Zero Movie Review :Performances outshine the narrative, SRK powers this ambitious drama

Film: “Zero”; Director: Anand L. Rai; Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Anushka Sharma, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayub, Abhay Deol, Sheeba Chaddha, Bijendra Kala; Rating: *** (3 stars)

Here is the sad and frustrating irony of “Zero” : Told in the safest (read predictable), most conventional (read lazy, method imaginable), it is a story of a vertically challenged man enacted by a Superstar — whose real life story is much more inspiring than his reel life.

Standing four feet two inches tall, Shah Rukh Khan as Bauua Singh from Meerut, is no different from being himself — confident, cocky and sarcastically brash. His main peeve in life is his height but that does not prevent him from aspiring to love the renowned Bollywood actress Babita Kumari (Katrina Kaif).

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But then, our hero has a past. Tucked into the recesses of his being, is the love of his life, the astro-scientist Aafia Yusuezai Bhinder (Anushka Sharma). How they meet, fell in love and their romance bloomed, forms the crux of the tale.

While being fumbling and funny, Shah Rukh Khan holds you in rapturous attention with his shenanigans. You could say his personality and his performance are both in an “overall” style.

Anushka shines as the scientist suffering from cerebral palsy. She steals your heart while sitting on a wheel-chair and in command. With grace and strength, she is consistent in her speech and mannerisms….(Read more Zero Movie Review)

Akshay Kumar India’s highest earning entertainer, 76th on Forbes list

Kumar has moved up four places from 2017 list (80) and ousted Salman Khan from the pedestal

For an actor who famously started his working life as a waiter and a cook and whose early days in Bollywood were spent leaping mid-air, Akshay Kumar has come a long way. With $40.5 million (Rs 2.78 billion) to his name and ranked 76 in the global Forbes Top Earning 100 Celebrities 2018 list, he is the biggest celebrity brand that India has today, leaving the industry’s three Khans (Salman, Shah Rukh and Aamir) who have held sway for years, way behind.

Kumar has moved up four places from 2017 list (80) and ousted Salman Khan from the pedestal. Salman, who ranks 82 on the 2018 Forbes list, is down 11 places from 2017 (71) and Shahrukh Khan who was ranked 65 in the 2017 list is not on it this year.

Akshay Kumar made his debut in 1991, as an ‘action’ star in movies that looked for athletic prowess over acting chops. Soon however he donned a new mask, that of a comedy star and then recently, he has changed his colours yet again. Today Kumar is known for the nationalistic-patriotic roles he does, a persona he often carries into his off-screen engagements with brands.

Hero with many faces

Listen to some of the old interviews of Akshay Kumar on YouTube and if there is one thing that strikes you is that he rarely (if ever) talks about an acting bug. Stunts, dancing, money, martial arts—these are the big attractions that Bollywood held out for him right from the start. In one interview he even spoke about how he was bowled over by the huge jump in his monthly pay packet that came about by doing just one movie.

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Katrina Kaif to star opposite Salman after Priyanka’s ‘Bharat’ exit

Director Ali Abbas Zafar has found his new female lead in Katrina Kaif, days after Priyanka Chopra’s departure from “Bharat”.

The film, to be released Eid next year, reunites Salman Khan and Katrina after 2017 blockbuster “Tiger Zinda Hai”, which was also directed by Ali.

The director is excited to reteam with the actor duo.

“I am extremely excited to work with Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan once again for Bharat. We have had exciting collaborations in the past and it is very interesting to work with the duo once again.

“Katrina got on board in the Nick of time for the project and it is very delightful to work with the immensely talented actress yet again,” Ali said in a statement.

Katrina will be joining the shoot in the upcoming schedules beginning in September.

The announcement comes after the director took to Twitter to reveal that Priyanka had left “Bharat” due to a “very special” reason.

Ali did not elaborate much on the “reason” but his tweet alluded the actor’s exit to her rumoured romance with American singer, Nick Jonas.

The film recently went on floors with Salman and actor Disha Patani.

Ali had shared recently a sneak peek from the film that showed Salman entering a “ring of fire” on a bike in a circus…READ MORE

PeeCee quits ‘Bharat’ in ‘Nick’ of time, hints marriage

Director Ali Abbas Zafar confirmed the news on Twitter stating that the actress has opted out from the flick owing to a very “special reason”.

Global sensation Priyanka Chopra is no more a part of Salman Khan starrer ‘Bharat’.

Director Ali Abbas Zafar confirmed the news on Twitter stating that the actress has opted out from the flick owing to a very “special reason”.

He wrote, “Yes Priyanka Chopra is no more part of @Bharat_TheFilm & and the reason is very very special, she told us in the Nick of time about her decision and we are very happy for her … Team Bharat wishes @priyankachopra loads of love & happiness for life.”

The director seemed to be hinting Priyanka’s marriage with rumoured boyfriend and singer Nick Jonas as he mentioned “Nick” of time in his tweet.

On a related note, ‘Bharat’ will feature Salman sporting five different looks spanning 60 years. The actor will be recreating his ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’ look in the movie which has created immense excitement amongst the audience.

Meanwhile, the ‘Quantico’ star is already shooting for Shonali Bose’s upcoming directorial ‘The Sky Is Pink’ with Farhan Akhtar and Zaira Wasim….READ MORE STORY

Masala entertainers encouraged Ranveer Singh to become an actor

He has played myriad roles ever since his Bollywood debut in 2010 with “Band Baaja Baaraat”. Actor Ranveer Singh, currently busy with Rohit Shetty’s “Simmba”, credits his career in the Hindi film industry to his love for masala entertainers.

Masala entertainers, are in fact, his “favourite” genre.

“Mainstream Hindi films, masala entertainers are the reason I ever wanted to become an actor. When I was a kid, I used to only watch these kind of films. It has been my education, it has been a part of my upbringing.

“So, it is a huge deal for me that I am finally doing something that is a true blue masala entertainer,” Ranveer told IANS in an e-mail interaction from Mumbai.

In “Simmba“, Ranveer will be seen playing a flamboyant policeman Sangram Bhalerao. He feels he has earned this opportunity.

“Having put in the work over few years, I’m getting to be a leading man in Rohit sir’s film. I regard him to be the finest proponent in the masala genre.

“He is the undisputed best in the business of masala entertainers. It could not be sweeter, it could not be better,” said the actor.

For the “Padmaavat” star, the entire “Simmba” team is like a close-knit family.

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Salman Khan's bail plea in blackbuck poaching case in Jodhpur court today

Salman Khan's bail plea in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case will be heard by a Jodhpur court today. Khan had earlier been found guilty of killing blackbucks and sentenced to 5 years in jail

 

Salman Khan's bail plea in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case will be heard on Monday by a Jodhpur court. The Bollywood actor arrived in Rajasthan's Jodhpur on Sunday afternoon to appear before the court. Khan had on April 5 been convicted in the 19-year-old case and sentenced to five years in jail for killing two blackbucks in Jodhpur during the shooting of the 1998 movie Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Subsequently, Salman was granted bail after spending two nights in the Jodhpur Central jail. Salman's Hum Saath Saath Hain co-stars Tabu, Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan and Neelam and Jodhpur resident Dushyant Singh, another accused in the case, were all acquitted due to lack of evidence.

The blackbuck case is not the only instance of legal trouble Khan is facing. Also in April, a Mumbai court cancelled the bailable warrant against Khan in connection with the 2002 hit and run case. The court had issued the bailable warrant as Khan had not completed the procedure of providing surety on the past two dates. Further, a Ludhiana court on May 1 rejected a petition against Salman and Shilpa Shetty that sought action against them under the SC/ST Act for allegedly using derogatory words against the Valmiki community. In the same case, the Supreme Court on April 23 put on hold proceedings pending against Khan before several courts across the country in cases registered under the SC/ST Act.

Salman is set to be back on the small screen as the host of Dus Ka Dum and is shooting for the big screen venture Race 3, among other projects.

Here are the top 10 developments in the Salman Khan blackbuck poaching case:

1) Salman's bail plea hearing in Jodhpur court today: Salman Khan will on Monday appear before a Jodhpur court in connection with the blackbuck poaching case. On Monday, his bail plea will be heard by District and Session Judge Chandra Kumar Songara, during which Salman needs to be present in court.

Khan arrived in Jodhpur on Sunday afternoon, while his fans were seen trying hard to get a glimpse of the actor as he left the airport.

2) Salma's sister, close friend accompany him: Salman hasn't gone to Jodhpur alone. Apart from his lawyers, he was accompanied by his sister Alvira and friend Baba Siddiqui.

3) Blackbuck poaching case history: Salman on April 5 was convicted in the blackbuck poaching case and sentenced to five-year imprisonment by Chief Judicial Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri in Jodhpur. Before he was granted bail by the sessions court on April 7, he spent two nights in the Jodhpur Central jail.

4) Previous judges in the case transferred: Both Khatri and District and Session Judge Ravindra Kumar Joshi, who granted Salman bail, have since been transferred.

5) Salman's other legal troubles: A Ludhiana court on May 1 rejected a petition against Salman and Shilpa Shetty that had sought action against them under SC/ST Act for allegedly using derogatory words for the Valmiki community. The actors have been accused of humiliating and insulting the community by using the word "bhangi" in separate TV shows. Allegedly, Khan had used the word during the promotion of his film Tiger Zinda Hai, while referring to his dancing skills. Shilpa had reportedly used the word to describe how she looks at home.

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Blackbuck case: Salman Khan may get bail today, gets death threat; updates

Bollywood actor Salman Khan was on Thursday pronounced guilty and sentenced to 5 years in jail in the Blackbuck poaching case of 1998. Jodhpur sessions court will decide on his bail plea today

The Jodhpur Sessions Court will on Friday hear the bail plea of Bollywood actor Salman Khan in connection with the 1998 blackbuck poaching case.

Pronouncing the verdict in the 20-year-old case, another court in Jodhpur had on Thursday convicted the actor and sentenced him to five years in jail. The other co-accused in the case -- Tabu, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam -- meanwhile, were cleared of all charges. Additonally, a penalty of Rs 10,000 was also imposed on Khan.

The actor is accused of killing two blackbucks in the Kankani village near Jodhpur in 1998 during the shooting of the film Hum Saath Saath Hain.

He was charged under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and others under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. With this, the Sword of Damocles now hangs over Salman Khan’s ongoing projects. He is slated to star in four major films over the next two years — Race 3, Dabangg 3, Kick 2 and Bharat. While the last three are in pre-production stages, Race 3 is in production in the UAE. Trade analysts said the Rs 4-5 billion riding on these films might be affected by his sentencing. Amid tight security, Salman was taken to the Jodhpur Central Jail where he spent the night in barrack number one. The prison also houses rape-accused Asaram Bapu, Bhanwari Devi murder accused Malkhan Singh Vishnoi, and Shambhu Lal Regar, arrested for killing a Muslim and blatantly filming the act.

Here are top 10 developments related to the 1998 Salman Khan Blackbuck poaching case in which Khan has been sentenced to 5 years in jail and other co-accused have been acquitted:

1. Salman Khan's lawyer ready with bail application: Salman Khan had to spend the night in Jodhpur Central jail after being held guilty in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case on Thursday, but Friday might be a better day for him. His lawyer Hastimal Saraswat is ready with a 51-page bail application, where 54 grounds have been raised for the judge to consider and grant the convicted actor bail. Speaking to a news channel, he said: "If it was not Salman Khan, bail would have been granted the next day."

2. Key witness did not identify Tabu, Sonali Bendre in court: A crucial eyewitness failed to recognise Tabu and Sonali Bendre while being grilled by their lawyer. As for Saif Ali Khan, the witness testimony indicated his presence in the front seat of the vehicle. However, there was no evidence to prove that he instigated Salman to fire at the Blackbucks.

3. Salman Khan gets death threat from local gangster: A Punjab-based gangster, Lawrence Bishnoi, on Friday threatened to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan.

The notorious gangster was brought to a Jodhpur local court on production warrant. While being taken into the police vehicle, Bishnoi said he would kill Khan in Jodhpur itself. On the reported threat to Khan by the gangster, Jail superintendent Vikram Singh said: We are thinking of keeping him with some other prisoners from tomorrow so that he is not alone considering the threat to him."

Jodhpur police had arrested Bishnoi for his involvement in twin cases of firing. He was again arrested by the police for his involvement in the murder of Vasudev Israni, an electronic businessman from the city.

4. Salman Khan gets number 106 in Jodhpur jail: Salman Khan has been lodged in ward number 2 and given number 106 in Jodhpur Central jail.

As per the Jodhpur DIG (Jail) Vikram Singh, multiple layers of security have been put in place for the actor in the jail, and he has been lodged in a separate barrack.

"Salman Khan has been given number 106 and is lodged in ward number 2. He was made to undergo a medical test and has no medical issues. He has not made any demands. We will give him jail uniform tomorrow. Multiple-layer security has been put up for his ward," the DIG said on Thursday, hours after he was taken to jail following his conviction in the case. The DIG said the actor was served with chana dal (split chickpeas), cabbage, and chapati (flat bread) for the meal. He will have to sleep on the floor of the jail like other prisoners.

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Bollywood actor Inder Kumar dies of cardiac arrest at 44

He has worked in more than 20 films

Bollywood actor Inder Kumar has passed away early Friday morning.

The 44-year-old actor suffered a heart attack at his residence in Four Bungalows, Andheri, Mumbai, at around 2 am.

He has worked in more than 20 films. Inder also shared the screen space with Salman Khan in movies like 'Wanted' and 'Tumko Na Bhool Payenge'.

The star was currently busy shooting for his upcoming movie 'Phat Paid Hai Yaar'.

The cremation will be held today evening at Yaari Road Shamshaan Bhoomi.