Mumbai, November 23 (IANS): The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is taking its first step into India with a talent hunt initiative that lets the Academy identify and nurture up to five talents working in film, games, or television in India. The exercise, known as BAFTA Breakthrough initiative, is part of the Academy's year-round effort to support new talent, operating alongside their Awards ceremonies. The programme has in the past supported artistes such a

Mumbai, November 22 (IANS): Actor Iqbal Khan says OTT platforms create space for stories and experimentation. While content creators should be responsible, self-censorship should not limit storytelling. Iqbal, who was last seen in the web series "Crackdown", is currently shooting an upcoming series in the scenic hill town. "OTT has taken stories to mobiles and laptops, and can be enjoyed anytime and anywhere. I believe that over a period of time synergies will work

Los Angeles, November 17 (IANS): Actor Glynn Turman says essaying his role in series Fargo brought back memories of his father. Turman plays the role of Doctor Senator in the fourth season of the show. "I had no problem playing the role once I discovered the hat. I put on the hat and I was good to go. I said, 'I know this guy now'. Me and the hat went to the dressing room, kissed, and then we were off and running. When I looked in the mirror and saw my character in c

Los Angeles, November 8 (IANS): Congratulatory posts have been pouring in over the last several hours for US President-elect Joe Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris, who is set to become the first female Vice President of America. "Crying and holding my daughter, "look baby, she looks like us," tweeted actress Mindy Kaling, referring to Kamala Harris. Many of the congratulatory messages were in fact for Harris, for breaking the glass ceiling and becoming the f

Mumbai, November 3 (IANS): Actress Alia Bhatt has shared what she does when she has too much energy and no one to talk to. "My post pack up routine," she wrote on her Instagram story before explaining. "Hydrate," she wrote along with a clip showing her water bottle as she travelled back to her place in the car. "Look outside the window, whilst subtly promoting best friend's clothing brand," she shared with a clip featuring herself wearing a ma

Aizawl, November 1 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extolled a four-year-old girl in Mizoram for singing a contemporary version of the national song "Vande Mataram". Modi retweeted Esther Hnamte's performance video which was first tweeted by Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga. "Adorable and admirable! Proud of Esther Hnamte for this rendition," said Modi in his tweet on Saturday late night. "Mesmerizing Esther Hnamte, a 4-years-old kid from Lu

New Delhi, November 1 (IANSlife): It has been a challenging year, but come the season of festivities and it's all about the sparkles and celebrations. It has also been a year where many have discovered themselves and found their inner light. Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar spreads some cheer as she joins hands with Swarovski to celebrate the journey of self-discovery and inspiration in its latest campaign #CelebrateTheSparkle. To mark the occasion of Diwali, the brand has curated

Mumbai, October 31 (IANS): Actor Amitabh Bachchan feels there is no need to please the entire world, even though one might feel the urge to do so at a young age. The veteran actor on Saturday took to his verified Instagram account to share a collage of images where he is seen observing his face closely in a mirror. "The only person you have to face in the morning is yourself. When younger, feels like you have to please entire world. No. Do what makes you happy, create life y

MUMBAI, OCTOBER 31 (IANS) : Bollywood star Alia Bhatt poses and preens like Cinderella in her latest social media post. She also gives a hint of what she is in the mood for in her caption for the post. Alia posted a string of pictures on Instagram in a stunning checkered dress. Alongside the images, she wrote: "Cinderella never wished for a Prince, all she asked for was a new dress and a night out." With unlock in place, Alia has started shooting for Sanjay Leela Bhansali&

New York, October 30 (IANS): People who feel enthusiastic and cheerful -- what psychologists call "positive affect" -- are less likely to experience memory decline as they age, say researchers. The result, published in the journal Psychological Science, adds to a growing body of research on positive affect's role in healthy aging. "We may wish some memories could last a lifetime, but many physical and emotional factors can negatively impact our ability to retai

New Delhi, October 30 (IANSlife): With all the chaos created due to the pandemic, a change in the Indian healthcare industry is the need of the hour, feels Anita Sumra Singh, Chief Executive Officer of Chicago based Jorie Healthcare Partners which recently entered India. She says: "(Prime Minister Narendra Modi's) proposed Ayushman Bharat scheme in the Indian Healthcare system is facing a turning point at this time. With all the chaos created due to the pandemic, a change i

TAIPEI, October 30 (Reuters) - At a rowdy gay bar in Taipei, 28-year old Vilian ends a Friday night drag show by putting on a traditional tribal tunic over his white silk negligee and dancing to an aboriginal song that has become a rallying call for Taiwan's indigenous minority. An ethnic Bunun, Vilian is among a handful of indigenous drag queens who use their performances to fight against the double stigma of being part of the LGBTQ+ community and of the island's historical

Mumbai, October 29 (IANS): Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar says she is not an accidental actor and that her journey has been of survival. "It's been five years and it still feels like a dream! I am not an accidental actor and I say this time and again. This is something that I really wanted to do and I have worked really hard to be here. I am born and brought up in Bombay so that definitely helped because just having some sort of a support system in the city, which is the

New Delhi, October 27 (IANSlife): Bollywood Actor Katrina Kaif launched Indias first celebrity makeup brand, Kay Beauty, a year ago. The line was created in partnership with leading omnichannel lifestyle retailer, Nykaa, with a vision to deliver high-performance, long-lasting, ultra-glam makeup products that also care for the skin. Celebrating a year of success the actor turned entrepreneur, turned investor, recently signed an agreement to invest an undisclosed amount in Nykaa throu

Mumbai, October 27 (IANS): In recent days, people passing by some of the biggest fashion hubs in Mumbai rub their eyes in disbelief at what they behold. Instead of the familiar eye-catcher multi-hued designer garments hanging in the windows, they witness luscious fresh vegetables, fruits, groceries, farm and dairy products, masalas, et al, beckoning them inside. Some of the big brand names that have embraced the transformation include Benzers, Roopam, Amarsons in Mumbai and the t

New Delhi, October 26 (IANS): Even though movie theatres are now open, only 7 per cent people are willing to go to watch a film there in the next 60 days, as per a survey. Results of July, August and October survey by LocalCircles indicate that people continue to stay reluctant in going to theatres and multiplexes due to the Covid-19 scare. Cinema halls across the states were allowed to reopen after seven months of the ongoing pandemic induced by the novel coronavirus. Delhi,

New Delhi, October 26 (IANSlife): Bollywood actress Mrunal Thakur says OTT platforms have proved to be a blessing for all during the lockdown and she cant wait to be featured in one of its shows. She says: "Earlier people used to look down upon OTT platforms, but I think ever since the pandemic has hit, it's the only thing that people are glued to. It makes me feel happy about the fact your work is not restricted to just few regions of India or in India. It's a matter o

New Delhi, October 25 (IANSlife): The digital edition of the Lakme Fashion Week saw Bollywood stars like Sonakshi Sinha, Ishaan Khattar, Radhika Madan, Diana Penty and Aparshakti Khurana turn showstoppers for various designers participating in the bi-annual event. Sonakshi and Ishaan featured as muses in the fashion film presented by designer Kunal Rawal. He launched his latest line of occasion wear, Process, inspired by the colour palette of NEXA in shades of black, white and grey.

Mumbai, October 24 (IANS): National Award-winning actress Keerthy Suresh feels her upcoming Telugu film, Miss India, will encourage women to believe in their dreams and follow their heart. The trailer of the film was unveiled on Saturday. "‘Miss India' is the beautifully crafted story of Samyukhta, who is determined to not let anything stop her from achieving her dreams. I'm glad this film will get a global audience because I feel like it will encourage and inspir

New Delhi, October 24 (IANS): Be it his first film outing as a music composer with 'Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi', 'Parineeta', 'Yahan', 'October' or 'Gulabo Sitabo', his sounds and rhythms are defined by silence. A certain 'pause' distinguishes itself as he allows the audience to fill spaces he leaves blank. "Yes, that happens because I don't like to spoon-feed. I have always believed that the audience is fairly smart and intelli