Rajinikanth can meet PM if he wants: Naidu
Bengaluru–There is no problem if Tamil superstar Rajinikanth wants to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Sunday.
“Rajnikanth is a great actor. Modi is a great leader. There is no problem if he (Rajnikanth) wants to meet the Prime Minister,” Naidu told reporters at a campus event here.
Naidu’s observation came in light of the 67-year-old megastar’s hints of entering politics soon at a meeting with his ardent fans in Chennai on Friday.
“I am not aware of any possible meeting between Rajinikanth and Modi,” said Naidu after unveiling the statue of prominent industrialist and philanthropist M. S. Ramaiah, who founded the Gokula Education Foundation in the city during the early 1960s.
Naidu said the central government, however, wanted factionalism in the ruling AIADMK to end to fulfil the promises late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa made to the state’s people.
Rasika Dugal excited for debut stint at Cannes
New Delhi–Rasika Dugal is excited and hopeful that her maiden experience at the celebrated Cannes Film Festival, where a curtain raiser of her film “Manto” is being hosted, will be a special one.
Being directed by Nandita Das, “Manto” — starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the title role — is a biographical film based on the Urdu writer. Apart from emphasising on Manto and his writings, it will also reflect on his personal life in which his wife Safia played a strong role.
Rasika, noted for her performance in the film “Qissa” and TV show “P.O.W – Bandi Yuddh Ke”, plays Safia.
“I’ve never been to Cannes and this is going to be my first time… Like that hashtag that’s going around, I am also going to be a Cannes virgin,” quipped the actress in a conversation with IANS, before taking off for Cannes.
Never run out of things to learn from Sonu Nigam: Jonita Gandhi
Mumbai–Jonita Gandhi, who has teamed with her “mentor” Sonu Nigam to croon a song in the film “Friendship Unlimited”, says there’s always something new to learn from the popular singer.
Jonita, who has sung songs like “Sau tarah ke”, “Breakup song” and “Gillehriyan”, has lent voice to “Affu Khuda” with Sonu. It is a remixed version of the 1960s superhit song from the movie “Jab Jab Phool Khilen”, read a statement.
The experience of working on the song is memorable for Jonita as Sonu was the first from Bollywood to introduce her to the professional stage. What started with the need for one singer to perform at his public concert in Canada led to an invitation to tour with him around the world.
This introduction began her career as a professional singer.
Talking about it, Jonita said: “The way I met him was through an online contest he held in 2009 where I was one of the winners. The result was that I got to be part of a tribute to Michael Jackson in which Sonuji also sang. I was thrilled then, and now my dream of sharing a film song with him has finally come true.
“I’ve always looked up to him growing up, and while sharing the stage with him for years now, I never run out of things to learn from him.”
Farah feels fortunate at completing 25 years in filmdom
Mumbai–Farah Khan, now a successful filmmaker, started her career in Indian cinema as a choreographer 25 years ago with Aamir Khan-starrer “Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar”. She feels fortunate for having got love and opportunities in filmdom.
When “Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar” released on May 22, 1992, the audience swayed to the moves choreographed by her. She went on to choreograph for films like “1942: A Love Story”, “Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge” and “Dil To Pagal Hai”.
Her directorial debut, “Main Hoon Na” in 2004, turned out to be a big hit.
Thankful for her successful career, Farah said in a statement: “I’m so fortunate to be able to do what I love for the last 25 years. The constant love and support from the industry and my fans have been overwhelming.””
Her last directorial venture, “Happy New Year”, came out in 2014.
Maybe it’s time to join social media: Aishwarya
Mumbai–Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has so far stayed away from social media, is considering joining the celebrity bandwagon on the platform.
“I think the time has come to join social media as everyone is asking me. Thank you for your enthusiasm and I will surely consider the suggestion,” Aishwarya said during a video call with the media here from Cannes.
The actress’s father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan and husband Abhishek Bachchan are quite active on social networking platforms, and keep in touch with their fans through them.
Karan Johar wants ‘justice for cool’
Filmmaker Karan Johar, who made superstar Shah Rukh Khan flaunt the unforgettable ‘cool chain’, wonders how words are being given a twist by people in order to sound cool.
“Amazing became amaze! Crazy became cray! Brilliant became Brill… What did cool do wrong to become coolio!!! Why??? #justiceforcool,” Karan tweeted on Sunday.
When one user responded: “KJo became KJoie!”, the filmmaker said: “Oh no! I was going to say something rude… But then I saw your display picture!!!”
Herry excited about his Haryanvi avatar in film
Budding actor Herry Tangri has coloured his hair for “Behen Hogi Teri” for the first time and is playing a Haryanvi character in the film.
“My character’s name is Bhura because he has brown hair. I coloured my hair for a film for the first time. He is a Haryanvi boy living in Lucknow and is innocent and lovable,” he said in a statement.
Off screen, he says he is a “sweet person who loves creative things, including painting and cooking”.
But his “short temper” can sometimes be “dangerous for me”.
“Behen Hogi Teri” will hit the screens on May 26.
