US now aware of Indian cinema, its reach: Anil Kapoor

February 15, 2014

Anil_KapoorTampa Bay (Florida), Feb 15: The fact that the US has opened its doors to host the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards is testimony to the growing awareness about Indian cinema in that side of the world, says veteran actor Anil Kapoor, who has wide experience of both Bollywood and Hollywood.

The 15th edition of IIFA, a four-day event which celebrates the grandeur and glitz of Hindi cinema, will be held in Tampa Bay in Florida this April. Preparations are on in full swing to make the stars feel at home and to bring fans closer to their big screen idols.

Anil, who was here recently to spread a word about the event and who was accompanied by his team to scout for locations for the shooting of "Saat Hindustanis", his next movie production here, believes that there`s a "sense of business" in everything that happens in the US.

"One of the reasons that IIFA is happening in the US is because there is awareness about Indian cinema, which is popularly identified here (in the US) as Bollywood," Anil said in an interview here.

"People here are now more aware of what Indian cinema is than before. They also know the reach of Indian cinema. They know how in one stroke so many eyeballs are going to watch the IIFA.

"Also, they know about the kind of films we make, the amount of movies we do and the way that our film business is increasing. It is these things that are making a difference," added the 57-year-old, who feels hosting the event is a lucrative "opportunity" for the country.

"Over 1.2 billion Indians will watch the show and it will spread awareness about the region to the Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Asians and to the Indian diaspora all over the world. The one stroke through the awards will make so many people aware of Tampa Bay.

"So, there is a sense of business involved in IIFA and that`s why they are going all out to host us," he said.

"It`s give and take," added the actor-producer, who also shared how officials at Tampa Bay are going all out to support and encourage his idea of shooting his next home banner production at picturesque locales in the culturally rich city in Florida.

Anil already has a decent brush with Hollywood, and he toes Frank Sinatra`s 1980 line - "If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere" in context with the US.

"America is America. Once you succeed here, then you make a great impact, especially as far as showbiz is concerned. It has a tremendous impact," he said.

It was almost after three decades of entertaining movie buffs in the Hindi film industry with comical, action-oriented, romantic and dramatic roles that Anil was cast as a quizmaster in Danny Boyle`s 2008 big screen feast "Slumdog Millionaire". The fact that it won the coveted Academy Awards in the following year was a bonus.

What followed thence were more offers for Anil in the west - a part in the eighth season of the Kiefer Sutherland-starrer TV series "24" and a cameo in Tom Cruise`s actioner "Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol".

Are there any new international projects in the offing?

"So far everything has gone well as far as my international assignments go. So if I do anything next, hopefully that also does good, if not better," he said in his inimitable suave style.

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July 24,2020

New Delhi, Jul 24: With more than 50 movies under her credits and being one of the few actors from Bollywood to make a strong imprint in Hollywood, actor Priyanka Chopra started it all by winning Miss India 2000 pageant.

Chopra who is currently celebrating the completion of 20 years in the entertainment industry, on Friday looked back and reacted to the video where she was crowned as Miss India.
The' Fashion' actor shared a video on Instagram, where she is seen watching the throwback video. The 'Dostana' actor recalled winning the title and joked about her sense of style and poses back then.

Sharing the reaction video, she wrote: "Alright guys, we're doing this! I'm watching footage from my Miss India pageant in 2000! This is where it all began... If you've never seen these before, you are in for quite a treat. #20in2020 @feminamissindia."

Throughout the video, the 'Gunday' actor is seen casually commenting on her hairstyle, enacting her own movement on stage, and also recalled her luscious hair, which she now wonders where it all got lost.

However, she took a moment to appreciate the "clever and profound" answer she gave for the question that won her the crown.

While watching the winning moment, the 'Don' star noted how she never expected to win it. She explained that she had a train booked as she was to go back and take her board exams.

Going through the old photographs that run parallel to the video, she says: "These pictures are hard to look at." Pausing at a particular photograph, she laughs and says, "I don't even know how to do that pose."

"Well, this is where everything started. These are the pictures that sent me to Tinseltown," said the actor towards the end of the video.

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April 16,2020

New Delhi, Apr 16: Actor Salman Khan on Thursday put out a sharp message to the "jokers" who were flouting government-imposed guidelines and venturing out during the ongoing lockdown, putting at risk countless lives to the deadly coronavirus.

In his characteristic 'Bhai' style, Salman also appealed to people to not attack doctors, nurses and police personnel who are in the frontline of the battle against COVID-19.

In a 10-minute hard hitting video shared on Instagram he begins with a "Hello, namaste, salaam, sasriyakaal, Kem Cho' in typical TV reality show 'Big Boss' style and goes on to say 'Zindagi ka Bigg Boss' has begun with the entire country staying in lockdown mode at home.
He said he had taken a two-day "chhutti" (leave) but "This corona, COVID-19 has given everyone a 'chutti'."

Khan said he was staying at his farmhouse in Panvel near Mumbai with his family including his mother, two sisters their children and some other people who had come to visit.

In the video he said that he had sent a friend to get rations for the family from a village around five kilometres away. He recounted that the police stopped him and in the process, his friend took off the mask to speak to the policeman who reprimanded him and asked him to put the mask back on. Salman said that he too chided his friend for doing such a thing.

"Don't go out, don't do social gatherings, stay with your family, the government has said if you are doing namaaz, do it at home, do pooja at home..." the actor said, adding that those who had a wish to kill their families should step out.
"Go out get your ration, nobody is stopping you, go nearby but wear your masks, your gloves, go alone," the actor said underlining that the government has assured that everybody will get ration.

The actor said that whoever does not understand a coronavirus positive patient's pain is anti-human.

He pointed out that doctors, nurses and policemen are putting in long hours to curb the spread of coronavirus and urged people to respect their work and stay inside.

The actor said policemen would not have taken action and hit people if they followed guidelines and stayed inside. "If you weren't going out with friends, police wouldn't have hit you. Do you think police are enjoying it?," he asked.

"Doctors and nurses are working to save your lives and what do you do? You started pelting stones at them? Those who have been diagnosed with coronavirus, are running away from the hospitals. Where are you running? Towards life or death?," he questioned in his video.

The 'Dabangg 2' star appreciated the efforts by the frontline warriors and said, "the virus that started in China is over in China now, but because of a few jokers, the whole of India will sit at home for a long time."

The 54-year-old star said that he was aware of many people who wouldn't come out of their homes earlier but have started doing so since they've been asked to not go out.

"You are putting everyone's lives at risk," the Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor said.

Salman concluded by urging people to respect the work of the doctors, nurses, police personnel and those who work in banks, take care to ensure that the disease does not spread further and pray that it does not come to a situation where the military has to be called in to stop people from doing the wrong thing.

Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri took to Twitter to shared the video message. "Very well said @BeingSalmanKhan I hope wisdom prevails everywhere," he tweeted.

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July 20,2020

New Delhi, Jul 20: On the occasion of International Chess Day, former Miss World and actor Manushi Chhillar enjoyed a game of chess with her father Dr Mitra Basu Chhillar and revealed through an Instagram post that she is a "competitive" board game player.

The 23-year-old actor posted a picture of herself and her dad on Instagram where the two are seen deeply concentrating on the game.

"I'm the competitive one, he's the mind reader. Irrespective of who loses, I know he always wins!#InternationalChessDay."

Further elaborating on the importance of playing chess, Manushi who once pursued a career in medicine stressed that chess helps in stretching the human mind in terms of strategy and imagination.

"Chess stretches your mind in terms of strategy and imagination because you really have to outwit your opponent at any cost. 

Playing chess with my dad is something that I have always loved doing because he's the most unpredictable, intelligent, and sharpest person I've ever played with," said Chhillar.

The 23-year-old actor is gearing up for her debut in Yash Raj Films' 'Prithviraj' where she will be seen opposite actor Akshay Kumar.

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