I wish I had married Shammi Kapoor: Bina Ramani

March 11, 2014

Bina_RamaniNew Delhi, Mar 11: Socialite Bina Ramani's life might have been a roller coaster ride from being a fashion designer, a restaurateur and even an entrepreneur to being a witness in the Jessica Lal murder case, but the only regret she has is of not marrying actor Shammi Kapoor, whom she claims to have had a tumultuous affair with.

"I wish I had married Shammi Kapoor then. I regret marrying my first husband, Andy Ramani and moving to San Fransisco" Ramani said in her recent autobiography.

Ramani has candidly written about her romance with Shammi Kapoor which "was doomed to die before it blossomed" in her recent autobiography titled "Bird in a Banyan Tree-My Story".

"I was introduced to Shammi by Raj Kapoor's wife, Krishna ji, ten months after his wife died of a sudden illness leaving him in an inconsolable state with his two children. While his film career as an actor was at its peak, he was very lonely in his personal life and was becoming increasingly reckless in his behaviour," Ramani, who was in conversation with Suhel Seth at an Oxford Store here recently said.

"Soon enough, Shammi was openly displaying his growing affection for me and, usually with Bhabhi-ji's help, managed to find many occasions where we could either meet in private or 'run into each other" publicly, she said.

However, their romance didn't blossom into marriage, because of Raj Kapoor's opposition towards the match, claims Ramani.

"My parents weren't comfortable too as the thought of losing their daughter to a movie star with a terrible reputation for 'drinking' and 'womanising' was alarming. I had plans of eloping with Shammi, when my parents introduced me to Andy while Shammi was away on a seven-day tour," she said.

While Shammi was in a jungle with his buddies, engaged in his favourite sport, he lost his love to a stranger from San Francisco – forever and I changed from Bina Lalvani to Bina Ramani in those seven days, she said.

"But today, if I am asked to choose one thing that I would like to undo in my life, is not marrying Shammi," said Ramani who is now married to Canadian citizen, George Mailhot.

After going through a troubled marriage with Andy for 13 years, Ramani said she decided to settle in Delhi and started her struggle as a fashion designer, putting Hauz Khas village together as a hub for artist and artisans.

As her life seemed to settle down after marrying George, one fine night Jessica Lal was shot dead in 1999 at her restro-bar-Tamarind Court by Manu Sharma, son of an influential politician.

Ramani writes about her seven years of roller coaster ride from being taken into police custody and sent to Tihar Jail for being a "stubbornly honest witness" to being vilified by the media to being lauded for her "heroic role in the case."

"Though I often think of the possibility that haunting memories of the Jessica Lal case would not have existed in my life's narrative, but I know if it wasn't me as the witness, Jessica would have been any other victim, and this would have been any other case," Ramani said.

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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
May 15,2020

New Delhi, May 15: In an attempt to constructively use leisure time during the lockdown, actor Bhumi Pednekar has started learning Kathak from her mother, Sumitra Pednekar, who is a trained dancer of this discipline.

Elaborating on her keenness to enhance her knowledge on the dance form, the actor explained about her routine followed for the dance practice and how much she is enjoying it.

"I wanted to learn kathak for a long time as my mother is a trained Kathak dancer! So, for about an hour in the evening this what I and my mom do. She is quite enjoying it and I'm loving learning it from her!" the 30-year-old actor said.

The growing fear of coronavirus has halted many entertainment shootings and productions. The 'Pati Patni Aur Who' actor referring to the current situation opened about the uncertainties of going back to shootings.

"It has put a big question mark on when will we get back to work and how things are going to be. There's a lot of uncertainty. Of course, our dates and schedules have gone haywire and we can't plan anything," she added.

However, the 'Bala' actor is finding a silver lining among the gloom as she says that the time has given her an opportunity to get back to what she used to love as a child - the habit of reading.

"I was a voracious reader but since entering Bollywood I haven't got a chance to read something at a stretch," she said.

"But now, I have got all the time and I'm making full use of the time at hand. I have been watching TED talks and have been reading a lot about climate change because that is something, I am severely passionate about. This time has been very educational for me," she added.

On the professional front, Pednekar will be soon seen as a leading lady in the Akshay Kumar's 'Durgavati' and award-winning director Alankrita Srivastava's 'Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitaare'.

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News Network
July 12,2020

Mumbai, Jul 12: Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek have tested positive for Covid-19, according to separate tweets by the two. The 'Sholay' actor shared the news about his positive status on his Twitter handle on Saturday and said he has been admitted to Nanavati hospital here where he is being kept in an isolation ward.

Shortly afterwards, Abhishek Bachchan also confirmed the news and revealed that he and his father both had "mild symptoms."
The Big B said he has been shifted to hospital, and the other family members and staff have undergone tests for the virus. However, the results are awaited.

The 77-year-old actor also requested those, who have been in "close proximity" to him in the last 10 days to get tested for COVID-19.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan among others wished the "iconic star" a quick recovery to the 'Gulabo Sitabo' star.

"Dear Amitabh ji, I join the whole Nation in wishing you a quick recovery! After all, you are the idol of millions in this country, an iconic superstar! We will all take good care of you. Best wishes for a speedy recovery! @SrBachchan @juniorbachchan#AmitabhBachchan #COVID," Health Minister tweeted quoting Amitabh Bacchan's tweet.

Abhishek Bachchan too tweeted shortly afterwards. "Earlier today both my father and I tested positive for COVID 19. Both of us having mild symptoms have been admitted to hospital. We have informed all the required authorities and our family and staff are all being tested. I request all to stay calm and not panic. Thank you."

Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis wished the senior Bachchan a speedy recovery.
A slew of filmstars and celebrities including Kailash Kher Sonam Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Paresh Rawal, Pariniti Chopra Adnan Sami, Mahesh Babu etc were among those who wished the Bachchans a speedy recovery.

Mumbai, reported a total positive COVID-19 cases of 91457 with 22,779 active COVID-19 cases, with 5,241 people succumbing to the deadly infection so far, according to the Municipal Coroporation of Greater Mumbai.

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