Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay's Chris Martin filled in for Bono on Monday in a surprise U2 concert in New York to rally support for fighting Aids. U2, who have played only select shows since a 2009-11 tour, announced the free show in Times Square with several hours' notice to raise awareness and funding on World Aids Day. U2's frontman, Bono, was injured in a bicycle incident last month. – AP
Deven Verma dies at 77
The Bollywood actor, director and producer Deven Verma died from a heart attack and kidney failure on Tuesday, December 2 in Pune, the city of his birth. He was 77. He is survived by his wife Rupa Ganguly, the daughter of the late legendary actor Ashok Kumar. Verma was an accomplished comedian best known for his roles in Hindi films such as Angoor, Chori Mera Kaam, Andaz Apna Apna, Bemisal and Kora Kagaz. – IANS
Birdman takes Best Film at Gotham Awards
The Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu's satirical movie Birdman won Best Film at the Gotham Independent Film Awards, along with Best Actor for its star, Michael Keaton. The annual Gotham gala, held on Monday night in New York, was the first glitzy gathering in Hollywood's three-month-long awards season. Uma Thurman hosted the event, which is not televised. The ceremony honours independent film with awards picked by panels of critics and film writers. – AP
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