:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/thenational/OFAD2WKHOIBOEEFBRI6RRIOSLQ.jpg)
Nana Mouskouri, one of the best-selling singers of all time, returned to the stage in her native Greece on Monday as part of a tour to celebrate her 80th birthday. Ahead of a concert at the foot of the Acropolis in Athens, where six years ago she bid goodbye to the music industry, the singer, known for her signature black-rimmed glasses, admitted leaving was a mistake. "I want to be clear: six years ago, at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, it was goodbye. It was a period when I felt myself ageing, when the world I belonged to had disappeared," she told the Kathimerini newspaper. "But that decision cost me dear." – AFP
Alia Bhatt tipped to star in Ayan Mukerji’s next film
The young Bollywood filmmaker Ayan Mukerji, known for his coming-of-age blockbusters such as Wake Up Sid (2009) and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013), might pick the new actress Alia Bhatt for his next project, according to The Times of India. The lead star is tipped to be Ranbir Kapoor, whom Mukerji usually picks for the main role in his films. Mukerji said he is "still working on the script" and "will talk about the lead pair only after the final draft is done". – The National staff
Tenth chart-topper for will.i.am
The American musician will.i.am secured his 10th No 1 in the British singles charts this week, going straight in at the top spot with It's My Birthday. Ariana Grande's Problem, featuring Iggy Azalea, dropped to No 2, while the former TV talent show contestant Ella Henderson also slid one spot to third with Ghost. In the albums chart, Ed Sheeran topped the bill for a third week running with his album X, while the Welsh band Manic Street Preachers were the highest new entry at No 2 with Futurology. Fresh from her appearance at the Glastonbury music festival last month, Dolly Parton placed third with Blue Smoke, making it the highest-charting UK album of her career. – Reuters