contract) was identified by the Indian government as a pre-condition for the purchase of 36 jets. Only Hollande and Modi were involved in the decision,” he said.

“These two ministers (Sitharaman and Jaitley) were not involved in the entire process,” Sharma said.

The government has approached the court afresh saying that contrary to what the judgement indicated, the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on Rafale deal was not submitted to the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament.

To a question about the alliance announced by the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh while keeping the Congress out, Sharma said Congress has the mandate and people’s confidence to defeat the BJP.

“Parties like DMK, RJD, NCP are with Congress. We feel there should be a general consensus among other parties as well to oust the BJP which has betrayed the people,” he said.

Rs 120 cr splurged on repairs and renovation of BMC Headquarter

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December 19, 2018

Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is amongst the richest Municipal Corporations in the country and is flushed with money. In reply to an RTI query, RTI Activist Anil Galgali was informed by the Administration of BMC that it has spent Rs 120 crore on the repairs and renovation on BMC Headquarter.

Repairs and renovation works are regularly carried out at BMC headquarters. Galgali was informed that during the period 2008 to 2012 the building construction department has spent Rs 120.61 crore. Out of this amount, Rs 111.73 crore was paid to M/s Construction Technique, M/s Glass Sensation, M/s Skyway Infraprojects Private Limited, and M/s Shandaar Interiors Private Limited while Rs 8.87 crore is still unpaid.

For its main building, the work list was jointly prepared by M/s Abha Narayan Lamba Associates, M/s S J K Architecture, M/s Shashi Prabhu, and Associates included stone wall reinstallation, strengthening and protection of wooden pillars of the passage and staircase and repair work of the roof. This work was given to M/s Construction Technique for Rs 7,31,17,805 in 2008.

Work for reinstallation of glass at the main building was approved in 2010 and given to M/s Glass Sensations for Rs 82,52,909. In 2011, M/s Shandaar Interiors Private Limited was paid Rs 68.77 crores for Renovation. This included work carried out at the extension of the main building. M/s Skyway Infraprojects Private Limited was paid around Rs 43.7 crore for renovations at the main building in 2002.Apart from this the money paid to consultant and architect has not yet been made public.

“Repair and renovation work though essential; the amount of Rs 120 crores seems quite high. The works could have been carried out at lower cost,” Galgali said. He further added, “In a letter to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, I have asked for an independent audit of expenses as inflated expenditures cannot be ruled out.”

I am sure Sena will be with us in 2019 polls: Shah

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December 19, 2018

Despite cold vibes from the Shiv Sena, which had publicly announced to go solo in elections, BJP chief Amit Shah Wednesday said the Uddhav Thackeray-led party would continue its alliance with BJP for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking at the Republic Summit in Mumbai, Shah also indicated that the BJP would gain more partners ahead of 2019 polls than it had before 2014 elections.

“Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is frequently in touch with the Shiv Sena leadership at the state level. The Shiv Sena is already a part of the Central and state governments and it would continue its alliance with the BJP ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections”, he said.

The Sena, which is the oldest constituent of the NDA, had contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the BJP, but severed the ties ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections held in October that year.

The Sena later joined the BJP-led governments in Maharashtra and Centre, though grudgingly, as it was averse to play second fiddle to BJP, which emerged as the single largest party in the polls.

Interestingly, Sena on Tuesday stayed away from the inauguration of various infra projects by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai metropolitan region and Pune claiming that Thackeray was not invited to the programmes.

Shah also sought to play down the Sena fielding its nominees against the BJP in assembly elections held in various states including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

“They (Sena) have been fielding their candidates in those states even before we came to power. It is their local issue”, he said.

Commenting on a tweet by Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party on differences between the NDA ally and the BJP over seat allotment, Shah said, “Every party wants to grow. They pitch for their leader. Such things are common ahead of every election”.

Shah said the BJP had 25 allies before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

“Today, we have 31 partners among which six are bigger ones. We are still in talks with some more parties. In the North-East region, we have joined hands with several local non-Congress parties”, he said.

He described BJP as NDA’s nucleus.

All male Bollywood panel at meeting with Modi draws flak

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December 19, 2018

The meeting of a delegation of the Hindi film industry with Prime Minister Narendra Modi came under fire on Wednesday for its exclusion of female representation with some activists and filmmakers pointing out that it was 2018 and asking, “Where are the women?”

On Tuesday, an 18-member panel, including Karan Johar, Ajay Devgn, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Akshay Kumar, Ritesh Sidhwani and CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi, met the Prime Minister to discuss how to take the entertainment industry to the next stage.

No woman was part of the “Panel” representing an industry where women play a pivotal role not just as actors but also as directors, producers and writers, a female producer said.

It was a year when skewed gender politics in the workplace, including in the entertainment industry, became a topic of heated debate with India being hit by its own #MeToo tsunami that swept away some big names, she said asking not to be named.

“Where are the women of the industry?” tweeted #MeToo India’s Twitter handle.

Director Leena Yadav, whose latest film “Rajma Chawal” has just released on Netflix, said it is sad that female voices are being ignored, especially when the ticket window has been tremendously responsive to women directors.

“They are ignoring what is happening at the box office vis-a-vis women directors and their films and ignoring them is sad and it is not only sad but being very unaware in today’s world and regressive in today’s world. So that is really sad,” Yadav told agencies.

But the filmmaker, who has earlier made “Shabd” and “Parched”, said she refuses to feel sorry for herself or sidelined.

“I can feel offended by it but it doesn’t affect me to that level as it does not wipe out my existence. I feel sorry for them rather than for myself,” she said.

Alankrita Shrivastava of “Lipstick Under My Burkha”, which was well received by critics and audiences, also spoke out.

“Would be great to have female representation in these delegations. It is 2018,” she wrote on Twitter.

Criminal defamation: HC relief for Smriti Irani, case to continue against Sanjay Nirupam

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December 19, 2018

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday quashed the summons issued against Union minister Smriti Irani in a defamation complaint filed against her by Congress Leader Sanjay Nirupam.

The court, however, dismissed a similar plea by Nirupam’s seeking to set aside the summons issued against him in a cross-defamation complaint filed by Irani.

The court said the case against Nirupam will continue.

Both the complaints arose out of the same incident which occurred during a TV debate on analysing poll results in 2012.

Justice R K Gauba passed two separate verdicts on the two leaders’ plea.

In her plea, Irani had sought quashing of the summons issued to her by a trial court on June 6, 2014. She had also sought quashing of the complaint filed by Nirupam.

Nirupam had challenged a magisterial court’s March 11, 2013 order summoning him in Irani’s defamation complaint against him. He had also sought quashing of the January 1, 2013 complaint filed by Irani.

MSTC plans reverse auction of onions to aid Nasik farmers

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December 19, 2018

State-owned MSTC Ltd would start reverse e-auction of onions to aid Nasik farmers who have been reeling under price crash following bumper production, an official said on Wednesday.

Mother Dairy would lend support to the endeavour by procuring 20 tonnes of onion a day, the official said.

“We have decided to support the onion farmers of Nasik. We have technology in place to carry out auction of agri commodities. Our officers are already there to execute a plan of offering a market for the farmers,” MSTC chairman and managing director BB Singh said on Wednesday on the sidelines of an MSME conclave organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Reserve auction is a type of auction in which the roles of buyer and seller are reversed and the lowest price discovery is made from a base price.

Onion prices in Maharashtra’s Nasik fell below Rs 2 a kg forcing farmers to dump the crop, while the same commodity sells for Rs 25-30 a kg in markets such as Delhi-NCR and Kolkata.

“We will commence reverse e-auction of the crop for Mother Dairy in the next 4-5 days with a floor price of not less than Rs 6-8 a kg which we hope to help better price realisation in the period of crisis,” he said.

The input cost for cultivation of a kilogram of onion has been fixed at Rs 8.50 by the Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (DOGR).

Mother Dairy has assured to procure 20 tonnes of onions daily to sell them through its 150-odd retail outlets in the Delhi-NCR region.

Singh said MSTC is in talks to engage more buyers like Spencers, Reliance Fresh and other organised retailers to create demand for the onions grown in Nasik. However, MSTC is yet to receive any positive feedback from private retail chains of the country in the venture, Singh said.