Want to change lives of poor children: Rajinikanth's wife Latha

April 30, 2014

Rajinikanths_wife_Latha

New Delhi, Apr 30: Superstar Rajinikanth's wife Latha describes as "adventurous and exciting" her role as the southern matinee idol's life partner and says her "greatest satisfaction" will come from making a difference to the lives of poor children.

She first met the "The Boss" star when she was studying in Ethiraj College in Chennai and later, in the 1980s, the two tied the knot. Her life has since then been "wonderful" and more, she says.

"It's been wonderful, adventurous, exciting... At the same time, it's a huge responsibility to take on shoulders because life can never be normal. But at home, we are a normal family and we try to retain that," Latha said in an interview here.

She is mother of two daughters, Aishwarya and Soundarya, both of whom have taken filmmaking as a career choice.

Elegantly dressed in a bright traditional silk sari, Latha, talking about her "creative" daughters, said: "Both were artistic, but we were waiting to see in which direction they would go, and they have identified themselves as directors."

While Aishwarya made her directorial debut in 2012 with romantic thriller "3", which starred her husband Dhanush in the lead role, Soundarya's first film "Kochadaiiyaan", starring her father Rajinikanth, is coming out May 9. "Kochadaiiyaan" is set to deliver groundbreaking technology - the Rs.125 crore project is said to be the country's first motion-capture photo-realistic 3D animated movie.

Soundarya was honoured Tuesday with NDTV Indian of the year technical innovation in a film award for the same and the proud mother says "it is a wonderful feeling".

"It's a proud moment for us...," said Latha, a professional singer who has sung "Manapennin sathiyam" for Soundarya's first venture "Kochadaiiyaan".

Like her daughters, Latha also didn't take the acting route due to lack of interest and chose to be a singer.

"I've been a singer since childhood. I enjoy making music and singing. As far as acting goes, I don't think I'll do a cameo also. It's a big platform and already there is an actor in the family," said Latha, who mostly likes singing pop and folk numbers.

She might not like to act in movies or even star in films with her husband but she is not finicky about who is paired with Rajinikanth on the big screen - even if it means watching the 64-year-old act with Deepika Padukone, who is only 28 years old, in "Kochadaiiyaan".

"Soundarya has made her father look younger with the help of technology in the movie. So, Deepika will be seen acting with him as a 25-year-old. Also, age doesn't restrict an actor because it's for a movie. It's just a character," said the singer who answered all the questions smilingly despite being tired.

Her family is certainly important to her, but so is she to help the needy and she manages to take out time for them.

"I stay connected to my passion for children, music, education... We started The Ashram in 1991. Now, there are 2,500 students. There are two divisions - ICSE and state board.

The focus is on core development of a child. We work on their personality and aptitude development.

"If I can make a difference to children, that will be my greatest satisfaction," said the founder of the co-ed school offering education to students from class one to 12.

Latha also runs a foundation called 'I am for India' that works for social care, medical care, senior citizens, environment and more.

She has so much in her kitty, but there is not stopping her. To stay pink in health, she practises yoga and also meditates, hoping to continue maintaining a balance between her family and her passion.

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Want to change lives of poor children: Rajinikanth's wife Latha

New Delhi, Apr 30: Superstar Rajinikanth's wife Latha describes as "adventurous and exciting" her role as the southern matinee idol's life partner and says her "greatest satisfaction" will come from making a difference to the lives of poor children.

She first met the "The Boss" star when she was studying in Ethiraj College in Chennai and later, in the 1980s, the two tied the knot. Her life has since then been "wonderful" and more, she says.

"It's been wonderful, adventurous, exciting... At the same time, it's a huge responsibility to take on shoulders because life can never be normal. But at home, we are a normal family and we try to retain that," Latha said in an interview here.

She is mother of two daughters, Aishwarya and Soundarya, both of whom have taken filmmaking as a career choice.

Elegantly dressed in a bright traditional silk sari, Latha, talking about her "creative" daughters, said: "Both were artistic, but we were waiting to see in which direction they would go, and they have identified themselves as directors."

While Aishwarya made her directorial debut in 2012 with romantic thriller "3", which starred her husband Dhanush in the lead role, Soundarya's first film "Kochadaiiyaan", starring her father Rajinikanth, is coming out May 9. "Kochadaiiyaan" is set to deliver groundbreaking technology - the Rs.125 crore project is said to be the country's first motion-capture photo-realistic 3D animated movie.

Soundarya was honoured Tuesday with NDTV Indian of the year technical innovation in a film award for the same and the proud mother says "it is a wonderful feeling".

"It's a proud moment for us...," said Latha, a professional singer who has sung "Manapennin sathiyam" for Soundarya's first venture "Kochadaiiyaan".

Like her daughters, Latha also didn't take the acting route due to lack of interest and chose to be a singer.

"I've been a singer since childhood. I enjoy making music and singing. As far as acting goes, I don't think I'll do a cameo also. It's a big platform and already there is an actor in the family," said Latha, who mostly likes singing pop and folk numbers.

She might not like to act in movies or even star in films with her husband but she is not finicky about who is paired with Rajinikanth on the big screen - even if it means watching the 64-year-old act with Deepika Padukone, who is only 28 years old, in "Kochadaiiyaan".

"Soundarya has made her father look younger with the help of technology in the movie. So, Deepika will be seen acting with him as a 25-year-old. Also, age doesn't restrict an actor because it's for a movie. It's just a character," said the singer who answered all the questions smilingly despite being tired.

Her family is certainly important to her, but so is she to help the needy and she manages to take out time for them.

"I stay connected to my passion for children, music, education... We started The Ashram in 1991. Now, there are 2,500 students. There are two divisions - ICSE and state board.

The focus is on core development of a child. We work on their personality and aptitude development.

"If I can make a difference to children, that will be my greatest satisfaction," said the founder of the co-ed school offering education to students from class one to 12.

Latha also runs a foundation called 'I am for India' that works for social care, medical care, senior citizens, environment and more.

She has so much in her kitty, but there is not stopping her. To stay pink in health, she practises yoga and also meditates, hoping to continue maintaining a balance between her family and her passion.

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News Network
June 9,2020

New Delhi, Jun 9: Multiplex operator PVR on Monday said it has cut salary across various levels, laid off employees and deferred increments during the lockdown to mitigate adverse impact of COVID-19 on the business.

The company said at present it is not generating any revenue from exhibition business and related activities as cinemas across the country are shut following the directions from the regulatory authorities.

According to the company, closure of screens during the lockdown will have a significant negative impact on profitability and liquidity.

PVR has taken measures to reduce its personnel cost, including salary cuts across various levels in the organisation during the lockdown along with "reduction in headcount by way of layoffs/retrenchment" to mitigate the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the business.

Moreover, the board of the company, in its meeting held on Monday has also approved plan to raise Rs 300 crore through rights issue.

"Since Cinema Exhibition is the only business segment, company is currently not generating any revenue from admissions, food and beverage sales or other revenue and cash flow from operations," said PVR in an update.

Beginning from March 11, PVR started closing its screens in accordance with the order passed by various regulatory authorities and within a few days most of our cinemas across the country were shut down, it added.

The company will continue to incur committed cash outflows, including employee salary pay-outs, other overheads as well as payments for older working capital.

"This has and will have a significant negative impact on profitability and liquidity during lockdown and even thereafter till business comes to normalcy," it added.

Further, once the cinemas are re-opened, we may not be able to run our cinemas at normal capacity utilisation levels on account of social distancing measures that cinemas may be required to follow as well as health concerns that the patrons may have, the multiplex operator said.

"On account of this, our revenue and cash flow generation may be impeded even once we are allowed to restart operations," it added.

The company has also deferred decision on on increments to reduce its cost, it added.

PVR has also written to developers for waiving rental and CAM (Common Area Maintenance) charges for the lockdown period.

It is in discussion with developers for reducing rentals post re-opening and has invoked force majeure clause in its agreements with them.

Besides, the company has raised additional borrowings from existing bankers to shore up liquidity.

"As of March 31, 2020 the company had cash and bank balance of Rs 316 crore. As on June 7, 2020 cash and bank balance is Rs 227 crore (including undrawn bank lines)," it added.

Over reopening of theatres, PVR said that the government has come out with a phase-wise schedule.

In these guidelines cinema halls have been kept in the third phase of re-opening, where dates will be decided based on assessment of the situation.

"We are in continuous engagement with all regulatory authorities and hope to receive the necessary permissions for restarting opening in the near future," it added.

Currently PVR operates 845 screens in 176 properties in 71 cities.

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Agencies
August 5,2020

New Delhi, Aug 5: Playback singer S P Balasubrahmanyam on Wednesday confirmed testing positive for COVID-19 with 'mild' symptoms.

The 74-year-old musician shared the information through a video message posted on his official Facebook page.

In the video, the singer detailed about having a little "discomfort" for two days, stating he had chest congestion along with cold and on-off fever, which led him to get tested for the virus.

However, he also mentioned that he could have stayed at home in self-quarantine, as advised, but did not want to put his family in danger, and hence got admitted by his own choice, to recover quickly.

"I am in good hand, I am in good health. Nobody has to worry about this. The fever has subsided, and in two days I'll be discharged and I'll be home. Thanks for the concern," he said in the video message.

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News Network
January 22,2020

Patna, Jan 22: Actor Kangana Ranaut has expressedher desire to make a movie on Chandragupta, the shepherd-turned-emperor who founded the Maurya dynasty, noting that the film industry has “not done enough justice to our history”.

The national award winner was here to take part in a programme organised by the publishers of a leading Hindi daily where she performed a jig to the tunes of Bhojpuri songs along with actor-turned-politician Ravi Kishan before the duo participated in a question and answer session.  Replying to the questions posed by Kishan, who is also the BJP MP from Gorakhpur, Ranaut on Tuesday said it was her second trip to Bihar.

“The last time, I was here as a child though I have not yet got a chance to explore the state with which I feel a connect as my Yoga teacher has his roots here,” she said.

Ranaut, who won acclaim for portraying Rani Laxmibai, the valiant queen of Jhansi who took on the British during the revolt of 1857 -- in ‘Manikarnika’, when asked if she would like to be associated with a film on any historical figure from Bihar, said, “It would be Chandragupta Maurya. The film industry has not done much justice to our history”.

A self-confessed admirer of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the 32-year-old, who has won three National Awards in the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories, replied in the affirmative when asked about reports that she has turned producer and her first venture is based on the theme of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

The Himachal Pradesh-born actress, who has courted controversy for taking on well-entrenched Bollywood “insiders” like Karan Johar and Hrithik Roshan, said she has had a rebellious streak since childhood and shared an anecdote about her breaking her teacher’s stick upon being hit for chatting with a classmate in school.

When Kishan asked why she has gained so much weight, Ranaut replied it was in preparation for her upcoming biopic “Thalaivi”, based on late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

The actress said her forthcoming release “Panga” is a family drama.

Ranaut said after landing in Patna, she gorged on ‘Litti Chokha’, a local delicacy.

She also regaled the audience by greeting them in Bhojpuri and repeating several commonly used phrases of the dialect after Kishan.

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