The romantic comedy Barfi! swept almost all the major gongs, including Best Picture, at India's answer to the Oscars on Saturday. Bollywood royalty converged in Macau for the 14th edition of the Indian International Film Festival, held in the territory's glittering Venetian resort. Barfi! won six awards, including the prizes for Best Actor and Best Director. Vidya Balan was named Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of a pregnant woman on a worldwide search for her missing husband in the thriller Kahaani. "Just to know we have so many well wishers and fans overseas, it's great," said Abhishek Bachchan, who won Best Comic Performance for his role in Bol Bachchan. - AFP
Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi divorcing
The British art collector Charles Saatchi told a newspaper on Sunday that he is divorcing his wife, the celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, following an incident in which he grabbed her by the neck outside a London restaurant. Under the headline "I'm divorcing you Nigella", the 70-year-old Saatchi said in a statement to the Mail that he had made a "heartbreaking" decision to separate from his 53-year-old wife because she had not defended him over the row. "This is heartbreaking for both of us as our love was very deep, but in the last year we have become estranged and drifted apart," he said in the statement, which was splashed over the front page of the newspaper. "I feel that I have clearly been a disappointment to Nigella during the last year or so, and I am disappointed that she was advised to make no public comment to explain that I abhor violence of any kind against women and have never abused her physically in any way." - AFP
Aishwarya inspires Jacqueline Fernandez
The Sri Lankan actress Jacqueline Fernandez says she took inspiration from Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's item number Kajra Re (from the 2005 film Bunty Aur Babli) for her own dance sequence Jaadu Ki Jhappi in the forthcoming romantic drama Ramaiya Vastavaiya. Fernandez wears traditional Indian outfits in the song, choreographed by the film's director, Prabhu Deva. Talking about Kajra Re, Fernandez said: "I think it was choreographed beautifully. Aishwarya looked stunning ... I remember hearing it when I came to India. I think it was amazing. It is my favourite song." Ramaiya Vastavaiya stars Girish Taurani and Shruti Haasan and will be out in the UAE on July 18. - The National staff
Le Grand Cahier wins Karlovy Vary film festival
The Hungarian director Janos Szasz's Le Grand Cahier has won the top prize at the 48th edition of an international film festival in the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary. The movie, a co-production of Hungary, Germany, Austria and France, is based on a debut novel by the Hungarian author Agota Kristof about 13-year-old twin brothers who have to spend the cruel years at the end of Second World War with their grandmother. It was chosen from 14 contenders for the Crystal Globe by the festival's grand jury, led by the Polish director Agnieszka Holland. - AP
Prakash Jha dictated Bachchan's wardrobe
The filmmaker Prakash Jha took charge of Amitabh Bachchan's wardrobe in the forthcoming film Satyagraha, reported IANS. "It is true that I purchased the clothes that Bachchan wore in the film. I was very particular about his look and needed the right texture and fabric. I went with my team to buy all the clothes," said Jha. Bachchan plays the role of an activist in Satyagraha and his character required him to wear traditional Indian khadi (handloom) clothes. Satyagraha is out next month and also features Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal. - The National staff
Hrithik Roshan to undergo brain surgery
The actor Hrithik Roshan was due to undergo surgery yesterday for chronic subdural hematoma, said his father Rakesh Roshan. "I am going to go through brain surgery today and want you to know that I am going in with absolute power to recover fast. My thanks to all of you for using the power of your mind to contribute to my life. Love you all," Roshan posted on his Facebook page. His film Krrish 3 will be out in November. - The National staff