Whatever good is happening with ‘Newton’ is my mom’s blessings: Rajkummar
New Delhi–Actor Rajkummar Rao lost his mother while he was in the midst of shooting “Newton”, a political black comedy which has been locked as India’s official entry for the foreign language film category at Oscars. He says the blessings of his “guiding star” are taking him places.
“Whatever good is happening with ‘Newton’ is because of my mom’s blessings. I really believe in that,” Rajkummar told IANS.
The Drishyam Films movie, produced by Manish Mundra and directed by Amit V Masurkar, features the National Award-winning actor as Nutan Kumar aka Newton, a rookie but sincere government clerk who is sent on election duty to a Naxal-controlled town in the conflict-ridden jungles of Chhattisgarh state in India.
“Newton” had a world premiere at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival, where it won the Art Cinema award in the Forum segment. It also bagged a jury prize for Best Film at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
His last release before “Newton” was “Bareilly Ki Barfi”, which gave the audiences and critics a chance to realise Rajkummar’s range as an actor as they got to see him in a completely different avatar than his previous outings.
Assamese film icon Abdul Majid dead at 86
Guwahati–Abdul Majid, an icon of the Assamese film industry, died on Sunday morning, a hospital official said. He was 86.
Majid, a veteran actor, director and playwright, was admitted to the hospital on September 23. He died following a heart attack at GNRC hospital here at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, a spokesman of the hospital said.
Majid, popularly known as Majidka, was a prolific dramatist who also performed different roles in over 200 plays and worked for promoting new talents.
He directed the landmark film “Chameli Memsaab” in the 1970s. Some of the other titles that he helmed were “Banahansa”, “Banjui”, “Ponakan” and “Uttarkaal”, through which he gave a new dimension to Assamese cinema and showed his sense of social responsibility.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal condoled his demise, calling it an irreparable loss to the cultural field of Assam. Sonowal also prayed for peace for the departed soul and offered his condolences to the bereaved family.
People assume I’m angry by nature, says Richa Chadha
Mumbai–Actress Richa Chadha wonders why people assume she is angry by nature, and says she is only a straight-forward person who speaks her mind.
Richa interacted with media persons here on Saturday during the on-location shoot of her upcoming film “Jia Aur Jia”.
Asked why she often lands up having arguments with the media, Richa said: “I don’t get angry. I am a straight-forward person and I always speak my mind, but I feel media is no less either.
“Since I am a straight forward person, people often assume that I am angry by nature especially when you play a character like Bholi Punjaban from ‘Fukrey’, who is very outspoken. So, it makes a certain kind of image of an actor, but I am not like that.”
Clarifying her stand, Richa said: “I feel image is not self-made. It’s not my problem that people don’t remember me for films like ‘Masaan’, but they only remember me for film like ‘Fukrey’. I have done both kind of films, so audience sees you in a certain kind of image and identify you with that kind of image only.
“If they don’t want to remember me in other kinds of role then I can’t do much about that. So there is no conscious strategy with that. If a film comes my way and I like the subject, then I do that film.”
Priyanka Chopra had ‘best time’ hosting Global Citizen Festival
New York–Actress Priyanka Chopra hosted the Global Citizen Festival wearing a floral dress and matching boots and shared backstage moments with celebrities like Freida Pinto, Demi Lovato and Lupita Nyong’o.
Clad in a red, white and black floral mini shift dress with thigh high boots in the same print, Priyanka, 35, was excited about the festival. Her long brown hair was worn loose in soft curls and she wore round sunglasses for the event at the Central Park here on Saturday, reports dailymail.co.uk.
“I had the best time hosting Global Citizen. Proud to be a Global Citizen ambassador,” the “Quantico” star posted on her Intagram page.
Before carrying out her duty as a host, Priyanka was seen wearing dark blue jeans and a white T-shirt with the Global Citizen Festival’s logo on it.
Backstage, the actress mixed with fellow celebrity guests including Lupita Nyong’o and Michelle Monaghan, both wearing Global Citizen Festival T-shirts.
Chambal’ is a fantastic script: Bhumi Pednekar
New Delhi–Actress Bhumi Pednekar, who is gearing up for her fourth film which revolves around the Chambal dacoits, says it is a “fantastic script”.
“This is going to be my next film after ‘Shubh Mangal Saavdhan’ and it’s being directed by Abhishek Chaubey. ‘Chambal’ is the working title. It is a fantastic script,” Bhumi told IANS over phone from Mumbai.
The 27-year-old did not share much details about her role, but said that she is excited to play the character.
“I am very excited to play this character. It is a challenging script and film,” she said.
“Chambal” is being produced by Ronnie Screwvala and the “Toilet: Ek Prem Katha” actress is ecstatic about the collaboration.
“Ronnie Screwvala and RSVP are making it. I am extremely excited about this collaboration. Ronnie sir in the past has supported such amazing films. So, I am really excited about working with him and Abhishek (Chaubey),” Bhumi said.
The film also stars Sushant Singh Rajput in the main lead.
Talking about working with Sushant, Bhumi said: “Sushant is the main lead in the film and he is such a phenomenal actor. So, I am really excited to see how everything unfolds.”
