Miss Universe booked over Taj photo fiasco

October 11, 2013

Olivia_Culpo

Agra, Agencies, Oct 11: The police in Agra filed a case against Miss Universe for conducting an unauthorised footwear fashion shoot at the Taj Mahal, insulting the monument’s caretaker.

Twenty-one-year-old American, Olivia Culpo, wearing a long peach-coloured dress, visited the world famous monument on Sunday during a ten-day tour of India.

“We have registered a case against Culpo and her team members after receiving a complaint,” Sushant Gaur said in Agra.

The officer said Culpo posed for photographers with branded shoes, while sitting on the Diana Seat, a marble ledge in front of the monument named after the late British princess who visited in 1992.

“There are strict guidelines against any sort of branding and promotion at Taj Mahal and the photo shoot conducted was without any prior permission,” said N K Pathak from the Agra unit of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

A case has also been registered against India-born fashion designer Sanjana Jon who accompanied Miss Universe to the site.

However, registering a case does not guarantee that it will go to court.

Although visitors must take off their shoes while visiting the monument, footwear is allowed in the garden area where the Diana Seat is located. Culpo’s office was not immediately available for comment. The complaint was filed by the monument's caretaker on behalf of the ASI, an official working for the state-run body said, on the condition of anonymity.

He said that she would face a fine if she is found guilty.

The Taj caretaker, Munazzar Ali, was quoted saying that Culpo’s modelling at the Taj amounted to “disrespect and insult”.

“The sandals from a bag she carried were taken and placed on the Diana Seat to shoot pictures, which is not permitted by the ASI. It also amounts to disrespect and insult,” he said.

Culpo, seemingly unaware of the controversy, had uploaded a photo of the Taj to an Instagram account on Monday, a day after her Agra visit.

“We made it to the Taj Mahal. One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! So amazing,” she wrote.

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News Network
May 18,2020

Washington, May 18: Joining hands with the European Commission, actor Leonardo DiCaprio launched the Virunga Fund with seed money of USD 2 million to support Africa's Virunga National Park.

Since Virunga has lost a significant amount of revenue due to COVID shutdown post-March, the fund will be used to support the national park and the communities around, reported Variety.

The fund is aimed at disease prevention efforts, protection of mountain gorilla, and other species.

"I had the great honor of meeting and supporting Virunga's courageous team in their fight against illegal oil drilling in 2013," Variety quoted DiCaprio as saying.

"Virunga urgently needs funds to protect the endangered mountain gorilla population, to provide support to the rangers and the families of rangers who have fallen in the line of duty, and to help deliver essential disease prevention efforts. It's critical that we rally together during this time of incredible crisis," he added.

The 'Titanic' actor had earlier produced a Netflix documentary film 'Virunga' which is based on the national park.

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Agencies
July 30,2020

Chennai, Jul 30: Filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli on Wednesday said he and his family members have tested positive for coronavirus and are currently quarantined at home.

The director, best known for his epic fantasy hit Baahubali series, said they got tested after they developed mild fever recently which subsided by itself.

“My family members and I developed a slight fever few days ago. It subsided by itself but we got tested nevertheless. The result has shown a mild COVID positive today. We have home quarantined as prescribed by the doctors (sic)” he said.

In a subsequent tweet, Rajamouli said he and his kin are asymptomatic and “feeling better”. They are, however, following all the precautions and instructions.

“Just waiting to develop antibodies so that we can donate our plasma,” he added.

Before the coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown was announced in March, the filmmaker was working on his upcoming period action drama Rise Roar Revolt.

The Telugu film, featuring actors Ram Charan and NTR Jr in the lead, is a fictional tale based on the lives of two freedom fighters in early 20th century.

Andhra Pradesh witnessed its worst single day spike of coronavirus on Wednesday, 10,000 plus cases, as the other southern states, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka also reported high daily numbers, although they saw a dip in the infections.

The cumulative tally of southern states — AP, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry was 24,855 on Wednesday.

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News Network
June 11,2020

Washington, Jun 11: Music maestro AR Rahman has joined the international film 'No Land's Man' as co-producer and composer.

Helmed by renowned Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Farooki, the upcoming movie has Indian thespian Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Australian theatre actor Megan Mitchell, and Bangladeshi musician and actor Tahsan Rahman Khan in pivotal roles.

"Time always gives birth to new worlds, new ideals. The newborn world has new challenges and new stories to tell. This is one such story," Variety quoted Rahman as saying.

The movie chronicles the life of a South Asian, whose journey gets complicated when he meets an Australian woman in the U.S.

The film, shot in the U.S., Australia and India, is predominantly in English with some dialogue in Hindi and Urdu.

'Sacred Games' actor, Siddique said: "The filming experience for this project was challenging but a fulfilling one. AR Rahman's brilliance will definitely make the film richer."

"Farooki and I first spoke about 'No Land's Man' at Film Bazaar in 2014. Between then and now, the film has become even more relevant as it looks at what it means to be a vulnerable person in a racially-divided world," producer Srihari Sathe said.

'No Land's Man' won the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) and Asia Pacific Screen Awards' Script Development fund in 2014. It was part of the Asian Project Market at Busan and was chosen as the best project at India's Film Bazaar the same year.

Earlier in January, Siddiqui posted multiple pictures on Instagram with the team of the flick, marking the schedule wrap in New York and Sydney for 'No Land's Man.'

He also captioned the post as: "Wonderful experience with the most energetic team."

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