Veteran actor Dilip Kumar has been admitted to Lilavati hospital in Mumbai after developing breathing problems, family friend Udaya Tara Nayyar has confirmed. "He had high fever [on Saturday, April 16] morning so we got him to hospital," he said. "He has pneumonia and the doctors have started the medication. He is stable now, and under observation. He is not in the intensive care unit. He is doing fine." Kumar, 93, is known as the "tragedy king" of Indian films. He made his movie debut in Jwar Bhata in 1944. – IANS
Abu Dhabi Festival celebrates the written word
The Abu Dhabi Festival's new writing programme, Riwaq Al Kitab, celebrates Arabic literature with the launch of six new books on April 20 at the Emirates Palace Gallery from 7pm. They are: Maitha Al Khayat's I Love My Mom's Pretty Veil; Shaima Al Marzouqi's The Fantastic Hot Air Balloon; Asmaa Al Ketbi's The Bedouin Penguins; Dowan by Khawla Al Tayer; Rubaiyat Al Khayyam by Mohammad Nouraldin; and Philosophical Insights in Governance and Equestrianism by Ali Abu Al Reesh. The event is free. For more information, visit www.abudhabifestival.ae. – The National
Liam Hemsworth denies Miley Cyrus engagement rumours
The Hunger Games actor Liam Hemsworth has said that he is not engaged to singer Miley Cyrus, following months of speculation. Rumours began to swirl when the former Disney star started wearing what appeared to be the engagement ring Hemsworth had given her before they split in 2013. Hemsworth dismissed the rumours, during an interview with Australia's TV Week. "I am not engaged, no," Hemsowrth said. However, the couple have been spotted in public together, fuelling speculation that they have rekindled their romance. They were most recently seen enjoying a night out with friends and family after attending the premiere of The Huntsman: Winter's War, which stars Liam's brother Chris Hemsworth. – IANS
No divorce for Kunal Khemu and Sonal Ali Khan
Actor Kunal Khemu has denied rumours of a separation from his wife, Soha Ali Khan. Khemu, 32, took to Twitter to deny media reports claiming that the actors intended to go their separate ways. "What!! Why is my marriage in trouble?? Why am I heading for a divorce? Am I in a different reality or the people reporting this nonsense," Kunal wrote. The Go Goa Gone actor even tweeted a popular quote from superstar Salman Khan's movie Wanted, which translates as: "Once I give a commitment, then I don't even listen to the press." Soha Ali Khan, 37, star of The Tum Mile, became got engaged to Khemu in July 2014 in Paris, and they married in Mumbai in January the following year. – IANS
Lessons in being gracious from Shah Rukh Khan
Superstar Shah Rukh Khan had admitted that he's not always been the biggest fan of awards ceremonies. When asked about his take on the star-studded events, Khan said: "I have won more than 525 awards so I can't question awards, in fact I like them [but] I had a simple logic during the initial years of my career that I would not attend an award function if I was not going to win. But later I realised you have to show graciousness for having been awarded. So I made a rule that I will just perform when I am not getting an award. I see them as an evening out of celebration and there is no other reason." 50-year-old Khan is promoting his latest film Fan, which was released at the weekend and in which he plays the double role of a major Bollywood star and his biggest fan. When quizzed about the commercial risk of making such a movie, Khan says he is proud to have blazed a trail. "For me it doesn't make a difference at all. Nobody was in a phase of doing a film like Fan because that's not a regular film that comes into your head. I am not the kind of actor who waits for the right script. I have nothing to lose." – IANS
Flu forces emergency landing of Prince’s plane
Singer Prince has been released from an Illinois hospital after he was hospitalised with the flu following an emergency landing by the plane he was travelling on. A representative of the singer told entertainment website TMZ that Prince had performed in Atlanta on April 14 despite not feeling well, and his condition got worse after boarding a plane following the concert. The plane made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, where the singer was treated at a local hospital. He was able to return to the plane and flew home, TMZ said. The 57-year-old singer cancelled two shows last week in Atlanta due to the flu. – Reuters
