Florida Moves to Dissolve Disney’s Special District over Company’s Stand Against ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Law

BY Shrija Ganguly On April 22, 2022

Florida legislature passed a bill, on Thursday, to dissolve special districts in the state, including Reedy Creek, which governs Walt Disney World, in retaliation for the company’s denouncement of the recently passed ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law.

The new bill abolishing all special districts established before 1968 in the state was passed by a 70-38 vote in the House, after the Senate approved it on Wednesday.

The bill will next be taken up by Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into a law. It is to be noted that DeSantis had expanded the state’s special session to include measures aimed at punishing Disney.

The multimedia company denounced the controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law, last month, following a lot of outcry over its previous silence, including a walkout staged by the employees protesting the company’s lack of action.

Officially called the Parental Rights in Education bill, the legislation limits discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

“Florida’s HB 1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should have never been passed nor be signed into law. Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that,” stated Disney, after the bill was passed as a law.

The step that Florida legislature’s has now taken to punish the media giant for its stand could put an end to one of the most profitable ventures for both Disney and the state.

What are special districts?

A special district in Florida is a unit of local government that is created for a special purpose and has the jurisdiction to operate within a limited geographic boundary.

While there are over 1800 special districts across Florida, only six of these will be affected by the new bill, which seeks to dissolve “any independent special district established by a special act prior to the date of ratification of the Florida Constitution on November 5, 1968.”

What is the Reedy Creek?

The Reedy Creek Improvement District, or RCID, governs the recreational space of Walt Disney World. Sprawling across 25000 acres of property in Central Florida, the resort sits in the Orange and Osceola counties.

“In 1967 the Florida State legislature, working with Walt Disney World Company, created a special taxing district – called the Reedy Creek Improvement District – that would act with the same authority and responsibility as a county government,” says RCID’s official website.

According to a CNN report, Reedy Creek was Walt Disney’s initiative towards establishing a self-governing space, after it had issues with the government of Anaheim, California, at its Disneyland park, that was completed a decade earlier.

The special district includes four theme parks, two water parks, one sports complex, 175 lane miles of roadway, 67 miles of waterway, and the cities of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista.

How does Reedy Creek’s dissolution impact the people there?

Disney has been solely responsible for the costs of providing typical municipal services like power, water, roads, fire protection etc, in Reedy Creek and the residents of Orange and Osceola counties were exempted from paying for the same.

It is reported that if the bill gets passed into a law, this burden might get shifted back on the tax-paying residents of those counties, who might also have to take on the debts of Reedy Creek as well as ensure the maintenance of services.

“The debt service alone for Reedy Creek is over a billion dollars. This bill makes no provision as to how that debt service is going to be assumed. Local government entities must pick up assets and liabilities of any special district that is dissolved,” State Senator Gary Farmer told CNN.

The future of the taxpayers in Florida is still unclear, and Republican sponsors only suggested that the legislature could work through the logistics of the dissolution over the next year.

As per the bill, the special districts will be dissolved on June 1, 2023.

“Let’s Burn Amber,” Johnny Depp Wrote to Paul Bettany in a Text Message

BY Shrija Ganguly On April 22, 2022

Johnny Depp sent hate-filled text messages about his ex-wife Amber Heard to his friend, actor Paul Bettany, referring to her with profanities in them. This was revealed during Depp’s cross-examination by Heard’s lawyers on day seven of the ongoing defamation trial.

“Let’s burn Amber,” Depp wrote in one of the text messages, and added, “Let’s drown her before we burn her!!!”

“I will fuck her burnt corpse afterwards, to make sure she’s dead,” Depp further wrote.

Heard’s lawyer J Benjamin Rottenborn also disclosed that Depp had referred to his ex-wife as an “idiot cow,” “ugly cunt,” and “worthless hooker,” in separate text messages to unnamed individuals.

Defending himself, Depp said, “[In] the heat of the pain I was feeling, I went to dark places.”

He also admitted to partaking drugs with Bettany, who is known for playing Vision in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and singer Marilyn Manson.

Depp testified on behalf of himself on Tuesday in the $50 million libel case he has filed against Heard. He has been on the stand since in the trial, which is the latest development in the ongoing legal battle between the former couple, which began when Heard filed for divorce in 2016 accusing Depp of domestic abuse.

While the duo had reached a settlement on their divorce in 2017, Heard subsequently wrote an opinion piece in The Washington Post, sharing her experiences as a domestic abuse survivor, in December 2018. Even though she had kept Depp’s name out of it, the latter slapped her with the defamation suit that is now being tried.

During the hearing on Thursday, Heard’s legal team also brought up Depp’s UK libel case against The Sun, for calling him a ‘wife-beater’, a few years ago. That defamation suit against The Sun was quashed, and in its ruling the UK court had noted that Heard’s allegations of domestic abuse were true, in most instances.

Heard’s lawyers noted that Depp had confirmed during The Sun libel case that he had supplied drugs to Bettany, including Xanax, on occasion.

Depp was dropped from big-budget projects like Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean as well as the new Fantastic Beasts film, in wake of Heard’s allegations, and in the current defamation suit, Depp claims her op-ed piece had resulted in his ousting from these movies.

Heard’s lawyers, however, contend that it was Depp’s unprofessional behaviour and his refusal to quit drugs and alcohol that lost him the projects, and not Heard’s allegations. It is for this reason that they are delving into his substance abuse history.

In his testimony on Tuesday, Depp admitted that had done “every drug known to him” by the time he was 15, but claimed that he did not continue to use and added that he was always sober on film sets. On Thursday, Rottenborn shared a text message between Depp and a nurse, which contradicted the actor’s claim that he was sober on the sets. In the message, the actor had said that he was “high as a motherfucker” during the shoot of the 2015 film Black Mass.

Earlier, on Wednesday, Heard’s team also noted that Disney had decided to remove Depp from the Pirates of the Caribbean film, before her op-ed piece was published, thus refuting the claim that her article had resulted in his ousting. Rottenborn cited an October 2018 report from the Daily Mail, according to which Depp was “out as Jack Sparrow.”

“I wasn’t aware of that, but it doesn’t surprise me. Two years had gone by of constant worldwide talk about me being this wife beater. So, I’m sure that Disney was trying to cut ties to be safe. The Me Too movement was in full swing at that point,” Depp responded.

Depp also testified that his daughter Lily-Rose believed that Heard was a good influence on him, for a brief period of time. Heard’s team further claimed that Depp did not spend much time with his children, until Heard came around.

The cross-examination of Depp is expected to continue on Monday at the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia.

Over the coming weeks, other celebrities like James Franco and Elon Musk are also expected to appear at the trial to give their testimonies.

Filmmaker K Bhagyaraj Apologises for Slamming PM Modi’s Critics as Prematurely-Born Babies

BY Anusha Sundar On April 21, 2022

Tamil filmmaker-actor K Bhagyaraj issued a video apology on Wednesday, after his speech lashing out at critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and likening them to prematurely-born babies, drew flak on social media.

The filmmaker made the comments at the launch event for the book Prime Minister’s People’s Welfare Schemes – New India 2022 at the BJP head office in Chennai, earlier on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, Bhagyaraj said, “I am giving a small tip for Modi ji. He should consider those who criticise him as those born prematurely (kura prasavam) at three months. I am saying this because they don’t speak good nor hear the good others have to say.”

He went on to say, “The mouth of a foetus is only formed in the fourth month of pregnancy and the ears during the fifth month. That is why I am saying these people are like premature babies born at three months. We should think of people who criticise wrongly as those whose ears and mouth are not developed.”

Bhagyaraj’s comments were met with applause and laughter from the audience.

The filmmaker also praised Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai and said he has heard positive things about him and opined that he is the right person to head BJP in the state.

Bhagyaraj’s “premature baby” comment was called out by many on social media. Deepak Nathan of December 3 NGO that fights for the rights of persons with disabilities also condemned the filmmaker’s statements. “There have been several instances where political leaders have commented on people with disabilities. Should Bhagyaraj make such jokes based on disabilities? There have been people who have achieved much with disabilities, why insult them? Only those who do not understand this, make such comments. I condemn this,” he said.

After Bhagyaraj’s remark was met with widespread outrage, the filmmaker released a video statement in an effort to clarify his statement. “I was shocked when I heard that my comment about prematurely-born babies at today’s function was misinterpreted. There is no relationship between disabled people and those born prematurely. In villages, even a baby born one or two months before the due date is called a prematurely-born child, and this does not imply any disabilities. I apologise to all those who have been hurt by my comments.”

இன்றைய புத்தக வெளியிட்டு விழாவில் நான் பேசிய கருத்துக்களுக்கு என் தன்நிலை விளக்கம். pic.twitter.com/nMlf70kptl

— K Bhagyaraj (@ungalKBhagyaraj) April 20, 2022

The filmmaker also went on to clarify that he is not part of the BJP. “I am not a BJP man. I was born and brought up in Tamil Nadu. I’ve made Tamil films and it is what gave me my livelihood. Dravidian leaders and their ideology are part of my basic fabric and this is reflected in my movies as well. My work will continue to echo these thoughts.”

Earlier, Bhagyaraj has had political stints with both AIADMK and DMK parties, but the filmmaker is currently not actively engaged in politics.

It is to be noted that Bhagyaraj is not the only veteran artist from the Tamil film industry to come under the scanner for his comments on Modi recently. Music composer Ilaiyaraaja too has been receiving backlash since last week for equating the prime minister with social reformer BR Ambedkar, in a foreword he penned for the book Ambedkar & Modi – Reformer’s Ideas, Performer’s Implementation. While BJP supporters backed the musician, several others have criticised him for drawing such a parallel.

Akshay Kumar Steps Down as Tobacco Brand Ambassador, Issues Public Apology after Backlash

BY Anindita Banerjee On April 21, 2022

Akshay Kumar issued an apology to his fans, on Thursday, for his association with a pan masala brand and announced that he will step down from his brand ambassador role for the same.

In a note, the Sooryavanshi actor wrote, “I am sorry. I would like to apologise to you, all my fans and well-wishers. Your reaction over the past few days has deeply affected me. While I have not and will not endorse tobacco, I respect the outpouring of your feelings in light of my association with Vimal Elaichi. With all humility, I step back. I have decided to contribute the entire endorsement fee towards a worthy cause. The brand might continue airing the ads till the legal duration of the contract that is binding upon me, but I promise to be extremely mindful in making my future choices. In return, I shall forever continue to ask for your love and wishes.”

Recently, Kumar received flak after his advertisement for the pan masala brand aired. Several social media users criticised his decision to be the brand ambassador of the product and pointed out how he had earlier said he would never do such ads. An old video of the actor talking about not promoting such brands went viral too.

To date, actors such as Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, and Shah Rukh Khan advertise for pan masala brands such as Vimal Elaichi and Kamla Pasand.

Last year, actor Amitabh Bachchan terminated his advertising contract with Kamla Pasand after the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) requested him to refrain from endorsing a pan masala brand to help prevent youngsters from getting addicted to tobacco. Bachchan had announced his withdrawal from the advertising campaign on his 79th birthday, saying that he wasn’t aware that it was surrogate advertisement.

Meanwhile, actor Allu Arjun, who starred in the recent hit film Pushpa, reportedly turned down a pan masala brand endorsement as he did not want his fans to watch the ad and start consuming the product.

The pan masala market in India reached a value of Rs 45,585 crore in 2020. Research firm IMARC Group expects the market to touch Rs 69,518 crore by 2026.

Amber Heard ‘Grossly Embellished’ His Substance Abuse, Says Johnny Depp on Day 5 of Defamation Trial

BY Shrija Ganguly On April 20, 2022

Johnny Depp has testified that the characterisation of his substance abuse by his ex-wife Amber Heard is “grossly embellished” and termed her allegations against him “plainly false,” on day five of the ongoing defamation trial.

The actor went on to add, “I think that it was an easy target for her to hit. Because once you have trusted somebody for a certain amount of years, and you have told them all the secrets of your life, that information then of course can be used against you.”

Depp testified on behalf of himself on Tuesday in the $50 million libel case he has filed against Heard. This trial is the latest in the ongoing legal battle between the two. Heard had filed for divorce in 2016 alleging domestic abuse at the hands of Depp.

While the couple reached a settlement, subsequently, in December 2018, Heard had written an opinion piece in The Washington Post, sharing her experiences as a domestic abuse survivor. Even though she had kept Depp’s name out of it, the latter had slapped her with the defamation suit, claiming that her article had impacted his career. Depp had been dropped from big-budget projects like Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean as well as the new Fantastic Beasts film, following Heard’s allegations.

Heard’s lawyers had argued on the first day of trial that it was Depp’s unprofessional behaviour and his refusal to quit drugs and alcohol that lost him the projects, and not Heard’s allegations. They claimed that Depp had once gone without food for days, and just lived on drugs and alcohol before blacking out, resulting in his long absence from the sets of a film that he was working on.

In response, Depp, on Tuesday, testified about his history of substance abuse, which he said had its roots in his abusive childhood. He mentioned that he had first resorted to drugs at the age of 11, in a bid to escape the trauma of his abuse by his mother, Betty Sue, who “had the ability to be as cruel as anyone can be.”

He said that when he was four or five years old, his mother had asked him to fetch her, what he called, ‘nerve pills’. “She seemed to calm down after taking them. I wanted to calm down when I was 11. I didn’t know how to, so I gulped down the pills, to escape caring and feeling, to escape the chaotic nature of what we were living through.”

Depp recalled instances of physical abuse when his mother flung an ashtray at him and when he was beaten up with a high-heeled shoe. “But the verbal and psychological abuse was worse,” Depp said, adding that his mother also bullied him, and called him “cock eye” or “one eye” because of an abnormality in his left eye.

Noting that he had done every drug known to him by the time he was 15, Depp claimed that he did not continue. And on film sets, Depp said, he maintained sobriety. “There have been no moments where I would have been considered out of control.”

On first day of the trial, Heard’s team had also accused Depp of sexual assault, stating that he had penetrated her with a liquor bottle once.

At Tuesday’s hearing, Depp said the “heinous and disturbing criminal acts” described by Heard were not based on any “species of truth.”

While he did confirm that the couple had had arguments when they were together, he said that he never reached a point where he struck Heard.

Depp’s statement so early on in the trial is unusual for a plaintiff. But the actor said, “I wanted to clear my children off this horrid thing.”

He added, “I had to stand up for my children, who were 14 and 16 (back in 2016), and were in high school. I think that it was diabolical that my children would have to go to school, and have their friends, or people in the school, approach them with the infamous People Magazine cover, with Ms Heard with a dark bruise on her face.”

He said that with his own childhood experience of abuse, he “knew exactly how to raise children.”

The actor has two children with French singer and actor Vanessa Paridis, Jack Depp and Lily-Rose Depp.

Aside from Depp, his long-time friend and sound technician Keenan Wyatt also testified on Tuesday.

Wyatt and Depp have worked together on over ten projects, including all the five Pirates of the Caribbean films, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Rum Diary.

Wyatt testified that the shooting of the fifth instalment of Pirates of the Caribbean had to be stalled for weeks after Depp had severed his fingertip, and added that the actor would turn up late to the sets, owing to his disputes with Heard.

Heard’s representatives, during the cross-examination, pointed out that Wyatt’s name was mentioned in every film contract of Depp’s, which covered his transportation as well as accommodation costs while shooting for a film. They further said that Depp negotiated Wyatt’s rates, despite the latter claiming that his hourly rates were determined by the union.

Wyatt, however, maintained that he was unaware of his inclusion in Depp’s contract terms.

The trial will continue to unfold at the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia over the next five weeks. Depp is set to continue with his statement, followed by the defence’s cross-examination, on Wednesday.

Other celebrities like James Franco, Paul Bettany, and Elon Musk are also expected to appear over the course of the trial.

Veteran Filmmaker T Rama Rao Dies at 83

BY Anusha Sundar On April 20, 2022

Tatineni Rama Rao, the veteran director and producer who worked in the Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil film industries, died during the early hours of Wednesday in Chennai. He was 83.

The filmmaker, who resided in T Nagar, Chennai, died at around 12.30 am on Wednesday due to age-related issues.

Rao began his journey in cinema as an assistant director under filmmakers T Prakash Rao and Kotayya Pratyagatma. He made his directorial debut in 1966 with the Telugu remake of the Tamil film, Navarathri, under the same title. It starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Savitri.

He went on to direct many more Telugu films, starring actors such as Jayalalitha, Sobhan Babu, Anjali Devi, NT Rama Rao, and Jaya Prada, before making his Hindi directorial debut with the 1979 film Lok Parlok. It was a remake of his own Telugu movie Yamagola.

It is to be noted that Rao’s Hindi filmography primarily comprises of remakes of Telugu and Tamil films, such as Jeevan Dhaara (Aval Oru Thodar Kathai), Andhaa Kaanoon (Sattam Oru Iruttarai), John Jani Janardhan (Moondru Mugam), and Maang Bharo Sajana (Karthika Deepam), among others.

Over the course of about 50 films as a director, Rao worked with celebrated actors like Rajinikanth, Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan, NT Rama Rao, Sridevi, Jayasudha, Jeetendra, Dharmendra, Sanjay Dutt, Anil Kapoor, Govinda, and Mithun Chakraborty.

Rao notably introduced Rajinikanth to the Hindi film industry with Andhaa Kaanoon in 1983.

His last film as a director was the Hindi film Beti No. 1 (2000).

Rao also backed Tamil films under the banner of Sri Lakshmi Productions. He produced movies starring actors such as Vikram, Vijay, Jayam Ravi, and Vishal. His productions included films like Dhil, Youth, Arul, Something Something Unakum Enakum, and Malaikotai.

Aside from his film career, Rao also served as the chairman of Madras Hydraulic Hose Pvt Ltd, a manufacturer of stainless steel flexible corrugated hoses.

Actor Anupam Kher condoled Rao’s demise in social media and wrote, “Deeply saddened to know about the demise of veteran filmmaker and a dear friend Shri T Rama Rao ji. I had the privilege of working with him in Aakhri Raasta and Sansaar. He was compassionate, commanding and had a great sense of humour. My condolences to his family! Om Shanti!”

Rao’s last rites are scheduled to take place at Kannammapet crematorium in Chennai at 4 pm on Wednesday. He is survived by his wife Tatineni Jayashree and children Chamundeswari, Naga Suuseela and Ajay.

On Surekha Sikri’s Birth Anniversary, Remembering a Few of Her Iconic Roles

BY Anindita Banerjee On April 19, 2022

A renowned theatre veteran, a versatile actor on the big screen, a star on the small screens, and a three-time National Film Award winner, Surekha Sikri was undoubtedly one of the most talented personalities in the Indian film industry. The veteran actor, who died at the age of 76 after suffering a cardiac arrest last year, started her film career in 1978 with the film Kissaa Kursee Kaa and went on to do many memorable roles in a career spanning over 40 years.

Sikri was last seen in the Netflix anthology Ghost Stories (2020), in director Zoya Akhtar’s short film and won her last National award for her performance in Badhaai Ho (2018). Even while doing supporting roles, Sikri managed to make her presence on screen unforgettable. She will be remembered for her acting prowess and sheer enthralling screen presence and her contribution to the world of cinema will continue to live on.

On her birth anniversary, Silverscreen India brings to you a list of her most memorable performances…

Mammo (1994)

Sikri played the role of Fayyuzi in this Shyam Benegal film that won her her second National Film Award. The film saw her play the role of the protagonist’s grandmother who has an encounter with her long-lost sister, Mammo, unexpectedly. The story dealt with how the partition affected society and Sikri gave a performance that many consider her career best.

Tamas (1988)

Based on Bhisham Sahni’s Hindi novel, the period television film directed by Govind Nihalani, saw Sikri play the role of Rajo. Sikri won a National Award for the her performance in the film. Set in the backdrop of the partition, this heart-wrenching story received much critical appreciation and established the late actor’s brilliance on screen.

Zubeidaa (2001)

Sikri reprised her role as Fayyuzi in this final part of Benegal’s trilogy. Even though this one did not give her much screen time, she managed to shine even in the few scenes where she appeared as the protagonist’s grandmother. The film even went on to win a National Award.

Hari Bhari (2000)

By the 2000s Sikri had already established herself as an acting powerhouse and her choice of scripts spoke volumes too. She went for powerful stories and characters without looking at screen time and focusing on her screen space. Hari Bhari revolved around the stories of 5 different women and their struggles with reproductive rights. It talked about the woes of women who were penalised for not bearing a male child. Another Benegal and Sikri collaboration, this film also featured Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das among others.

Parinati (1986)

Directed by Prakash Jha, this film is based on a Rajasthani folk tale which revolves around Ganesh, a potter, his wife Kurja (played by Sikri), and Lachman, their son. Parinati spoke about the ills of greed and the price one has to pay when one becomes excessively greedy. The film may have shown us a different shade of Sikri, but it was a shade much appreciated by the critics and audience.

Badhaai Ho (2018)

This film became popular not only because of its groundbreaking story but also for the brilliant performances of all the actors. Sikri played the role of Ayushmann Khurrana‘s grandmother and was immensely liked for her character’s bitter-sweet personality. She won her third National Award for this part and was even given a standing ovation as she came in her wheelchair to receive the award.

Balika Vadhu (2008)

This list cannot be complete without an honourable mention of Sikri’s most iconic role of all time – Dadisa in Balika Vadhu. She was seen as the strict widow grandmother and portrayed the rural Rajasthani matriarch flawlessly.

Narayan K Das Narang, Telugu Film Producer, Dies at 76

BY Anusha Sundar On April 19, 2022

Narayan K Das Narang, the Telugu film producer, financier, exhibitor, and acting president of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce, died at a private hospital in Hyderabad around 9.04 am on Tuesday. He was 76.

As per a statement issued by Narang’s office, the producer was unwell for a while and had been under treatment at Star Hospital in Hyderabad.

Born on July 27, 1946, Narang has produced Telugu films like Love Story and Lakshya, to name a few. Although Narang worked predominantly in the Telugu film industry as a producer, financier, and distributor, he had also financed prominent films in Hindi, and Tamil. Narang also served as a distributor in the Nizam region of Telangana and was part of Telugu production house SVCC, which has backed films such as Chatrapathi (2005), Solo Brathuke So Better (2020), and Ninnila Ninnila (2021). He was also associated with setting up several multiplexes like AMB Cinemas, AVD Cinemas, and AAA cinemas.

Speaking to Silverscreen India about Narang, Anupam Reddy, Secretary of the Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce, said, “He was a gentleman and had worked as a distributor during the time of veteran actors Akkineni Nageswara Rao and NT Rama Rao. He is a very senior person and can be called one of the pioneers of Telugu film distribution. His thoughts were ahead of his time and he was a visionary. He was a dynamic, process-oriented thinker who was also very down-to-earth. ”

Narang had also been announced as the producer of a few upcoming films like Ghost starring Nagarjuna and the multilingual film starring Dhanush and Sivakarthikeyan (SK 20).

Actor Mahesh Babu tweeted that he was “shocked and saddened” by Narang’s demise and called him a “prolific figure in film industry”. “His absence will be deeply felt. A privilege to have known and worked with him. His vision and passion for cinema is an inspiration for many of us. Strength and condolences to his family and loved ones,” the actor tweeted.

Narang is survived by two sons and a daughter. His sons Sunil Narang and Bharath Narang are also film producers.

The final rites of the late producer will take place at 4 pm on Tuesday at the Mahaprasthanam crematorium in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad.

Johnny Depp To Testify On Behalf Of Himself At The Ongoing Defamation Trial Against Amber Heard

BY Shrija Ganguly On April 19, 2022

Johnny Depp will testify on behalf of himself on Tuesday, Deadline has reported. The actor’s statement will be heard amidst an ongoing trial after Depp filed a defamation suit against ex-wife Amber Heard over an op-ed piece from 2018.

Depp will continue on the stand on Wednesday for cross-examination, the report added.

Heard filed for divorce in 2016 alleging domestic abuse at the hands of Depp. The couple has been engaged in a $50 million legal battle which has culminated in the ongoing trial.

The first day of the trial that started on April 11, saw Heard’s team allege Depp of sexual assault. Depp’s side continued to deny the allegations and instead, claimed that the actor’s film career was jeopardised due to Heard’s allegations which they called a hoax.

The latest developments include statements from two medical practitioners, namely, Dr David Kipper and Debra Lynn Lloyd.

As of Monday, both Kipper and Lloyd testified that although they found Depp injured, once, they never saw any physical injuries on Heard.

Kipper recalled an instance from 2015, when Depp suffered an injury while he was in Australia for the shoot of his film Pirates of the Caribbean. Both Kipper and Lloyd were called to Depp’s residence after the incident which had left Depp with a severed fingertip. Kipper said that he claeaned the wound before taking Depp to the Emergency Room.

He added that there was broken glass and blood around the house, and that the chef had found the severed fingertip in the kitchen.

“He said he found it in the kitchen area,” Kipper said as he testified on video.

Lloyd confirmed the same, and added that Depp had to undergo a surgery after the fingertip was recovered.

She further testified that she had found Depp’s house to be a mess, upon her arrival. “I remember there was some writing on the wall and I remember a smashed TV.”

Lloyd also acknowledged that she heard conflicting accounts of what had transpired. “I had heard that Amber threw a bottle of vodka at him, I had heard that he slammed it with a phone.”

It is to be noted that a similar statement was made by another witness, Sean Bett, who is a part of Depp’s security team and testified after Lloyd. However, Bett was cut off by Judge Penney Azcarate, and was asked to not indulge in statements that he gathered from hearsay.

Both Kipper and Lloyd were brought in to help Depp deal with his drug abuse problems. According to Kipper’s diagnosis, Depp dealt with primary dopamine imbalance, ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), depression, insomnia, chronic substance abuse disorder, and chronic reflux. The doctor also recalled quitting Depp’s case after the actor failed to follow drug and alcohol protocols.

Depp later reconnected with Kipper and continued to be his patient, till date.

Kipper and Lloyd also testified to another incident from August 2014, during Depp’s detoxification process. In fact, Lloyd’s notes which were taken while she was taking care of Depp, suggested that Depp and Heard had regular fights. She added that she was usually called after the fights were over to provide Depp with medication and emotional support.

However, last week, the former couple’s therapist Dr Laurel Anderson had testified that both Depp and Heard engaged in mutual abuse, according to a BBC report.

She went on to highlight the history of abuse that was faced by both Depp and Heard, and said that Depp was “well controlled” until he met Heard. “With Ms Heard, he was triggered,” she said.

Anderson further added that during her sessions with just Heard, the actor had turned up with several small bruises on her face, and had reported physical abuse at the hands of Depp.

The trial continues to unfold at the Fairfax County Courthouse in Virginia, over the next six weeks, and is being broadcast live.

Apart from Depp, his longtime friend and sound technician Keenan Wyatt is also expected to testify on Tuesday.

Others like James Franco, Paul Bettany, and Elon Musk are also expected to appear before the jury.

Kerala HC Dismisses Dileep’s Plea to Quash Murder Conspiracy Case

BY Namrata Ganguly On April 19, 2022

The Kerala High Court, on Tuesday, dismissed a plea filed by actor Dileep seeking to quash an FIR registered against him for allegedly conspiring to murder police officials investigating the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case. Dileep is the alleged chief conspirator in the 2017 case.

Actor Dileep was booked along with five others for allegedly conspiring to kill the police officers who investigated his involvement in the 2017 Female actor abduction and assault case. The FIR was filed based on allegations raised by filmmaker Balachandra Kumar. Dileep had moved the court in February 2022 to either quash the case registered against him or transfer it to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The plea was heard by Justice Ziyad Rahman AA over three days at the end of March. On the third day, after hearing both sides, the judge stated that he would pass the order within one week. He also confirmed with the Director-General of Prosecution (DGP) TA Shaji that the investigation would not be completed before the order is passed.

While refusing to quash the case on Tuesday, the court also refused to transfer the case to the CBI. “…in the absence of any material indicating influence being thrust upon him at the instance of such superior officers, an order for transferring the investigation to another agency cannot be made,” the court said, while dismissing the plea.

In a further investigation of the main case, cybersecurity expert Sai Sankar, who is also the seventh accused in the conspiracy case, during his interrogation on Monday has retrieved crucial files which were earlier deleted from Dileep’s phone. Sankar recovered 10 files including chats from the actor’s phone as per investigators’ instructions. Earlier, the forensic lab, despite multiple attempts, had failed to recover the files, which the investigators claim is a crucial piece of evidence.

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch summoned the eighth accused and actor Dileep’s brother P Anoop and brother-in-law T N Suraj on Tuesday in relation to the case. Anoop arrived at the Aluva Police Club around 11 am on Tuesday for questioning. The duo were initially asked to appear before the Crime Branch last week which they skipped.

Update: On Tuesday, the Kerala High Court also granted the Crime Branch time till May 30 to complete the investigation in the main sexual assault case. On March 8, the court had given time to the agency till April 15 to complete the probe, following which the agency had sought an extension of three more months.

Police Urge Court to Seek Explanation from Dileep Over Confidential Court Documents Found in Phone

BY Namrata Ganguly On April 18, 2022

The police investigating the 2017 actor abduction and sexual assault case, on Monday, urged the Additional Special Sessions Court to seek an explanation from actor Dileep, the alleged chief conspirator in the case, regarding confidential court documents found in his mobile phone, The New Indian Express reported.

This came after the police were set to question court employees regarding the leak of the visuals of the sexual assault in the case. Filmmaker Balachandra Kumar had alleged that Dileep had watched the video of the sexual assault at his house.

The mobile phones of Dileep and his friends were seized after they were booked for allegedly conspiring to kill the police officers who investigated his involvement in the 2017 abduction and sexual assault case.

During forensic analysis, a few confidential court documents were also recovered from the actor’s phone, the police said. On March 30, the police filed a plea requesting permission to question employees of the trial court. The court had, on April 4, granted the investigating team permission to interrogate its staff.

The Kerala Crime branch had summoned cyber expert Sai Sankar for questioning. Sankar is said to have deleted data from actor Dileep‘s mobile phones. He was directed to appear before the Aluva police club on Monday afternoon for the interrogation.

Besides Shankar, the Crime Branch is once again set to question the eighth accused and actor Dileep’s brother P Anoop and brother P Anoop and brother-in-law T N Suraj on Tuesday in relation to the case. Both of them have been asked to report to the Aluva Police Club around 11 am. The duo were initially asked to appear before the Crime Branch last week which they skipped.

The interrogation of actor Kavya Madhavan, wife of actor Dileep, that was supposed to take place last week has been deferred after she insisted that the interrogation should take place at her residence in Aluva.

Actor Amy Schumer Reveals Facing Death Threats For ‘Seat Filler Joke’ on Kirsten Dunst At Oscars 2022

BY Chandhini R On April 17, 2022

Amy Schumer, the American stand-up comedian and actor, revealed that she has been facing death threats from some people after she made the ‘seat filler joke’ on actor Kirsten Dunst at the 2022 Oscars.

Speaking at the radio show hosted by Howard Stern, Schumer said that some people thought that she disrespected Dunst by cracking the joke. A seat filler is a person who fills in an empty seat during an event.

Schumer who was one of the co-hosts at the Academy Awards came down the stage and pretended to think that Dunst, who was nominated for The Power of the Dog, was a mere seat filler. She dismissed Dunst out of her seat and attempted to strike up a conversation with actor Jesse Plemons who was also an Oscar nominee. When Plemons noted that Dunst was his wife, Schumer reacted as if she didn’t know that and thought Dunst was a seat filler.

When this sparked controversy, Schumer took to her social media handle to clarify her stance. She wrote, “Hey I appreciate the love for Kirsten Dunst. I love her too! That was a choreographed bit she was in on,” Schumer wrote in a note shared on her Instagram Story on Monday. “Wouldn’t disrespect that queen like that.”

Later, on the Howard Stern Show, she said that she came forward with this response to fans because the death threats she was getting over the joke were out of control.

“They were so bad the Secret Service reached out to me about that bit, ” she said, adding that Schumer noted the Los Angeles Police Department was also in contact with her over the threats she faced.

Schumer noted that she made sure to reach out to all of her joke targets to give them a heads up and know if they are ok with it. She mentioned that she seven reached out to Leonardo DiCaprio about the joke involving him dating younger women. Schumer said, DiCaprio, replied, “Go ahead.”

Meanwhile reacting to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on stage, Schumer first addressed on social media that she was still “triggered and traumatized” by the incident. While she faced backlash for this comment, she clarified her opinion on Stern’s show. She said, “People made fun of me for saying it was traumatizing. I don’t think it was traumatizing for me. I think it was traumatizing for all of us.”

Female Actor Assault Case: Cyber Expert Sai Sankar Who Deleted Data From Actor Dileep’s Phone Summoned For Questioning on Monday

BY Chandhini R On April 17, 2022

In a further investigation into the 2017 female actor abduction and sexual assault case, the Kerala Crime branch has summoned cyber expert Sai Sankar for questioning. Sankar is said to have deleted the data from actor Dileep‘s mobile phones.

He has been directed to appear before the Aluva police club on Monday afternoon for the interrogation. It may be noted that Dileep is currently under trial as the chief conspirator behind the female actor abduction and sexual assault. He is also being investigated for allegedly plotting to kill officers involved in that case.

Earlier, according to HC order, Dileep and the other accused had submitted their mobile phones as part of the probe in the conspiracy to murder case. The crime branch had stated that data in phones had been tampered with.

Later, it was found that cyber expert Sankar had cleared data from the phones in question. He had reportedly gone to the house of Dileep’s lawyer and had accessed Wi-Fi from there as well as the hotels he had stayed at.

It was said that he was booked as the seventh accused in the conspiracy to the murder case. On April 8, he surrendered to the crime branch and confessed to helping the actor in tampering with evidence.

After being released on bail, in an exclusive interview with a media outlet, he noted that he had given his statements to the police officials.

In his confession, Sankar said, “Dileep had told me what needed to be deleted from the phones in the presence of his counsel. He was present with me for around four to five hours. He said that during a forensic examination, only the data we show should be made visible and the main evidence should not be found. They asked me to remove around 300 to 400 documents. I did not use the shredding method to remove the information. Instead, I loaded junk data. First, we removed the original data and then on top of it, we loaded unimportant data.”

He added that the 12 chats retrieved by the forensic team were fake and the original chats cannot be recovered. “But it is possible for me to retrieve it. On April 11, his confidential statements were documented before the First Class Judicial Magistrate Court II on Monday.

At this juncture, the crime branch has once again sent a notice to Sankar directing him to appear for another interrogation.

Meanwhile, the police are reportedly set to question court employees regarding the alleged leak of the visuals of the sexual assault of the female Malayalam actor who was abducted and assaulted in 2017.

On the other hand, the interrogation of Dileep’s wife Kavya Madhavan which was supposed to take place on Wednesday was deferred over confusion on where she should be questioned. Dileep’s brother Anoop and brother-in-law Sooraj have informed the crime branch that they are ready to appear for interrogation on any day.

Female Actor Assault Case: Police to Question Court Employees over Leaked Visuals of Sexual Assault

BY Namrata Ganguly On April 16, 2022

The police are reportedly set to question court employees regarding the leak of the visuals of the sexual assault on the female Malayalam actor who was abducted and assaulted in 2017. Actor Dileep is facing trial as the chief conspirator in this actor abduction and assault case.

According to sources in the crime branch, two employees of the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court will be interrogated in the first phase. The sheristadar (a court officer) and the clerk who was in charge of keeping material evidence will be the ones questioned.

The police had earlier sought permission to question the court staff after a forensic report revealed that the memory cards containing the visuals of sexual assault, kept in the lower court, were accessed. The hash value of the files in question were changed while they were still in the custody of the court. A ‘hash value’ is a numeric value of fixed length that uniquely identifies data. A change in this value indicates that the files were accessed.

The crime branch had sought the court’s permission to interrogate the staff who were on duty on December 13, 2018, as the forensic report says the hash value was changed on that date.

The court had, on April 4, granted the investigating team permission to interrogate its staff.

The case dates back to February 17, 2017, when a female actor who predominantly works in Malayalam and Kannada cinema was abducted while she was travelling from Kochi to Thrissur in Kerala. She was sexually assaulted in the moving car and then dropped off near the residence of director Lal. Soon after the incident, Pulsar Suni, the driver of the vehicle she was assaulted in, was arrested as the first accused in the case. In June 2017, Pulsar Suni said that actor Dileep had conspired in the assault.

On July 20, 2017, Dileep was arrested as the eighth accused in the case. He was later granted bail that October. Ever since he was let out on bail, the prosecution counsel has alleged that the trial proceedings were being constantly delayed.

At the end of 2021, the case gained momentum again when some serious allegations were levelled against Dileep by filmmaker Balachandra Kumar. The latter alleged that Dileep had watched the video of the sexual assault at his house. Based on this and Kumar’s other allegations, the trial court directed the crime branch to conduct a fresh probe into the case.

The questioning of the court staff is part of this ongoing probe. Earlier, the interrogation of actor Kavya Madhavan, wife of actor Dileep, which was supposed to take place on Wednesday, was deferred over a confusion on where she should be questioned.

‘Schindler’s List’ Child Actor Oliwia Dabrowska on Aiding Ukrainian Refugees

BY Shrija Ganguly On April 16, 2022

Oliwia Dabrowska, the Polish child actor who played ‘the girl in red coat’ in Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993), recently went viral on social media for aiding refugees fleeing the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In a conversation with Silverscreen India, the self-employed copywriter says her casting in the 1993 film about the holocaust was an accident, but her decision to help the Ukrainian refugees was an obvious choice.

“I am against war, in any case. And I couldn’t stay and do nothing when such a big group of people needed help,” she says.

Dabrowska had auditioned for the role, after her mother had come across an advertisement in the paper. She was accompanied by her grandfather.

“I was in this group of girls, and Steven Spielberg chose me. I guess because I was open, bold. I wasn’t shy, I wasn’t afraid. Also, I had bright eyes and blonde hair, and they wanted a girl who looked exactly like that,” she says.

Now, 29 years later, Dabrowska is in the spotlight again, in the midst of a real-life conflict this time – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. She tells us that she has helped over 10000 Ukrainian refugees in association with the organisation GSR UA.

A friend encouraged her to channel her anxiety about the situation into aiding the refugees, and Dabrowska thus began volunteering on February 28, along with her mother.

Their first action as volunteers entailed the transport of refugees from the Polish-Ukrainian border to safer cities inside Poland. “That was the most important thing, then, because there were a lot of refugees but buses weren’t plying and there wasn’t any help from our government, either. The refugees had no options to even commute to the nearest city in Poland,” Dabrowska says.

“Secondly, I joined a group that looked for homes or temporary accommodations for the refugees. I would call a lot of people, check several Facebook groups. I had to spend hours to just check things and search on social media. This was very tough,” she adds.

It was only after she started working with GSR UA, a foundation for refugees, that she decided to use her image from Schindler’s List “to get people from around the world involved.”

However, the idea to do so was not Dabrowska’s own. “I had only started posting about my work, on Instagram, when one of my followers sent me an artwork, the image of the girl in a red coat from the film in blue and yellow print – the colours of Ukraine. We talked a lot and it was his idea to use this image to promote the Ukrainian cause,” she says, and adds that the wider circulation of the image only happened after the American media covered her story.

International media coverage has now catapulted her to global recognition. Dabrowska mentions that she has been swamped with interview requests from press organisations and social media outlets, and is trying to make the most of it.

She now spends much of her time writing, putting out Instagram stories, and giving interviews. Her phone rings 20 hours a day, seven days a week, she says.

Dabrowska has over 33000 followers on Instagram, at present. “Because of this, I am able to contact more people. A post this popular, with these many likes, will be viewed by more people and this is how we can put social media to use,” she says, adding that many of her followers have offered her aid – financial, material, as well as volunteering.

As for her own volunteering efforts, Dabrowska credits her organisational skills, that she has inherited from her mother, with helping her efficiently aid the refugees. She shares an instance where she was able to arrange insulin in bulk, just by connecting volunteers.

“My mother and I were receiving a Ukrainian volunteer from the airport. During our conversation, she said that she had money to buy insulin. But, in Poland, one cannot buy insulin without a prescription from the doctor, and even if you have one, you can only get it for one person. But she wanted to buy insulin in bulk because there are many refugees with diabetes, who don’t have medical help. I had a contact person (from our group) who works as a pharmacist. I connected those two women, and that’s how I was able to arrange insulin for diabetic Ukrainians.”

In addition to working for GSR UA, Dabrowska is also a part of a volunteers’ WhatsApp group with over 200 members.

“Everyone (on the group) has their own ways of contributing. Someone’s a driver, another is a doctor, someone else is a part of an organisation like I am, another is ready to volunteer at the border, someone has a place that they could rent out, while some others find financial resources. That is how we do it. Also, we regularly search Facebook groups, and call whoever we know, and this just keeps getting bigger,” she tells us, recollecting the days when volunteers transported over 200 people in a day, either by private cars or buses provided by the organisation.

But just manpower is not enough. “The biggest requirement is money, to be honest,” Dabrowska says.

In addition to buying food, and paying for rent and fuel for refugees, money can also help Ukrainian soldiers, she says. “What is needed and what we cannot buy in Poland is medical assistance and equipment for Ukrainian soldiers. We want to send them bandages and painkillers, because they do not have all of that in Ukraine anymore, and in Poland, we need to wait for shipments to arrive.”

Arranging aid for the Ukrainian refugees has left the self-employed Dabrowska with little time for work.

“I didn’t work last month. But my husband works, and even though it’s not enough, it is okay. Because right now, I am focused on one thing – helping the refugees, and my husband has been supportive of it.”

There has been a shift in Dabrowska’s focus these days, as the number of people at the border has receded. The challenge now lies in the cities, where people have sought refuge. “It looks like they will be staying with us for a long time, and temporary homes are not a solution. Now, we need to take care of them, we need to find them long-term apartments. We need to help them with finding jobs, schools for children, help them learn Polish. We also need to obtain funding so we can offer medical help to those who have illnesses. It is our responsibility to take care of them.”

Giving due credit other countries like Bulgaria and Moldova, which have also lent a helping hand to the refugees, she adds, “After all, they (the Ukrainians) are our neighbours. I am sure that they would have done the same thing for us.”

Veteran TV Producer-Actor Manju Singh Dies

BY Anindita Banerjee On April 16, 2022

Veteran television producer and actor Manju Singh died on Thursday. While there has been no official confirmation, it is being reported that she died due to cardiac arrest.

Lyricist, singer, and screenwriter Swanand Kirkire took to Twitter and shared the news of Singh’s demise. He wrote in Hindi, “Manju Singh is no more! Manju ji brought me from Delhi to Mumbai to write her show Swaraj for Doordarshan! She made many wonderful shows Ek Kahani, Show Theme, etc, for DD. Ratna of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Gol Maal, our dear Manju ji how can we forget your love… Goodbye!”

Her family confirmed the news in a statement: “With profound grief, we inform you about the demise of our Manju Singh. She lived a beautiful and inspiring life, devoted to her family and her craft. From ‘Manju Didi‘ to ‘Manju Nani‘ she will be truly missed by all.”

Known as a pioneer of television, Singh started her career with the first sponsored program on the small screen, Show Theme. Later, she went on to produce several well-known shows like Ek Kahani, Swaraj, and Adhikaar, among others. Her show Ek Kahani was based on literary short stories from several regional languages. Adhikar, which became very popular around the country and got a lot of viewership, was based on women’s legal rights.

Fondly called ‘didi’, she was also the anchor of the children’s show, Khel Khilone which ran for seven years.

Apart from television, she also starred in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Gol Maal, in which she essayed the role of Ratna. She was also part of a few other films such as Hanky Panky (1979), Ladies Tailor (1981), and Screen Two (1985).

In 2015, she received recognition for her contribution to the creative arts and the education field and was nominated as a member to the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) by the Government of India. She was also a regular participant of the International Film Festival for Children and Young Adults and was frequently invited by educational forums across the country to conduct workshops for principals, teachers, and students.

Ranbir Kapoor & Alia Bhatt Wedding: Congratulatory Messages Pour in from Karan Johar, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni & Others

BY Anindita Banerjee On April 15, 2022

Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, who will soon be seen together in Brahmastra, tied the knot after a five-year-long relationship on Thursday. The couple were married in the midst of friends and family, and looked ethereal doing so. Dressed in white and gold, Kapoor and Bhatt made their relationship official on social media and received congratulatory messages from several members of the Hindi film industry.

Karan Johar, who attended the Mehendi as well as the wedding ceremony, took to social media and wrote, “It’s days like this that we live for, where there is the most beautiful blend of family, love and absolute emotion. Overwhelmed and so full of love in my heart. My darling Alia, this is such a beautiful life step and my love and blessings go with you everywhere. Ranbir! I love you… now and forever! You are now my son in law…badhai ho (congratulations) and here’s to decades of happiness.”

Welcoming Bhatt into the family, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, Kapoor’s sister, wrote, “Couldn’t have asked for a better addition to our family! We love you and can’t wait to be a part of this incredible journey you both have embarked on! Welcome to the family my precious girl – But you always were a part of it.”

Celebrities like Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Katrina Kaif, and Vicky Kaushal, among others, also left comments on Bhatt’s post, wishing the couple a happy married life. While Sonam Kapoor wrote, “Congratulations both of you! Looking angelic,” Samantha Ruth Prabhu said, “Congratulations to both of you.” Madhuri Dixit also shared her wishes and commented, “Many, many congratulations for the new beginning! Sending lots of love your way.”

Sonakshi Sinha, Malaika Arora Khan, Sara Ali Khan, Bipasha Basu, and Anushka Sharma went on to upload photos of the couple from the wedding in their respective Instagram stories and shared congratulatory messages.

Although the wedding festivities have come to an end, there’s no confirmation about when the couple will host their reception. However, the two will reportedly get back to their respective work schedules, soon.

In Photos: Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt Tie The Knot

BY Anindita Banerjee On April 14, 2022

Rumoured to be dating for almost five years, Brahmastra couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt officially tied the knot on Thursday in an intimate ceremony in Mumbai.

With tight security and several camera lenses zooming in to get a good view of the who’s who of the industry, Kapoor and Bhatt said their vows on Thursday and looked ravishing doing so.

Making it official, in an Instagram post on Thursday, Bhatt wrote, “Today, surrounded by our family and friends, at home … in our favourite spot – the balcony we’ve spent the last 5 years of our relationship – we got married. With so much already behind us, we can’t wait to build more memories together … memories that are full of love, laughter, comfortable silences, movie nights, silly fights, wine delights, and Chinese bites. Thank you for all the love and light during this very momentous time in our lives. It has made this moment all the more special. Love, Ranbir and Alia.”

The wedding venue was Vastu, the Mumbai apartment block where Kapoor and Bhatt live, and the guest list was mostly family and close friends. The guest list from the groom’s side included Kareena Kapoor Khan, who was dressed in a beautiful white organza saree, Saif Ali Khan, Karishma Kapoor, and Kapoor’s mother and sister. From the bride’s side, Mahesh Bhatt, Soni Razdan, and Bhatt’s sisters Pooja and Shaheen Bhatt attended the wedding along with others such as Navya Naveli, Shweta Bachchan and Nikhil Nanda, Akash and Shloka Ambani, Karan Johar, Ayan Mukerji and Akansha Ranjan.

For the wedding, Bhatt and Kapoor both chose to dress in matching colours. According to designer Sabyasachi, Bhatt wore a hand-dyed ivory organza sari embroidered with fine tilla work and an embroidered handwoven tissue veil. She paired it with uncut diamonds and hand-strung pearls.

Kapoor wore an embroidered silk sherwani with Sabyasachi uncut diamond buttons, a silk organza safa and shawl with zari marori embroidery. His ornament, the kilangi featured uncut diamonds, emeralds and pearls.

Both the bride and groom posed for an after-wedding photoshoot.

We wish the couple a happy married life ahead!

Female Actor Assault Case: Kavya Madhavan’s Questioning Deferred; Dileep’s Lawyer Complains Against Police

BY Chandhini R On April 14, 2022

The interrogation of actor Kavya Madhavan, wife of actor Dileep, the alleged chief conspirator in the 2017 female actor abduction and sexual assault case, which was supposed to take place on Wednesday has been deferred.

The crime branch, which is probing the case, had initially asked Madhavan to appear for interrogation on Monday, but at her request, it was postponed to Wednesday. Noting that she was in Chennai and had to travel back to Kerala, Madhavan had requested the investigators to reschedule her questioning.

Later, when she was asked to appear at the Aluva police club on Wednesday, she insisted that the interrogation should take place at her Padmasarovaram residence in Aluva. While earlier reports had mentioned that the interrogation would, accordingly, take place at her residence, the latest update is that the police have denied her request on the grounds that the main accused, Dileep, also lives there and this might affect the investigation.

The investigators are now in a dilemma about where to conduct Madhavan’s interrogation. A solution is yet to be found and the police may approach the court to seek intervention in this matter.

Madhavan’s interrogation was ordered after a leaked audio clip suggested her involvement in the case.

The crime branch had also issued notice to Dileep’s associates, Anoop and Suraj, to appear for interrogation, but they too did not turn up on Wednesday and have reportedly requested a postponement.

It is notable that the Kerala High Court had earlier directed the agency to conclude the investigation by April 15. However, recently, the police approached the court seeking three more months to complete the probe.

Meanwhile, one of Dileep’s lawyers complained that DGP B Sandhya and ADGP S Sreejith were fabricating cases against the actor and his defence lawyers. The complaint was given by Advocate Philip T Varghese to the state’s Home Secretary.

In the complaint, he claimed that the DGP and the ADGP were using crime branch SPs S Sudarshan, MJ Sojan and DySP Baiju M Paulose to fabricate evidence against Dileep. He also alleged that cyber expert Sai Sankar was threatened into giving his statement against the lawyers and that the ADGP used filmmaker Balachandra Kumar to sabotage the trial.

Ranbir Kapoor & Alia Bhatt’s Love Through the Years: A Photo Story

BY Anindita Banerjee On April 14, 2022

Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, who will soon be seen in Ayan Mukerji‘s Brahmastra together, are tying the knot on Thursday. A love story years in the making, this couple has always been relationship goals for many. From cute PDA (Public Display of Affection) to being vocal about the respect they share for each other, RK and Bhatt quickly earned a place in people’s heart with their ‘straight out of Bollywood’ romance.

While this epic love story might have started on the sets of their upcoming film Brahmastra, Bhatt may have been planning her wedding to Kapoor for a long time now. Back in 2014, the Gangubai Kathiawadi actor had publicly admitted that she would like to get married to the Rockstar actor. Cut to four years later, Kapoor was confessing about their relationship in an interview. What followed were social media posts of the two shooting, holidaying, and just being in love. So, let’s take a look at their journey with each other through some photos.

Wishing the happy couple a great married life ahead!

Two Arrested for Theft at Sonam Kapoor & Anand Ahuja’s Delhi Residence

BY Namrata Ganguly On April 14, 2022

The Delhi Police, on Wednesday, arrested a nurse and her husband for allegedly stealing cash and jewellery worth Rs 2.4 crore from actor Sonam Kapoor and her husband Anand Ahuja’s Delhi residence in February.

However, the stolen jewellery and cash are yet to be recovered.

The nurse, Aparna Ruth Wilson, worked as a caregiver for the actor’s mother-in-law at their residence located in Amrita Shergill Marg, the police told PTI. They further added that Wilson’s husband Naresh Kumar Sagar is an accountant at a private firm in Shakarpur. Wilson and her husband are both 31 years old.

The couple was apprehended following a raid on Tuesday night by the Delhi Police Crime Branch and a team from the Special Staff Branch of the New Delhi district in the residential area of Sarita Vihar, as per a senior police official.

Along with Kapoor and Ahuja, the latter’s mother Priya Ahuja, father Harish Ahuja and grandmother Sarla Ahuja all reside in the house at Amrita Shergill Marg.

As per earlier reports, Sarla Ahuja had claimed that she had discovered the theft when checking her cupboards on February 11. She reportedly informed the police that the last time she had checked the jewellery and cash in that cupboard, was two years ago. Following this, the actor’s mother-in-law Priya Ahuja rushed to the Tughlaq Road police station in New Delhi to lodge a complaint about the theft.

However, as per the police, the complainant in the case is the manager at the actor and Ahuja’s house, which employs over 20 people. Also, while previous reports quoted the value of the stolen property as Rs 1.41 crore, the police have now said the theft amounted to Rs 2.4 crore.

The complaint was lodged on February 23 and the police began probing the case, which was reportedly kept under wraps owing to its high profile status.

Nearly the entire staff at Ahuja’s residence has been questioned as part of the investigation, including caretakers, drivers, gardeners and other workers. The officials also went over CCTV footage from the previous year, to identify possible suspects.

Additionally, the government’s Forensic Science Laboratory Division (FSL) was also employed in the case for collecting evidence from the crime scene.

Investigation is still underway. The case has been transferred from the Tughlaq Road police station to the Special Staff Branch of the New Delhi district. The Crime Branch is also probing the matter, the police said.

Update: A jeweller, identified as Dev Verma, a resident of a locality called Kalkaji in South Delhi, has also been arrested in the case for reportedly purchasing the stolen jewellery. The police said they have recovered 100 diamonds, six gold chains, diamond bangles, a diamond bracelet, two tops and one brass coin from the jeweller, amounting in value to over a crore rupees.

Ahead of Ranbir Kapoor & Alia Bhatt’s Wedding, Here are Some Cute Moments from Their Relationship

BY Anindita Banerjee On April 14, 2022

Wedding bells are once again ringing in the Hindi film industry as Brahmastra stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are all set to tie the knot on Thursday. While everything around the wedding is still hush-hush, celebrations are on in full swing and Neetu Singh, Kapoor’s mother, has confirmed the ceremony will take place on April 14. From Ayan Mukerji to Karan Johar, many took to social media to share words about Bhatt and Kapoor’s love and their “new beginning.” While the wedding may be sudden, it has been a long time coming, ever since Bhatt first confessed on Koffee with Karan that she wants to marry the Rockstar actor.

Was it love at first sight? Not really. Rumour has it that Bhatt took a liking to Kapoor back when she was a young girl and was auditioning for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black. But the two did not get together until years later, on the sets of Brahmastra, where it is rumoured they fell in love. In fact, one of their first public appearances was when they attended Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja’s wedding reception together in 2018.

While no one knows when exactly the love story began, the two have not shied away from professing their love to each other in public. Whether it was Bhatt saying ‘I love you’ to Kapoor while accepting an award in 2019 or the Yeh Jaawani Hai Deewani actor teasing her about their wedding, the couple has had several ‘oh so cute’ moments through the years.

Ahead of their wedding, Silverscreen India brings to you all the times that we couldn’t help but go ‘aww’ over this relationship. Because as Pam from the sitcom The Office says, “Everything with the wedding goes by so fast, we should try to take mental pictures of the high points.”

It was always meant to happen

Back in 2014, when Bhatt said she would marry Kapoor, little did she know it would actually come true. Or, maybe she did! During the rapid-fire round on the gameshow Koffee with Karan, when Bhatt was asked whom she would marry from among three actors, she immediately named Kapoor. Whether admission of a crush or a simple joke, this moment will go down as one of the iconic ones in their relationship.

Most memorable day of 2019

While rumours of the two dating were rife since 2018, it was in 2019 that Bhatt made fans go gaga by sharing how one of her dreams had come true that year. On her YouTube channel in 2019, she shared a video where fans had asked her, “What was your memorable day of 2019?” To this, she replied, “Well, there have been quite a few memorable days. But, I think, for me, the most special moment was when I received my Filmfare award and also Ranbir had just received his Filmfare Award. There was a moment of us on stage and pictures were clicking, that was the most memorable moment. I kind of imagined it in my head and it came true.”

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A post shared by neetu Kapoor. Fightingfyt (@neetu54)

The Kapoor confession

While Bhatt’s feelings were revealed in 2014, it was only in 2018 that Kapoor, for the first time, talked publicly about their relationship. In an interview with GQ magazine, the actor opened up about their relationship and said, “It’s really new right now, and I don’t want to overspeak. It needs time to breathe and it needs space. As an actor, as a person, Alia is – what’s the right word? – flowing right now. When I see her work, when I see her act, even in life, what she gives is something that I’m aspiring to for myself. It’s new for us, so let it cook a bit.” Truly, if words could replace heart-eyed emojis, these would be it!

Ishq Wala Love

Dancing romantically and going down on one knee is nothing new at Hindi award shows but when Kapoor twirled Bhatt on the stage with Ishq Wala Love playing in the background, everyone went ‘aww’ in their head. The dance was not only romantic but also oozed chemistry that was extremely visible in the couple.

Wait for it! 😍 @aliaa08 #RanbirKapoor #ZeeCineAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/xlManSERMK

— Zee Cine Awards (@ZeeCineAwards) March 19, 2019

Number 8

Any Kapoor fan knows that his lucky number is eight. Bhatt may have been subtle about it (or not!) but fans were quick to spot that her phone’s case had the number 8 on it with a heart right next to it. While it may not have been a huge gesture, it’s the little things that make people often realise how much in love they are!

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A post shared by Alia Bhatt 🤍☀️ (@aliaabhatt)

Welcome to the family!

One of the best and most memorable moments from the RK-Bhatt relationship has to be when the latter featured in the Kapoor family Christmas photo. The family lunch meet at late Shashi Kapoor’s Mumbai home is a tradition they have all been following for years now. So naturally, when Bhatt was seen to be a part of this, it became even more official!

PDA > film promotion

Fans have been eagerly awaiting Brahmastra for more than one reason since 2018. Recently, when the film’s motion poster launch took place, Bhatt and RK’s PDA (public display of affection) became the highlight of the event. In fact, when asked about their marriage by a member of the audience, Kapoor even teased his girlfriend and said, “Hamari kab hogi? (When will be ours?)” To which a smitten and shy Bhatt responded, “Why are you asking me?”

Here’s wishing the happy couple more such moments to look forward to as they embark on a new journey together!

Shilpa Shetty’s Mother Gets Bail in Loan Default Case; Court Cancels Warrant Against Her

BY Namrata Ganguly On April 13, 2022

A Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Mumbai, on Tuesday, cancelled the bailable warrant issued against Sunanda Shetty, mother of actors Shilpa Shetty and Shamita Shetty, in connection with a loan default and cheating case and granted her bail.

The case is based on a complaint filed by an automobile agency owner who claimed that Shetty, along with her mother and sister, had cheated him of Rs 21 lakh, by not repaying a loan he had issued to the actor’s late father, Surendra Shetty.

Surendra Shetty had borrowed the sum in 2015 at an annual interest rate of 18% and it was due in January 2017. However, Surendra died in October 2016 and the amount was not repaid. The complainant alleged that the sisters and their mother refused to repay the loan, which was issued to Corgifts, a Shetty family firm, despite having prior knowledge of it.

Following the complaint, in February, the Andheri Magistrate court had issued summons to the trio to appear before the court.

Shetty and her family had then moved the Dindoshi sessions court challenging the proceedings initiated against them at the Andheri Magistrate court.

In her plea before the sessions court, Shetty had said that she and her sister were being involved in the case because they were actors and the objective was to hurt their public standing and use criminal proceedings to extort the amount from them.

In March, the sessions court stayed the proceedings against Shilpa and Shamita Shetty as no evidence was submitted to show that the sisters were connected to the firm or had anything to do with the loan.

However, the sessions court said the case against their mother could continue as the actors’ parents were listed as partners in the firm that borrowed the sum.

The Magistrate court, meanwhile, issued a bailable warrant against Sunanda Shetty, when she failed to appear for a hearing of the case.

On Tuesday, the actor’s mother appeared before the court and filed a plea to cancel the warrant. The court approved her request and granted her bail on a personal bond and surety of Rs 15,000 or a provisional cash bail of Rs 25,000.

‘Business Proposal’ Star Seol In-ah Partners With a New Agency

BY Ramya Ashok Kumar On April 13, 2022

Korean actor Seol In-ah, who recently starred in the Netflix hit show Business Proposal, has partnered with a new agency named GOLDMEDALIST Entertainment.

In-ah shot to fame with her recent performance as Jin Young-seo, the second female lead, in the Korean romantic comedy drama, Business Proposal. The disclosure of her signing a new agency comes after the show was completely aired on Netflix.

GOLDMEDALIST Entertainment announced the news via social media. Sharing a photo of the actor, the agency wrote, “Welcome, Seol In-ah.”

Soompi has quoted a representative from GOLDMEDALIST Entertainment saying, “Seol In-ah is a multifaceted actress who is charming and has solid acting skills. We will do our best as her dependable companion so that Seol In-ah, who has remarkable passion for acting, can showcase never-before-seen sides of her, as an actress.”

They also added, “We ask for you to look forward to her future projects and support her so that she can continue her work together with GOLDMEDALIST.”

GOLDMEDALIST Entertainment manages several popular Korean actors, including the lead actors from It’s Okay Not To Be Okay, Kim Soo-hyun and Seo Ye-ji.

Seol In-ah made her debut in Korean dramas in 2015. Her filmography includes series like, School 2017, Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life, and Mr. Queen. Her recent drama, Business Proposal, which aired on Netflix, has been dominating the viewership on the streaming platform for more than three weeks.

Business Proposal revolves around Ha-ri, who, in disguise as her friend, shows up to a blind date to scare the guy away. Her plans, however, go awry when he turns out to be her CEO and makes a proposal.

The show has been featured in Netflix’s top 10 most watched TV shows in India for the fifth week, as of Wednesday. Business Proposal has also been featured in the top 10 most-watched shows on Netflix in 35 other countries.

Gilbert Gottfried, Voice Of Iago from ‘Aladdin’, Dies Due to Prolonged Illness

BY Shrija Ganguly On April 13, 2022

Actor, comedian, and voice artist Gilbert Gottfried, renowned for voicing the character of Iago the parrot from Aladdin, died on Tuesday, due to a prolonged illness. He was 67.

Gottfried’s family announced his passing in a statement via Twitter, and wrote, “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend, and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honour.”

Gottfried was born in February, 1955 in Brooklyn, to a Jewish family. He was the son of a hardware store-owner and a homemaker.

His stint as a stand-up comedian began at the age of 15, when he began conducting open-mic nights in New York City, and earned the title of ‘the comedian’s comedian’ in just a few years. After sharpening his craft for several years, Gottfried was hired as a cast member of NBC‘s late night comedy show Saturday Night Live in 1980. Although he thought that he would appear alongside Eddie Murphy, he was given little to do on the show.

But he soon gained recognition for his work on MTV, which had hired him for a series of improvised and hilarious promos for the newly formed channel. This led to several television appearances on The Cosby Show and Late Night with David Letterman.

Gottfried’s work in television soon led to roles in film, including that of business manager Sidney Bernstein in the hit sequel Beverly Hills Cop II. He also appeared in Problem Child, Problem Child II, Look Who’s Talking II and The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, and was also the host of the very popular late night television series USA Up All Night. He also voiced characters like Digit LeBoid in Cyberchase, and Kraang Subprime in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

However, Gottfried came with his own baggage of controversies.

Less than a month after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, Gottfried cracked a joke at a live event about flights making stops at skyscrapers. Moreover, in 2011, Aflac Inc, an American insurance company, dismissed Gottfried as the voice of ‘the duck’ in its commercials over his tweets, in which he had joked about the tsunami and earthquake in Japan.

Gottfried is survived by his wife Dara, sister Karen, 14-year-old daughter Lily and 12-year-old son Max.

Members from the industry paid their tributes to Gottfried via social media.

Comedian and show host Stephen Colbert wrote, on Twitter, “It was my honor to have met and interviewed and done bits with one of the greats. Rest In Peace, Gilbert Gottfried.”

“RIP Gilbert. Opening for Gilbert Gottfried at Carolines and Princeton Catch was one of the great thrills of my early stand up life. He could leave you gasping for breath, just indescribably unusually hilarious. Damn,” wrote comedian and host Jon Stewart.

Oscar-winning actor Marlee Maitlin, whose film CODA won the Oscar for Best Picture this year, wrote, “I am so sad to read about the passing of Gilbert Gottfried. Funny, politically incorrect but a softie on the inside. We met many times; he even pranked me on a plane, replacing my intepreter (they’re like twins). Sending love to Dara and his children. RIP.”