Deepika -Ranveer wedding: Private nuptials after public declaration of love

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November 14, 2018

Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, the latest A-list Bollywood stars to tie the knot, are making the ordeals of the Indian press anything but easy by keeping things private.

Though the much-loved couple declared their wedding dates on social media in October after months of speculation that November nuptials were to follow, Padukone and Singh have been guarded about the grand affair, due to take place in Italy over Wednesday and Thursday.

Unlike two of Bollywood’s previous weddings – of Sonam Kapoor and Anushka Sharma respectively, Padukone and Singh are not giving any leeway to the media to broadcast their love story IRL or ‘in real time’.

Twinning in white, the actors, who have worked together in “Ram Leela”, “Bajirao Mastani” and “Padmavati”, were snapped leaving for Italy for the ceremony on November 10.

They are reported to get hitched at Lake Como in an intimate destination wedding with only 40 people, which may include Bollywood biggies such as Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Farah Khan.

With no definite details, media seems to be grasping at straws. It is believed that the wedding will comprise of a Konkani rituals, followed by a Punjabi-Sindhi-style ceremony Thursday, honouring the traditions of both families.

Even the mercurial platform of social media appears to be of no help as the guests have been asked not to share any pictures and videos of the ceremonies, driving the paparazzi into frenzy.

On November 10, Singh’s stylist Nitasha Gaurav teased the pre-wedding rituals on Twitter.

“No pictures but it was love personified to see them together today. Couldn’t stop my tears, but these were tears of happiness and so I hope they never do. #DeepVeerKiShaadi #ranveerkishaadi #foreverlove,” she wrote on the microblogging site.

Singer Harshdeep Kaur, who reportedly performed at the sangeet ceremony Tuesday, had to take down a picture from social media, that showed her and her husband standing near the picturesque lake. But the screenshot of the now deleted photo is already viral on social media.

During the engagement ceremony, which also reportedly took place Tueday, Singh went down on his knees asking for Padukone’s hand. After they exchanged rings, he gave a speech that made Padukone emotional.

An intimate dinner was held which was followed by a dance session, which was joined by the couple along with Singh’s father Jagjit Singh Bhavnani.

Reports say the bride was in tears throughout the henna ceremony.

Earlier this month, Padukone’s stylist Shaleen Nathani alerted the social media by sharing pre-wedding festivities of Nandi Puja on Instagram.

“To new beginnings @deepikapadukone,” Nathani wrote alongside the actor’s photograph, who was dressed in traditional attire.

The same day Singh, along with close friend and casting director Shanoo Sharman, was spotted from his balcony, at his ‘haldi’ ceremony.

The couple, who never confirmed their relationship until recently, will have a reception each in Bengaluru and Mumbai on November 21 and 28, respectively.

Going by Padukone’s admission on season six premiere of “Koffee With Karan”, they have been in dating each other for the past six years.

After portmanteaus Brangelina, Saifeena and Virushka went viral, fans of the duo are having a field day on social media with hashtags such as #DeepVeerKiShaadi and #DeepVeer till the time the actors make things internet official.

Before #DeepVeerKiShaadi fever wanes, there would be time for another celebrity wedding for Bollywood.

Actor Priyanka Chopra and her beau, American singer Nick Jonas, are reportedly set to get married in December.

CINTAA expels Alok Nath amid rape allegations

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Afternoon Voice

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November 14, 2018

The Cine and TV Artists Association (CINTAA) said that it has expelled Alok Nath, a month after the actor was accused of rape by a writer-producer.

Vinta Nanda, best known for the hit ’90s TV show Tara, had accused Nath of raping her more than once 19 years ago.

In a statement released on Twitter, CINTAA, which has previously sent show-cause notice to Nath, said, “In view of the various allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct against Mr Alok Nath, after due diligence and consideration, the Executive Committee of CINTAA has decided to expel him from the Association.”

When contacted, Nath told agencies he is yet to receive any official communication. “I have not received anything from CINTAA yet,” he said.

Besides Nanda, actor Sandhya Mridul also accused Nath of sexual harassment at an outdoor shoot years ago. Nath, who has repeatedly denied the claims, has also filed defamation case against Nanda.

Nath is famous for shows like Buniyaad and films such as Hum Aapke Hain Koun! and Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Ranveer, Sara looked out of place when ‘Golmaal’ gang shot for ‘Simmba’: Arshad

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Afternoon Voice

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November 14, 2018

The reunion of “Golmaal” cast with filmmaker Rohit Shetty for his next venture “Simmba” was so much familiar fun that actor Arshad Warsi said that the film’s lead pair Ranveer Singh and Sara Ali Khan looked out of place.

Ranveer recently uploaded a video on Instagram where he and Sara are seen performing with the “Golmaal” team — Arshad, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, Kunal Kemmu, who all are making cameos in the new film.

Arshad said that the atmosphere on set was such that the team could have easily shot the next “Golmaal” instalment.

The “Munna Bhai” actor said that Ranveer’s energy and dedication to his craft is “insane.”

“I really love him, what a guy! He is complete mad and his passion for work is insane. His combination with Rohit will be very nice. They’ll be so good together. Even Sara was really sweet,” he adds.

Arshad said the “Golmaal” team felt at home when they shot for the scene.

“While we were shooting, more than us, they looked out of place there in their own film! We were all familiar with the unit so they, because they are the new lot, were looking at us! But it was damn fun. ‘Simmba’ will be good a film, it has some crazy action,” he said.

The film is scheduled to release on November 23.

Varun Dhawan to attend ‘October’ screening at IFFI

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Afternoon Voice

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November 14, 2018

Bollywood star Varun Dhawan will attend the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) for the screening of his film “October”, which is a part of the festival’s Panorama segment.

“It was my dad who informed me that ‘October’ was chosen to be part of the Panorama Section at IFFI. Since the time the film released, I have had many people come up to me and tell me how it has touched them or how they couldn’t believe that a film like this was made in India. It’s great that it is being showcased with the best movies this year,” Varun said in a statement.

In the Shoojit Sircar-directed film, Varun played the role of Dan, a hotel trainee who undergoes a transformation when his colleague Shuili (Banita Sandhu), is hospitalised after a freak accident. The 31-year-old actor was praised for his restrained portrayal of a man grappling with a crisis.

“A lot of aspiring actors have told me that their teachers show them scenes from this movie. All this is touching but I really didn’t do much acting (in ‘October’). Shoojitda just made me live the film,” Varun said.

The actor is currently busy shooting for “Kalank”. He has been signed up for a dance film with director Remo D’Souza and an action-entertainer with Shashank Khaitan.

IFFI will begin from November 20 in Goa.

Now a biopic on Bhaichung Bhutia

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Afternoon Voice

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November 14, 2018

Anand Kumar, best known for Sanjay Dutt-Vivek Oberoi starrer “Zila Ghaziabad”, is working on former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia’s biopic.

Bhutia joins the pantheon of sports personalities such as Milkha Singh, Paan Singh Tomar, Mary Kom, MS Dhoni and Sandeep Singh to be immortalised on celluloid through a biopic.

Kumar has conceptualised the biopic, which will showcase the life of Bhutia. He is currently in the process of finalising a director and lead actor for the film.

Bhutia is excited about the project and he believes the filmmaker is the right person to honour his journey.

“I am honoured that people feel that my journey is worth capturing for the big screen. I am certain that Anand will do justice to my story.

“I hail from a small town in Sikkim, but playing football for India wasn’t my only dream. I always wanted to own a professional football club and I realised that dream with United Sikkim (his football club),” Bhutia said in a statement here.

He will be involved in all the creative aspects of the film, the footballer-turned-politician said.

“I want the biopic to be as close to reality as possible. I was concerned about the writing process, but the moment I learnt that Anand has got Prashant Pandey (writer of ‘Sarkar’, ‘Poorna’ and ‘Raid’) on board, I was relieved,” Bhutia said.

Kumar said that the idea of making a film on football struck him during 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

“Young kids like the sport more than cricket. That’s why I wanted to make a film on football,” the director said. He added Bhutia’s story makes for a compelling film.

John Mayer has been sober for two years

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Afternoon Voice

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November 14, 2018

John Mayer has revealed that he has been sober for two years.

The 41-year-old singer said he quit drinking after Drake’s 30th birthday party, after he “made quite a fool” of himself and the hangover lasted for six days.

“It took me weeks to stop doing this every morning I woke up. And then I had a conversation with myself. I looked out the window and I went, ‘Ok, John, what percentage of your potential would you like to have? Because if you say you’d like 60, and you’d like to spend the other 40 having fun, that’s fine. But what percentage of what is available to you would you like to make happen? There’s no wrong answer. What is it?’ I went, ‘100’,” Mayer told Complex magazine.

The “Clarity” singer admitted that after he stopped drinking “the level feels like boredom”.

“If you stick with it, the line straightens out and it goes kind of low. You’re like, ‘Oh, I’m not having these high highs.’ But if you work, you can bring the whole line up,” he added.

‘Game of Thrones’ final season to air in April 2019

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Afternoon Voice

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November 14, 2018

Summer of 2019 is bound to be ice-cold for the real world as the final season of “Game of Thrones” gears up to hit HBO next April.

The network is yet to reveal the specific airdate of the season premier of the eighth and last installment of the epic fantasy series, agencies reported.

HBO dropped a video on Twitter on Monday teasing the plot of the much-awaited chapter via a recap of the previous seasons. The 1.15 minute-long clip, however, did not feature any new footage.

“Every battle. Every betrayal. Every risk. Every fight. Every sacrifice. Every death. All for the throne,” it said.

The channel’s official account also shared multiple images promoting the final season, with the hashtag #ForTheThrone on the microblogging site.

The photographs highlighted key events from the past showcasing characters – both alive and dead.

The stills revisited earlier turnarounds in the life of Daenerys Targaryen, Jon Snow, Tyrion Lannister, Cersei Lannister, The Night King, Bran and Arya Stark, including a shot from the Battle of Bastards. They also remembered departed characters such as Eddard and Catalyn Stark, Joffery Baratheon and Hodor.

The first episode is written by Dave Hill and directed by David Nutter.

Filming for season eight began in October 2017 and wrapped 10 months later.

I felt invisible growing up: Viola Davis

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Afternoon Voice

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November 14, 2018

Oscar winner Viola Davis has said she felt “invisible” in her formative years.

The 53-year-old actor said her lack of self-belief stemmed from a long line of women who did not have a voice.

“You know, I came from a story where I didn’t feel just less than or I just didn’t have a voice or not pretty. I felt invisible. I came from a long line of women who felt invisible. And they’re the ones who attempted to throw me an invisible rope.

“Courage is just fear said with prayers. And I feel that it takes a great deal of courage to hit bottom and feel invisible and then to share one’s story. But it’s in the sharing of the story in front of people who have empathy that kills shame. And once that shame is killed, guess what? You’re running,” Davis said in her address at Glamour’s 2018 Women of the Year awards.

The “How to Get Away with Murder” star received one of Glamour’s Women of the Year honours.

In the wake of the #MeToo uprising, she said, it is necessary for the change to come from within.

“When I look at the zeitgeist today and look at what is happening with women in terms of sexual assault, in terms of poverty, in terms of politically what’s happening, I think to myself the change and the shift that needs to happen is the internal. It’s finding the courage to own one’s story,” Davis said.

Pedro Pascal may lead new ‘Star Wars’ TV series

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Afternoon Voice

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November 14, 2018

Pedro Pascal has reportedly been offered to headline “Star Wars” TV series “The Mandalorian”.

Sources told agencies, the “Narcos” star has been finalised for the role and the talks are underway.

Written by Jon Favreau, the series is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. It follows the laborious effort of a lone gunfighter in the outer who reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic

Dave Filoni, who has worked on “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars: Rebels,” will direct the first episode of the series.

Taika Waititi, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa and Deborah Chow will direct other episodes.

The series is expected to premiere on the Disney streaming service, Disney+, to be launched in 2019.

Disney also announced a prequel series on the “Rogue One” character Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna.

Narendra Singh Tomar, Sadananda Gowda given charge of Ananth Kumar’s portfolios

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Afternoon Voice

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November 14, 2018

Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been given the additional charge of the ministry of parliamentary affairs and D.V. Sadananda Gowda that of the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, according to a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique on Tuesday.

The move was necessitated following the demise of Ananth Kumar on Monday. He was holding the charge of both the ministries of parliamentary affairs and chemicals and fertilisers.

President Ram Nath Kovind, as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has directed that Gowda be assigned the charge of the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, in addition to his existing portfolio, the statement said.

Gowda is the Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation.

Tomar has been assigned the charge of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, in addition to his existing portfolios, it said.

Tomar is Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Mines minister.