Pahlaj Nihalani defends U/A rating for ‘The Jungle Book’

April 8, 2016

Mumbai, Apr 8: Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief Pahlaj Nihalani wonders why people, especially film producer Mukesh Bhatt, are trashing the board’s decision to give “The Jungle Book” a U/A certificate.

jungle

In an interview, here’s what Nihalani had to say:

Q. Mukesh Bhatt feels the CBFC belongs in the garbage can?

Many people would have the same opinion about some of the films he produces. It’s all a matter of perception.

Q. But why does he suddenly have these hate pangs about the CBFC? Because you gave a ‘U/A’ certification to the beloved children’s story “The Jungle Book”?

Correction. I didn’t. The CBFC, an organisation appointed by the ministry Of information and broadcasting, of which I happen to be the chairperson, thought it sensible and wise to grant ‘The Jungle Book’ a ‘U/A’certificate.

Q. But your board member Mr. Ashoke Pandit has been quoted as saying the decision was yours, not the CBFC’s?

I have nothing to say about his comments. But as a board member, he is not allowed to give out confidential information on a public platform, specially when it is not true.

Q. Coming back to Mukesh Bhatt’s objections to the ‘U/A’ for “The Jungle Book”…

Why is he talking about others’ films? Didn’t have his own release “Love Games” this Friday? Why is he so bothered about certification for “The Jungle Book” when the producer, Siddharth Roy Kapur, has gone on record to say he has no problem with ‘U/A’ for “The Jungle Book”. And there’s one thing that people opposed to the ‘U/A’ certification for “The Jungle Book” need to realise.

Q. What is that?

The film has been given the same rating all over the world in the UK, US, Canada, the Philippines. In the US and UK, it has been given a ‘PG’, parental guidance rating, which is the equivalent of our ‘U/A’. Would Mukesh Bhatt like to throw the American and British censor board in the garbage can as well?

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Agencies
July 31,2020

Mumbai, Jul 31: Maharashtra Leader of Opposition and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that the Enforcement Directorate should carry out an investigation in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide case.

"There is a huge public sentiment about handing over #SushantSinghRajput case to CBI but looking at the reluctance of State Government, atleast @dir_ed ED can register an ECIR since misappropriation and money laundering angle has come out," tweeted Fadnavis.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that no FIR had been registered in Maharashtra yet and that the case must be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"There is a confrontation between two states and there has been no FIR registered yet in Maharashtra. Chirag (Paswan) had spoken to CM Thackeray that there should be CBI probe. All political leaders are demanding for it. It should be handed over to CBI," Paswan said.

A team of the Bihar Police that arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday, recorded statements of two persons, including actor Sushant Singh Rajput's sister, on Wednesday in connection with the case.

An FIR was filed by Sushant Singh Rajput's father against actor Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar on Tuesday.

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

According to the Maharashtra Police, statements of 41 people, including filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, film critic Rajeev Masand, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and filmmaker Aditya Chopra have been recorded in the investigation so far.

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News Network
June 24,2020

Mumbai, Jun 24: Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan has been admitted to a hospital here after she complained of breathing problems.

According to a source close to her family, the 71-year old choreographer was rushed to Guru Nanak Hospital in Bandra on Saturday.

Following her hospitalisation, a mandatory Covid-19 test was done, which turned out to be negative.

"She is fine now and recovering. She had breathing issues and was taken to hospital for that. Her Covid test was done which turned out negative. She doesn't have any symptoms. She is likely to be discharged in a day or two," the source told PTI.

In a career spanning over four decades, Khan is credited with choreographing more than 2,000 songs.

The three-time National Award winner has choreographed for some of the most memorable tracks, including "Dola Re Dola" from Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Devdas", "Ek Do Teen" from Madhuri Dixit-starrer "Tezaab" and "Ye Ishq Haaye" from "Jab We Met" in 2007.

She last choreographed for "Tabaah Hogaye", featuring Madhuri from filmmaker Karan Johar's production "Kalank" in 2019.

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News Network
January 9,2020

Los Angeles, Jan 9: Actors Salma Hayek and Tiffany Haddish are hopeful about the future for women in Hollywood and now cinema is making films about women because the audience was "neglected".

The duo along with Rose Byrne star in Like a Boss, a comedy directed by Miguel Arteta, which follows best friends Mia and Mel (Haddish and Byrne) who join forces to run their own boutique cosmetics company.

When the prospect of a big buyout offer from a notorious titan of the beauty industry (Hayek) tempts them, their lifelong bond - and their business - is put in jeopardy.

Hayek said she is happy with the increase in female-driven films in Hollywood.

"We're on the right path. And we're not going to stop," the actor told Variety.

"What I can tell you is that a lot more women are directing and acting and writing and producing. And there are a lot more movies made about women and for women because the audience was neglected, she said.

She was speaking at the premiere of the film in New York.

Haddish added that the mantle for change shouldn't be left to the traditional decision-makers.

To get things, one has to sometimes make noise, the actor-author said.

"It's about us putting in the work and creating the projects and creating the opportunities in order to do those things to make it better. I sit back and I listen to people talk sometimes, saying, 'They're not letting us; they're not giving it to us.' Why do we have to ask permission? Why can't we just start putting it together? If they want to come on board with it, come on board. And if not, oh well," Haddish said.

"I'm about creating an opportunity. People say I'm loud and obnoxious, but sometimes it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the oil and gets things done," she added.

The comedy comes on the heels of a year gone by in cinema that featured female protagonists in films like Little Women and Captain Marvel.

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