· *Many job ads in China openly discriminate against women according to r**esearch from Human Rights Watch, which analyzed 36,000 job ads from the last five years and found ads regularly list a preference for men or put unfair demands on female applicants.*
· *While many jobs state "men only" or "men preferred," jobs open to women were found to list height, weight, facial appearance, marital status, motherhood, and manly demeanor as requirements.*
· *Tech giants Alibaba and Baidu posted ads that excluded women from applying.*

--------------------Job ads in China openly discriminate against women, regularly stating employers' preference for male applicants.

Some ads list a preference for men, others try to lure male applicants by describing the attractiveness of future female co-workers, while many more place unfair and unequal demands on women applicants.

Analyzing more than 36,000 job ads from the last five years, Human Rights Watch released a new report on Monday detailing the extent of discriminatory job ads in China.

"Nearly one in five job ads for China’s 2018 national civil service called for ‘men only’ or ‘men preferred,’ while major companies like Alibaba have published recruitment ads promising applicants ‘beautiful girls’ as co-workers," Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch, said.

In the past, Alibaba has repeatedly advertised "beautiful girls" or "goddesses" that work for the company in its job ads, and described them as "late night benefits."

But even in January this year, Alibaba advertised three roles primarily for men. An ad for a government affairs senior specialist stated "men preferred," as did an ad for restaurant operations support, while the ad for a crowd-sourcing delivery manager said "men only."

Last year, advertisements for feed reviewers at Baidu, who were likely being hired for censorship-related work, listed "men" alongside other job requirements such as an associate's degree. In 2016, a job ad for the company's filming program manager job ad stated the role required "strong logical reasoning ability, effective execution skills … men and manly women [need apply]."

In response to the new report, Baidu told AFP its the job ads have been removed while Alibaba said it would conduct "stricter reviews" of its ads going forwards but the ads referred to in the report were outdated.

"Sexist job ads pander to the antiquated stereotypes that persist within Chinese companies," Richardson said. "These companies pride themselves on being forces of modernity and progress, yet they fall back on such recruitment strategies, which shows how deeply entrenched discrimination against women remains in China."

*Performance by government departments were no better*

Out of all national civil service jobs that were reviewed so far this year, 19% included the terms "men only,""men preferred," or "suitable for men." There was just one instance of a job ad that required the applicant to be a woman.

Last year, 55% of jobs advertised by the Ministry of Public Security specified "men only."

These ads typically state working conditions such as "frequent overtime,""heavy workload," and "frequent travel" that appear to be the reason for excluding women. One ad in the ministry's news department listed "need to work overtime frequently, high intensity work, only men need apply."

One job ad site has attempted to stop the sexist ads by banning gender discrimination phrases, but there are easy workarounds. Human Rights Watch found numerous uses of Chinese characters that sound like "man," use a Romanized version, or swap "man" out for other colloquial terms.

Sexist job ads in China are not a recent problem.

Research from 2013 found gender-targeted ads are common in China, and that an employer's preference for a women workers is often related to their age, height and beauty rather than skill.

*There are often gender-specific criteria for women hires*

If organizations do try to hire women, Human Rights Watch found employers often add in strict, gender-specific criteria regarding appearance, marital status, motherhood, or even alter educational requirements.

In Shaanxi province, researchers found the actual job title for female train conductors was "fashionable and beautiful high-speed train conductors."

Another ad for train conductors in Hebei required women to weigh "below 65 kilograms," be between "162 centimeters to 173 centimeters" tall, and have "normal facial features, no tattoos, no obvious scars on face, neck or arms, good skin tone, no incurable skin conditions."

At Alibaba, the sole job available in January that included the Chinese character for "woman" required the applicant to "possess fine personal image."

Other ads appear to indicate employers would prefer to avoid the hassle of maternity leave, particularly under China's new two-child policy. 

One job ad listed "[Applicants must be] women married with children or men." Another, for a senior manager position at an internet company, required a "female, married with children, excellent image and temperament." 

Even Beijing court assistants, who were required to be female, needed to have "proper looks." 

And in a number of instances women were able to apply for jobs — if they had higher qualifications than their male counterparts. In one city looking to hire management assistants, 47 positions were open to men who had high school diplomas. Two of the three same positions open to women required an associate's degree.

*China is still battling gender equality*

When China ended its one-child policy, state media declared women could now return to the home in order to "better raise children."

This belief closely aligns with what appears to be the state's desire for women to marry and remain in the home. In 2015, Beijing's office of marriage registration caused an uproar when one of its posters — "Being a good wife and good mother is the biggest achievement of a woman" — began circulating online.

The pressure for women to marry is so great that those who are unmarried after 27 are considered "leftover women" and "spoiled goods."

When measured for gender equality, China ranks 100 out of 144 countries.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump tried to cut a secret deal with Planned Parenthood — here's what happened Reported by Business Insider 3 hours ago.

Gail Kuppan’s New Book Breathes Life into a Troubled Relationship Through Emphasis on God’s Lessons

WOLVERHAMPTON, England (PRWEB) April 23, 2018

Gail Kuppan’s marriage was on the verge of falling apart. It wasn’t until she gave her marriage to God that she was finally able to unleash the beauty within her relationship.

In her book, “Beauty and the Beast: Unleashing the Beauty Within!” Kuppan chronicles the details of her failing marriage and how she learned to ask God to help her see her role as a wife through his view.

Analyzed through Biblical passages, Kuppan describes how understanding communication styles, expectations, roles, and societal norms about marriage led her and her husband to work on building a strong relationship.

The book also includes action point questions at the end of each chapter so readers can guide themselves on their journey through Kuppan’s advice.

“A healthy marriage starts with God and the self,” Kuppan said. “We must first listen to Him to see how we can change ourselves, and not our partner.”

In “Beauty and the Beast,” readers can use Kuppan’s guidance to reach a better understanding of their relationship with God and their spouse.

“Beauty and the Beast: Unleashing the Beauty Within!”
By: Gail Kuppan
ISBN: 978-1-5127-8132-8 (sc); 978-1-5127-8133-5 (hc); 978-1-5127-8131-1 (e)
Available at the Westbow Press Online Bookstore and Amazon

About The Author:
Gail Kuppan, a lawyer, is the CEO and Founder of Ginosko Academy of Inspired Learning and International Bible School. She is also a Pastor and Co-Founder of Rhema Faith Church. “Beauty and the Beast: Unleashing the Beauty Within!” is her first book. For more information about the author, please visit http://www.gailkuppan.com.

Review Copies & Interview Requests:    

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480-998-2600 x 584
mdriver@lavidge.com    

General Inquiries
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rrosado@lavidge.com Reported by PRWeb 2 hours ago.

You might expect a settlement to include the wealth you accrued together during your marriage. Reported by Mondaq 16 hours ago.

Is this Thanos praising Iron Man? Reported by DNA 19 hours ago.

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and her cricketer husband Shoaib Malik are expecting their first child, due in the month of October this year. The couple celebrated their eighth marriage anniversary a few days back on April 12. Reported by IndiaTimes 18 hours ago.

The Vaishali Nagar police arrested a man who impersonated as an IPS officer and lured a girl into marry him. The man posed to the girl as a BSF officer who has appeared in UPSC exam and cleared for IPS. However, after the marriage when the girl reached her in-laws’ it was found that the man had made fake claims.

“The accused has been identified as one Aditya alias Udai Yadav. Recently a case was registered by the victim wherein she said that she came in contact with Aditya through Facebook wherein he introduced himself as a BSF officer. He told the girl that he was preparing for UPSC services and was in Jaipur.

The duo started meeting, and in the year 2015 he informed the girl that he has been selected in the IPS 2015 and he has received an appointment in Rajasthan cadre under OBC category. When the duo went out, Aditya even showed an ID card of BSF using which he crossed several toll plaza and took benefit of exemption from paying tax.

The girl fell into the trap and believed that the man was in BSF. The duo then decided to get married and although the girl’s family was against it, they eventually agreed thinking that the man has been selected in the IPS and the duo got engaged. After engagement, the man demanded five lakh rupees from the girl’s father claiming to give that money for IPS selection and one lakh rupees via bank transfer and four lakh rupees cash were handed to him.

Recently on March 5, the couple got married and a dowry was also given. However, after the victim girl reached the native place, she found that all the claims were false and she and her family had been conned. When she questioned Aditya over the same, she was beaten as well. A case was registered here and an investigation was initiated. Aditya was questioned and later arrested. Further action in the matter is being taken,” officials said.

-*MEETING IN 2015*-

The duo started meeting in the year 2015 he informed the girl that he has been selected in the IPS 2015 and he has received an appointment in Rajasthan cadre under OBC category. 

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Highlights:  Reported by DNA 6 hours ago.

There should not be any kind of cruel treatment of women... But the liberty of husbands is also a factor... Whether both can be juxtaposed or reconciled?, says Dipak Misra Reported by DNA 7 hours ago.

Sachin Tendulkar turns a year older, 45 to be precise, today. Since his Test debut in 1989, Sachin Tendulkar has become a legendary name in the world of cricket. Sachin has numerous feats, records and achievements to his name, be it at domestic level or international. But before all the shine and glitter, Sachin was merely a thirsty player who wanted to prove himself and more.

While Sachin Tendulkar celebrates his 45th birthday with a flurry of media interviews, we look back at a time which was very, very different.  Here's a look at Sachin Tendulkar being interviewed by the veteran Tom Alter in 1989.

Tendulkar's memory did not betray him when it came to recalling the time when he was a probable for the 1988-89 tour of the West Indies. He had shown his spark on the Ranji Trophy scene and there were pundits who felt he had an outside chance in India chief selector Raj Singh Dungarpur's scheme of things.

"Rajbhai told me, 'you won't be going to the West Indies. We feel it's too early. There will be the Irani Trophy. Enjoy your cricket, do your best and good things will happen. It's important that you appear for your SSC examinations.' That was very good advice," he said.

It was during this period that MiD DAY produced a video of Tendulkar being interviewed by actor and sports buff Tom Alter at the P J Hindu Gymkhana in Mumbai.

Three years earlier, MiD DAY was the first newspaper to interview Tendulkar -- conducted at an Irani restaurant near Shivaji Park by sports journalist Sunil Warrier. Tendulkar was just 13 (see right).

Back to Alter. *When the actor asked Tendulkar* whether he was tired of people asking him questions and journalists asking him for interviews, Tendulkar said, "This is just the start." Some visionary! When it came to the West Indies tour, he was asked whether he felt it was the right time to go and young Tendulkar's confidence disallowed him from saying no to the interviewer. Not only that, he also said he won't have any trouble facing West Indian quicks like Malcolm Marshall and Curtly Ambrose.

Alter asked him whether he had a problem with Kapil Dev's outswing and inswing when the great bowled to him in the nets. "No, I didn't have a problem," he said.

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English cricket legend Sir Ian Botham, 62, looked suave with a traditional kilt and sporran as daughter Sarah, 39, married fiance Darren Shield at the picturesque Laudale Estate in Loch Sunart in Scotland's west coast on Sunday.

Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan, posted the above picture of Botham and Sarah. Morgan captioned the picture, "Fabulous Botham wedding in the wilds of the Scottish highlands. The bride wore a beautiful dress, the bride's father wore a beautiful skirt... congrats to Sarah & Darren and thanks to Sir Ian & Kathy for a splendid party!"

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With Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft serving bans varying from one year to nine months imposed by Cricket Australia, former Australia skipper Micheal Clarke feels the need for the team to rebuild quickly for the tough series against India later this year.

The trio of cricketers who toured South Africa with Smith the leader were banned in the aftermath of the ball tampering saga in the third Test against the hosts. "Australia is under pressure at the moment with everything that has happened. They need to try and work out what their team is going to be. They need to find a way and start to rebuild really quickly because it is a massive series considering we have never lost to India in Australia," said Smith at a book launch here today.

"So the current team needs to figure out how they are going to build on that success and beat a really good Indian team," he said. India are slated to tour Australia this year-end. Without Smith and Warner to bolster the hosts cricket experts, including ex-captain of Australia, Ian Chappell, feel that this is the best chance for India to win its maiden Test series Down Under. Clarke said he would not like an Indian Test series victory over Australia to be undermined by talks over his country not being able to field a strong team due to the ban imposed on the trio.

"There's no doubt that losing Smith, Warner and Bancroft is going to hurt Australia. But I would hate to see that if India do have success in Australia for it to be taken away due to the absence of the three players. I don"t think that is fair to the Indian team. "India are a great team and they have had success individually in terms of players who are going to be on that tour.

They know the conditions there really well. Clarke was also of the view that India had a fine chance to win the upcoming Test rubber in England too. "I certainly think that they are in for a great chance to win in England as well. If India can beat England in England, they go to Australia with so much confidence, that it is going to be really hard to beat them at home (in Australia)," he quipped.

*Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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South Africa's batting great AB de Villiers today said Virat Kohli has been fantastic as captain of Bangalore, proving his mettle time and again under difficult circumstances.

"The true judge of a good captain is when you don't perform well and still do a good job while leading a side. He has come through with flying colours when it comes to that. He has been a fantastic captain for us," de Villiers told media at an event here. De Villiers said Kohli is putting a lot of effort and energy to keep the side in good stead in the training sessions and hopes he scores a lot many runs in the remainder of the T20.

Asked whether he and Kohli feels the pressure when other batsmen fails to score runs, de Villiers said: "It is normal to feel pressure because we are international players. However, I don't feel extra pressure, I don't think Virat feels it either. We have a team of match-winners and it is up to us to share the load." The South African run machine said won't be surprised if a couple of youngsters come through with flying colours in the ongoing T20.

"In the last five years or so I have seen a lot of talent coming through. I see youngsters playing without any fear so I won't be surprised if a couple of players come through. "I won't say that only the experienced players are performing. We're not even halfway through yet, so there is a lot of time for the youngsters to do well," he said.

*Catch up on all the latest T20 news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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Lionel Messi has overtaken Cristiano Ronaldo as the highest earner in world football according to France Football magazine. The Barcelona attacker is a long way ahead in the figures for the current season, pulling in 126 million euros (Rs 1024 crore) in salary, bonuses and commercial revenue while his great Real Madrid rival is making 94mn euros (Rs 764 crore).*Cristiano Ronaldo*

Last season 'CR7' led with 87.5mn euros with Messi on 76.5mn euros. That works out at 25,000 euros per minute pitch time this season for Messi in La Liga, the Champions League, the Spanish Cup and Supercup and four international appearances for Argentina this season, and assuming he plays all of Barcelona's five remaining games.

*Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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Former Indian cricket team chief coach Gary Kirsten will be looking for exceptional young cricketers in India between April 23 and May 18. Six players from 8 cities will be invited to Pune for a weekend training programme following which the three top players will be given a scholarship worth Rs 2 lakhs each for a 2-month residential High-Performance Camp at Gary Kirsten Cricket.

Watch video: Sachin Tendulkar's romantic side

The entry fee for the talent scout is Rs 1,000 (including taxes) and the only criteria for participation is talent. To participate in the talent hunt, all one needs to do is text their name, city and contact details via WhatsApp to 9112295566.

*Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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"When I state that my favourite captain is *Sachin Tendulkar*, people always seem to have a questioning look, because if you look at the numbers, perhaps his stint as captain was not the most successful. But believe me, he was a very good captain.

He gave freedom to newcomers which is required to blossom as a player. He had a young team when he became captain... Dravid, Laxman, myself, Srinath, Kumble, we were all in the maturing stage and so we couldn't deliver the way the captain wanted us to. But Sachin as a captain definitely defined my international career. He brought me up the order in the ODI format and gave me the opportunity to open the innings with him. It was the turning point of my life as a cricketer." - *Sourav Ganguly*, Sports Illustrated, May 2013.

Watch video: Sachin Tendulkar's romantic side

Sachin Tendulkar represented India from 1989 to 2013, and formally captained the national side in two separate stints that collectively amounted to two years, during this period. He won his first Test as captain against Australia in Delhi in 1996–97, but the euphoria of the Indian supporters was short-lived. Hansie Cronje's South Africans seemed streets ahead of both the Indian and Australian sides in the limited- overs tri-series that followed, in terms of preparation, fitness, strategy and performance.

India lost all three league games to South Africa, but the hosts managed to qualify for the final on the strength of two wins over Australia. However, South Africa were the overwhelming favourites on the eve of the summit clash in Mumbai, with not even the most ardent Indian supporter inclined to give his team even an outside chance.

However, the Indian captain thought otherwise. The visitors, unbeaten at the league stage, were dismissed at 185 runs and India took the trophy.

Excerpted from Winning Like Sachin: Think & Succeed like Tendulkar by Devendra Prabhudesai, published by Rupa & Co

*Also View Photos: These photos of Sachin Tendulkar's life beyond cricket will make you smile*

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*Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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Pep Guardiola was happy to share Manchester City's Premier League triumph with a pitch full of fans, describing the celebratory invasion as a beautiful thing. City were confirmed as champions on their day off last weekend and played the part with aplomb at the Etihad Stadium, hammering struggling Swansea 5-0 in a dominant display.*Guardiola*

Once the full-time whistle blew, hundreds of supporters raced onto the field to take in the moment. Asked about the potential for disciplinary action, he said: "No problem. Football is an emotional game. I understand you have to be careful, but when they feel they want to share that they are happy.

"It is better they stay where they should stay, but I'm not going to tell them don't do that. "If they are happy I like them to be close with the team. They show how happy they are and that is the most beautiful thing we can live as professionals, as a manager and football players. "Just arriving on the bus, the way people look at us and celebrate in the stadium and jump. I'm sorry that's good. It's time to celebrate. I'm not going to tell anybody don't enjoy it."

*Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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The Indian table tennis team surpassed many expectations at this year's Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia returning with eight medals (three gold, two silver and three bronze), their best-ever finish at the quadrennial event.

The Indian paddlers are now set to conquer unchartered territory in Halmstad, Sweden, where they will play in the World Table Tennis Championships (April 29 to May 6).

This is the first time both, the men's team (ranked No. 10), and women's team, (No. 14), will feature in the Championship Division of the biennial event after they scripted history by clinching gold in the 2016 World Championships Second Division at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Indian eves beat Luxemburg 3-1 in that final, while their male counterparts overcame a stiff Brazil 3-2. Both teams will board the flight to Sweden today where they will engage in a training camp for five days with the Swedish national team.*Manika Batra in action at Gold Coast*

At the 24-nation world tournament this year, the Indian men have been placed in Group 'D' alongside France, Korea, Austria, Croatia and Poland. Veteran paddler Sharath Kamal, who bagged silver in the men's doubles along with G Sathiyan at Gold Coast, felt the team's goal is a top-three finish in the group stage. "I have been dreaming about playing in the Championship Division for the last 10 years. We were always close, but we never made it. Our main goal is to finish among the top three in our group. If we finish in the top 3, we will play for the title. If we finish in the top 12, it will still be our best-ever finish. With the confidence and momentum we've got in Australia, we can achieve this," Kamal, 35, told mid-day yesterday.

Mumbai paddler Sanil Shetty, who bagged bronze in the CWG men's doubles event with Harmeet Desai reckoned that France will pose stiff competition. "We have a good chance to play in the Round-of-16, but France's Simon Gauzy (World No. 10 in men's singles) will be tough. Korea have a good team too, while we have a good chance to beating Austria, Croatia and Poland," said Shetty, 28.*Madhurika Patkar*

Meanwhile, The Indian women are placed in Group 'A' with China, Singapore, Russia, Belarus and Sweden for company. Interestingly, India beat CWG defending champs Singapore to win gold at Gold Coast, so doubles specialist Madhurika Patkar believes the Asian outfit will come at them all guns blazing. "Though our CWG show is a confidence-booster, Singapore will come better prepared now. But we are motivated to give it out best," said Patkar, who also said that aiming for top 3 in the group is priority.

Mumbai-based TT legend Kamlesh Mehta summed up the explained from both teams. "From the scheduling point of view, we are lower ranked, so we are the underdogs for sure. But having done exceptionally well at the CWG, we have nothing to lose here. Besides, most of our players have played against these participants across various ITTF events," he said.

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Ladies and gentlemen, sit up and take notice. AB de Villiers is human, we can confirm that. And like any human who plays cricket he too is afraid of losing his wicket. “I felt threatened” were the exact words he used during a pleasant interaction with select media at the RCB team hotel here on Monday afternoon.

De Villiers was talking us through the period when he took on Shabaz Nadeem, the left arm spinner from Delhi Daredevils, during his match-winning knock at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday last. It was as brilliant a bit of counterattacking that you could get to witness in an IPL game. Despite the ball spinning and gripping the surface, AB literally swept Nadeem and DD out of the game.

So did he plan to hit out that way because he noticed from the dugout that the ball was turning square? “No not at all. It’s all in the moment. I felt he could get me out and my way to counter that is to attack, to put pressure on him, and then he makes mistakes instead of me. It’s a game of chess in a way. I came in there and saw it turn a bit and I thought straightaway, there are two slips here, if I block, I will get out. My way of transferring the pressure, to show than I am not there to block it, but I am there to score runs…. it’s that simple.”

Nah, this guy can’t be human. Simple he says to things extraordinary. But then he said it, the ‘T’ word. Asked if he attacked because the slips were there (and it opened up other areas of the field), AB said: “No, not at all. I felt he could get me out. That’s what it’s about. I felt threatened, this guy is going to get me out, the field is showing me that they’re trying to get me out so I am trying to get them out by transferring pressure on them.”

The threat was thus nullified in one go by a non-thinking, simple human being. At least that’s what he would have us believe.

What about when he fails as he has done on occasion this season? “I don't think about it. Every game I try and contribute. Whether I have 10 ducks in a row or 10 hundreds in a row, whichever game I play I'll try and win it for the team. And that's any team I play for. I'm here for RCB. We had a good game against Delhi and that's in the past now. Now we wanna win against CSK (the game is tomorrow). They are playing good cricket and they haven't lost in a while now. They are on top of the leaderboard, so it's up to us to try and beat them. It's a big game for us and we would like to get two wins in a row. I know it's gonna be hard work,” said AB.

He came into the IPL with some fantastic knocks behind him over two intense Test series (against India and Australia) and while he said that there is nothing better than having played high intensive cricket ahead of a high-profile and demanding tournament as the IPL, AB was also very clear that he didn’t view things in terms of runs or results.

“Funny thing with sports people is you always compare your value as a person in results, which is the wrong thing to do although it does make you feel good about yourself when you score runs and come into the tournament with confidence. But, there is a fine line between success and failure and for sports people it is always important to remember that. I have learned how to deal with success and failure over the years, and not to let it spike it up and down too much. Have more of a straight line,” said AB.

That’s indeed great thinking, so does he tell the youngsters in his team, the likes of Sarfraz Khan, the same, about not getting carried away by success or get too downcast with failures? “Most of my advice normally is, don’t over think it, don’t complicate things, keep it simple, he said.

“I have spoken to lot of youngsters a number of times and they look at me as If I am crazy. I tell them, it is basic, keep it simple, keep your head still, watch the ball, don’t think too much. And they are like no, that can’t be it. But, it is what it is all about - it is mastering the basics and then the rest falls in place. The youngsters just think how I do that and stuff, but it is actually just the basics.”

Like the youngsters, none of us in the room believed him and told him so too. The great man just shrugged.

The attention then turned to Virat Kohli, the captain and the batsman.

“Yeah, he has been fantastic,” said AB of Kohli. “The true judge of a good captain is when you don’t perform well and still do a good job of leading a side. He’s come through with flying colours when it comes to that. He’s still putting in a lot of effort and energy into the team, into preparing us and keeping energy up during training sessions. That’s the characteristic of a true captain and a really good leader. He has been a fantastic captain for us and I know that he’s going to score a lot of runs for us in the rest of the tournament. Even if he doesn’t, I know he’ll be a good leader and the team will back him up.”

Some praise that and it all sounded very genuine. You don’t expect anything else from AB.

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Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, 31, and her cricketer husband Shoaib Malik, 36, are expecting their first child, due in October this year. Yesterday, Sania, who has been away from the tennis court due to an injury since October 2017, and hubby Shoaib, posted the above image on their respective Instagram and Twitter accounts of a baby vest and a feeding bottle between two T-shirts bearing their names, accompanied with the hashtag #BabyMirzaMalik.*Shoaib Malik*

The couple celebrated their eighth marriage anniversary a few days back on April 12. Sania's father and coach Imran confirmed that the six-time Grand Slam champion is indeed expecting a child. "Yes, it's true," said Imran adding that the baby was due in October.

Moments after the announcement, the couple were flooded with good wishes on social media. Malik received a lot of messages particularly from the Pakistan cricket fraternity.*Sania Mirza*

"Exciting news bro! MashAllah. Congrats to both of you @realshoaibmalik @MirzaSania," wrote Pak pacer Wahab Riaz. "Congrats!! This is great new Shoaib Bhai n Sania bhabi..May Allah Shower His supreme blessings on you n the family Ameen," wrote Pak opener Ahmad Shahzad.

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Gary Cahill believes it will need a very, very surprising turn of events for Chelsea to add Champions League qualification to their FA Cup final appearance. Chelsea are five points off a Top-4 spot with four matches remaining and skipper Cahill taking a realistic approach.

"I mean, I am not being negative by any stretch, but the games are running out and the teams in there are very good, so if they do let it up, it'll be very, very surprising," the defender said. "[There is] that gap and the point difference, but the obvious thing is all we can do is win our games. We got a decent result at Burnley and we just need to keep winning."

*Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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Defending champions Mumbai have lost four games out of the first five they have played, but captain Rohit Sharma yesterday expressed optimism that things could be turned around as has been the case in the past.

Watch video: Sachin Tendulkar's romantic side

"So far whatever is happening with Mumbai, it is not going the way we want to. But I think we will turn things around like we have done it in the past," Rohit said.

*Catch up on all the latest T20 news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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It was supposed to be a happy homecoming for Delhi after losing four of their five away games. Playing their first home game, languishing at the bottom of the points table, they made as many as five changes against Punjab, who were without an injured Chris Gayle. It was a stage set for the home team to make the most of the situation. But it was not to be.

Making the most of the absence of the in-form Jamaican, Delhi did well to restrict Punjab to just 143 for eight after inserting them. But the Delhi batsmen faltered in the chase of the not-too-formidable target as they batted like millionaires and gifted away their wickets to reckless strokes. Shreyas Iyer single-handedly tried his best till the end, but failed by four runs to take the team across the line.

It was to the credit of Punjab skipper Ravichandran Ashwin, who marshalled his resources well to ensure that his team went to the top of the table with fifth win in six games. For Delhi, it was a continuation of their wretched form and luck as they suffered fifth reverse in six starts, more importantly losing a home game which they should have won hands down.

The win ensured Punjab top the T20 2018 table with 10 points from six matches. After Delhi decided to bowl first, they reaped rich dividends by making wholesale changes in their bowling line-up. Liam Plunkett, made an impressive T20 2018 debut, while young Avesh Khan, an Indian Under-19 pacer was most impressive with his pace and variations on a slow pitch. Dan Christian too was effective with the ball.

The three along with Trent Boult made Punjab batting look inadequate in the absence of Gayle. Besides Gayle, the duo of KL Rahul and Karun Nair has been the mainstays of the Punjab batting. But once Rahul fell to Plunkett, the innings went into a steep decline and the subsequent batsmen just could not force the pace. But in the end, even a total of 143 proved too much for the home team.

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Punjab emerged the winner by four runs as embattled Delhi's woeful run of form in the T20 match continued despite a change in venue and many changes in the team on Monday.

A heavily-rejigged Delhi produced a much-improved bowling performance to restrict Punjab to 143 for eight but the visitors staged a strong comeback to stop Delhi at 139 for eight.

Shreyas Iyer tried his bit with 57 off 45 balls, but that was not enough, as the trio of Ankit Rajpoot, Andrew Tye and Mujeeb ur Rahman picked up two wickets apiece to derail Delhi's chase.

The hosts were off to a brisk start with the highly-talented Prithvi Shaw eking out a few boundaries, including one fine shot through point. But, while going for one too many, the youngster lost his wicket to pacer Ankit Rajpoot, who bowled with fire to return figures of 2/23 in four overs.

Rajpoot followed that up by claiming the big fish, Glenn Maxwell (12), and the Delhi's chase seemed to be floundering when skipper Gautam Gambhir (4), looking woefully out of form, got a leading edge to make the long walk back to the dugout.

Delhi were 48 for three at the end of the six powerplay overs, and Punjab could sniff another victory after making their way back into the match.

The onus was on the in-form Rishabh Pant (4) and Shreyas Iyer, both coming off smashing half centuries, but 17-year-old spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman from Afghanistan had other ideas as he struck with his very first ball, his carrom ball making its way through the gap between bat and pad.

Delhi struggled to break the shackles and the situation became worse when Daniel Christian was run out by a brilliant throw from the deep by Mayank Agwarwal.

The home team needed 43 runs in the last four overs and, to everyone's surprise, it was Rahul Tewatia, who brought the equation down to 28 off 18 after he gleefully smashed Barinder Sran's overpitched offering straight over the bowler's head, picking 17 runs in total.

Tye dismissed Tewatia (24 off 21 balls) as Delhi needed 21 in the last two overs. Plunkett came and went back for a golden duck, leaving Delhi with an arduous task of scoring 17 in six balls. Delhi failed to do so despite Iyer whacking Mujeeb for a straight six and a four.

Earlier, opting to field after winning the toss, Delhi quickly snuffed out the wicket of Aaron Finch through Avesh Khan. Entering the game as a beleaguered unit, the bottom-placed Daredevils made as many as five changes, including handing out T20 debuts to Liam Plunkett and the young Prithvi Shaw.

And what a debut it turned out to be for Plunkett, who returned terrific figures of 3/17 in his full quota of four overs. Trent Boult and Avesh Khan had two wickets apiece. The move to make many changes worked as the hosts managed to keep the in-form Punjab to a modest total.

The rampaging Chris Gayle was forced to sit out the game due to a sore back and his absence was certainly felt by Punjab. Playing in his maiden T20 game, Plunkett impressed on this occasion as he foxed KL Rahul with a slower off-cutter, handing Delhi the momentum with the big wicket at the Ferozshah Kotla Stadium.

The Kotla was packed but one of the stands, which failed to meet SDMC norms, wore a deserted look. Before Rahul's dismissal meanwhile, Khan banged one short and Finch's miscued pull went to Shreyas Iyer. It wasn't a very bad start as far as net run rate was concerned, but Punjab suffered another blow, as Plunkett uprooted Mayank Agarwal's stumps after beating him for pace.

Veteran Yuvraj Singh looked tentative in his 17-ball 14, and his struggle ended when he under-edged an attempted pull off Avesh Khan to Rishabh Pant.

*Catch up on all the latest T20 news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and her cricketer husband Shoaib Malik are expecting their first child, due in the month of October this year. The couple celebrated their eighth marriage anniversary a few days back on April 12. The 31-year-old Indian tennis superstar, who is out of action due to a jumper knee issue since October 2017, posted a picture on Instagram suggesting that she is pregnant. Sania's post showed a diagram of a locker room with two jerseys bearing the names "Mirza" and "Malik" with a tiny onezie with the words "Mirza-Malik" in the middle.

Sania's father and coach Imran confirmed to the media that the six-time Grand Slam champion is indeed expecting a child. "Yes, it's true," Imran told reporters adding that the baby is due in October.


 

#BabyMirzaMalik 👶🏽❤ï¸Â @daaemi

A post shared by Sania Mirza (@mirzasaniar) onApr 23, 2018 at 4:30am PDT



At the start of the year, Sania had said that she was hoping to make a comeback to competitive tennis at the French Open.
*Sania Mirza* at the recent 'Goa Fest 2018' had said that their child would keep surnames of both of them. "Today I will tell you a secret. My husband and I have spoken about it and we have decided that whenever we have a child, the child will have Mirza-Malik as a surname and not just Malik. So that's where we stand as a family including my husband *Shoaib Malik*. He actually wants a daughter," Sania had said.

Global superstar Serena Williams had won the 2017 Australian Open when she was few weeks pregnant with her daughter Alexix Olympia and returned to the WTA Tour last month. Former world number one and Belgian star Kim Clijsters had come out of retirement in 2008, one year after giving birth to her daughter.

*View gallery: Shoaib Malik and wife Sania Mirza's love spans across Indo-Pak borders*

*- With inputs from PTI*

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On the occasion of WWE superstar and multiple time pro-wrestling world champion John Cena's 41st birthday, we present some interesting trivia about the wrestler that you may not be aware about.

 

· Before entering WWE (where he would go on to become a major name), John Cena made his professional wrestling debut in 1999 as 'The Prototype', a semi-robot character in Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW), a wrestling company in which he was also trained. Cena wrestling in WWE in several non-televised matches under this character before officially debuting in WWE under his real name in 2002.
· John Cena holds the second-highest record for the most World Heavyweight Championships with 15. Cena won the WWE Championship (now known as the WWE World Heavyweight Championship) on 12 occasions and is also a 3-time World Heavyweight Champion, which was contested on Smackdown. The wrestler with the most World Heavyweight Championship reigns happens to be Ric Flair, who has 16 professional wrestling World Heavyweight singles championships to his credit.
· John Cena wrestled Olympic wrestling champion Kurt Angle in his official WWE televised debut on June 27, 2002. Angle, who won a gold medal in heavyweight freestyle wrestling in the 1996 Summer Olympics is also a renowned former WWE pro-wrestler with several championships to his credit. Their match was appreciated by fans and fellow wrestlers and although Cena didn't win he was congratulated by WWE stars The Undertaker, Rikishi, Farooq and Billy Kidman for his valiant effort and showmanship.
· Being a fan of rap music and hip hop culture John Cena cultivated an on-screen character of a freestyle rapper, persona that he admittedly came up with by himself in 2003. Cena has also sung and performed his fifth WWE entrance theme song, "Basic Thugonomics," himself. His debut rap album, "You Can't See Me", was recorded with his cousin rapper Tha Trademarc, which features his current entrance them, "My Time is Now" and the single "Bad, Bad Man", for which a music video was made that parodied 1980s American pop culture.
· John Cena has the fourth-highest number of combined days as WWE World Heavyweight Champion, behind Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, and Hulk Hogan.
· John Cena's match with CM Punk at WWE Money in the Bank 2011 has been cited by fans and critics as the best match of that year and has gone to win several awards in many major professional wrestling magazines.
· John Cena is one of four wrestlers to have won the WWE Royal Rumble on more than one occasion. Cena along with Shawn Michaels and Batista has won the Royal Rumble match twice while Steve Austin holds the record for most wins with 3.
· Outside wrestling, John Cena has starred in over 10 feature films. 'The Marine' and '12 Rounds', Daddy's Home and Ferdinand are his most well-known ones. John Cena will be appearing in his first-ever big budget film in the upcoming Bumblebee movie of the Transformers franchise.
· John Cena is also a professional rapper and has various songs to his name. Cena released an album You Can't See Me in May 2005. His album debut at 15 on the Billboard 200. The biggest hit remains 'The Time Is Now'.
· John Cena has granted over 400 wishes for children with life-threatening illnesses through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in the United States that arranges experiences to children with serious medical conditions making him the current record holder.
· Besides winning multiple world championships, John Cena is also a 5-time WWE United States Champion. He has also dabbled in tag-team wrestling and has won four tag team championships namely with Batista, Shawn Michaels, The Miz and David Otunga.
· John Cena was married to Elizabeth Huberdeau from 2009 to 2012. John Cena then began dating WWE female superstar Nikki Bella from 2012. The couple were engaged at WrestleMania 33. John Cena and Nikki Bella ended their relationship in April 2018.
· John Cena learnt the Mandarin Chinese language in 2016 in order to expand WWE's reach to the country of China.
· John Cena has many nicknames - The Cenation Leader, The Chain Gang Soldier, The Champ, The Doctor of Thuganomics, Big Match John, The Face of WWE and  The Face That Runs the Place.
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West Indies cricket great Ian Bishop, currently commentating in the cash-rich T20 2018, was pleasantly surprised when a fan mistook him for the departed Caribbean legend Malcolm 'Macko' Marshall, who passed away in 1999. If that wasn't enough, the fan, after correcting himself, committed another faux pax when he addressed Bishop as 'Mr Holding'.*Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding*

However, Bishop saw the lighter side of the whole episode when he related the incident in a tweet yesterday. "So I'm in the line to board my flight this morning & a young guy, looks about 25yrs, just said he knew my face from somewhere & asked if I was Malcolm Marshall (God rest his soul). I politely said; sorry I'm not.

He then walks past me on the flight & says, 'sorry Mr Holding," Bishop, who picked 161 wickets in Tests, wrote to his 66,000 followers. That must have been one memorable flight, right Ian?

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Bruised and battered after a string of defeats, Delhi find themselves in an 'oh-so-familiar' situation as they seek home comfort against Punjab in the T20 2018 here tonight.

Delhi have been the least impressive of all teams in the past few seasons, only managing to finish at the bottom half of the pecking order. Delhi have suffered fours reverses from five outings to occupy the last place. Given the form they have shown in the previous encounters, Punjab will fancy their chances to continue the momentum against an embattled Delhi outfit.

Returning to his home city franchise, skipper Gautam Gambhir would look to get his scoring touch back. So is the case with Glenn Maxwell, while Shreyas Iyer, who scored a half century against Bangalore, would look to continue in same vein. Delhi's bowling has been an issue with Mohammed Shami off colour. Trent Boult has been decent until now, but likes of Shahbaz Nadeem, Shami have flattered to deceive.

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Tainted Australia cricketer David Warner, currently serving a 12-month suspension for his involvement in the ball tampering scandal, seems to have found a new job to keep him busy. The southpaw has traded his bat for a drill and a hard hat.

In an Instagram video shared by Warner's wife, Candice, recently, the ex-Oz vice-captain was seen using a drill while working at a construction site. According to a report in portal, news.com.au, he was actually working at his under-construction family home located in the beachside Sydney suburb of Maroubra.

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Kolkata skipper Dinesh Karthik termed the Duckworth-Lewis (D/L) method strange and vouched for the Indian counterpart of the rule, the VJD method, after his team lost to Punjab by nine wickets in a rain-truncated T20 2018 game here on Saturday.

"I have always thought that the VJD is an Indian method and it's an Indian domestic tournament, why not think about it in the future? It's been proven that it's a good method, we have used it in domestic tournaments. Only for T20 2018, we use D/L. Why not think about VJD here and promote it?" Karthik said. Punjab opener Chris Gayle and KL Rahul made short work of the chase of 192. The D/L method also came in their favour by reducing the target.

When play was interrupted by rain, Punjab needed 96 runs to win in 11.4 overs with ten wickets. But after the stoppage, the revised target was 125 in 13 overs, meaning Punjab needed 29 runs for win off 28 balls. Punjab breezed to the target with 11 balls to spare. "It is interesting that at the stage rain stopped play, they needed about eight runs an over but after the D/L method, they need six runs an over," Karthik said. "That was surprising, because if it would have been a 20-over game, they would have needed eight an over. After rain, they needed run-a-ball. I didn't understand that."

*Catch up on all the latest T20 news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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It looks like cupid has struck England wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow. According to British tabloid, The Sun, Bairstow, 28, and British actress Eleanor Tomlinson have struck the right chords in their friendship and decided to enter into a relationship. The duo, who met at the Aintree racecourse in Liverpool recently, flirted with each other and even exchanged phone numbers.*Jonny Bairstow*

The Yorkshire glovesman also asked Tomlinson, 25, known for her roles as Princess Isabelle in Jack the Giant Slayer, Isabel Neville in The White Queen, and Demelza Poldark in Poldark, for a date as well after drinking in a private box at the racecourse.

"They both really hit it off. Jonny kept trying to persuade her to go out clubbing with him after the race. But he was unsuccessful. Jonny then went to the London Carriage Works bar in Liverpool, but Eleanor decided to go home" an eyewitness said. Tomlinson, who plays Demelza in the BBC drama, was recently dating her co-star Harry Richardson, but they reportedly parted ways later.

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Multi-talented Dwayne Bravo's next single 'Run D World' will soon be released. With fun lyrics and a foot-tapping beat, this happy and high voltage song is about the spirit of winning and the video has been shot in Trinidad & Tobago. Written and composed by Bravo & JO JO, the song is said to be catchy and sticks in your head long after you are done listening.

His last single, which was the official World Cup anthem 'Champion' became a massive rage and 'Run D World' is touted to follow suit. Commenting on the new release, Dwayne says, "Run D World is a continuation of Champion. With the IPL season, we need that one force that drives us all in the field and I believe this song has that ability. I have tried to capture the indomitable spirit of players across games with this song and I really hope music fans enjoy it."

Adds on Shridhar Subramaniam, President India & Middle East, "Dwayne has a great sensibility in music and his songs have the ability to make anyone dance. 'Champion' was a huge success and appealed to listeners worldwide and we see 'Run D World' following the same path. We are extremely thrilled to be working with him and we are confident that the song will be played in homes and clubs in which matches are being viewed."

Entertainment & Sports Lawyer, Carla Parris added, "Dwayne's team at home in Trinidad and Tobago is extremely proud of him and supportive of both his cricketing career and his entertainment pursuits. It is not often that Caribbean sporting talent transition successfully into the music industry and we are excited about working together with Sony Music to further his entertainment career."

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Former India cricketer and actor Salil Ankola is on board to essay a negative role in filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar's yet-to-be-titled film, which will also star Vidyut Jammwal and Shruti Haasan.*Mahesh Manjrekar*

"I will be the negative lead in the film. He talks less and is a ruthless killer. The film is high on action and the character has to look non-villainous, tougher and fitter so as to look convincing in the climax," Salil said in a statement.

"Mahesh being an old friend, who has known me for a long time, knows my fitness levels. He was very keen on me doing the role. I will be seen in a never seen before avatar so I am pretty much excited," he added.

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After increasing the number of T20 match tickets for Mumbai's first-class players from one to two tickets per game, the Comittee of Administrators (CoA) appointed by the Bombay High Court for the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), have now decided to provide the city's inter-school champion teams an opportunity to witness the Mumbai in action at the Wankhede.

Acceding to the request of Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) cricket secretary Nadim Memon, the two-member CoA, comprising of retired Justice Hemant Gokhale and retired Justice VM Kanade have decided to issue 36 IPL tickets (18-each) to Harris Shield winners Al-Barkaat (Kurla) and the Rest of Schools team members for tomorrow's fixture between Mumbai and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The two teams clashed recently at the Bandra Kurla Complex ground over the weekend. Thereafter, for Mumbai's next match against Kolkata on May 6, Giles Shield winners Rizvi Springfield and the Rest of Schools team members will receive match passes. "I am thankful to the CoA for accepting MSSA's request. It is a great gesture from the MCA," Memon told Mid-day.

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Pakistan cricketer Hasan Ali's signature wicket-taking celebration during the flag-lowering ceremony at the Wagah border recently was slammed on Twitter. A video of Ali's antics during the beating retreat ceremony has gone viral on social media.

It shows the Pakistan pacer patting his thighs and raising his arms before breaking into a unique celebration, the kind he does on the field after claiming a wicket, as soldiers from Pakistan Rangers stood in the background. He was later escorted back by a man in civilian clothes amid thunderous applause from the audience.

"Give this jerk some money and bring him as a cheerleader in the IPL. Kuch paisa kama lega aapni talent se," a user on Twitter wrote. "Did I just see a "chuha" in this wagah border ceremony?" another added.

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The moth eaten adage that age is merely a number could not have been truer for Chennai, who galloped to the top of the points table with a wafer-thin four-run victory over Hyderabad here at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium yesterday. The old and the young in veteran Ambati Rayudu, 32, and pacer Deepak Chahar, 25, combined forces to hand Chennai their fourth win of the season.

Chahar, who broke the back of the Hyderabad chase with three prized scalps in the power-play later went on to attribute Chennai's success in tight finishes to the experience in the squad.*Chennai's Chahar (left) and Raina celebrate a Hyderabad wicket*

*Experience is vital: Chahar*
He said: "As I've said before, age is just a number. Experience is an important byproduct that comes with age, which has come to through for us lately. In tight matches, experience is vital. We have benefited from the experience in our squad in close matches."

The match followed an eerily similar script in both innings as both teams struggled to get going in the power-play but made dramatic recoveries in the second half of their respective innings. Chennai, largely through Rayudu's counter-attacking 79 off just 37 balls did better as they lost fewer wickets. Rayudu, who was moved to No.4 to accommodate Faf du Plessis at the top was ably supported by Suresh Raina, who looked all at sea against the Hyderabad pacers but fought his way to an unbeaten 54.

*Not the ideal start for Hyderabad*
Hyderabad were rocked early by Chahar in pursuit of a seemingly improbable target of 183, especially given the fact that their 148 for nine against Mumbai recently had been the highest successful chase at the venue for the last three seasons. Kane Williamson (84) and Yusuf Pathan (45) kept the home team in the hunt with a 79-run sixth-wicket stand that came off just 45 balls. But their dismissals within five balls of each other meant that the lower order, despite Rashid Khan's 4-ball 17, was left with too stiff a task at hand.

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Chelsea booked an FA Cup final showdown with Manchester United as Olivier Giroud tormented Southampton again with a goal in yesterday's 2-0 win at Wembley. Giroud has made a habit of scoring against Southampton and the France forward was their nemesis in a one-sided semi-final.

Opting to select Giroud instead of Alvaro Morata proved a shrewd move by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte as the former Arsenal star produced a tremendous piece of skill to break the deadlock early in the second half. Giroud has feasted on Southampton this season, scoring twice to spark Chelsea's 3-2 win last weekend and also netting a late equaliser against them for Arsenal in December.

His fourth goal for Chelsea since his January signing was followed by a late header from substitute Morata, setting up a heavyweight final against United at Wembley on May 19.

That will be Chelsea's last chance to win major silverware at the end of a troubled season. Chelsea's 13th FA Cup final appearance will be a repeat of the 2007 showpiece, when Jose Mourinho's men won 1-0. The Blues lost to Arsenal in the final last year.

*Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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Having contributed an unbeaten nine-ball 17 to Bangalore 's winning cause against the Delhi Delhi here on Saturday, Mandeep Singh was presumably relaxing in the home dressing room when the T20 2018 media manager dragged him over to the press conference room.

With a look that said 'what am I doing here', Mandeep sat down in front of an equally bewildered media. But then it dawned, didn't this young man have the best 'seat' in the house as that man AB de Villiers went about displaying his magic? He did, and this is what he had to say about the way the South African went about his business which gave thousands in the Chinnaswamy Stadium some really great pleasure on Saturday.

"What should I say about AB? I just feel lucky and blessed to be playing alongside him and witnessing one of his best innings. He keeps doing such stuff every third or fourth day. When he is batting at the other end, it makes our jobs easier as we know how much capability he has. Honestly, when I bat with him, I just try to rotate the strike and just give it to him," said Mandeep of *De Villiers*' 39-ball 90 that fashioned Bangalore 's six-wicket chase down of Delhi's stiff 174.

As for the man himself, he typically played down the effort. "To be honest, I didn't decide it [to play aggressively]," De Villiers said in an interview. "I wanted to put the spinners under pressure because there was a bit of turn with the new ball. I didn't want to get out in a soft way, I just wanted to try and transfer a little bit of pressure.

"From there it just kept going, I kept feeling good at the wicket, kept seeing the ball, kept hitting it well and never decided to be aggressive. Just those little moments in the game that I felt I needed to capitalise on," he added.

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Arsene Wenger has hinted that growing supporter unrest influenced his decision to quit Arsenal at the end of the season. The 68-year-old saw his side beat West Ham 4-1 at the Emirates Stadium in the first Arsenal game since he announced on Friday he would step down in the summer.

A late goal from Aaron Ramsey and a brace from Alexandre Lacazette, wrapped up a win for Wenger.Marko Arnautovic scored for West Ham to cancel out Nacho Monreal's opener. "Personally I believe this club is respected all over the world, much more than in England, and that our fans did not give the image of unity I want at the club all over the world and that was hurtful," he said.

"I feel the club is respected and overall the image we gave from our club is not what it is and not what I like. "I'm not resentful and I do not want to make stupid headlines.

"I just feel if my personality is in the way of what I think our club is, for me that is more important than me. "That is what I want to say, it is nothing to do with the fans, the fans were not happy I can understand that, that is my job and I have to live with that, I can accept that."

*Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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Rafael Nadal romped to a record-extending 11th Monte Carlo Masters title by brushing aside an outclassed Kei Nishikori in yesterday's final to retain the World No. 1 ranking.

The Spaniard, 31, saw off Nishikori 6-3, 6-2 to become the first man to win a single tournament 11 times in the Open era with his 76th ATP Tour title. Nadal's 31st Masters title is also an outright record, pulling him out of a tie with Novak Djokovic. "We've had some tough moments over these last five months," said Nadal, who was playing at his first ATP event since retiring from an Australian Open quarter-final against Marin Cilic with a hip injury in January.

"I'll enjoy the moment and then tomorrow we'll start to think about the next tournament. But now I'll enjoy winning a Masters 1000 tournament which doesn't happen every day."

*Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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Andres Iniesta hinted he may have played his last final for Barcelona after they crushed Sevilla 5-0 to win the Copa del Rey on Saturday. Iniesta said he would reveal his future plans this week as the Barcelona captain, 33, weighs up an offer from China that would take him away from his boyhood club.

There was no sign of age catching up with the Spaniard at the Wanda Metropolitano where Iniesta capped a sublime performance by scoring Barca's fourth goal. He looked tearful as he departed to a standing ovation in the second half, from some Sevilla fans too, before hoisting the Copa del Rey trophy aloft. "This week I will make my decision public but we will always have days like today,"

Iniesta said. Asked if this was his last final with Barca, Iniesta added: "It's a possibility. In a few days I'll make it public and nothing more. Today is a very special and emotional day." The top sponsor of China club Chongqing Dangdai Lifan told Xinhua news agency that he was "positive" they would sign Iniesta, who had earlier this year also been linked with fellow Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin Quanjian.

"I will say what the decision is this week," said Iniesta. "I think it's a clear but we will see." Lionel Messi scored in between a first-half double for Luis Suarez as Barca ran riot to secure their fourth Copa del Rey win in as many years. Philippe Coutinho converted a penalty to make it 5-0."

*Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. **Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates*

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Reigning world champion Justin Gatlin clocked 10.05 seconds to win his season opening 100 metre race at the Grenada Invitational track meet on Saturday. The 36-year-old American beat out runner-up Isiah Young, who finished in 10.11 seconds, while Mike Rodgers ran 10.17 as Americans swept all three podium spots at the Kirani James Stadium.

Gatlin missed competing in the inaugural Grenada meet last year because of an injury. Gatlin, who was twice suspended for doping, upset the legendary Usain Bolt to claim the 100 metre title at the 2017 World Championships. Bolt took the bronze. Last month, he competed at the Athletix Grand Prix in South Africa where he finished fourth in the 150 metres behind winner Anaso Jobodwana.

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It was a different setting for Malad shuttler Chirag Shetty on Saturday at the Goregaon Sports Club where he normally practises. Shetty, 20, who returned with a doubles silver medal and a team gold from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games recently was felicitated for his achievement at the club and soon got busy posing for selfies with fans.*India's men's doubles shuttlers Satwik Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty (right) after winning silver at the Gold Coast CWG recently*

"I have been getting a lot of love and affection since the CWG. It feels good. But all this recognition is because of badminton and from now on, I must focus on my game even more," Shetty told mid-day after another round of selfies. The pair of Shetty and Satwik Rankireddy settled for the silver medal at Gold Coast after losing to the English pair of Marcus Ellis and Chris Langridge in the men's doubles' final, but became the first Indian pair to win a CWG doubles medal. Earlier, Shetty was part of the Indian badminton team that won gold — India's first team gold at the CWG. Shetty credited the glory to the camaraderie in the squad that included heavyweights like World. No 1 Kidambi Srikanth and Olympic medallists Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu.

"For me, the highlight of the CWG, was the team gold. Everybody was so supportive. Saina, Sindhu, Srikanth and there was Ashwini as well. Everyone was helping each other. The positive environment helped us win many individual medals too," added Shetty, who is now keen to build on his CWG success.

"We have a packed schedule starting with Thomas Cup (May 20-27), then the World Championships (July 30 to August 5) and Asian Games (Aug 18 to Sept 2). A doubles medal at the Asiad will be a bigger achievement than CWG, and it is possible," he signed off.

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India's top woman player Joshna Chinappa beat former world number one Nicol David 11-8, 11-8, 11-8 in the second round of the El Gouna International squash tournament in El Gouna (Egypt) for her first ever win over the legendary Malaysian.

Nicol David, an eight-time World champ and seeded eight in the tournament, started slowly and fell behind by two games quickly as the Indian attacked well, a press note here said. The World No.14 then stormed into a 7-1 lead in the third and, despite a late fightback from her Malaysian opponent,held on to claim her first ever win over Nicol David in 32 minutes.

"I don't know how I did it," Joshna was quoted as saying about her win on the PSA World Tour website. Having won a silver medal in the recent Commonwealth Games in Australia, she said she was aware that she had a tough opening round and a possible match against Nicol David and wanted to play freely. "I knew I had a tough first round, then Nicol in the pre-quarters, so I had no pressure and I just wanted to play freely and enjoy myself," she added. Joshna will meet the winner of the match between England's Laura Massaro or Hong Kong's Joey Chan in the last eight of the PSA World Series event.

A delighted national coach Cyrus Poncha praised Joshna for pulling off a maiden over Nicol and added it was a great day for Indian squash. "Ever since the Commonwealth Games campaign, Joshna has been determined to sharpen her skills in the run-up to the Asian Games. This is a great day for Indian squash," he added.

Joshna had started her campaign with a 8-11, 11-8, 14-12, 11-4 win over Egypt's wild card entrant Rowan Reda Araby. Dipika Pallikal Karthik, the other Indian in the fray, went down to Camille Serme of France 10-12, 7-11, 12-14 in the opening round.

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Indian golfer Rahil Gangjee ended a 14-year title drought by closing with a three-under 68 for a one-shot victory over South Koreans Hyungsung Kim and Junggon Hwang at the Panasonic Open Golf Championship here on Sunday.

Despite the immense pressure on the 18th hole, Gangjee managed to hit his bunker shot out to within 10 feet of the pin. The 39-year-old went on to sink that decisive birdie and win his second Asian Tour title with his four-day total of 14-under 270.

Gangjee admitted he had self-doubts after not being able to enjoy much success since his last Asian Tour win in China in 2004. However, it was his sheer will power that brought him back into the winner's circle after enduring years of frustration.

"It has been 14 years. I've been in such situations a few times now but obviously have not been able to convert my chances until today. It has been a very hard 14 years and the thing that surprises even myself is my will to keep going," he was quoted as saying by a release from Asian Tour.

"Everyone will play their part in helping you out, the caddie, the mother, the father, the wife, friends. But more than anything else, you have to want it. And that has kept me going," he added. When you do not deliver after so many times, you start to doubt yourself And when you finally deliver, it's a very big thing."

Besides a two-year winners' exemption on the Asian Tour, Gangjee will also earn a two-year exemption on the Japan Golf Tour Organisation (JGTO). Zimbabwean Scott Vincent continued to knock on the winner's door when he signed off with a 66 to finish in a share of fourth place that also included Thailand's Rattanon Wannasrichan and Sihwan Kim of the United States.

Although India's Shiv Kapur closed with a 75, it was enough to win the Panasonic Swing series where he earned the top bonus prize of $70,000 and an exemption into an event on the European Tour this year. Ajeetesh Sandhu was 10th after a 69 took his total to nine-under 275.

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Rajasthan registered a much-needed win, chasing a not-too-formidable total. Opting to bat, Mumbai had managed 167 for seven, riding on half-centuries by Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan. But the home batsmen, especially Krishnappa Gowtham played a great innings to help his team win the contest by three wickets with two balls to spare after fifty by Sanju Samson and a cameo by Ben Stokes.

*Rajasthan fight back*
For the home team, it was a great comeback after two successive setbacks. Royals now have a week to recuperate and begin their campaign afresh. The fourth loss in Game Five for Mumbai has brought forth some issues. Suryakumar Yadav may be making the most of his new role as an opener in place of his Mumbai skipper Rohit Sharma. After notching up a half-century against Delhi, Suryakumar got his highest score in T20 2018, a 47-ball 72 that helped his team post a challenging total on a pitch of low bounce. But then, Rohit is surely wasting himself coMumbaing down the order.

Of course, he made a match-winning 94 at No 4 against Bangalore, but he was at the wicket on the third ball into the innings after Umesh Yadav picked up wickets with his first two balls. So virtually, it was as an opener that Rohit got that brilliant knock. Against Rajasthan, he dropped down to No. 5, coMumbaing in at the 16th over and was run out for a golden duck, to a superb throw by his counterpart Ajinkya Rahane. After his departure, the innings lost much momentum and Mumbai barely managed to reach 167 when at one time it looked they would close in on 190.

The defending champs in fact managed just 37 runs in the last six overs, losing six wickets. Much of the damage was done by young Barbados pace bowler Jofra Archer, who made a super debut for Rajasthan. Having excelled for Hobart HuRajasthanicanes in the Aussie T20 Big Bash, his initiation in the T20 2018 was delayed due to an injury he picked up when playing for Quetta in the Pakistan T20 league. He showed excellent variation to keep the batsmen guessing, picking up three wickets for 23 runs.

*Mumbai's struggles*
After Evin Lewis was sent packing for a duck by Dhawal Kulkarni, it was Yadav and back-from-injury Ishan Kishan who put the Mumbai innings on the track with a century partnership. They were going great guns, until Kulkarni got Kishan for 58 and soon Jaydev Undakat accounted for Suryakumar. But Rohit's run out and three wickets in one over by Archer pulled things back for the Royals.

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Rizvi College defended the 8th Late Saqib Rizvi M Reported by Mid-Day 51 minutes ago.

Grand Hyatt Xi'an Unveils Iconic Experiences on the Grand Opening

XI'AN, China, April 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Xi'an, one of China's ancient capitals at the start of the historic Silk Road, radiates a beauty of both the past and present, amidst the deep chiming of the old morning bell echoing with the hustle and bustle of modern life. On April 22, 2018, the city celebrated a new addition to its architectural splendor, with the grand opening of the Grand Hyatt Xi'an. Owned by Maike Group and managed by Hyatt Hotels Group, it is the first Grand Hyatt hotel in northwestern China, marking a new milestone in the brand's history.Grand Hyatt Xi’an

The towering jewel of the bustling CBD in the city's Hi-tech Zone, Grand Hyatt Xi'an forms part of the landmark Maike Center, China's first steel-structure connected building developed by Maike Group. Integrating a superior 5 star office building, the Grand Hyatt Hotel and high-end bookstore themed shopping center, the Maike Center combines state-of-the-art architectural excellence with artistic sophistication, to re-define high-end business in Xi'an. The opening of the Grand Hyatt Xi'an ushers in a new chapter for the city's urban development. Featuring Grand Hyatt's signature elegance and modern comfort, blended in harmony with the unique cultural traditions of Xi'an, the hotel celebrates the iconic experiences of the city's glorious past and exciting present.

*Grand Opening Ceremony*

 "We're extremely honored to bring Grand Hyatt to Xi'an. The city is a unique combination of rich cultural heritage and modern vibrancy, which makes it a choice location for our first Grand Hyatt hotel in northwestern China," said Mr. Sidney Hardy, General Manager of Grand Hyatt Xi'an on the grand opening ceremony. "We are ready to welcome our guests from around the world with warm hospitality and an unparalleled journey of iconic experiences that the city of Xi'an has to offer."

The grand opening celebration coincided with the relocation of Maike Group to the newly developed Maike Center. Designed in a joint effort of 22 leading architecture agencies, the Center is an artistic interpretation of architectural excellence in terms of function, comfort, intelligent technologies and environment friendliness. Dedicated to creating a superior workplace for professional elites and an international business environment for more leading companies, it is a stunning landmark in Xi'an at the forefront of the modern-day Silk Road.

The opening ceremony celebrated the charm of Xi'an as a millenary city brimming with modern energies. The entrance was adorned with a semi-transparent curtain, where projected images represented the Silk Road, inviting guests to take a stroll through the pages of the city's past and present. A magnificent modern dance performance kicked off the ceremony, where performers playing Terracotta Warriors danced among marble sculptures with a live symphony orchestra, combining Eastern and Western art in a spectacular, immersive experience with the high-tech circling LED screens.

The welcome banquet re-affirmed Grand Hyatt's passion for creating fine food. Inspired by the natural elements of seas, rivers, grass and trees, the chef creatively prepared 5 dishes, fusing the authentic local taste of Xi'an with an East-West marriage of cooking methods. Each of the exquisite dishes was served in a unique setting, combined with the circling LED screens to bring an immersive audio-visual experience that captivated all the senses and created lingering memories.

The ceremony culminated with the simultaneous lighting of the facades of Maike Center, together with a vibrant lightscape in the Grand Ballroom, outlining the stunning beauty of the buildings, while marking the start of a new journey for Grand Hyatt. During the night, all the guests were amazed by the vivid and visually rich celebrations of the grand opening.Grand Hyatt Xi’an

*Unique Design for Iconic Experiences*

Grand Hyatt Xi'an reinterprets the imperial splendor and exotic multicultural influences of Xi'an with bold contemporary flair. Guests will be wowed by the timeless beauty inspired by the exotic wildlife, geography and culture of the Silk Road. The eye-catching design of the lobby draws inspirations from a traditional Chinese idiom, which is translated literally as "a great hawk spreads its wings." The wing motif appears in creative ways throughout the design, symbolizing taking flight on a journey of exciting opportunities, and welcoming guests to explore the best that Grand Hyatt has to offer.

The notably iconic Sky Bridge that connects the hotel and office building over 106 meters above the ground is home to 4 restaurants and bars. From the Sky Bridge, visitors can take in dramatic 360-degree views of the metropolis below. The scene is particularly beautiful in the evenings when floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the glittering city lights.

Against this backdrop, Grand Hyatt Xi'an's The Lounge, Grand Café and Chang'an Bridge Chinese restaurant are a showcase for world-class local and global cuisines in spectacular settings that dazzle all the senses. Allegro Restaurant & Bar with authentic Italian flavor on the Sky Bridge brings a new level of sophistication and wow-factor to Xi'an's dining and nightlife scene.

The hotel accommodates 396 guestrooms with designs inspired by a palatial mirage in the desert that marries contemporary luxury and modern comfort, offering an elegant retreat for travelers. The light brushed woods, coupled with terracotta or crimson accents, create a warm and relaxing ambience feeling like at home.

Conceived as an oasis amidst the sand dunes, the Spa on level 6 is a becalming sanctuary in soothing nature shades of green and wood, with pops of orange and yellow, creating a natural, calm and refreshing environment for guests.

The hotel also offers spacious event venues that serve as ballrooms and meeting rooms on levels 3 and 3M spanning 2,134 square meters. The ballrooms are encased by sumptuously curving walls that emulate the natural beauty of desert sand dunes. Shifting 360-degree graphics across curved LED screens bring a completely immersive and magical experience.Grand Hyatt Xi’an

*A Legend to Be Continued*

Combining Eastern culture richness with Western extraordinary services, Grand Hyatt Xi'an offers each and every guest with an individualized experience that is elegant, luxurious and memorable. Looking ahead, Grand Hyatt will stay true to its vision of unlocking the extraordinary in every moment and join hands with Maike Group to explore exciting opportunities and open new chapters in its legendary journey of pursuing excellence.

*About Grand Hyatt*

Around the world, Grand Hyatt hotels unlock the extraordinary in every moment by creating experiences beyond expectation. Located at the crossroads of local culture and global business within major gateway cities and resort destinations, each Grand Hyatt hotel is uniquely designed to reflect its own distinct environment and provides a hub for travelers and locals alike. Grand Hyatt hotels exemplify the pursuit of life lived grandly offering guests superior service, first-class accommodations and an abundance of options within a multicultural backdrop of dramatic architecture and innovative design. Grand Hyatt properties boast inventive restaurants, luxury spas, fitness centers, and business and meeting facilities. Grand Hyatt hotels stand to make every moment memorable through their commitment to #LivingGrand every day. For additional information or to make a reservation, please visit www.grandhyatt.com. 

*About Maike Group*

Founded in 1993, Maike Group is a comprehensive commodity financial service provider integrating commodity trade, financial services, trading platform, futures brokerage, asset management and modern logistics. Headquartered in Xi'an, Maike Group has more than 20 branches and representative offices in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and London and over 1,000 direct employees. In 2017, Maike Group ranked 190th with sales of RMB 79.2 billion in the "Top 500 Companies of China in 2017" list issued by China Enterprise Confederation / China Enterprise Directors Association ( CEC / CEDA ).

*About Maike Center*

Maike Center is the first steel-structure connected building in northwest China integrating three formats, an international superior 5 star office building, high-end bookstore, thematic shopping center, and Grand Hyatt Hotel. The project is situated at the southeastern corner of Jinye Road, Zhangba Road, the core area of Xi'an Hi-Tech Industrial Development Zone attracting start-ups, and this area is believed to become a magnet for high-rise and grade-A office building in the foreseeable future.

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Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180423/2111934-1-c Reported by PR Newswire Asia 1 hour ago.

Katie Price is reportedly ready to end her marriage to Kieran Hayler [Wenn] Katie Price revealed that she was ending her marriage to her third husband Kieran Hayler after accusing him of cheating with the family nanny.  However, Kieran has remained in the family home and Katie has revealed that he is having therapy to work through his issues.  Yet according to new! Magazine, mother of five Katie is now ready to pull the plug on her marriage and wants him out of the ... Reported by OK! 6 hours ago.

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A trainee garda has resigned after it was discovered he took part in an alleged sham marriage to gain resident's rights in Ireland. Reported by RTE.ie 1 hour ago.

Decision day is going to be full of surprises! In a sneak peek of the upcoming episode of Married At First Sight, Jackie admits that she’s unsure if she wants to stay married to Ryan. “I don’t know,” she tells her friend after being asked what she plans to do on decision day. “I want [our Read More

The post ‘Married At First Sight’ Sneak Peek: Jackie Reveals She Isn’t Sure Her Marriage Will Last appeared first on OK! Magazine. Reported by OK! Magazine 32 minutes ago.

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As Freedom Day approaches, let's bury the racial hatchet, hold hands across all historic divides and restart the journey to build a united South Africa, urges *Solly Moeng*. Reported by News24 10 hours ago.

Travelling film fest, Jagran Film Festival (JFF), will take place across 18 cities -- including Agra and Gorakhpur -- in its ninth edition. Scheduled to open in New Delhi from July 1, this year the festival has competitive sections with prize money for Indian feature films, foreign feature films and foreign short films.

The festival will tour Kanpur, Lucknow, Allahabad, Varanasi, Patna, Dehradun, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Bhopal, Indore, Gorakhpur, Agra, Ludhiana, Hissar, Meerut and Raipur before concluding in Mumbai in September. The entries for the gala will close on May 31.

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Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan's brazen comment that the casting couch "provides livelihood at least" in showbiz received a divided response. For some, it's the bitter truth and some found her comment derogatory. She later retracted and apologised. Congress leader Renuka Chowdhary supported Khan's view and said the Parliament too is not immune to the casting couch.

At an event in Sangli, Khan said: "Can I tell you one thing? This has been happening since the beginning of time. It hasn't started now. Someone or the other tries to take advantage of every other girl. The government's people do it too. Then why are you after the film industry? "It provides livelihood at least. Does not rape and leave you. It depends on the girl, what she wants to do. If you don't want to fall in the wrong hands, you won't. If you have art, why would you sell yourself? Don't take the film industry's name."

A video of the comment was doing the rounds on social media on Tuesday. Her comment left Twitterati in shock as many took it as a clean chit to the prevalence of the casting couch in the Indian film industry, which has largely remained mum in naming and shaming offenders despite speaking up in favour of the global #MeToo movement. Khan, however, apologised for making the remark. "Whatever the question, you don't know... You just know my answer. So it is sounding wrong. But anyhow, I am sorry. I apologise," Khan told IANS. When probed as to what was the question, Khan disconnected the call. The comment comes in the wake of a debate which got intensified after southern actress Sri Reddy caused a stir by sitting semi-naked on a road in Hyderabad to protest against the casting couch menace in the film world.

Chowdhury supported Khan, saying: "Yes, it is the bitter truth. The whole film industry may get up in arms against me. It's just not in the film industry also, this happens everywhere in workspaces with women. It happens everywhere. So, don't imagine that the Parliament is immune or some other workspace is immune. It's not.

"This happens with women everywhere. If you look at the western world today, established top actresses have taken this long to come out and say 'Me too'. It's time India stood up and say 'Me too'." From the film fraternity, Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor said he has never faced the casting couch, but it is "worse" if it exists. And Richa Chadha felt the media was blowing Khan's statement out of proportion as what she meant was why was Bollywood being singled out when it happens everywhere.

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit slammed *Saroj Khan*. "I didn't expect such derogatory and uncalled for statements from a veteran like Saroj Khan and totally condemn it. Our entertainment industry, like all other industries, respects women. Exploitation of women is a crime and should be fought in all spheres of life," Pandit tweeted. Actress Shruti Seth wrote: "The right intent but very, very wrong words. Again, women are made incumbent to stop injustice against themselves and men have been absolved of their participation. Stop the practice of sexual exploitation. In whichever industry it exists, it's wrong.

Sophie Choudry commented: "So much respect for Sarojji as a choreographer but this is how she uses her position to protect girls? If I didn't come from a financially sound background, I would have returned to London within a month of being in Mumbai because of industry folk who think like that."

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A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) onApr 22, 2018 at 11:02am PDT



 

"The next fragrance I have coming out is so amazing. It is a sculpture, basically, of my body. It's really cool. The scent is so good. I'm so proud of it. It smells to me like what I would think golden smells like, even though that's a colour and something that's just luminous," she told Business of Fashion magazine.

Recently, *Kim Kardashian* and her rapper husband Kanye West were seen getting up, close and personal at Kourtney Kardashian's birthday party. Taking to her Snapchat account, Kim posted a video of herself walking over to her husband. "Babe, do you want to go to Dave Chappelle or do you want to go to the studio," the reality TV star, who sported a two-piece strapless top and a skirt, asked him before sitting on his lap and kissing him on the cheek. Instead of answering the question, Kanye kissed his wife on the lips.

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Veteran actor Jackie Shroff gets concerned at times about the risks that his action hero son Tiger Shroff takes for the big screen, but he says he is confident about him and his talent. Tiger has been receiving rave reviews about his action sequences in all his films like Heropanti, Baaghi, Munna Michael and Baaghi 2.

"As a father, I get worried because he does all the action by himself, risking his body. But I do not stop him, I do not discourage him to do that. I am concerned, but confident about Tiger," Jackie told IANS. Tiger joined the industry after consistent training in martial arts.

"He has been doing martial arts from his childhood, so there is a certain amount of body confidence he has. And he works with a great team of action choreographers. "Now technology is much advanced than our time... But of course, even though there is wire support, jumping from high rises is risky because the ground floor looks tiny from the top!

"Having said that, I know there's positive energy all around us that will protect my son," added the 61-year-old proud father. Having started his career in 1982, Jackie is known for some of his stellar performance in films like "Parinda", "Khalnayak", "Rangeela", "1942: A Love Story" and "Devdas". Remembering his earlier days in the industry, Jackie said: "Our generation has actually experienced the transformation of how the technological advancement changed the game of cinema.

"These days, people are more concerned about the safety of actors and other crew members. We were also concerned that time, but whenever we required something, we were provided it. "Now, you will see an ambulance at every film set. Earlier it was not that well-organised." He recounted that during the shoot of "1942: A Love Story", his ankle was hurt.

"In my career, so far, my eyes have got hurt twice, my legs were hurt... Maine bahut maar khayi hai apne career mein (I have got hurt a lot). "I think when I look at his (Tiger's) performance, he looks convincing and connects with the audience because he performs from his heart. That is why there is an emotional connection he has with the audience," said Jackie.

The actor is keeping busy these days with the shoot of Saaho and Paltan. In his career, *Jackie Shroff* has worked with a variety of directors like Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Subhash Ghai, Ram Gopal Varma and the late Rituparno Ghosh. How has he managed to stay relevant for all these years?

He said: "I think there is a learner in me who is always learning something or the other every day. I never lost connection with people... I can deeply communicate with a little child as well as youngsters. "I value the life that I have got and I am thankful to the Almighty for that. "As long as I am curious about life and living every moment of it to the fullest, I think whether as an actor or a human being, we all can stay relevant."

*Also read: Baaghi 2 co-stars Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani's prankster stories*

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Thank you to @StarMoviesIndia and all who participated in the video and posted their thoughts on @WolverineMovie ..... 17 amazing years!!! #Logan #Wolverine #xmen pic.twitter.com/5E1m9Rixq8

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) April 23, 2018

The Wolverine film saga started 17 years ago. Jackman appeared as Wolverine in nine of the X-Men sagas. He played the character for the last time in the 2017 film Logan, which was aired on the channel as part of the campaign.

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Anticipation around Quentin Tarantino's new film, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, continues to grow as interesting revelations surrounding the Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio venture hit headlines. Set against the counterculture explosion in LA in 1969, the film will feature the acting legends together on screen for the first time, reportedly as a TV cowboy actor (DiCaprio) and his long-serving stunt double (Pitt).*Brad Pitt*

During a panel discussion at CinemaCon, Tarantino described them as "the most exciting star dynamic duo since Robert Redford and Paul Newman", and the bold claims didn't stop there. DiCaprio said that having read the script, he believes it is one of the director's best. Fans of old school Tarantino also have cause for celebration, with the filmmaker teasing that Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is "probably the closest [film] to Pulp Fiction (1994) that I've ever done".*Leonardo DiCaprio*

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Getting ready! 📷: @cmellevold

A post shared by Sophia (@sophialillis) onApr 22, 2018 at 4:18pm PDT



 

The mystery book was originally released in 1930 and was written by Mildred Wirt Benson, under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. It was earlier used as the source material for a 1939 film directed by William Clemens and featured late actress Bonita Granville. The popular character was more recently played onscreen by Emma Roberts in 2007 film Nancy Drew.

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With the teaser of Sanju having released yesterday, Ranbir Kapoor's seamless transformation into Sanjay Dutt has been appreciated by his fans and naysayers alike. While director Rajkumar Hirani was convinced that only Kapoor could do justice to the multi-dimensional character, the actor revealed that he was initially hesitant about taking up the role.

"When Raju sir [Hirani] told me about this film, my first instinct was that I won't be able to do this. I felt I didn't have the courage and the acting chops to pull off this role. This is not just an acting gig for me. I took up this film as an opportunity to be part of a story of someone whom I consider my icon," said *Ranbir Kapoor* of the project that will arguably go on to become one of the landmark films of his career.*Ranbir Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi*

Although he knew Dutt socially, Kapoor said the script brought to the fore the different facets of the star that he was otherwise unaware about. "As a family friend, I have always known a different *Sanjay Dutt*. As his fan, I knew him as a style icon, knew his mannerisms and his swag. But when I read the script, it shocked me. From his drug [abuse] to his terrorism controversy, from his equation with his father [Sunil Dutt] to how the passing away of his mother [Nargis Dutt] affected him, everything shocked me."

The biopic, which also stars Anushka Sharma, Sonam Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Paresh Rawal and Manisha Koirala in prominent roles, sees Kapoor sport six different looks as he traces Dutt's journey from a 22-year-old debutant in Rocky (1981) to his release from jail in 2016. Talking about the physical transformation that he had to undergo for different portions of the movie, Kapoor said, "The shooting of the film was spaced out, so we had enough time to prepare. After every segment, I almost had a month to prepare for the next avatar. So, in that sense, it wasn't difficult at all."

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Gauri Khan must be missing Suhana Khan a lot, as her darling daughter is studying abroad. She posted a photo of Suhana on Instagram. Dressed in a distressed denim, white tee and glares, she looked every bit of a diva. 

*Gauri Khan* shared the picture of Suhana with the backdrop of a scenic location and described how living the life as a teenager is the most memorable part of our lives. She wrote, "Having the time of your life in your teens (sic)."


 

Having the time of your life in your teens ...❤

A post shared by Gauri Khan (@gaurikhan) onApr 24, 2018 at 12:06am PDT



The photo has received several compliments suggesting that *Suhana Khan* is Bollywood ready. These were the comments on her picture, "She is ready for Bollywood (sic),""She's so gorgeous. God bless (sic),""Mrs. Gauri Khan, you just have a wonderful daughter. Let God give her happiness and health (sic)" and so on.

Sometimes ago, a video of Suhana acting in a play had surfaced online and went insanely viral! In the video clip, she was seen performing the role of Cinderella with a hilarious twist!

Speaking of Suhana Khan foraying in Bollywood, *Shah Rukh Khan* had once said that his kids - both Aryan and Suhana - were free to choose their line of work, but only after completing their education. Suhana is currently in London completing her education.

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Since they can't turn up at your doorstep to personally invite you to the ceremony, the cast members of Veere Di Wedding are set to connect with you through social media to ensure you put your name on the guest list. As part of promotions for their upcoming comedy drama, Kareena Kapoor, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhasker and Shikha Talsania, among other cast members, are set to interact with fans as part of a Facebook live segment today.

Following the trailer launch that will take place at a city multiplex, the cast members will head to the Facebook headquarters in the city to be part of the live event, which will see participation from 25 different pages on the platform. The film's spokesperson tells mid-day, "This will be the first time that Kareena, Sonam, Swara and Shikha will go live on any social media platform together. This visit also marks their first time at the FB headquarters. A first-ever simultaneous live session involving 25 pages is being scheduled in order to reach as many as 50 million people."*Veere Di Wedding*

While a Facebook live session demands that the person shoot the video in real-time while being present at the location, special arrangements are underway to ensure that those handling the pages can access and air the event via a private link. Apart from the film's brand partners and producers, digital publishing houses and fan pages are also set to be part of the group of 25 that will live-stream the event. "The followers of these pages will get a notification inviting them to the live launch. Never before has an event been live-streamed across 25 pages simultaneously. The cast will interact with fans as part of the session. Few lucky fans will also be invited to the Facebook office for an interaction with the cast." The Facebook live-streaming event will be followed by one on micro-blogging site Twitter as well, the spokesperson says.

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After the Central Board of Film Certification demanded "a series of cuts" in Rajkummar Rao's Omerta - which is based on British terrorist of Pakistani descent Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh's life - director Hansal Mehta was forced to knock on the door of the Revising Committee.

"I had gone to the Board asking for an A certificate, but the Examining Committee demanded a series of cuts. I even lost track of the number. The Revising Committee was understanding. They only asked for two edits," says Mehta. He reveals that one of the demanded cuts involves a scene showcasing full frontal nudity. "It's a violent sex sequence which they found too rough for general viewing. The scene is not about sex, but aims at depicting the mental state of my protagonist."*Hansal Mehta*

The second sequence, he adds, is one that showcases the protagonist urinating in prison while the national anthem plays in the background. "That, apparently, is nconstitutional. So we had to let it go," says Mehta, adding that the cuts don't hamper the narrative.

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Radhika Apte has spoken out about sexual harassment in the Indian film industry in a new documentary, which also sees her chronicle why victims are too scared to come forward. In a BBC World News report, to be aired this weekend, Apte opens up on the culture of silence in Bollywood, mainly because its stars are so revered. "Some people are regarded as Gods.

They are so powerful that people just don't think that my voice is going to matter, or people think that if I speak, probably my career is going to get ruined," Apte tells BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan in Bollywood's Dark Secret. Asked what she thought about the #MeToo campaign against harassment in Hollywood, the Pad Man actor added, "The way the women, and the men, of course, came together and decided that as a team we are not going to let this happen, I wish that could happen here." Marathi award-winning actor Usha Jadhav, also a part of the documentary, reveals that it is common for powerful men in the industry to demand sexual favours. Describing one conversation, she says that she was told she would need to give something in return for the opportunity she had been given.*Usha Jadhav*

"I said something on the lines of, 'What? I don't have money'. He said, 'No, no, no, no. It's not about money, it's about you sleeping with, maybe it can be a producer, maybe it can be a director, it can be both too,"she said. Vaidyanathan has also spoken to actors who have faced unwanted advances, as well as stars, who believe a dark secret lies behind Bollywood's glamour. The documentary also interviews an aspiring actor, 25, who left her small village to chase her Bollywood dream, but says she was molested on a number of occasions, including the first time she met a casting agent.

"He started telling me that for an actress, you should be happy to have sex as and, when possible, and embrace your sexuality," she is quoted stating in the documentary. "He touched me wherever he wanted, he kissed me wherever he wanted and I was shocked. He put his hand inside my clothes so I asked him to stop and he said: Do you know what, if you really want to work in this industry I don't think you've got the right attitude," she added. The documentary will be aired around the world on Saturday and Sunday.

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Akshay Kumar has been shooting for Kesari, which is based on the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi, in Wai over the past four months. The unit of the period drama was in for a shock yesterday when a massive fire broke out on the location in the early evening.

A source says, "Anurag Singh [director] was filming a war sequence on location when one of the bombs, being used for the scene, exploded. Within a matter of seconds, the entire set was gutted. Most of the lighting equipment and cameras were lost in the fire. Fortunately, not a single person of the 100-member-strong unit was hurt."*Kesari set gutted in Wai*

Kumar, who usually shoots through the day in Wai and flies back to Mumbai on his chartered chopper in the evenings, had left for the day around 3.30 pm. "None of the primary actors were required for the shoot. Akshay filmed his portions by late afternoon and then the director proceeded to can the war sequence with the additional artistes," adds the source.

With the set now destroyed in the fire, the team has the challenge of recreating the Gulistan Fort — one of the key sites of the battle. "Since a 10-day shoot is yet to be covered, a new set will need to be recreated. Though it's too early to say, the makers are now considering building the set in Film City in Mumbai."

Confirming the news, the police officials of Satara said, "The fire department of Bhuinj and those of surrounding areas were alerted [about the incident]. By evening, the fire was brought under control."

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Last seen in the 2016 drama, Ki & Ka, Swaroop Sampat is set to return to the screen with Ekta Kapoor's web show, The Great Indian Dysfunctional Family. The digital outing revolves around two brothers - played by Kay Kay Menon and Barun Sobti - who fail to get along. Inevitably, their squabbles spell trouble for their relationship, and in turn affects the big-fat Indian family.

Sampat, who was celebrated for her act in the 1984 sitcom Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi, will essay the role of Premlata Ranaut, mother to Menon and Sobti's characters. Premlata, it is heard, is fun-loving, easy-going and wise. The actor tells mid-day, "My character is interesting and I'm sure the story will stand out. I am very happy to be a part of this offering. I have only started shooting for the show recently and it is fun to be on set with this unit." The Great Indian Dysfunctional Family, set to go on air next month, will also feature Eisha Chopra, Shriswara, Sanaya Pithawalla, Perlene Bhesania and Rohan Joshi.

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Director Umesh Shukla's forthcoming film "102 Not Out" will also release in Russia on the same day as it will hit the screens in India on May 4. Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, who will be seen sharing screen space with megastar Amitabh Bachchan after two decades, took to Twitter to announce about the film's international release.

"Our film releases in Russia on May 4, 2018 also. Enjoy!" Rishi tweeted. Being described as an unusual father-and-son love story, "102 Not Out" is based on a Gujarati stage production by playwright Saumya Joshi. Amitabh plays a 102-year-old father to a 75-year-old character of Rishi in the film.

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Actress Anushka Sharma says experimenting with roles has been a mainstay in her career from the start. Anushka spoke to the media here on Monday on the sidelines of an event organised by Standard Chartered Bank, where she was announced its brand ambassador. In a promotional campaign for her latest endorsement, Anushka plays the triple role of a daughter, mother and grandmother.

On the experience, Anushka said: "I have always tried to experiment with my roles right from the beginning.

"This year, I am doing films in which all my characters are very different from one another in terms of physical and emotional appearance. So, when you get to do that in an advertisement, you feel great.

"Playing a triple role was something which I had never done before, so I was very excited. It takes a lot of time while doing prosthetic make-up, but the end result was great. So, I was all up for it."

Anushka's upcoming Bollywood projects include Zero and the biopic on Sanjay Dutt.

"I am really happy that this year, I am doing different kind of films and both films are going to release very soon. As far as the Dutt biopic is concerned, that's one film that the audience will be very excited about and will be happy while watching it.

"I recently saw a teaser of it and I really liked it. I am doing a cameo in it. Nevertheless, I am really looking forward to watching the film."

The actress-producer also shared her thoughts on the ordinance to introduce death penalty for rapists of children, after the nationwide uproar on Kathua and Unnao rape cases.

"I was deeply hurt and affected by the incident. Even now, when I think or talk about it, I feel disgusted and extremely emotional. I feel the most severe punishment has to be meted out to the people involved.

"The most severe punishment should be served to those who spoil something as innocent as a child because it's the worst thing that a human being can do."

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Actor Arunoday Singh is happy with the growth of digital platforms for entertainment content. He says it keeps many people active and employed. Arunoday has featured in Netflix's Love Per Square Foot.

Asked how he feels about the boom of digital mediums, Arunoday told IANS over phone from Mumbai: "I think it is wonderful. I think it has legitimately given so many actors legitimate work... It is not work to look down upon. It is actually good work and it keeps so many people employed and active."

"The more options actors and writers have, I think it is spectacular," the 35-year-old actor added.

Does he feel that the digital medium can over take the silver screen?

"There's a certain thrill to see a movie in a theatre... But if the theatre people keep over charging us, including for water, then maybe people will stay home and stream (things online). It has to be feasible to go to a theatre. If they are not careful, then digital will overtake only because of the money and the convenience," he added.

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Television performer Kym Johnson and Croatian-Canadian businessman and TV personality Robert Herjavec have welcomed twins. The couple welcomed the twins on Monday, reported people.com.

Johnson announced in an Instagram photo that showed Herjavec carrying the twins in his arms.

"I never thought my heart could feel so full. We're so in love with our little angels. Born at 7.44am and 7.45am 4/23/18," the "Dancing with the Stars" pro, 41, wrote in the caption.

The couple did not reveal their "little angels'" names. The Shark Tank star, 55, is already a father of three children from a previous marriage.

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Stan Lee, the 95-year-old former head of Marvel Comics and creator of numerous comic book heroes like Spider-Man and the Hulk, has been accused of sexual misconduct by a massage therapist.

Maria Carballo claims she was sent to Lee's room at a hotel in Chicago to perform a two-hour massage on the morning of April 21, 2017, according to a complaint filed on Monday in Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, reported people.com.

The massage was scheduled by Lee's assistant, who is also named as a defendant in the complaint.

A representative for Lee did not return people.com's request for comment.

Carballo said in the complaint that she did not report the incident to police in fear that, "in light of Lee's wealth and status" making a police report "would hurt her job".

She claimed Lee's assistant knew of his "inappropriate behavior."

The massage therapist added the #MeToo movement inspired her "to fight for her dignity by standing up for herself".

Citing assault, battery and other counts, Carballo is seeking a judgment "in excess of $50,000, plus an award of punitive damages, and attorneys' fees and costs as permitted under the statute."

Meanwhile, controversy has recently swirled around Lee, who sued a former business manager alleging fraud and has spoken out defending his daughter after others around him claimed she was trying to gain control of his assets.

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Actors Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost smiled and held hands as they walked their first red carpet together for the premiere of Avengers: Infinity War here. While the two have kept their romance under wraps since they first sparked dating rumors in May 2017, they couldn't help but look happy in each others' presence as they smiled at each other and held hands, reported people.com.

Before the big event, the actress, 33, also made an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show where the host Ellen DeGeneres jokingly set out to tear the couple apart by sharing shocking throwback photo of Jost with a full-grown beard.

"He's adorable, he's funny. I'm happy for you," DeGeneres said during the episode airing on Tuesday.

"I thought this was a disguise but that's really what he looked like. Had you seen that?" she added.

Johansson, 33, looked wide-eyed at the photo before saying: "I mean I can't unsee it now. Oh my God, it is. Wow.""Have I just broke y'all up? Did I do something wrong?" DeGeneres asked. Johansson continued to look shocked, saying, "I can't say that that's an image that I'll ever forget."

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the date for the 91st Oscars -- February 24, 2019. The Academy Awards, which were held on the first Sunday of March this year so as not to conflict with the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in February, will move back to the traditional late February spot on the calendar next year, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

The Academy's awards season will officially kick off on November 18 when it holds its annual Governors Awards.

Nominations voting will begin on January 7, and close a week later on Monday, January 14.

Nominations will be announced on January 22, which is comparable to this season, when the nominations were announced on January 23.

But final voting will start a week earlier on the calendar than was the case this past season. For the 2019 Oscars, the final voting will start on February 12, and close on February 19.

The Academy's annual Oscar Nominees Luncheon will be held on February 4, and its Scientific and Technical Awards will take place February 9.

The award gala is aired in India on Star Movies and Star Movies HD.

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Actor Tom Hardy impressed everyone at CinemaCon convention here by showing an extended footage from upcoming superhero movie Venom. The film, which doesn't resemble a superhero tentpole, began with Hardy's Eddie Brock as a tough journalist dealing with Michelle Williams and Riz Ahmed as he uncovers exploitation at a corporate entity -- resulting in a subsequent visit at his run-down apartment from henchmen who are there to dispatch him.

At that point, Hardy transforms into Venom -- a much-larger gooey alien symbiote with massive powers who quickly kills his attackers reported variety.com. Other footage showed a puzzled Eddie Brock wondering what has happening, then transforming back into the new character. "We are Venom" he proclaimed at the end of the footage.

The footage received by far the most positive response from exhibitors at Caesars Palace here on Monday. Hardy said he is particularly excited that his son will be able to see Venom. "Being part of this movie is a dream come true. He's one of my favourite characters as well."

Director Ruben Fleischer was also on hand for the presentation, as were Williams and Ahmed -- both noting that it was the first time that they've appeared in a superhero movie. Venom was created in 1988 by Marvel Comics. The character made his big screen debut more than a decade ago in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3, where he was portrayed by Topher Grace. The movie is intended to be the first film in Sony's Marvel Universe. Sony Pictures India will bring the film to India. It is slated to release on October 5.

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Just a few hours after tickets for the highly anticipated Marvel Studios' film Avengers: Infinity War went live on April 22, the 3D Prime tickets worth Rs 515 at some of the halls here got sold out. Not just this, the overall response to ticket bookings for the star-studded film has been "extremely encouraging" across formats.

Twenty-two superheroes, including Robert Downey Jr's Iron Man, Mark Ruffalo's The Hulk and Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange, and one big villain after six infinity stones -- Avengers: Infinity War is bringing the deadliest showdown of all time to the big screen on April 27 in India.

The off-screen Avengers army has assembled to grab the tickets to watch the epic on-screen battle.

"The response to ticket bookings for 'Avengers: Infinity War' has been extremely encouraging across formats. And while, as expected, the craze for watching the film on an IMAX screen is huge, the sales have been remarkable even for the 3D format," Ashish Saksena, Chief Operating Officer - Cinemas, BookMyShow, said in a statement to IANS.

"Given the huge anticipation around the film from fans, Disney opened the advance bookings on Sunday instead of Wednesday as is the trend and this turned out to be a rewarding decision."

Echoing this, Rajender Singh Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure Limited, said the advance booking response of "Avengers: Infinity War" is "outstanding across all their multiplexes".

"We opened advance bookings on Sunday (April 22) morning and we sold over 40,000 tickets by 7 p.m., which is the highest ever for any Hollywood movie and second highest advance of all time after 'Baahubali 2'."

Devang Sampat, Director - Strategic Initiatives, Cinépolis India, told IANS: "In one day of advance booking, we sold around 50,000 tickets which is history in the making.

"We have seen an amazing response for the 3D and 4DX formats. Occupancy of 4DX and IMAX is almost 75 per cent in one day, according to advance booking, which we have never seen before."

Talking about cities, Yogesh Raizada, Vice President, Wave Cinemas, told IANS: "Delhi/NCR has got an encouraging number of bookings. Being a metro city, it has more English-speaking gentry with lots of superhero fan following."

"'Avengers: Infinity War' is one of the most awaited and anticipated Avenger movie. Since it's a long weekend followed by Monday which is a Buddha Purnima and the next day is May Day, we are expecting to see an overwhelming opening. Kids are done with their exams and as they are the biggest target audience for this genre, we are expecting a huge crowd," he added.

An excited Delhi-based Sameeran Chetia, 27, shared: "We booked the tickets for a show at PVR Sangam for Saturday. We required six tickets for Friday, but most of the tickets were already sold out. So, we had to book for the first show on Saturday."

"I am a fan of Captain America as he is the first avenger. I have heard rumours about Captain America dying. I hope it's not true," he added.

Will Captain America, who has already given up his shield, die or is it Iron Man's turn to bid adieu to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Many questions and spoilers have been floating around online.

But the makers of the film, helmed by the Russo brothers -- Anthony and Joe -- are doing everything in their power to stop its story from getting leaked. The directors even prevented the cast from reading the entire script. In fact, fake pages were handed out to some of them.

Marvel Studios' 10th anniversary will begin with the release of "Avengers: Infinity War", and everyone is excited to celebrate it.

"Time and again we have seen movies create history at the box office, but we have never before witnessed a phenomenon as such when a Hollywood film created such a frenzy with its advance ticket sales. It's a testament of Marvel's ever-expanding fan base, and the extraordinary buzz around the release of 'Avengers: Infinity War'," Kamal Gianchandani, CEO, PVR Ltd, said.

Avengers: Infinity War is set to hit 2,000 Indian screens in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu on April 27.

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Actor Rajkummar Rao, who has been given the Game-changer of the Year honour at the 11th GeoSpa asiaSpa India Awards, says the tag is a big responsibility. Rajkummar was at the event along with Bhumi Pednekar, Rekha, Nushrat Bharucha, Shilpa Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Diana Penty, Poonam Dhillon, and Richa Chadha here on Monday night.

"Awards are really important because it motivates me even more to work harder. When you have done hard work for the whole year and if people recognise your effort and honour you with an award, then obviously it feels special.

"I am really thankful and excited because game-changer is the big term. I think it's a big responsibility if people term me as game-changer. So I am actually really overwhelmed with this tag." The actor, who has won commercial success as well as critical acclaim, says all the awards he has received so far are equally special to him.

The GeoSpa asiaSpa India Awards celebrates the efforts of those who have played an instrumental role in putting India's wellness industry on the world map. Pankaj Arora, Managing Director, Geospa Fitness, said: "Our country has woken up to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and people are taking various measures to lead a healthy life."

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Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, who on Tuesday launched the much-awaited teaser of Sanju -- a film on the life of actor Sanjay Dutt -- says the experience of making a biopic is very different from a regular future film, especially at the scripting level. Since this is the first time that the filmmaker has made a biopic, that too on a colourful celebrity like Sanjay, who is not only successful and inspirational as a film star but has also had a controversial past, Hirani found it tough.

"I think biopic is a totally different monster altogether because you don't have a total control over it. When you write a fresh script, a regular story, you have control over it. It is your story... you can turn the flow of your characters in whichever way you want. That's not the case with a biopic," Hirani told the media.

"I think we would not have been able to write the story from our imagination, and the best thing is that Sanjay has given us the access to his story and all the anecdotes. So during the making of the film, the journey was more of how to string those stories into one," he added.

Hirani said the audience can expect to know some hidden facets of the life of Sanjay, whose tryst with drugs and time in jail has been widely spoken about.

"As a filmmaker, I took chapters that interested me, but I am always interested in human stories. So I wrote the story of father-son, friendship... These are the stories that people do not know because the rest is all out there," added the filmmaker.

Sanju, which releases on June 29, features Ranbir Kapoor portraying different avatars of Sanjay from his newcomer days. Ranbir and Hirani were present at the teaser launch with producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Fox Star Studios' Vijay Singh.

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Jane Fonda's "Book Club" will release in India on May 18. The film is being brought to India by PVR Pictures, read a statement to IANS. In the film, Diane Keaton (Diane), Fonda (Vivian), Candice Bergen (Sharon) and Mary Steenburgen (Carol) play successful older women getting back into the dating world, thanks to the erotic thriller trilogy -- "Fifty Shades of Grey".

The film is Bill Holderman's directorial debut, who has also written the screenplay along with Erin Simms. It also stars Richard Dreyfuss, Don Johnson, Craig T. Nelson, Ed Begley Jr. and Wallace Shawn. According to hollywoodreporter.com, the four women deal with the stigmas of dating later in life and enjoying sex, but along the way they have their friendship to hold onto.

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Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor says he has never faced the casting couch. The actor commented when he was asked for his opinion on veteran choreographer Saroj Khan's controversial statement that casting couch "provides livelihood at least" in the film industry.

"I have never faced it (casting couch). If it's there, it is the worst thing," Ranbir said at the teaser launch of his upcoming film Sanju here on Tuesday. Khan's comment drew ire on social media, following which she apologised.

Defending the practice of casting couch in the film industry, veteran choreographer Saroj Khan had said it's done with consent and at least provides livelihood. The 69-year-old, who has choreographed more than 2000 songs in her career, further said the 'tradition' has been going on since centuries and blaming just Bollywood is unfair.

"This is going on from 'baba Adam's times', it is not new. Someone or the other always tries to take an advantage of a girl. The government officials do it too, then why are we only behind the film industry? It provides livelihood at least," she said. Further putting her view forward, she said as to why would anyone want to sell herself if she is confident about her talent.

"Does not rape and leave you. It is up to the girl, what she wants to do. If you don't want to fall into wrong hands, you won't. If you are talented, why would you sell yourself? Don't blame the film industry's name, it is everything to us," Saroj Khan said.

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The long-awaited teaser of Rajkumar Hirani's Sanjay Dutt biopic, now finally titled Sanju, again prompted the question that had cropped up when the film was announced: Why do we need a biopic on the actor and which aspect of his life is inspirational? The answer is still the same. Nothing in the trailer convinces of the need for a film on a star who broke laws, did drugs until his lungs collapsed, had -- according to the trailer -- 308 girlfriends (who was counting?), and did absolutely nothing that can be considered even remotely motivational.

Weirdly, the trailer makes light of Dutt's lethal and legal transgressions that almost cost him his life, and, in one instance, probably contributed to the damage to hundreds of lives. So we see Ranbir Kapoor stepping out of prison, trying hard to hold on to that infamous slouching swagger that has made the real-life Sanjay Dutt such a popular poster-boy for all the images of the spoilt star kid that we've ever known, and he talks straight into the camera.

While this device may have been used to establish a director's rapport between Ranbir's Dutt and the audience, the impact is in fact just the opposite. What we are looking at is an actor of considerable skill trying to do a Sanjay Dutt impersonation.

In the trailer, we see Ranbir in five different avatars, all speaking to viewers directly in a tone of defiance about how Dutt bounced back when the odds were heavily stacked against him. From Ranbir's Dutt-driven expressions, it is hard to make out whether he is doing a tongue-in-cheek takeoff on Dutt or a reverent imitation.

Judging by the trailer, Ranbir's performance is partly spoofy and partly reverent. The picture that emerges is neither particularly compelling nor engrossing enough to make us wonder what lies beneath the famous Dutt bravado.

After seeing the trailer, I really couldn't care less. How much more desirable was a biopic on Sanjay Dutt's father, the great Sunil Dutt, who toiled endlessly in the service of his constituency and who was the epitome of righteousness.

Boring? Well, Sanjay Dutt represents the other end of the moral spectrum. And as put forward by Rajkumar Hirani, he doesn't seem particularly interesting. Just brash and defiant.

Here's hoping there is more to the reel-life Sanjay Dutt than the swagger. I saw no pain. Without pain, the portrait would be unfinished, a mockery of the man's miraculous fall and rise. In a sense, this biopic is the opposite of Ben Kingsley's Gandhi. Imitative rather than immersive. Off-putting rather than inclusive.

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Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif will endorse jewellery brand Kalyan Jewellers. "Katrina personifies brand Kalyan's attributes of style and elegance. She epitomises the quintessential woman of today - confident, progressive and with the courage of her convictions. Katrina has set her own path with sheer hard work, akin to Kalyan's own growth trajectory," Ramesh Kalyanaraman, Executive Director, Marketing and Operations of Kalyan Jewellers, said in a statement.

The actress will endorse the brand's collections and will also be part of its customer engagement programmes across the showrooms in India and West Asia. In India, she will predominantly feature in the company's communication campaigns, especially in the northern and western markets.

Katrina has joined other Kalyan brand ambassadors including megastar Amitabh Bachchan, politician Jaya Bachchan, Nagarjuna, Prabhu, Shivaraj Kumar and Manju Warrier. Kalyanaraman thanked Sonam for "augmenting the product propositions of brand Kalyan over the past two years and helping to strengthen its status as one of India's most trusted jewellery brand".

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Actress Shivani Gosain, known for shows like Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Kahaani Ghar Ghar Kii, is excited and nervous about making a comeback to showbiz after a break of two years. She is entering the Colors show Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki as Pammi Kohli.

"I am excited and nervous at the same time. I'm making a comeback after two years. It is an amazing opportunity to be a part of this lovely show ‘Kasam Tere Pyaar Ki'. I am looking forward to getting back as I'm playing an interesting negative role in the show that will definitely add to the upcoming twists," Shivani said in a statement. The show has taken a 25-year-leap. After the leap, Rishi and Tanu will be reborn as Ranbir and Kritika in different parts of the world.

While Ranbir becomes a football star in Canada, Kritika ends up doing law in a small village near Chandigrah. Actors Amit Behl, Jiten Lalwani and Rajesh Puri have also joined the show's cast.

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Punjabi pop singer Badal, who is enjoying positive response to his debut single "Trip", says he doesnt want to stick to one style, and explore various creative realms. "I want to create different genre song for different audience and 'Trip' is really out of my comfort zone as I create more of romantic and party numbers," Badal told IANS.

"'Trip' is out of the box and going forward, I want to make different kind of music. I don't want one genre to be with me forever. I like to explore and I would continue to surprise you every time I come out with a new song because as an artiste, you should always experiment with things and come out of your comfort zone." He rose to fame with Dr. Zeus's production Vamos. Trip was launched by record label BeingU Music.

"The concept of Trip actually decided by Meher Gulati, who is the director of the song. Basically, the concept of the video was to keep it very freestyle and spontaneous. The reason behind it was the things you get from anything being spontaneous is not what you will achieve in a fully choreographed video, so we tried to keep it as much as spontaneous as possible," he added.

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Actor Inaamulhaq, known for films like Filmistaan and Airlift, says he is excited as his first lead role in the forthcoming movie titled Nakkash has found space in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Its first look will be unveiled at the India pavilion at Marche du Film at the fest on May 14. "I am still trying to seize the fact that I'm going be a part of world's most renowned film festival where wonderful movies are screened every year. I am fortunate enough for being able to join such an amazing platform where great work is recognised. I am humbled and grateful to everybody's contribution for making all my dreams come true," Inaamulhaq said in a statement.

On playing the lead, Inaamulhaq said: "For common people in India, there is no concept of 'lead'. They simply say 'hero' of the film and that 'hero' is defined by certain qualities like body muscle, six-pack abs. I don't think that qualifies me.

"So, I always waited for the film where script is the 'hero' and I am the protagonist. It is every actor's dream to play the protagonist. My dream finally came true."

The film is directed by Zaigham Imam, who had earlier directed Dozakh - In search of Heaven and Alif which were showcased at many festivals worldwide.

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Veteran actor Govind Namdev says he is happy to work with actor Govinda after 26 years, this time for Raju Rangeela directed by Pahlaj Nihalani. "I am happy to get different roles and characters in films. In this film, I play a very crucial role. He is the CEO of Govinda's character's company. Govinda has triple role in this film," Govind said in a statement.

"We are reuniting after Shola Aur Shabnam. It's been 26 years. We revived our old memories on the set of 'Raju Rangeela'," added the actor, mostly known for playing negative roles on the big screen.

On the reason for choosing the film, he shared: "This is a thriller-comedy film. I accepted this role because Pahlaj Nihalani has given me a very significant character." Govinda has featured in films like Bandit Queen, Virasat, Satya, Sarfarosh and Wanted.

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As Varun Dhawan turned 31 on Tuesday, Bollywood celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor and Shoojit Sircar wished him success and expressed hope his innocence and humility alive.

Varun, who is the son of filmmaker David Dhawan, started his career as an assistant director to filmmaker Karan Johar in My Name Is Khan. He made his acting debut with 2012 romantic comedy Student of the Year and ever since he has featured in films like Main Tera Hero, Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania, Badlapur, Dilwale, Dishoom and Badrinath Ki Dulhania.

Varun is currently riding high on the success of his latest release October.

Here's what the celebrities tweeted:

Priyanka Chopra: Happy birthday Varun Dhawan. Much love and laughter always! Have a wonderful year!

Anupam Kher: Happy birthday my dearest Varun Dhawan. May God give you all the happiness in the world. You are the bestest.

Anil Kapoor: Happy Birthday Varun Dhawan! I am sure you are having a great birthday already with all the love that 'October' has received! May you have an even more successful year ahead! Lots of love!

Juhi Chawla: Happy Birthday Varun Dhawan! Love and good wishes for your upcoming movies and a successful future ahead.

Abhishek Bachchan: Happy Birthday Varun Dhawan keep shining like the bright star you are. Big love.

Shoojit Sircar: Happy Birthday Varun Dhawan. No matter what happens keep your innocence alive.

Anushka Sharma: Happy birthday to the amazing co-star Varun Dhawan. Always a joy to be around, always cracks me up and is an absolute pleasure to work with.

Hrithik Roshan: Happy birthday Varun Dhawan! Wish you the best. Always. All my love.

Badshah: Happy birthday Varun Dhawan love you too much broski.

Yami Gautam: Wishing you oodles of happiness and success! Stay this humble, lovable person that you always have been. Happy birthday Varun.

Bhumi Pednekar: Happy birthday Varun Dhawan. May this year be full of light, love and all things amazing.

Suniel Shetty: It's amazing to see how you are carving a niche for yourself Varun Dhawan May you achieve all you dream of! A very happy birthday! Stay blessed.

Kriti Sanon: Happiest birthday Varun Dhawan! Wish you a superb day and the best year ahead! Keep shining.

John Abraham: Happy Birthday! Varun Dhawan. I am one of the few who has seen you in your birthday suit.

Rajkummar Rao: Happy birthday dear Varun Dhawan. Keep flying high brother.

Sophie Choudry: Happy birthday to this cutie and my favourite Varun. You have already had such a special year as an actor here's hoping the rest of it is even more incredible! Wish you happiness, success, love, mad adventures and all the good things in life! Big hug and loads of love.

Armaan Malik: Happy Birthday Varun! Lots of love to you. This year and all the coming years will be yours.

Maniesh Paul: Happy birthday Varun Dhawan brother man! Stay happy and blessed.

Saqib Saleem: Happy birthday Varun Dhawan! Twinning with God by sharing the same birthday haha! Have a kick-ass one.

Rahul Dev: His journey from a "student" to a "man" has been studded with solid work. Happy Birthday to the one adorable and grounded Varun Dhawan! Stay blessed with more magic at the movies.

*Also read: Varun Dhawan talks about his birthday plans, teaming up with Alia Bhatt*

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Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, who has showcased his versatility in a variety of roles but whose recent films have not fared well at the box office, says he keeps reminding himself that it is just a bend and not the end.

Ranbir, along with producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra and director Rajkumar Hirani, was present at the teaser launch of their upcoming mega project Sanju, a biopic on actor Sanjay Dutt, here on Tuesday.

In a past interview, Chopra had commented that "Ranbir is an incredible actor with stupid script choices".

So when asked if the biopic is going to change it, Ranbir told the media: "If every actor knew what he was doing and had a plan, everyone would be a superstar. So it is hard and I am trying to learn from my own mistakes."

"I keep reminding myself that it's just a bend, not the end. Life is very difficult and requires a lot of hard work and you have to keep working... Like Raju sir's film title, 'Lage raho...'," he added with a pinch of humour.

In "Sanju", Ranbir has portrayed Sanjay's different avatars.

Did he make any special observations about Sanjay to portray him better on-screen Ranbir said: "I have always been a Sanjay Dutt fan. For me, it was a fan trying to play his icon. So I think the hardest thing I did was to give myself the confidence that I can play this man.

"When Raju sir told me about this film, I didn't have the confidence because I thought I wouldn't be able to do it. I don't have the courage, don't have the understanding or the acting chops to do it. This is not an acting gig for me. I haven't tried to show good acting, bad acting or showcase my talent. I think it was just the opportunity to be part of a story of a person who I consider to be my icon."

Ranbir has entertained audience in many hits like "Bachna Ae Haseeno", "Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani", "Rocket Singh - Salesman of The Year", "Wake Up Sid!" and "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani".

The actor in a prior interview had said that he truly learned from Hirani what it means to entertain people.

Asked to elucidate on the same, Ranbir said: "What I learned from Raju sir is the power of entertainment. Not what's entertaining to you but what's entertaining to people, and I think when a filmmaker makes a film for an audience and not for himself, that's such a learning in itself and a selfless act."

Ranbir was also urged to act out a dialogue for the audience. But he said: "I feel very shy to mimic him (Sanjay) otherwise. When I was working on the film, it was a character I had to play. Otherwise mimicking feels like disrespecting him. And it's not just me...it's the hair and make-up that adds to my acting on the big screen. So, I don't want to disrespect Sanjay sir."

Presented by Fox Star Studios, the film will release on June 29.

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Actor Ranbir Kapoor says he won't mind someone making a film on his life, but he feels it's not inspiring enough. Ranbir along with filmmakers Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Rajkumar Hirani was present at the teaser launch of "Sanju", the Sanjay Dutt biopic, on Tuesday. Asked if Ranbir will be open to someone else making a film on him, he said: "I will be ready but I don't think my life is inspiring. I am a very boring person. I work, go back home and fall asleep. If a film is made, it will be a very existential kind of a film."

"If someone puts a camera like in the Bigg Boss house, you will see me work, come home and sleep. So yes, if someone wants to make a film then I won't mind but I don't think the film will work or it will have any message to give," he added. The Sanjay Dutt biopic is directed by Hirani. Asked to comment on showcasing six phases of Sanjay's life and how much it has been fictionalised, Hirani said: "It is not possible to show a 55-year-old journey in two- or two-and-a-half-hours. We had to let go of certain parts."

Adding to Hirani's comment, Chopra said: "We didn't want any controversial stuff in the film. What we have done is... presented it with a message. Once the message is clear, the whole film revolves around it." Ranbir was asked, out of the six chapters of Sanjay's life, which one was difficult to portray. "The difficult one which I did not expect was the young Sanju because there were a lot of facets that we had to show. First, the drugs then coming out of it, then his mother's death and the most fun was Munna Bhai phase. I enjoyed doing it," he said. Sanju also stars Anushka Sharma, Paresh Rawal, Sonam Kapoor, Dia Mirza and Tabu.

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YouTube star who has now become Bollywood's youngest female playback singer Dhvani Bhanushali has come out with a version of Whitney Houston's all-time hitsong, I will always love you. After her carpool mashup of Gulabi Aankhein and Shape of You and several mesmerising performances of Ishtehaar (her debut Bollywood song) at different reality shows, Dhvani Bhanushali has launched her first solo music video with a reprise of Whitney Houston's global hit.

Dhvani released this song on her Youtube channel which has been shot beautifully across Mumbai. The song is reprised by Gaurav Chatterji and directed by Anjali Bhushan. A source close to the video production of the song said that it took 3 hours to actually light up the thousand diyas that are featured in the video.

Dhvani who considers legendary singer Whitney Houston as one of her inspirations says, "I have sung several Hindi songs and when I decided to make a music video, I chose 'I will always love you' as its one of my idol's beautiful song."

This music video is a prayer by a young girl for her family as she steps out of her comfort zone into the world as an independent young woman. Speaking on the video Dhvani says, "Anjali came up with a beautiful concept. As in life, we must release all past baggage to move on the path of self-growth."

Dhvani's rendition has her style but what is clearly unmissable is the sheer talent of this 20-year-old who sang her first Bollywood song with none other than Ustaad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Sahab for the film Welcome to New York – a song that became an instant hit.

Dhvani is currently pursuing her graduation and uses all her spare time to practice singing. She has been singing all genres from rock to soft pop to classic to Hindi film music. Watch out for this talented youngster who is definitely the new kid on the music block.

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*Shweta Bachchan Nanda*
She was the style victor of the night. Her deep-tinted locks went well with the ivory bindi prodding s Reported by Mid-Day 9 hours ago.

Anil Kapoor with daughter Rhea The latest update on the impending marriage of Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja is that family members have been told to keep mum. There is a gag order on the extended family of the Kapoors. It is said that Sonam only wants dad Anil or sister Rhea to talk about […]

The post Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja’s family members have been told to keep mum? appeared first on Bollywood latest news. Reported by Filmy Friday 7 hours ago.

Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan's third wife Bushra Manek has reportedly returned back to her maternal home following a domestic dispute over the ex-cricketer’s pet dogs.

As per a report by Times of Islamabad , Imran Khan’s pet dogs, who had earlier been expelled from his palatial house on the direction of Maneka, have returned back and are seen wandering around the house.

Though Imran Khan had negated rumours about kicking out his ‘Sheru’, saying the canine in question had died a few years ago.

The presence of dogs reportedly interfered in the religious activities of Maneka due to which she wanted the expulsion of the dogs from the house.

Further Maneka's child from her previous marriage was living at Imran's Bani Gala residence from a long time which flouted a said rule between them that no family member of Maneka shall be living at Imran's residence for a longer period.

It has also been reported that Imran's sisters were living at Bani Gala and were actively taking part in its renovation work which was not appreciated by Maneka.

Khan, last month, secretly married his spiritual mentor Bushra Maneka, a divorcee, amid the media frenzy over his third marriage.  

Meanwhile, Twitter had some brilliant suggestions to save Khan's third marriage:

 



#BushraManika returns maternal home!
"presence of Maneka’s son from his former husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka irked #ImranKhan "

When Khan accepts a divorcee for a wife, why doesn't he accept her children as his own? https://t.co/dLoaV4O7Eb

— Mona Alam (@MonaAlamm) April 24, 2018



 



#BushraManika returns maternal home!
"presence of Maneka’s son from his former husband, Khawar Fareed Maneka irked #ImranKhan "

When Khan accepts a divorcee for a wife, why doesn't he accept her children as his own? https://t.co/dLoaV4O7Eb

— Mona Alam (@MonaAlamm) April 24, 2018



 



Will Imran ever find true love? https://t.co/BsiqqYYI4f

— Ankur Bhardwaj (@Bhayankur) April 25, 2018



Maneka, who is in her 40s, was earlier married to Khawar Farid Maneka, a senior customs official in Islamabad. The PTI chairman started 2018 by tying the knot on the night of January 1 in Lahore and next day went straight from there to appear before the anti- terrorism court in Islamabad that granted him bail.

The nikah was performed by Mufti Saeed, a member of PTI core committee, who was also the nikah khawan when Imran publicly entered into marriage with Reham Khan on January 8, 2015 amid reports of secret nikah in November 2014.

Khan came in touch with Maneka for spiritual guidance, a couple of years ago that eventually culminated in the marriage. This would be Imran's third marriage.He had first tied the knot with Jemima Khan on May 16, 1995 that ended in divorce after nine years on June 22, 2004.

His second marriage was with Reham, then a TV anchor, which continued barely 10 months. Although that marriage was publicly announced on January 8, 2015, there were reports that a nikah had also taken place in early November 2014. 

 

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Imran Khan
Imran Khan wedding
Imran Khan third wedding
Maneka Bushra
Pakistan
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Imran Khan marriage
Wed, 25 Apr 2018-01:29pm
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Wednesday, 25 April 2018 - 1:29pm
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Highlights:  Reported by DNA 6 hours ago.

[Pakistan], Apr. 25 (ANI): Pakistan's Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan's third wife Bushra Manek has reportedly returned back to her maternal home following a domestic dispute over the Reported by Sify 6 hours ago.