Anupam Kher offers scholarships to shutterbugs

The best in Bollywood today have had to first turn to Anupam Kher’s acting school, ACTOR PREPARES for their initial training into the craft. Many aspirants who want to find their feet in the entertainment industry harbour the dream of first making it to the thespian’s acting school. Two among them, were the photographers who were clicking photos of Kher, as he was walking out of an airport. A close source says, “The photographers approached the seasoned actor and told him about their wish to enroll in an acting course at his school and the financial constraints they’re facing. Kher immediately spoke his team and offered them a scholarship for a weekend part time course.” Thirteen years since it was founded, ACTOR PREPARES has earned recognition as one of the finest in the country. Deepika Padukone, Varun Dhawan, Preity Zinta, Ali Zafar,  Esha Gupta, Ruslaan Mumtaz, Armaan Jain and Kiara Advani are some of the celebrated alumni of the school​

Viacom18 and Film Heritage Foundation Host Power Packed Evening with Christopher Nolan and Tacita Dean

          Top on agenda for the evening was to preserve cinema on celluloid 

 Corporate Honchos and the film fraternity came together to champion the cause   

Industry biggies such as Anurag Kashyap, Kamal Haasan, A.R. Rahman, Rajkumar                                     Hirani in attendance  

A one of a kind crowd gathered at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace yesterday to celebrate, encourage and save the art of film-making on celluloid. Acclaimed Director Christopher Nolan and award-winning visual artist Tacita Dean are in the city for the 4th edition of Reframing the Future of Film. Hosted by India’s youngest full-play media network Viacom18, in association with the Film Heritage Foundation, in attendance for the dinner were a motley of top business leaders, film-makers and media industry personalities such as Kamal Haasan, A.R. Rahman, Huma Qureshi, Anurag Kashyap, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Rajkumar Hirani, Santosh Sivan, Shyam Benegal, Ashish Bhasin, Vikram Sakhuja, and Prasoon Joshi amongst others in attendance. 

Speaking at this exclusive dinner party, host for the evening Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO, Viacom18, said: “Films in India have traditionally been shot on celluloid, an art that is fast being replaced by digital filming. Christopher Nolan is one of the world’s most eminent film-makers who still shoots on film and is a strong proponent of saving celluloid filming. As supporters of film preservation and restoration initiatives in the Indian subcontinent for 4 years now, we understand the importance of saving cinema in every medium, be it digital or analogue i.e. celluloid. Having Christopher and Tacita in the city is a great opportunity for raising awareness and I would urge corporations, media, partners and the entertainment industry of the country to support this cause.” 

Christopher Nolan and Tacita Dean have been raising awareness amongst the international film fraternity towards the cause of saving celluloid. After three editions in London, Los Angeles and Mexico, this time they’re in India, the second largest film making nation in the world. Film Heritage Foundation, which works towards the saving and restoring the film heritage of India and neighbouring countries has partnered with Nolan and Dean to raise awareness in India about film being a working medium, with unique intrinsic qualities that artists and filmmakers need. 

Speaking about his visit to India Christopher Nolan said: “It’s been wonderful meeting so many of you. Here’s to learning more from you guys, to looking forward to events over the next couple of days, and learning more about the amazing film culture that exists in India.” 

Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Founder Director, Film Heritage Foundation said, “Partnering with stalwarts of film-making such as Christopher Nolan and Tacita Dean bring about awareness and attention that is most lacking in the cause of film preservation and restoration. Most of our cinematic heritage is in celluloid and therefore, its preservation will help not only save films but also film-making on film.”  

‘Reframing the Future of Film’ – a conversation between renowned visual artist Tacita Dean, celebrated filmmaker Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk, Interstellar) and award-winning filmmaker and archivist, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur will be held at NCPA theatre Mumbai on 1st April 2018.

SHOCKING: Rani Mukerji attacked via syndicated media platform

Patna-based Bollywood journalist Subhash K Jha, who Sonu Nigam had accused of unmentionable things, has used the reputed national syndicated platform of Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) to vent out his personal grudge against renowned actress Rani Mukerji who is married to Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films (YRF). 

In a letter against the marketing and PR team of YRF, the journalist goes on to revel in a moment where he claims to have seen Rani Mukerji dancing atop a dining table and rues that the YRF team does not let him carry out direct interactions with her anymore. 

Jha points out that he wants to witness more moments such as the one where Rani danced on the table. "I wait to see you dance on that gleaming table-top once again. But without your marketing team monitoring every move," he wrote in his letter to her. 

The journalist's letter which has been posted on his personal website, has been shared by the news and feature agency IANS in various media outlets. 

Meanwhile, in an unrelated message shared with her fans on Twitter and Instagram, Rani Mukerji remarked, "For a woman, the disparity with a man is huge and glaring in this industry. We are judged for our looks, our dancing skills, our height, our voice, our acting, how we carry ourselves every time we step out of the house - we have to be the best and yet we are thought to be extremely dispensable." 

After her 2014 hit Mardaani, the actress is set to make a comeback with Maneesh Sharma's Hichki. Turning 40 this week, Rani said, "On my birthday, I cannot skirt these massive 'hichkis' that my fellow actresses and I have faced/face and will face every day."  

The film has Rani playing the character of Naina Mathur, a lady who has Tourette Syndrome (a disorder which forces an individual to make involuntary repetitive movements or sounds) but is ready to overcome all obstacles to become a teacher. Produced by Yash Raj Films, the movie is set to release on March 23 this week.

Palak’s classical moves

Palak Jain who essays the role of Anushka Reddy on Sony Entertainment Television’s upcoming show ‘Yeh Pyaar Nahi Toh Kya Hai’ is a girl of many talents. Palak is an accomplished model, a talented actor and also a classical dance enthusiast. Belonging to an elite and a rich family, Anushka has an ideology of simple living and high thinking. She also has a flair for art and culture and is inclined to learn a dance form.  While shooting for the show, Palak got the opportunity to indulge herself in professional Bharat Natyam training sessions. ‘Yeh Pyaar Nahi Toh Kya Hai’ narrates a modern-day love story written and produced by master story teller Dilip Jha. It depicts that shade of love which is unspoken but palpable, unexpressed but perceptible of Siddhant Sinha (Namit Khanna) & Anushka Reddy (Palak Jain). Anushka Reddy is the daughter of one of the biggest ‘business tycoons’ of the country but is untouched by the opulence in which she has been brought up. She is sensitive yet competitive, has everything which one could desire but still cannot give up on her emotions that she has for Siddhant. 

When contacted Palak Jain confirmed “I am super excited as our show will be going on air in a couple of days. Yes, it’s true, I always wanted to learn Bharat Natyam but due to studies and other assignments I couldn’t find the time to do it. Thanks to ‘Yeh Pyaar Nahi Toh Kya Hai’ my on-screen character of Anushka Reddy is an dance enthusiast and hence I had to learn few steps of the Carnatic dance form from a professional tutor. It was a liberating feeling, a long-cherished dream that has finally come true. I am hopeful of learning Bharat Natyam professionally as I get time from shoots.”

Robert Downey Jr. Reveals His Favorite Avengers: Infinity War Moment

The upcoming Avengers: Infinity War promises to deliver plenty of action and surprises just like shown in the trailer- with iron Man being at the center of it- but Iron Man aka Robert Downey Jr. is teasing the fans that his favorite scene in the movie doesn't even involve his own character. With around 80 characters making their way onto the screens for Infinity War, there are high hopes for what the Russo Brothers have in store for us. The mind- numbing trailer has shown that Iron Man is playing a substantial role in the story but the star’s favorite scene concerns someone else altogether. In a recent interview, Downey Jr. revealed his favorite infinity War moment: “My favorite shot in the movie has already been seen, and it’s when Thor, who’s just totally gnarled up, turns and goes, ‘Who the hell are you guys?’ and you cut to the Guardians [of the Galaxy]. I’m like sold. If the whole third movie was that scene, we’re fine.” 22 heroes, 6 infinity Gems, 1 Mad Titan. An unprecedented cinematic event that has been 10 years and 18 films in the making. Avengers Infinity War releases on 27th April 2018 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.