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Sunday, 29 September 2013

Hollywood & Bollywood Updates 30th September 2013


Kim Kardashian jets to Paris without North West



Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are enjoying a romantic break in Paris without their daughter.
The couple, who welcomed their first child, North West, into the world in June, touched down in the French capital on Saturday (28.09.13) for Paris Fashion Week.
The reality TV star, 32, and her rapper boyfriend took a private jet from Los Angeles' Van Nuys Airport to San Francisco, California, on Friday morning (27.09.13), where they then transferred to a commercial flight, according to gossip website TMZ.com.
Their four-month-old daughter was nowhere in sight as they made their way through SFO airport with a small entourage.
An insider also told UsMagazine.com: 'Kim was sad to say goodbye. This is the first time she's been away from the baby.'
Kim was spotted applying for North's first passport last month but she has yet to take the tot out of the USA.
A source revealed that the couple opted to fly out of San Francisco as Kanye, 36, has been advised to avoid the paparazzi at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) by his lawyers.
The 'New Slaves' hitmaker is being sued by a photographer for criminal battery and his team do not want him to get into another confrontation with snappers.
Prosecutors are allegedly gathering evidence from four other incidents in a bid to prove that Kanye's first instinct is to attack when he sees a photographer.

Jennifer Lawrence to do a cameo in 'Dumb and Dumber' Sequel?

Los Angeles: `The Hunger Games` star Jennifer Lawrence is speculated to do a cameo in the `Dumb and Dumber To` which is the sequel to 1994 hit comedy `Dumb and Dumber`.

The 23-year-old Oscar winner, spent one day on the set, where she played a young version of Kathleen Turner`s character Fraida Feltcher for the sequel that stars the original duo Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, said the Hollywood Reporter.
Lawrence had previously said that "Dumb and Dumber" was among her favourite comedies.
"I know every word to Dumb and Dumber, Step Brothers and Anchorman," she had said.
The sequel to Peter and Bobby Farrelly`s comedy classic will follow the journey of Carrey and Daniels` as they embark on another road trip.

3 Surprisingly Affordable Stores Where All The Celebrities Are Shopping

There’s nothing more depressing, more financially damaging than trying to dress like a celebrity. Many of us have attempted such feats, splurging on the occasional Prada shades when we were in college. But as the years go by and real responsibilities start kicking in (like, ya know, apartments and diapers and whatnot) it gets to be more and more impossible to keep up with these celebs. However, occasionally, many of them leave the couture labels behind and hit up the kinds of stores that lots of us can afford — which is really nice of them. Rihanna, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kate Bosworth, Julianne Hough, and even First Lady Michele Obama have all been spotted in beautiful threads from these three amazingly affordable spots. Which is awesome for those of us who want to dress just like them, on maybe 1/25 of their budgets.


ASOS

They’ve teamed up with the dopeness that is Azealia Banks, and they’re frequented by everyone from Michelle Obama to Vanessa Hudgens, to Kourtney Kardashian. ASOS is seriously the one-stop-shop for just about everything. The tops, the dresses, hell -- even their maternity wear is off the hook. While they do carry some high-end brands, you’d be shocked at how much cuteness you can find for under thirty bucks. #WINNING
Topshop
If it’s good enough for Beyoncé and Rihanna, it’s good enough for you! The British retailer is having a huge sale right now, and there’s a good chance that you can get yourself something fabulous, and still pay your cell phone bill. They’re a little pricier than ASOS, and cater to a slightly more sophisticated fashionista, but Topshop still offers a variety of styles for a good price. They’ve also got a pretty awesome beauty department to get you the total look.
ModCloth
This vintage-inspired online retailer has so much adorable stuff, it’s almost overwhelming. A favorite of bloggers, Taylor Swift, and fashionistas alike, ModCloth is a must-visit site if you’re into super-cute contemporary dresses with a 60s flare. They also have a brilliant system for customer reviews, where folks who recently purchased the item can upload photos of themselves wearing it. This is awesome because—let’s face it—it never quite looks the same as it does on the model, right?

Arnold Schwarzenegger clicked kissing new girlfriend


Los Angeles: Amidst rumours of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger dating Heather Milligan, photographs of the duo kissing each other have emerged.

The 66-year-old was photographed kissing Milligan Sep 20 after a romantic dinner at Fig Restaurant in Fairmont Hotel, Santa Monica, reports tmz.com.

They arrived separately, but before leaving the actor slipped into Milligan`s car to give her a goodbye kiss as she got into her car.

`The Terminator` was married to Maria Shriver, but they filed for divorce in 2011 to end their 25-year marriage.

Tracy Morgan says that he has plenty of action in bedroom


Washington: Funnyman Tracy Morgan has revealed that he gets plenty of action despite being a middle-aged man.

Morgan told People Magazine at the Emmy Awards that he and his lady love, Megan Wollover, don`t lack bedroom activity, People magazine reported.

The 44-year-old actor said that he can`t compete with his fiance Wollover as she looks stunning and he look like James Bond - a black James Bond - Jerome Bond.

Kate Upton dating Maksim Chmerkovskiy?


Los Angeles: Model Kate Upton has sparked dating rumors with dancer Maksim Chmerkovskiy after the duo were spotted walking hand in hand.
The 21-year-old model and Chmerkovskiy, 33, were pictured looking relaxed and happy while strolling down the street in New York City`s West Village
neighborhood, reported E! Online.Earlier in July, the duo were spotted in NYC going on a dinner date together after an event.
"The two did not want to be photographed together and did the best they could to avoid the cameras. They left the event around midnight and went to Catch sushi bar, that turns into a club. The two partied until the early hours," a source said.
Chmerkovskiy shot to fame by being one of the professional dancers on the American television series `Dancing with the Stars`.
Upton has previously been linked with Blake Griffin, Mark Sanchez and Justin Verlander.


Marital Rape? 'Real Housewife' Melissa Gorga Says 'Okay!'

The Garden State has a lot to explain after Melissa Gorga of Real Housewives of New Jersey released a marriage advice book titled Love Italian Style. Her advice can easily be reduced to one word: SEX. Normally sex itself would be a problem, but just how Melissa's husband Joe Gorga gets it is where the controversy lies.
Despite Melissa sometimes feeling "exhausted" or "not really in the mood," she just can't seem to say "no" to her husband. If she does, well...here's what Joe thinks what "no" really means:
"Men, I know you think your woman isn't the type who wants to be taken. But trust me, she is. Every girl wants to get her hair pulled once in awhile. If your wife says "no," turn her around, and rip her clothes off. She wants to be dominated.Women don't realize how easy men are. Just give us what we want."
Not convinced that sounded a bit rapey? Well, here's a passage that essentially tells women to submit and become sex slaves for their husbands.
"[A] woman needs to keep herself in shape. She has to be seductive. She must be willing to try new things for her husband's pleasure and her own. And, most important, she has to be available for sex.
There's real passionate sex and maintenance sex. You need them both for a healthy marriage. Maintenance sex keeps the wheels greased, the lines of communication open, and the fights to a minimum."
Sex keeps "lines of communication open?" Well, Joe's Neanderthal brow does clearly indicate he is probably most expressive in an act of carnal fornication.
Occasionally, Joe does manage to squeeze enough power out of his prehistoric brain to chime in with more of his misogynistic gems. Here's an example of the man's attempt to mask his profound insecurities (which basically echoes what Pat Robertson said months ago):
"Refusing to initiate is a Top Three reason men cheat. The ugliest girl in the world could come on to a man in that state of mind, and he might have to go for it. He thinks, At least someone wants me."
It's fairly clear that Melissa is in an abusive relationship. Here's a snippet that clearly shows she's just a punching bag for Joe's insecurities.
"If he gets one ounce of flack from me, he flips a switch and goes off. I know it's not really about me, so I don't get riled up. I supposed I could get angry back him for getting the bulk end of his problems. But then again, that's what a spouse is for. You get to release your stress on someone you trust, who you know won't hold it against you. He' like to yell at a colleague, client, or employee. But he yells at me and doesn't screw up a business deal. I can take it."
What's sad is there's 256 pages of this drivel. While the book's subtitle is "The Secrets of My Hot and Happy Marriage," it's hard not to shake off the feeling that she's simply a broken woman who has given in:
"I used to want to hold onto my independence, even after we got married. I didn't want to need anyone, not even Joe. Now, I know that it's arrogant to think you don't need anyone. Need is only a four-letter word if you don't accept it as another one. F-A-C-T."

'Paranormal Activity 5' to be directed by Gregory Plotkin

Los Angeles: Gregory Plotkin, the editor and co-producer of the last three installments of ‘Paranormal Activity’, is on board as the director for its fifth instalment.
‘Paranormal Activity 5’ will mark the directorial debut of Plotkin while scribe duo Jason Pagan and Andrew Deutschman will write the script, reported Ace Showbiz.

The next ‘Paranormal Activity’ is slated to hit theaters in the United States on October 25, 2014 preceded with ‘The Marked Ones’ on January 3. The Latin-themed spin-off is directed by Christopher Landon, who wrote the last three ‘Paranormal Activity’.
Landon will leave the horror franchise to direct a new Paramount scary film called ‘Boy Scouts vs Zombies’.

Would Hollywood Remake 'The Golden Girls' After Betty White Passes?

What will happen when four becomes none? That's the sad inevitability that will occur when Betty White passes, since she is the last surviving Golden Girl following the deaths of Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty. Of course, Hollywood, which is known for being such a sentimental place, may have a schmaltzy tribute for the life of White. She'll certainly get a good long remembrance at the Emmys - I'm thinking that at least one of the Hot In Cleveland cast would go up and talk, or maybe even Mary Tyler Moore. Then they might go about doing a reboot of The Golden Girls.

Hey, it's not out of the realm of possibility. Please put down your Sophia Petrillo coffee mug. It wouldn't be instantaneous, Maybe a few years or so down the road. They'd be thinking about how a more modern version of the show might play...see how Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia handle a new world with smartphones and the Internet. They might even make a movie. Look at 21 Jump Street. They made a movie of that and all the principal actors from the TV show are alive! Of course, they changed some of the premise and basically had a whole different type of plot and vibe with the name 21 Jump Street plastered on it.
It could be decades, actually, since older shows always seem to get a re-imagining. Look at The Transformers, Garfield, and The Smurfs now. Those were hit shows in the '80s and they have all had the movie treatment fairly recently. Once Lifetime and all the other channels finally stop showing Golden Girls re-runs in syndication and the show fades from people's minds, maybe my son will take a date to see this Golden Girls movie (he's 3 now, so you imagine the time frame here).
I'd love for the faces of Arthur, McClanahan, Getty and White to be associated with this show forever, but it wouldn't surprise me to see a film version with the four women somehow wackily becoming drug mules for Walter White or something like that.


Ranbir Kapoor dodges query on Katrina Kaif


Mumbai: Actor Ranbir Kapoor, who turned 31 Saturday, refused to reveal what gift he received from actress Katrina Kaif, who is reportedly dating him.

"There is a phrase in English `Mind your own business`," Ranbir told reporters at an event here.

Recently, the rumoured lovers made headlines when their pictures while holidaying together in Spain were published.
There are reports that Ranbir and Katrina will go on a holiday again, but he chose to keep mum on this too when asked. "Jab pictures chhap jayenge, tab tum log hi bata dena yaar. What should I say? (When pictures get published, you only inform)..."
The actor is currently busy promoting his next film `Besharam`.


Kareena Kapoor's priorities in life are clear: Soha Ali Khan


Mumbai: Actress Soha Ali Khan says her sister-in-law Kareena Kapoor has set her priorities right on personal and professional front.

"We are very much ourselves and what I love about her is in spite of being a huge star, she is a very down to earth person. Physically also she is without make up, chilled out and naturally very beautiful as a person. I know how difficult it is to be an actor and work and then have to look after your personal life," Soha told reporters.
"I respect the fact that she is clear in her priorities about work and my brother. So I have lot of respect for her as a person and we get along very well... She likes me because I am like my brother," she said.
Soha feels Kareena and Saif are good influence on each other. She and Kareena don`t live together, but whenever they meet they do not talk much about films and work.
"If you sit with four actors you will realise no actor is interested in another actor`s work. They will immediately switch off. We are more interested in talking about what is happening off set, we indulge in gossip all the time but I am not telling you (who all we gossip about)," she said.
On work front, Soha seems quite excited about her upcoming film `War Chhod Naa Yaar`, being promoted as India`s first war comedy film, where she is playing the role of a war correspondent.
"This particular representation at border is unique. I always wanted to go to the border and I was looking to get an opportunity to go to Kargil. Sharman Joshi and I went to Wagah Border when we were shooting for `Rang De Basanti`. I always had this imagination of going there after seeing `Border`, `LOC` and to know as to what happens there," she said.
"I am doing live reporting in the film for some time and interacting with Army officers. She is like a normal girl and has a normal romantic healthy interest. She meets Sharman Joshi, who is a good looking Army officer," Soha said.
`War Chhod Na Yaar` is directed by Faraz Haider, who assisted Dibakar Banerjee on `Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!`. The film also stars Sharman Joshi, Jaaved Jaffrey, Dalip Tahil and Mukul Dev. It releases on October 11.
Asked if there was any sibling rivalry during childhood with Saif or her sister Saba, Soha said, "I did not have fights with Bhai (Saif) but with my sister Saba, because there is a ten-year gap between Saif and me, while me and my elder sister have a gap of two-and-half years or so."
"My sister and I shared a room and we had actually made a border, if anyone crossed it, it was like infiltrating in the area. We had horrible fights as children," she said.
Though Soha is the youngest in the family, she thinks she was not pampered as much as Saif was.
"I don't think I was pampered, my sister feels I was. My brother was pampered because of the mother-son relation. Bhai was allowed to get away with everything, while my mother was strict with us," she said.
"But none of us were spoilt. We came from a position but we were asked to follow basic things like switching off lights, not to talk on phone much often and we were given an allowance," Soha added.

Dipannita, Arunoday in Bejoy Nambiar's next


Mumbai: Actors Dipannita Sharma and Arunoday Singh will be seen in Bejoy Nambiar`s Tamil remake film `Pizza`.


Nambiar is set to produce Hindi remake of Tamil film, which revolves around a pizza delivery boy and how his life takes a turn after one particular delivery.

"I am shooting for two films. I am doing a special appearance in a film of Bejoy Nambiar. It is a south remake film. There is Arunoday Singh with me," said Dipannita, who was earlier seen in `Ladies Vs Ricky Bahl`.
The film will also have Miss India 2008 Parvathy Omanakuttan and Akshay Oberoi, who was last seen in `Isi Life Mein`.
Dipannita only said that `Pizza` is a thriller and refused to divulge any other details about it.

Get 'Besharam' this week


New Delhi: With no other big films releasing this Friday, Abhinav Kashyap`s `Besharam` has a clean week as far as competition goes. The Ranbir Kapoor-starrer is hitting theatres Oct 2.

The film will be a litmus test for both actor Ranbir after superhit `Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani` and Kashyap post `Dabangg`.

"Our expectations are huge. We have made a good film and have promoted it well," Kahsyap said.
The film, produced by Himanshu Mehra, Sanjeev Gupta and Reliance Entertainment, had a shooting budget of Rs.60 crore plus the cost of promotions, marketing and advertising.
"We have locked about 3,600 screens in India and 700 screens overseas," said the director.
Whether the audience will accept Ranbir in deglam role or not, will only be revealed once the movie releases.
"It is a big film and there is no other film releasing in the same week. We have to wait and watch how it unfolds and whether the audience likes it or not," trade analyst Taran Adarsh.
`Besharam` also stars Ranbir`s actor-parents Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh. Actress Pallavi Sharda, a newcomer who hails from Australia, plays the female lead in the film.


Surrogacy case: Shah Rukh Khan seeks dismissal of plea.



Mumbai: Actor Shah Rukh Khan has sought dismissal of a petition filed by social activist Varsha Deshpande seeking early hearing of the complaint filed by her in a magistrate court seeking action against him for sex determination of their third surrogate child.

Shahrukh`s lawyer Pranav Badhekar on September 26 requested the Bombay High Court to dismiss the petition on the ground that neither Deshpande nor her lawyers were present in the magistrate court when the matter was posted for arguments on September 24.
Deshpande had filed a complaint in the magistrate court seeking action against Shahrukh Khan, his wife Gauri, Jaslok hospital and its doctor and officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) under the Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act.
Deshpande had alleged that the star couple had conducted pre-birth sex determination tests of their surrogate son AbRam.
Deshpande had approached the High Court seeking an early hearing into her complaint on the ground that the Supreme Court had said that all cases under the PCPNDT Act should be heard and decided within six months.
"In the magistrate court all the respondents filed their replies on September 20 and the matter was kept for arguments on September 24. However, on that day no one was present on behalf of the complainant and the matter was adjourned," Shahrukh`s lawyer Badhekar told the court.
Seeking dismissal of the petition, Badhekar and BMC lawyer M P S Rao said that the petition has become infructuous and need not be entertained.
Justice Jadhav directed Badhekar to file a short affidavit by September 30 bringing this on record and also the order passed by the magistrate court on September 24 adjourning the hearing.
The civic body had earlier told the court that it had conducted an inquiry into the allegations of sex determination and found it baseless.

Never used my father's name to enter industry: Javed Jaffrey


Mumbai: Noted actor Javed Jaffrey says he has never used his father Jagdeep`s influence to get work.

Javed, son of veteran actor-comedian Jagdeep, is known for donning various hats - that of an actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, VJ, ad filmmaker, among others.

He made his acting debut with `Meri Jung` in 1985 where he made a huge impact in a negative role. He has been part of many hit films like `100 Days`, `Fire`, `Earth`, `Salaam Namaste`, `Singh is Kingg` and `3 Idiots` and others.
"Being the son or daughter of a legendary film personality you get more respect. But I have never used that (my father`s name) as an influence to enter industry. It is not that I got work because of him. My father did not do a film for me or launched me, he wanted us to do things on our own," Javed said.
"Rather I never thought I will enter the film industry, it happened all by chance. Destiny played a part and brought me here in this industry," he said.
Javed has played a variety of roles, from negative to positive, but he has a penchant for comedy.
"I like to play all kind of roles. You can`t do same stuff every time as it becomes boring. Comedy is my soft spot. But I love doing action, thriller, drama and negative (roles). I am not comfortable with sexuality, intimate scenes," he said.
The actor will be seen next in debutante director Faraz Haider`s `War Chhod Na Yaar`.
"I am playing captain Qureshi from the Punjab region of Pakistan. So my tone (language) in the film is Punjabi-Urdu. The film establishes relationship in an interesting way. I had great fun doing this film," he said.
Javed will also be seen alongside Ranbir Kapoor, Rishi and Neetu Kapoor in `Besharam`. The actor has a few scenes with Ranbir and a climax scene with Neetu and Rishi Kapoor.
"We did interact on sets. I am a big fan of Rishiji, he is the best actor. Neetuji is fantastic. Ranbir is a fine actor and he is very focused about his work. They are humble and nice people," he said.
Javed will also be seen in Hrithik Roshan starrer `Bang Bang` and `Jo Bhi Karva Lo` with Arshad Warsi.

Fire on set: Lata Mangeshkar, SRK offer help to Kapil Sharma


Mumbai: Popular comedian Kapil Sharma has been overwhelmed at being offered help from legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar and superstar Shah Rukh Khan after his show set was damaged in a fire.
A massive fire had broken out recently on the sets of hit show `Comedy Nights With Kapil` at Goregaon Film city. However, there were no casualties in the mishap.

The show is hosted by Kapil and often sees Bollywood celebrities like Shah Rukh, Rohit Shetty, Deepika Padukone, Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra, Riteish Deshmukh, Vivek Oberoi, Anil Kapoor and others using the platform to promote their upcoming films.
"I got a call from Lataji and she asked if I need any kind of help, whether monetary or anything. She asked what can I do for you... Her call was a big thing," Kapil said.
"Also Shah Rukh Khan, Rohit Shetty and lot of people from the industry called me and said `hum tumhare saath hai, batao kitne din mein set khada karna hai` (we are with you, tell in how many days the set has to be put up). The industry is like a family," he said.
Kapil says the exact cause of the fire is yet to be scertained as investigation is still on.
"We will come to know the exact loss... The figures only after the police verification," he said.
He rubbished rumours of a conspiracy behind the fire.
Kapil felt disappointed as he was unable to shoot with singer Sonu Nigam due to mishap.
"We were even planning to shoot with Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan for the promotion of their forthcoming films. But unfortunately due to the tragedy, we are trying to work out things," he said.
However, Kapil is quite happy that people are loving his show and he hopes it to continue. Two episodes supposed to be aired on this weekend have already been shot. But, for the upcoming episodes they will be shooting on the sets of `Bigg Boss` show.
"It`s not an easy job to reconstruct a huge set in such a short time. The channel is also trying to get the best floor to reconstruct a new set. We have a huge set up and we don`t want to compromise with it," he added. 

Friday, 27 September 2013

Hollywood & Bollywood Updates 28th September 2013

HOLLYWOOD UPDATES

Fantasy Casting Jimmy Fallon's Next Lip Sync Battle

Jimmy Fallon's strength as a talk show host has always been his boundless enthusiasm, plus his consistent efforts to put our favorite celebrities in delightfully ridiculous situations. The last Late Night Lip-Sync Battle was a viral sensation. Jimmy took on Stephen Merchant and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as they pretended to sing a series of popular songs that are now forever changed. Will you ever hear "Single Ladies" again without picturing Merchant loping around the stage and shaking it? Doubtful.




We can't wait for the next one, so we're suggesting a few challengers to kill it on stage and then join these guys (and fellow past contestant John Krasinski, whom Fallon credits with the invention of game, along with his wife Emily Blunt) in the Late Night Lip Sync Hall of Fame.
Anna Kendrick
True, Anna Kendrick doesn't have to lip sync anything. The muscially-gifted actress could wipe the floor with her competitors in a straight up singing competition. Still, we'd love to see her channel all her self-deprecating wit and hilarious energy into this contest.
Aaron Paul
The Breaking Bad star's infectious joy alone could catapault him into the Lip Sync winner's circle.

Damon Wayans, Jr. 
Happy Endings is no more, and we miss seeing the hilarious Damon Wayans, Jr. on TV. Also, we could stand to have a little comedy royalty in this talent pool.

Channel Their Inner Jersey in 'Don Jon' Interview


 
If you've never been to Jersey, pop culture has given you a pretty colorful idea of the sort of people that reside in the Garden State: walking aerosol cans of unmitigated bravado, singing tall tales of sexual escapades and social dominance through Mid-Atlantic affects. Now, some real life Jersey folk will proclaim this stereotype to be unfair, inaccurate, and offensive. But those who know and love the state best appreciate it for these vividly real eccentricities. Don Jon director, writer, and star Joseph Gordon-Levitt and his screen partner Scarlett Johansson do not hold back in their illustration of a flavorful Jersey. Having grown up in Manhattan, Johansson was hardly a stranger to the identity of the Shore folk, infusing her Don Jon character with the attitude and flair of the people she knew in her younger days. In the above interview for the film, JGL and ScarJo chat about creating the strange, frenetic world we see in the new picture, infusing it with the melodies of the Jersey they know.
But Don Jon is more than just a love letter to ol' N.J., and is instead Gordon-Levitt's attempt at subverting the rom-com genre in entirety. The filmmaker discusses his motivations in tackling the tropes with which he has come to take issue, and how they have effected our society in a particularly troubling way. Learn about Gordon-Levitt's vision, Johansson's inspirations, and the personal "addictions" of the two stars in the above video, and catch Don Jon in theaters now.



Katie Holmes joins 'The Giver'

Los Angeles: Actress Katie Holmes has reportedly joined the cast of movie ‘The Giver’.
The 34-year-old has joined actress Meryl Streep, Brenton Thwaites and Jeff Bridges in the movie adaptation of Lois Lowry`s 1993 eponymous sci-fi novel, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

‘The Giver’ is set in a dystopian society which is disturbed when a 12-year-old boy named Jonas (Brenton Thwaites) is selected to learn from an elderly man, The Giver (Bridges), about the pain and strife of the real world.
Holmes will play the mother of Thwaites` teenage character, who is described as being a strict, law abiding citizen.

Jennifer Lawrence to star in 'East of Eden' and 'Burial Rites'

Los Angeles: ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ actress Jennifer Lawrence will team up with the ‘Hunger Games’ director for big-screen take on John Steinbeck`s classic novel and Hannah Kent`s new book.
According to reports, the actress will star in movie adaptations of John Steinbeck`s 1952 book `East of Eden` and Hannah Kent`s new novel ‘Burial Rites’ to be helmed by Gary Ross, reported Deadline.
The classic Steinbeck story set around the World War I period was first adapted into the big screen in 1955 by director Elia Kazan.
A retelling of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel, it revolves around a family with two sons vying for their father`s affection in California`s Salinas Valley.
Lawrence reportedly will portray the mother originally played by Jo Van Fleet. James Dean and Richard Davalos played the rivaling sons in the earlier movie.
In the ‘Burial Rites’ picture, meanwhile, Lawrence will play Agnes Magnusdottir, a young woman falsely convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Iceland, a case that later changed the criminal justice system in the country.
Released summer this year, the book is inspired by a true haunting story happening in the country back in 1829.
Gary Ross, Lawrence and producer Allison Shearmur will begin shopping the project to studios next week.

Harry Styles gambles alone

Sydney: Singer Harry Styles was spotted enjoying a game of roulette alone at a nightclub here.
The 19-year-old, who has made millions of dollars as part of the famous One Direction band, spent his hard-earned money as he gambled, reports femalefirst.co.uk.
"One Direction are the biggest band in the world and they certainly earn their time off. But there`s having fun on a beach or in a nightclub, and there`s high-stakes roulette.
"It`s such an addictive game, and before you know it, you can be up to eyes in debt," Daily Star Newspaper quoted a source as saying.
Even if he enjoys gambling, the singer needs to be careful about his image as well.
"And although Harry has millions in the bank, it`s amazing how quickly it can go. He`s his own man and can do whatever he wants, but he`s also got his image to protect," the source added.

Taylor Swift May Be Joining 'The Giver,' But That's Not What's Wrong With The Film

You can officially check off the "pop star" and "childhood classic" squares of your YA Novel Film Adaptation bingo card: Taylor Swift is reportedly set to join the cast of The Giver, which is based on Lowis Lowry's highly acclaimed book. She was reportedly offered a supporting role by producer Harvey Weinstein after she and the film's star, Brandon Thwaites, hit it off at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Giver's story follows Jonas, a 12-year-old boy who lives in a dystopian society where life is strictly regulated and emotions are suppressed. Things change, though, when he is given the job of Receiver of Memories and his training with the Giver starts to open his eyes to the dark realities of his community and of life itself. 
The decision to cast Swift is a surprise primarily because her acting experience and talents lie in more comedic roles, like 2010's Valentine's Day or her Season 2 guest spot on New Girl. The Giver would be a much darker and more serious project than she has previously undertaken, and it's frankly hard to imagine what kind of role she will play in the film, or if she will be able to pull off the kind of performance the heavy material requires. However, Swift has dabbled in drama before, when she appeared in a 2009 episode of CSI, so there's a chance that she could surprise everyone and turn out a solid performance.
The real issue with The Giver, however, is not Swift's casting, but rather the fact that it is being made into a film at all. The story is a highly emotional one, and most of the things Jonas learns from the Giver are communicated through memories. Finding a way to effectively communicate them and what they represent for Jonas and the Giver will not be an easy task. Even more difficult, then, will be finding a way to visualize the emotions that Jonas discovers during his training, as the significant changes in his perspective come from actually feeling things for the first time. It's hard for us to picture any way in which the heavily internal nature of the novel will be able to translate itself onto the screen without losing impact — whichever director decides to take on this project will definitley have their work cut out for them.
On top of all of that, Jonas is supposed to be 12, and Thwaites is most certainly not. Although characters are often aged up in film adaptations, the character's age is important to the plot and message of the novel, and so Thwaites being in his early 20s causes a problem there. There is one thing, though, that we take no issue with: casting Jeff Bridges in the title role. The Dude can do no wrong.

Kerry Washington May Have Lost The Emmy, But She Still Wins At Life

Let's not get it twisted -- it sucks to lose. Kerry Washington was a Lead Actress in a Drama nominee for the 2013 Emmy Awards, but she went home empty-handed. Although she has many fans, we all knew that the Scandal actress was up against some fierce competition: Elisabeth Moss for Mad Men, Michelle Dockery for Downton Abbey, and Claire Danes who went on to win the Emmy for her role in Homeland. If you gotta lose an Emmy, these are probably the ladies to whom you want to lose. So in our world, Kerry is still, absolutely, without a doubt, still winning. Here are a few reasons why.
The Emmy Nomination Itself Was Historical

This year Kerry became the first black actress to be nominated for Lead Actress In A Drama Series since Cicely Tyson was nominated in 1995. Because this was such a big historical moment, she was also asked to present an award with Diahann Carroll -- another trailblazer for African-American women in television.
She's Still Married To The Sweetest Guy Ever

Kerry eloped earlier this year to a man we didn't even know she was dating -- it was epic. And the more we find out about NFL star Nnamdi Asomugha, the more we like. He's big on charity work, everyone around him seems to love him, and he's super cute. 'Nuff said.
Duh, Scandal!

One of the most addictive shows to ever exist is coming back to television for its highly-anticipated third season. Fans of the show will see a whole new version of Kerry Washington's beloved character Olivia Pope, because we're about to meet -- wait for it -- her dad. As her character gets a little more depth, we expect that another Emmy nomination (and a first win) is definitely on the horizon.

To Be Or Not To Be: When Do I Turn?

We say “till death do we part” to cement our love. When we say “bite my neck” we carve it in stone. So how do you know when to give your heart over, or when to trust someone enough to make that commitment? How do you know when to turn?
For most of us, finding “the one” can be a torment. On that front, Elena Gilbert is cray cray. So I have a some words of advice for you, E: two Salvatores. Count ‘em, two. Bella was unconflicted and she only had one diamond-paved vamp in mind. You have two, and they’re willing to raise the dead for you.
If that weren’t enough, they’ve already proven they have a high threshold for your ambivalence. You can volley between them for centuries. They seem to get off on it. So unforrow those brows, girl. Live a little.

First Look at Meryl Streep as The Witch in 'Into the Woods'

A photo of Meryl Streep as Into the Woods' wicked witch has crept its way onto the Internet, and man oh man does she look wonderfully creepy. The twisted fantasy musical finds Streep's character attempting to reverse a curse so that her beauty may be restored. In the meantime, she spends her time casting spells on various well-known characters from popular children's fairytales.
It seems like everyday we find out that some other notable actor has been cast in the upcoming film version of the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical Into the Woods, which means that everyday we just get even more excited for its release. (Yes, no one seems to be too thrilled that Johnny Depp has been cast as The Wolf, but guys, his character doesn't have that much screentime.) Other cast members include Anna Kendrick as Cinderella, Chris Pine as her prince, Christine Baranski as her stepmother, and Emily Blunt as The Baker's Wife.
Into the Woods, directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago and Nine), is slated for a Dec. 2014 release.

Supernatural Detective John Constantine is Coming to NBC

There has been nothing short of an avalanche of comic book properties making there way to television sets, and the deluge continues with Constantine. According to Deadline, Warner Bros. TV has announced that it will be creating the new television series based on the DC Comics character. John Constantine is a supernatural detective and con man that battles the forces of hell as well as heaven to protect humanity. The drama was sold to NBC and will be written and executive-produced by Daniel Cerone and David S. Goyer, who wrote Man of Steel.
We've already seen Constantine developed for film in the 2005 flick with Keanu Reeves playing the occult P.I., but Keanu, for all his good will, lacked the dark charisma and blonde locks necessary to impress longtime fans of the anti-hero. The character John Constantine was created by Legendary Comic Book writer Alan Moore, whose most famous works (The Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) have all been adapted to film with varying levels of success. Hopefully, this Constantine television series will be able to take advantage of television's ability to tell long form stories in a way similar to a monthly comic book series. A cable network like Showtime or AMC would probably be better suited to really revel in the darker and grittier moments that the character's stories are known for, but NBC did embrace the darker side of televison with its critical hit Hannibal and can hopefully do the same with Constantine. John Constantine is also rumored to appear in the developing Guillermo Del Toro project, Justice League Dark.
This news comes on the heels of a Gotham City series staring Batman's Comissioner Gordon starting production at Fox, as well as the Flash spin-off set to accompany Arrow on the CW. While Marvel has completely walloped DC at the movies, it seems that DC is honing in on television production at a faster pace than their rival comic publisher.

BOLLYWOOD UPDATES



Bikini time for Sonam Kapoor!


Mumbai: Many beauties of Hindi Cinema have dazzled the silver screen with their oomph and ravishing bikini bodies. Right from Sharmila Tagore to Zeenat Aman to Karisma Kapoor to Priyanka Chopra, all these women have flaunted their curves on screen in a two-piece. And the next joining the bandwagon is Sonam Kapoor.
Yes, you read it right. Sonam, who had admitted that she doesn’t have a bikini bod, is gearing up to set the silver screen ablaze in a two-piece.
In the remake of ‘Khoobsurat’, which originally starred the sultry Rekha, Sonam will shed her inhibitions. The film in question will be produced by her sibling Rhea Kapoor.
Unlike the 1980s super-hit classic, the new age ‘Khoobsoorat’ will see Sonam in a bold avatar. Her character in the film is far from that of Rekha’s in the Hrishikesh Mukherjee film.
Reportedly, Sonam is following a strict diet chart to watch her weight so that she is able to carry her new look to perfection.
The film is slated to go on floors this November.

'Rajjo' to clash with 'Ramleela' Nov 15


Mumbai: ‘Ramleela’, featuring actors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, was to enjoy a solo release Nov 15, but now Kangana Ranaut-starrer ‘Rajjo’ will also hit the screens on the same date.
Both the movies will release Nov 15.
"I was waiting for an apt time to bring the film. Even though the main character Kangana (or Rajjo) plays a `mujrawali` in the film, it isn`t sombre or depressing by any means," ‘Rajjo’ director Vishwas Patil said in a statement.
With ‘Rajjo’ and ‘Ramleela’ releasing on the same date, the audience will not only get a chance to see two different genres at the box office, but they will also see two actresses - Kangana and Deepika playing title roles in their respective films.
Kangana is very confident about her film and she is happy that the film is releasing during the festive season.
"`Rajjo` is really close to my heart and I am glad it is being released this festive season. As for competition with other films, there would be one every week in any case. I am sure my producers are taking a good call and it comes from the trust and confidence they have in the product," she said.
Produced by Four Pillar Films, ‘Rajjo’ also features Paras Arora, Prakash Raj, Mahesh Manjrekar and Jaya Prada.


Kareena took on from where I left off: Karisma Kapoor


New Delhi: Karisma Kapoor feels that the gap created by her exit from the movie industry has been more than filled up by her sister Kareena. She also expresses joy over carrying forward their family`s acting tradition along with their cousin Ranbir, Bollywood`s current heartthrob.
"I don`t regret my decision. I think it is a great graduation for me. Kareena took the place where I left off, if I can say so. Now my cousin (Ranbir) is also doing so well. I am glad that the tradition is continuing," Karisma, who quit the industry in 2003 after marriage said..
She married Delhi-based industrialist Sanjay Kapur, but they divorced this year. The actress of hits like ‘Raja Hindustani’ and ‘Biwi No. 1’ took a break from acting to raise her children - Samaira, 8 and Kiaan, 3.
Her comeback film was 2012 release ‘Dangerous Ishhq’, which got a lukewarm response at the box office. Even though she is back under the arc lights, she still puts her children before everything else.
"Earlier, it was a conscious decision for me not to work. I was happy to be away and I wanted to be with my children during their formative years. I do step out now, but my first priority is my kids. This is how it will always be for me," said Karisma, who also acted in non-commercial films like ‘Fiza’ and ‘Zubeidaa’.
Asked about her children`s response to her star status, she says her daughter treats her like a regular mother.
"My daughter is the most normal towards me. For her, I am just her mom. I am just a regular mom and the actor comes after that. If she likes something that I am wearing, she tells me and if she doesn`t, she still makes it a point to let me know," she said.
Karisma said that she is more of a disciplinarian than a strict parent.
"I won`t say I am a strict mother, but discipline is important. Timing and routine are important for kids. My children also look forward to that," she said.
"I think it is important to be a friend to your kids. But it is also equally important to set boundaries. My mother was a strong influence and so was my dad. My mom was my friend whom I couldn`t cross," she said.
Karisma also wants to protect her children from the limelight.
"I try to shield my children as far as possible from the public glare. I want them to have a normal childhood, like we had. We went to school by the school bus, had school food... There was no special treatment given to us. The same applies to my children as well," the 39-year-old said.
But being brought up in the lap of luxury, it was very tough for Samaira to believe that her family was different from the rest.
"She thought everyone`s mom was an actor and everyone`s autographs are taken. Having a masi (Kareena), a mama (Ranbir) like that, it was tough for her to understand. My son`s still young, but he will get a grip of this from my daughter," said the actress.
The actress recently launched her book ‘My Yummy Mummy Guide’ on pregnancy and motherhood.

Rani Mukerji in tears at Yash Chopra's birth anniversary


Mumbai: Actress Rani Mukerji, who walked the ramp on Yash Chopra`s 81st birth anniversary, got emotional and had tears in her eyes as she recalled her association with the veteran film-maker.
Post the show when Shah Rukh Khan asked each one of the actresses to give a speech, Rani said: "Yash uncle I miss you a lot...please forgive me for not making cake for you last year as I was busy with my commitments...I miss you and we all love you."
She almost broke down while giving the speech.


Shah Rukh Khan, 9 actresses mark Yash Chopra's 81st birth anniversary



Mumbai: A tribute to late Yash Chopra on his 81st birth anniversary was star-studded, with nine actresses - Rekha, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Rani Mukherjee, Preity Zinta, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma and Parineeti Chopra participating along with Shah Rukh Khan.
The event was organised by his widow, Pamela Chopra.
The event kick-started with Anushka Sharma walking the ramp as she paid tribute to late Nargis Dutt. Anushka donned a black sari with red bindi, while Parineeti Chopra, dressed in a heavy red ghagra choli, paid tribute to Madhubala .
The third actress was the evergreen beauty Rekha who walked the ramp in an elegant sari, while Sridevi, who is always remembered as the "Chandni" girl, donned a white semi ghagra sari with silver work all over and heavy jewelry.
Juhi wore a white and red semi chiffon ghagra, while Madhuri wore a transparent black saree with sleeveless blouse.
he outfits donned by the models and actresses were a blend of vibrant colors, sequenced hand work, dhakai arts, Kashmiri work among others.
Rani donned pink ghagra choli with golden nathni (nose ring) minus other jewelry, while Preity walked wearing white lehenga choli with typical Kashmiri jewellery.The last actress to walk the ramp was Katrina who look stunning in brownish and cream ghagra choli.
Shah Rukh, who was the only actor to be part of this event, was in a black suit. Everyone gave a small speech remembering Yash Chopra post the show.


Himesh Reshammiya teams up with Barjatya, courtesy Salman Khan


Mumbai: Himesh Reshammiya and Salman Khan have been friends for long. The singer-music composer has often credited his success to the Bollywood superstar for all the help he has lent him thus far.
And their association will extend with Sooraj Barjatya’s next starring the ‘Dabangg’ star.
Buzz has it that Khan had introduced Himesh to Barjatya and wanted the filmmaker to take the musician on board. The music in Barjatya’s films have always had a very desi touch and it would be interesting to see how Himesh moulds himself according to Barjatya`s style.
Salman and Barjatya have delivered blockbusters like ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’, ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ and ‘Hum Saath Sath Hain’ in the past and will be teaming up for the untitled film almost after a decade and a half.
The industry heavyweight has immortalised Prem, a character produced by Rajshri Productions, one of the oldest film production companies of the country.
And songs have been the lifeline of the films produced by the Barjatyas. Will Himesh help Prem aka Salman in recreating the old melody magic?

Naseer saab, I create magic on screen: Arshad Warsi


Mumbai: Actor Arshad Warsi believes that he creates magic on screen when he works with veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah.
Arshad and Naseeruddin worked together in the 2010 film ‘Ishqiya’. They have collaborated again for ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ and ‘Chambal Safari’.
"Naseer saab is my friend, my buddy and the greatest actor we have. I love him and I have a great rapport with him. When we are together on screen, it`s like a little magic that happens. I love working with him," Arshad told reporters here Thursday at the premiere of the film "Warning".
"In `Chambal Safari`, we (me and Naseeruddin Shah) are again together," added the actor, who will be seen as a dacoit in the movie.
‘Chambal Safari’ is being directed by Maqbool Khan, while ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ is helmed by Abhishek Chaubey.

I do more like survival cooking: Huma Qureshi


New Delhi: Actress Huma Qureshi has a strong hospitality background, but the ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ star admits that she is no expert when it comes to culinary skills.
The 27-year-old loves to eat and has fondness for cooking, but says her cooking is more for survival.
"I do like to cook, but I do more like survival cooking. Like today, when I visited home my nieces came over and they are about 10, 6 and 4. They wanted to eat something sweet. I told them that I would make them something very exotic.
"I cut pineapple into pieces and dipped them in melted chocolate and Milkmade and they thought I was Masterchef. I am a `dhoka` cook," Huma said.
Her father Saleem Qureshi owns a chain of restaurants here and her mother is said to be a good cook. She says her family believes in hospitality and they love to feed people and see smile on their face when they eat good food.
"An interesting mix of Mughlai and Kashmiri cuisines is prepared at my home. My dad is in the hospitality industry. My mother is also a fantastic cook. People used to always come to my place to eat Mughlai food," said Huma, who will be seen in ‘Dedh Ishqiya’ in January 2014.
The movie directed by Abhishek Chaubey also stars Madhuri Dixit and Huma calls the ‘Dhak dhak’ girl lovely.
"I am doing a film called `Dhed Ishqiya`. It is scheduled to release in January… Madhuri is lovely. She is a wonderful co-star. I`ve always admired her. She is a very graceful woman. Both on and off screen. She is grounded and real and that makes her even more gorgeous," said ‘Ek Thi Daayan’ star.
"If there is one thing I want to learn from her, it will be her dancing… and the way she smiles. If I can ever smile like that, I will be very happy," she added.

Thursday, 26 September 2013

Hollywood & Bollywood News Updates 27th September 2013

HOLLYWOOD UPDATES

Predicting the Awkwardness in Nina Dobrev and Derek Hough's Relationship

The confirmation of Nina Dobrev and Derek Hough as a couple is cute for all of five seconds... then the awkwardness of the situation sets in. Dobrev's career, friendships, and future romances are all in jeoprady, and we're counting down the ways that this one relationship could pose a problem for the Vampire Diaries star...








Career: Dobrev spent the last three years dating her Vampire Diaries co-star Ian Somerhalder. This union was beloved by fans who begged for a real life Damon-Elena romance. Unfortunately, their characters never hooked up in the show while the couple was together. Instead, The Vampire Diaries will have Dobrev and Somerhalder get together in the upcoming season. We expect filming will be a completely comfortable affair, except if Hough ever decides to visit the set....
Romantic Relationship: Dobrev fans loved her relationship with Somerhalder, and while it seems the two continue to be friends, the actress' public comments about both Hough and Somerhalder may cause tension in her new relationship, and stir up unflattering gossip. Dobrev recently instagrammed pictures of both men, one of Hough, congratulating him on his Emmy win, then another of Somerhalder, congratulationg him on his Visionaries Award (below). Dobrev seems to be paying both men equal public attention, and this may spell trouble for the Hough/Dobrev relationship.

"@Derekhough !!!!!!!! #EMMYWINNER I cant express in 140 characters how unbelievably excited+incredibly proud I am of you. You deserve this :)"

"@iansomerhalder VISIONARIES Award?!? Thats amazing+in such good company. Frieda Pinto,President of Mexico Etc."
Public Image: Dobrev was the September covergirl of Cosmopolitan magazine. In her interview, which she most likely gave in July, Dobrev stated, "I've been a relationship girl, and I've been in long-term relationships my whole life until this point, so I think I'm looking forward to spending some time with myself and finding myself again… I'm just discovering different sides of me and growing and then I'll figure out what I like in a man when I see it." However, reports are claiming that Dobrev and Hough began dating in August, just a few weeks after she gave the interview, and just two months after she broke up with Somerhalder. Not exactly a role model for learning to live on your own.
Friendship: It has been widely understood that Dobrev and Julianne Hough, Derek's sister, are the best of friends. In fact, Julianne introduced Dobrev and Derek. But, if this relationship doesn't work out, it is very likely that Dobrev will lose both her boyfriend and her best friend, a fate that no girl wants to go through. 

Madonna gets affectionate with ex-husband Sean Penn

New York: Pop star Madonna greeted ex-husband Sean Penn with an unusually affectionate embrace when they met at a party here.
They were married for four years before parting ways in 1989. But they looked like a new couple at the party organised by Steven Klein, reports dailymail.co.uk.
Madonna was dressed in a tight black dress with curled blonde locks and bright red lipstick and Penn was dressed in a black suit, black tie and white shirt.
After taking a few photos together, Madonna thanked Penn for coming to the event and he thanked her right back by kissing her on the cheek.




Sabrina, the Teenage Junkie: Melissa Joan Hart Reveals Secret Drug Use

Shock; the world is in utter shock. Okay, by "the world" I mean women in their 20s who obsessed over Melissa Joan Hart in her Nickelodian glory days. However, it is pretty surprising that the quirky child star and current mother of three was once a huge partier and drug user.  


Melissa Explains It All, a play on the Nickelodian series Clarissa Explains It All, is the new tell-all book that details Hart's colorful past, and calls out the other Hollywood celebs who partied with her. Life & Style got a peek at the book, and highlighted some of Hart's noteworthy antics. The author explains, "I experimented with weed, Ecstasy, mushrooms and mescaline for about a year and a half."
She goes on the say she took Ecstacy at the Playboy Mansion in 1999, then made out with a girl on the limo ride home. She even showed up to her Maxim photo shoot still under the influence. Hart admits she was "kind of running with a bad crowd," which apparently included Ryan Reynolds, Nick Carter, and Jerry O'Connell. She adds that she had a fling with both Carter and O'Connell, and labels O'Connell a "man-whore." Another Hollywood hottie that makes it into the book is Ashton Kutcher. Hart recalls, "Ashton and I just didn't get along," and explains she twice tried the throw him out of her parties for making "smartass remarks."
While the tell-all is both shocking and alarming, it has a happy ending. Hart says she never became addicted to the drugs, and in fact, "just didn’t enjoy taking drugs. I don’t like the loss of control.” She is now happily married and staring on the popular sitcom Melissa and Joey.
Check out Melissa Explains It All when it hits shelves Oct. 29. 

Can 'Elementary' Keep Us Hooked?

The second season of Elementary, featuring Jonny Lee Miller's modern-day incarnation of Sherlock Holmes, kicks off this week. Apparently the master detective is going to be going to his homeland of England. In the first season, where Miller was able to take his character from an extremely quirky and annoying recovering drug addict to one of the more complex and entertaining characters on television. Lucy Liu made people forget that Watson was a male in the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle books this series is rebooting. Can the show continue its upward momentum?



As it is with many shows, there's always the fear that the writers may lose sight of what made it an exciting show to begin with. Hopefully they will keep Holmes and Watson as platonic co-workers whose sole interest is to act as mentor and mentee for each other. I won't be happy if there are suddenly sidelong glances and hints of romantic feelings for each other. At that point I might don a leather jacket, put on a pair of water skis and seek out the nearest motorboat to take me to a shark tank.
What makes the show so enjoyable now is that Holmes is completely anti-social and immersed in his work, but he's also brilliant and he is capable of pulling himself out of his fog to make some very telling observations about the human conditions. In other words, he doesn't have his head stuck up his rear end all the time. Liu's Watson can get quite exasperated with his act and has shown the tight line that someone who is both a co-worker (she was his sobriety companion to start the show and is now his protégée) and roommate/friend must travel.
The season ended with Holmes having jailed his nemesis, Moriarty. What can the show do to keep the sharp-minded detective challenged? It won't be fun if he becomes superhuman, which the show did dance a bit with some of his observations in the first season. "I see that molecule shifted..."
Aidan Quinn's Captain Gregson is another important cog in keeping the sometimes befuddling Englishman in line and it's going to be interesting to see what the show does this season to keep it up. If the show's writers decide to do any 'shipping with Holmes and Watson, then that 'ship will likely sink. Otherwise, it can sail on for quite a good amount of time.

The Opening Credit Sequence for 'American Horror Story: Coven' Is Completely Terrifying




 
Well, the new American Horror Story: Coven opening credits sequence is officially terrifying, but hopefully the release of the credits before the premiere will do more than just scare the bejeezus out of everyone. The images, paired with the classically creepy AHS intro music, may be giving us clues as to what's to come in this season of FX's horror series. (Or it could just be a montage of random clips that have nothing to do with anything.)
Here's what me might be watching (while our hands are over our eyes, obviously) on AHS: Coven:
- The KKK? Seriously, Ryan Murphy? While the mysterious people cloaked in what looks to be black KKK outfits could just be characters of Murphy's own creation, it wouldn't be too farfetched to think that AHS would write in one of the worst real-life horror stories ever. (Murphy has a habit of basing storylines off of historical events.)
- People's mouths sewn together. Wonderful.
- VOODOO. So much voodoo, guys.
- Possibly one of the most terrifying creatures I have ever seen wandering through the woods. It's like a mix between a Praying Mantis and a skeleton bat. I'm not even joking.
- Woodland animals that remind me of Maryann, one of the villains in season two of True Blood who casually attempted to brainwash everyone while wearing a bull's head. (Or there are just a bunch of furries in this season, which is actually much scarier.)
- Cats! Levitation! Creepy elegance! People being burned in a fire! Because they're witches, duh.
American Horror Stories: Coven premieres Oct. 9 at 10 P.M. on FX.

Will 'Supernatural' Regain Its Mojo?

Supernatural is beginning its eighth season this October and the big question in my mind is: Is it going to get things right? The last we saw of it, the vast, vast, vast majority of angels had lost their grace and were plummeting to Earth while Dean and Sam could only look on in stunned silence. Misha Collins' Castiel, who had been recently bestowed series regular honors, is one of those now likely powerless angels on Earth. Will the show get off its track of its characters either immersed in self-pity or outright lying to each other?



Jared Padalecki's Sam is the one who was feeling quite sorry for himself last season, weighing down the show with what seemed like interminable flashbacks about a love that he found and then lost while Jensen Ackles' Dean was busy trying to survive in Purgatory.It got to the point where I was clenching my teeth when it became obvious they were going to do another one.
The thing that has always irritated me during the later seasons is the secrets the brothers keep from each other. Of course, it leads to something bad and one of them yelling at the other, "This almost ended the world! No more secrets!" Then it's like they get hit by the amnesia machine and DO IT AGAIN. I know that as seasons go by, things can get creatively stagnant. But I have hopes that this season will be a more refreshing one: the deus ex machina powers that the angels possess are gone, so maybe it'll be different.
What I'm hoping for is character development in both Dean and Sam. Dean has seemingly got it into his brain that he's nothing but a dumb grunt and that Sam has some vast intellect. (Guess who does the majority of the dumb things on the show, though. Go ahead, guess.) Sam has to get out of the whole self-pity mode.. and also let himself and his brother grow. They both have this weird symbiosis where one has to try to bring the other back down so they can be together rather than live separate lives.
I know that this show has some rabid fans, so arguing these points with them can be rather futile. I'll still be there watching the season premiere, so please put away those pitchforks. Leave them for the demons and devils on the show.

Did 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' Get Off To A Good Start?

Joss Whedon's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. premiered this week and the first question that sprang to mind was, 'Are non-hardcore comic fans are going to love it?' My immediate answer is: Yes.



The show opened up with the familiar Marvel flip-comic screen and then references were made to the Avengers movie. Flitting images of certain superheroes came across a screen - the arm of Thor, a quick look at a certain green behemoth. But then it quickly dove right into the story, and it didn't involve any big name people. The only recognizable people were Cobie Smulders, from The Avengers (and How I Met Your Mother, of course). The other two were Clark Gregg, who played Agent Coulson in all the recent Marvel movies and Ming-Na Wen, who has had a fairly steady acting career since appearing on E.R. in the '90s.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. had its usual Whedon funny scenes, including Coulson's almost creepy reverence for his car and an unusual application of a truth serum. The story moved well, albeit a bit slower, since characters had to be introduced. There was some nifty CGI as well and some actors who have worked with Whedon before made an appearance (like Ron Glass, who played Shephard Book on Firefly).
There were some references to things in the Marvel Universe, but it never felt like one had have a stockpile of comics to understand what was going on. The premiere ended on what felt like an intriguing enough of cliffhanger to warrant a live-watching of the second episode (I'm definitely DVRing the entire season).

So yes, I think this time Whedon's got enough material to rope in the hardcore and casual fans alike. There is also some question about whether Coulson is really what he thinks he. I just also hope Smulders stays on as a regular, especially since this is the last season of How I Met Your Mother. Unless she turns out to have been an extraterrestrial alien stalking Ted Mosby the whole time.

Celebs Who Married Their High School Sweethearts

Breaking up may be hard to do, but staying in a relationship can be even harder. This goes doubly true in the entertainment world, which is basically a cesspool of temptation as it is. Some celeb couples have stood the test of time and have been with their partners since they were just the lame drama kids and skinny, wannabe rock stars in their senior classes. To these rare couples, we salute you.


Jeff Daniels & Kathleen Treado
Jeff Daniels is coming off the high of an Emmy win, but his real win is his relationship with his wife, Kathleen Treado. The couple’s story plays like a rom-com: they met at high school in a small Michigan town, fell in love, got their careers going, and finally got married at twenty-four years old (aka 1979).
Paula Patton & Robin Thicke
Before he had topless women dance around him in music videos and was grinding with a young twerker with a lizard tongue at the VMAs (but not taking any flack for it), Robin Thicke was just another dorky celebrity son. He met Paula Patton when he was fourteen and she was fifteen, and serenaded her at a teen night club. (What are those and how come we didn’t have any?) Though the couple dated throughout high school and college, they didn’t get married until fifteen years later.
Snoop Dogg and Shante Taylor
Snoop Dogg and his wife have had a rollercoaster ride of a marriage, but they’ve managed to make it out together. Snoop met Shante Taylor at their Long Beach high school and after 2 kids together, married in 1997. In 2004, Snoop filed for divorce, but by 2008 the couple was back together, renewing their wedding vows.
Bono & Ali StewartBono met Ali Stewart when they were fifteen and have been together ever since. Stewart was with Bono during the death of his mother and supported his burgeoning interest in music and performing. They didn’t know it then, but Bono would end up fronting one of the biggest Irish rock bands in the world, and the couple would remain together since their marriage in 1982.
Jon Bon Jovi & Dorthea Hurley
Jon Bon Jovi is basically the Paul Newman of the rock world, preferring to stay a one-woman man than skank around with every groupie that he sees. After dating all of high school, the couple waited another 9 years to get married, which they did by eloping to Las Vegas in 1989. Almost thirty years and four children later, the couple is still going strong.

Stars Turned PETA Fugitives

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) are notorious for their in-your-face advocacy of vegetarianism and anti-fur campaigns. Love them or hate them, PETA does not back down when they see celebrities wearing or doing things that conflict with their beliefs, and they have proved themselves to be the Enemy No. 1 when it comes to stars that love draping themselves with dead animals. Here are some of the celebs on PETA’s Most Wanted list.


Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Lohan is a repeat offender when it comes to PETA, having her own page on PETA's blog dedicated to her love of all products animal skin. In 2008, she was famously floured outside of a nightclub in Paris for wearing fur, while the flourer yelled, “Lindsay Lohan – fur hag!” What makes this even better is that PETA’s blog entry about the event starts off golden: “Lindsay Lohan’s tan turned noticeably paler tonight...”
Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton is also no stranger to the wrath of PETA. Not only is Hilton a fan of fur, but she was also notorious for collecting animals like they were accessories, only to toss them away once their novelty wore off. Hilton further angered PETA in 2009 when she bought a pot-bellied pig, which is known to need a great deal of care that Hilton historically proved that she can't provide. We don’t know what’s up with the pig, but hopefully it’s gone all Lord Of the Flies on her.
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian is another celeb who got floured and called a “fur hag” due to her love of wearing fur. Though PETA allegedly wasn’t behind it (of course not, it was PETA Black Ops), they made no secret of loving watching the socialite/sex tape star get doused with flour. What makes Kim look even stupider is the fact that her sister, Khloe, posed for an anti-fur campaign for PETA, which Kim very publicly supported. Whoops.
Lady Gaga
Gaga has 2 lengthy pages on PETA’s blog dedicated to her hypocrisy of stating that she is anti-fur, even though she’s been seen in not only fur coats, but also a little meat dress she wore at the 2010 VMAs that you might recall. Gaga is pretty notorious for being, well, attention-deprived, and her love of wearing gross things is probably not going to go away any time soon.
Beyoncé
No stranger to wearing fur, Beyonce has incurred PETA’s fury many a-times. But it’s not just the fur that PETA has an issue with – Beyoncé has worn the flesh of many types of animals on her body, including pythons, iguanas, crocodiles, calf hairs, anacondas, stringrays, ostriches (those last 4 are just what her shoe line is made out of), and just about every other exotic and/or endangered animal out there. Pretty gross, Bey.
Olsen Twins
If there’s one thing to love PETA for, it’s some of the nicknames they come up with for their celebs. Case in point – the Olsen twins, or, as PETA likes to call them, the Trollsens. Individually, they refer to the twins as Hairy Kate and Trashley, due to their unashamed love for fur. PETA tried for years to get Mary Kate and Ashley to give up the fur, and eventually starting an official campaign to shame the girls into ditching their fur clothes. The campaign was compelling, but the Trollse – er, Olsens keep on keeping on with their fur.

On The Couch: A Vampire Who Needs a Little Freud

You’d think having an eternity to work out your issues would mean vamps are kind of centered. All that down time, centuries of personal growth, sex whenever you want it. But anyone who digs into the genre quickly learns that 21st century vampires like to suffer.


If a metaphor for human conflict ever haunted the airwaves, that would be Vampire Diaries' Stefan Salvatore. Okay, he's a perennial teenager, but he's so past puberty he could be living on the perks. So what's with all the Adjustment Disorders?
Sure, you're smarter than everyone, and your girlfriend is a depressive. But you're more handsome than anyone in your class, and could have any girl. Although, come to think of it, you're perfect for each other. Conflicted, sullen, and you both mumble a lot.



BOLLYWOOD UPDATES


Meet Vidya Balan, the lady James Bond

Mumbai: Actress Vidya Balan, who will be seen as a women detective in ‘Bobby Jasoos’, says those who want to see the female James Bond should see her.
"If you all want to see the lady James Bond, then I am right here," said Vidya - without revealing much - when asked about ‘Bobby Jasoos’.
To be directed by Sameer Shaikh and produced by Dia Mirza and Sahil Sangha, ‘Bobby Jasoos’ will go on floors by mid-November.
Looking slimmer, the actress said the weight loss was for ‘Shaadi Ke Side Effects’.
Vidya said: "For `Dirty Picture` and `Ghanchakkar` I had to gain weight. In `Shaadi Ke Side Effects` I play a urban girl and the film demanded a particular body type, so I have lost the weight that I gained for my previous films."
‘Shaadi Ke Side Effects’ will see the fresh pair of Viday and Farhan Akhtar. The actress was all praise for her co-star.
"I have seen `Bhaag Milkha Bhaag` and the perfection and dedication Farhan has done for the film is commendable. I am a huge fan of Farhan Akhtar. There is so much to learn from him."

Sonam persuades dad Anil Kapoor to socialise online


Sonam Kapoor, who is active on social networking websites, wants her father Anil Kapoor to do the same.
Anil recently joined microblogging website Twitter and now Sonam is coaxing her father to join Facebook as well as Instagram.
"When `24` came along, it gave Anil a reason to be more interactive with his audience. So much so that he finally gave in to the social media wagon...This time Sonam is on a mission to coax her dad to get him on Facebook and Instagram," said a source close the actress.
The 28-year-old has a high fan following on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Salman Khan to start 'Hero' remake next year


Mumbai: Actor-producer Salman Khan, who is all set to produce the remake of Subhash Ghai`s hit film ‘Hero’, will start rolling the cameras for the movie by early next year.
A 1983 film, ‘Hero’ was directed by Subhash Ghai and featured Jackie Shroff and Meenakshi Sheshadri, who were new at that time.
"Yes, I am very happy that `Hero` is being remade and Salman Khan and his team will certainly do a good job. The film will be directed by Nikhil Advani and it will go on floors by early 2014," Ghai said.
To be the first film being made under Salman Khan Productions, it will reportedly star Aditya Pancholi`s son Sooraj and Suniel Shetty`s daughter Athiya in the lead roles.

Mallika Sherawat injured on ‘The Bachelorette India - Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika’ set


New Delhi: The transition from Bollywood to television was literally painful for Mallika Sherawat.
The actress, who will feature in reality show ‘The Bachelorette India - Mere Khayalon Ki Mallika’, had reportedly fallen from a bike and hurt herself while shooting for the show`s promo.
"When Mallika was shooting for the promo, an unforeseen incident happened with her. The moment the bike accelerated, Mallika lost control and fell from it. Not just this, the sari got stuck in the wheel and unfortunately got torn," said a source close to the production house.
"She faced minor bruises but her spirit was undeterred. She immediately got up and to everyone`s surprise, created no fuss and agreed to re-shoot," the source added.
The dating reality show, based on the internationally popular format of ‘The Bachelor’, focusses on finding a match for the actress among 30 contestants.

Sidharth Malhotra finishes 'Hasee Toh Phasee'


Mumbai: Sidharth Malhotra has recently finished shooting for his second movie ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’ with Parineeti Chopra. The actor is eagerly waiting for the release of the romantic comedy.
"The shoot was completed by shooting the last song of the film at a location in Juhu (Mumbai suburb). The entire shoot of the film has been a great journey for Sidharth and is now looking forward for the film`s official release," said a source close to the actor.
Dharma Productions has co-produced the film with Phantom Production, while Vinil Matthew has directed ‘Hasee Toh Phasee’.

Vidya Balan to return as IFFM face for third year


Melbourne: Bollywood actress Vidya Balan is returning as the brand ambassador of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne for the third year in a row.
Balan`s name was announced during the Victorian government`s trade mission to India. The 35-year-old actress is best known for her powerpacked performances in films like `Parineeta`, `The Dirty Picture` and `Kahaani`.
"The Victorian Coalition Government will extend its support for the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne by one year, reinforcing the strong bond that exists between the Victorian and Indian screen industries," said Louise Asher, minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business.
"I am delighted to announce that Indian film star Vidya Balan will return as the Festival`s Ambassador," Asher said.
Balan also expressed her delight to be back as the brand ambassador for the festival.
"The festival is close to my heart as it provides a perfect platform for young and upcoming film makers and showcases the best of films not only from India but also our neighbouring countries," the actress said.
The next year`s festival will also include four award categories including Best direction, Best performance and Best film.
"I am very excited about the festival now having a competitive edge with the four awards that have been announced. It is always very gratifying to get recognition and appreciation for our work and to have that from a foreign audience in a foreign country makes it all the more special," Balan added.
Festival Director, Mitu Bhowmick Lange, expressing her happiness over Balan`s re-appointment, said, "We are delighted to welcome the transcendent Vidya Balan back as our Festival Ambassador for IFFM 2014. With IFFM becoming a competitive festival from next year, we look forward to widening the scope and reach of the festival, and showcasing a vibrant program for 2014."
Asher said the state government was looking forward to future realisation of film and television production currently being developed through the Government`s Victoria-India co-production initiative.
"Such projects play a big part in both cultural and business connections, which is why the Victorian Government is committed to growing our screen industry and growing the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne," Asher said.