Malayalam film industry has illegal money trail: Top film personality

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Malayalam film industry has illegal money trail: Top film personality

There is close scrutiny after Siyad Koker, a leading film industry personality went on record to say that the Malayalam film industry’s links with the illegal sources of funding do exist.

Kokka, who is the president of the Kerala Film Distributors Association and also doubles up as a producer, on Saturday said that he is not aware of the illegal source of money is through gold smuggling or other means.

“One thing is certain, the film industry here has source to number 2 (a colloquial usage of unaccounted or illegal source of money) funding. This is more so especially when big-budgeted films are produced. This is also known to technicians and actors, who also benefit,” said Koker.

The Malayalam film industry has been shocked after news of possible links were expressed by the probe agency.

The gold smuggling case has had large scale ramifications after it first surfaced when P.S. Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs on July 5 for trying to facilitate the smuggling of 30 kg gold in diplomatic baggage to Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai.

Of the four arraigned as accused, three have already been arrested, while the fourth accused is Faizal Fareed is based in the UAE. The Centre has canceled his passport and he is likely to be brought here shortly.

According to the Customs and the NIA, who is probing the case Fareed is the kingpin and coordinates the smuggling activities from his base in the UAE and he has even acted in a film here.

“Their modus operandi is to befriend people in the film industry and then they move forward,” added Koker.

Ever since the gold smuggling gang was busted, reports have surfaced that four recent big-budget films have alleged links with the illegal sources of funding.

Lili Reinhart on battling anxiety amid Covid pandemic

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Lili Reinhart on battling anxiety amid Covid pandemic

Actress Lili Reinhart has been dealing with anxiety issues amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

In a conversation with author Sylvester McNutt on Instagram, Lili spoke about how the pandemic has affected her mental health, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“I stress myself out all the time. Going to the post office … I really don’t want to drive to the post office. It gives me anxiety because I don’t want to leave my dog, I don’t want to have to deal with going out in public. I don’t want to deal with the mask thing, I would (wear a mask), but I don’t want to put myself in a stressful environment. I get myself hyped up about very dumb things,” she said.

The “Riverdale” fame actress revealed that she has been struggling with anxiety since she was in school.

“I really struggled during school. Obviously, I couldn’t escape that situation, I didn’t have a choice. I started getting panic attacks when I was in 8th grade so I think I was thirteen and every day in my 8th grade year I would cry in the morning,” she revealed.

Helly Shah: TV actors don’t get fair chance in Bollywood

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Helly Shah: TV actors don’t get fair chance in Bollywood

Television actress Helly Shah agrees with TV star Hina Khan that actors of the small screen are deprived of a fair chance in the Hindi film industry.

“I completely agree with what Hina said recently. TV actors don’t get a fair chance in Bollywood. I have experienced this myself. I have been to auditions a couple of times and I have seen that they don’t see us as they see other people,” said Helly.

She adds that TV actors are considered incapable. “They think that we are not capable enough to pull that off. I feel we should get a fair chance to prove ourselves. Give us a chance and we will prove it. We are also actors and we also do good work. It’s sad that we are not given a fair chance,” she said.

Helly, who is currently shooting for the second season of “Ishq Mein Marjawan”, says small screen actors get “a different kind of treatment”.

“I don’t understand why that is, but they sometimes treat TV actors as (if) we are nothing. But I really hope this changes and we all get a fair chance in Bollywood,” she added.

Earlier this month, Hina told IANS: “What we lack is equality. Nepotism exists everywhere and it does exist in our industry, too. If you are a star and you want to launch your kid, it’s absolutely okay. But, it is not fair when you don’t give an equal chance to outsiders. TV actors hardly make it big in Bollywood, just because we don’t get a fair chance. At least, give us a chance to prove ourselves.”

‘Bad Boys For Life’ directors want Shah Rukh Khan in Bollywood version

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‘Bad Boys For Life’ directors want Shah Rukh Khan in Bollywood version

Moroccan-Belgian directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah love the world of Bollywood. In fact, they would tell you to have an eye on Hindi filmmaking.

The director duo feels an Indian version of their recent Hollywood hit, “Bad Boys For Life”, would be a good idea. They even have a star in mind, for someone who could lead the ‘desi’ version of the franchise — Shah Rukh Khan.

At the time of the release of “Bad Boys For Life” earlier this year, Indian filmmaker Rohit Shetty had expressed his desire to remake the popular Hollywood franchise in Bollywood.

Asked how they envision the ‘desi’ version, Adil told IANS: “Well, you know, it would be an honor, to begin with. Because Bollywood is like the biggest movie industry in the world, and we come from Morocco. They’re big Bollywood fans, and the biggest star in the world is still Shah Rukh Khan. So we hope that he (the Indian director) would have Shah Rukh Khan in the movie.”

Adil continued: “You’ve got to have him. In ‘Bad Boys’, there are a lot of bright colors that match with Bollywood cinema, where you have bright colors. It’s exotic. So, you have a lot of similarities, and the costumes (are bright, too). But I think you’re gonna have to use more music. It has to be a little bit more epic action with musical elements.”

Bill agreed: “I would be super excited to see a Bollywood version of ‘Bad Boys’. I’m behind it.”

At the time of the release of “Bad Boys For Life” earlier this year, Rohit Shetty told IANS: “It will be (remade) for sure. The moment I say that who should be the ‘Bad Boys’ in Bollywood, it will go viral that ‘I am making a film with them’ and I will be in a mess. So, I know who the ‘Bad Boys’ are but I don’t want to disclose it right now.”

Hollywood stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence lead the “Bad Boys” franchise. The buddy cop movie series was started in 1995 by Michael Bay. The second part was released in 2003. The third part released this year.

“Bad Boys for Life”, which released earlier this year before the coronavirus pandemic, revolves around a modern, highly specialized police unit that collides with the old school ‘Bad Boys’ (Smith and Lawrence) when a new threat emerges in Miami. The film will have its Indian television premiere on &flix.

A fourth part of “Bad Boys” is being developed.

Pranati Rai Prakash: ‘I have grown up dancing on Punjabi songs’

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Pranati Rai Prakash: ‘I have grown up dancing on Punjabi songs’

Actress Pranati Rai Prakash is excited about featuring in a Punjabi music video soon because she confesses having grown up dancing on songs of the genre.

Pranati will soon be seen in the number, “Tennu gabru pasand karda”, sung by Kamal Singh. Her co-star in the video is Bhavin Bhanushali.

“I have grown up dancing on Punjabi songs. It’s going to be very exciting to do a song like this. I love the people here, (they are) very warm and friendly. I and am a lover of Punjabi food and desi ghee! So, it’s a delight to be shooting in Punjab. I can’t wait for people to dance on my track,” Pranati said.

Pranati was last seen in the web series “Mannphodganj Ki Binny”. She played the lead role of Binny. Lately, she has also worked in Imtiaz Ali’s “Love Aaj Kal” starring Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan, the smalltown crime drama “Family Of Thakurganj” and the comedy film “Odd Couples”.

Pranati will next be seen in the upcoming web-series “Cartel”, co-starring Rithvik Dhanjani.

Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s son tests COVID-19 positive

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Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s son tests COVID-19 positive

Dhruv, the son of playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya, has tested Covid-19 positive. A restaurateur by profession, Dhruv has displayed symptoms of mild cough and cold and is home-quarantined.

“Dhruv was planning to travel abroad, and since there is a rule to get tested for coronavirus before traveling, he went for a voluntary test. He is asymptomatic. He has just a little cold and cough. He has quarantined himself at home and is taking all the precautions. There is nothing to worry,” Abhijeet told the Indian Express.

Meanwhile, the singer, who is currently in Kolkata, has tested negative. He is currently shooting for an upcoming project in the city.

‘Avatar’ delays disappoint James Cameron

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‘Avatar’ delays disappoint James Cameron

Filmmaker James Cameron is disappointed with the delay in the release of his much-awaited sequels in the Avatar franchise, by a year.

Cameron, of course, has promised that the wait will be worth it, saying that the sequels “will deliver” to the expectations.

Cameron’s long-delayed sequels to “Avatar” will now premiere every other December, starting 2022. The release dates are: “Avatar 2” on December 16, 2022, “Avatar 3” on December 20, 2024, “Avatar 4” on December 18, 2026, and “Avatar 5” on December 22, 2028.

The second “Avatar” installment, which was originally planned to open in 2014, will debut 13 years after the release of the first film.

Cameron took to Instagram via the official Avatar account to address the delay in release amid the ongoing COVID pandemic, reports deadline.com.

He started off by saying “I see you” in Na’vi, the official language of Pandora. He went on to say that they are currently filming in New Zealand, but the pandemic is preventing them to do virtual production work on their stages in Los Angeles.

“That work is just as critical to films as the live-action work,” he said.

Cameron went on to say that the first “Avatar” sequel was on track for a December 2021 release date prior to the pandemic. The virus crisis has impacted the schedule and they will no longer be able to make that date.

“There is no one more disappointed about this delay than me. But I am buoyed by the incredible performances of our cast and the extraordinary work that Weta Digital is doing bringing the world of Pandora and the characters of the film to life,” he said.

He thanked Disney Studios for their support and thanked fans. “Most of all, I am grateful to you, our fans, for your support over the years and I promise that what we bring to cinemas will deliver,” he added.

Cameron appropriately ended by saying “thank you” in Na’vi.

It is being believed that “Avatar 2” takes place 12 years after the events of the first movie. It follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) as he roams the planet of Pandora with the new family he has with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana).

The first “Avatar” film was a huge success upon release in 2009, becoming the highest-grossing blockbuster of all time. Its worldwide record was broken last year by “Avengers: Endgame”.

Maren Morris expresses anger against mommy shamers

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Maren Morris expresses anger against mommy shamers

Singer Maren Morris is completely against mommy shamers.

Morris recently made headlines when a section of social media users criticized her for posting a picture in a low-cut top. Now, in a chat show, she opened up on the criticism, slamming trollers, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“I would just have to say to anyone that is a mother who is shaming another mother, it obviously comes from deep insecurity in your own motherhood that you have to criticize someone else that’s brand new at this. We all feel like we suck in the beginning anyway,” she explained.

Morris and her husband Ryan Hurd became proud parents to their son Hayes in March this year.

Also, the singer has decided to be a little more private about her son on social media.

“It’s been so fun sharing photos of him, but I feel like I can take someone saying my music sucks, or I’m ruining country music, but for some reason the ‘mother card’, I just can’t emotionally handle right now. So I’m just going to protect myself and him from it,” she added.

Ali Fazal about returning to work: We need to be smart, healthy, cautious

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Ali Fazal about returning to work: We need to be smart, healthy, cautious

Actor Ali Fazal recently returned to the studios for a dubbing session. Although the COVID pandemic still looms large, Ali feels there is no scope for fear anymore.

The actor was back at work for the upcoming second season of the web series, “Mirzapur”.

“I am rather happy about going to work. We cannot fall prey to fear or that’s the end of us as we know it. Nothing can come out of fear. We need to be smart, healthy, and simply cautious,” he said.

Working remotely all through the lockdown, the cast recently reunited in full strength for the dubbing session.

Besides key members of the cast including Shweta Tripathi Sharma, the actors were also joined by people from the production team. The actors ensured that they practiced social distancing all through.

“We had dubbed a few episodes before the lockdown, so we picked up mid-way. It was great to be back because this has been an unusually long break. We shot for the show long back, so it took us some time getting back into the groove,” said Ali.

“The studios are on point about hygiene, so they allow one artiste at a time. So we walk into a pre-sanitized studio. The instructions are given on the other side. Dubbing is a system that was already an isolated job,” he added.

David Guetta on lockdown: Enjoying first summer holiday since I was 17

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David Guetta on lockdown: Enjoying first summer holiday since I was 17

Grammy Award-winning music producer David Guetta has discovered something positive about the pandemic-induced lockdown. He says he is enjoying his first summer holiday since he was 17, and that he has never felt so creative in the past 15 years.

“I’m having the first summer holidays in my life with my children. It never happened to me,” said Guetta, as he joined the special virtual Tomorrowland Around The World press event from his boat, where he was enjoying the break with his family.

“I went to this place where they always go for the first time in my life. It is very charming. It feels like I’m 16 years old again. There are, like, 10 kids in a house, and we take very small boats, nothing fancy, no yacht. There’s no VIP show-off. We lay down on the stand, we take this small boat and we eat oysters in the middle of the sea. It’s really amazing,” he added.

The “Titanium” hitmaker continued: “Of course, I understand the frustration of many people, and we are very lucky because we don’t have to worry if we’re going to eat next month. We also realize how blessed we are to have money on the side and we can wait to go back to work next year. But you know, so far, I’m not gonna lie. I’m enjoying the very first summer holiday in my entire life since I was 17.”

Workwise, he said: “I’ve never been so creative since (the past) 15 years.”

At the moment, the globally renowned French DJ-music producer is pepped up about his performance at digital festival Tomorrowland Around The World, available in India through BookMyShow.

Talking about it, the 52-year-old said: “It is kind of crazy that I have played from the first one to this one and I hope they keep letting me play for the next ten years. I saw it grow and respected Tomorrowland for being so creative. This is the only festival that has the guts to not only try a new creative model, in terms of, artistically but also even economic model. Because we have no idea how it’s going to go. But I respect that they are willing to take the risk to do something innovative. That’s how we created that (music) scene, by doing things that have never been done before.”

“I’m honestly super curious (about the virtual edition),” he added.

The fest will take place on July 25 and July 26.

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