'Preity Zinta is a businesswoman in her head'

September 14, 2012

preity-zintaShe is a successful actress, has represented many brands, co-owns an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise and is now ready with her debut film production. Preity Zinta has a good business sense, says Prem Raj, director of her home production "Ishkq In Paris".

"She is a taskmaster. She is a businesswoman in her head. She has worked a lot, owns an IPL team. So it is not possible that she will not have a business sense," Raj said during a media interaction.

He was particularly happy that Preity, who also plays the lead in the youthful romantic drama, was a director's producer. "She is not stingy at all. I am sure she will become a big producer some day," he said.

Preity, who co-owns IPL team Kings XI Punjab, was not just handling finances and didn't just focus on getting her shots right. She was also actively involved with the movie's creative side along with Raj, he says.

"We have no ego. We can say anything to each other. This is how we have been," he said of their chemistry and understanding. The movie marks Preity's comeback to films after 2008 film "Heroes". The director gaurantees it will showcase the actress at her best and says her chutzpah is the film's biggest USP.

"You will see her (Preity) in her elements. I don't remember when she did a romantic comedy earlier," he said. Preity was originally not a part of the cast and was just producing the film, but the director says he tricked her into the project.

"I didn't give her a choice. I said, 'You are acting and producing it.' I actually locked her up and said 'You have to do it. When do we start? Tell me the date'," recounted Raj.


"Ishkq In Paris" is Raj's second film as a director. He forayed into direction with  Salman Khan- and Kareena Kapoor-starrer "Main aurr Mrs Khanna". About "Ishkq In Paris", he said: "This is a youth film. The agenda and focus were straight. It is not a mature love story or a classic romantic film. We are talking about Paris, where there is a love story starting in every lane and by the way, finishing in every lane too."

"That is the pace there. It's very fast. So, this film is also quick and instant," Raj said. The film's fate will be decided once it releases Oct 5, but Raj says a strong script is of paramount importance these days.

"I feel that if you have the right script, then everything falls into place, but if you don't have the right script, then everything becomes a problem," he said. His movie features newcomer Rhehan Malliek. Explaining the importance of casting him, Raj said: "We could have taken any actor. Preity is a big star and knows people. She has a lot of goodwill in the industry. But the idea of the love story is fresh and if we didn't have a new actor, the film wouldn't have a fresh appeal," he said.



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News Network
February 19,2020

Washington, Feb 19: Popular Indian-American stand-up comedian Hasan Minhaj, who has been critical of both US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, would perform at the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents Association.

Hasan Minhaj, whose parents come from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, will serve as the entertainer at the event.

Kenan Thompson, the actor, and longest-tenured Saturday Night Live cast-member will serve as the host for the annual White House Correspondents Association's (WHCA) dinner on April 25.

"Hasan Minhaj, the Peabody award-winning host of Netflix's Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj, will return to the dinner as featured entertainer," the WHCA announced.

"Kenan and Hasan are two of the most engaged and engaging entertainers in America. I'm thrilled they'll help us celebrate the role of a free press in our democracy," said Jonathan Karl, Chief White House Correspondent for ABC News and president of the WHCA.

"We're looking forward to a lively evening honouring the most important political journalism of the past year," he said.

President Trump who has skipped the WHCA dinner for the last three years is unlikely to attend this time as well.

Hasan Minhaj has hosted his Netflix show since 2018, drawing critics' raves, including a Peabody award in 2019, for his humorous and informed examination of issues of domestic and global import.

He was the entertainer at the 2017 WHCA Dinner when he was a senior correspondent on The Daily Show. His one-hour Netflix comedy special Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King was released in 2017, for which he won his first Peabody Award in 2018.

Kenan Thompson began his career as a member of Nickelodeon's sketch series All That. Kenan Thompson is currently in his 17th season on SNL where he has set a record for the most celebrity impressions performed on the show.

In 2018, he received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics and a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.

At its annual dinner, WHCA will be presenting two new awards at the 2020 dinner: The Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability and the Award for Excellence in Presidential News Coverage by Visual Journalists.

These are in addition to the longstanding Aldo Beckman Award for Overall Excellence in White House Coverage and Merriman Smith Award for Excellence in Presidential News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure.

This year's dinner will also include the inaugural presentation of the Collier Prize for State Government Accountability, administered by the University of Florida''s College of Journalism and Communications to recognize outstanding statehouse reporting.

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News Network
January 19,2020

Mumbai, Jan 19: An FIR has been registered against actor Shabana Azmi's driver after the car they were travelling in met with an accident on the Mumbai-Pune expressway on Saturday afternoon, police said.

Ms Azmi's driver has been identified as Amlesh Yogendra Kamat.

According to the police, a complaint has been registered by Rajesh Pandurang Shinde, the truck driver whose vehicle was hit from behind by Ms Azmi's car.

"Due to rash driving by the driver, the car hit the moving truck on the Pune-Mumbai Expressway which resulted in the accident," the FIR copy read.

Soon after the accident, Shabana Azmi was immediately rushed to MGM Hospital in Navi Mumbai and was later shifted to the multi-specialty Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai's Andheri.

According to doctors, she has suffered a head injury and slight damage to the backbone. Her condition is said to be stable, although, she remains under medical observation.

Her husband lyricist Javed Akhtar, who was travelling with her, escaped with a minor injury.

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News Network
July 27,2020

Mumbai, Jul 27: Reel life villain Sonu Sood turned real life hero once again, this time by gifting a tractor on Sunday to a farmer in a remote village in Andhra Pradesh to help him till the land. The actor came up with the gift after coming through a video clip on Twitter wherein a tomato farmer in Madanapalle in Chittoor district was seen ploughing the land with his two daughters carrying the yoke on their shoulders.

In his instant reaction, Sood promised a pair of ox to the farmer, but later said the family deserved a tractor. "So sending you one. By evening a tractor will be ploughing your fields. Stay blessed," Sood, who acted as a villain in numerous Telugu films, said in a tweet.

True to his word, a new tractor was delivered to the elated farmer Nageswara Rao at his Mahalrajupalle village by Sunday night. Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu, who belongs to Chittoor district, hailed the actor's gesture.

"Spoke with @sonusood ji and applauded him for his inspiring effort to send a tractor to Nageswara Rao's family in Chittoor district. Moved by the plight of the family, I have decided to take care of the education of the two daughters and help them pursue their dreams," Naidu said in a tweet.

Rao's elder daughter completed her Intermediate while the second one passed Class 10. Rao used to run a tea stall in Madanapalle before coronavirus left him out of business. He returned to his native Mahalrajupalle village to take up agriculture once again.

Given his penury, he could not hire either a pair of bulls or a tractor to till the land, when his daughters volunteered to help him on the chores. Their plight went viral on social media following which the actor stepped in with help.

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