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
July 1,2020

Los Angeles, Jul 1: Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas has struck a two-year television deal with Amazon. The 37-year-old actor shared the news about her "multimillion-dollar" first look deal with the streamer in a post on Instagram.

"So honoured and excited to finally share this news with you. Looking ahead, we already have so much on our slate! Big thank you to @jsalke and her team at Amazon for being such great partners, and for sharing in the belief that talent and good content knows no boundaries," Priyanka wrote.

The actor, who launched her own production banner Purple Pebble Pictures in 2015, said she aims to create "great content" featuring "creative talent" from all over the world.

"This has always been the DNA of my production house Purple Pebble Pictures, and is the foundation of this exciting new endeavour with Amazon. ⁣⁣

"And as a storyteller, my quest is to constantly push myself to explore new ideas that not only entertain but most importantly, open minds and perspectives," Priyanka said.

She thanked her fans for being a "big part of my journey so far".

"And for those who are just getting to know me, or maybe only recognise me as Alex Parrish from 'Quantico', I'm excited for you to get to know me better," Priyanka concluded.

Priyanka, who started her Hollywood career with ABC series Quantico, has featured in films such as Baywatch and Isn't It Romantic.

Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke told Variety that she bonded with the actor over their "shared passion for diverse global storytelling".

"Priyanka is drawn to exciting original content and characters that can resonate globally. She’s a powerhouse producer, and we are thrilled to collaborate with her for years to come," she added.

Prior to her deal with Amazon, the actor lined up two projects with the streamer. She will star opposite Game of Thrones actor Richard Madden in upcoming thriller series Citadel, to be produced by Anthony and Joe Russo.

The actor will also feature in Sangeet, an unscripted series co-produced with her husband, Nick Jonas.

Priyanka's another project with Amazon is a film about Ma Anand Sheela, the assistant to guru Bhagwan Rajneesh (also known as Osho). The actor will be producing the movie which is based on Netflix docu-series Wild Wild Country.

Besides her association with Amazon, the actor will next star in two Netflix projects -- superhero movie We Can Be Heroes and The White Tiger,  opposite Rajkummar Rao.

She is currently shooting for Keanu Reeves-starrer The Matrix 4, which recently resumed filming after production was halted by the pandemic.

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Agencies
July 28,2020

Mumbai, Jul 28: Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manoj Tiwari has urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to look into the case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death and direct the state police to register an FIR in this connection.

Wishing Thackeray on Monday on his birthday, Tiwari, who has acted in Bhojpuri films, pointed out that over 40 days have passed since the death of Rajput, but an FIR is yet to be registered.

"Many happy returns of the Day @CMOMaharashtra Shri Uddhav Ji, on this day I request with folded hands to give justice to Sushant who died 43 days ago, but no FIR has been registered so far. I hope you will help. Please do justice to millions of SSR fans," he tweeted.

Bollywood actor Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, which the police said was a case of suicide. His death had triggered an outcry from several quarters alleging that the late actor, who hailed from Bihar, was a victim of nepotism in the film industry.

The lawmaker from Northeast Delhi's Lok Sabha seat, who visited the deceased actor's family in Patna last month had then said: "Sushant's father and sister requested me to take up the issue and get him justice. It was really a sentimental moment for me".

Previously, Tiwari had demanded a CBI investigation into the matter

According to the police, statements of 40 people including film critic Rajeev Masand, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and filmmaker Aditya Chopra and actor Rhea Chakraborty have been recorded in the investigation so far.

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Agencies
July 27,2020

Mumbai, Jul 27: Action director Parvez Khan, known for his work in films like Sriram Raghavan's Andhadhun and Badlapur, died on Monday after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 55. 

Parvez, who worked in the industry since 1986, was rushed to Ruby Hospital after he complained of chest pain, his longtime associate Nishant Khan told PTI. "He suffered a major heart attack in the morning. He was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead. He didn't have any health issues but felt chest pain last night," Nishant said.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta, who worked with Parvez in the National Award winning 2013 drama Shahid, said the action director was extremely skilled. "Just heard that action director Parvez Khan is no more. We had worked together in Shahid where he executed the riots sequence in a single take. Very skilful, energetic and a good man. RIP Parvez. Your voice still rings in my ears," Hansal tweeted. 

Parvez started his career by assisting action director Akbar Bakshi in films like Akshay Kumar's Khiladi (1992), Shah Rukh Khan's Baazigar (1993) and Bobby Deol-starrer Soldier in 1998. It was with Ram Gopal Varma's Ab Tak Chhappan in 2004 that he started working independently and went on to have a long-standing collaboration with filmmaker Sriram Raghavan in films such as Johnny Gaddaar (2007), Saif Ali Khan-starrer Agent Vinod in 2012 and Badlapur, featuring Varun Dhawan. He is survived by wife, son, daughter-in-law and a granddaughter.

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