I need not prove my secular credentials: Shah Rukh

December 9, 2015

New Delhi, Dec 9: Shah Rukh Khan got embroiled in the "extreme intolerance" debate in the country after he expressed his views about the prevailing situation in the country, but the superstar says there is no need for him to prove his "secular" credentials.

skAsked about the debate, the Bollywood "Badshah" said in an interview to ETV channel: "I really don't know anything about this. I speak straight-forward, clear-cut and good things whenever I speak. And I feel I need not prove myself secular."

"The logic is that if we want to move forward, we should not keep such things in our mind like sex differentiation, whether the person is fair or dark, which religion the person belongs to, which region the person hails from or which caste the person belongs to."

Shah Rukh's comment on "extreme intolerance" in India last month landed him in a soup, with leading BJP MP Yogi Adityanath comparing him to Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed, and another Hindutva proponent, Sadhvi Prachi, dubbing the actor a "Pakistani agent".

Superstar Aamir Khan had to face a similar problem after he shared that his wife had suggested they leave the country.

The controversy was revisited by VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi on Tuesday when she attacked Shah Rukh and Aamir saying they are "tarnishing" the image of India through their comments on intolerance.

Shah Rukh feels there is no end to such "things", and he has made a resolution -- to talk about acting and films only.

"I have decided, I will discuss serious topics on a platform where I would be invited to discuss on that. But that is very rare. In most of the cases, people don't invite me for discussion on serious topics. But it is not required to discuss on such topics during films and birthday.

"Because the platform is not correct. When I speak in such programmes, people take my half words and they are placed in a different context. So, I think it is better that actors on acting platform should talk about acting and films only," said SRK, who is awaiting the release of his film "Dilwale".

He added: "If someone tells me that he is more patriotic than me, then he is stupid. From which angle can someone justify himself to be more patriotic? There is no logic behind that. We suddenly start shouting that I am more patriotic than you. Actually, we all are patriotic."

The 50-year-old, also a producer now, started his journey in showbiz from the small screen and made a mark in Bollywood with films like "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", "Baazigar", "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..." and "My Name Is Khan".

The actor asserts that he expressed his genuine feeling in the previous interview, which was tossed away as negative.

"I genuinely spoke that I will teach my children these things. Then someone asked me 'Do you think such things are there?' I replied, 'It's not there'.

"But it should not be there to move forward in life. I even told that some people will take it wrong and say that he is speaking like that... Who will be more thankful towards this nation than me," asked Shah Rukh, who is married to Gauri and has three children.

Talking about Narendra Modi's government, Shah Rukh heaped praise upon the prime minister, calling his governance "fantastic".

"I think the developmental clause of his governance is fantastic. I am all for modernness and development. And it will be fantastic if he takes it up and makes it for the whole country," he said.

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News Network
May 30,2020

California, May 30: Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Saturday shared a gorgeous sunkissed selfie sporting cherry lips and beaded dangler earrings.

The multi-talented star who owns a production house put out a morning selfie on Instagram wherein she is seen sporting a white collared top, flaunting her cherry red lips and dangler earrings as she embraces her peach glow in the sheer sunlight, while her shiny curls bounce the sunshine.

Along with the picture, the 'The Sky Is Pink' actor wrote, "A cherry lip and sunshine...maybe even a earring...I'm feeling adventurous."

On sharing the gorgeous selfie, the Chopra received heaps of praises from fans and celebrity followers, and the post reached more than 1.9 lakh likes including one for Sussanne Khan.

Model Masaba Gupta also chimed in the comment section and adored the beauty of the 'Baywatch' star writing, "Stunning" with a heart emoticon.

Currently, the actor is quarantined in her California house along with singer and husband Nick Jonas and has been quite active on social media.

Earlier, Priyanka recalled her parents' service in the Indian Army as America observed Memorial Day, and the 37-year-old actor dug out an old picture of her parents in uniform and posted it on Instagram.

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News Network
March 19,2020

New Delhi, Mar 19: Days after being diagnosed with COVID-19, 'Oblivion' actor Olga Kurylenko said that she is better as her fever has now gone.

The 40-year-old actor took to Instagram to share the health update with a picture of herself wearing a face mask.

"Hello everyone! I'm feeling better today. My fever is gone! I hear people can't figure out where I currently am. I'm in London!," she wrote in the caption.

The 'Quantum of Solace' actor also shared details about coronavirus with her Instafam.

"How do I know it's coronavirus and not just a flu? I did a test for coronavirus which came back positive. What are the medicines that doctors prescribed as treatment? NONE!" she wrote.

"I was told to take paracetamol in case my fever was too high and if I was in too much pain. However, I do take vitamins and supplements. Please note that these vitamins do NOT cure coronavirus but only help the immune system be stronger in order to fight!" Kurylenko added.

She also shared a detailed list of medicines that she is taking to deal with the condition.

The 'Oblivion' actor joined the growing list of entertainment figures who have contracted the highly contagious virus on Monday.

Other Hollywood personalities who were earlier diagnosed with COVID-19 are superstar couple Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson. The celebrity couple has been discharged from the hospital and are under quarantine at their home.

Other celebrities that are currently battling with the coronavirus are music producer Andrew Watt, 'Game of Thrones' actor Kristofer Hivju, and actor Idris Elba.

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News Network
June 16,2020

Mumbai, Jun 16: Filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee remembers Sushant Singh Rajput as a dance loving 'chhokra' from an engineering college who, having made it in Bollywood, was “enthused, sincere and totally focused” on his craft.

Banerjeee said the actor always had “a book or two” with him and took pride in the fact that he had an “inner intellectual life away from the shallower aspects of showbiz”.

Rajput was found dead in his Bandra apartment on Sunday at the age of 34, leaving his friends, colleagues and collaborators in a state of shock.

The Patna-born actor and the director worked together in 2015 film "Detective Byomkesh Bakshy!" when Rajput was a relative newcomer in the industry. Banerjee says it was Rajput's vulnerability and willingness to do different that made him stand out for the role.

In an interview with news agency, the filmmaker looks back at Rajput's sincerity, his love for science and astronomy and how an outsider has to work harder than a "mediocre, unmotivated and entitled establishment elite" to succeed in Bollywood.

Excerpts:

You worked with Sushant when he was less than two-year-old in the film industry. What struck you the most in him to cast as Detective Byomkesh Bakshy?

Banerjee: His vulnerability and intensity and the ambition to do different things than the usual Bollywood stuff.

What were your memories of Sushant- the actor and the person?

Banerjee: As an actor he would tense himself up for the scene and then completely plunge in take after take. He would put a lot of value on preparation. He would be up the previous night of the shoot, reading the scene and making notes and land up on the sets all raring to go.

He would be on, ready and give his hundred per cent throughout the shoot of Byomkesh - no matter how hard or long the day. The unit did not really have to worry about him - considering he was the star. That's what I remember - a total pro, enthused, sincere and totally focused.

As a person, he seemed to me a happy dance loving 'chhokra' from an engineering college who had made it in showbiz and now was serious about acting. He was deeply nostalgic about his carefree student days in Delhi. We used to laugh a lot - I remember that quite clearly.

Sushant's friends say that he spoke more about books and his love for astronomy than films and their fate, which is rare for an actor in the industry. Do you also remember him that way?

Banerjee: Totally true. He was a science and astronomy nut. Always had a book or two with him - and was proud of the fact that he had an inner intellectual life away from the shallower aspects of showbiz. I recognized it as a reflex, protective action to prevent the Bollywood swamp sucking him in totally. And also an identity he wanted to protect and project.

Sushant's death has brought to the fore the struggles of outsiders and the alienation they often face from the nepotistic culture of the industry. Did you feel that Sushant was also fighting this battle despite being a successful actor?

Banerjee: We all fight it, day in and out - whether successful or failing. But the trick is to define that success and failure ourselves and not let the narrative constantly forced by the establishment to get to you. Those who know this weather the storm and ultimately survive and thrive.

The biggest unfairness in all this is that it takes double the talent, energy and hard work for an outsider to convince the audience and the industry that he or she is as safe a box office bet as a mediocre, unmotivated and entitled establishment elite.

The media colludes in this by wallowing in family, coterie and celebrity worship. This leads to deep anger and frustration. Those who can let this slide survive. Those who can't - those who hurt a little more or are vulnerable and impressionable - they are at risk.

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