Anupam Kher, Madhur Bhandarkar and others welcome Shyam Benegal-led new panel to revamp CBFC

January 3, 2016

Mumbai, Jan 3: "Good beginning to 2016", "Finally, HOPE", "The best decision" and "Welcome move" are some of the expressions that the members of the film fraternity like Madhur Bhandarkar, Anupam Kher, Kabir Bedi and Rahul Dholakia used to hail the decision by the government to form a committee headed by acclaimed filmmaker Shyam Benegal to revamp Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

ShyamBenegal was on Friday appointed to lead a committee to recommend a holistic framework for the country's film censor board and to suggest changes in the Cinematograph Act, so that artistic creativity and freedom are not curtailed.

The committee has been formed upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in the growing issue related to the CBFC.

Bhandarkar, who frames the truth of the society into his films like 'Page 3', 'Fashion' or 'Calendar Girls', tweeted: "Welcome move by @PMOIndia and @arunjaitley ji to appoint noted film maker #ShyamBenegal ji as head of Censor Board revamp panel.#CBFC".

Benegal is a Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner, and is credited with films like 'Ankur' (1973), 'Nishant' (1975), 'Manthan' (1976) and 'Bhumika' (1977).

Dholakia, who is caught up with work on 'Raees' starring Shah Rukh Khan and marks debut of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan in Bollywood, said that 2016 has started on a good note.

He shared: "The censor board to be manthanized by #ShyamBenegal! Good beginning to 2016".

Kabir welcomed the 'good news' by saying that with the appointment comes a ray of hope towards breaking out of the shackles of the censor board. Anupam Kher also called the move as 'the best decision'.

The country's censor board has often faced flak from the society for running its invisible scissors from issuing diktat of cutting short a kissing scene of James Bond film 'Spectre'.

The 'Tum Bin' director Anubhav Sinha wished Benegal luck for his new endevour. He posted: "My best wishes to Shyam Babu. I suspect he will eventually have to deal with Hindutva and Sanskar both."

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri thinks that the move should not be co-joined with politics, as it only aims to do good for showbiz. He said: "CensorRevamp panel is not a committee. It's to abolish censorship. Forget Modi, it's good for us".

Actress and BJP member Vani Tripathi Tikoo feels "Artistic creativity and freedom should not get curtailed, people tasked with the work of certification should understand these nuances #CBFC", while filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also lauded the decision.

'Wazir' director Bejoy Nambiar has also hailed the decision.

"I think that's a great decision. Benegal sir is someone we all look up to as a filmmaker, I know that having him revamp the board itself is a big step in the right way and the right direction," Nambiar said.

"I'm really looking forward to things changing because it's high time we take the censor board a bit more seriously than the way it's been handled in the last couple of months. I'm really forward to what will happen in the future," he added.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Los Angeles, Jan 9: Actors Salma Hayek and Tiffany Haddish are hopeful about the future for women in Hollywood and now cinema is making films about women because the audience was "neglected".

The duo along with Rose Byrne star in Like a Boss, a comedy directed by Miguel Arteta, which follows best friends Mia and Mel (Haddish and Byrne) who join forces to run their own boutique cosmetics company.

When the prospect of a big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the beauty industry (Hayek) tempts them, their lifelong bond - and their business - is put in jeopardy.

Hayek said she is happy with the increase in female-driven films in Hollywood.

"We're on the right path. And we're not going to stop," the actor told Variety.

"What I can tell you is that a lot more women are directing and acting and writing and producing. And there are a lot more movies made about women and for women because the audience was neglected, she said.

She was speaking at the premiere of the film in New York.

Haddish added that the mantle for change shouldn't be left to the traditional decision-makers.

To get things, one has to sometimes make noise, the actor-author said.

"It's about us putting in the work and creating the projects and creating the opportunities in order to do those things to make it better. I sit back and I listen to people talk sometimes, saying, 'They're not letting us; they're not giving it to us.' Why do we have to ask permission? Why can't we just start putting it together? If they want to come on board with it, come on board. And if not, oh well," Haddish said.

"I'm about creating an opportunity. People say I'm loud and obnoxious, but sometimes it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil and gets things done," she added.

The comedy comes on the heels of a year gone by in cinema that featured female protagonists in films like Little Women and Captain Marvel.

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News Network
July 6,2020

Jul 6: Tony Award-nominated actor Nick Cordero, who specialized in playing tough guys on Broadway in such shows as Waitress, A Bronx Tale and Bullets Over Broadway, has died in Los Angeles after suffering severe medical complications after contracting the coronavirus. He was 41.

Cordero died Sunday at Cedars-Sinai hospital after more than 90 days in the hospital, according to his wife Amanda Kloots. “God has another angel in heaven now,” she posted on Instagram. “Nick was such a bright light. He was everyone’s friend, loved to listen, help and especially talk. He was an incredible actor and musician. He loved his family and loved being a father and husband.”

Nick Cordero entered the emergency room on March 30 and had a succession of health setbacks, including mini-strokes, blood clots, septis infections, a tracheostomy and a temporary pacemaker implanted. He had been on a ventilator and unconscious and had his right leg amputated. A double lung transplant was being explored.

Kloots, sent him daily videos of her and their 1-year-old son Elvis, so he could see them if he woke up, and urged friends and fans to join a daily sing-a-long. A GoFundMe page to pay for medical expenses has raised over $600,000.

“I tell him, I say, ‘You’re gonna walk out of this hospital, honey. I believe it. I know you can,’” she told “CBS This Morning” over the summer. ”‘We’re gonna dance again. You’re gonna hold your son again.’ My line is, ‘Don’t get lost. Get focused.’”

The lanky Cordero originated the menacing role of husband Earl opposite his estranged wife, played by Jessie Mueller, in Waitress as well as the role of Sonny in Chazz Palminteri’s A Bronx Tale. It was at Bullets Over Broadway where Cordero met his wife. The two married in 2017.

Cast members from “Waitress” — Jessie Mueller, Keala Settle, Kimik Glenn and songwriter Sara Bareilles — helped raise money for Cordero by covering his song “Live Your Life.” Sylvester Stallone sent a video with best wishes.

Kloots had said that it was difficult to tell whether Cordero understood what happened to him, but said he could respond to commands by looking up and down when he was alert.

Her husband played a mob soldier with a flare for the dramatic in Broadway’s Woody Allen 1994 film adaptation of Bullets Over Broadway, for which he received a Tony nomination for best-featured actor in a musical. He moved to Los Angeles to star in Rock of Ages.

On the small screen, Nick Cordero appeared in several episodes of Blue Bloods and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and he had a role in the film Going in Style.

Actor and guitarist for Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Van Zandt offered Cordero his first TV acting gig in the final episode of Lilyhammer. After he was hospitalized, Van Zandt teamed up with Constantine Maroulis and Vincent Pastore to make a video performing “Live Your Life.”

Cordero was last onstage in a Kennedy Center presentation of Littler Shop of Horrors. His off-Broadway credits include The Toxic Avenger and Brooklynite.

The coronavirus has sickened other Broadway veterans, including the actors Danny Burstein, Tony Shalhoub, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Gavin Creel, Aaron Tveit and Laura Bell Bundy as well as composer David Bryan. It has also claimed the life of Tony-winning playwright Terrence McNally.

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Agencies
May 18,2020

Muzaffarnagar, May 18: Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his family has been quarantined for 14 days in his house in Budhana in Muzaffarnagar district.

The actor and his family underwent medical screening and have tested negative for Coronavirus.

The actor reached his home on May 15 after taking a travel pass. He and his family have been asked to remain in home quarantine till May 25.

His mother, brother and sister-in-law also made the journey with him in his private vehicle.

The actor told reporters that he underwent medical screenings at 25 points during his journey.

Kushalpal Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), Budhana police circle, said that the health officials had visited the home of the actor and ordered a 14-day quarantine for them.

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