Pharrell Williams says everyone should be able to celebrate their joy – including the Iranian youths who were arrested for posting an internet video of them dancing to his song Happy. Williams says he has "the utmost respect for people's religious views" and doesn't know much about Iranian law. But he added: "The present is a gift and if you just want to celebrate your happiness, you should be allowed to do that." Speaking at an exhibition opening in Paris on Monday, he said: "They are just dancing." Fans have posted similar Happy videos from around the world, including the UAE, showing people dancing down streets. – AP
Is Aamir Khan planning to release a movie on Indian TV?
The Bollywood star Aamir Khan is going to screen his next film on television instead of cinemas, according to Entertainment One India. The television channel chosen is & Pictures, a satellite channel owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The release date is June 8. Not much is known about the film, not even its title, although production sources claim it is "full of drama, love, dreams, action and tragedy". Sounds like any other Bollywood film, but Khan may still surprise us. – The National staff
Steve Perry back on stage
Journey's former lead singer, Steve Perry, performed live for the first time in nearly two decades on Sunday night in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The 65-year-old singer teamed up with the alternative rockers Eels during their second encore. The encore included two Journey songs: Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin' and Open Arms. Eels frontman Mark Everett told the crowd that Perry hasn't performed the songs for two decades and "walked away from it" because "it didn't feel right". – AP
Queen to release new tracks with Mercury
Queen are going to release new tracks featuring Freddie Mercury's vocals by the end of the year, the British rock group's guitarist Brian May told BBC Radio. The songs, dating back to the 1980s, will be released on a compilation album. "We found a few more tracks with Freddie singing and all of us playing and they're quite beautiful, so people will be hearing this work towards the end of the year," the 66-year-old said, adding that the album is "probably" going to be called Queen Forever and will have material that "nobody in the world has ever heard. And I think people will really enjoy it". – AFP
Shatrughan Sinha home from hospital
The actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha, who was admitted to hospital earlier this week, has stressed that it was a routine check-up and that "there's nothing wrong" with his health. "Nothing wrong with me at all. I had been campaigning for elections like a mad man. I needed a check-up. You'd be happy to know my blood pressure was like that of a 12-year-old. I need to stay fit for the long struggle ahead," said the 67-year-old. Sinha is a member of India's Bharatiya Janata Party, which has formed a new government after a landslide victory in the recently held general elections. The veteran actor, who contested and won the Patna constituency, in the state of Bihar, was honoured for his outstanding contribution to Indian cinema at this year's Indian International Film Academy awards ceremony held in the United States. – The National staff
Mohit Suri: Ek Villain not based on Korean film I Saw the Devil
The filmmaker Mohit Suri has denied rumours that his forthcoming romantic thriller Ek Villain is inspired by the Korean film I Saw the Devil. "I took just one dialogue from the Korean film's promo, just like I have taken another dialogue from the film Jack Reacher," Suri told an Indian newspaper. "I wasn't born with dialogues in my head and I have been inspired by the films I have watched and the books I have read," he added. Ek Villain stars Riteish Deshmukh, Sidharth Malhotra and Shraddha Kapoor and is out in India on June 27. – The National staff
