Priyanka Chopra, Freida Pinto launch Girl Rising India campaign in Los Angeles

February 22, 2015

Washington, Feb 22: At a star-studded show, Indian actress Freida Pinto and Priyanka Chopra launched a new campaign 'Girl Rising India' campaign which is aimed at changing the lives of girls across the country.

India campaign Angeles

Through powerful storytelling and visible advocacy, Girl Rising's India campaign is designed to spark grassroot, community-led change for girls, a media release said on Saturday.

"The time has come where instead of questioning why we should educate girls, we should be asking why not. When we know that educating a girl can change the world, why wait? With Girl Rising we will change that," said Freida.

"I've been a part of the Girl Rising campaign since inception and am honoured to be able to bring this powerful idea to India. If more girls are educated, all of India stands to gain," said Priyanka.

Organised by Vanity Fair and L'Oreal Paris, the kick-off event for Girl Rising's India campaign was a night of star-studded glitz on Sunset Boulevard. The evening, part of the lead-up to the Academy Awards, celebrated - and benefited - a ground-breaking film that will change the lives of girls across India.

The film 'Girl Rising India' harnesses the talents of Bollywood's biggest stars in a Hindi version of the original film, due to release across India in 2015.

In a first-of-its kind collaboration, Bollywood stars are coming together, joining forces with corporate leaders and government, in a national movement to raise awareness about the importance of educating and valuing girls, the release said.

Girl Rising India's Producer, US Advisory Board chair, and Assoc. Professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, Dr Amita Vyas is leading engagement across the United States.

"Girl Rising touches the spirit and soul of people around the world who are inspired and committed to improving the well-being of girls in India. The India Campaign gives all of us an incredible opportunity to support meaningful high-impact community led initiatives, and provides a powerful platform to harness the intellect, energy, and commitment of all here in the US including the Indian diaspora," Vyas said.

"There is a growing understanding across India that educating girls is vital to economic and social progress, and that addressing long-standing discrimination against the rights of girls is a national imperative," said Holly Gordon, co-founder, Girl Rising.

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Agencies
May 17,2020

Mumbai, May 17: TV actor Manmeet Grewal, who worked on shows like "Aadat Se Majboor" and "Kuldeepak", committed suicide after struggling with dwindling finances amid lockdown, family friend-producer Manjit Singh Rajput said.

Grewal, who was originally from Punjab, hanged himself on Friday night at his Kharghar residence here where he lived with his wife. He was 32.

Rajput, who had known Grewal for nearly seven years, said the actor was facing "financial crisis" and wasn't able to earn due to the lockdown. 

"He was going through a major financial issue and he was also in depression. The added pressure of not being able to repay loans amid this (no work phase) got to him. His wife is completely shocked and devastated," Rajput told PTI.

The producer said last rites of the actor were performed on Saturday. 

Grewal was working on projects like a webseries and some commercials, which were put on hold due to the nationwide lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

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Agencies
January 5,2020

Los Angeles: Kevin Feige may have confirmed that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will be getting its first transgender superhero but the Marvel Studios has said there is no definite timeline for that.

During a Q&A at the New York Film Academy, a fan had asked Feige about whether the studio plans to introduce LGBTQ characters into the MCU, "specifically the trans characters".

To this, the Marvel Studios president had replied, "Yes, absolutely, yes... And very soon. In a movie that we're shooting right now."

But sources in the company clarified to Variety that Feige only confirmed the first part of the comments that a trans character will appear in the MCU in future but he did not give a time period.

Though Feige did not reveal the name of the project that will introduce a LGBTQ character, fans speculate that he may have been referring to "The Eternals".

The film, which will feature an ensemble cast of Richard Madden, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Kit Harington and others, is set to unveil a gay superhero in the MCU.

Marvel Studios has been making efforts to incorporate more diversity in its films after the success of "Black Panther", which featured a virtually all-black cast, and its first woman-fronted superhero movie "Captain Marvel".

"Avengers: Endgame", which became the highest grossing movie of all-time, had featured the MCU's first gay character, a cameo by director Joe Russo.

In 2020, the studio has two releases -- Scarlett Johansson-starrer "Black Widow" and "The Eternals" -- which have been helmed by women directors.

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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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