One of the new posters of Shuddh Desi Romance. The film will be out in cinemas on September 13.
One of the new posters of Shuddh Desi Romance. The film will be out in cinemas on September 13.
One of the new posters of Shuddh Desi Romance. The film will be out in cinemas on September 13.
One of the new posters of Shuddh Desi Romance. The film will be out in cinemas on September 13.

First look of Shuddh Desi Romance revealed

Plus: Divyendu Sharma takes on non-comic role; Tamil remake of Telugu film Maryada Ramanna; Paoli Dam happy about not being typecast.

The National staff with agency

June 18, 2013

  • English
  • Arabic

After his comic turn in Pyaar Ka Punchnama and Chashme Baddoor, the actor Divyendu Sharma is ready for some seriousness in his next movie, Zaalim Dilli. "I don't want to do clichéd roles. I want to do something different. In this film, I'm doing a serious role for the first time," explained Sharma, who is best-known for the character Liquid in his debut film Pyaar Ka Punchnama. As for choosing which role to take on, he said: "I just go with the script. If I like the script and my character, I go with it. I have to like the story." – IANS

First look of Shuddh Desi Romance revealed

The first posters and digital posts of the romantic comedy Shuddh Desi Romance are out. Produced by Aditya Chopra, the film is directed by Maneesh Sharma (Band Baaja Baarat), with the script by Jaideep Sahni (Chak De India). Shuddh Desi Romance has Sushant Singh Rajput in the lead role (he was last seen in Kai Po Che!) and has been paired with Parineeti Chopra (Ishaqzaade). Shuddh Desi Romance will be out on September 13. – IANS

Tamil remake of Telugu film Maryada Ramanna

Vallavanuku Pullum Aayudham, the much-awaited Tamil remake of the Telugu blockbuster Maryada Ramanna, was supposed to go into production a few months back. But the cameras will start rolling for it in July. "We were busy finalising some things. The film is expected to go on the floors in July. We are planning to wrap up in a few schedules," said the film's director Srinath. "We are looking for the leading lady and will announce the name soon." The Tamil comic and actor Santhanam will reprise the lead role of Sunil Varma. He was lauded for his performance in the original. Maryada Ramanna has already been remade in Hindi as Son of Sardaar, in Kannada as Maryade Ramanna and in Bengali as Faande Poriya Boga Kaande Re. – IANS

Paoli Dam happy about not being typecast

The Bengali actress Paoli Dam, who made her Bollywood debut last year with the erotic thriller Hate Story, says she is happy that she is not getting typecast in Bollywood. "The industry has been very kind to me. I debuted with Hate Story but despite that I didn't get typecast in Bollywood. I am now doing all kinds of roles in Hindi cinema," Paoli said. She also features in the recently released medical thriller, Ankur Arora Murder Case, produced by Vikram Bhatt. "I know it's difficult to make a mark in Bollywood if you are an outsider. I don't have a godfather. I am happy to have got to where I am without any help," said the actress, who has been a part of Bengali cinema since 2006, starring in films such as Agnipariksha, Kaalbela and Chatrak. – IANS

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Tomorrow 2021
Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

While you're here
While you're here
The currency conundrum

Russ Mould, investment director at online trading platform AJ Bell, says almost every major currency has challenges right now. “The US has a huge budget deficit, the euro faces political friction and poor growth, sterling is bogged down by Brexit, China’s renminbi is hit by debt fears while slowing Chinese growth is hurting commodity exporters like Australia and Canada.”

Most countries now actively want a weak currency to make their exports more competitive. “China seems happy to let the renminbi drift lower, the Swiss are still running quantitative easing at full tilt and central bankers everywhere are actively talking down their currencies or offering only limited support," says Mr Mould.

This is a race to the bottom, and everybody wants to be a winner.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
On Women's Day
Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

STAR%20WARS%20JEDI%3A%20SURVIVOR
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDeveloper%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Respawn%20Entertainment%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Electronic%20Arts%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EConsoles%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PC%2C%20Playstation%205%2C%20Xbox%20Series%20X%20and%20S%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Scoreline

Real Madrid 1
Ronaldo (53')

Atletico Madrid 1
Griezmann (57')

Sunday's fixtures
  • Bournemouth v Southampton, 5.30pm
  • Manchester City v West Ham United, 8pm

Fighting with My Family

Director: Stephen Merchant 

Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Nick Frost, Lena Headey, Florence Pugh, Thomas Whilley, Tori Ellen Ross, Jack Lowden, Olivia Bernstone, Elroy Powell        

Four stars

hall of shame

SUNDERLAND 2002-03

No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.

SUNDERLAND 2005-06

Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.

HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19

Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.

ASTON VILLA 2015-16

Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.

FULHAM 2018-19

Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.

LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.

BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66

On Women's Day

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

if you go

The flights

Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav. 

The tour

While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).

 

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