It’s easy to call me a Modi Bhakt: Anupam Kher

October 16, 2015

Mumbai, Oct 16: Actor Anupam Kher’s view about politics being the motivation behind writers returning their Sahitya Akademi awards to register their protest against growing intolerance towards liberals, has met with a backlash lately. But the actor does not seem to mind.

anupam

The 60-year-old says that his intention of speaking up was never to get anyone to agree with him. “I did not speak up to get a reaction from people. I spoke as I strongly felt about it. It is easy for trolls to tag me as a Modi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) bhakt. But if you see my career, I have always spoken up about things that I believe in.”

Kher says that this is not the first time that something like this has happened. “These writers got the awards many years ago and for all these years they have not noticed that something wrong is happening in the country and then suddenly they discover that we are going through the dark ages! We have seen worse periods. We have gone through Emergency (1975), that was the darkest period of independent India, the Muzaffarnagar riots — those were the dark areas. Why did they not return their awards then? Why should this be dark? Today, we are flourishing. There is amazing progress happening around us. Our Prime Minister has managed to get India on the global level,” he says.

On the point about the protesting writers claiming that they no freedom of expression, Kher says, “They obviously have the freedom because they are talking freely on news channels. If their freedom was curtailed, they would not be sitting and criticising the Prime Minister on national television. This is the biggest contradiction in itself.”

Kher then goes on to say, “The question is that people don’t like to leave their comfort zone and get into a controversy. I feel that these are the people who embarrass us internationally and go out and speak about our internal matters. I have heard author Arundhati Roy’s speeches abroad and it is disgusting the way she speaks about India, poverty, and the Prime Minister. No other citizen of any other country will go to another country and talk so badly.”

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Agencies
July 20,2020

Los Angeles, Jul 20: Hollywood stars Robert Downey Jr and Tom Holland have joined their "Avengers: Endgame" co-star Chris Evans in sending sweet messages to a young boy who saved his sister from a dog attack.

Six-year-old Bridger saved his four-year-old sister on July 9 by standing between her and a charging dog.

According to Nicole Noel Walker, his aunt, the child received 90 stitches after getting bitten by the canine.

After Walker reached out to the Avengers team through an Instagram post, Evans, in a video message, promised to send Bridger, an avid Avengers fan, "an authentic Captain America shield".

Now the 'Iron-Man' star promised he will gift Bridger something "special" on his next birthday.

"Bridger, you're a rockstar. I hear (Captain America) sent a shield your way. I'm gonna do one better, you call me on your next birthday. I got something special for you. By the way, that's a promise. A promise beats a shield," Downey Jr said.

Holland, meanwhile, spoke to Bridger on a video call and invited him to come to the sets of the next "Spider-Man" film.

"If you ever want to come to set and hang out, and see the Spider-Man suit up close, and hang out with us, you're always welcome. I want to say you are so brave, mate. We are all so proud of you, and your little sister is so lucky to have someone like you," he added.

Other Marvel stars Mark Ruffalo and Brie Larson, Hollywood star Anne Hathaway, "The Flash" series stars Grant Gustin and Robbie Amell also praised Bridger's bravery.

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Agencies
January 6,2020

Kochi, Jan 6: A trial court on Monday framed charges against Malayalam film actor Dileep and other accused in the case of alleged abduction and molestation of a south Indian actress in 2017.

The actor and nine other accused were present in the additional special sessions court in Ernakulamwhen the charges were framed against them.

All of them have denied the charges.

On Saturday, the Court had dismissed a plea filed by Dileep, seeking to exclude him from the list of accused.

The Court had admitted the prosecution argument that there is prima facie evidence against him in the crime and dismissed the plea of the actor, who is eighth accused in the case.

The court had also not allowed a plea by the actor to grant him 10 days time to file the appeal in a higher court in the light of the Supreme Court order in November 2019 that the trial should be completed in six months.

The court is hearing the case in-camera.

On December 19, Dileep, along with his lawyers and a technical expert, had examined the contents of the electronic records at the closed room of the court.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed that the actor be allowed to inspect the records to enable him to present an effective defence during the trial.

In February 2017, the actress was allegedly abducted and molested by the accused.

Seven people, including the key accused 'Pulsar' Suni were arrested in connection with the actress' abduction case.

There are 10 accused in the case.

The entire act had allegedly taken place in a moving vehicle, which was filmed by the accused to blackmail her.

Dileep was subsequently arrested and arrayed as an accused in connection with offences under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and IT Act.

The top court had directed that the trial in case be concluded expeditiously, preferably within six months from the date of the judgement.

A woman judge is hearing the case.

In February 2019, the High Court, while considering a plea seeking to transfer the case to a Sessions Court headed by a woman judge to conduct the trial, had ordered the CBI special court Judge-III Ernakulam Honey M Varghese to complete the trial expeditiously.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Mumbai, Jan 9: Actor Juhi Chawla on Wednesday said instead of constantly criticising the government, one should reflect on own conduct and talk about uniting rather than dividing.

The actor attended an event which aimed to counter "Free Kashmir (narrative), anti-India slogans, false propaganda and clear the misconception."

Juhi said as artistes, it's unfair to be questioned about incidents "just for a reaction" when they should be given time to truly understand the situation.

"We are going to work, thinking how to execute our task, then some incident happens somewhere and suddenly the media asks, 'what do you think about this?' We haven't understood the matter, people haven't understood the matter but you need a reaction.

"Let people understand, whether it's NRC or CAA, and what's is it about, why is this being talked about," Juhi told reporters.

The actor said it is sad that people talk about division more than unity.

"Everyone is quick to talk about dividing. Why don't we talk about uniting? Why does everyone say 'what is the government doing, why is it doing this?' but I say if you point one finger there then three fingers are at you.

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