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Los Angeles, Sep 16 (IANS) Supermodel Gigi Hadid may have gotten a stamp of approval from her father to date Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio.

When giving his two cents on the supermodel's rumoured new romance, her father Mohamed Hadid said that he "likes" the 'Titanic' star, reports aceshowbiz.com.

In an interview with Daily Mail, 73-year-old Mohamed told the outlet, "I met Mr. DiCaprio in St. Tropez four or five years ago and he is a very nice man." He further noted, "I liked him."

Mohamed added that Gigi and Leonardo "are friends" and that they've "known each other for some time."

Of the swirling dating rumours, the famous real estate developer said: "I have not spoken to my daughter about Mr. DiCaprio."

"I don't think they are dating, I believe they are just good friends. But I really don't know," Mohamed said.

"While he could not confirm if there's any truth to the romance rumours, the ex-husband of Yolanda Hadid later pointed out, "I don't comment on my daughter's personal relationships. I have no say in who she is dating."

Gigi and Leonardo are reportedly dating as the 'Don't Look Up' star is allegedly "pursuing" the 27-year-old beauty following his recent split from Camila Morrone.

Further fueling the romance rumours, the two were spotted getting cozy at a party in New York City on September 10.

Last week, it's reported that while the mom of Khai is flattered by the actor's advances, she isn't looking to jump into anything serious right away.

"Leo's clearly got an interest in Gigi, he's been pursuing her, but she's playing it very cool because dating just isn't a priority for her right now, between her daughter and everything she has going on with work, she has her hands full," a source explained.

More recently, it's said that Gigi and Leo's possible romance is 'upsetting' for Gigi's ex Zayn Malik.

"Zayn still has hopes of reuniting with Gigi, they're on good terms right now for their daughter's sake but he's made it clear he would love another chance with her so all of this news about her and Leo has been upsetting for him," an insider told HollywoodLife.com on September 15.

"Gigi is doing her best to manage it all, but it's definitely stirring up drama on Zayn's side that she's having to deal with."

--IANS
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Mumbai, Sep 15 (IANS) Hit singer Neha Kakkar and YouTuber-choreographer Dhanashree Verma have come together for the track 'O Sajna' composed by Tanishk Bagchi.


Both Neha and Dhanashree said they shared a friendly bond on the sets. "In 'O Sajna' you see two women taking control and being empowered," Neha said. "Dhanashree and I got along like a house on fire and connected on a personal level. Fans will see that closeness and comfort in the music video as well."

The music video features Neha, Dhanashree and Priyank Sharma of 'Bigg Boss 11' fame. The song will be out soon on YouTube channel of T-Series.

Dhanashree also added that she found "soul sister" in Neha.

"I don't have a sister and while filming 'O Sajna' I felt like I found a soul sister in Neha Kakkar, who's an amazingly warm and fun person," Dhanashree said. "Her energy is so infectious that we bonded immediately and had a blast while filming the track," she added.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Sep 14 (IANS) After making a splash with her performances on the big screen with movies such as 'Bahubali', Ramya Krishnan is set to make her OTT debut as judge on a popular dance show.

The makers of the show have announced the addition of Ramya, whom they describe as the 'Lady Superstar of South', to the jury of 'Dance Ikon', which is being streamed on aha Telugu.

Joining her on the panel is the 'King of the Hook Step' -- Sekhar Master, who debuted into digital space on the grand gala episode.

Taking the entertainment quotient a notch higher with his innate wit and charm will be Ohmkar, who has forayed into the OTT space as producer and host.

Commenting on her OTT debut, Ramya Krishnan said: "I am excited to make my debut as judge on aha with a show like 'Dance Ikon'. We have all been hooked on sports leagues for the sheer entertainment and competitive spirit of the format, but kudos to aha Telugu for coming up with a dance league that infuses the energy of sports into dance.

"My fans enjoy watching me playing diverse characters on regular days; now, they will be able to see me in a different avatar over the weekends too. Moreover, I'm going to approach this in a fun manner and look out for not just great dancers. but also great performers and dancing stars who can captivate the viewers."

Talking about the induction of Ramya, aha CEO Ajit Thakur said: "Ramya's appeal is enormous across all age groups, especially among young people who take inspiration from her career graph. Her understanding of dance is unparalleled, and her contribution to 'Dance Ikon' will enable us to raise the entertainment bar."

'Dance Ikon' streams on aha, Saturday and Sunday, at 9 p.m.

--IANS
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Chennai, Sep 14 (IANS) Actor Ashwin Kakumanu has showered praise on the recently released Telugu-Tamil bilingual film, 'Oke Oka Jeevitham', saying the film taps into nostalgia while also keeping the writing modern.

Taking to Twitter, the actor on Wednesday wrote, "#Kanam #OkeOkaJeevitham What a lovely heart-warming film. Loved how it taps into nostalgia while also keeping the writing modern.

"Amala Akkineni ma'am deservedly given a mass entry and is the soul of the film. Loved the performances by Sharwanand, Ritu Varma, Ramesh Thilak, Sathish, Nasser sir Yogjaypee and of course the child actors who did such a great job."

The actor did not stop there. He also lauded director Shree Karthick and his technical team apart from the producer as well.

He wrote, "Hats off to you director Shree Karthick, film editor Sreejith Sarang, Cinematographer Sujith Sarang and music director Jakes Bejoy and the production design. Loved the interval block. Congratulations S R Prabhu and Dream Warrior Pictures for another unique film and backing the filmmakers."

--IANS
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Chennai, Sep 14 (IANS) Actress Varalaxmi Sarathkumar has penned a heartfelt birthday wish for her makeup man Ramesh on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

Taking to Instagram, the actress posted a series of pictures and wrote, "What can I say about this man… just one word... He is my everything.

"Day or night, he's there for me, working hard to make me look good. These many characters and looks were only possible by this one man's vision of my characters. I don't even have to tell him what to do and he does it on his own.! He's family.!

"I don't know what I would have done without him. He's my right hand... a work father figure. He protects me. He cares for me and I love him for that.

"50 is just a number. Happy birthday Ramesh anna. I love you annaya. Thank you for always being there for me!"

On the work front, Varalaxmi will be seen in a series of Telugu and Tamil films including the Samantha-starrer 'Yashoda' and actor Balakrishna's 'NBK107'.

--IANS
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Film: Saroj Ka Rishta (Releasing in theatres on September 16). Duration: 111 minutes.
Director: Abhishek Saxena. Cast: Sanah Kapur, Gaurav Pandey, Kumud Mishra, Randeep Rai, Mukesh Bhatt, Kritikka Avasthi and Bunty Chopra.
IANS Rating: ****

It is said and believed that cinema's main purpose is to entertain people. But the history of Hindi cinema tells us that cinema isn't just meant to entertain, but it is also a medium to make people think about their own issues, give out social messages and change rigid perceptions about society.

That is what 'Saroj Ka Rishta' succeeds in doing in a light-hearted way.

'Saroj Ka Rishta', directed by Abhishek Saxena, is a comedy film but it succeeds in making the viewer both smile and also question people's perception about 'overweight' girls. And that's the biggest strength and the beauty of the film.

'Saroj Ka Rishta' is a story of a girl named Saroj who lives in the city of Ghaziabad. On the surface, she is a common girl, like every other girl living in the city, but her being overweight is what gets noticed by people whenever she steps out of her house.

But Saroj is not bothered or bogged down by what people think about her appearance and how she looks. She believes in enjoying her life to the fullest. Even though she is considered 'overweight', she has no dearth of boys who lust after her or want her to marry them.

Effervescently played by Sanah Kapur, Saroj makes you laugh because of her demeanour and behaviour, and with her razor-sharp tongue she also makes you think about the kind of society we live in. That is where 'Saroj Ka Rishta' scores. The relationship shown between father and daughter in the film has been portrayed in a funny as well as emotional manner.

The father of Saroj, played by Kumud Mishra, is so much attached to his daughter that he wants her to marry a man who agrees to stay in their house post marriage so that the father is not separated from her. There are many scenes between father and daughter that will bring tears to your eyes. Kumud Mishra, who fits perfectly into the role of Saroj's father, enacts his part brilliantly and shows his range and caliber as an actor.

'Saroj Ka Rishta' excels in all departments. The lyrics, for starters, are meaningful; the music and background score give a different high to the movie. The thoughtfully written dialogues touch your heart.

The cinematography makes each and every frame look very rich and provides great context to the wholesome experience of watching the film.

Apart from Sanah Kapur and Kumud Mishra, Gaurav Pande and Randeep Rai also excel in their roles and leave an impact on the audience. Supriya Pathak, Sanah's real-life mother, has also played an important cameo in the film. Needless to say, she leaves a mark with just a few minutes of her appearance in the film.

Overall, it can be said that once you leave the theatre after watching an entertaining and socially relevant film, you'll have a big smile on your face and great satisfaction in your heart.

Presented by MiiCall, 'Saroj Ka Rishta' is a heartwarming film that releases this Friday in cinemas near you. Don't miss it at any cost!

--IANS
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Los Angeles, Sep 13 (IANS) Immediately after news of French New Wave icon Jean-Luc Godard's death broke on Tuesday (September 13), tributes started pouring in from world leaders, fellow filmmakers, artistes and cinephiles around the world, reports 'Variety'.

The first off the block was French President Emmanuel Macron, who described Godard as "the most iconoclastic of New Wave filmmakers, who had invented a resolutely modern, intensely free art. We are losing a national treasure, a look of genius."

Godard was also celebrated by Edgar Wright, the writer-director of 'Last Night in Soho', who wrote on social media that Godard was "one of the most influential, iconoclastic filmmakers of them all." Wright added that "perhaps no other director inspired as many people to just pick up a camera and start shooting".

Actor, comedian, director and writer Stephen Fry said he had watched Godard's debut film 'Breathless' for the "umpteenth time again" two weeks ago and found it as compelling as ever.

"It still leaps off the screen like few movies," Fry tweeted. "That scene between them in the hotel: how many other directors could have managed that in so small a space and made it so captivating?"

Oscar-winning Mexican director and author Guillermo Del Toro also paid homage to Godard on social media and kept retweeting tributes from others, one of them being from the French cinephile Philippe Rouyer, who wrote: "A last salute to #JeanLucGodard immense filmmaker who has not stopped rethinking his art since 'Breathless' (1960). 'Le Contempt' and 'Pierrot le fou' are masterpieces. But until his last strokes of brilliance, all his films question the making and the impact of images."

The British Film Institute (BFI) called Godard a "giant of cinema who ripped up the rule book." A statement issued by it read: "From 'Breathless' onwards, he tested the limits of the medium."

BFI Chief Executive Ben Roberts said in a statement issued to 'Variety': "Jean-Luc Godard's death is a huge loss to cinema. The godfather of the French New Wave and one of the most influential and innovative filmmakers of the last century, his work has resonated with generations of film lovers around the world."

The Cannes Film Festival released a retrospective of his career highlights on Twitter. "Since his first appearance at the Festival in 'Cleo de 5 a 7' in 1962, 21 films by Jean-Luc Godard have been screened at Cannes," the festival shared.

Cameron Bailey, chief of the ongoing Toronto International Film Festival, tweeted: "Jean-Luc Godard might have despised posthumous praise but here we are. His staggering body of work over seven decades showed him to be a rare, true genius in cinema. It was playful and punishing. It challenged every viewer, and rewarded the persistent."

He added: "Most of all, Godard was merciless in his pursuit of what (and how) images mean. For his every confrontation that expanded our art form, we will be forever in his debt."

The news of Godard's passing was first reported in the French newspaper 'Liberation' on Tuesday morning and later confirmed by the auteur's family in a statement which read: "There will not be any official ceremony. Jean-Luc Godard died peacefully in his home surrounded by his close ones. He will be incinerated."

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 13 (IANS) The now-famous track 'Manike Mage Hithe' sung by Sri Lankan singer-composer Yohani Diloka de Silva, popularly known as Yohani, is now going to be part of the soundtrack of the film 'Thank God' starring Ajay Devgn.

The singer said that it was quite challenging for her to record the song in Hindi.

"Learning the language was the biggest challenge," she said.

Yohani added: "I have grown up listening to Hindi music, but making a real movie track is very different. I am essentially the voice of another actress. The pronunciation, texture, dynamics change completely when recording and it was my first time doing something like that."

The singer gave credit to the entire team for supporting her through this journey.

"I had to record many times to achieve the correct pronunciation and the emotions that were required, but the team's encouragement made it all seem enjoyable," she said.

The song has been composed by Tanishk Bagchi, who is well-known for tracks such as 'Bolna' (Kapoor & Sons) and 'Ve Maahi' ('Kesari').

Speaking about introducing Yohani to Bollywood and making the song part of the movie, Bagchi said, "'Manike' is a peppy song that swept the Internet, and it goes very well with the setting of the film."

He added: "Today, a variety of artistes are doing their own gigs, and people welcome new singers and their unique styles with open arms. New flavours have been added to the song, taking it one notch higher. Yohani has great talent and potential, and working with her was a totally new experience as she also had a lot to offer."

On how it was working with Bagchi, Yohani said: "I have always been a fan of Tanishk Bagchi's music and it was a dream come true to collaborate with him. Even though I'm away from home and learning a new language, everyone makes me feel at home. I look forward to working on many more projects with him."

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 13 (IANS) Internationally renowned filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan said that French filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard changed the grammar of filmmaking and created his own path in making films.

He was reacting to the passing away of the Franco-Swiss filmmaker on Tuesday, September 13, at the age of 91.

Adoor said Godard's intellectual abilities were seen in his first movie "Breathless". He questioned the traditional mode of filmmaking and created his own path. He has used a unique style of the character directly speaking to the audience. The acclaimed filmmaker said Godard had even developed a new methodology to make digital movies.

National Award-winning editor and artistic director of International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), Bina Paul, told IANS: "The Intellectual commitment of Godard was exemplary and he was fully devoted to movies. His movies themselves a treat to watch and had revolutionised filmmaking."

Shyamaprasad, a National Award-winning director, said: "This is a great loss to world cinema. It was Godard who changed filmmaking. He has inspired several Hollywood filmmakers to make realistic movies and revolutionised international filmmaking. It is indeed a great loss."

Godard entered the film industry after a stint as a critic and writing screenplays for movies. "Breathless" was his first movie and "A Woman is a Woman" his first colour movie.

His movies broke the established conventions of French cinema and commenced on a new style of filmmaking. He was more forthright and his offbeat approach to sex was noteworthy.

In his later years, movies such "Goodbye to Language" (2014) and "Image Book" (2018) were more experimental in nature.

--IANS
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Mumbai, Sep 13 (IANS) Megastar Amitabh Bachchan was in awe of visually impaired 'Kaun Banega Crorepati 14' contestant Aneri Arya from Surat, and kept praising her for her logical reasoning skills and the calmness with which she approached the quiz-based reality show.

Despite the challenges that come with her disability, Aneri finally managed to win Rs 25 lakh on the show. She chose the right option given to her for the question: In the year 1967, citizens of which place voted against joining Maharashtra through a referendum? The options given to her were (A) Belagavi (B) Kutch (C) Goa and (D) Junagadh and she opted for Goa, which was the right answer.

Though it was a critical moment for her, Big B left his seat to offer her a glass of water. But she got the answer right and took home Rs 25 lakh.

Talking about the winning amount on the show, Aneri said: "When Amitabh sir announced that I have won Rs 25 lakh, it took me a while to absorb the fact. When I could finally comprehend that I had answered the question correctly, all my life's struggles crossed like a train of thoughts through my head, and I felt overwhelmed."

A resident of Surat, the 26-year-old 'KBC 14' contestant is an assistant professor of English at Shree Bhaikaka Sochitra Government Arts and Science College.

She also thanked her parents for helping her learn to read and write, which is why she does not use Braille but takes the help of AI software. Both Big B and Aneri also praised Gujarati cuisine.

"I knew my parents, who were sitting behind me, were very proud of me and I could feel their loving gaze on me," she said, recalling her experience.

"It was an amazing experience; something I don't think I can ever forget in my lifetime. My dreams of studying further have been unlocked with this prize amount and I hope I have made my family and friends proud. It's certainly one of the high points in my life so far."

'Kaun Banega Crorepati 14' airs on Sony Entertainment Television.

--IANS
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