Oscar winner back in India for her next film

November 18, 2014

Oscar winnerNew Delhi, Nov 18: Six years after her documentary Smile Pinki a story of a child with cleft lip got her the Oscar, director Megan Mylan is back in India with another short film After My Garden Grows.

Supported by women and child development (WCD) ministry, it is another India-based story about a teenage girl Monica in rural Bengal seeking independence from childhood marriage by growing a rooftop vegetable garden.

“Smile Pinki was a great experience and I always wanted to come back to India for my next film. I hope Indians see it and feel proud. It is a brilliant story,” said the Manhattan girl who has been hoping to and fro from India and Manhattan for her film and her two-year-old son.

Mylan’s 10 minute film is not just about child marriage but showcases other problems in India like poverty, maternal health, strategies to overcome hunger and economic development.

In the movie After My Garden Grows, Monika shuns the idea of becoming a child bride by growing her own garden, thereby becoming an asset to the family.

The family had married the older sister of Monica, who faced maternal problems etc. However, Monica decided for herself that it was not the path for her.

In the story later, Monica goes to the market and made Rs 60, a significant contribution to the family. “The film shows that she is not only bringing food to the table. She is back into the school,” Mylan said.

While, Oscar was a “confidence builder” for Mylan, she is not eyeing or expecting the Oscar award. “I am not expecting an 0scar. I think if you try and make a film for an award, you make a bad film,’’ said Mylan.

Attracted to ideas of social change and stories about people, Mylan’s favourite from the B- town is Aamir Khan.

“I have watched Lagaan and sometimes watch Satyamev Jayate. His idea to bring forward ordinary people on the fore is immense,” she added. Mylan’s film is helped by Sundance Film Institute in partnership with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, finds support from WCD, Aamir Khan, Shadi.com, PVR and designer Sabyasachi.

“I feel privledged to share the story. Hope the message goes wide and clear to many others,” she added.

Mylan now plans to produce short stories on gender issues with the directors from India, Bangladesh and Nepal. She is also planning a documentary on how Japan cares for its elders.

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News Network
April 6,2020

New Delhi, April 6: Acknowledging on being scared and talking of not seeing his family for three weeks, actor Salman Khan along with nephew Nirvaan on Sunday shared their lockdown experience in a video message.

The 54-year-old star, without disclosing where the actor actually is, shared a video message on Twitter along with his brother Sohail Khan's son, Nirvaan.

Salman began the one-minute and 26-seconds long video, by saying: "We came here for a few days and now we're stuck and scared"

The 'Bharat' actor then introduced Nirvaan and asked him "How long has it been since you saw your father?", to which Nirvaan replied, "It must have been three weeks."

"I have not seen my father for three weeks. We are here and he is alone at home," Salman added.

The 'Sultan' actor then asks the boy: "You remember the film dialogue, 'the one who got scared, died.' It does not apply here in this situation. We are scared and bravely we admit that we are scared. Please don't be brave in this situation."

Nirvaan also further requested everybody to stay safe and maintain social-distance.

"I think it's better for everyone to stay home, avoid contact and I think the longer we stay indoors the faster this ends," he added.

The 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' star concluded the video by saying: "The one who got afraid saved himself and lives of others around him. Moral of the story, 'We're all scared'."

Urging people to take the government's advisory of self-isolation seriously amid the rising cases of coronavirus in the country, the megastar had earlier shared a video message for fans. 

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Agencies
August 9,2020

Mumbai, Aug 9:The questioning of Rhea Chakraborty's brother Showik by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), in connection with the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, continued till around 6:30 am on Sunday, according to sources in the ED.

It is noteworthy that Showik Chakraborty had reached the ED office at around 12 pm on Saturday afternoon, following which the questioning by the investigative agency's officials went on for about 18 hours.

Tomorrow on August 10, Rhea, alongwith her father, Indrajit Chakraborty, are to be questioned by the ED officials.

Showik is named in the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Rhea was earlier questioned by the ED at its office in Mumbai in connection with the case. The agency also questioned Showik and Shruti Modi, former business manager of Rajput.

According to sources in the investigation agency, the officials have got hold of electronic evidence in connection with the case and they are also searching for phone records of conversations between Rhea and her father and brother.

The ED had already questioned Rhea once on Saturday, following which she was called back on Monday.

Meanwhile, CBI has collected documents related to the actor's death from Bihar Police. The ED has also asked the late actor's friend, Siddharth Pithani, to appear before the agency on August 8.

The agency had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in the case after FIR was filed by KK Singh, the late actor's father, against Rhea in Bihar on July 28.
The ED earlier interrogated Samuel Miranda, an associate of Rhea over the latter's properties, sources said.

The investigating agency has registered a case against six accused including Rhea in connection with Rajput's death.

Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14.

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News Network
June 24,2020

New Delhi, Jun 24: Actor Bhumi Pednekar supported migrant labourers traveling long distances amid the coronavirus pandemic, in a rather unique way- by donating footwear to them.

The gut-wrenching images of migrants walking barefoot on the roads made the 'Pati Patni Aur Woh' actor take the plunge to help them.

Pednekar joined hands with a footwear company and a volunteer-based non-government organisation - The Robin Hood Army - to help the underprivileged with footwear.

The actor helped over 1000 migrant labourers in and around Ghaziabad in Murad Nagar, Govindpuram, Vijay Nagar, and distributed footwear among men and women across age-groups.

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