I just said what I felt: Swara Bhaskar

Agencies
February 1, 2018

Actress Swara Bhaskar has recently been in the news for the noise her letter to Sanjay Leela Bhansali made. The actress is herself very surprised with the development.

“I am so happy that people have read it… I didn’t think it will become such a big issue,” she says. The actress had written two letters in English and Hindi where she mentioned that she was “reduced to a vagina” after viewing Padmaavat. Understandably, the letter received a lot of support, and even criticism. In fact, writers Siddharth-Gatima, who have written scripts for Bhansali’s movies, came out with a counter letter.

“I think everyone has the right to keep their opinion — just like I do. I don’t agree to that letter — that’s all. I was polite and respectful. I did not have any vicious intention. I had valid questions in my mind. If people do not agree, it’s fine; it is a democracy. It is good that there is a debate because art demands debates.  But this debate has turned into a bawaal (ruckus) now. So many people are reacting because I used the ‘v’ word. Why is everyone who is not connected to the film getting angry?” questions the actress.

Swara says that she has not received any response from Bhansali either, with whom she had a two-scene role in the Hrithik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai starrer Guzaarish. “It was an open letter through a publication. I have had no response from him, but it has become the subject of national conversation. In fact, one has to remember that I have been one of those voices that supported Padmaavat. Now that it has reached a platform for public consumption, I felt that my questions should be a part of the national discussion and so I put it on a public platform,” she says.

Swara says that she does not know what kind of a backlash she would get from the film industry in terms of work tomorrow. “See, I have not thought about all that because I have said earlier that I just said what I felt and had no hatred in what I wished to convey. They are very valid questions. It is important to have this conversation in our society,” says the actress.

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Agencies
July 25,2020

Mumbai, Jul 25: Movie theatres have been shuttered for months due to the coronavirus pandemic in the country, but the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has now recommended that the Union Home Ministry allow cinema halls to reopen in August. 

I&B Secretary Amit Khare indicated this at a close-door industry interaction with the CII Media Committee on Friday. He said Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla at the Home Ministry would take the final call.

Khare said that he has recommended that cinema halls may be allowed to reopen all over India as early as August 1, or at the latest, around August 31.

The formula suggested is that alternate seats in the first row and then the next row be kept vacant, and proceeding in this fashion throughout.

Khare said that his ministry's recommendation takes into consideration the two metre social distancing norm, but tweaks it gently to two yards instead. The Home Ministry, however, still has to revert on the recommendation.

Cinema owners, present in the interaction, however, pushed back and said this formula is unwise and merely running films at 25% auditorium capacity is worse than keeping the cinemas shut.

The attendees at the meet included media CEOs like N.P. Singh of Sony, Sam Balsara (Madison), Megha Tata, (Discovery), Gaurav Gandhi (Amazon Prime), Manish Maheshwari (Twitter), S. Sivakumar (Bennett Coleman and Co Ltd), and K Madhavan, Star & Disney, and also Chairman, CII Media Committee.

The OTT platforms present, including Gandhi of Amazon Prime, did not push back. Some Bollywood producers, notably those of Amitabh Bachchan's Gulabo Sitabo, have posted their movies on OTT, rather than live out the lockdown uncertainty.

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News Network
May 10,2020

Mumbai, May 10: Nearly a month after recovering from the coronavirus, actor Zoa Morani says she has donated her blood plasma to do her bit in helping the patients currently suffering from the novel virus. The actor, who was quarantined and kept under medication in April, also urged those who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate their plasma.

"Donated my blood today for the Plasma therapy trials at Nair hospital. It was fascinating! Always a silver lining I suppose. The team there was so enthusiastic and careful. There was a general physician on standby just incase of emergency and the equipment brand new and safe (sic)," Zoa wrote on Instagram on Saturday.

She thanked the doctors for taking care of her and hoped patients benefit from the donation.

"All #Covid19 recovered people can be a part of this trial, to help others covid patients recover! I hope this works #IndiaFightsCorona. They even gave me a certificate and Rs 500. Wont lie, I felt super cool today (sic)," she added.

Zoa, along with her sister Shaza and father, producer Karim Morani had tested positive for coronavirus in April. All three were discharged from the hospital after testing negative last month.

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Agencies
February 25,2020

New Delhi, Feb 25: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday gave time to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to seek instructions on travel ban imposed on comedian Kunal Kamra.

Kamra approached the court against IndiGo which suspended him from flying with the airlines for a period of six months. Other airlines had also followed the suit in pursuance to this.

Justice Naveen Chawla said that the regulatory body should not have certified actions of airlines other than IndiGo to ban Kamra without conducting inquiry. The matter will now be heard on February 27.

Last month, IndiGo had barred the stand-up comedian for six months from using its services for allegedly portraying "unacceptable behaviour" onboard its flight.

The airline claimed that Kamra, while travelling on a Mumbai-Lucknow IndiGo flight, provoked a TV news anchor by asking questions over his news presentation style.

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