Saturday 7 January 2017

Golden Globe Awards 2017: Facebook, Instagram on red carpet

For the first time, social media giant #Facebook and its photo-sharing service #Instagram will showcase videos and photos from the red carpet as well as from backstage during the 74th #Golden_Globe_Awards_2017.

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In a partnership with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), Facebook will let fans watch full 360-degree videos of celebrities' red-carpet experience while Instagram is teaming up with fashion photography duo Mert and Marcus to shoot the action backstage as the Golden Globe Awards goes live from California on January 8 (4:30 am India time on Monday).

"The goal is to make Facebook and Instagram go-to hubs for video and other content from the Golden Globes and celebrities -- and further the company's broader aims of boosting user engagement and growth on both platforms," a report in Variety said on Friday.

Twitter has also partnered with HFPA to host a live-stream of the red carpet at goldenglobes.twitter.com.

Gender neutral model finds way to Indian runway via LFW S/R '17

Gender neutral model #Petr_Nitka will be making his debut in the Indian fashion scene by walking at the runway of the forthcoming Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) Summer/Resort 2017 edition.

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Born in the Czech Republic, Petr Nitka is a well-known gender neutral model has walked for the South African Fashion Week and has worked with various renowned fashion designers and fashion photographers, said a statement.

Nitka walks for menswear and womenswear as he believes that fashion is always different and unique.

Jaspreet Chandok, Head of Fashion, IMG Reliance, said: "We remain committed to breaking stereotypes in Indian Fashion by leading the conversation on inclusivity. Petr Nitka is a great addition to a varied and interesting model pool this season."

Purnima Lamba, Head of Innovation, Lakmé, also shared that "with the talented Petr Nitka walking the ramp this season, we will be witnessing a paradigm shift in the Indian fashion and beauty industry".

The forthcoming edition is scheduled to start from February 1 here at JioGarden, Bandra-Kurla Complex.

Jewellery resolutions for 2017

Let jewellery reflect your style this year and the best way to do it is to upgrade it and also reinvent your traditional pieces, says an expert.

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Raminder Singh, Principle Jewellery Designer of Bluestone.com, charts out a set of jewellery resolutions. 

♦ Set the trend don't just follow one: Your sense of style is defined by your interests and passions, so this year let your strengths reflect in your style statement. Resolve to not follow trends blindly, so if those on-trend hoop earrings are not your thing, switch them for diamond studs or even a pair of quirky ear cuffs. 2017 is the year you make your own chic statement. 

♦ Get yourself the fine jewellery you have been eyeing forever: This year resolve to not hesitate in getting yourself that emerald ring, ruby laden choker or the diamond bracelet you have been eyeing. Upgrade from fashion jewellery and pick striking styles in fine jewellery. 

♦ Accessorise to accentuate: Make your jewellery the focus of attention in 2017. Go for a statement asymmetrical neckpiece, a delicate yet eye-catching palm cuff or a dazzling cocktail ring to grab the fashion sweepstakes. Hot tip -- style your look around your jewellery and not the other way round, be bold and stand out.

Indian DJ to collaborate with Maroon 5

Indian DJ Zaeden, whose given name is #Sahil_Sharma, is collaborating with American pop band #Maroon_5 for the official remix of "Dont wanna know", featuring vocals by #Kendrick_Lamar.

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DJ Zaeden, a resident of New Delhi, is best known for his tracks "Never let you go" and "Yesterday". 

"2017 is an exciting year for me. I'm a huge fan of Adam Levine since my school days so this is a big coup for me," DJ Zaeden said in a statement. 

He added: "I will be releasing my new single 'City of the lonely hearts' on Spinnin Records on January 13. I am also looking to collaborate with a few mainstream artists this year apart from performing at the top International festivals and launching my own merchandise brand."

Om Puri may you remain with your ever-infectious smile: Big B

Megastar #Amitabh_Bachchan has mourned the death of veteran actor and theatre personality #Om_Puri, saying may he remain with his "ever infectious smile".

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The 66-year-old actor was found dead at his residence on Friday morning. He suffered a cardiac attack. 

"Om Puri, if in soul you be, may you remain with your ever infectious smile," Amitabh wrote on his blog. 

The 74-year-old thespian also shared that "death, that darkest moment of humanity".

"Took away another soul into its boundless fold and left us all in disbelief," he added. 

Big B called Om "a friend, an affable loving colleague and a dynamic talent".

Amitabh, along with his son and actor Abhishek, attended the actor's cremation, which took place at the Oshiwara Eletrical crematorium, here. 

'Batman' actress Francine York no more

Actress #Francine_York, who had more than 150 television and film credits, is dead. She was 80.

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The actress breathed her last on Friday in Van Nuys here. According to her close friend Pepper Jay, she had cancer, reports variety.com.

York once declared "The Doll Squad" (19730 her most popular film, but she played everything from an alien to a exotic belly dancer. 

On "Batman," she played Lydia Limpet. Her credits include guest roles on "Bewitched", "General Hospital", "I Dream of Jeannie" and "My Favorite Martian".

It's destination Morocco for 'Tiger Zinda Hai'

Director #Ali_Abbas_Zaffar is busy scouting locations in Morocco for the shoot of #Salman_Khan and #Katrina_Kaif starrer "Tiger Zinda Hai", a sequel to 2012 blockbuster "Ek Tha Tiger".

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"Friday Azaan in Marrakesh, Morocco. Kick start 'Tiger Zinda Hai' location scout. Countdown begins," Zaffar wrote on his Twitter page.

Salman and Katrina will again be seen together in the sequel to their 2012 film "Ek Tha Tiger", which revolved around an Indian spy code-named Tiger, who falls in love with a Pakistani spy during an investigation.

Produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, the film is gearing up for Christmas release this year.

Gulshan Devaiah, wife stranded in Istanbul airport

Actor #Gulshan_Devaiah and his wife #Kalliroi_Tziafeta are stranded due to snowstorm at Istanbul airport en route to India.

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The couple had gone to Greece to ring in Christmas and New Year and were on their way to Mumbai from Athens.

"Stuck in Istanbul airport. All flights cancelled due to snowstorm. Been here over 12 hours. The whole airport is closed," Gulshan tweeted on Saturday.

In a series of tweets, Gulshan has been sharing updates from the trip.

From pictures of exotic locales in Greece to home-cooked gourmet meal, the "Hunterrr" actor has been having a ball of a time.

Release of Om Puri's 'Ram Bhajan Zindabad' pushed to February

#Ram_Bhajan_Zindabad, featuring actor #Om_Puri -- who died on Friday -- will now release in February instead of January 13, says its producer Khalid Kidwai.

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Om Puri died on Friday morning following a heart attack here.

Remembering the National Award winning actor, he said: "It is shocking news for us. We have postponed the release of the film. 'Ram Bhajan Zindabad' will be releasing in February. We will be officially announcing the final date within two to three days."

Kidwai said Om Puri has a central character in the film. 

"His demise is a big loss for the industry," he added.

Mumbai to host smoked food festival from January 13

Over 15 restaurants will come up with more than 100 smoked preparations at the #Smoked_Food_Festival, which will commence from January 13 here.

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Taking place at High Street Phoenix, the fest, which will end on January 29, will offer a wide range of smoked food for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, read a statement.

Food enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice as the festival will entice them with dishes like smoked cheese and spinach croquette, black forest ham bruschetta, scamorza arrancini, panzanella salad, smokey woodman pizza, sushi and smoked Hyderabadi biryani. 
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Priyanka Chopra in Golden Globes fashion fix

Indian actress #Priyanka_Chopra, who made stunning fashionable debut at the red carpet of Oscars and Emmys last year, is having trouble in picking out an outfit for the forthcoming Golden Globe Awards ceremony here.

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Priyanka, who is earning applause for her work internationally, courtesy her American show "Quantico" and will be making her Hollywood debut with "Baywatch" this year, will be one of the presenters at the 74th edition of the gala.

She tweeted on Friday: "Sometimes, too many options aren't a good thing... Golden Globes Girl Problems ... suggestions?"

Golden Globe Awards recognise excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign. The 74th edition of the awards gala, to be hosted by Jimmy Fallon, will be held on Sunday. 
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Rongali fest to return to Guwahati in February

The third edition of #Rongali - Destination, Culture, Harmony festival, which aims at promoting Assam as a tourism destination, will take place here from February 3.

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The three-day festival will showcase the rich cultural heritage of the northeastern state. Like its previous edition, the fest, organised by Trend MMS, will offer adventure sports like aero sports, water sports, traditional boat race and much more.

The fest's chief organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta said in a statement: "Music is the essence of Assam and the entire northeast. So, musicians like Parikrama, Euphoria, Ash King, Joi Barua, Alobo Naga and DJs Nuclyea, Teri Miko and Zaeden would be performing at the festival."

Now a male face to endorse cosmetic brand Maybelline

Cosmetics brand #Maybelline New York has appointed American YouTube star #Manny_Gutierrez as its first male ambassador.

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Gutierrez, who has drawn more than two million followers to his YouTube channel since he started posting makeup tutorials in 2014, stars in the brand's new That Boss Life campaign, reports theguardian.com. 

Gutierrez announced the news via an Instagram post, saying he was honoured and thrilled.

He posted: "2017 you are off to an amazing start OMG! So excited to finally announce that I am part of the Maybelline Big Shot Mascara campaign! Honestly I couldn't be more honoured thrilled! Thank you to Maybelline for taking a chance on me! I look forward to working together so much more."

Starch in bananas, potatoes may be good for health

Consuming foods such as #bananas, #potatoes, grains and legumes that are rich in resistant starch may help check blood sugar, enhance satiety as well as improve gut health, a study has found.

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Resistant starch is a form of starch that is not digested in the small intestine and is therefore considered a type of dietary fibre.

"We know that adequate fibre intake -- at least 30 grams per day -- is important for achieving a healthy, balanced diet, which reduces the risk of developing a range of chronic diseases," said Stacey Lockyer, Nutrition Scientist at British Nutrition Foundation, a Britain-based charity. 

Friday 6 January 2017

Concert to celebrate a musical journey of three generations of Roshans

With a combination of youngster and veteran singers and a 50 piece orchestra, legendary music director #Rajesh_Roshan will conduct a concert titled #Roshan_Se_Roshan_Tak in Thane and Vadodara on January 28 and February 11 respectively to commemorate the journey of three generations of his family.

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The show will be a series of 25 songs composed by his father Roshanlal Nagrath, better known as Roshan, to some of the super hit songs of his brother Rakesh Roshan's films that were composed by him and few latest hits of his nephew and Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan.

About the selection process of the song, Rajesh Roshan said: "It was a difficult process for us to choose songs as the list of hit songs were quite long and there are memories and nostalgia attached to those songs. In fact, I think we should do a part two of the concert with some more songs."

"I am very excited about the fact that for two hours, with live orchestra, we will be bringing back the golden era of Hindi film songs on stage and the audience will be enjoying the old world charm"
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Fashion industry keen to explore young talent: Gen Next designers of LFW

The Indian #fashion industry is flourishing over the year and it's now become easy for young talent to find space in the industry, say the Gen Next designers of Lakme Fashion Week #LFW who are going to showcase at the forthcoming Summer-Resort 2017 edition.

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Pallavi Singh, Nakita Singh, Soumodeep Dutta, Ishanee Mukherjee & Anirudh Chawla, and Resham Karmchandani and Sanya Suri are the five names who have been selected to showcase their creativity at the fashion week platform that is scheduled to take place from Feb 1- 5 at JioGarden, Bandra-Kurla Complex, here.

For these young faces, finding their own path in the industry has become easier now. 

Resham and Sanya of the label The Pot Plant, feel that "every new start up in any industry is challenging and the same goes for fashion industry as well"

A.R. Rahman, son ring in birthday together

Double Oscar-winning composer #A_R_Rahman and his son Ameen celebrated their birthday together here at his residence on Friday amid family and close friends.

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Rahman turned 50 on Friday.

"Around midnight, his family made him cut a birthday cake. It's also his son Ameen's birthday which makes the day even more special for Rahman," a source close to the Mozart of Madras told.

The source added that a party has been planned by Rahman for industry friends on Friday evening.

Filmmaker Bharat Bala was one of the few guests to personally extend birthday wishes to Rahman.

Veteran actor Om Puri passes away at 66

Veteran Indian actor #Om_Puri died on Friday morning of a heart attack at his residence here, a family friend said. He was 66.

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Veteran actress Shabana Azmi tweeted his funeral details.

"Om Puri undergoing post-mortem at Cooper Hospital. Will be taken to Trishul around 3 p.m. Funeral at Oshiwara electric crematorium around 6 p.m.," Shabana tweeted.

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, who was going to direct the actor in his new movie, told "It is a very sad news. Om Puri ji passed away after a heart attack today (Friday) morning. He was at his home."

"His body of work in the Indian film industry has been tremendous across the commercial and parallel genres. We've lost a great talent," Agnihotri added.

Known for his deep baritone and distinctive acting style, Om Puri had an affinity towards socially relevant cinema. This drove him into doing movies like "Aakrosh", "Ardh Satya" and "Dharavi".

A National School of Drama alumnus, Om Puri also featured in movies like "Mirch Masala" and explored his ability to dabble in the comedy genre with "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro", "Chachi 420", "Hera Pheri", "Malamaal Weekly" and more.

'Dangal' can't be accused of disrespecting national sentiments: CBFC chief

Central Board of Film Certification #CBFC chairperson #Pahlaj_Nihalani has refuted reports that the makers of #Dangal insulted the National Anthem in the narration, saying that the board members "vouch for genuine feeling of nationalism" in the film.

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A scene where the National Anthem is played towards the end of the movie, didn't go down well with the members of Jai Ho Foundation. A letter asking to explain how the "lapse" was allowed, was sent to CBFC on behalf of the Jai Ho Foundation.

Responding to the letter, Nihalani said: "Yes, we have received the letter from this Foundation, claiming the National Anthem has been wrongly played in the film. I have not seen 'Dangal' personally. But censor board members have seen it and vouch for its genuine feeling of nationalism. I've heard when the National Anthem comes on, the audience is reflexively on their feet."

As far as the National Anthem being played wrongly is concerned, Nihalani said: "We at the CBFC would never allow the National Anthem to be disrespected in any form. 

Mediterranean diet for healthy brain

A #Mediterranean_diet, comprising fruits, vegetables, olive oil and fish, may help older adults to retain more brain volume, researchers have found.

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The Mediterranean diet also includes beans and cereal grains such as wheat and rice, moderate amounts of fish, dairy and wine and limited red meat and poultry.

"As we age, the brain shrinks and we lose brain cells which can affect learning and memory. This study adds to the body of evidence that suggests the Mediterranean diet has a positive impact on brain health," said Michelle Luciano from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. 

For the study, researchers gathered information on the eating habits of 967 Scottish people aged around 70 who did not have dementia. 

The findings showed that people who did not follow as closely to the Mediterranean diet were more likely to have a higher loss of total brain volume over three years than those who followed the diet more closely. 

Make some skincare resolutions in 2017

Your newly made resolutions will be focused on better health, better life, better professional front and better relationship but this time lets keep a few more for your skin. Giving full attention to face and body by following a few processes like cleaning makeup brushes to cleaning faces after gym can make your life easy.

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Suruchi Puri, Consultant Dermatologist and Director at Medi Makeovers, suggests some of the skin care resolutions which are a must:

♦ I will always clean my makeup brushes: They are our best friend while doing any kind of makeup and it gives you flawless finish then why not take care of it. Ideally clean your makeup brushes once a week if you are using them quite often, as dirty tools can build-up bacteria which can lead to acne and other skin problems.

♦ I will do proper research before buying any product: The advertisements look so tempting that most of the time we get convinced and spend thousands of rupees on those products which don't even suit our skin or are needed. This year make sure to do good research before buying cosmetics.

Glam up your ethnic wear in style

Gone are the days when ethnic wear was worn only for festive occasions and special events. Today, outfits like saris and salwar-kurtas are setting the charts on fire like never before with some twist and turn in draping and accessorizing.

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From workplace attire to party-wear and casual dressing, ethnic wear can be versatile enough to suit almost every occasion, event, and time. What's more, you can look just as modern and glamorous in its graceful folds and designs. 

Bangalore-based designer Latha Puttanna recommends how one can look trendy in ethnic wear. 

♦ Sari: There are as many variations in sari drapes as there are in designing the attire itself. From the casual open-pallu look to the carefully-draped pleats , the options are many. Another way to give the sari a trendy touch is to complement it with a whole host of fun accessories, which could include clutches or jewelry. 

Observing fear in others may cause PTSD

If you happen to witness fear and trauma in the life of your loved ones or even strangers, chances are that a change may occur in the information flow in your brain and lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), researchers have said.

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PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can develop in some people after they experience a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.

However, it does not stop at direct victims of illness, injury, or a terrorist attack, the researchers said.

"It can also affect their loved ones, caregivers, even bystanders -- the people who witness or learn about others' suffering," said lead author Alexei Morozov, Assistant Professor at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Roanoke, US. 

Kanye West working on fashion projects

#Rapper_Kanye West is working on a new collection for his apparel and footwear brand Yeezy, says a source.

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"He sounded great. He said he was trying to put less stuff on his schedule and be a little bit more restful. He's scheduling less meetings and he said he was feeling much better," a source told pagesix.com.

Kanye was back in the studio after he got discharged from a Los Angeles hospital in late November 2016 following an alleged breakdown.

"He was still going 100 miles per hour with work. People were concerned that he was going right back to his schedule. He's been trying to not take as many meetings," the source said. 

Wednesday 4 January 2017

Sam Hunt is engaged

Singer #Sam_Hunt has got engaged to his longtime girlfriend #Hannah_Lee_Fowler, his representative has confirmed.

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"Sam and Hannah are engaged," Hunt's representative told people.com.

No further details are known about when Hunt got engaged, but he released a new personal song called "Drinkin' Too Much" on New Year's Eve, in which he sings about trying to win Fowler back.

In the new tune, Hunt apologised to Fowler for bringing her into the spotlight. 

"I'm sorry I named the album Montevallo...I'm sorry people know your name now and strangers hit you up on social media... I'm sorry you can't listen to the radio... I know you want your privacy... You've got nothing to say to me...But I wish you'd let me pay off your student loans with these songs you gave to me," he sings.

Different ball game to be married to artiste: Shaan's wife

#Radhika_Mukherji, who tied the knot with singer #Shaan almost two decades ago, says it's a different ball game to be married to an artiste.

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Shaan has crooned several love songs like "Jab se tere naina", "Chand sifarish" and "Suno na". Has he ever composed a special love song for his wife?

"Yes, he had written 'Gumsum ho kyon'. I was really angry with him and I wasn't talking to him. We went on a long drive. So, he started singing the song to me. He is romantic that way," Radhika.

"But other than that... there are times when I wake up in the middle of the night as he asks me 'What do you think of the tune?' But that's how it is... living with an artiste. It's a different ball game to be married to an artiste," she added.

Film on McDonald's founder to release in India on January 20

"The Founder", a film based on #Ray_Kroc, founder of fast food chain McDonald's, will release in India on January 20.

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With actor Michael Keaton essaying Kroc in the film, "The Founder" has been directed by John Lee Hancock and written by Robert Siegel.

"The Founder" tells the real life story of Kroc, who transformed McDonald's from a San Bernardino hamburger stand into a global empire with over 35,000 locations around the world, read a statement from PVR Pictures, the film production and distribution arm of PVR Group.

Anupam Kher begins 'Indu Sarkar' shoot

#Anupam_Kher on Tuesday joined the shoot of Madhur Bhandarkars ambitious project "Indu Sarkar". The veteran actor feels the movie has the power to be a "mother of all earthquakes".

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"The passion and dedication of Anupam Kher even after 500 films is really inspirational. Welcome to our film ‘Indu Sarkar' sir," Bhandarkar tweeted.

Anupam posted: "Delighted to join team ‘Indu Sarkar'. Great first day. This film has the potential of being the mother of all earthquakes."

They also shared images from the shoot, wherein they are seen standing in an open space full of bricks, and the sun is shining bright on them.

The film's shoot began last month, and back then, Bhandarkar had teased the audience with a poster featuring a lady's chained hand with India Gate and Parliament House in the backdrop.

Salim Khan urges Modi to address Bengaluru molestation issue

Calling the molestation in Bengaluru on New Year's Eve a shame, veteran screenwriter #Salim_Khan has urged Prime Minister #Narendra_Modi to address the issue immediately.

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Salim Khan expressed concern over the act by some of the Indian youngsters in Bengaluru during the New Year celebration.

"Honourable PM Narendra bhai, you have time and again mentioned that India's youth will drive the country forward. It's a shame what the youth have done in Bengaluru. Such acts are happening repeatedly all over. We were also young once, but never have such things happened," the screenwriter tweeted on Tuesday.

Hoping for a very good film: Akshay on working with KJo, Salman

Bollywood star #Akshay_Kumar, who is being cast as the lead in #Karan_Johar and #Salman_Khans co-production, hopes the project is going to be a "very good one".

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Akshay spoke about the newly announced film here on Tuesday.

He told the media: "I am very excited to be a part of the film, and (I am) hoping that a very good film is going to be made."

The news about the upcoming project was announced by Akshay, Karan and Salman via their social media handles on Monday night. They said they are joining forces for a "special film".

Winter skin care for men: Use right creams, products

Men too must take care of their skin in the #winter_season, and they can begin by choosing the right face-wash and shaving cream.

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Achin Kochar, expert at personal care brand Vi-John Group, has shared tips for a daily skin care routine:

♦ Use a nice face wash: A lot of men use just soap and water to wash their face, which leaves the skin dry, especially during winters. So, invest in a good quality face wash that would prevent skin problems and dryness of the skin. Use lukewarm water instead of hot water.

♦ Apply winter cream: It is very important to apply winter cream after washing your face. This helps to keep your skin moisturised. Dry and hard skin leaves the skin exposed and unprotected from sun, wind and dust which could lead to skin problems.

Kiran a good singer, says Aamir

Bollywood actor #Aamir_Khan on Tuesday praised his wife and filmmaker Kiran Rao's singing ability, who has made her singing debut in a music video.

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"At home, Kiran often sings for me. She is a very good singer, so I thought she should do the playback," he said at the launch of a special music video of "Satyameva Jayate Watercup".

"The song is composed by Ajay-Atul and is directed by Nagraj Manjule of 'Sairat' fame. A new singer has been introduced. Kiran has made her debut in singing with this song," said the "PK" star.

About her singing debut, Kiran said: "Aamir forced me to sing. I was very nervous at the studio, but Ajay-Atul supported me a lot."

Natalie Portman open to Marvel return

Actress #Natalie_Portman is hoping to return to the Marvel universe one day.

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Portman may not be reprising her role as Thor's love interest, scientist Jane Foster in "Thor: Ragnarok", but says that it doesn't mean the character is being retired forever, reports deadline.com.

"Yeah, well hopefully, one day I figure it out," Portman said.

Portman, who is expecting her second child with husband Benjamin Millepied, is keen to return to the role because she finds filming with such extensive visual effects "really challenging".
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Ryan Gosling pays tribute to Debbie Reynolds

Actor #Ryan_Gosling paid tribute to late actress #Debbie_Reynolds at the Palm Springs International Film Festival awards gala.

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The event took place on Monday, reports eonline.com.

Gosling's "La La Land" was honoured with the Vanguard Award at the annual ceremony. As he picked up the prize alongside director Damien Chazelle and composer Justin Hurwitz, he thanked Reynolds for inspiring his work on the movie with her performance in iconic film "Singing in the Rain".

"I wish I could have said this in person but I'd like to thank Debbie Reynolds for her wonderful career of work," Gosling said.
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Mark Hamill pens tribute to Carrie Fisher

Actor #Mark_Hamill has written an emotional goodbye letter to his "Star Wars" late co-star and friend #Carrie_Fisher, who passed away last week age 60.

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The letter has been published by hollywoodreporter.com.

"When you were in her good graces, you couldn't have more fun with any person on the planet… And then you could go 180 degrees opposite, where you were furious with one another and wouldn't speak for weeks and weeks," wrote Hamill, who played Fisher's onscreen brother in the "Star Wars" movies.

"But that's all part of what makes a relationship complete. It's not all one sided. Like I say, she was a handful. She was high maintenance. But my life would have been so much drabber and less interesting if she hadn't been the friend that she was.

'Fashion photography all about teamwork, creating synthesis'

#Fashion_photography is all about teamwork and the real challenge lies in creating a synthesis of the various elements that go into it, says 28-year-old Richa Maheshswari, one of the few women photographers in an otherwise male-dominated world -- a scenario that is slowly changing.

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Fashion photography "is never a one-person thing, it is always teamwork", Maheshwari said, pointing to the various elements -- crew, location, attire, models, make-up and editing -- that go into the making of a good photograph.

"The challenge lies in creating that synthesis. Once you are able to bring the best out of each and every aspect of the smallest entity, the bigger output comes out to be nice. You need to recognise what situation it is, where you are doing the shoot, with whom you are doing it, you have to bring the best out of the person," Maheshwari told in an interview at her studio in South Delhi's Ghitorni neighbourhood.

Tuesday 3 January 2017

Carrie Anne Moss is a yogi: Stacy Title

Director #Stacy_Title says Canadian actress #Carrie_Anne Moss has two sides of her personality -- one about living together in harmony, and another bad** persona.

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Title also calls Moss, who stars in Title's supernatural horror film "The Bye Bye Man", a yogi. 

"She's really like a yogi. She has a powerful side that's very much about the world living together in harmony, and then she has this bada** persona. So, if you get to know her, there's a whole other level beneath her strength," Title said in a statement.

"The Bye Bye Man", which is being brought to India by PVR Pictures, will release in India on January 13.

American actor Dough Jones, known for his roles in science fiction and horror genres, is playing character of The Bye Bye Man. The story revolves around three friends who stumble upon the horrific origins of The Bye Bye Man, a mysterious figure. The film also stars Douglas Smith and Lucien Laviscount.
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Joined 'Munna Michael' to overcome fear of dancing: Nawazuddin

National Award winning actor #Nawazuddin_Siddiqui says he took up a role in #Munna_Michael -- in which actor Tiger Shroff pays tribute to his dancing icon Michael Jackson -- to overcome his fear of dancing.

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Nawazuddin says he has never attempted to dance in front of the camera, despite being in the industry for over 15 years.

"I will be seen dancing in 'Munna Michael'. I signed that film because I was scared of dancing and wanted to overcome that fear. So, I took it as a challenge. I have never danced on screen. In fact, I have never danced in my real life too... like in parties," Nawazuddin told.

"I used to think how these actors can dance onscreen. But I wanted to overcome that fear, so I joined that film," he added.
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Very fond of Katrina, Anushka, says Deepika Padukone

Actress #Deepika_Padukone says she is professionally and personally very fond of #Katrina_Kaif and #Anushka_Sharma.

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Recently, Anushka and Katrina were asked on a chat show if they ever considered the "Piku" actress a "good friend". They said "no", but Deepika had later tweeted that she had "fun" watching the episode.

On Sunday, Deepika was asked by the media if there's always competition between actresses rather than friendship.

The 30-year-old said: "I wouldn't say it is a competition. But sometimes you have a certain feeling for other people and they don't necessarily feel the same way about you. But that's okay."
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Mariah's New Year Eve show 'sabotaged' for ratings

Singer #Mariah_Careys team says her New Years Eve performance was sabotaged by the TV shows producers for the sake of ratings.

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Carey's manager sent a letter on New Year's Day to Dick Clark Productions, saying they set her up for failure by letting her take the stage before more than a million people in Times Square - and millions more watching at home - with malfunctioning sound gear, reports pagesix.com.

"You know her inner ears were not working and your entire production team did not set her up to win," manager Stella Bulochnikov wrote to Mark Shimmel, whose company produced Carey's TV show, which was broadcast live on ABC.

"And Mariah kept telling them (something was wrong) on stage in real time," Bulochnikov typed in all caps in the letter.
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Lauren Conrad is pregnant

TV personality #Lauren_Conrad has announced that she is expecting her first child with husband #William_Tell.

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Conrad broke the news on Instagram on January 1 morning by sharing the photograph of her sonogram, reports aceshowbiz.com.

"Happy New Year! I have a feeling 2017 is going to be the best year yet," Conrad wrote alongside the image.

Conrad married the former Something Corporate guitarist in 2014. 

After their wedding, she had said she wasn't in a rush to get pregnant. She wanted to enjoy her career and honeymoon phase before having a new addition to her family.

Alcohol abuse increases risk of heart disease

#Alcohol addiction can increase the risk of heart attack, atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure along with other risk factors like diabetes and high blood pressure, a study has found.

alcohol-abuse-increases-risk-of-heart-disease
The findings showed that alcohol abuse was associated with a two-fold increased risk of atrial fibrillation -- irregular, often rapid heart rate causing poor blood flow.

There is also a 1.4-fold increased risk of heart attack and a 2.3-fold increased risk of congestive heart failure -- a condition in which the heart does not pump blood well. 

These increased risks were similar in magnitude to other well-recognised modifiable risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

"We found that even if you have no underlying risk factors, abuse of alcohol still increases the risk of these heart conditions," said lead researcher Gregory M. Marcus, Director at the University of California, San Francisco. 
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Gwen Stefani named Revlon's new face

Singer #Gwen_Stefani is joining Revlon as their latest global ambassador.

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Stefani will join fellow Revlon spokeswomen Ciara, Olivia Wilde and Halle Berry, reports people.com.

Stefani said in a statement: "Ever since I was a young girl, I have used make-up as a form of self-expression … I am passionate about make-up and how it can showcase your individuality and creativity. Partnering with an iconic beauty brand such as Revlon felt like a natural fit."

Implants impact sex life: Alicia Douvall

Model and reality TV star #Alicia_Douvall, who claims to have undergone 350 cosmetic alterations for her body, says her butt implants amongst others, have long been ruining her sex life.

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Douvall had last month revealed that her butt implants were leaking, but she is still undecided about whether to have them removed or not.

Douvall says that men think the implants are for "their pleasure", but the alterations stop her from being able to do "certain things" in the bedroom, reports dailymail.co.uk.

""There are certain sex things I wouldn't do because of my implants," Douvall told The Sun newspaper.

"I'm worried about all of my implants during sex. It definitely makes an impact on your sex life, it changes things. Men think those implants are there for their pleasure but it's ‘look but don't touch'," she added.

Wear your leather jacket stylishly

#Leather_jackets emphasise your personality and if chosen correctly, they are capable of refreshing your image. Don't shy away from experimenting with colours of your jacket but also avoid dressing in one colour from head to toe, says an expert.

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Harkirat Singh, Managing Director at Woodland Worldwide, has rolled out a few tips on styling your leather jacket:

* Dressing in just one colour from head to toe does not appear very flattering. Break the monotony by pairing blue jeans with a black leather jacket. A white T-shirt peeking out from beneath the shirt and a thick woollen scarf will ramp up the sophistication.

* To soften the look of the sturdy looking leather jackets, pair them with light coloured cotton shirts. Team them with a grey trouser and tan shoes for a smart formal look.

* Don't shy away from experimenting with colours of your jacket. As long as you get the right colour and cut, feel free to experiment with different masculine hues such as tan or grey. If you want to go for a brighter shade, make sure that you carry it confidently.

* For a weekend lunch with friends, wear a black leather biker jacket with a grey T-shirt and black jeans to look cool and casual.

* If your style preference is a little more on the preppy side, reach out for a plain jacket with leather sleeves. It will add an edge to your look. Add some slim blue jeans and fingerless gloves to complete the look.

Monday 2 January 2017

Akshay shares glimpse of his film slate for 2017

On New Year's Day on Sunday, Bollywood star #Akshay_Kumar shared with his fans his line-up of films for the calendar year, asking them for love and luck.

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He tweeted: "Busy summing up the year gone by? It's time to not look back, but look ahead. Here's what my 2017 looks like. Your thoughts, love and luck needed." 

The actor then went on to share the names of the films along with their photographs.

The first one is his upcoming courtroom comedy drama film "Jolly LLB 2". Directed by Subhash Kapoor, the film also features Huma Qureshi and Annu Kapoor.

In the trailer, Akshay looks promising as a lawyer while he tackles the corrupt with some comical elements. 
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Make your make-up kit multi-purpose

If you don't wish to spend too much on an exhaustive #make-up kit, you can always go the multi-purpose way with limited items to get a #makeover, suggests an expert.

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Beauty expert Ishika Taneja, who is also Executive Director of ALPS Group, has shared tips on managing make-up within a budget:

* Gel based kohl: You can create a smokey look with a smudged gel-based kohl on your eyes. Another benefit is that it can also be used as mascara to magnify the lashes to look long and thick. Define your eyes by using gel based kohl on water line as well as to line the lashes.

* Lipsticks: Your everyday brown lipsticks can double up as your bronzers and can help you do up your face in a jiffy.

A lip-gloss can be used to highlight your cheekbone. For this, take a pink and peach coloured lipstick on your fingers and tap it on your cheekbones. If you don't have a matching eye-shadow with the dress you want to wear, you not need worry -- choose a lipstick by matching your outfits and skin tone, and then apply on your eyes as eye-shadow.

'Dangal' effect: 100 wrestling mats for Haryana 'akhadas'

The Haryana government on Sunday said 100 wrestling mats will be provided to 'akhadas' in the state following the success of Aamir Khan's film #Dangal, based on wrestling.

dangal-effect-100-wrestling-mats-for-haryana-akhadas
"Dangal" highlights the struggle of a wrestler father to train his daughters into international champions.

Hayana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who met wrestling champions Geeta and Babita Phogat and their coach-father Mahavir Singh Phogat, on whose lives film "Dangal" is based, to honour them, also said that his government has set up a committee led by the Chief Secretary to streamline the process of giving employment to the state's outstanding sportspersons. 

He said that based on the recommendations of this committee, a new policy for sportspersons would be formulated.
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Adele to get married in Britain

Singer #Adele and her partner #Simon_Konecki have shelved plans to marry in the US, and instead, they will exchange wedding vows in Britain.

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According to the Sunday People, Adele and Konecki wanted to get married in the US over Christmas 2016. But friends say the wedding didn't happen because Konecki's relatives couldn't get to Los Angeles during the festive season, reports mirror.co.uk. 

They secretly got engaged in October last year after five years together.

A source said: "As it was such short notice, people already had plans. Adele and Simon are very family-oriented and wanted those closest to them there on their special day so they decided to postpone getting married."
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Ben Affleck doesn't want kids to pay price for his fame

Actor-filmmaker #Ben_Affleck says his wildest dreams have come true, but at a price.

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Affleck is coming out with gangster film "Live by Night" - he has directed the movie and stars in it too. The poster for "Live by Night" has the tag line - American dream comes at a price. Affleck agrees it's pertinent to his own life, reports theguardian.com. 

"Absolutely. I've been lucky. I've had my wildest dreams come true, but the price is the Faustian exchange you make where your identity is not your own," Affleck said. 

He added: "You become a public figure and it changes all the rules. The press can become invasive and dishonest, and you have to put up with inconvenient stuff like that."