Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has signed up to play the villain in a planned Baywatch movie, based on the popular 1990s TV series. Furious 7 star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, who will star in the film along with Zac Efron, made the announcement in an online video. Chopra, who had her international breakthrough last year as the star of American TV crime thriller Quantico, later added on social media: "And it's time to tell you all officially! Baywatch it is! Being bad is what I do best!!! You better watch out!" Her Bollywood debut in Aitraaz also featured her in a villainous role. In Baywatch, she will play a character called Victoria Leeds, according to people.com. One of the most watched TV shows globally in its 1990s heyday, Baywatch was an action drama about the lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles, California. It stars included David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson. Chopra will begin shooting the film version, which will put a comedy spin on the original, next week. – The National Staff
1980s singer Vanity, protégé of Prince, dies
Vanity, a protégé of Prince who renounced her raunchy stage persona to become a Christian minister, has died at the age of 57. The singer and actress, born Denise Matthews, died on Monday at a hospital in Fremont, California. Her sister, Renay, said the death was caused by complications from long-standing kidney issues. A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, she found fame through her association with Prince and 1980s girl group, Vanity 6. She released four albums and appeared in films including The Last Dragon, '52 Pick-Up and Action Jackson. She suffered health problems in 1992 and was hospitalised for kidney failure, which she blamed on drug use. – The National staff
2016 Oscars are copies of 1929 originals
The statuettes for this year’s Academy Awards will be based on the original Oscar design from 1929. The film academy announced on Tuesday that a New York foundry is restoring features from the original design using digital scans and 3-D printers. It took Polich Tallix Fine Art Foundry three months to make the 50 statuettes needed for the February 28 ceremony. Oscars were previously made in a more traditional way by Chicago’s RS Owens & Company, the academy’s foundry for the past 34 years. The statuettes are still plated in 24-karat gold and the dimensions remain the same. – AP
Cosby’s case heads to evidence hearing
Bill Cosby’s criminal sexual-assault case appears to be moving toward an evidence hearing, after a judge denied his latest attempt to have the charges thrown out. In a ruling on Tuesday, the judge who refused to dismiss the case this month denied Cosby’s appeal of that decision. The 78-year-old TV star is accused of drugging and violating a former Temple University employee at his Philadelphia home in 2004. He faces 10 years in prison if convicted. The defence says Cosby had a promise from a previous district attorney that he would never be charged over the 2004 case. Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill found the evidence of such an agreement lacking at a two-day hearing. – AP
Stephen Fry plans move from UK to US
Comedian Stephen Fry has announced that he will soon be moving from Britain to the US. The 58-year-old is "applying for a green card", which is needed to become a lawful and permanent resident of US, reports femalefirst.co.uk The news comes following a backlash on Twitter after Fry's stint as BAFTA host on Sunday during which he made a gag at the expense of friend Jenny Beavan, calling her a "bag lady" as she collected her award for Costume Design for her work on Mad Max: Fury Road. Fry told the Twitter mob that he and Beavan are old friends and she was in on the joke and then quit the social-networking site. –IANS
Gerard Butler to be Daytona grand marshal
Gerard Butler will serve as grand marshal and give the command to "start your engines" at the Daytona 500 on Sunday. The Scottish actor will attend other pre-race ceremonies and ride in one of the grand marshal cars during the pace laps. Butler will next be seen on screen in the thriller London Has Fallen, due for release next month, in which he plays a secret Service agent. He joins baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Ken Griffey Jr and WWE star and actor John Cena as pre-race celebrities at the Daytona 500. Cena is the honorary pace car driver, while Griffey is honorary starter. – AP
SRK comments on the abduction case inspired by his movie Darr
Shah Rukh Khan admits that films and celebrities can affect lives in many ways, but hopes the influence is more positive than negative. His comment came after he was asked about the role of celebrities after a recent abduction case, in which the accused claimed he was inspired by Khan's role in the 1993 movie Darr. The actor said there were several instances when a celebrity had made a powerful impact in the lives of people, but that he didn't understand the desire of fans to react. The abduction case involved a hardened criminal, who kidnapped a female executive with whom he had fallen in love and wanted to marry. SRK's film was about a man obsessed with a woman (played by Juhi Chawla) and stalks her. – IANS
