BY SACNILK

Los Angeles, April 20 (IANS) Oscar-winning star Tom Hanks has opened up on his battle with the deadly coronavirus and on living in isolation, saying he had "bad body aches and was very fatigued", while his wife and actress Rita Wilson went through a tougher time.## Wilson and Hanks were among the first celebrities to reveal they're positive diagnosis last month, while they were in Australia. Hanks was filming an untitled Elvis Presley film in the country. The couple are now back in Los Angeles and on the way to recovery.## In an interview on The National Defense Radio Show, the 63-year-old actor detailed his and wife's struggle with respiratory illness, reports people.com.## "Rita went through a tougher time than I did," he said of their recovery in Australia, adding: "She had a much-higher fever and she had some other symptoms. She lost her sense of taste and smell. She got absolutely no joy from food for a better part of three weeks."## He continued: "She was so nauseous, she had to crawl on the floor from the bed to the facilities. It lasted a while."## Hanks "had some body aches and was very fatigued", and shared how he struggled to find the energy to do simple exercises. He and Wilson were placed in "lockdown for three days" in a local hospital.## "Whoever it was, doctor, nurse, would come into our air pressurized room, our isolation rooms. She said, ‘How are you feeling?' and I said, ‘I just had the weirdest thing. I just tried to do basic stretches and exercises on the floor and I couldn't even get halfway through', " he recalled, adding that he was "wiped" after 12 minutes into a 30-minute exercise routine.## "And she looked at me through her glasses like she was talking to the dumbest human being," he joked, adding: "And she said, ‘You have COVID-19'."## They still do not know when or how they got infected with the virus in Australia.## Wilson also opened up about her COVID-19 experience during her appearance on "This Morning". The actress said that among her initial symptoms were "chills as I've never had before."## "Looking back, I also realized that I was losing my sense of taste and smell, which I didn't realize at the time," Wilson recalled, adding that her fever "got close to about 102 by day nine".## She said that doctors gave her chloroquine which had "extreme side effects" on her.## "I was completely nauseous and I had vertigo. I could not walk and my muscles felt very weak. I think people have to be very considerate about that drug. We don't know if it's helpful in this case," she added.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

New York, April 19 (IANS) During the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, breastfeeding and the provision of human milk to infants is recommended by national and international organizations because it is effective against infectious diseases-- It strengthens the immune system by directly transferring antibodies from the mother, say researchers.## While the current coronavirus continues to affect all people, families will still give birth and bring new life into the world.## In the study, published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania provides guidance regarding breastfeeding and COVID-19 and reaffirms why it is of paramount importance to promote and protect the use of human milk and breastfeeding.## "While it is unknown if COVID-19-positive mothers can transmit the virus through milk, in limited studies the virus has not been detected in human milk," said study author Diane Lynn Spatz from the University of Pennsylvania in the US.## According to the researchers, during this current pandemic, there have been reports of formula shortages and price gouging the cost of infant formula.## "We should use this pandemic as a way to increase the visibility of the critical role of human milk and breastfeeding for all families at all times and educate the public about the importance of the use of human milk and breastfeeding as lifesaving medical interventions," She added.## The World Health Organisation has advised that mothers with any symptoms who are breastfeeding or practicing skin-to-skin contact should take precautions.## "Practice respiratory hygiene, including during feeding. If you have respiratory symptoms such as being short of breath, use a medical mask when near your child," the WHO said.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 19 (IANS) Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani, who had several productions in the pipeline when the COVID-19 lockdown was announced, says that the whole process of budgeting and releasing a film will change once this phase ends, keeping in mind social distancing and viewing habit of the audience.## Asked about how he is holding up amid the lockdown, the founder of Emmay Entertainment told IANS: "We had three films and six shows in the pipeline. Everything is on hold now. Arjun (Kapoor) and Rakul's film was on the floor. We were also shooting two films -- 'Satyameva Jayate 2' and 'Mumbai Diaries'. I am doing a post (production) of ‘Indoo Ki Jawani'."## "As a producer, of course, I am affected, but what I am trying to do is, instead of thinking negatively, I am working with my writers and developing scripts. I am trying to finish the post-production of those projects that we can be sitting in the house" shared Nikkhil.## Under his banner, Nikkhil delivered films like "D-Day", "Satyameva Jayate", "Airlift", "Batla House", and ‘Marjaavaan" among others. He has also produced the Netflix show "Hasmukh", featuring Vir Das.## Talking about one of the biggest problems the shooting process will face in near future, Nikkhil said: "Maintaining social distancing on a shooting floor is tough and that we have to incorporate in our lifestyle, in our work culture. From budgeting to promoting and processing of a film, everything is going to change post lockdown. I do not think the formula we were working with for long will be relevant anymore."## Citing an example, he said: "Even if we want to release a film, will people go to the theatre to watch it? Social distancing is one factor, home entertainment through OTT platforms is another. Of course, it is more convenient. From technicians to superstars, everyone has to sit down and re-evaluate. We are all going to look at it as ‘pre-COVID 19' and ‘post-COVID 19'. Nothing is going to be the same!"## Does he have any solution in mind? "We cannot fight the change. We have to change ourselves to deal with it. Every film cannot be an event film. There are high-budget, mid-budget, and small budget films. We plan the budget based on the subject and stars coming on board for the film. As the viewing habit of our audience is changing, we have to choose the platform of release and the story accordingly. That will surely change the budgeting of a film. The definition of stardom will also change. Running a production house is not easy, and all I am doing is preparing myself to deal with the new age that is coming!" Nikkhil signed off.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 19 (IANS) Indian superstars Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra Jonas joined Lady Gaga's star-studded "One World: Together at Home" to celebrate healthcare workers fighting against the coronavirus pandemic and urged everyone to stay strong during the health crisis.## Over 70 artists and celebrities from across the world joined the concert to honor the frontline workers. The virtual concert, organized by the WHO and Global Citizen on Saturday, was hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert. The event included performances and appearances from Taylor Swift, Elton John, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney.## Shah Rukh opened up about the coronavirus outbreak in India and delved into the plight faced by the people.## "India is facing one of its greatest challenges, in our history. With a population of over a billion citizens, the strength of COVID-19 is bound to have a negative impact on the country. Like, it is impacting the rest of the world too," Shah Rukh said in a video clip.## "Battling this crisis is going to take its toll, and this is the time to take action. Right now, I'm working with a team of people to provide protective equipment, quarantine centers, food and essentials to patients, hospitals and homes. But to beat this worldwide pandemic, the world must come together," he added.## He continued: "So find out how you can contact World and private sector leaders, and ask them to continue to contribute to WHO's Solidarity Response Fund, so they can help to continue the hardest of areas and people who desperately need it. India, planet earth, we are one world. I love you, stay strong."## Priyanka, who is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, spoke on the challenges faced by the refugee camps all over the world.## "I have witnessed first hand the overcrowded and unlivable conditions in refugee camps ... The camps need health care, clean water, and sanitation to stand through the pandemic," said Priyanka, who has worked with Shah Rukh in the "Don" series.## The mega concert also had acted by Chris Martin, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves, and Jennifer Lopez among many others.## The US event featured the likes of Jennifer Hudson, Michael Buble, Annie Lennox, Common, The Killers, Luis Fonsi, Adam Lambert, Liam Payne, Niall Horan, Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding, Ke$ha, and Jessie J. The event aired in India on AXN and Sony PIX.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 19 (IANS) Superstar Salman Khan is again set to showcase his singing skills as he sung a song, titled "Pyaar Karona", aiming to cheer up people amid the coronavirus lockdown.## Written by Salman and Hussain Dalal, "Pyaar Karona" will be released on Salman's YouTube channel on Monday.## Sharing the news among his followers, Salman took to social media and wrote: "So I'm posting from my handle to let you know that tomorrow on my YouTube channel, mine kya? It's ours! A song out tomorrow on it, hope you can handle it."## Along with it, Salman shared the song's teaser video in which he is is seen singing, "pyaar karona, aitraat karona."## Music composers Sajid and Wajid have composed the track.## Apart from this, Salman has been seen creating COVID-19 awareness among people through his videos on social media.## Recently, he came out with a very serious message for those who have violated the COVID-19 lockdown. He even called the violators "jokers".## Salman is currently self-isolating at his Panvel farmhouse.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Los Angeles, April 18 (IANS) Singer Sam Smith says he may have contracted the coronavirus two weeks before the lockdown began in the UK.## Smith's sister exhibited symptoms, and in a new interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, the "Stay With Me" singer said they caught the infection even though he was never tested, reports aceshowbiz.com.## "I know I have it, 100 percent have it. I'm just going to assume that I did because everything I've read completely pointed to that. I think I definitely had it. And then as soon as I had it, my sister five days after me started getting the same symptoms who are living with me, he said."## The two then self-isolated for three weeks to make sure they were clear of the virus.## "It was clear. Because I've got an older nan (grandmother) and stuff, so we didn't want to risk anything. I got it about two weeks before the U.K. really hit. Well, I think I got it. I don't 100 percent know, but I got it and then as everyone was kind of really on lockdown, that's when I got over it, luckily."## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 18 (IANS) Actress-politician Hema Malini and poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar have condemned the attack on a medical team and the stone pelting at an ambulance in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad earlier this week.## Calling it "utterly disgusting", Hema Malini tweeted on Saturday: "Friends, I'm sure u must have read abt/watched how our brave corona warriors have been attacked in certain pockets with stone-pelting causing severe injuries to them. Docs, nurses, policemen, none are spared! Utterly disgusting! These ppl are sacrificing so much-treat them with respect."## The actress also shared a video message in Hindi, where she says: "This kind of behavior is not expected during the second lockdown. Just a couple of days ago, some people attacked an ambulance, pelted stones and spat on it. You should be ashamed. Please save some amount of humanity within yourself."## "Corona warriors are risking their lives to help us stay safe in this dangerous situation. Those who are attacking Doctors, health workers, police force and journalists should be taught a lesson. We are alive due to corona warriors please don't forget this. I would request the administration to take strong action against the offenders," she added.## Javed Akhtar also took to Twitter on Saturday to condemn the incident, calling it a "matter of great shame".## He wrote: "I can't imagine how ignorant one has to be to attack those who are at the risk of their own lives are out there to save other lives What has happened in Moradabad is a matter of great shame I request the educated people of that city to somehow contact and educate such ignorants."## On Wednesday, a mob in Moradabad's Nawabpura area tried to stop a medical team from taking a novel coronavirus-infected man into isolation. They hurled stones at an ambulance injuring one doctor and three paramedics. A police vehicle was also damaged in the attack.## Seventeen persons, including seven women, were arrested after the incident.## Earlier, Bollywood personalities like producer Ashoke Pandit, filmmaker Onir and actress Swara Bhasker condemned the attack.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Los Angeles, April 18 (IANS) Singer Taylor Swift is pushing all her scheduled shows of this year to 2021.## "I'm so sad I won't be able to see you guys in concert this year, but I know this is the right decision," Taylor said on Instagram Stories, addressing her fans, according to a report in eonline.com.## "Please, please stay healthy and safe. I'll see you on stage as soon as I can but right now, what's important is committing to this quarantine, for the sake of all of us."## This summer, she was scheduled to perform at select arenas as part of her Lover Fest.## Meanwhile, Taylor has been practicing social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic.## "During this time I know that a lot of my friends and I have been doing a sort of weekly family FaceTime, which is always hilarious," Taylor said on a show.## "I think it's really important that we all stay connected because, you know, isolation doesn't have to be an all-encompassing thing. We may be all isolated physically but we can still keep in touch with people, we can still play games with our friends and families on our phones—that is one of the great things about modern technology."## "So I hope you guys are doing a lot of self-care in terms of staying connected to the people that remind you of home, even if the situation is strange and really confusing at this moment," she added.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 17 (IANS) The nationwide lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic has been harsh on many, and actress Richa Chadha is doing her bit. She has taken to donating food to a Gurudwara here and has urged others to follow suit.## The actress came to know that the Gurudwara had been providing meals to the needy. Then she decided to offer help.## "It's the time when our humanity is being tested and I believe in the goodness in people. People have really come together. This pandemic is bringing out the worst and best in humans. While some are making racist, communal comments, civil society is going out of its way to care for animals, along with humans. It's not about the big gestures or who donated how many crores (of money). I am only talking about this, because I urge others to do the same, take baby steps," said Richa.## When she contacted the people at the Gurudwara, they said they will accept ration and not money.## "So I went with the number of groceries I could procure nearby, which was little, like 10-20 kgs. Now I have learned that they need as much as 250 kgs every single day, so I am figuring out a wholesale place that can get me food grains and pulses in that large quantity," she said.## She understands that many people can't afford to donate lots of money, but that shouldn't stop them from doing their bit.## "Even if you can support one person, or one family at this time, that's good. People may ask 'how does it make a difference? It's just one person'. But it makes a difference to that one person because that person is no longer hungry. We must be kind to each other in these times," she concluded.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 17 (IANS) The popular children's cartoon series, "Chhota Bheem", is all set to be back on the small screen amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.## The animation, which has originally airs on Pogo and features the superhero Bheem, will go on-air on Doordarshan National from April 17 to May 3.## Currently, the Doordarshan channel is re-telecasting some of its old shows in order to keep people entertained amid the coronavirus lockdown. And with the return of over three-decade-old Hindu mythology show "Ramayan ", Doordarshan reportedly garnered over 170 million viewers in four episodes last week.## Announcing the partnership between Pogo and Doordarshan to rerun "Chhota Bheem", Siddharth Jain, managing director of WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks in South Asia, said: "These are challenging times and we believe that POGO's fun-filled, relatable content will keep kids engaged and entertained. We are very pleased to collaborate with a platform as distinguished and popular as Doordarshan. The agreement ensures that an even larger number of young viewers across the country will be able to enjoy ‘Chhota Bheem'."## For more and latest news about TV, stay tuned with us.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 17 (IANS) Singer Shankar Mahadevan feels there is too much noise amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and feels music can bring a sense of positivity and comfort.## "These are tough times for everyone, there is so much noise around the pandemic which instills a sense of worry and chaos," Mahadevan said.## "But, Music is one such source which has the power to make everyone see a silver lining in the dark clouds that have engulfed the nation. It brings a sense of positivity, a sense of comfort and maybe a song dedication could brighten up someone's bad day and some level of assurance that we will get through this together," he added.## Mahadevan will be performing live on April 19 through Asian Paints' #LiveFromHome initiative.## He said:" Me and my sons -- Shivam and Siddharth -- are glad to be a part of the #LiveFromHome initiative by Asian Paints where we can all come together, have a good time and truly connect even in this phase of social distancing."## On the initiative, Amit Syngle, MD and CEO, Asian Paints Limited said: "We believe music has a way of erasing distance, especially when our lives seem disorderly at the moment with the lockdown and social distancing. #LiveFromHome initiative will find a way to bridge the gap and spread positivity amidst the lockdown."## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 17 (IANS) The Producers Guild of India has decided to donate fully-equipped tents and vanity vans of Bollywood stars to the police force, particularly female cops, across 22 key locations in the city, as the uniformed personnel battle it out to protect Mumbai from the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative is called Mission Suraksha.## "We are delighted to launch 'Mission Suraksha' to protect our caretakers, especially women cops on bandobast duty. Fully equipped tents and vanity vans used by cine stars have been provided across 22 key locations as restrooms for breaktime," a statement issued by the guild reads.## The gesture comes just a few days after Bollywood stars took to social media to express their gratitude to Mumbai Police for their tireless efforts during the ongoing lockdown.## Even before the nationwide lockdown was announced, the Producers Guild of India had set up a relief fund for daily wage earners associated with the film industry, to ensure these workers and their families get sustenance during the novel coronavirus pandemic.## The Producers Guild of India, along with Indian Film and Television Producers Council and Federation of Western India Cine Employees, recently came together to support the most impacted daily wage workers through direct bank transfers.## Stay tuned...