Prakash Raj Lashes Out At Media For ‘Distorting Statements’
Prakash Raj, who attended a press conference on Sunday hosted by the Press Club of Bengaluru, accused the media for distorting his statements on actors joining politics. It was reported by ANI that the actor was not too thrilled about actors joining politics.
“I’m not joining any political party. I don’t like actors joining politics because they are actors and have fans. They should always stay aware about their responsibility towards them. Film actors becoming leaders is a disaster for my country,” he was quoted by the news agency.
However, the actor clarified last evening that his correct statements were distorted. Taking to Twitter, he issued the original statement and further wrote an open letter to the Press Club.
Look how they distort what u say..clarifying on and all. This is what I said on ACTORS. coming into politics IN today’s press meet … pic.twitter.com/zLYvnhMpUK
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) November 12, 2017
An open letter to the press club bengaluru …. and @ANI …what was said and what was not said.. thank you pic.twitter.com/fbCT3vjGlj
— Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) November 12, 2017
Gal Gadot Refuses To Do Wonder Woman 2 Until Producer Brett Ratner Is Fired
Actress Gal Gadot has refused to be on board the sequel of Wonder Woman until producer Brett Ratner, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, is fired. According to Page Six, Gadot said that she refused unless Warner Brothers buys Brett out (of his financing deal) and gets rid of him. Ratner had helped in producing the first Wonder Woman movie as part of a co-financing deal with Warner Brothers through his production company RatPac-Dune Entertainment.
A source shared that Gadot “knows that Warner Brothers has to side with her on this issue as it develops” because the studio “can’t have a movie rooted in women’s empowerment being part-financed by a man accused of sexual misconduct against women.”
Last week, Warner Brothers had announced that they were not associating themselves with Ratner in the wake of several sexual harassment allegations against him. In late October 2017, a former talent agent employee accused Ratner of rape. Early this month, actresses Ellen Page, Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, along with four other women, accused Ratner of several more incidences of sexual misconduct and harassment, including following an actress into a bathroom without invitation and masturbating as another entered his trailer to deliver food.
Haryana Ministers Urge Smriti Irani To Ban Padmavati
Padmavati
Protests against Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic drama Padmavati continues to grow, with Haryana ministers now imploring the Information and Broadcast Ministry to ban the film. According to The Times of India, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij, in his letter, said that the state government would approach the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) seeking an immediate ban on the release and screening of the film.
Industries & Commerce and Environment minister Vipul Goel also wrote to Irani and Bhansali, stating that “distorted facts to glorify Alauddin Khilji” would be met with no tolerance. “The movie has tried to tarnish the image of Rani Padmimi, who is a role model for women. How can they glorify a character like Khilji,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, at Chittorgarh Fort, the place where Khilji is said to have defeated Rana Ratan Singh, might be subjected to a total shutdown this week. The Times of India report adds that a Rajput body plans to protest against the depiction of Rani Padmini in the film by calling for a shutdown. The shutdown has been supported by various other bodies including the Rajput Karni Sena, whose members had allegedly attacked the film crew early this year.
As of Sunday, protests broke out in Mumbai and Gujarat for the same reasons. They demanded that the film shouldn’t be released. The Mumbai Police have so far detained 15 members of the Akhand Rajputana Seva Sangh while they were protesting.
Recommended
Contrary to what the protesters are opposing, historian Irfan Habib has said Rani Padmini is not historical but an imaginary character and her existence has always been debatable. Speaking to The Hindustan Times, the professor emeritus in Aligarh Muslim University clarified that the poet who wrote Padmavat, Malik Mohammad Jayasi, mentioned that the princess of Singhaldeep (presently Sri Lanka) Padmavati was married to Raja Ratan Singh of Mewar.
“Padmavat is a long poetry collection and is an integral part of our literature. Official historian of Mewar darbar Shayamal Das has described Padmavati but in some other context,” he said.