January 01, 2010

Slumdog Millionaire's Rubina gets flat as New Year gift


Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire child-actor Rubina Ali Qureshi, whose shanty was demolished on Wednesday, is looking forward to a special New Year gift - a spacious new flat gifted by director Danny Boyle through his Jai Ho Trust.

"We have already selected and finalized the deal for a flat costing Rs.3.2 million in the Mumbai suburbs. Even Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle has approved it. After finalising the relevant formalities, Rubina and her family plan to shift there within a month," Rubina's business manager Dinesh Dubey said.

However, he denied that nine-year-old Rubina and her co-star, 11-year-old Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail Shaikh have been given government accommodation after they shot to international fame early this year.

They were given letters allotting tiny flats - each measuring 180 square feet in the far-flung suburb of Malvani - from the state government, which they have refused, Dubey said.

He explained that since they live in the Garib Nagar slum near Bandra station, they would be automatically entitled to a flat measuring 225-square feet as per the slum rehabilitation policy of the government.

"Then why should they settle for something which is much less and lose out on a better future option?" Dubey pointed out.

Azharuddin has already moved into a flat in Santacruz east given by Boyle through the Jai Ho Trust he has set up in Mumbai.

Now, it is Rubina's turn to move into her own flat with her family and this should materialize very soon, Dubey said, adding that it was a long overdue gift and it was appropriately coming in the New Year 2010.

Meanwhile, the Qureshi family rebuilt their shanty Wednesday night and are planning to restart their lives afresh. This was the second demolition in 8 months by the Mumbai civic authorities.

The worst sufferer due to Wednesday's demolition was Rubina's two-month-old step-sister who shivered all through the cold spell that Mumbai has been experiencing since the past one week, Dubey said.

source:http://sify.com

Ellen DeGeneres named as woman of the year


American comedienne and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres has been named woman of the year by animal rights organisation, People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), for promoting a lifestyle which is friendly to nature.

Tim Gunn, who appears on fashion programme "Project Runway" in the US, was named man of the year.

"Tim Gunn and Ellen DeGeneres show us that one person really can make a difference in the world by rejecting cruel deeds in favour of compassionate acts. Their message that animals must be treated kindly and respectfully has reached scores of people, and many of them have changed their buying habits. All because Gunn and DeGeneres spoke up for the voiceless," said PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk.

DeGeneres, who fronts a self-titled show, said she was delighted by the honour.

"I'm honoured PETA named me 'Person of The Year'. I thank them for protecting animals every single day. Amazing," she tweeted.

PETA said it gave its accolade to DeGeneres for being vegan and championing the meat and dairy-free lifestyle by inviting experts like Jonathan Safran Foer and Neal Barnard on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show".

While Gunn's contributions include narrating the charity's 'Fashion Victims' video, about extreme practices in the fur and reptile skin trade and for being creative director at fur-free fashion chain Liz Claiborne.

Both stars will be awarded plaques and a letter of appreciation.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Madonna named Most Famous Celebrity of the Decade

Madonna has been named the ‘most famous celebrity of the decade’ after grabbing more column inches than any other star.

A study of celebrity reports from British national newspapers showed that, Robbie Williams, who has enjoyed comeback success this year, was the most written-about male celebrity of the past 10 years.

With a high profile marriage and divorce, adoption bids and one of the most successful careers around, Madonna has accrued 45,633 mentions over the decade.

This was around 17,000 more news articles than her nearest rival Williams.

The study was commissioned by online UK TV channel Liv, which features style and celebrity programming.

''This is a fascinating insight into which celebrities have real showbiz staying power with the UK print press and have proved their popularity over the last decade. Madonna's ability to be able to re-invent herself and her image has meant she has stayed at the top of her game throughout the noughties and we salute the queen of pop,'' the Telegraph quoted Alex Ayling, Liv commissioning executive, as saying.

source:http://sify.com

George Clooney says no to press conferences

Hollywood star George Clooney has decided not to attend press conferences anymore becauase he is tired of getting marriage proposals from "fake" journalists and their silly stunts at the meets.

The 48-year-old was left embarrassed when a male stripper posing as a journalist took off his clothes while professing his love for Clooney at a Venice Film Festival press conference in September. Post the incidnet Clooney has become elusive for the media.

"I'll do the red carpets, but I'm not going to do the press conferences anymore. You focus on a few smart interviews and try to do them every once in a while and make them hard to get," Imdb.com quoted Clooney as saying.

"When you're at a certain place in your career where people know you, it's not like you have to get known. I don't want to be more famous. You realise that movies are either going to be successful or not based on the trailer and how it's sold and what people's perception of the movie is," he added.

The actor had refused to promote his new movie Up In The Air and left interviews to co-stars Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick. He insists he won't be available to the media in 2010 and beyond.

source:http://www.hindustantimes.com

Jennifer Aniston named force behind anti-paparazzi law


Former Friends star Jennifer Aniston's activism has been the force behind a new state law in California that restricts the paparazzi.

Aniston's activism was instrumental in the success of Assembly Bill 524, which takes effect from Jan 1, according to Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, who revealed that the actress' horror stories prompted her to fast track the legislation.

The new law allows for civil penalties against the paparazzi and media outlets that sell and buy unlawfully obtained photographs and video footage of celebrities and their families.

Bass said she wrote the bill after Aniston and a group of celebrities helped her to understand just how bad the Los Angeles paparazzi problem had become.

"There have to be some boundaries. When you have children in the car and the photographers are rushing you, it's just absolutely out of control. It's become a public safety issue. Somebody's going to die if we don't do something," said Aniston.

The measure was signed into law in October 2009 by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

source:http://sify.com

December 31, 2009

Priyanka Chopra India's top brand endorser of 2009


After emerging as one of the leading actresses in Bollywood, Priyanka Chopra has been declared India's top brand endorser in 2009, says a report.

According to the report by TAM AdEX, a division of TAM Media Research, Priyanka, 27, has edged past endorsement giants like skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and actors Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan.

Priyanka, who is awaiting the release of her next movie Pyaar Impossible, is all smiles.

"I have always strived to give my very best. It has been very fulfilling experience to be the face of some of the best brands. In my mind, the findings of the survey endorse the equal opportunity country that we are emerging. Being a woman is no longer a disadvantage," Priyanka said.

"It is a humbling recognition and I am grateful for the adulation and unconditional support of millions across the world which is most integral constituent all the successes in every phase of my life," she added.

Currently, Priyanka endorses a variety of brands including Nokia, Lux, Sunsilk, Levi's, Hero Honda and Asmi.

These days the former Miss World is busy promoting her romantic-comedy Pyaar Impossible, the story of a beauty and a geek. She has teamed up with Uday Chopra in it.

Apart from making her mark in ad world, she has also delivered hit film Kaminey and won critical appreciation for her performance in What's Your Raashee?. She bagged a few awards as well.

source:: http://sify.com

December 29, 2009

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Sir Paul McCartney gets animated for Rock Band videogame

Sir Paul McCartney will enter the screens one more time as an animated Lego brick after signing a new deal with chiefs behind the game based on The Beatles.

The 67-year-old singer will have solo material released via The Beatles: Rock Band game when three songs from live Good Evening, New York City DVD are added to it.

Fans can also get hold of the star's gig in New York, featuring Band on the Run, Jet and Sing the Changes, from January 5, reports Contactmusic.

The computer game was a big hit when it went on sale in September this year.