ENTERTAINMENT 

Vaani Kapoor to star opposite Akshay Kumar in ‘Bellbottom’

Actor Vaani Kapoor will play the female lead opposite Akshay Kumar in the high-end espionage thriller “Bellbottom”, producer Jackky Bhagnani announced on Thursday. The project marks Vaani’s first onscreen pairing with Akshay. Bhagnani said the “War” star has a “meaty” role in the much-anticipated movie. “Vaani is an intelligent and an effective actor and I have loved all her performances. The female lead in ‘Bellbottom’ has to be in sync with Akshay Sir’s screen persona. “The role is meaty and I am confident that Vaani will ace this one,” Bhagnani…

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Kartik Aaryan and Om Raut’s action film stalled

Actor Kartik Aaryan’s action film with director Om Raut has been put on hold as the makers want to shoot the film abroad, which won’t be possible for some time amid the coronavirus pandemic. The 3D action film, produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series, was to be shot in India and various locations abroad. However, the makers have decided to take up the project at a later date. “We are doing it (film) later. It is on hold because the film involves a lot of foreign shoot and we can’t shoot…

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The Delhi High Court on Monday said there was “ambiguity” in the Centre’s decision extending time till June 30 for giving objections and suggestions to its draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification of 2020, terming it as “unfair” to the public. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan said there was ambiguity in the Environment Ministry’s May 8 notification, extending the time for giving objections and suggestions to the draft EIA 2020, as it mentions a further period of 60 days and also that the window closes on June 30. The ministry, represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Acharya and central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia, told the bench that intent was to extend the period only till June 30. The ASG said the draft EIA 2020 was published on April 11 and 60 days from then was to expire on June 11, but in view of the COVID-19 pandemic it was decided to extend the period till June 30. She also said that till date over 1,000 suggestions have come in. The bench, thereafter, suggested that the ministry can continue processing the suggestions, while keeping the window open for some further time to receive more. The ASG said she will take instructions from the ministry with regard to the court’s suggestion. The court, thereafter, listed the matter for hearing on Tuesday, June 30. The court was hearing a plea seeking extension of the period for receiving objections with regard to the draft EIA 2020, which proposes post facto approval for projects and doing away with public consultation in some instances, till the COVID-19 lockdown subsists. The petition by environmental conservationist Vikrant Tongad claimed the May 8 notification states that the period for inviting objections has been extended by another 60 days, but it is not clear as to when the initial period of 60 days commenced. “If the sixty-day period commences on the date of the draft notification, i.e., March 23, 2020, the extended date of expiry will be July 18, 2020. If the date of notification in the Gazette (i.e. April 11, 2020) is taken as the start of the sixty-day period, the extended date of expiry will be August 9, 2020,” the petition has said. It also stated that at the same time a contradiction arises in the extension notification as an end date of June 30, 2020 is specified, which is less than sixty days from the date of issuance of the extension notification May 8. “Thus, the extension notification is unclear and contradictory,” it claimed. The bench on June 26 had asked the Centre to clarify on the next date as to what would be the last date for giving objections/suggestions. The petition has sought that the period for receiving public opinion regarding the draft notification be extended till September 30 or till such time the lockdown remains. The draft EIA 2020, according to the petition, completely supersedes and replaces the existing environmental norms. “This draft notification proposes significant changes to the existing regime, including removing public consultation entirely in certain instances, reducing the time for public consultation from 45 days to 40 days, and allowing post facto approvals for projects,” it has said. Tongad, in his plea, filed through advocates Srishti Agnihotri and Abishek Jebaraj, has said that the draft EIA was issued on March 23 and first published by the Environment Ministry on its website on April 11 and a 60 day period was given for receiving objections and suggestions from all stakeholders, including the general public. However, due to the COVID-19 outbreak and resultant lockdown, the ministry on May 8 issued a notification extending the period for inviting objections/suggestions till June 30, the plea has said. It has also sought that the translated copies of the draft EIA “be available across the country in the official vernacular languages mentioned in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, and be uploaded on all websites including those of the Environment Ministries of all States as well as those of the State Pollution Control Boards.” The ASG said the draft EIA 2020 has been published in Hindi.

Actor Anthony Mackie has called out Disney’s Marvel Studios for its lack of representation in the cast and crew. The actor, who has been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) since 2014 as Sam Wilson aka Falcon, said now that he is leading Disney Plus series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier , he hopes to help the crew look a little less white. When The Falcon and the Winter Soldier comes out, I’m the lead, Mackie told actor Daveed Diggs during the pair’s recent Variety Actors on Actors…

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Sushant dreamed without restraints, and chased those dreams with heart of lion: Family

As Sushant Singh Rajput’s family tries to come to terms with his loss, they have decided to honour his legacy and celebrate his passion for cinema, science and sports. In an emotional statement shared on Saturday, the Bollywood actor’s family remembered him as a free-spirited person who worked hard to turn his dreams into reality. He was free-spirited, talkative and incredibly bright. He was curious about just everything. He dreamed without restraints, and chased those dreams with the heart of a lion. He smiled generously. He was the pride and…

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Christopher Nolan’s Tenet’ pushed to August 12

Warner Bros has moved its Christopher Nolan-directed espionage thriller Tenet from July 31 to August 12. It’s the second delay for the highly-anticipated movie, which was originally scheduled to release on July 17 but was postponed to July 31 due to coronavirus pandemic. Warner Bros. is committed to bringing Tenet’ to audiences in theaters, on the big screen, when exhibitors are ready and public health officials say it’s time. In this moment what we need to be is flexible, and we are not treating this as a traditional movie release.…

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Priyanka Chopra, Anurag Kashyap among ambassadors for a downsized TIFF 2020

Indian star Priyanka Chopra and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap are among the 50 celebrated filmmakers and actors invited as the ambassadors of a slimmed down Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this year. The festival, slated to run from September 10 to September 19, will be opting for digital screenings and virtual red carpets for the first time due to the coronavirus pandemic, making it tailored to fit the moment . Chopra and Kashyap will join Oscar winners and celebrated international names including filmmakers Martin Scorsese, Alfonso Cuaron, Taika Waititi, Ava DuVernay,…

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Bruce Willis to headline action film ‘Reactor’

Hollywood star Bruce Willis is set to star in action film “Reactor”. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will be directed by Jared Cohn, who also wrote the original script with Cam Cannon and Stephen Cyrus. The project, which is backed by 308 Enterprises and Almost Never Films, is being introduced at the Virtual Cannes Market by The Exchange. Willis, 65, will play the leader of a gang of mercenaries whose lust for revenge sees him hold a nuclear power plant hostage. In the end, it is up to…

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Kristin Thomas Scott ”still terrified of catching” coronavirus

Veteran actor Kristin Thomas Scott says she is “terrified” that one day she might contract the coronavirus as there are so many people she knows who have been infected with the disease.   The 60-year-old actor, who has been self-isolating at home since late March because of the pandemic, said as she falls under the vulnerable age group she tries to be extra cautious before stepping out. “(I won’t go to the shop) without looking like a total lunatic because I’m covered. I’ve got a mask on, I’ve got a…

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Sushant Singh Rajput’s Instgaram account memorialized

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s memories will continue to be celebrated as Instagram has memorialised his account, adding remembering to his bio. Rajput, 34, known for films like “Kai Po Che!”, “MS Dhoni: The Untold Story”, “Chhichhore”, was found dead in his Bandra apartment on Sunday, sending shockwaves in the film industry and elsewhere. Days after his untimely demise, Instagram added remembering to his account bio and memorialised it as a place to remember the actor’s life. According to the photo-video sharing website, no one can log into a memorialised account.…

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Oprah Winfrey’s talk show on systemic racism to premiere on Discovery platforms

Talk show host and media mogul Oprah Winfrey’s two-hour special OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here? , in which she discusses systemic racism in the US, will broadcast in India on Saturday on Discovery platforms. The special was planned in the wake of African American man George Floyd’s death in police custody which has led to mass protests across the US against systemic racism and police brutality. It will feature Winfrey in conversation with Black thought leaders, activists and artists including politician Stacey Abrams, journalist Charles M Blow,…

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