The veteran Indian singer Asha Bhosle will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dubai International Film Festival. Bhosle, 81, has lent her voice to more than 12,000 songs in about 850 films and is known for her versatility – she has recorded every style of music from Bollywood to folk songs, classical music, pop, ghazals and hymns. Bhosle, who made her acting debut last year with the film Mai, features in the Guinness World Records as "most recorded artist in music history". In 2008 she was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award. Diff runs from Wednesday, December 10, to December 17. – The National staff
J K Rowling to publish new Potter stories
Here's an early Christmas present for Harry Potter fans – starting on Friday, December 12, J K Rowling will post her new works online for 12 straight days, her Pottermore fan website announced. Potter's enemy Draco Malfoy features prominently in the stories and a new potion or two will be introduced, The Telegraph reported. – The National staff
Anushka on Virat: I have nothing to hide
The Bollywood star Anushka Sharma says her relationship with the Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is not a secret affair – she just doesn't want to talk about it. "Nobody is hiding anything," the actress said when asked if the two were in a relationship. "We are living our life very normally. It's just that we don't want to talk about it. We can't subject it to entertainment news. We will not hide if you guys see us together, but we will not talk about it." Sharma is currently promoting her new film PK, in which she is cast opposite Aamir Khan. PK is directed by Rajkumar Hirani and is out in UAE cinemas on December 18. – IANS
Bill Cosby counter-sues
Bill Cosby is counter-suing the woman who accused him of sexual assault when she was 15, claiming she attempted to extort money from him. The legal action alleges that Judith Huth’s lawyer approached Cosby’s representatives demanding US$250,000 (Dh918,000) to stop her from filing claims. It also says the woman tried to sell her story to a newspaper 10 years ago. In recent weeks, more than a dozen women have accused Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting them. Meanwhile, graffiti commenting on the allegations against Cosby were removed on Friday from the comedian’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Apparently the word “rapist” was written three times across the star. – The National staff
