The 2002 case in which Bollywood star Salman Khan allegedly ran his car over homeless people sleeping on a Mumbai pavement and left one person dead, is far from over. The 50-year-old actor was acquitted of all charges, based on the lack of conclusive evidence, in December 2015. Now, the wife and son of the victim, Sheikh Noorulla Shafik, have moved India’s Supreme Court with a petition that challenges the verdict and demands monetary compensation. The hearing will likely be held on February 19. The Maharashtra government has also protested the verdict in a separate petition, which claims that “the HC has not appreciated the evidence on record in its proper perspective”.
Mallika Sherawat tweets out selfie with Obama
Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat, who spends most of her time in the United States, posted a selfie with Barack Obama on Twitter on Wednesday, February 10. “Had the good fortune of meeting the one and only, the charismatic President Obama again,” tweeted the 39-year-old actress. She, however, did not disclose where the picture was taken this time. Last month, she posted another selfie with the US president at a tea party in Los Angeles.
‘Shotgun’ Sinha to release biography at Mumbai literature festival
Veteran Bollywood actor turned politician Shatrughan Sinha's biography, Anything But Khamosh: The Shatrughan Sinha Biography will be released at Lit-O-Fest in Mumbai on February 21. Written by Bharathi Pradhan, the book traces Sinha's career, from the time he left home to his early years in Bollywood and his much-talked-about relationship with yesteryear actress Reena Roy. In an interview with the Press Trust of India, the 70-year-old actor had said that while he has been honest about his relationships in the book, he has done so without hurting anyone's dignity. The book portrays Sinha in a candid manner, and includes quotes from his staunchest critics.
Priyanka Chopra finds a fan in celeb photographer Chris Craymer
London-based fashion and celebrity photographer Chris Craymer has joined the list of Priyanka Chopra's international fans (Dwayne Johnson was so impressed by the actress that he offered her a role in his movie on the Baywatch series). Craymer recently shot the 32-year-old Indian actress for a cover of Vogue India and was so taken by the actress, he announced it on Twitter and Instagram. ""Totally charmed and smitten with @priyankachopra after our shoot for @vogueindia!...," tweeted the photographer. Chopra responded with, "Look who is talking!! thank u @ChrisCraymer the shoot was so fun! @VOGUEIndia."
Zeenat Aman to star in Kapil Sharma’s debut web series
Veteran Bollywood actress Zeenat Aman, 64, will make her digital debut with actor-writer Kapil Sharma's upcoming youth-based web series, Love, Life and Screw Ups. The online show will follow the lives of eight friends, with Aman portraying Joanna, a single woman who befriends the youngsters while trying to deal with her own relationship issues. Sharma, who will make his directorial debut with the series, admitted that Aman was initially wary of going digital but liked the script so much that she eventually agreed. Aman's look in the series borrows heavily from 70s' fashion, with plenty of long skirts and flowing scarves.
Pakistan bans Sonam Kapoor’s Neerja
The upcoming true-life Bollywood drama Neerja, which features Sonam Kapoor in the titular role as a stewardess aboard PanAm flight 73 who was shot dead by terrorists during a hijacking at Karachi airport in 1986, has been banned in Pakistan. The movie was rejected even before it was submitted to the censor board, and had already been granted an import licence. Pakistan's commerce ministry issued a statement saying that due to the objectionable nature of the content, which portrays Pakistan in a poor light, the certificate to import the film had been revoked. Neerja is due out in the UAE on February 18.
artslife@thenational.ae
