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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News Network
June 16,2020

Mumbai, Jun 16: In the wake of Sushant Singh Rajput's death, veteran actor Deepti Naval has opened up about her struggle with depression and suicidal thoughts in the early 90s.

Naval shared a poem that she wrote during her struggle with depression on her Facebook page after paying tributes to Rajput, who was found hanging in his Bandra apartment on Sunday at the age of 34.

According to a police official, Mumbai Police found out during the probe that the actor was under medication for depression

"Dark days these... So much has been happening - mind has come to a point of stillness... Or rather numbness. Today I feel like sharing a poem I wrote back in the years when I was fighting depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts - Yes, fighting... and like how," Naval wrote.

The 68-year-old actor made her debut with Shyam Benegal's 1978 "Junoon" and went on to feature in films like "Chashme Buddoor", "Ankahee", "Mirch Masala", Saath Saath among others in the 80s.

Naval's poem, titled "Black Wind", begins by describing how anxiety engulfs a person.

"Anxiety grips me with both hands, spiked claws dig deep into my soul I gasp for breath and stagger around sharp corners of my single bed.."

In the poem, Naval talks about fighting suicidal thoughts and depression, describing it as a "ghoulish lust" she won't succumb to.

"The telephone rings... no, it stops...God damn! Why don't anyone speak? A voice, Just a human voice In this shameless, pitiless Abyss of the night - gloom deepens into darkness, turns purple I feel dark inside."

The actor ends by writing that she will survive the night, its "deathly design" and fight.

"The world's a snake pit, so let it be! I dare the devil to get the better of me! Deepti Naval, Night of July 28, 1991."

In an interview with PTI last year, Naval had mentioned how acting assignments started to thin in the late 90s and as a "serious actor" it was "devastating" to be ignored.

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News Network
March 28,2020

Chennai, Mar 28: Chennai City Corporation personnel stuck a home quarantine sticker at the office of actor-politician Kamal Haasan's Makkal Needhi Maiam office on Saturday, leading to speculation that the matinee star was quarantined for the coronavirus.

While there was speculation if Kamal Haasan was quarantined, the Greater Chennai Corporation said their staffers pasted the sticker on the premises because actress Gautami Tadimalli "returned from Dubai recently and her passport has this address (Eldams Road in upscale Alwarpet)."

The present residence of the actress was not known immediately.

The sticker read, "We are in home quarantine to safeguard ourselves and Chennai from the coronavirus." It was removed soon, an official said, declining to elaborate.

Kamal Haasan clarified in a statement that he was not quarantined.

"Based on the notice stuck outside my house, news has been spread saying that I have been quarantined. But most of you already know that I have not been living there for the past few years and the Makkal Needhi Maiam party office has been functioning from there," he said.

Further, the actor said, the news that he has been quarantined "is not true."

As a precautionary measure, he has been maintaining social distancing, he said.

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Agencies
May 18,2020

Muzaffarnagar, May 18: Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his family has been quarantined for 14 days in his house in Budhana in Muzaffarnagar district.

The actor and his family underwent medical screening and have tested negative for Coronavirus.

The actor reached his home on May 15 after taking a travel pass. He and his family have been asked to remain in home quarantine till May 25.

His mother, brother and sister-in-law also made the journey with him in his private vehicle.

The actor told reporters that he underwent medical screenings at 25 points during his journey.

Kushalpal Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), Budhana police circle, said that the health officials had visited the home of the actor and ordered a 14-day quarantine for them.

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