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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Agencies
February 7,2020

Srinagar, Feb 7: Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking a stay on the release of the movie 'Shikara' which is based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley.

The film which hit theatres today has Vidhu Vinod Chopra at the helm and narrates the story of the mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 that forced lakhs to flee their homeland almost overnight following a genocidal campaign by militants.

Shot primarily in the Valley, the movie is being promoted mainly as a journey of love between the lead couple.

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News Network
July 24,2020

New Delhi, Jul 24: With more than 50 movies under her credits and being one of the few actors from Bollywood to make a strong imprint in Hollywood, actor Priyanka Chopra started it all by winning Miss India 2000 pageant.

Chopra who is currently celebrating the completion of 20 years in the entertainment industry, on Friday looked back and reacted to the video where she was crowned as Miss India.
The' Fashion' actor shared a video on Instagram, where she is seen watching the throwback video. The 'Dostana' actor recalled winning the title and joked about her sense of style and poses back then.

Sharing the reaction video, she wrote: "Alright guys, we're doing this! I'm watching footage from my Miss India pageant in 2000! This is where it all began... If you've never seen these before, you are in for quite a treat. #20in2020 @feminamissindia."

Throughout the video, the 'Gunday' actor is seen casually commenting on her hairstyle, enacting her own movement on stage, and also recalled her luscious hair, which she now wonders where it all got lost.

However, she took a moment to appreciate the "clever and profound" answer she gave for the question that won her the crown.

While watching the winning moment, the 'Don' star noted how she never expected to win it. She explained that she had a train booked as she was to go back and take her board exams.

Going through the old photographs that run parallel to the video, she says: "These pictures are hard to look at." Pausing at a particular photograph, she laughs and says, "I don't even know how to do that pose."

"Well, this is where everything started. These are the pictures that sent me to Tinseltown," said the actor towards the end of the video.

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News Network
April 30,2020

Mumbai, Apr 30: Rishi Kapoor, the romantic star of many a Bollywood film who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018, died in a Mumbai hospital on Thursday, his brother Randhir Kapoor said. He was 67.

Rishi, a third generation actor of the famous Kapoor dynasty, is survived by his wife Neetu Kapoor, actor son Ranbir and daughter Ridhima.

"He is no more. He has passed away," Randhir said.

Rishi was taken to the H N Reliance hospital by his family on Wednesday.

His death comes a day after after his "D-Day" co-star Irrfan Khan passed away, also of cancer. Three months ago, the disease claimed his sister Ritu Nanda.

"Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last.

He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him, the family said in a statement.

Rishi returned to India last September after undergoing treatment for his cancer in the US for almost a year.

In February, he was hospitalised twice.

He was first admitted to a hospital in Delhi where he was attending a family function. At the time, he had said he was suffering from an "infection".

After his return to Mumbai, he was again admitted to a hospital with viral fever. He was discharged soon after.

Rishi made his first screen appearance as a child artiste in his father Raj Kapoor's film Shri 420 , where he appeared in the song Pyaar hua ekraar hua . This was followed by "Mera Naam Joker". But it was in 1973, with the blockbuster Bobby , again directed by his father, that he made his debut as a romantic hero. He continued to be a favourite romantic hero for almost three decades.

His notable films as a romantic hero are "Laila Majnu", "Rafoo Chakkar", "Karz", "Chandni", "Heena" and "Saagar".

He was, however, more proud of his second innings as an actor, which he found more satisfying. His notable films as a character artiste are "Do Dooni Chaar" with wife Neetu, "Agnipath" and "Kapoor & Sons".

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