Javed Akhtar becomes first Indian to receive Richard Dawkins Award

JUN 08, 2020 MUMBAI: Veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar has won the 2020 Richard Dawkins Award for critical thinking, holding religious dogma up to scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values. Akhtar has become the first Indian to be given the honour, which recognises distinguished individual from the field of science, scholarship, education, or entertainment, who publicly proclaims the values of secularism and rationalism and upholding scientific truth. Akhtar's wife, veteran actor Shabana Azmi said the award's relevance becomes more prominent especially in the current times when secularism is under attack. "I am thrilled. I know what a hero Richard Dawkins has been for Javed. The award gains all the more significance because in today's time when secularism is being attacked by religious fundamentalists of all hues, this award comes as a validation of Javed's long service to rational thinking," Azmi said. The award is named after world-renowned English evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. Actor-comedian Ricky Gervais received the honour last year. Bollywood celebrities Anil Kapoor ans Dia Mirza took to Twitter to congratulate the 75-year-old writer for the recognition. "Knowing that Richard Dawkins has been your hero since you read 'The Selfish Gene', the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award must be extra special for you @Javedakhtarjadu Saab! It's a truly incredible honour! Congratulations!" Kapoor tweeted. Dia said Akhtar's win is a proud moment for rhe country. "Javed Akhtar Saab has won the the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award 2020 for critical thinking, holding religious dogma upto scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values. He is the only Indian to have won this award! @Javedakhtarjadu Congratulations! You make us proud," Dia wrote.  Copyright © Jammu Links News  Source: Jammu Links News

Read More........ → July 26, 2020

James Cameron announces three sequels of 'Avatar'

Hollywood director James Cameron plans to shoot three sequels of his movieAvatar simultaneously and release them in 2016, 2017 and 2018. 

Director James Cameron has announced three sequels to his 2009 hit Avatar.  "Avatar" 2, 3 and 4 will be shot simultaneously, with production kicking off next year, and they will be released in December of 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively, reports eonline.com. The 58-year-old has called aboard screenwriters Josh Friedman of "War of the Worlds", Shane Salerno from the movie "Savages", Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver from "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" to help him work on the three scripts. "Building upon the world we created with 'Avatar' has been a rare and incredibly rewarding experience," James Cameron said in a statement. "In writing the new films, I've come to realise that 'Avatar's' world, story and characters have become even richer than I anticipated, and it became apparent that two films would not be enough to capture everything I wanted to put on screen. And to help me continue to expand this universe, I'm pleased to bring Amanda, Rick, Shane and aboard Josh - all writers I've long admired - to join me in completing the films' screenplays," he added. Source: ApunKaChoice

Read More........ → October 16, 2013

Why Jennifer Lawrence doesn’t display her Oscar?

Actress Jennifer Lawrence has given away her Oscar award to her parents as she felt odd displaying the trophy in her house. The 22-year-old actress, who won the best actress Oscar for her performance in the romantic comedy Silver Linings Playbook, which also had actor Bradley Cooper, struggled to find a suitable spot for the golden statuette in her house. "My parents took it back to Kentucky, 'cos I felt odd having it, like, on display in my house," accesshollywood.com quoted Jennifer Lawrence as saying. "If anybody's coming over to my house, I didn't want them to remember that. Just kind of puts a weird energy out. "I put it in the hallway towards the bathroom, and my mum was like, 'I'm taking it. It shouldn't be here'. And now it's on a piano in Kentucky!" she added. Source: Article

Read More........ → August 12, 2013

Angelina Jolie To Direct World War II Hero's Story

Angelina Jolie will make her second feature film as a director on a biopic of Olympian-turned-World War II prisoner of war Louis Zamperini. The Oscar winner moved behind the camera to work on hard-hitting 2011 movie In the Land of Blood and Honey, about a romance between a Serbian soldier and a Bosnian woman during the 1990s war in the troubled region. The movie received critical acclaim, and now Jolie is set to work on another emotive subject for her second time as a filmmaker. Unbroken is based on Laura Hillenbrand's book about 95-year-old Zamperini, an American long distance runner who appeared at the  1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany and caught the attention of Adolf Hitler. After World War II was declared, he enlisted in the Army, only to be captured by the Japanese and held as a prisoner-of-war. A statement from Jolie reads, "I read Laura Hillenbrand's brilliant book, and I was so moved by Louie Zamperini's heroic story, I immediately began to fight for the opportunity to make this film. Louie is a true hero and a man of immense humanity, faith and courage. I am deeply honored to have the chance to tell his inspiring story. Photo Credits: PR Photos , DLM Press, PacificCoastNews.com" Source: Starpulse

Read More........ → February 13, 2013

Jackie Chan To Star In 'Expendables 3,' 'Rush Hour 4' A Possibility

Jackie Chan has revealed he's going to star in the third installment of the ensemble action series The Expendables. In fact, he was invited to make an appearance in Expendables 2, but he was too busy. "Sly had invited me to be in 'Expendables 2' but I was too busy filming CZ12 and couldn't make a commitment to the film. But he did extend his invitation to the third movie, which I agreed on the condition that I will be appearing as more than just a minor role with a few scenes," Chan revealed during a press junket for Chinese film CZ12. There is also a possibility of a Rush Hour 4. TotalFilm reports Chris Tucker is considering a buddy comedy flick currently titled Skip Tracer, but he accepts it appears the film will be changed into the fourth Rush Hour film. "The script is currently viewed by Chris Tucker. Personally, I feel that if he were to pick it up, it would be better if we turned it into Rush Hour 4 but I do think that three movies for the franchise is a perfect ending. It would be better to start a new buddy movie with someone new," said Chan. © 2012 Starpulse.com, Photo Credits: PR Photos, Source: Starpulse.com

Read More........ → January 30, 2013

Emma Watson looks sensuous and alluring on Glamour USA

Emma Watson turns glam doll for Glamour USA. One of the most prolific rising stars in Hollywood, Emma has come a long way since her Harry Potter days. Now adorning Glamour magazine, she has turned glam from girly. Being a tomboy at heart, Emma Watson turns the heat on for Glamour, wearing some best designers. In one photo she has let her Zadig & Voltaire coat slip to reveal the lacy contours of her Stella McCartney bra. The creamy white dress is by Nina Ricci while the statement necklace comes from the house of Salvatore Ferragamo. Ooh! everything sounds too stylish for a Hogwarts’ girl. But, what if the girl is grown up to be a beautiful female and living a life in the spotlight? Emma Watson has a lot to tell and discuss on various matters as she gets chatty with the magazine. “It’s difficult on my dating life, because anyone I get photographed with is automatically my boyfriend. So it just makes it look as if I’ve had, like, 6,000 boyfriends!” the 22-year-old laughs off the link-up rumours. Emma Watson also shares what it is to not play Hermoine in her new film, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower. The actress says it was the realization she needed that acting is the right career for her despite doing Potter films for years. “I realised I do really want to be an actress, which wasn’t something I fully knew, since Harry Potter was such a singular experience.” With her changing self and stylish new being, Emma Watson flashes her pixie cut (she chopped her long hair short after Harry Potter series) and inner diva on Glamour USA. Have a look at her in this photoshoot: (Image credit: Glamour USA) Source: ApunKaChoice.com,

Read More........ → October 20, 2012

Jessica Alba Lands Green Parent Award

Actress and eco-warrior Jessica Alba is to receive the inaugural Green Parent trophy at the upcoming Environmental Media Awards (EMA). The Sin City star, who is mom to daughters Honor and Haven, will be feted for her work campaigning for the Safe Chemicals Act as well as her eco-friendly baby product line, Honest. EMA president Debbie Levin says, "Becoming a parent is life-changing and brings into focus the priority of healthy choices and the responsibility of the environmental sustainability of our planet. Jessica is a great example of how you can turn that passion into positive change." Meanwhile, Hollywood films including The Lorax, 21 Jump Street and Big Miracle as well as TV hits Whitney,Veep, Happy Endings, Harry's Law, Dallas and Rizzoli & Isles have all been nominated for prizes for promoting environmental issues. The green ceremony will take place on September 29th in Burbank, California. Photo Credits: PR Photos , Wagner Az, PacificCoastNews.com, Source: Starpulse.com

Read More........ → October 06, 2012

Brad Pitt’s wedding gift to Angelina Jolie: a shooting range

All’s well as long as he doesn’t stray in the line of fire. Brad Pitt’s wedding gift to wifey-to-be Angelina Jolie is as extraordinary as the couple themselves. But hey! did we hear that Jolie gets turned on by shooting?

Actor Brad Pitt has splashed 250,000 pounds on a shooting range as a wedding present for Angelina Jolie. The couple are set to tie the knot at their French estate Miraval later this year and Pitt installed the range and an armoury on site as a gift for his bride-to-be.  "Brad had a lot to live up with his wedding gift considering Angelina exchanged vials of blood with her ex-husband Billy-Bob Thornton," a source told thesun.co.uk. "But Angelina clearly finds shooting an aphrodisiac. When she and Brad were around weapons on the set of 2005 'Mr & Mrs Smith' they ended up together. "And by letting Angelina de-stress at the range, he's less likely to get earache indoors. There's a lot to be said for that when you have six kids," added the source. It's no surprise Brad Pitt is pulling out all the stops as it was recently claimed that Angelina Jolie has invited her ex-husbands Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Bob Thornton to the wedding. "Angelina has remained close to both Jonny and Billy so they'd certainly be invited," said the source. (Photo: Brangelina from 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith') Source: ApunKaChoice

Read More........ → September 25, 2012

Gwyneth Paltrow named World's Best Dressed Woman

Oscar-winning actress Gwyneth Paltrow has been named the World's Best Dressed Woman, ahead of fashion forward celebs like the Duchess of Cambridge and Rihanna. Paltrow, who will be 40 in a couple of weeks, grabbed the top spot in the list by People magazine and her stylist said the actress owes it to her secret - less is more, Daily Mail reported. The Duchess, 30, was just behind Paltrow on the list, and was hailed for her "flawlessly elegant attire". Hollywood actresses Emma Stone, 23, Jessica Alba, 31, the Kardashian sisters and Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr, 29, were also included in the list. Rihanna scooped the Best Risk-Taking Style Award and Kerr won the Best Street Style Award. Among men, honours went to actors Andrew Garfield, Brad Pitt, Colin Firth, Robert Pattinson, Chris and Liam Hemsworth and singer Jay-Z.  Source: Screen India, Image: flickr.com

Read More........ → September 13, 2012

Angelina Jolie Discovers Brad Pitt’s Hidden Love Letters

Angelina Jolie has discovered Brad Pitt’s secret love letters to another woman and she is both humiliated and horrified. Will this prompt the Oscar-winning beauty to cancel her upcoming wedding? Angelina is already very insecure about other women getting close to Brad and this new shock to her fragile ego could really tip her over. We have reported previously that although Angelina successfully stole Brad from Jennifer Aniston, she still forbids Brad to have any contact with his ex-wife. The current issue of Star has the cover story ‘Brad Humiliates Angelina – his love letters to another woman exposed as the wedding approaches.’ Of course we don’t yet know who this other woman is or how these letters were exposed. Do these letters even exist? Does the other woman? Of course it is tempting to speculate but until we see the print edition we can’t be certain. Source: Showbiz World

Read More........ → August 14, 2012