You can’t survive pageantry or Bollywood, if you’re not strong: Lara Dutta

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November 13, 2019

Actor Lara Dutta believes it’s crucial for a person to be strong to survive in Bollywood, pageantry or modelling world as it requires nerves of steel to navigate the ups and downs.

Lara will mentor contestants for LIVA Miss Diva 2020, which will feature young aspirants from across the country competing for the title.

The actor, who was crowned Miss Universe 2000, said one “needs to be strong” to make it through the pageantry.

“Today, whether it’s pageantry, surviving in the modelling business or entering Bollywood, I don’t think you’ll survive if you’re not strong as a person. The idea is not just to train these girls but also to provide them an ecosystem which gives them the support they need.

“To create a sisterhood with few past pageant winners. So that when they go through experiences, they understand that they aren’t alone,” Lara told an agency in an interview.

The actor said aspirants today seem to be “far more armed, savvier” than what she or other Indian pageant winners like Priyanka Chopra and Dia Mirza were.

“That has got to do with the social media influence. So they have access to a lot more information, have far more experience and are exposed to more things than we were. We came in as 18-19 year olds, barely out of school or college.

“The girls today have access to tutorials, most of them have also taken some grooming classes. Every girl who comes in is beautiful, so it’s not about changing the way they look but more about instilling a confidence in them, an ability to break the stereotype of how a beauty pageant winner ought to be described,” she added.

Lara, 41, said the myth of how a pageant winner has to be needs to be “shattered”.

“A lot has changed from the way a stereotypical beauty pageant winner was described. We need to teach these girls to step out of their comfort zones, to be able to shatter the myth of what a stereotypical beauty queen was supposed to be. In order to that, they need to have a voice of their own and the ability to express it.”

India won its Miss Universe crown 19 years ago, with Lara being the last winner. Asked why the country hasn’t seen more winners since then, the actor said, because between the years 1994-2000 “we had so many winners, we thought this was a cup of tea.”

“We don’t see the other side, that France had to wait almost 54 years, Philippines waited 30 years before they had their winning spree. You have more than 100 countries competing… even internationally what they’re looking at is constantly evolving and changing.”

“Even if we think we may have cracked the formula, when we go in there, it’s a complete surprise to us because then they’re looking for something entirely different than what they were looking for in the last five years,” she added.

Soha Ali Khan to make digital debut with comedy web-series

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Web Team

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November 13, 2019

Soha Ali Khan on Tuesday said she will foray into the digital medium with a comedy web-series.

“I am looking forward to starting something in January and it will be 30 or 40 days commitment. I have never stayed this long away from my daughter Inaaya, I will take her with me. It is a comedy in a web-series space. The last couple of episodes are being written. The official announcement will come soon,” Soha told PTI.

Soha’s brother Saif Ali Khan made his digital debut with Netflix Original’s critically acclaimed series “Sacred Games”.

Soha believes web shows offer quality and challenging work for talented actors.

“There are different reasons why people do web. When it comes to theatrical distribution there are many risks. A lot of films are releasing on the web directly and web shows are also being made. Because of the digital platform, I had the confidence to say that there will always be work for good actors here.”

Soha and her husband Kunal Kemmu are co-producing the biopic on India’s renowned lawyer Ram Jethmalani with Ronnie Screwvala.

“The first draft of the script is locked and we are finalising the script. It is a very ambitious project.”

Robert De Niro to be honoured with 2019 SAG Life Achievement Award

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Web Team

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November 13, 2019

Hollywood veteran and double Oscar winner Robert De Niro will receive the Life Achievement Award from Screen Actors Guild (SAG) at the 26th edition of the ceremony next year.

According to a press release issued on Tuesday, the actor has been named the 56th recipient of SAG-AFTRA’s highest tribute: the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment.

The 76-year-old De Niro will be presented the honour on January 19, 2020.

The SAG Life Achievement Award is given annually to an actor who fosters the “finest ideals of the acting profession”.

“I have been a member of this union for over 50 years. It’s an honor to receive this award from SAG-AFTRA,” De Niro said in a statement.

The star of “Taxi Driver,” “The Deer Hunter” and “Silver Linings Playbook” will add the award to his impressive catalog honours, which also includes a Golden Globe, the Cecil B DeMille Award, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, a GLADD Excellence in Media Award and the Film Society of Lincoln Center’s Chaplin Award.

In a reference to his roles in films “The Godfather 2”, “Raging Bull” and “The Intern”, Gabrielle Carteris, president of SAG-AFTRA, said it was her privilege to announce SAG-AFTRA’s highest honour for “one of the most singular talents of our generation”.

“Robert De Niro is an actor of extraordinary depth and ability. The characters he creates captivate our imaginations. From the smoldering inferno of young Vito Corleone to the raging bull Jake Lamotta and everybody’s grandpa Ben Whittaker, he continues to touch our hearts and open our minds to new and exciting worlds of understanding and emotion,” Carteris said.

De Niro will next be seen in frequent collaborator Martin Scorsese’s gangster drama, “The Irishman”.

SAG — the awards of the actors, by the actors, for the actors in film and television — is one of the biggest ceremonies in the Hollywood awards season.

Nominations will be announced on December 11.

Jordana Brewster to star in ‘Shrine’ adaptation

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Web Team

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November 13, 2019

“Fast and Furious” star Jordana Brewster has been cast opposite Jeffrey Dean Morgan in the screen adaptation of horror novel “Shrine”.

According to Deadline, the details of Brewster’s characters are unknown.

The film, to be written and directed by Evan Spiliotopoulos, is Morgan’s return to the horror genre.

The actor, who has featured in popular horror series “The Walking Dead” and “Supernatural”, will play the lead role in the project, produced by Screen Gems.

“Shrine” focuses on a disgraced journalist who discovers a series of seemingly divine miracles in a small New England town and uses them to resurrect his career, but the ‘miracles’ may have a much darker source.

The film goes on floors in February.

Marvel pays tributes to Stan ‘The Man’ Lee on first death anniversary

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Web Team

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November 13, 2019

Marvel,Stan Lee — Image Courtesy: Free Press Journal

Marvel Studios has paid homage to Stan Lee on the one-year death anniversary of the comic book legend.

Lee, who revolutionised pop culture as the co-creator of iconic superheroes like Spider-Man and The Hulk, died on November 12, 2018 at age 95.

In a Twitter post on Tuesday, Marvel honoured Lee’s legacy with an illustration of the veteran surrounded by many of the superheroes he helped create.

“Remembering Stan ‘The Man’ Lee: his legacy will live on in the Marvel Universe and the hearts of Marvel fans everywhere,” the tweet read.

Remembering Stan “The Man” Lee: his legacy will live on in the Marvel Universe and the hearts of Marvel fans everywhere. pic.twitter.com/dvAkpCBS22

— Marvel Entertainment (@Marvel) November 12, 2019

From Spider-Man to Black Panther to the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, Lee collaborated with other authors and illustrators to put his imagination on the page.

These superheroes would be followed by Iron Man, Thor and Doctor Strange — all three have churned out many money-spinning film franchises.

He has appeared in cameo roles in nearly every Marvel movie — with a final posthumous cameo in summer blockbuster “Avengers: Endgame”.

John Legend named sexiest man alive, predecessor Idris Elba says he deserves it

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Web Team

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November 13, 2019

John Legend has been named the Sexiest Man Alive by a magazine and the Grammy winner says he is under “pressure” as he succeeds actor Idris Elba.

The 40-year-old musician was chosen the most desirable man for 2019 by People Magazine.

Legend said he is “excited” and a “little scared” about receiving the title.

“I was excited, but I was a little scared at the same time because it’s a lot of pressure. Everyone’s going to be picking me apart to see if I’m sexy enough to hold this title. I’m following Idris Elba, which is not fair and is not nice to me!” he told the magazine.

Legend also took to Twitter to share the news with his old photograph and tagged Elba in the post.

“1995 John would be very perplexed to be following 2018 @IdrisElba as #SexiestManAlive. Hell, 2019 John is about as equally perplexed but thank you @People for finding me sexy. I’ll take it,” the “All of Me” hitmaker wrote.

Elba retweeted his best wishes to Legend and quipped Dwayne Johnson still believes he has the title.

“My G Congratulations brother! You deserve it. DO NOT TELL @TheRock. He still thinks he’s got the title, I didn’t have the heart to tell him when I took it,” he wrote of his “Hobbs & Shaw” co-star who won the title in 2016.

Legend earned his first Emmy at the Creative Arts Awards for his turn as the star and executive producer of NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live”.

He is one of the few talents to have an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony each. He currently features as a coach on “The Voice”.

Why is Children’s Day celebrated?

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C K Subramaniam

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November 13, 2019

As a tribute to Late Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his love for the children, his birthday is celebrated all over India as Children’s day. Most schools have cultural programmes for the day, with the students managing it all. All over the country, various cultural, social, and even corporates and institutions conduct competition for children. Children’s Day is an occasion for children to engage in fun and frolic. Schools celebrate this day by organising cultural programmes. Teachers of the school perform songs and dances for their students. Therefore, Children’s Day is special. It is a day set aside to remember Nehru’s and his love for children.

Chacha Nehru as the children fondly referred to him, was fond of both children and roses. In fact he often compared the two, saying that children were like the buds in a garden. They should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they were the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow. He felt that children are the real strength of a country and the very foundation of society. Nehru was the beloved of all the children who gave him the endearing name of Chacha Nehru. Children’s Day is celebrated every year to let the people specially parents aware about the importance of celebrating this day.

Children’s day, in Hindi known as “Bal Diwas“, in India falls on November 14th every year and for good reason. Bal Diwas in India is celebrated every year to increase the awareness of people towards the rights, care and education of children. Children are the key of success and development of the country as they would lead their country in different and new technological way. They are adorable and shine same like the precious pearls. Children are the God gifts to their parents by the Almighty. They are innocent, admirable, pure and loved by everyone.

The day long events carried on this day include:-

Children are given gifts and chocolates.
Variety of competitions like fancy dress, debates, speech related to the freedom fighters, country, story-telling and quizzes.
Cultural and social programs like singing, dancing and entertaining with other musical instruments.
Special programme for Orphan children by distributing the clothes, toys, musical instruments, stationery, books, and etc.
Organising some programs related to the freedom fighters.
Organising game activities including puzzle, sweet and sugar treasure hunt and etc.
Underprivileged children get a taste of musical programs by famous musicians and speech on health, care and progress.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Letters to the Editor: 13 November, 2019

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Web Team

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November 13, 2019

T N Seshan: A great reformer

If today our electoral system stands one among the best and a model to be followed the credit definitely goes to late T N Seshan a pioneer who confidently put things right on the electoral picture. The daring IAS officer marked a niche of his own in the hearts of the citizens. Whenever an election is held – be it assembly or parliament – the face that appear in the mind of the generation of the 1990s and after is that of T N Seshan. The reforms set by the greatest of Election commissioner the country has ever seen are many – introducing voters ID, election code of conduct, restrictions on election expenditure, restrictions of sale of liquor during election time, restrictions on using the name of religion and caste during campaigning, prohibition of religious institutions canvassing for candidates, restrictions of usage of fund during campaigning and many other strict laws in a way and to a maximum paved way for neat and clean election. If today Election Commission and the chiefs at the helm have a voice of their own it’s because of this great person who was an epitome of honesty, integrity and transparency.

M Pradyu

Abandon JNU and establish new University

Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi has gained notoriety for regular and frequent anti-national and anti-social activities from time to time resulting in severe law and order problems. It is surprising how even teachers with political motives of a particular ideology get appointed at this institute set up and run at high public-cost as compared to other universities in the country.

It was totally unjustified to continue providing costly hostel-facilities to JNU students at nominal rather negligible fees of just Rs 10 per month which after decades has now been raised to only Rs 300 per month on twin-sharing basis. Agitating students unnecessarily confused public by mentioning Rs 1700 per month now imposed as service-charge for so many facilities as per actual cost as if JNU authorities imposed some type of service-tax.

Best is to abandon JNU in its existing form and instead utilise huge premises and available resources for setting up an altogether new institute for higher studies under a new name after say great educationist former President of India Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan who also happened to be first Vice President of India ensuring that anti-national and anti-social elements may not be able to be recruited as teachers or admitted as students.

Madhu Agrawal

Avoid stubble burning

The Punjab Chief Minister has suggested an incentive of Rs 100 per quintal of stubble to farmers, hoping it would encourage them to shun stubble burning. If this is implemented, it will be disastrous for national economy. Rather, the Chief Minister should have suggested alternatives for stubble disposal. The agriculture department can play an important role in getting rid of this social evil. Farmers, too, should be sensitive to the health of their fellow beings. Public representatives can play a positive role in this hour of emergency by motivating farmers not to burn stubble.

Md Arif

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

SC upholds disqualification of 17 rebel Cong-JD(S) MLAs

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Web Team

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November 13, 2019

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the decision of the then Karnataka speaker K R Ramesh Kumar to disqualify 17 rebel Congress-JD(S) MLAs under the anti-defection law and said that they can contest the upcoming by-elections in the state.

“We are upholding the order of the Speaker,” said Justice Ramana while reading out the judgment. The top court said that resignation does not take away the power of disqualification by the speaker.

“Since we are deciding disqualification, resignation is not needed to be gone into. As such there is no doubt that disqualification has nothing to do with resignation,” the court said.

The rebel legislators were disqualified by the then speaker K R Ramesh Kumar in July under the anti-defection law after they tendered their resignation.

They were also barred from contesting polls for the duration of the current assembly, which is slated to end in 2023.

The move had led to fall of the Congress-JD(S) coalition government, paving way for BJP to stake claim to form a new government in the state.

The disgruntled MLAs then moved the apex court challenging their disqualification. They sought quashing of the order passed by the speaker and prohibition imposed on them to contest elections. The matter was reserved by the court on October 25.

The elections for 15 out of 17 seats are slated to be held on December 5. They were earlier scheduled to be conducted on October 21 but were deferred by the Election Commission (EC) as the petitions of disqualified MLAs were pending in the top court.

The poll body had withheld the elections for two seats — Maski and Rajarajeshwari — as the petitions against these Assembly constituencies are pending in the Karnataka High Court.

After their disqualification, the strength of the 224-member Assembly had come down to 207. This had brought down the majority mark to 104. The BJP, which helms the government in the state, has 106 MLAs in the Assembly.

With the by-poll elections, the majority mark will climb to 222 and the BJP will have to win a minimum of six out of fifteen seats to keep its majority.

President’s rule in Maharashtra: Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s decision criticised

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Web Team

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November 12, 2019

President’s rule was imposed in Maharashtra on Tuesday after President Ram Nath Kovind approved Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari‘s recommendation for it. Governor’s decision is being criticised by opposition parties. Koshyari had given time to the NCP till 8.30 pm today to prove that it has the numbers after the Shiv Sena on Monday failed to get letters of support from the political rivals before the deadline set by the Governor who rejected its plea for three more days to do so. The recommendation follows uncertainty over government formation in the state for 20 days after election results on October 24. After the BJP and the Shiv Sena failed to show enough numbers to form a government, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari invited the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar to take a shot. The NCP was to give an answer by 8.30 pm on Tuesday, which is why the recommendation of President’s rule surprised many. The Shiv Sena went to Supreme Court on Tuesday after reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s cabinet has recommended President’s rule for Maharashtra.

Hours before the Union Cabinet recommended President’s rule in Maharashtra, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar blamed their ally Congress for the “delay” in deciding on whether to support the Shiv Sena in a non-BJP government in Maharashtra, his uncle Sharad Pawar too is upset with the Congress. The Congress held off on sending its leaders to Mumbai this morning, asking Sharad Pawar to come to Delhi instead and speak to its chief Sonia Gandhi. But the NCP chief declined, citing a meeting with his party MLAs, and the two then spoke on the phone.

Ahead of its meeting with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari last evening, the Shiv Sena did not have letter of support from the Congress. The NCP, which had agreed to support the Sena, was left holding on to its letter of support.

Ajit Pawar the NCP leader told Afternoon Voice, “It is very unfortunate that the Congress could not decide on its support to Shiv Sena, the delay has led to President’s rule. Our party NCP waited for letter from Congress yesterday. But we did not receive the letter by the evening. It was not right for us to give the letter. Whatever be the decision, there should be stability.”

“From morning 10 am till 7:30 pm on Monday, our leaders including Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel were waiting for their letter. Shiv Sena had to submit the letter till 7:30 pm. If Congress was not sending its letter of support, how could we give ours,” Ajit Pawar disclosed. The NCP held meetings on Tuesday too.

Whereas Congress said Sharad Pawar also asked for more time and discussions on power-sharing with the Sena, pointing to Sonia Gandhi that his party was “just two seats behind” the Sena.

Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde said “Congress was not late, rather we have been vigilant since beginning. We had asked NCP if they have sent a letter to Governor. Things will have to be done simultaneously; they are our partner. Whatever decision is taken, it’ll be done together but we were not given proper idea.”

The Governor last evening asked the NCP, which finished third in last month’s Maharashtra polls, to form the government after the BJP and the Sena failed to stake claim to power.

Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said, “The Governor is working under the pressure of BJP. According to the Supreme Court verdict the governor should try each and every possible way to form the government. And after going on all the available options if it is not possible then only they can recommend Article 356 of the constitution.”

The NCP has made it clear it will not take any decision without its ally Congress, as a Shiv Sena-led government cannot be stable without its support. The NCP has 54 MLAs in the 288-member assembly while the Congress has 44. After a day of discussions, the Congress said in a statement that it would hold further consultations with the NCP. The BJP, which emerged as the largest party in Maharashtra with 105 seats, declined to form the government after a breakdown of ties with the Shiv Sena over its demand for rotational chief ministership. The Shiv Sena, which has 56 MLAs, believes it can form a stable government with support from the NCP and Congress but at eleventh hour they were betrayed by both.

NCP leader and advocate Majeed Memon said, “It appears to be very unreasonable on the part of the honourable governor to have withdrawn the time given to us till 8: 30 pm. Although in the morning at 11 am the Raj Bhavan had sought extension for 48 hours. Far from granting the extension of 9 hours were cut down from the given time. “

He further added, “At 11 am it seems that an 18-page report recommending the President’s rule has been sent to the centre and the centre hastily approved the governor’s recommendation at 3 pm. This is kind of injustice to the party for which invitation was extended.”

By Akshay Redij