A quick look at everything making news in cinema today.
Signed
Vijay Sethupathi’s Junga, directed by Gokul, might be shot in Paris.
On Day 54 of Bigg Boss Tamil, former VJ and actress Kaajal Pasupathy joined the house. Kamal Haasan also refused to speak to any of the contestants on Saturday’s episode.
Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui might play Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in filmmaker Madhura Sreedhar Reddy’s film.
Neeraj Madhav and Biju Menon in Vinu Joseph’s Rosapoo.
Newsworthy
Mersal’s audio launch will be held in Chennai today. A grand set at the SDAT stadium has been constructed for the event, along with performances planned for the evening.
Rest In Peace
- Dick Gregory, a pioneering force of comedy in the 1960s who started his career as a stand-up, and was later involved in social and political activism, died on Saturday of heart failure. He was 84. A statement from his son, Christian Gregory, confirmed the news. “It is with enormous sadness that the Gregory family confirms that their father, comedic legend and civil rights activist Mr. Dick Gregory departed this earth tonight in Washington, D.C.. The family appreciates the outpouring of support and love and respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.” Regarded as the first African-American comic to perform regularly in front of white audiences, Gregory appeared on all of the top TV talk shows of the 1960s and ’70s.
- TV actors Gagan Kang and Arjit Lawania of Mahakali fame died of an accident at Manor in Palghar. The two actors, along with a spot boy, were traveling back to Umbergaon after a shoot. The mishap took place at 11:30 am on Saturday, on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai highway.
Spotlight
Vivegam actor Ajith Kumar sent out a legal statement on Saturday evening, clarifying that he has no social media accounts, and therefore doesn’t subscribe to the beliefs that his fans propagate on social media. The actor’s statement even condemned trolls and apologised for “any hurt or harm caused”.
An excerpt from his statement:
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“There are a few unauthorised self-proclaimed individuals, groups and associations, passing off their personal views and opinion on social and political issues under the guise and likeness of our client, through the unauthorised use of our client’s name and image. Persons misusing our client’s name have also been trolling members of the film industry, journalists, critics and other individuals. While it is important to identify such miscreants and hold them accountable, our client unconditionally apologises for any hurt or harm caused.”
Time Out
Actress Rakhi Sawant has been granted conditional bail by a Ludhiana court. A lawyer named Narinder Adiya had filed a case against Sawant in July last year under section 295 (hurting religious sentiments) of the IPC for her ‘derogatory’ comments on Maharishi Valmiki on television.
Let Them Eat Cake!
Demi Lovato, Amy Adams, Andrew Garfield, and Fred Durst will all turn a year older today!