Waheeda Rehman 'thrilled' with debut Centenary award at IFFI

November 21, 2013

Waheeda_Rehman

Panaji, Nov 21: Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman got a standing ovation as she received the inaugural Centenary Award for Indian Film Personality of the Year at the opening ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here.

The 77-year-old actress received a standing ovation as she was felicitated on-stage by Bollywood star Rani Mukerji in recognition of her unparalleled contribution to Indian cinema.

The Government of India has instituted the award to commemorate 100 years of Indian Cinema and Rehman said she is thrilled to be the first recipient of this prestigious honour.

"I am really humbled to receive such a great honour. I would like to thank the jury who suggested my name. I would like to thank all the people who I have worked with so far. My directors, producers, make-up artistes, technicians. Thank you for a wonderful journey," an emotional Rehman said after receiving the honour.

Rehman, who is known for her memorable performance in classics like 'Pyaasa', 'Kaagaz Ke Phool', 'Guide' and 'Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam', was awarded with a citation, a certificate, a medal (silver peacock), a shawl and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.

Several Bollywood stars, who attended the glitzy ceremony, congratulated the Rehman for her her long innings in cinema.

Singer Asha Bhonsle, who has sung for Rehman in several movies, said the actress deserved this laurel.

"I am very happy for Waheedaji. She is getting this prestigious award and she completely deserves it," Bhonsle said, adding 'Bhawra bada nadan hain' is her favourite song by her picturised on Rehman in 'Sahib, Bibi Aur Ghulam'.

Filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, who has worked with the veteran actress in two films- 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Delhi 6', said, "On my ten best films list, more than half are movies starring Waheedaji. I had the opportunity to work with her

twice and I am so happy that she is receiving the honour."

Actor Prem Chopra, who has collaborated with Rehaman in the past, said he is happy to see Rehman receive such a prestigious honour.

"We have worked together several times and the last film we did together was 'Delhi 6'. I am happy for her. She is an artist who will be remembered all life long," Chopra said.

Young Bollywood actresses like Huma Qureshi and Alia Bhatt also congratulated the veteran actress.

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News Network
January 30,2020

Mumbai, Jan 30: A day after a woman filed a complaint against Ganesh Acharya alleging that he had forced her to watch pornography, actor Tanushree Dutta said Bollywood should boycott the choreographer.

A 33-year-old woman, an assistant choreographer, has written to the National Commission for Women (NCW) alleging that Acharya used to make her watch porn videos whenever she visited his office in suburban Andheri.

She also alleged that Acharya and two women assaulted her during a function of the Indian Film and Television Choreographers Association (IFTCA) held in suburban Andheri on Sunday. A complaint has been filed in this regard with Amboli police.

"It's time Bollywood and the other Indian film industries boycott choreographer Ganesh Acharya completely. Hiding behind the male superstars who work with this despicable man, he has been abusing his power and position to harass, bully and take advantage of vulnerable young newcomers to the industry," Dutta said in a statement here.

Dutta had alleged that her co-star Nana Patekar harassed and misbehaved with her while shooting for a song for their 2008 film "Horn Ok Pleasss", and Acharya, who was the choreographer, introduced new steps which were "intimate".

Recalling the trauma she faced, Tanushree said even though Acharya was party to all the harassment she faced on the 'Horn ok Pleasss" set, he went on to spoil her name and reputation.

"Nobody had any regard for me and how much I had suffered psychologically and financially because of the turmoil I went though due to these people. I left the industry because I was so scared and hurt over the atrocious treatment meted out to me on 'Horn ok Pleasss' set.

"I had worked very sincerely to get to where I got in life and so went in shock for many years, over the whole episode on that set almost 12 years ago, that led to an attack on my car. They didn't just break my car, they broke my spirit that day," Dutta said, in reference to the attack on her car in 2008.

She expressed her displeasure over how "leading men" and "heroes" of Bollywood continued working with Acharya, whose most recent work includes "Simmba", "Zero", "Sanju" among others.

"Even after all the information of fraud, non payment of dues, sexual harassment of dancers, bullying and intimidation and even physical abuse of dancers is coming out about Ganesh Acharya in the media, if the actors, directors and producers still work with him, it would mean that they themselves are engaging in such acts also.

"It's a warning to the film industry to stay the hell away from Ganesh Acharya otherwise your own reputation will be joined to his character. I'm sure many more girls and boys will come out about his misbehaviour and shady business, opening floodgates in the future," she added.

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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 20,2020

New Delhi, Jun 20: Taking cues from her own experience, actor Deepika Padukone on Saturday emphasised that people suffering from depression cannot 'snap out' of the mental health condition.

Continuing with her daily practice of posting mental health messages for people struggling with depression and other issues, Padukone posted the recent message on social media.

"Repeat after me: You cannot 'snap out' of depression," Padukone wrote on Twitter.

Padukone had started with the series of mental health quotes after the sudden demise of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who committed suicide by hanging himself at his Bandra residence in Mumbai.

The 'Tamasha' actor started voicing her opinion on the importance of mental health through her foundation 'The Live Love Laugh Foundation' (TLLLF) in June 2015. Through the platform, the actor keeps launching nationwide awareness as well as destigmatisation campaigns.

Meanwhile, scores of comments followed on her latest post on mental health, where netizens too shared their take on mental health.

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