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Next on Rajkummar Rao’s wishlist – an action film

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Afternoon Voice
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Rajkummar Rao AV

He has proved himself indispensable in both comedy and intense stories but Rajkummar Rao says no one has offered him an out-and-out action film yet.

Rao said he started learning Taekwondo at an early age and hopes he is able to showcase this side in a film soon.

“Not many people know about this interest of mine in doing action, also somebody has to take that risk. Nobody can imagine me doing action, I hope someone casts me in an action film,” Rao told a agency.

The actor said he trained in both Taekwondo and dance before turning to acting.

“I am glad I learned dance as it helped me in my acting. It helps you understand rhythm and beat. Not many people know that I am a trained martial artist and I know Taekwondo. Someday I will do a film that will be able to showcase this side of me,” he said.

Rao is currently busy with “Made in China”, after which he will begin work on “Imli” in 2019.

The role of a struggling Gujarati businessman in “Made in China” is close to the actor’s heart.

“It is an unusual tale of a Gujarati businessman who is an underdog. We all have dreams and we all want to make it big. I have learnt the language and the other aspects of the Gujarati culture.”

Directed by the National Award-winning Gujarati filmmaker Mikhail Musale, the film also stars Mouni Roy and Boman Irani and will hit the screens on Independence Day in 2019.

Rao said he is thrilled to be reteaming with Kangana Ranaut for the third time for Anurag Basu’s “Imli”. The two have worked together in “Queen” (2014) and their upcoming film “Mental Hai Kya” is set to hit cinema houses in February 2019.

“The collaboration is going to be great. There is a comfort level as we have known each other for a while. She is a wonderful actress. I feel happy when I get a good co-actor because then you are as good as your co-actor.

“I am a huge fan of Anurag Basu, he is one of the most talented directors in the film industry. I am very excited about it. I will start shooting early next year,” he said.

Irrfan Khan might return to India after Diwali, says spokesperson

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Afternoon Voice
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Irrfan Khan AV

A spokesperson for Irrfan Khan Wednesday dismissed the reports that the actor will soon start shooting for “Hindi Medium 2”.

The 51-year-old actor is currently abroad undergoing treatment for neuroendocrine tumour.

The spokesperson, however, said that Irrfan may return to the country after Diwali.

“The story floating about Irrfan starting ‘Hindi Medium 2’ shoot in December are all based on speculations. However, there is a possibility of him returning to India after Diwali,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

A report in an online portal had claimed the actor will be flying to India to shoot for the sequel of his 2017 hit.

Irrfan first spoke of his health on March 5, when he revealed that he was suffering from a ‘rare disease’. He later revealed that he has been diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumour, a rare disease that can target various parts of the body.

Priyanka in awe of ‘bae’ Nick Jonas

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Afternoon Voice
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Priyanka and Nick Jonas AV

It seems like global star Priyanka Chopra is having a quality time with her fiance Nick Jonas if one goes by their latest Instagram photograph.

Priyanka shared a picture with Jonas on her Instagram in which the two can be seen striking a romantic pose with the “Bajirao Mastani” star holding Jonas from the back.

The ‘Desi Girl’ simply captioned the image, “Bae” with a heart emoji and tagged Jonas in it.

In the photo, Priyanka is dressed in a striking red ensemble paired with long golden earrings while Jonas looked casual in a black and grey printed jacket.

Meanwhile, Jonas has also bought a USD 6.5 million house in Beverly Hills, reported TMZ.

The 26-year-old’s latest purchase has five bedrooms and features expansive canyon views, a floating guest wing and an extended wood terrace that wraps around the swimming pool.

The ‘Jealous’ singer popped the big question during a trip to London on Priyanka’s 36th birthday.

Nicki Minaj faces plagiarism charges for ‘Sorry’

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Afternoon Voice
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Nicki Minaj AV 1

Hollywood Rapper Nicki Minaj has been charged with plagiarism by veteran singer Tracy Chapman.

Chapman claimed that Minaj stole her song ‘Baby Can I Hold You’ for the latter’s track, ‘Sorry’, according to the reports.

This comes at a time after Minaj, back in June 2018, tried to obtain rights of Chapman’s song ‘Baby Can I Hold You’ and failed.

It was in August 2018 that Minaj’s song ‘Sorry’ featured in her latest album ‘Queen’. Tracy asserted that half of the lyrics in the song were copied from the former’s original track.

The day the song was played at a radio station, the ‘Super Bass’ hitmaker tweeted “Sis said no”; which, according to the lawsuit, referred to Chapman’s denial on letting the former use ‘Baby Can I Hold You’. The lawsuit also confirmed that Nicki’s team tried to pull down the song from the album in order to make it disappear, but Tracy said that the damage was already done.

Chapman is suing Minaj to prohibit her from re-releasing the reworked version of ‘Sorry’. The veteran also added that she wants Minaj to compensate for the damage that was caused.

Johnny Depp to play war photographer W Eugene Smith in ‘Minamata’

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Afternoon Voice
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Johnny Depp AV 1

Johnny Depp is set to portray the role of war photographer W Eugene Smith in the indie drama “Minamata”.

According to a leading daily, the film revolves around Smith’s work as a photographer for Life Magazine in exposing the poisoning of the people of Minamata, Japan.

To be directed by Andrew Levitas, the movie will begin with the war shutterbug as a recluse with the glory days of World War II far behind him.

But an old friend and a commission from Life Magazine editor Ralph Graves convince him to journey back to Japan for a big expose: the annihilation of a coastal community through mercury poisoning.

“Minamata” is based on the book by co-written by Smith and his wife, environmentalist Aileen Mioko Smith. It has been adapted by David K Kessler.

Levitas said working with Depp will give voice to those who have been silently suffering and the project was a responsibility they do not take lightly.

Much like Eugene Smith in 1971, we could not feel more privileged or humbled to be tasked with the mission of bringing this incredible story to the world, the director added.

Principal photography starts in Japan followed by Serbia in January.

What a gift to be your mom: Reese Witherspoon to son

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Afternoon Voice
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Reese Witherspoon AV

Doting mom Reese Witherspoon has a heartwarming wish for son Deacon on his 15th birthday.

The Academy award-winning actor shared the sweet tribute on Instagram. Alongside a picture, in which she poses with her “creative, kind, talented boy”, the proud mama wrote, “Happy Birthday to my wonderful, creative, kind, talented boy @deaconphillippe! Every day you teach me something new about beats, Fort Nite dances, fantasy football and cool sneakers.”

“What a gift to be your mom. I love you, buddy! (P.S. When did you get so tall!?) #Thisis15,” the actor added.

The ‘Big Little Lies’ star shares Deacon and daughter Ava Elizabeth, 18 with ex-husband Ryan Phillippe.

She is also mother to Tennessee James with husband Jim Toth. On the occasion of her “sweet little boy” Tennessee’s sixth birthday last month, Witherspoon had also shared an endearing wish on social media.

“Heyyyy!! It’s this little guy’s 6th birthday! Happy birthday to my sweet little boy, Tennessee! He makes me smile & laugh and remember the important things in life everyday! #6,” she wrote along with a picture of James.

Steve Carrell joins Jennifer Aniston-Reese Witherspoon Apple drama

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Afternoon Voice
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Steve Carrell AV

Steve Carrell has landed the male lead in Apple’s untitled morning show drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon.

According to a leading portal, Carell will play Mitch Kessler, a morning show anchor who is struggling to maintain relevance in a changing media landscape.

The role marks the actor’s first TV regular appearance since he wrapped up the NBC comedy, “The Office” in 2011.

Aniston and Witherspoon will co-executive produce the show which is based on an original concept by Michael Ellenberg and draw inspiration from Brian Stelter’s book “Top Of The Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV”.

The show has received a two-season, 20-episode order.

Kerry Ehrin is attached as showrunner on the series and will also exec produce. Stelter serves as a consultant.

Production is set to begin next week.

Cyrus Mistry announces formation of new venture

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Afternoon Voice
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Cyrus Mistry AV

Cyrus Mistry, former chairman of Tata Group, on Wednesday announced the formation of Mistry Ventures LLP, which is aimed at providing strategic insights and advice to businesses, incubate new ventures and provide seed, early stage and growth capital to startups in India and globally.

Mistry’s venture will bring in Ashish Iyer, Senior Partner and previously Global Leader, Strategy Practice at the Boston Consulting Group to lead the firm.

“Ashish has worked with companies across sectors globally and brings deep expertise across domains and capabilities such as Strategy, Go-To-Market, Digital, Innovation amongst others and I am very excited to have him on board,” Cyrus Mistry said in a statement.

Outlining his vision for Mistry Ventures, he stated, “The intent to deliver profit with positive social impact will be embedded in each of the ventures we promote or partner with. Mistry Ventures will do more than just invest in companies. By interpreting some of the major global and local trends and understanding their impact on industries and companies, we will incubate new businesses, forge partnerships and make investments across sectors.

Mistry further shared that Mistry Ventures will focus on providing “mentorship and infusing unique capability sets to help startups craft the appropriate business experiments needed to validate, scale and bring products and services faster to market.”

Mistry Ventures LLP is jointly promoted by Shapoor Mistry and Cyrus Mistry, the Promoters of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group, a globally diversified conglomerate with a history of over 150 years, operating in the Engineering and Construction, Infrastructure, Real Estate, Water, Energy and Financial Services sectors with a presence in over 60 countries globally.

DDLJ completes 1,200 week run at Maratha Mandir

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Afternoon Voice
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Maratha Mandir DDLJ AV

It has been 23 years but Maratha Mandir is still in love with “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge”, which completed an uninterrupted run of 1,200 weeks at the city’s iconic theatre.

The 1995 film saw Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol emerge as a romantic heartthrobs in Bollywood, with stellar performances by Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, Anupam Kher, Satish Shah and Himani Shivpuri, among others.

Shah Rukh took to Twitter Wednesday to express his gratitude for the love and adulation.

“A special journey that began 23 years ago, goes on even today. Your love has kept Raj & Simran’s story alive on the big screen for 1200 weeks non-stop. Thank you for falling in love with us so unconditionally for so many years! #23YearsOfDDLJ (sic),” he tweeted.

Kajol added, “1200 weeks and still running! Thank you all for all the love that you have been showering on #DDLJ for so many years! It was, it is and will always be an incredibly special film for all of us. @iamsrk @yrf #AdityaChopra.”

Fondly called “DDLJ”, the film is remembered for its picturesque European locales and Punjab’s mustard fields, which went to become one of many signatures of the film.

Songs like “Na jaane mere”, “Tujhe dekha” and “Ruk ja” by Lata Mangeshkar, Udit Narayan and Kumar Sanu on memorable tunes by Jatin-Lalit still rule the hearts of diehard romantics.

Was CBI Director sacked for his keenness to probe Rafale Scam, asks Congress

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Afternoon Voice
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Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala AV

The Congress on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of interfering in the working of the CBI and wondered if its Director Alok Verma was “sacked” for his keenness to probe the “layers of corruption” in the Rafale scam.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government has put the “last nail” in the independence of the CBI by removing Verma.

Systematic dismantling and denigrating of CBI is now complete. Once a premier investigating agency, PM ensures that CBI’s integrity, credibility and reliability is ‘buried and dead’, he wrote on Twitter.

Has the CBI Director been sacked for his keenness to probe the layers of corruption in Rafale Scam? Isn’t the rest a shoddy cover up? Let PM answer, he said in another tweet.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, however, dismissed as “rubbish” allegations that Verma was removed because he wanted to look into the Rafale fighter jet deal.

He said the government’s decision to remove Verma and Special Director Rakesh Asthana is based on the Central Vigilance Commission’s recommendations.

Former Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said the removal of the CBI director was illegal, unethical and unconstitutional.

The Congress on its official Twitter handle asked, Why has the government removed CBI Director Alok Verma of his charge and sealed his offices? Who are they protecting and what are they hiding?

Congress leader Manish Tewari said according to the Lokpal Act and the Supreme Court judgment in the Jain Hawala case, the CBI director has a fixed tenure of two years.

Government cannot curtail tenure/take interim measures without a meeting of Committee consisting of PM, CJI and leader of Opposition/single largest party, he posted on Twitter.

Surjewala alleged in a tweet: Scared of the Rafale Scam probe, Modi ji is killing India’s premier investigation agency.

“Officers are being removed in hordes and fascism prevails. Can’t save the sinking ‘Sultanate’ by it. Modiji, why are you so scared of the Rafale probe? he tweeted.

The Congress leader also termed the transfer of the agency’s Deputy SP Ajay Bassi to Port Blair as Saja-E-Kala paani by an autocratic Modi ji.

Illegality, interference and unconstitutionality of Modi government has hit a ‘new low’. Speaking truth to power has become a crime under this dictatorial regime, Surjewala tweeted.

The prime minister has demonstrated the true colour of his infamous ‘Modi Made Gujarat Model’ by this cloak-and-dagger mugging of the CBI, he alleged.

“PM Modi seeks to achieve surreptitiously and clandestinely what he can’t do directly to sack the CBI Director. Habitual and perpetual misuse of CBI by Modi Government and BJP to tamper fair investigation of serious criminal cases is the reason for this unfathomable mess, he alleged.

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