Alliance with Rajini unlikely if his colour is saffron: Haasan

Agencies
February 12, 2018

Cambridge, Feb 12: Movie actor- turned-politician Kamal Haasan has made it clear that any political alliance with superstar Rajinikanth is unlikely if his colour is "saffron", in an apparent reference to the BJP.

Haasan, who had recently announced his foray into the electoral politics, said that his "true purpose today is to challenge the status quo and mediocrity in politics, that is plaguing the state of Tamil Nadu."

Responding to a question on Rajinikanth joining politics, Haasan did not rule out an electoral alliance with him if there is some commonality of thoughts and ideas between them and similarities in their manifestos. But, he quickly referred to the sharp differences between them on religion and on 'saffron', which was interpreted as the BJP.

"I hope Rajini's colour is not saffron. Alliance with Rajini is unlikely if his colour is saffron," Haasan said at the annual Indian conference of the prestigious Harvard University.

"I cannot see a clear understanding now," Haasan said when pressed by moderator Barkha Dutt on the sharp ideological differences he has with Rajinikanth.

But he kept the doors open.

"If necessary (I will hold hands with others)," Haasan said, noting that this is unlikely to be the case.

He also ruled out a post-poll alliance.

"If there is no majority, its the people's verdict. Then I would not have to sit but stand and wait for the next time," he said, indicating that he would prefer to be in the Opposition if his party does not get a majority.

"The reason that I have started a new political party itself shows that I want to walk with the people and not politicians," he said.

"All is not well with Tamil Nadu," he said, slamming the current lot of political class in his state.

The entry of the two top Tamil film stars comes against the backdrop of a perceived vacuum in Tamil Nadu politics after former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's death in 2016 and the ill-health of DMK chief M Karunanidhi for over a year following which he was inactive in politics.

Responding to a question on the so-called love jihad, the actor said, "I think that a new revolution is on its way. I do not know about jihad, but love would triumph hate."

Haasan said Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party head Arvind Kejriwal had met him in Chennai and offered an alliance with his party.

"I intend to take it (the experience) not only from Mr Kejriwal but from others as well," he said.

In his keynote address, Haasan rued that there is status quo and mediocrity in Tamil Nadu.

Confident of raising funds for the elections, Haasan called upon the Tamil community across the world to come up with ideas. He will a major announcement on February 21.

He also announced to adopt a village each in every district of the state as part of his objective to reimagining and rebuilding Tamil Nadu.

"I am announcing a plan of adopting a village in every district of Tail Nadu... With the vision of making them the best villages in the world," he said.

Hasan said that he will begin with one village and then scale up it to every district of Tamil Nadu.

The film star quoted Mahatma Gandhi's idea of a self- reliant and self-sustainable village.

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News Network
July 14,2020

Los Angeles, Jul 14: US officials on Monday found the body of "Glee" actress Naya Rivera in the Californian lake where she drowned last week during a boat trip with her four-year-old son.

Rivera's body was retrieved and an initial examination found no evidence of foul play or suicide, Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub told a press conference.

"We are confident the body we found is that of Naya Rivera," said Ayub, pointing to the location, appearance, clothing and condition of the body.

Her body was being taken to a medical examiner's office for a full autopsy and confirmation of her identity from dental records, though no other missing persons have been reported at Lake Piru, he added.

Rivera, 33, is believed to have accidentally drowned after renting the boat with her young son at the camping and recreational hotspot around an hour's drive northwest of Los Angeles.

She vanished on Wednesday afternoon, and a massive search involving divers, patrol boats and helicopters was launched after her sleeping son was spotted drifting alone in a boat on the lake.

The son later told investigators that Rivera had helped him into the boat before "he looked back and saw her disappear under the surface of the water," said the sheriff.

Ayub pointed to the lake's strong currents as a possible cause of a fatal accident.

"The idea perhaps being that the boat started drifting -- it was unanchored -- and that she mustered enough energy to get her son back onto the boat, but not enough to save herself," he said.

The lake has been closed to the public since Wednesday, with around 100 personnel, including the US Coast Guard and rescuers from neighboring counties, joining the search.

Search teams used footage from video messaging calls Rivera made from the boat before her disappearance, as well as interviews with her son, to scour portions of the lake bed for her remains over six days, with no success.

"We believe she was concealed within some of the shrubbery on the floor bed of the lake" before eventually floating to the surface due to natural decomposition, said Ayyub.

With less than one foot (30 centimeters) of visibility underwater in daylight, the recovery operation was a "complex search effort" even with use of sonar equipment, he said.

Rivera was best known for her role as high school cheerleader Santana Lopez in "Glee."

She starred for six seasons in the wildly popular musical television series set in a US high school that ended in 2015.

The "Glee" cast has been struck by tragedy before.

Actor Mark Salling took his own life in 2018, weeks before being sentenced for possession of child pornography.

Canadian castmate Cory Monteith died in July 2013 of an overdose of drugs and alcohol.

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Agencies
July 20,2020

Los Angeles, Jul 20: Hollywood stars Robert Downey Jr and Tom Holland have joined their "Avengers: Endgame" co-star Chris Evans in sending sweet messages to a young boy who saved his sister from a dog attack.

Six-year-old Bridger saved his four-year-old sister on July 9 by standing between her and a charging dog.

According to Nicole Noel Walker, his aunt, the child received 90 stitches after getting bitten by the canine.

After Walker reached out to the Avengers team through an Instagram post, Evans, in a video message, promised to send Bridger, an avid Avengers fan, "an authentic Captain America shield".

Now the 'Iron-Man' star promised he will gift Bridger something "special" on his next birthday.

"Bridger, you're a rockstar. I hear (Captain America) sent a shield your way. I'm gonna do one better, you call me on your next birthday. I got something special for you. By the way, that's a promise. A promise beats a shield," Downey Jr said.

Holland, meanwhile, spoke to Bridger on a video call and invited him to come to the sets of the next "Spider-Man" film.

"If you ever want to come to set and hang out, and see the Spider-Man suit up close, and hang out with us, you're always welcome. I want to say you are so brave, mate. We are all so proud of you, and your little sister is so lucky to have someone like you," he added.

Other Marvel stars Mark Ruffalo and Brie Larson, Hollywood star Anne Hathaway, "The Flash" series stars Grant Gustin and Robbie Amell also praised Bridger's bravery.

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News Network
June 9,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 9: There’s no denying the fact that Sudeep is one of the most popular and sought-after names in Kannada cinema. The versatile actor has won the love of fans due to his ‘pan-India’ look and impressive selection of roles. A self-made star, he paid his dues before making it big in Sandalwood. The Bachchan actor had, some time ago, told Film Companion that his initial years in the industry were anything but easy.

 The mass hero revealed that his first two movies never saw the light of the day as they were abandoned midway. Following the setback, he finally made his Kannada debut with V Umakanth’s Thayavva and began a new chapter in life. Sadly, the film sank without a trace and was removed from theatres within three days of its release.

“My first two films did not see the light of the day while the third one did not see people,” he added.

Sudeep ultimately tasted success with the 2001 release Huchcha and the rest is history. Over the years, ‘Deepanna’ has starred in several commercially successful movies and proved that he is a certified ‘A-lister’. The star has also made an impact in non-Kannada movies like Rann and Eega, expanding his fanbase big time.

Coming to the present, Sudeep was last seen in the Bollywood biggie Dabangg 3 that did decent business at the box office. The actioner saw him share screen space with Salman Khan, giving fans a reason to rejoice. The cast included Arbaaz Khan and Sonakshi Sinha.

He will be turning his attention to the Kannada biggie Kotigobba 3, the third instalment of the Kotigobba series. The film, directed by Shiva Karthik, is one of the biggest movies of the year. It features Shraddha Das, Madonna Sabastian and Aftab Shivdasani in key roles.  He  will also be seen in the Anup Bhandari-directed Phantom.

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