Shah Rukh Khan will give a public lecture at the University of Edinburgh's New College on October 15. Tickets are sold out, but there will be a live video stream of the event. The university has been linked with India for nearly 250 years. Professor William Robertson, Edinburgh's principal from 1762 to 1793, wrote one of the earliest European texts to focus on India. Edinburgh's first Indian student graduated in 1876, and by the 1920s its Indian student population was greater than that of any other UK university. Senior vice principal, Charles Jeffrey, said: "The University of Edinburgh has very strong ties with India and I am delighted that we are able to welcome one of the most outstanding stars of world cinema." Khan, who has done more than 80 Bollywood films and received 14 Filmfare awards, sought advice about his lecture topic from his 15 million Twitter followers: "Now 2 writing speech for Edinburgh. Life lessons/success or on education?" After responses from fans, he tweeted, "Most of u feel life lessons ... LL it is then. Now to make the fingers bleed on the keyboard." – The National staff
Ash’s ‘comeback’ movie is a box-office hit
Bollywood film Jazbaa had a solid opening weekend at the Indian box office. The film released in India on October 9 and early reports suggest it drew big crowds over the weekend, earning Rs97.2 million (Dh5.5m). The crime thriller stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in her first film role for five years and many are calling it her comeback movie. But co-star Irrfan Khan disagrees. He told the Press Trust of India: "For me, she was always here. She didn't go anywhere. An actor should be allowed a gap. Her audience is still with her." Bachchan plays a lawyer in the movie and Khan a suspended cop. Directed by Sanjay Gupta, Jazbaa is a Hindi remake of a South Korean crime film. – The National staff
The Martian soars while Pan crashes
Matt Damon's The Martian remains in a world of its own, topping the North American box-office charts for a second weekend, after taking an estimated US$37m (Dh136m). The critically acclaimed blockbuster about an astronaut stranded on Mars, directed by Ridley Scott, has now made $108.7m (Dh399m) in total. In a less than stellar showing, new release Pan, a film that reimagines Peter Pan's story, made only $15.5m (56.9) during its opening weekend, only a tenth of what it reportedly cost Warner Bros to make. That puts it on track to be one of the worst bombs of the year. – AFP
Hendrix estate suing over US$1m guitar
The Jimi Hendrix estate is suing a man for a guitar once owned by the legendary musician, which is valued at between US$750,000 and $1m (up to Dh3.67m). Experience Hendrix, the company that runs the estate, wants a judge to order that the guitar be returned. According to the complaint, the estate says Harvey Moltz, owner of Rainbow Guitars in Tucson, Arizona, is not the rightful owner of the Black Widow acoustic guitar. Moltz says he bought it in June 2014 from someone who bought it from Sheldon Reynolds, the ex-husband of Hendrix's adopted sister, Janie Hendrix. Estate attorney Ed McPherson says Reynolds, a former member of Earth, Wind, and Fire, stole it. – AP
Aerosmith star tells Trump to stop using music
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler has asked Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to stop using the power ballad Dream On at campaign events. Attorneys for Tyler sent a second cease-and-desist letter to Trump's campaign committee on October 10. The letter says Trump does "not have our client's permission to use Dream On" and that it "gives the false impression that he is connected with or endorses Mr Trump's presidential bid". Tyler, who is a registered Republican, attended the GOP contenders' first debate in August. Tyler's team has said it's not a political or personal issue against Trump, but one of permission and copyright. – AP
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