Teary tribute to Lucky Akhand

People from all walks of life, including ministers, political leaders, cultural activists, civil society members, fans and family members, paid their last tributes to legendary singer-composer Lucky Akhand at the Central Shaheed Minar on Saturday.

The popular singer was given a guard of honour soon after his body was taken to the Shaheed Minar premises around 11:15 am. It was kept there till 1 pm for paying homage.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu , Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor , media personality Faridur Reza Sagor, singer Fakir Alamgir, Belal Khan, lyricist Gazi Mazharul Anawer, Kabir Baku were, among others, present.

From Shaheed Minar the body was taken to Dhaka University central mosque where his second janaza was held after Johr prayers.

The first namaz-e-janaza was held at Armanitola playground in the capital at 10 am.

Earlier, his body was taken to his Armanitola residence from Birdem Hospital in the morning.

He will be laid to rest at Mirpur Martyred Intellectual Graveyard in the afternoon.

Lucky Akhand, who had long been suffering from lung cancer, died at his residence around 6 pm on Friday.

Akhand started his career with self-titled solo album 'Lucky Akhand' in 1984 under the banner of Sargam.

Some of the notable songs of Akhand are 'Agey Jodi Jantam', 'Amay Dekona', 'Mamonia', 'Ei Neel Monihar' and 'Hridoy Amar'.

He won the first prize in "Modern Bangla Songs" category from the Pakistan Art Council in 1969.

Lucky Akhand was born on 18 June 1956 in old Dhaka.



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I personally love azaan: Kangana Ranaut

Actress Kangana Ranaut says that she personally loves azaan and respect all the religious activities and places.

The actress, who seemed to be unaware about the Sonu Nigam-azaan controversy, was asked to comment on it and replied: ‘I can’t speak for anyone but I personally love azaan. When I was shooting for ‘Tanu Weds Manu’ in Lucknow, I used to love the sound of it.

‘I like all the religious activities and I go to every religious places be it mosque, temple, gurudwara or in church. But this is my personal opinion. But It doesn’t mean that what he (Sonu Nigam) has said should not be considered. That’s his opinion and he should be respected for that.

‘I think that’s the idea of bringing it to social media so that it can be discussed,’ added the actress while speaking during a press conference held for Liva excellence awards 2017 in Mumbai on Friday.

The National Award winning actress’ future projects include the period drama ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’.

Talking about the role’s preparation, she said: ‘I am learning sword fighting and horse riding for the film. As of now, all things are going well. We will start shooting of the film in first week of June and we are announcing the project in first week of May in a big way.’

‘Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhasi’ is directed by Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi who has directed several Telugu films such as ‘Vedam’ and ‘Gautamiputra Satakarni’.

The film has been written by K V Vijayendra Prasad writer of Baahubali.

Kangana will also be seen in Hansal Mehta’s ‘Simran’, which is scheduled to release later this year.

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Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu expecting their first child

After Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor became proud parents to a baby boy, Taimur, on December 20, 2016, Pataudi family is ready to welcome another bundle of joy in their clan. Actors Soha Ali Khan and Kunal Kemmu, too, are expecting their first child, reports news agency PTI.

Soha and I are very happy to announce a joint production coming later this year - our first child! We feel blessed and thank you all for your good wishes," Kunal said in a statement.

Soha, 38, married Kunal, 33, in a private ceremony in 2015. The couple first met on the sets of their 2009 film Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge. Before their marriage, Soha and Kunal were in a live-in relationship for a couple of years. Kunal had proposed to Soha in Paris.

Last year in April, rumours were making the rounds that Soha and Kunal are heading for a divorce. However, Kunal refuted the reports and tweeted:

What!! Why is my marriage in trouble?? Why am I heading for a divorce? Am I in a different reality or the people reporting this nonsense.

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Chris Pratt was awarded a star on Hollywood

Action star Chris Pratt swapped his superhero gear for a formal suit Friday as he was awarded a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame for his contribution to cinema.

Pratt, 37, found fame as loveable slacker Andy Dwyer on NBC comedy “Parks and Recreation” but has since become one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men thanks to roles in “Jurassic World” and Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

“I’m a man of faith and I believe that God works in mysterious ways, and gives us signs and gifts in life. And those gifts oftentimes come in the form of people,” he said, paying tribute to his mother.

“Oftentimes we weren’t cash-rich but we were never love-poor,” he told a crowd on Hollywood Boulevard that included “Guardians” co-stars Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista and Michael Rooker.

The actor thanked filmmaker James Gunn for casting him as Star-Lord in “Guardians”—a role he said had changed “so many lives,” from children in hospital to his real estate agent—and acknowledged Marvel for “taking a chance on the chubby guy from ‘Parks and Rec.’”

He also paid a lengthy tribute to his wife, the actress Anna Faris, telling her: “Without you, none of this would mean anything.”

Pratt, once a moderately successful TV actor, went to great lengths to build an action hero’s physique and was rewarded with his first major lead part in 2014’s “Guardians,” which went on to gross more than $770 million worldwide.

The sequel, due out on May 5, is expected to do even bigger business.

Pratt also starred in 2015 monster movie reboot “Jurassic World,” the fourth-highest grossing film of all time, and is due to reprise the role of dinosaur trainer Owen Grady in the sequel, due out in 2018.

“Five years ago, I said to reporters Chris Pratt is the biggest movie star in the world—it’s just that people don’t know it yet.

Well now, here today, people know it,” said Gunn, 46.

Faris, with whom Pratt has a four-year-old boy, showed the crowd a unicorn Pratt had drawn her before giving an unconventional speech thanking the many friends and family who had helped shape her husband.

“I know that if our circumstances were different, and we weren’t as fortunate to be standing here and leading our Hollywood life, we would be happy in the woods together,” she said.

Raised in Lake Stevens, Washington, Pratt studied acting at a local community college for half a semester before moving to Hawaii and living in a van.

He got a job at a Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant where he was discovered by Canadian-American actress Rae Dawn Chong, who gave him a role in her directorial debut, the short horror film “Cursed Part III,” which was never released.

His other film credits include “The Magnificent Seven,” “Passengers,” “Moneyball” and “Zero Dark Thirty.”

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Priyanka Chopra is back 'In Her City Mumbai'

Actress Priyanka Chopra is back 'In Her City,' folks. The 31-year-old actress arrived in Mumbai almost a month before her maiden Hollywood film Baywatch will hit the screens.

Priyanka' brother Siddharth came to the airport receive his sister.

Apart from her family, the Bajirao Masatani star was greeted by her fans and the paparazzi.

It must have been a warm welcome because soon after her arrival Priyanka tweeted: "Wherever in the world I go. There is nothing like coming home. Thank you to everyone who gave me such a warm welcome as I landed in Mumbai."

Priyanka Chopra recently completed the shoot of the second season of her American television show Quantico.

Priyanka had split time between India and Ney Yok to fulfil her work commitments abroad. Last she was busy making Baywatch, co-starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, which will release on May 25. She was simultaneously filming Quantico season 2, in which she plays the lead role.

Priyanka hasn't announced her next Bollywood project yet, but there are reports that a film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in on the cards. Mr Bhansali is currently making Padmavati with Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh.

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Naseeruddin Shah safely reaches Dhaka

Noted Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah and his wife actress Ratna Pathak Shah are in Dhaka now

The couple along with their daughter Heeba Shah arrived in the city around 11:10am as members of Motley Theatre Group.

Blues Communications invited Naseeruddin Shah and his Motley Theatre Group to Dhaka for a theatre performance titled 'Ismat Apa Ke Naam'.

The play will be staged at International Convention City Basundhara (ICCB).

Naseeruddin Shah, also director of the drama, his wife Ratna Pathak and daughter Heeba Shah, will act in the play.

Film on Trump era set for Cannes film fest

A tongue-in-cheek action movie about a Trump-era civil war between redneck Texans and East Coast liberals will feature in the Director’s Fortnight sidebar at next month’s Cannes film festival, organisers said Thursday.

“Bushwick”—which is set in the newly-hip district of Brooklyn of the same name—is one of five US films in the line-up which tries to take the temperature “of a divided America”.

In the shoot-‘em-up film, which has already been snapped up by Netflix, a force of rightwing southern secessionists invade and lay waste much of the New York borough.

“It’s a rather amazing dystopian fairytale which tells the story of an America divided in two, which is how it is now,” said Edouard Waintrop, who heads the Director’s Fortnight selection, which often contains some of the best films at Cannes.

He insisted they had not set out to survey Donald Trump’s America.

“We wanted to see how American cinema would react to the shock” of Trump’s election, he said.

“Rather than us looking for a film that tells what is going on in the US right now, we took four films which tell stories from very different positions.”

One of the most eagerly anticipated is Sean Baker’s “The Florida Project” starring Willem Dafoe, which follows a group of children leading marginal lives on the fringes of the Walt Disney World theme parks in Orlando.

“It is a film which we loved enormously and takes a very surprising look at the US of today,” Waintrop added.

·      Native Americans -

Another US highlight is likely to be Chole Zhao’s “The Rider”, a story of rodeo riders from the Lakota tribe in North Dakota “that packs a punch”, he said.

The legendary “Driller Killer” director Abel Ferrara also made the line-up with a documentary about himself, “Alive in France”, while the Canadian film “Mobile Homes” is a love story set among North American “trailer trash”.

But Waintrop also promised plenty of laughs, with the selection opening with French director Claire Denis’ comedy “Un Beau Soliel Interieur” starring Juliette Binoche and Gerard Depardieu.

While France’s funniest auteur Bruno Dumont—who had hits with his two previous absurdist comedies “Slack Bay” and “Li’l Quinquin”—returns with a cheeky musical called “Jeanette, the childhood of Joan of Arc”.

Three Italian films also made the cut of 19 including the Martin Scorsese-backed “A Ciambra”, which Italian-American Jonas Carpignano shot in a Roma community in Calabria.

Seven female directors include Rungano Nyoni of Zambia who will make her Cannes debut with “I Am Not a Witch” about an eight-year-old girl accused of witchcraft, while Indonesian director Surya Mouly’s “Marlina The Murderer in Four Acts” is “full of surprises”, Waintrop said.

Lithuanian director Sharunas Bartas also features with his film “Frost” about a couple who volunteer to take humanitarian aid to Ukraine and find themselves lost in the war-torn Donbass region.

Cannes, the world’s top film festival, runs from 17 to 28 May.

This file photo taken on 04 September, 2014 shows US actor Willem Dafoe posing during the photocall of the movie "Pasolini" presented in competition at the 71st Venice Film Festival at Venice Lido. Photo: AFP

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AR Rahman to perform at IIFA

Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman on Thursday revealed that he will perform at the 18th edition of the International Indian Film Academy(IIFA) Weekend, to be hosted in New York this July.

“It’s special IIFA New York for me. Celebrating 25 years. Come join me at IIFA Festival,” Rahman tweeted.

This year marks Rahman’s 25th anniversary in filmdom. In 1992, Rahman made his musical debut with Mani Ratnam’s “Roja”.

This is the first time that the event will be held in New York “described as the city that never sleeps”. But the IIFA magic was first brought to Tampa Bay in the US in 2014, when stars like John Travolta and Kevin Spacey were in attendance.

The event, ”the biggest Bollywood celebration internationally”, will be held on 14-15 July at the iconic MetLife Stadium known for hosting National Football League games, major concerts and other entertainment events.

Apart from a plethora of Bollywood stars, southern film stars like Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Kamal Haasan, Allu Arjun and Jr NTR are likely to attend too.

Started off as background dancer in 2006 IIFA: Sushant

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput is more than happy to perform at the 18th edition of the International Indian Film Academy(IIFA) awards and says he started his career in showbiz as a background dancer for the event in 2006.

Sushant on Wednesday took to Twitter and wrote:’ I’m so looking forward to performing IIFA 2017. I started off as a background dancer in 2006 IIFA.”

On the acting front, Sushant will be seen in Dinesh Vijan’s “Raabta”, which will release on June 9. The film also stars Kriti Sanon and Jim Sarbh. The actor is also prepping for the upcoming Hindi space film “Chanda Mama Door Ke”, where the “Kai Po Che!” star will play an astronaut.

It’s been 10 years: Abhishek Bachchan

Actor Abhishek Bachchan is more than happy about completing a decade of marriage with actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and has thanked all his fans and friends for their wishes.

Abhishek tweeted on Thursday: “ And just like that.... It’s been 10 years! Thank you all for the wishes for Aishwarya and I. Lots of love.”

The couple got married on April 20, 2007. The wedding took place in a private ceremony at the Bachchan residence, Prateeksha, in Juhu, here. They have been blessed with daughter Aaradhya.

Abhishek and Aishwarya have worked together in films like “Guru”, “Dhoom 2”, “Raavan” and “Sarkar Raj” among many others.

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Bidya Sinha Saha Mim busy her study & acting

In the beginning of this year, National Film Award winner actress, Lux superstar and model Bidya Sinha Saha Mim completed honours in Bengali Literature from Southeast University. Now she is doing masters in same subject. Her motto is to concentrate to finish her master degree right now.
While talking about to study Bengali Literature as her masters Mim told this correspondent, "As I have been study here in Bengali Literature in this university so I have already made a nice relationship with all. Therefore, faculties of this university also want that I finish my masters from here. They cooperate me a lot. For this reason, I am doing masters in Bengali Literature in this university."
Meanwhile, Mim also finished shooting of Saikat Nasir directed movie 'Pashan.' Kolkata's popular hero Om worked against her in this movie. Her acted another movie 'Ami Tor Hote Chai' got the censor certificate where Bappi acted against her."
However, Mim recently returned from Qatar after performing there. She got the National Film Award for acting in late Khalid Mahmood Mothu's movie 'Jonakir Alo.' 'Aamar Pran-er Priya,' 'Tarkanta,' 'Black,' 'Padmo Patar Jol' and 'Sweetheart' are Mim acted other released movies.  
In last Eid, Mim last worked in the small screen through Mizanur Rahman Ariyan's a special telefilm titled 'Sei Meyeti.' 


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Abhishek and Aishwarya celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary

One of Bollywood’s most popular couples, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on Thursday, April 20.

The two had worked together in Dhai Akshar Prem Ke (2000) and Kuch Naa Kaho (2003), but it was during the shooting of Dhoom 2 (2006) that cupid struck the two and love blossomed. It was after the New York premiere of Guru (2007) in January that Abhishek proposed to Aishwarya in the balcony of their hotel with a ring, which was used as a prop in the film.

Aishwarya said yes to the proposal immediately.

The actors got married in a beautiful ceremony in 2007 and have been relationship goals for their several fans since. Now, they have an adorable six-year-old daughter, Aaradhya.

Deepika and Dinesh earlier worked together in movies Raabta

There was so much fun and surprises at the tariler launch event of Raabta. Where everyone was talking about the interesting trailer and story line, we also got some information that Deepika Padukone will be performing in the recreated version of the track Raabta, from Saif Ali Khan-Kareena Kapoor Khan starter ‘Agent Vinod,’ for the movie- the day was like a treat for all. 
During the event here, director Dinesh Vijan said, “Deepika Padukone is very lucky for me,” adding, “I asked her, if she could do a song for me. She came down to Budapest and we shot it.” 
For the unversed, Deepika and Dinesh earlier worked together in movies like Love Aaj Kal, Cocktail and Finding Fanny. 
Raabta, a tale of reincarnation, starring Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon in it, is slated to release on June 9.


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Today is the birthday of Lux superstar Mehazabien Chowdhury

Today is the birthday of Lux superstar, popular actress and model . To celebrate the day, she has no special plan or any shooting schedule today. However, she will not attend any live show in any satellite channel. Basically she wants to give time her family and friends. For this reason, she does not keep any shooting schedule on her birthday. Her friends and well-wishers wish her on this day. She also believes this year her friends will give her surprise to wish her. 
While asking her if they do not wish her Mehazabien told this correspondent, “I know my friends very well. In fact, they want to keep me happy on this day. So they plan many things to celebrate the day. I believe obviously they have plan for me.”
While talking about own birthday Mehazabien said, “Everybody pray for me as I can remain well on my birthday. I request the viewers to watch our TV plays because these viewers often say that good plays are not being made in our country now. We are trying to present good plays for the viewers. In fact, we are for the viewers.”
Meanwhile, on Monday Mehazabien has finished shooting of Asif Iqbal Jewel’s Eid special play titled Bondhur Balika. She acted in role of Tania in the play. “I have liked script of the play. I have to work with two friends with two get-ups in the play. I have worked under Jewel Bhai’s direction for the first time. I have enjoyed a lot. I am very much optimistic about the play. It will be aired in any satellite channel in coming Eid.” 
Therefore, on Youtube Mehazabien’s two music videos are available now. One is Sushmita Anis’s and another is Imran-Kona’s a song. Apurba and Irfan Sajjad performed against her respectively in these videos. 
It is noted that Mehazabien first performed as a model in a music video of Habib’s a song. Later she did not see to work in any video.      


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Amitabh Bachchan portions photo of Katrina Kaif with Shweta Nanda

Amitabh Bachchan says he finds the moment of his daughter Shweta Nanda Bachchan and actor Katrina Kaif captured in a photo filled with affection.

The actor on Monday night shared a photograph of the two from last year’s HT Most Stylish Awards and captioned it: “I do not know why, but I find this picture of Katrina and Shweta at a recent event, most charming and filled with great affection!”

On the work front, Amitabh will next be seen sharing screen space with superstar Aamir Khan in the film Thugs of Hindostan. Katrina is currently working on her next film with director Anurag Basu, Jagga Jasoos.

She will star opposite Ranbir Kapoor in the film.

Sushmita Sen makes a comeback onscreen

Sushmita Sen, who has kept us waiting for years, has finally made her appearance on-screen but this time for television.

Sushmita has shot for a commercial in which she looks nothing less than a dream. The actor has always personified hot, graceful and sensuous for us.

Sushmita has always said that she would make a comeback only when she connects with the project that’s offered to her.

In this commercial, she personifies water and speaks about the importance of drinking purified water.

Apparently, Sushmita has been traveling quite often since the last few months. She has been keeping her fans updated about the shoots she has been doing but kept the project a secret.

Unlike many actors in the industry, Sushmita has been constantly participating in fundraising events and has been speaking up openly about national concerns, especially regarding women. She has often battled the question of ‘why single’ with much grace, giving her fans more reasons to love her.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan redefines fabulous in new shoot

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is on a mission — to prove that age is just a number or that ageing simply doesn’t apply to her. After a brief hiatus, Aishwarya is back on a magazine cover and summer just got so much more sizzling with her latest picture.

Aishwarya Rai shot for Filmfare May issue and she is looking scorching.

The actor who was last seen in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil co-starring Ranbir Kapoor looks slimmer and fitter in this new shoot. The issue talks about power women and who could epitomise power better than Aishwarya?

The actor is seen wearing an off-shoulder navy blue jacket and her hair looks wavy with soft curls. It has been 23 years since Aishwarya was crowned with Miss World title, but actor remains the epitome of grace and style as ever.

Aishwarya’s last film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil was an eye opener for all her fans. The actor played an Urdu poet who seduces Ranbir Kapoor with her beauty and poetry. Aishwarya was a picture of elegance and intelligence in Karan Johar’s film. The actor made sure that she owned every single frame in which she was allowed to demonstrate her acting chops.

As a divorced woman, Aishwarya exuded a maturity and emotional intelligence in ADHM that have not been shown in Hindi films for quite long. Aishwarya elevated the role of a seductress in a Hindi film and have laid out new grounds for Hindi heroines. The actor makes sure she holds your attention when she is on-screen.

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