Rajkummar Rao bags one more horror comedy film, will play a goon

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December 17, 2018

After the success of “Stree”, actor Rajkummar Rao has signed another untitled horror comedy to be creatively directed by “Fukrey” helmer Mrigdeep Singh Lamba.

The film will be backed by Dinesh Vijan, who also produced “Stree” and is currentlyworking with Rajkummar on “Made In China”.

“Raj plays a small-time goon whose plans go haywire when he discovers that he might be in store for some supernatural encounters. You can be sure he will be as riveting as Stree’s ladies’ tailor, chasing after a ghost,” Dinesh said in a statement.

The horror-comedy, which rolls early next year, also features Varun Sharma. It will be filmed in Muradabad, Uttar Pradesh.

It chronicles the story of two village idiots who get stuck in a frightful situation but their fool-hardy shenanigans never stop.

Mrigdeep says Raj and Varun are a “stellar combination” that nobody has explored.

“Though Raj has proved his comic timing in films like ‘Bareilly…’ and ‘Stree’, here he will have to shed every bit of himself and get into the skin of this self-proclaimed village hero, who is actually a fool,” he says.

The female lead has not been locked yet and Dinesh says much like “Stree”, the female character will be “the focal point and game changer for the film.”

The film is aiming for a January 2020 release.

Ayushmann stopped watching ‘Koffee With Karan’ after becoming an actor!

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December 17, 2018

Making his ‘Koffee’ debut with today’s episode, Ayushmann Khurrana revealed that he had stopped watching “Koffee with Karan” because he wasn’t getting invited to it.

Ayushmann and actor Vicky Kaushal featured in the latest episode of the show. And before Karan could ask his guests, as he does in many of his other episodes, if they watch the show regularly, Ayushmann made a confession.

By the looks of it, Karan did not expect what followed. Ayushmann revealed that he stopped watching the show after he became an actor. “Lately I haven’t seen Koffee with Karan because I used to feel really bad. I used to think- why should I watch it when I am not being invited to it.”

Later in the show, the ‘Vicky Donor’ actor also revealed that during the beginning of his career, he had asked for Karan’s number after an award show as he wanted to become an actor. Karan, playing it smart, gave him a landline number which was of his Dharma Productions office. When the actor called them up and told them about his desire to act in one of their films, he was told, “We don’t take outsiders.”

Ayushmann has made an impressive mark in the Bollywood industry with some path breaking content and amazing acting skills. He has also managed to charm his audiences with his exemplary poetry and singing.

There should have been a spinner, says Shami

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December 17, 2018

Pacer Mohammed Shami Monday said that India missed a trick in not playing a full-time spinner on a pitch where Australia tweaker Nathan Lyon has already bagged seven wickets.

Chasing 287, India were reduced to 112 for five at stumps on day four of the second Test at the Optus Stadium.

Australia finished with 243 in their second innings, with Shami taking a career-best haul of 6-56 but the match went away from India for the lack of a balanced bowling attack.

“The team management makes these decisions. We can’t do anything about it. We had one spinner who didn’t bowl badly. (But) If you ask me, I feel there should have been a spinner, but these things depend on your management,” said Shami.

“After such a long time we have an Indian pace attack where all the bowlers are fast and are bowling good lines and lengths. Four years ago we weren’t even this experienced. You must have seen the difference in our accuracy from four years ago.”

India lead the four-match series 1-0 after their 31-run win in the opening Test at Adelaide.

“It helps a lot to have a good bowler at the other end, who has the same mentality as you and is keeping things tight.

“This keeps the pressure up, and sometimes you don’t even realise when the game turns your way. The bowler at the other end is sometimes just as important,” he added, heaping praise on the fast-bowling unit.

Talking about his career-best spell, the pacer said, “I always try to bowl a good line and length. Rest is up to your luck, how many wickets you get or not. Your approach has to be good. If you are playing Test cricket, you have to focus on your line and length. You will get the wickets automatically.

India have Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant at the crease, and need 175 runs for victory. The visitors were reduced 55 for four at one stage, with Nathan Lyon dismissing Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay in the space of three overs.

Shami said winning or losing isn’t important as the team competed well on a tough Perth wicket, which is proving very challenging to batsmen of both sides.

“It is part of the game. Winning and losing happens. We will just look forward. But it is like a normal Perth wicket and that’s how it has played so far. It is in everybody’s minds that on days 3 and 4 there will be some up and down and we are getting to see this so far,” he said.

“What happens on the outside, what the opposition does, it doesn’t affect us. We have to focus on our game and we have to improve our game. Not what step of ours is being watched and what is not,” he signed off.

Joshna Chinappa bags record-equalling 16th national title, Mahesh wins maiden crown

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December 17, 2018

Squash star Joshna Chinappa equalled Bhuvneshwari Kumari’s record of 16 national titles while Mahesh Mangaonkar won his maiden crown on the concluding day of the premier domestic event at the HCL campus here on Sunday. In the two contrasting finals, Mahesh pipped Vikram Malhotra 11-4, 13-15, 11-2, 5-11, 15-13 while Joshna edged out Urwashi Joshi 9-11, 11-1, 11-6, 11-5.

In comparison to the gruelling battle in the men’s final, Joshna had it easier though Urwashi Joshi of Maharashtra did surprise her by taking the first game. As it turned out, the dent Joshna suffered was more of an aberration. The reigning champion ensured the ride was smooth from there on en route a record equalling crown.

The 32-year-old said that it was always special to come back to the Nationals, where she won her maiden title as a 14-year-old. Overall, Joshna has played in a staggering 18 finals, losing just two of them.

Her achievements on the international stage easily eclipse Kumari’s feats and now Joshna wants to break her national record. “Yes I do want to have the maximum number of titles, I am not going to lie abut that. It is nice to equal her record. To be here after 20 years in the sport, is a testament to the work I have done,” said the world number 15.

Joshna has dominated the National Championships over the last two decades but has also had some tough battles with Mekhala Subedar and longtime teammate Dipika Pallikal, who is not a regular at the domestic event.

“My biggest battles have been with Mekhala and Dipika. Everyone loves watching Dipika and me play. Shame she is not here,” added Joshna, who initially struggled to sight the ball in sunlight during the final played on a glass court.

In the men’s final, Mahesh outwitted Vikram Malhotra in a five game tussle of fluctuating fortunes. Vikram had three match points to settle the argument but failed to grab them. A final can always be tense and Mahesh and Vikram displayed that no less. A year ago in a PSA event, the only occasion when the two had met on the professional circuit, Vikram had edged Mahesh, again over five games.

Badminton Association of India announces 10 lakh cash reward for PV Sindhu; Sameer Verma to get 3 lakh

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December 17, 2018

Badminton Association Of India (BAI) announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for P V Sindhu, who became the first Indian to win the season-ending World Tour Finals in Guangzhou, China.

Olympic silver medallist Sindhu ended the year on a high, beating Japan’s Nozomi Okuhara 21-19 21-17 in the summit clash to claim the World Tour finals crown, thus also breaking the jinx of a series of silver medal finishes in major tournaments.

BAI also announced a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh for Sameer Verma who reached the semifinal in his maiden appearance at the World Tour Finals.

“It’s a great year-ending for Indian badminton. Sindhu winning the Tours Final and defeating the best players to achieve the historic feat indicates the leap Indian badminton has taken. I congratulate both Sindhu and Sameer on behalf of entire Badminton Association of India,” BAI President, Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

This was Sindhu’s first title win in last eight final appearances since winning her last crown at the Korea Open in 2017.

Sameer had qualified for the tournament at the last moment after defending the Syed Modi International title last month.

Ajay K Singhania, General Secretary, congratulated both the shuttler’s efforts.

Sting operation against BJD MLAs: SC grants protection from arrest to scribe

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December 17, 2018

The Supreme Court has granted protection from arrest to a news channel journalist who had allegedly conducted a sting operation on four ruling Biju Janta Dal (BJD) MLAs in Orissa.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah also sought response from the Odisha government on the plea of journalist Ravi Sharma seeking anticipatory bail and challenging the order of high court dated December 5.

“Having regard to the above position and having due regard to all the facts and circumstances, we direct that there shall be a stay of arrest in the meantime,” the bench said.

At the outset, advocate Rahul Shyam Bhandari, appearing for Sharma contended that the journalist was wrongly framed in the case since he had conducted the sting operation against the four MLAs of BJD.

He said that there is no absolute bar for grant of anticipatory bail in the case where alleged offences are under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Sharma was booked in the complaint case lodged by MLA Bijay Naik of Karanjia constituency under various sections of IPC and provisions under the Act.

In 2016, a regional news channel had aired a sting operation in which four BJD MLAs — Seemarani Nayak (Hindol); Susant Behera (Chhendipada); Bijay Naik (Karanjia) and Anam Naik (Bhawanipatna) were seen demanding money from an industrialist in lieu of providing him facilities for setting up industries in the state.

The issue created much furore in the state and subsequently Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik had ordered a vigilance probe into the incident, which is pending.

The four legislators, who were caught on camera in the sting operation conducted by Sharma, later lodged a case alleging that the video footage was a doctored version and the journalist had demanded money from them as an extortion for not showing the broadcast.

Chhattisgarh Advocate General resigns with change of govt

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December 17, 2018

Advocate General of Chhattisgarh Jugal Kishore Gilda has resigned from the post with the change of government in the state.

Gilda said that he has submitted his resignation letter to Governor Anandiben Patel on Sunday in which he mentioned that he was quitting from the post as a new government is being formed in the state.

“As a healthy convention followed by many illustrious Advocate Generals of various States after independence, which ripened into a custom, I am tendering the resignation from the post so as to pave the way for the new Chief Minister to make an appointment to the post of Advocate General,” he said in the letter.

Gilda, who has been regularly appearing for the state in the Supreme Court, acknowledged the cooperation he received from Raman Singh and his Cabinet colleagues.

While sharing his experience of appearing in the Chhattisgarh High Court and the apex court, the advocate in his letter said the prestige of the Office of the Advocate General and its independence has been duly recognised.

“I have a feeling that there should not be any interference in the working of the Advocate General and its office by any extra constitutional authority,” he wrote in the letter.

Gilda has been Advocate General since January 2014.

Kamal Nath waives farm loans soon after taking oath as CM

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December 17, 2018

Loans of up to Rs 2 lakh of Madhya Pradesh farmers will be waived, with Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Monday signing a file to the effect within a few hours after taking the oath.

The move follows a promise by Congress president Rahul Gandhi during the poll campaign that if people of Madhya Pradesh voted for Congress, then they would implement farmers’ loan waiver within 10 days of coming to power.

Nath was sworn in as the state’s 18th CM Monday.

After Nath signed on the file pertaining to waiving off farmers’ loans of up to Rs two lakh, Principal Secretary, Farmers’ Welfare and Agriculture Development Department, Rajesh Rajora issued the loan waiver order.

The order said: Madhya Pradesh Government has taken a decision to write off short-term crop loan of eligible farmers up to the limit of Rs two lakh, as on March 31, 2018, from nationalised and cooperative banks.

Lok Sabha passes Transgender bill

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December 17, 2018

Amid noisy protests over the Rafale deal and Cauvery issue, the Lok Sabha Monday passed a bill seeking to empower the transgender community by providing them a separate identity.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, seeking to define transgenders and prohibit discrimination against them, was introduced in the Lok Sabha two years ago.

It was passed with 27 amendments.

Amid din, five members, including Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (All India Trinamool Congress) and Badaruddoza Khan (CPI-M), participated in the debate, questioning the provisions of the legislation.

The amendments moved by the government, along with some others moved by opposition members, were considered.

Dastidar said the bill was hastily drafted and the different clauses mentioned in it were totally inconclusive.

Hassan takes swipe at govt over storm relief work

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December 17, 2018

Makkal Needhi Maiam chief Kamal Haasan Monday alleged that Tamil Nadu government officials had not yet inspected many villages affected by the recent severe cyclonic storm ‘Gaja.’

Speaking to reporters after visiting cyclone hit hilly villages here, he said people in several places had told him that the officials had not yet inspected their areas.

“..in many places the people said this…they (officials) should have visited…,” he said when his comment was sought on the relief work being undertaken by the government.

“The question is why they did not come and our request is officials should visit all cyclone hit villages,” he said.

The government had faced flak from political parties, who had alleged that government officials had not even visited the affected villages before preparing the assessment of damage to crops and the travails faced by the people.

Haasan visited Perumalmalai that saw extensive damage and distributed relief assistance at places, including Koramkombu, interacted with the affected people and expressed his sympathies to them.

He also met banana and coffee plantation workers, who apprised the actor-turned-politician that the topsoil was washed away during the cyclone, which has affected their livelihood.