18 NRI PULSE
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Kareena Discusses Social Issues With Former French First Lady
Mumbai: (IANS) Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor was present for a lunch affair with Valerie Trierweiler, the former First Lady of France. The two discussed issues related to young children and nursing mothers suffering from pneumonia, dysentery and malnutrition in Mumbai’s slum areas. Trierweiler, who is an active member of Action Contre La Faim - an international humanitarian organization committed to saving the lives of malnourished children - flew to India from Paris over the weekend.
She spoke about Fight Hunger Foundation, an NGO which promotes approaches to prevent acute malnutrition, over a private lunch where Kareena was also present. “I am extremely glad and fortunate to be a part of this private lunch affair. All the women in this room are not just beautiful but powerful and successful as well,” Kareena said in a statement. The event was organised by lifestyle expert Chhaya Momaya. “Kareena epitomises the power of women today with her grace and beauty. With her honest commitment towards the cause she has taken up she can influence and empower the audience effortlessly,” Momaya said.
Priyanka Is Not My Role Model: Parineeti
New Delhi: (IANS) “Ishaqzaade” star Parineeti Chopra in one of her latest interviews to fashion magazine Vogue India says that she seeks help from her actresscousin Priyanka Chopra, but the latter is not her role model. Parineeti said that she doesn’t want to emulate the former Miss World, who has delivered hits like “Krrish 3”, “Barfi!” and “Kaminey”. “She’s not my role model. In fact, nobody is my role model. In this profession, you cannot aim at
having a career like someone else’s. I could be inspired by different people for different things, but that’s about it,” said Parineeti, who will be on the cover of Vogue India’s February issue this year. “Where it’s helped me is that when I am in doubt I can call her and she always has the right answers,” she added. Parineeti, known for playing bubbly characters, made her Bollywood debut in 2011 with the movie “Ladies vs Ricky Bahl”.
I Want To Take Indian Cinema To Global Arena: Kamal Haasan
Chennai, Jan 28 (IANS) Actor-filmmaker Kamal Haasan, who has been named for a Padma Bhushan, says it is a “good fortune” that he has been chosen for India’s third highest civilian honour, but the artiste in him will only be satisfied when he takes Indian cinema to the international arena. “I think it’s by sheer chance and my good
fortune that I have been chosen for the award. But as an artist, awards don’t bring me satisfaction and happiness. I want to take our cinema to the international arena. We have achieved that feat in other fields, but commercial success is not everything,” Kamal told IANS at his residence here. “I see the award as an incentive to continue doing my good work. I think it’s an honour for the work I will do in the future. There are thousands who are more deserving than I for this award,” he added. The 59-year-old, who has starred in over 200 films across multiple languages in over five decades, dedicated the award to all those who are responsible for his success. “I can’t solely take credit for the award. I haven’t done anything by myself. My success, achievement, is because of the efforts of so many others. I feel they deserve the award more than I do. Therefore, I would like to dedicate it to them,”
Bollywood, Hollywood To Lend Glamour At IIFA
Tampa Bay (Florida): (IANS) The 15th International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards and weekend will see a host of Hollywood celebrities as well as biggies from the Hindi film industry rubbing shoulders at the event that is to be held for the first time in the US. The IIFA weekend, which promotes Indian cinema offshore by organising various activities like premiers, discussions and award functions, will take place here April 24-26. IIFA awards has been previously held at exotic locations like Sun City, Amsterdam, Colombo, Johannesburg, Toronto, Macau and Singapore.
International singer Akon, who got a roaring response for lending his voice to “Chammak challo” - a popular track from Shah Rukh Khan’s “Ra.One” - is also expected to be present for the awards. The festivities are much awaited due to the introduction of IIFA Stomp, a free-to-all public party with “a taste of India”. This will have an entertaining mix of Indian food, music and handicrafts and will take place April 23 at the picturesque Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park which overlooks the Hillsborough river. The IIFA weekend and awards will also have IIFA Rocks, an exclusive night of music and fashion; IIFA Magic of the Movies and
February 2014
Technical Awards; and the main IIFA Awards night. Bollywood actors like Anil Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, who are associated with IIFA, are busy promoting the prestigious event. They toured Los Angeles, Tampa Bay and New York with the IIFA management to create a buzz about this edition of the awards extravaganza. Both Anil and Priyanka have an international connect. While Anil is popular for his act in the Oscar-winning film “Slumdog Millionaire” and TV show “24”, Priyanka launched her career as a singer with her first single “In my city” in the US. Tampa Bay is also gearing up for the event with some of the event’s key delegates visited Mumbai and New Delhi last year in order to strength ties before the mega event. Santiago Corrada, president and chief executive officer of Tampa Bay, met Bollywood actors Salman Khan,Anil, Sohail Khan and singer Sonu Niigaam.
he said. Kamal, who was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990, said that the long gap between the two honours doesn’t bother him. “As an actor, his or her work will be recognised when the time comes. It’s not some remuneration that you expect it come to you promptly. I’m happy that India has recognised my talents and has awarded me. I didn’t mind waiting,” added the actor, who was named for the Padma Bhushan Jan 25. It was on the same day in 2013 that his film “Vishwaroopam” got embroiled in a controversy. “I haven’t changed since last year. I’m still in the same state of mind as I have been since a youngster. The past has shaped me, groomed me as an individual and as an artist,” said Kamal. With two coveted awards in his kitty, does Kamal have any plans to pen an autobiography? “I’m against autobiographies. You need to speak the truth in an autobiography, but if I do that I will end up offending a lot of people. I feel autobiographies make you tell a story in a certain way, twisting facts and, therefore, I think it’s a lie most of the times,” he said. He is currently awaiting the release of “Vishwaroopam 2”, which is nearing completion. “It will hit the screens in three or four months. We are left to shoot a song and for that we sought the permission of the Indian military and it has been granted. As soon as we finish the song, we’ll start working on the computer graphics and post-production work,” he said. “Vishwaroopam 2” is written and directed by Kamal, who also plays a spy in the film. Rahul Bose, Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah, Anant Mahadevan and Waheeda Rehman will be seen in important roles in it.
Salman Still Open To Do Southern Remakes
Superstar Salman Khan’s recent release “Jai Ho”, a hindi remake of Southern film “Stalin”, may have received mixed response at the box office but that doesn’t mean that he has lost interest in the genre. Post the release of “Jai Ho”, there were reports that Salman is no longer keen on working in Southern remakes but the 48-year-old denied this by saying: “Who said I will not do any Southern remake ? Did I say that ? No. Whenever a good remake will come up I will do it,” he added. So far, Salman has worked in four Southern remakes including “Wanted”, “Bodyguard” and “Ready”. While these three raked in hefty amounts, “Jai Ho” managed to pull in approximately Rs.61 crore in the opening weekend of it’s release. “All my next films are of different kinds,” said the superstar who will be next seen in “Kick”, being directed by Sajid Nadiadwala.