Amid reports of effigies of Pakistani singer Adnan Sami, who has been allowed to stay in India, being burnt in his native country, Main tenu crooner Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, also from the neighbouring nation, says it is “wrong”. He believes that every individual is “free” and has the choice to stay wherever he wishes.
“If effigies have been burnt, then it’s wrong. Every individual is free and it his decision to stay wherever he wants. There are no boundaries for music. It’s a very bad feeling for me. It should not happen,” Rahat, who is in Mumbai to celebrate the success of his new songs in Bollywood films like Hamari Adhuri Kahani and Drishyam, told IANS in a telephonic interview.
Adnan, who had appealed for legalisation of his stay in the country in May this year, has been allowed to stay in India on humanitarian grounds till further orders, a union minister said last week.
In an interview to the Hindustan Times, Adnan has claimed that people in Pakistan are “not very happy” with the news of the singer’s stay in India getting approved and that they are burning his effigies.
Adnan, who came to India on a visitor’s visa, has been staying in India since March 2001. His visa was extended from time to time, but as his passport expired in May this year and the Pakistani government refused to renew it, he was forced to request the Indian authorities to legalise his stay in the country on humanitarian grounds. — IANS


Having a daughter equals
to 10 sons, says Bachchan

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, a United Nations ambassador for the girl child, has wished his fans and followers a ‘Happy Daughter’s Week’, and has stressed on the importance of daughters as they are a matter of pride.
The 72-year-old, who has a daughter Shweta and two granddaughters — Navya Naveli and Aradhya — took to virtual platforms Facebook and Twitter to expound over his feelings.
“You can always call your daughter as beta, but you can never call your son as beti ...That’s why daughters are special. Happy daughter’s week ...Daughter is not equal to tension but in today’s world daughter is equal to ten sons (sic),” Big B tweeted.
The cine icon, who etched the loving relationship shared by a father and daughter on the silver screen with Deepika Padukone in Piku, added on Facebook: “Daughters are so special ... your little girl will hold your hand for only a little while ...but will hold your heart for a life time.
“It’s ‘daughter’s week’, and if you are a daughter or have a daughter who makes life worth living, by just being around. And you love her as much as your own breath ... if you are proud of your daughter, or being a daughter, send this to other people who have daughters or who are daughters ... as I just did ... Daughters are angels.”
Amitabh, who is married to actress Jaya, also has a son Abhishek, who is married to former beauty queen Aishwarya Rai. — IANS


Nushrat Bharucha always
wanted to do action films

Nushrat Bharucha, the lead actress in Zeishan Quadri’s Meeruthiya Gangsters, says she is excited to be a part of a gangster movie.
“I always wanted to do an action film or a gangster film. When I saw Gangs Of Wasseypur, I felt why didn’t I fit into any of the characters and why wasn’t I cast, because I really like the flavour, the zone of north India, guns and action,” said Nushrat, who is seen wielding a gun in the film’s recently released poster.
Nushrat has played substantial roles in Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Pyar ka Panchnama, Darr @ The Mall and Akaash Vaani.
Despite being with a first-time director, Nushrat was assured about Zeishan’s directorial skills. “For Meeruthiya Gangsters, when Zeishan called me, I knew he had the acumen to write a good part for me,” she said.
“He even asked me if I wanted a strong role or a lengthy role. I told him ‘Both had their pros and cons. But I have so much faith in you that you can write a good part’. Even if small, I’ll feel good that I did something different...”
Producer Shoeb Ahmed is also impressed with Nushrat.
“In the whole group, there’s only one girl, Nushrat. All of them refer to her as ‘Bhabi’ and regard and respect her. And she is treated as a family...,” he said.
“The film is basically for the youth and about people who intend to do something good, but end up doing something having unfavourable results. I want the youth to watch the film as they’ll receive a great message from it,” Ahmed said.
Written and directed by Zeishan Quadri, the film also stars Aakash Dahiya, Bijendra Kala, Chandrachoor Rai, Ishita Sharma, Jaideep Ahlawat and Shadab Kamal.
Meeruthiya Gangsters is set to release on September 18. — IANS


Affleck’s new movies
delayed

Warner Bros has pushed back the release dates for Ben Affleck-starrer The Accountant and the actor’s next directorial Live by Night. The Accountant is directed by Gavin O’Connor with Affleck starring as an accountant who moonlights as an assassin. It was going to release on January 29, 2016, but now has been rescheduled for October 7, 2016. Affleck is joined by Anna Kendrick and J K Simmons. There is a speculation that the movie was pushed back to give Affleck room to finish other projects first, reports aceshowbiz.com.
Meanwhile, Live by Night is pushed back to an unspecified date in 2017. The movie, which was set to release on October 7, 2016, is based on the Dennis Lehane’s crime novel. Affleck will direct and star in the movie alongside Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana and Elle Fanning. Affleck will next be seen in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice alongside Henry Cavill. He will also appear in Suicide Squad. — IANS


Kylie donates gifts
to children’s hospital

Reality TV star Kylie Jenner, who will turn 18 on August 10, handed out gifts to children undergoing renal dialysis at Children’s Hospital as part of her birthday celebrations.
“Let the birthday celebrations begin! First stop: @childrensla,” Kylie captioned a photograph of her with a trolley full of goody bags, reports aceshowbiz.com.
As per reports, the packages contain headphones, blankets, kidney-friendly candies, and socks from her brother Rob Kardashian’s fashion line. She also helped the children with arts and crafts, joined them to make friendship bracelets, and then gave them a disposable camera each to capture the fun.
Kylie got a Birkin bag and shared an image of it on Instagram.
“And it’s not even my birthday yet,” she said. It’s unclear whom the gift was from but the family gathered in Los Angeles to celebrate her birthday. Parents Kris Jenner and Caitlyn Jenner were seen reuniting and hugging each other outside Nobu Restaurant in Malibu to kick off their daughter’s celebration. – IANS