Kerala actor withdraws complaint against MP following controversy

November 4, 2013

Kerala_actorKochi, Nov 4: Just hours after filing a complaint of alleged molestation against Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup, actor Shwetha Menon withdrew it in a dramatic turnaround.

In an emailed statement released to the media late on Sunday, she said her decision came in the wake of repeated public and personal apologies by Kurup, which led her to withdraw “all legal and other actions” against the Parliamentarian. “There’s no pressure whatsoever behind this move,” said the actor in the statement.

Later in the day, she told reporters in Bangalore she decided to withdraw the complaint after the Kurup called her and apologised to her.

Shwetha’s change in stance — barely 10 hours after her statement named Kurup for alleged misbehaviour at a boat race in Kollam on Friday — is also being viewed against the backdrop of protests and comments unleashed by Congress leaders against her.

While offering cover for the MP, local Congress leaders repeatedly questioned the validity of Shwetha’s allegations by pointing at some of her professional decisions. The Kollam District Congress Committee leadership, in a media interaction, questioned her motives and work ethics by highlighting her decision to act in the recent film Kalimannu, which shot the actor in labour. Members of the Youth Congress staged protests against her in Kollam. Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said the actress could not be treated as a victim in connection with the incident.

Shwetha said the decision followed consultation with her family. However, its implications are open to debate, because the actor, in the first place, never made a formal complaint.

On Sunday, a case was registered against Kurup following a complaint by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). Kollam East police registered cases under Sections 354 and 354(A) of the IPC, on charges of intent to outrage a woman’s modesty, after a police team recorded the actor's statement at her apartment in Kochi. Shwetha alleged that she was subjected to physical misbehaviour ahead of and during the inauguration of the event.

Kurup, a Congress veteran , denied the allegations and said he had called the actor and her husband to apologise if the incident hurt her and cleared his position on the issue. He told reporters he was only shielding the actor from the crowd that had turned up at the venue.

Television channels have been replaying footage from the event that shows Kurup standing next to the actor and touching her. Shwetha came out in the open with the allegation late on Friday, saying she felt “deeply insulted”.

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News Network
May 28,2020

New Delhi, May 28: On the World Menstrual Hygiene Day, former Miss World Manushi Chhillar on Thursday underlined the need to spread awareness on feminine hygiene.

The 23-year-old star has been roped in by UNICEF to spread awareness on the need to educate girls on personal hygiene.

Chhillar put out a post on Instagram expressing the need to educate girls with all information on maintaining hygiene, constructing adequate sanitation facilities and providing quick access to feminine hygiene products.

Manushi, who is participating in the UNICEF global initiative called the Red Dot Challenge, stated, "Every young girl has the right to accurate information about her body. Without the right information, girls often don't know how to safely manage their period. It's time to break the silence. I am calling all girls, boys, women and men to take the #RedDotChallenge with me. Because of Menstruation Matters. @unicefindia."

Along with the post, Chhillar shared her pictures with red dots on her hand representing the 'Red Dot Challenge.'

The former Miss World runs her own initiative on menstrual hygiene called 'Project Shakti' that works across several states of India.

The beauty queen turned actor will debut in Bollywood with the highly anticipated historical-drama 'Prithviraj' opposite Akshay Kumar. She will be playing the royal princess Sanyogita, whose tales of beauty mesmerised an entire nation.

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News Network
January 22,2020

Patna, Jan 22: Actor Kangana Ranaut has expressedher desire to make a movie on Chandragupta, the shepherd-turned-emperor who founded the Maurya dynasty, noting that the film industry has “not done enough justice to our history”.

The national award winner was here to take part in a programme organised by the publishers of a leading Hindi daily where she performed a jig to the tunes of Bhojpuri songs along with actor-turned-politician Ravi Kishan before the duo participated in a question and answer session.  Replying to the questions posed by Kishan, who is also the BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Ranaut on Tuesday said it was her second trip to Bihar.

“The last time, I was here as a child though I have not yet got a chance to explore the state with which I feel a connect as my Yoga teacher has his roots here,” she said.

Ranaut, who won acclaim for portraying Rani Laxmibai, the valiant queen of Jhansi who took on the British during the revolt of 1857 -- in ‘Manikarnika’, when asked if she would like to be associated with a film on any historical figure from Bihar, said, “It would be Chandragupta Maurya. The film industry has not done much justice to our history”.

A self-confessed admirer of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 32-year-old, who has won three National Awards in the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories, replied in the affirmative when asked about reports that she has turned producer and her first venture is based on the theme of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The Himachal Pradesh-born actress, who has courted controversy for taking on well-entrenched Bollywood “insiders” like Karan Johar and Hrithik Roshan, said she has had a rebellious streak since childhood and shared an anecdote about her breaking her teacher’s stick upon being hit for chatting with a classmate in school.

When Kishan asked why she has gained so much weight, Ranaut replied it was in preparation for her upcoming biopic “Thalaivi”, based on late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The actress said her forthcoming release “Panga” is a family drama.

Ranaut said after landing in Patna, she gorged on ‘Litti Chokha’, a local delicacy.

She also regaled the audience by greeting them in Bhojpuri and repeating several commonly used phrases of the dialect after Kishan.

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News Network
June 19,2020

Mumbai, Jun 19: The Mumbai Police, probing the   case of alleged suicide of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, has sent a letter to Yash Raj Films, seeking details of the contracts it had signed with him, an official said on Friday.

Rajput, 34, known for films like Kai Po Che!, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Chhichhore, was found hanging in his Bandra apartment on Sunday, sending shockwaves in the film industry and elsewhere.

"Police are investigating various angles, including that of professional rivalry, in the case," the official said. So far, Bandra police have recorded the statements of over 13 people, including Rajput's family members and close friends like actor Rhea Chakraborty and casting director Mukesh Chhabra.

 "Keeping in view the professional angle, police have started calling some prominent production houses for inquiry. As part of that, police on Thursday sent a letter to Yash Raj Films, seeking details of all the contracts it had signed with the deceased actor," a senior police officer said.

"We have also asked for the copies of the contracts that Yash Raj Films had signed with the actor," he added.

In the next few days, police may also call those people, who had played a role in signing of contracts between the actor and the production houses for their projects, the officer said.

 Rajput had worked in two Yash Raj Films movies - Shuddh Desi Romance (2013) directed by Maneesh Sharma and in director Dibakar Banerjee directed Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! (2015).

His third film with the banner was supposed to be Paani, directed by Shekhar Kapur. However, YRF had reportedly backed out of the project later.

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