Had no family when I came to Mumbai, Bollywood adopted me: SRK

February 27, 2017

Mumbai, Feb 27: Superstar Shah Rukh Khan is thankful for all the love he has received from the film fraternity and says he had no family when he came to the city of dreams but Bollywood welcomed him with open arms.

SRK"I have been working for the last 25 years and all I know is to wear make-up in the morning and do my job (of acting)... Sometimes I get it right more often than not get it wrong. When I came to Mumbai I had lost my mother, father and my sister was unwell. I had no family," he said.

"The Indian film industry adopted me and today I have a family of more than a billion people. I am thankful to everyone," Shah Rukh said after receiving the National Yash Chopra Memorial Award last night.

The 51-year-old actor was honoured in the presence of Chopra's wife Pamela, actors Rekha, Jayaprada, Shatrughan Sinha, Simi Garewal, Padmini Kohlapuri, MP Subbarami Reddy, Governor of Maharashtra Vidyasagar Rao.

"For me it is one of the most important evenings of my life...To be honest, because like I said to begin with the set of people (guests) who are here talking nice things about me, showing me a documentary (of mine), none of this is possible if it wasn't for all the love, kindness, gentleness and enthusiasm that everyone gives me whenever I meet them," the actor said.

The star has collaborated with the Yash Raj banner to deliver several superhits including "Darr", "Dil Toh Pagal Hai", "Veer Zaara", "Jab Tak Hai Jaan" and shares equally warm relationship with Chopra's wife, Pamela.

"Pam aunty is like a surrogate mother to me..I have grown up with her. Everyone who works with Yash ji knows he is like their child. I had the fortune of working with him in the maximum number of films including his last movie," he said.

Talking about yesteryear actress Rekha and Jaya Prada, who were also present at the function, Shah Rukh said he is in awe of the them.

"This is a special night and the last thing I expected was to get a rakhi tied by Rekha (showing the gold bracelet put by Rekha as part of the award). It has to be the saddest moment of my life," he joked.

"To Jaya Prada ji, I have to say all my young life I had the hots for you but never got the opportunity to say it. You are saying all good stories about me. I thought you are extremely good looking. I am getting carried away I shouldn't say anything as Governor saheb is here," he added.

The "Dilwale" actor, known for his wittiness, has often got into troubles for his remarks on political issues and addressing actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who was also present at the event, the actor said that the next time if he ever lands in trouble he will seek help from him.

"As Shatru Sahab speaks (referring to supporting SRK in bad times) I do tend to gain confidence that if I get into a 'panga' in the future and I do get into panga...I know who to call..thank you sir. It gives me confidence and strength."

Shah Rukh also heaped praises at yesteryear actresses Padmini Kohlapuri and Simi Garewal.

"She (Padmini Kohlapuri) is one of the most beautiful actress. At a very early age she set herself apart through her performances and has set a path for yearning actors like us," he said.

SRK thanked Simi Garewal for making him an overnight star due to his appearance on her popular show 'Rendezvous with Simi' along with his wife Gauri.

Lata Mangeshkar, megastar Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha are the past recipients of the Yash Chopra National Memorial Award.

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News Network
January 9,2020

New Delhi, Jan 9: A Delhi court Thursday directed the makers of the Deepika Padukone starer feature film 'Chhapaak' to give credit to acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal’s lawyer in the movie.

Additional Civil Judge Pankaj Sharma said it was necessary that advocate Aparna Bhat's contribution is acknowledged.

"This Court is of the considered view that facts are indicative that the plea of the plaintiff for interim injunction is well-founded and it is necessary that her contribution be acknowledged by providing on the slide on the actual footage and the images, the line 'Aparna Bhat continues to fight the cases of sexual and physical violence against women' during the screening of the film.

"The said line on screen maybe with a rider that the same is with the court order," the judge said.

Advocate Bhat filed the application saying that despite representing Agarwal in courts for several years and helping in the movie-making, she was not given credit in the movie.

She said the filmmakers took her help in the entire process of writing and shooting the movie, but did not give the credit.

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Agencies
June 15,2020

Mumbai, Jun 15: Actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death has reignited the discussions around the struggle of survival in Bollywood, with many insiders highlighting "cruel and unforgiving" nature of the industry, particularly tough on outsiders.

Rajput was found hanging in his Bandra apartment on Sunday.

According to a police official, Mumbai Police found out during the probe that the 34-year-old actor was under medication for depression.

An engineering student, Rajput left his course at the Delhi Technological University in the early 2000s and rose from a background dancer to a TV star with soap opera Pavitra Rishta, which gave the "outsider" his breakout show in 2009.

In 2013, he made his Bollywood debut with Kai Po Che! and went on to star in films such as Shuddh Desi Romance, Raabta, Kedarnath, Sonchiriya and Chhichhore.

But his most prominent role came as cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni's in the 2007 biopic, MS Dhoni: The Untold Story.

In a telling tweet, veteran actor Dharmendra wrote despite not knowing Rajput personally, his death served as a reminder that the industry could be "cruel".

"Pyaare Sushant, naa film dekhi na kabhi mila tum se... par tere achaanak chale jaane se bada sadma laga. This beautiful beloved 'show business" is very cruel. I can imagine your unbearable pain. I share the pain of your loving family and friends," Dharmendra wrote.

Actor Meera Chopra penned a powerful, poignant note about the loneliness one feels working in an industry, which is "cold and ruthless".

"We all knew well that Sushant was going through depression since long, but what did we do? Where was his close circle, the directors and producers he's worked with, his close friends? Why nobody came out and helped, gave him the kind of love, the work that he wanted - because nobody cares," she wrote on Twitter.

The Section 375 actor, who has been vocal about feeling suffocated by the constant judgement from the industry colleagues, said nobody in Bollywood cares about what one's going through and artistes are just a flop away from being alienated.

Chopra said the industry has "failed" Rajput and Bollywood will now never be the same.

"True, Bollywood is a small family, but a kind of family which is never there when you need them. He had to take his life for that family to realise the kind of pain and need he was in. An outsider will always feel like an outsider here.

"I just want to say to my industry that help people when they need it, and you know when they need it. There is no point tweeting when they are no more. Don't pretend to be sad when you guys didn't do anything when he was sad. Stop being such a hypocritical society," she added.

Gulshan Devaiah said, as an actor, one could understand why Rajput would've taken the step to end his life.

"As actors, somewhere deep down inside, we think we know why he did it and that’s why it so disturbing even if you didn’t know him at all. It’s a hard game to play and he played it very well but the game won in the end," Devaiah wrote.

Quoting Chopra's tweet, the Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota star dismissed the idea of Bollywood being a family.

"If one thinks it’s a family, there is the problem. Bollywood is an imaginary name for a place of work, that’s it. I am really not trying to put anybody down here and sorry if it seems," he wrote.

On Sunday, actor-producer Nikhil Dwivedi posted a strongly-worded tweet calling out the "hypocrisy" of the industry after people from the film fraternity wrote they regretted not staying in touch with the "Chhichhore" star.

"High and mighty announcing they should have kept in touch with Sushant. Come on, you didn't! And that's because his career dipped. So STFU! Are you in touch with Imran Khan, Abhay Deol and others? No! But you were, when they were doing well," Dwivedi said.

Similar sentiment was echoed by filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, who, without taking names, said the "Bollywood Privilege Club" must sit down and think hard.

"Now don't ask me to elaborate any further," he tweeted.

Addressing outsiders, filmmaker Hansal Mehta wrote a long thread about the two ends of an artiste's time in the industry - the glorious successes and the crushing lows.

"There are many young 'outsiders' in this industry. Remember this - there is an establishment that will make you feel like the next big thing until they need you. They will drop you and mock you as soon as you falter. Do not fall for the trap. The ones that celebrate you will celebrate your downfall some time later," he tweeted.

Mehta said it's important for those who don't come from a film family to not force themselves to fit in.

"Just be authentic, follow your heart and stop seeking acceptance from anybody. Your connection should be with your art, your craft and with your audience. Nothing else matters. Over the years you will succeed, you will stumble.

"But remember that nothing is more important than you. Look after yourself. And know that you matter. The world is much bigger and wiser than what you perceive. So are opportunities. If you stay they will be yours. Lots of love. Never lose heart," the filmmaker wrote.

Celebrity hairstylist-turned-director Sapna Bhavnani claimed that Rajput's battle with mental health was out in the open and yet the industry chose to look the other way.

"It’s no secret Sushant was going through very tough times for the last few years. No one in the industry stood up for him nor did they lend a helping hand. To tweet today is the biggest display of how shallow the industry really is. No one here is your friend," she wrote on Twitter.

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Agencies
March 14,2020

Los Angeles, Mar 14: Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson on Friday gave a health update from coronavirus quarantine, saying they are taking it "one day at a time".

The couple, who is in isolation at a hospital in the state of Queensland in Australia, said they are being well cared for.

"Hello folks. @ritawilson and I want to thank everyone here Down Under who are taking such good care of us. We have COVID-19 and are in isolation so we do not spread it to anyone else.

"There are those for whom it could lead to a very serious illness. We are taking it one-day-at-a-time.There are things we can all do to get through this by following the advice of experts and taking care of ourselves and each other, no?" Hanks posted on Instagram.

The post was accompanied by a photograph that showed the couple smiling.

Hanks announced on Thursday that he and his wife have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The actor couple, who is currently in Australia to shoot for the pre-production of Baz Luhrmann's untitled Elvis Presley film, decided to get tested after they felt "a bit tired".

The deadly virus that first originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year has claimed over 4,200 lives and infected more than 117,330 people across 107 countries and territories, with the World Health Organisation on Wednesday describing the outbreak a pandemic.

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