Indian actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and her daughter Aaradhya have been taken to hospital after testing positive for Covid-19 earlier this week.
Aishwarya Rai, a former Miss World and one of Bollywood’s most famous faces, is being treated at Mumbai’s Nanavati Hospital, ANI agency reports.
Aishwarya’s husband Abhishek and father-in-law Amitabh Bachchan, both also famous actors, have been in hospital since July 18 with the virus.
On July 12, 77-year-old Amitabh Bachchan – a Bollywood superstar who has achieved global fame during his long and illustrious career so far – tweeted that he had tested positive for the virus.
Another series of tweets from Abhishek Bachchan, also a famous actor, confirmed that he, his 46-year-old wife Aishwarya and 8-year-old daughter Aaradhya had also tested positive.
Jaya Bachchan, also a famous actress and Amitabh Bachchan’s wife, tested negative.
Until now Aishwarya Rai and Aaradhya have been isolating at home.
News that the family, often described as Bollywood royalty, had been affected by the coronavirus sent shockwaves across India. This week, thousands of fans have held prayers for the family’s recovery.
On July 17, India recorded a record 35,000 new cases of coronavirus cases in 24 hours, surpassing the one million mark.
India now has the third-highest number of cases in the world, after the US and Brazil. The current death toll is 25,602.
The western state of Maharashtra, where Mumbai is located, is still the biggest hotspot with the highest case count – more than 280,000 – of all the states.
Salman Khan could now face between one and six years in jail. He can appeal against the verdict.
This is far from the Bollywood superstar’s first brush with the law. In December 2015, Salman Khan was cleared in a 2002 hit-and-run case in which a homeless man died.
This is the fourth case filed against the actor in connection with poaching animals during the filming of the 1998 movie Hum Saath Saath Hain.
Salman Khan has been acquitted in three of those cases.
Sridevi has been cremated in Mumbai as thousands of fans gathered to pay their last respects.
Earlier, crowds clutching roses queued outside the Celebration Sports Club in the city to bid farewell to the Bollywood star.
A specially decorated truck carrying Sridevi’s body took hours to travel the 4 miles to the cemetery.
Sridevi Kapoor, 54, was cremated with full state honors. The actress died on February 24 in Dubai, where she was attending a family wedding.
According to police, her death had been “due to accidental drowning following loss of consciousness”. Sridevi was found in her hotel bathtub.
It had earlier been reported the actress died of cardiac arrest. The full post-mortem report has not yet been released.
Known simply as Sridevi, she was considered one of the very few Indian female superstars capable of huge box-office success without the support of a male hero. Sridevi appeared in nearly 300 films over five decades.
Large numbers of police were deployed outside Sridevi’s house, on the procession route and outside the Vile Parle Seva Samaj crematorium where the body was taken.
Her life on screen began at the age of four. Sridevi started her career in the south Indian film industry, acting in movies in all four major languages of the region.
Sridevi was cast in her first adult role at the age of 13 – that of a woman avenging her lover’s death.
By 1978, she graduated to an extraordinary career in Bollywood, where although she knew neither the language nor the culture of the Hindi film industry, she became one of its biggest stars.
Sridevi starred in classics such as Mr. India, Chandni, ChaalBaaz and Sadma, becoming one of the only actresses to build a successful career in both south Indian and Bollywood films.
She was rumored to be the highest paid in her field and her star power and charisma persisted for years to come.
Sridevi decided to take a break from the film industry after her marriage to producer Boney Kapoor and the release of Judaai in 1997. She made a comeback in 2012, starring in English Vinglish.
In 2013, the government awarded Sridevi the Padma Shri – India’s fourth-highest civilian honor.
The case has been passed to the Dubai Public Prosecution for what officials said were “regular legal procedures”.
Crowds have gathered outside Sridevi’s home in Mumbai to pay their last respects ahead of a cremation.
The Dubai government tweet did not reveal the results of any toxicology tests.
The full post-mortem report has not yet been made public and will be expected to explain how the original report of cardiac arrest and the listing of “accidental drowning” are linked.
Sridevi had been in the United Arab Emirates to attend the wedding of her nephew, Mohit Marwah. Few details had been given about the case prior to the release of the cause of death.
Bollywood legend Shashi Kapoor has died at the age of 79.
Shashi Kapoor, who acted in huge hits like Deewar and Kabhie Kabhie, had been ill for some time and was in hospital.
The actor and producer was a member of the Kapoor dynasty, which has dominated the Hindi film industry for decades.
Shashi Kapoor won several national film awards and was awarded the Padma Bhushan civilian honor by the Indian government in 2011. He also acted in a number of American and international movies.
He died at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in the western city of Mumbai.
His nephew, actor Randhir Kapoor, told Press Trust of India: “Yes he has passed away. He had kidney problem since several years. He was on dialysis for several years.”
Shashi Kapoor was married to late English actress Jennifer Kendal, with whom he set up Mumbai’s iconic Prithvi Theater in 1978. His sister-in-law is British actress Felicity Kendal.
He his career as a child actor and appeared in more than 150 movies, including a dozen in English. He became known internationally for his roles in Merchant Ivory productions like Shakespeare-wallah and Heat and Dust.
In 2015, Shashi Kapoor was given the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award, the highest honor in Indian cinema.
He was known for his charming smile and was often described by his fans as the “handsomest star ever”. He had a huge fan following among women.
Shashi Kapoor was cast alongside superstar Amitabh Bachchan in some of the biggest Bollywood blockbusters of the 1970s and 1980s, and the two actors played brothers, best friends or rivals.
His comment in Deewar – “Mere paas maa hai” (But I have mother’s support) – during a tense confrontation with screen-sibling Amitabh Bachchan tops the list of best Bollywood lines for millions of fans around the globe.
Over the years, it has found its way on to merchandise like shoulder bags, coffee mugs and cushion covers.
As news of Shashi Kapoor’s death spread, fans took to social media to express their grief and pay tributes, led by Indian PM Narendra Modi: “Shashi Kapoor’s versatility could be seen in his movies as well as in theatre, which he promoted with great passion. His brilliant acting will be remembered for generations to come. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers.”
Major Pakistani cinemas and film distributors have banned the screening of Indian movies across the country in what they call an act of solidarity with Pakistan’s armed forces.
The movie boycotts have been announced in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.
The decision follows a rise in military tensions between Pakistan and India over the divided territory of Kashmir.
It also follows September 29 move by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) to prohibit Pakistani actors and technicians from working on Bollywood sets.
Image source Flickr
At least one right-wing nationalist politician has ordered Pakistani actors to get out of India.
Bollywood movies are immensely popular in Pakistan, whose own movie industry is much slimmer.
Big Pakistani cinema chains and screens say they have taken a spontaneous decision not to show Indian movies for at least a couple of weeks, or until what they call normality returns in relations between the two countries.
They admit their cinemas may suffer financially because of the popularity of Bollywood movies in Pakistan.
Disputed Kashmir has been a flashpoint for decades and has sparked two wars.
On September 30, Indian villagers living close to the border with Pakistan fled their homes, the day after India said it had launched strikes targeting militants in Kashmir.
India said it conducted “surgical strikes” along the de facto border. Pakistan denied that, saying two of its soldiers died in cross-border shelling.
People from a number of villages in Punjab state were leaving amid fears the confrontation might escalate.
The current bout of violence was triggered by a September 18 attack on the army base in Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir where 18 soldiers died. It was the deadliest of its kind for years.
Narendra Modi’s BJP government, which came to power promising a tough line on Pakistan, has been under tremendous pressure to retaliate for what many in India believe is state-backed terrorism.
Jet Airways has suspended five crew members who let Bollywood star Sonu Nigam sing over its public address system.
Sonu Nigam performed some of his popular numbers on a flight from Mumbai to Jodhpur.
A video, which shows Sonu Nigam singing on the plane’s intercom, has gone viral.
Jet Airways, India’s second largest airline by passengers carried, said on February 5 that the crew had been “taken off from flight duty” after an inquiry.
Sonu Nigam is known to go out of his way to make people around him comfortable.
Salman Khan’s conviction for a 2002 hit-and-run case has been overturned by Mumbai’s high court.
In May, a lower court convicted the Bollywood star of culpable homicide and sentenced him to five years in jail for driving over and killing a man sleeping on a pavement.
However, the appeals judge ruled there was not enough evidence.
Salman Khan is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, appearing in more than 80 Hindi movies, and has a huge fan following.
It was only when the judge insisted that Salman Khan must be present before the verdict was read out, that the actor hurried to the court in south Mumbai on December 10.
Photo Instagram
“The appeal is allowed and the decision of the trial court is quashed and set aside. Salman Khan is acquitted of all charges,” AFP quoted the Bombay high court judge Anil Ramchandra Joshi as saying.
The prosecution “failed to establish [the charges] beyond reasonable doubt”, the judge added.
Salman Khan, surrounded by his family members, broke down after hearing the verdict, the Press Trust of India reported.
Today’s verdict is the latest twist in a case that began 13 years ago when Salman Khan’s Toyota Land Cruiser car veered off the road, killing one man and seriously injuring four others.
During his trial in the lower court, Salman Khan had argued that his driver had been behind the wheel, but the judge said it was the actor who had been driving under the influence of alcohol.
Now the high court has said that key evidence – including testimony from a policeman who has since died – was not reliable.
The prosecution is likely to challenge the verdict, reports say.
Salman Khan’s sentence for a 2002 hit-and-run conviction has been suspended by Mumbai high court.
Salman Khan, 49, was convicted on May 6 by a lower court of culpable homicide.
The court sentenced the Bollywood star to five years in prison for killing Noor Ullah Khan by driving over him as he slept on a pavement. Four others were injured.
Many expected Salman Khan to be jailed on May 8 but the court extended bail. A final appeal hearing is due in July.
During his trial, Salman Khan argued his driver had been behind the wheel, but the judge said it was the actor who had been driving, under the influence of alcohol.
Within hours of his conviction on May 6, Salman Khan approached the high court and was given interim bail for two days, meaning he stayed out of jail.
Salman Khan – who had faced a possible 10-year jail term – then went home, where a number of Bollywood stars met him.
Correspondents say today’s ruling will be a huge relief for Salman Khan whose sentencing had divided Indians.
While Salman Khan’s friends and colleagues in Bollywood and many fans and others spoke out in his support, others called for him to be treated like any other citizen of the country who had committed a crime.
On May 8, Salman Khan’s fans began celebrating outside the court and outside him home.
Salman Khan is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, appearing in more than 80 Hindi-language movies.
The case has gripped Bollywood and India for years – and looks set to continue as lawyers argue in the appeal courts.
Salman Khan has been sentenced to 5 years in jail for killing a homeless man in a 2002 hit-and-run driving incident in Mumbai.
The man was among five people who were run over in the incident.
The Bollywood star was charged with culpable homicide.
Salman Khan, 49, had said his driver was behind the wheel, but the judge said the actor was driving the car and was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Legal experts expect Salman Khan to appeal against the verdict.
He could have been jailed for 10 years.
Correspondents say the guilty verdict is a huge setback for Salman Khan who is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, appearing in more than 80 Hindi-language films.
On May 6, as Salman Khan drove to court with his family and friends, fans prayed for the actor’s acquittal.
Judge DW Deshpande found the actor guilty on the charge of culpable homicide.
“You were driving the car; you were under the influence of alcohol,” he told Salman Khan as soon as the court proceedings began.
Indian television channels reported Salman Khan broke down inside court as the guilty verdict was announced.
Several of Salman Khan’s Bollywood colleagues spoke out in his support and expressed their sympathies.
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has been found guilty of killing a homeless man in a 2002 hit-and-run driving incident in Mumbai, an Indian court has ruled.
The man was among five people who were run over in the incident.
Salman Khan was charged with culpable homicide.
The actor had said his driver was behind the wheel, but the judge said Salman Khan was driving the car and was under the influence of alcohol at the time.
His sentence is still to be announced. Salman Khan faces up to 10 years in jail.
Legal experts say Salman Khan is bound to appeal against the verdict and the case is likely to go on for many more years.
According to correspondents, Wednesday’s guilty verdict is a huge setback for Salman Khan who is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, appearing in more than 80 Hindi-language movies.
Several of his movies, including Dabangg, Ready, Bodyguard, Ek Tha Tiger, Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aap Ke Hain Kaun, have been huge commercial hits.
On May 6th, as Salman Khan drove to court with his family and friends, fans prayed for the actor’s acquittal.
But Judge DW Deshpande found him guilty on the charge of culpable homicide.
If the actor is jailed, it will affect several big-ticket film projects he is involved in at the moment.
The case has gripped Bollywood and India for years.
Late on the night of September 28, 2002, Salman Khan’s Toyota Land Cruiser hit the American Express bakery in the Bandra area of Mumbai, authorities say.
Salman Khan’s car ran over five people sleeping on the street, killing 38-year-old Noor Ullah Khan and seriously injuring three others. Another person received minor injuries.
The prosecution alleged that Salman Khan had been driving the car while drunk, both of which charges the actor denied in court in March.
But many witnesses disagreed.
A constable attached to Salman Khan’s security detail said in a statement to the police that the “drunk” actor had lost control of the car. The policeman died in 2007 of tuberculosis.
In April, Salman Khan’s driver told the court that he had crashed the car after a tyre burst but the court did not accept that version.
Iconic Bollywood romantic comedy Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge had its final showing at a Mumbai cinema on February 19 after a record-breaking uninterrupted 1,009-week run.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (The Brave-Hearted Will Take The Bride) was first shown in 1995.
It follows two Indian expatriates living in Britain and their travails as they fall in love.
The cinema where it was being shown decided that, almost 20 years on, the film is no longer commercially viable.
Featuring Indian stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is one of the most popular in Bollywood history.
The two expatriates featured in the story fall in love on a trip to mainland Europe, despite the young woman being betrothed to a man in India.
Eventually they managed to convince their families to allow the union to go ahead.
The comedy trounced all other Bollywood records for long-running films.
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is so widely regarded that President Barack Obama quoted one of its lines during a speech in India last month.
The Times of India has sparked anger among Bollywood stars after it published a photo and report on actress Deepika Padukone’s cleavage.
On September 14, the newspaper tweeted a photo taken last year with a link to a web photo gallery and caption: “OMG: Deepika Padukone’s cleavage show.”
Deepika Padukone responded on Twitter: “YES! I am a Woman. I have breasts AND a cleavage! You got a problem!!??”
The daily later put out a tweet urging Deepika Padukone to consider it a compliment.
The Times of India has since removed the original tweet about Deepika Padukone’s dress, which she wore to a film launch in 2013.
Deepika Padukone tweeted on September 14: “Supposedly India’s <<LEADING>> newspaper and this is <<NEWS>>!!??.”
“Don’t talk about Woman’s Empowerment when YOU don’t know how to RESPECT Women!”
Several Bollywood celebrities and hundreds of fans have come out in support of the actress and #IStandWithDeepikaPadukone was the top trend on Twitter in India on September 15.
The Times of India has sparked anger among Bollywood stars after it published a photo and report on actress Deepika Padukone’s cleavage
Director and producer Karan Johar tweeted: “Appalled….shocked and disgusted at the level of disrespect shown. Deepika or any women in the world cannot and should not stand for this!!”
Actor Arjun Rampal also wrote on Twitter: “I just read… about @deepikapadukone retort to cheap sensational journalism, well done girl.”
Fashion designers Gauri & Nainika also tweeted: “Kudos to Deepika for being a strong woman and speaking up!”
Much of the outrage is summarized by the comment posted by Hindustan Times columnist Madhavan Narayanan: “They think @deepikapadukone has a cleavage. I think she has got a spine.”
Many ordinary Indian women have also poured onto Twitter to voice their respect for Deepika Padukone stand.
Following criticism, the Times of India tweeted to Deepika Padukone that the report was meant to be a “compliment”: “You look so great that we want to make sure everyone knew! :)”
Deepika Padukone, daughter of badminton player Prakash Padukone, is one of India’s most successful models and actresses.
She made her acting debut in 2006 with a Kannada film, but found instant fame one year later with her Bollywood debut Om Shanti Om where she was cast opposite superstar Shahrukh Khan.
Deepika Padukone has taken the lead in nearly a dozen films and her latest – Finding Fanny – was released on September 12.
Celebrated Indian actress and choreographer Zohra Sehgal has died in Delhi on July 10 at the age of 102.
Zohra Sehgal had been ill for several days and suffered a heart attack at a city hospital on Thursday evening.
In a career spanning more than seven decades, Zohra Sehgal entertained millions of people through her performances in films and on stage.
Zohra Sehgal began her career with well-known dancer Uday Shankar in 1935 and later performed in the theater.
Her roles in Bollywood films like Cheeni Kum received extensive praise.
Zohra Sehgal was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian award, in 2010 for her work.
In a career spanning more than seven decades, Zohra Sehgal entertained millions of people through her performances in films and on stage
Indian PM Narendra Modi led tributes to the actress on Twitter.
“Zohra Sehgal made a mark through her acting, which is admired across generations. Saddened on her demise,” he wrote.
Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan tweeted: “What a journey and what an immensely loveable co-star! Prayers for her blessed soul!!”
At 94, Zohra Sehgal played Amitabh Bachchan’s mother in hit Hindi film, Cheeni Kum, and critics said the chemistry between the two worked very well.
Zohra Sehgal was born in 1912 in the town of Saharanpur in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
She stepped into the world of acting by joining left-wing political theater group Indian Peoples’ Theatre Association (IPTA), which dominated the Indian cultural scene in the 1940s.
She was associated with the doyen of Indian theatre, Prithviraj Kapoor, for more than a decade.
In 1962, Zohra Sehgal went to London on a drama scholarship and worked in several English films and popular television productions like My Beautiful Launderette, Tandoori Nights and The Jewel in the Crown.
Zohra Sehgal returned to India in the 1990s at the age of 80 and continued acting until the age of 95.
Legendary Indian singer Manna Dey has died in a Bangalore hospital at the age of 94.
Manna Dey had been ill for the past few months and was in hospital for a respiratory infection. His funeral is due to take place later on Thursday.
Born Prabodh Chandra Dey in 1919, Manna Dey was popularly known as Manna, and chalked up a number of hit Bollywood songs in a career spanning six decades.
Tributes have been pouring in for the legendary singer from the government, the film industry and his fans.
President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Manmohan Singh led the country in paying tributes to Manna Dey.
India “has lost a veteran playback singer, a versatile artist of extraordinary ability and a creative genius who mesmerized listeners with his enchanting voice,” the president said.
PM Manmohan Singh described Manna Dey as the “king of melody” and said with his death, the music world had lost one of its most talented artistes.
“I am deeply saddened to hear of the demise of the King of Melody, Manna Dey. An accomplished singer with a unique voice, he was multi-talented and excelled in Rabindra Sangeet and various other forms of popular music,” the prime minister said in his condolence message.
Legendary Indian singer Manna Dey has died in a Bangalore hospital at the age of 94
“In his death, the music world has lost one of its most talented artistes. Dey’s legacy will, however, live on through the many songs he sang,” Manmohan Singh added.
Manna Dey sang in several languages including Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Marathi, Kannada, Punjabi and Bhojpuri.
His long career saw him win several awards for his contribution to music, including state honors like the Padma Shri in 1971 and the Padma Vibhushan in 2005. He was also given the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2007.
Manna Dey sang more than 3,500 songs, including romantic ballads, intricate raga-based songs, Qawwalis and fast-paced modern numbers in his career.
Along with Mohammad Rafi, Mukesh, and Kishore Kumar, he made up what was known as the “famous quartet of singers” who dominated the Hindi film music industry from 1950s to 1970s.
Many of Manna Dey’s tracks for Bollywood films became huge hits and he sang for some of the biggest Bollywood names like Raj Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna and Dharmendra.
His most popular numbers included Zindagi kaisi hai paheli (Life, what a riddle it is) from the film Anand; Poocho na kaise maine raen bitayee (Don’t ask how I spent my night) from Meri Surat Teri Aankhen; Ek chatur naar (A clever woman) from Padosan; and Eey bhai zara dekh ke chalo (Oh brother, look where you’re going) from Meraa Naam Joker.
Manna Dey also sang for Bollywood super-hits Sholay and Amar Akbar Anthony.
In the last few years, he had largely withdrawn from public life.
Mangeshkar’s duet Pyar hua ikraar hua (I admit I’m in love), played as background to film of actors Raj Kapoor and Nargis on a rainy night under an umbrella in Shri 420, is among the most popular romantic songs of Bollywood.
Manna Dey, a Bengali, also charmed neighboring Bangladesh with songs in his mother tongue and in a message on Thursday, PM Sheikh Hasina said Dey would remain alive forever among music-loving people of the subcontinent.
Indian actress Jiah Khan, who was found dead at her home in Mumbai, killed herself, a police post-mortem has found.
Her mother found Jiah Khan’s body hanging in her apartment, police revealed.
Police say no suicide note has been found and they are seeking information from her neighbors.
Bollywood star Jiah Khan, 25, made her debut in 2007 with Amitabh Bachchan in Nishabd, based on the novel Lolita. She also acted with Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar.
“Nafisa Khan, who is known as Jiah Khan, was found hanging by her mother at around 22:45 India time at her residence on the first floor of Sagar Sangeet [apartment],” deputy commissioner of police Chhering Dorje said.
Born Nafisa Khan in New York, Jiah Khan grew up in London before moving to Mumbai for a career in Bollywood.
Jiah Khan acted in Nishabd, starring Amitabh Bachchan, and the psychological thriller, Ghajini, which had Aamir Khan in the lead role.
Jiah Khan made her debut in 2007 with Amitabh Bachchan in Nishabd, based on the novel Lolita
Her last film role was in the 2010 comedy Housefull, in which she played a supporting role.
Jiah Khan’s death caused shock within the film industry.
“Never ever seen a debutant actress with more spunk and more spirit than Jiah when I was directing her in Nishabd,” filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma wrote on Twitter.
But he added that Khan had not worked for the past three years and was “depressed for her career and scared for her future”.
Amitabh Bachchan also took to Twitter to react on his colleague’s death: “WHAT …!!! Jiah Khan? What has happened? Is this correct? Unbelievable!!!”
Fellow actress Dia Mirza wrote: “RIP Nafisa (Jiah) Khan. You were too young and beautiful…”
Filmmaker-choreographer Farah Khan tweeted: “Can’t register that Jiah is no more… Worked with her in Housefull and she was so beautiful and such a good soul. Too young to go Jiah.”
Jiah Khan’s “official” website says she studied Shakespeare and method acting in New York from the age of 17.
Jiah Khan later featured in an advert for the animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Famous Indian singer Shamshad Begum has died in the western city of Mumbai, aged 94.
Shamshad Begum was indisposed for the past few months and died at her residence late on Tuesday, family members told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.
She was one of the earliest singers in Bollywood with a number of hit songs.
Among Shamshad Begum’s hits were Mere Piya Gaye Rangoon, Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar and Kajra Mohabbat Wala.
Born in Punjab’s Amritsar district, Shamshad Begum made her debut on a radio station in Lahore in December 1947.
She has been described as a woman who captivated the hearts of her listeners with the enchanting depth of her voice.
Shamshad Begum has also been credited as being one of the first singers whose voice was pre-recorded for use in movies.
The singer has been living with her daughter and son-in-law in Mumbai ever since her husband died in 1955, reports say.
Shamshad Begum was one of the earliest singers in Bollywood
“The funeral was a solemn affair with a few friends present,” her daughter Usha Ratra told PTI.
Usha Ratra said her mother “kept herself away from the glamour of the industry despite being one of the top singers of her era as she did not like limelight”.
“My mother used to say artistes never die. She wanted to be remembered for her songs.”
Shamshad Begum was a versatile artist, singing in Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil and Punjabi languages.
She sang for top composers of her time, including Ghulam Haider, Naushad and OP Nayyar.
According to accounts on her life, Shamshad Begum’s singing ambitions met opposition from her family.
When Shamshad Begum finally got a contract with a recording company, her father agreed to let her sing on the condition that she would record in a burka and not get herself photographed.
Salman Khan will be charged with culpable homicide for a hit-and-run incident 10 years ago, an Indian court has ruled.
If convicted of the charge, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan could face up to 10 years in prison.
In September 2002, Salman Khan allegedly drove his car into a bakery in Mumbai city running over five people who were sleeping on the pavement.
One man was killed in the incident. Salman Khan has denied that he was driving the car at the time.
Actor Salman Khan has starred in more than 80 Hindi films, including Dabangg, Ready, Bodyguard, Ek Tha Tiger, Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aap Ke Hain Kaun.
“There is enough evidence to show that the act was not incidental and hence the case should be tried under a more serious section,” Magistrate Vasant Patil said in his order.
Salman Khan will be charged with culpable homicide for a hit-and-run incident 10 years ago, an Indian court has ruled
The ruling is a setback for the actor as the original charge of homicide was lowered to “death caused by negligence”, which carried a much lighter sentence.
Salman Khan would now have to appear in court on February 11, his lawyer Dipesh Mehta said. The actor would challenge the order in the high court, he added.
Correspondents say the hugely popular and successful actor has often been described as a “bad-boy” heart-throb and is alleged to have mistreated his former actress girlfriend, Aishwarya Rai.
In 2006, Salman Khan was sentenced to five years in prison for hunting a protected deer, but he was released on bail after spending less than a week in jail.
Yash Chopra, one of India’s most influential film-makers, has died from dengue fever in Mumbai, aged 80.
Over five decades, Yash Chopra, dubbed the King of Romance, gave Bollywood some of its biggest blockbusters.
His film studios Yash Raj Films helped establish some of Indian cinema’s biggest names, including Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan.
In his tribute, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Yash Chopra as an “icon of Indian cinema”.
Yash Chopra will be remembered as the man behind some of Bollywood’s most watched films, known not just in India but around the world.
He died in Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital on Sunday and was also suffering kidney ailments, according to Dr. Prakash Jiyavani.
“It is sad news that Yash is no more among us,” close family friend Amit Khanna, chairman of Reliance Big Entertainment, told AFP news agency.
Singer Lata Mangeshkar said: “He made me sing in all his films. He was a jovial person… Even when he was angry, he simply kept quiet.”
Yash Chopra, one of India’s most influential film-makers, has died from dengue fever in Mumbai, aged 80
In his tribute, Prime Minister Singh said Yash Chopra had entertained many generations “with his rare creativity”.
“His flourish to essay romance and social drama was unmatched,” the prime minister said, adding that the filmmaker had established the international reputation of Indian cinema.
Yash Chopra started his film career working for his brother before establishing Yash Raj Films and going on to produce more than 40 movies – 12 of them as director.
Yash Chopra was behind major hits including Deewar (Wall), Dil To Pagal Hai (Heart Is Mad) and Chandni (Moonlight).
On his birthday last month, he said Jab Tak Hai (Till I am Alive) – being released next month – would be his last movie as a director.
Bollywood stars Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor have got married in the Indian city of Mumbai after a five-year courtship.
The couple’s marriage was registered at Saif Ali Khan’s residence in the city’s Bandra area on Tuesday afternoon.
Close friends and family attended the wedding. The couple then came out and waved at their fans.
The hugely popular stars, dubbed Saifeena by the paparazzi, are known as Bollywood’s “first couple”.
Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor have got married in Mumbai after a five-year courtship
Saif Ali Khan is the son of former Indian cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi and Sharmila Tagore, a former actress.
Kareena Kapoor is the granddaughter of actor and filmmaker Raj Kapoor and niece of actor Rishi Kapoor. Both her parents and older sister have also been in the film industry.
“It was a registered marriage with three witnesses – Kareena’s father Randhir Kapoor, her mother Babita and Saif’s mother Sharmila,” the Press Trust of India quoted marriage registrar Surekha Ramesh as saying.
The couple had requested for the registry to be held at their residence and for the formalities they were charged 1,000 rupees ($19).
The couple held a series of pre-wedding bashes on Sunday and Monday, reports said. At least two more receptions are planned for the newly-weds.
Saif Ali Khan, who is 42, was previously married to actress Amrita Singh and they have two children who are now teenaged.
For the 32-year-old Kareena Kapoor, it is her first marriage.
Saif Ali Khan has acted in more than 40 movies and won acclaim for Omkara, a Bollywood version of William Shakespeare’s Othello.
Kareena Kapoor has starred in nearly 50 films. She has won critical acclaim for many of her performances and won the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her 2007 hit Jab we met (When we met).
Actor Rajesh Khanna, Bollywood’s “first superstar”, has died at the age of 69, his family has announced.
Rajesh Khanna had been in and out of hospital in recent weeks. The cause of his health problems was unclear.
Rajesh Khanna, popularly called “Kaka” by his fans, made his name playing the romantic lead in a string of films which were massive hits in the 1960s and 1970s.
The actor starred in more than 160 films, including hits such as Kati Patang, Aaradhana, Anand and Amar Prem.
Rajesh Khanna had a huge following and was mobbed by fans whenever he appeared in public.
He died at his family home in Mumbai on Wednesday, the Press Trust of India reported. He had been discharged from a hospital in the city on Monday.
Rajesh Khanna, Bollywood's "first superstar", has died at the age of 69
Scores of fans gathered outside Aashirwad, his home on Carter Road in Mumbai’s Bandra area, following the news of his death, the agency said.
“He has gone to a very nice and heavenly place. We are very happy that he had gone there,” his actor son-in-law Akshay Kumar told reporters.
“I hope everybody there, whoever is watching him, can just say a little prayer for him,” he said.
Meanwhile, tributes have been pouring in for the superstar on the micro-blogging site, Twitter, where fans have been remembering his best dialogues and songs from his hit films.
PM Manmohan Singh led the tributes with his tweet: “I convey my heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family and countless fans and admirers of Rajesh Khanna.”
Actor Anupam Kher wrote: “Rajesh Khanna gave us a crash course in Romance. He introduced us to a special twinkle in the eye that made us feel good about ourselves.”
Director Karan Johar tweeted: “The magic… the mannerism… the mania of RAJESH KHANNA is inscribed in every archive of Indian cinema… Forever…. RIP SIR!!!”
Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt wrote: “When we lose a loved one, something within us dies. Our generation loved Rajesh Khanna. Today a bit of us dies with this enigmatic star.”
Actress Shabana Azmi tweeted: “He was the SUPERSTAR like no other. Did 10 films with him. Met him last at Apsara awards. Pale shadow of himself but smile as winsome.”
The actor won a host of industry awards during his long career, although he was only recently seen in his first television commercial.
During the peak of his popularity, there were reports of his female fans marrying his photographs.
Passengers aboard a Finnair flight from Helsinki to New Delhi were pleasantly surprised when the aircraft’ staff treated them with a Bollywood-style dance to celebrate India’s 63rd Republic Day.
A video showing the smiling Finnair staff treating passengers to the choreographed routine, has become a hit on YouTube, receiving more than half-a-million hits in just one day.
Helena Kaartinen, the flight attendant who came up with the idea, coordinated rehearsals and even enlisted the help of a former flight attendant friend in Mumbai, who is now a Bollywood teacher.
She uploaded videos of the team practizing and expert Manish Gawde corrected the choreography ahead of the performance.
Passengers aboard a Finnair flight from Helsinki to New Delhi were pleasantly surprised when the aircraft' staff treated them with a Bollywood-style dance to celebrate India's 63rd Republic Day
Helena Kaartinen told the New York Times: “It was a good way to show respect.”
The flight attendant said she was keen to show Indian passengers that the airline did know something about their culture.
The performance took place on a flight on January 17 and was uploaded to Finnair’s YouTube channel on January 25 to mark India’s Republic Day on January 26.
So far, the video clip has received more than 1.7 million viewings.
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