BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 24 (IANS) With COVID-19 lockdowns all around, vehicular pollution has lessened. The air is purer, the trees are greener and the sky clearer. It seems the earth is using this opportunity to rejuvenate itself. Bollywood actress Vidya Balan finds a reason to smile despite the depressing atmosphere all around and thanks life coming to a standstill owing to the coronavirus scare, for stopping us for a while and making us realise the gift of life. ## The actress has posted a video to convey her thoughts, where she says: "Thank you coronavirus for shaking us and showing us we are dependent on something much bigger than we think. Thank you for making us appreciate the luxury we lived in -- abundance of products, freedom, health, and realising we were taking it for granted. Thank you for stopping us to make us see how lost we were in the 'busy-ness' not having time for the most basic things. Thank you for allowing us to put aside all our problems we thought were so important and showing us what is actually important." ## "Thank you for stopping the transport. The earth was begging us to look at the pollution for a very long time. We didn't listen." ## "Thank you for all the fear. It has been a global disease for years but not many of us wanted to face it. But now we have to face it and learn how to embrace it with love and with the support of our community. Thank you for this revaluation of our lives. Thank you as we finally understand what it means that we are all connected. Thank you for the unity between all of us...Be grateful, stay aware. Things will never be the same again. The world is changing now." ## Sharing the video on her Instagram, Vidya wrote: "There's always something to be grateful for." ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

BY SACNILK

New York, March 24 (IANS) Prolonged fear and anxiety owing to stressors like the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic can not only take a toll on a person's mental health but also have a lasting impact on sperm composition that could affect future offspring, warn researchers.## The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, outlines a biological mechanism for how a father's experience with stress can influence fetal brain development in the womb.## According to the researchers, the effects of paternal stress can be transferred to offspring through changes in the extracellular vesicles that then interact with maturing sperm. Extracellular vesicles are small membrane-bound particles that transport proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between cells.## They are produced in large amounts in the reproductive tract and play an integral role in sperm maturation.## "Properly managing stress can not only improve mental health and other stress-related ailments, but it can also help reduce the potential lasting impact on the reproductive system that could impact future generations," said study researcher Tracy Bale from the University of Maryland in the US.## To examine a novel biological role for extracellular vesicles in transferring dad's stress to sperm, the researchers examined extracellular vesicles from mice following treatment with the stress hormone corticosterone.## After treatment, the extracellular vesicles showed dramatic changes in their overall size as well as their protein and small RNA content.## When sperm were incubated with these previously "stressed" extracellular vesicles prior to fertilizing an egg, the resulting mouse pups showed significant changes in patterns of early brain development, and as adults these mice were also significantly different than controls for how they responded to stress themselves.## To see if similar differences occurred in human sperm, the researchers recruited students to donate sperm each month for six months, and complete questionnaires about their perceived stress state in the preceding month.## They found that students who had experienced elevated stress in months prior showed significant changes in the small RNA content of their sperm, while those who had no change in stress levels experienced little or no change.## These data confirm a very similar pattern found in the mouse study.## "Our study shows that the baby's brain develops differently if the father experienced a chronic period of stress before conception, but we still do not know the implications of these differences," said Bale.## According to the researchers, stress-induced changes in the male reproductive system take place at least a month after the stress is attenuated and life has resumed its normal patterns.## "It is important to realize that social distancing does not have to mean social isolation, especially with modern technologies available to many of us," said Joshua Gordon, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health in his web message about coping with coronavirus.## "Connecting with our friends and loved ones, whether by high tech means or through simple phone calls, can help us maintain ties during stressful days ahead and will give us the strength to weather this difficult passage".## For more and latest news about Life-Style, stay tuned with us.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 24 (IANS) Bollywood and Hollywood were the box office drivers of 2019, making the coveted one billion clubs the new normal. With the coronavirus epidemic hitting the entertainment sector hard, the demand for new films is expected to grow so that the industry can return on the same path after the lockdown phase.## According to a study by Kotak Institutional Equities Research, CY2019 was the second consecutive year of good box office performance. Bollywood churned out 17 over Rs1 billion grossers, nearly doubling the count over CY2017-19.## The box office success report highlights some trends -- impressive progress of movies into Rs 1 billion and Rs 2 billion clubs. The number of films crossing Rs1 billion/Rs2 billion Net Box Office Collection (NBOC) has doubled to 17/7 over CY 2017-19.## The growth can be attributed to -- the proliferation of multiplexes, the rise of young stars and the associated increase in the supply of good content, broad-based demand across weekends, a gradual move away from quarterly seasonality and high dependence on long weekends.## Another highlight was the relatively muted growth of the top five movies. Over the past few years, the top five movies (5-yr CAGR at 4%) have dragged Bollywood NBOC growth. This trend is due to fading BO performance of the big stars (the three Khans -- Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir); the new crop of stars are yet to deliver blockbuster hits, the inability of multiplexes to expand footfall base given a weak macro and modest growth in per capita income/purchasing power and limited crossover films such as "Baahubali" that cut across regions.## It is important to mention that the steady improvement in the performance of the new crop of stars (Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Shahid Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Ayushmann Khurrana, Kartik Aaryan, Rajkummar Rao and Alia Bhatt) and Akshay Kumar have more than compensated for the falling contribution of the three Khans' NBOC.## The market of streaming services must be growing in India, but it doesn't affect the box office business. Several movies that score low on visual effects/production value have garnered Rs1 billion + NBOC. Ideally, OTT should have impacted BO collection of such movies if one assumes that consumers prefer to watch movies with good visual effects in cinemas and low-to-mid budget films on small screens.## The "Avengers" film broke records. Hollywood's contribution to PVR's ticket sales increased to 19% in CY2019 from 16-17% earlier. It is worth noting that "Avengers: Endgame" surpassed the #1 Hindi movie of CY2019 in terms of India NBOC. It was the only movie to have round-the-clock shows on the release weekend.## In fact, "Avengers: Endgame" (CY2019) grew 67% over "Avengers: Infinity War" (CY2018) in India versus 37% growth worldwide. The report shows a growing market for Marvel superhero movies in India, backed by the popularity of a few Hollywood sequels in India and untapped opportunities.## When it comes to the regional box office, CY2019 was one of the weakest years for regional BO, especially South. PVR's SPI cinemas' occupancy dropped to 51% in CY2019 from about 57% in CY2018. A pick-up in the regional box office led by multiplex penetration is a trend that should play out in the future.## With the world experiencing a complete/partial lockdown of cinemas in view of the Covid-19 outbreak, PVR is expected to incur a cash loss of about Rs550-600 million per month. According to the study, the company has adequate liquidity to navigate a complete lockdown of about five months and would be able to borrow more, if need be.## Post Covid-19, things seem to get better with "a strong bounce-back" expected. The demand is expected to be led by pent-up demand, and a packed line-up of movies.## "We believe that PVR's performance is largely linked to content quality and likely weakness in macro aftermath Covid-19 would have a modest impact on PVR's operating performance," read the report.## For more and latest news about Bollywood and Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 24 (IANS) Curfews and lockdowns in the time of COVID-19 pandemic have given our Bollywood stars a lot of time at hand to try out things they never had time to even think of, let alone imagine doing. Bollywood star Katrina Kaif, for instance, seems to be using the time well, it seems, to hone her skills in household chores.## Going by a video she put up on Instagram, Katrina has become quite an ace at dishwashing. What's more, she is seen imparting tips to fans on how to effectively wash dishes without wasting too much water.## "Since the house helps are also practicing self-isolation, Izzy (Katrina's sister Isabelle) and I have decided to take turns to do the washing up. I thought I would do a little professional tutorial," the actress says, as she goes about with her dishwashing errand.## Katrina then gets into details about the effective way to wash dishes. "First, I was deciding... should I lather each bowl, rinse it and put it in the rack? Then I decided that there was a better way to do it. Put all the dishes inside the sink, and then turn off the water so that you don't waste it. Lather all of them and put them back here and then rinse them all," she says.## Well, looks like Katrina is putting her days of self-quarantine to good use. Only the other day, she posted a screenshot of a video call she had with Bollywood buddies Varun Dhawan and Arjun Kapoor.## "Reunited... our newly reformed aclub' with a very appropriate name a#isolated r us'," she captioned the pic. Incidentally, Varun and Arjun have apparently established an "I Hate Katrina Kaif" club!## The screenshot posted by Katrina, featuring the two actors, came after a video she put up earlier, where she is seen strumming the guitar and singing a song. The video, however, is muted and Katrina has promised that due sound effect is soon to come.## Her next release is Rohit Shetty's "Sooryavanshi", which casts Akshay Kumar in the title role. The film was scheduled to release on March 24, but has been indefinitely pushed back owing to the coronavirus outbreak. The cop action thriller brings back Akshay and Katrina together after nearly a decade since they paired opposite each other in "Tees Maar Khan", the 2010 box-office dud that is largely still recalled for Katrina's blockbuster dance number, "Shiela ki jawaani".## According to rumours, Katrina could also star with Amitabh Bachchan in a father-daughter comedy directed by Vikas Bahl next year. There has been no official confirmation on any such project yet.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) With the COVID-19 pandemic creating a lockdown situation in the country, actress Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya has found a perfect way to spend her days of isolation -- by pursuing her passion for reading.## She has a collection of over 400 books comprising fiction as well as non-fiction at home, and she is making most of her free time during the lockdown to catch up on reading.## "I do have a huge collection at home. Few of the books have been gifted by fans and the rest were brought by me as I have a fascination with owning all kinds of books," Divyanka said.## "Due to hectic shooting schedules in recent years, it was difficult to take out time for hobbies, one is reading. However, with the current scenario, I am catching up on reading. It's been almost 4-5 years since I had the leisure to just lie down and read a good book and hence I am digging into my library and pulling out all the unread books off the shelf, ingest them and digest them and it feels marvelous as books have a way of transporting you to a different world from the reality we are currently living in," she added.## Divyanka is known for playing the lead role in the long-running TV show "Yeh Hai Mohabbatein". The actress has also featured in shows such as "Banoo Main Teri Dulhann" and "Adaalat". Apart from the fiction space, she has also participated in reality shows. Divyanka and her husband Vivek Dahiya had also won the "Nach Baliye" show.## For more and latest news about TV, stay tuned with us.

BY SACNILK

New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) Actor Rana Daggubati feels it is important for the generation to know about the past in order to build a future.## With people staying indoors amid the global coronavirus outbreak, Rana has made the content in ACK (Amar Chitra Katha) and Tinkle apps available for free for a month. He feels it will help people stay busy while they are under lockdown. The actor is a partner at ACK.## "Given the current scenario, I think it's best to be home clean and safe. But the problem is that we are a generation that's used to being engaged in so many things. So at ACK (Amar Chitra Katha), we decided to let out our online subscriptions open this month so children and adults have access to all of the amazing ACK and Tinkle titles," said Rana.## "They can choose to read right through. They are the stories of our land... And when reading was popular culture this is where most of us learnt about our country, our Gods, kings and culture that made us in the most fun illustrations and stories. And I think it's important for the generation to know our past and build a future," he added.## Talking about the coronavirus pandemic, the actor said: " We're probably seeing something like this for the first time. So it's important to be extremely cautious and hygienic at all times and enjoy the time and peace by yourself. And not panic."## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) The COVID-19 pandemic has created a lockdown situation in the country, and the Bollywood couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal is giving company to each other virtually. In an Insta story both Richa and Ali posted, he is seen bantering with her, and their onversation could leave you in splits. ## Evidently missing each other, the video has Ali lying on his couch and Richa on hers as they discuss Covid-19. Richa said: "I hate cooking but I am doing it three times a day. ## Ali asked her: "Are you washing your hands?" They then ask each other if they are taking their vitamin supplements. ## Taking off on the famous scene in "Deewar", Richa replied: "Mere paas Vitamins D-3, B-12 hai, tumhare paas kya hai." ## The couple with their video sends out a message of checking on your loved ones constantly. Expected to get married next month, they had to call off their wedding do due to the COVID-19 outbreak. ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

BY SACNILK

London, March 23 (IANS) "Quantum Of Solace" actress Olga Kurylenko has shared that she has completely recovered after suffering with coronavirus. ## The 40-year-old actress took to Instagram on Sunday to give an update of her health, where she gave a breakdown of her illness before sharing that she was now free of COVID-19, reports dailymail.co.uk. ## Along with a picture with her four-year-old son Alexander Max Horatio while wearing a mask, Kurylenko opened up about how she is now using her time to "reflect" and spend quality time with her son. ## "Happy Mother's Day! #mothersday P.S. I have completely recovered. To recapitulate: For one week I felt pretty bad and was mostly in bed, sleeping, with high fever and strong headache," she said. ## "The second week, the fever was gone but some light cough appeared and I felt very tired. By the end of the second week I felt totally fine. Cough is almost gone although I still cough in the mornings but then it completely goes away for the day! ‘I'm fine! And now I'm just enjoying this time to reflect on many things and spend my time with my son," added the London-based former Bond star. ## Previously, Kurylenko revealed she was "feeling better" three days after announcing she had tested positive for coronavirus. ## The star took to Instagram on Wednesday last week to give her followers an update on her health, sharing that her "fever has gone". ## Alongside a picture of herself wearing a green medical mask and a collection of vitamin bottles, she wrote: 'Hello everyone! I'm feeling better today. My fever is gone! I hear people can't figure out where I currently am. I'm in London! How do I know it's coronavirus and not just a flu? I did a test for coronavirus which came back positive. What are the medicines that doctors prescribed as treatment? NONE! ## "I was told to take paracetamol in case my fever was too high and if I was in too much pain. However, I do take vitamins and supplements." ## For more and the latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned to us.

BY SACNILK

Los Angeles, March 23 (IANS) Singer Lionel Richie feels it is time to bring back the iconic track "We are the world" for coronavirus victims. ## Back in 1985, Richie along with Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross and more than 40 other A-list recording artistes came together to sing "We are the world". The cause which brought them together was African famine. ## The line "There's a choice we're making, we're saving our own lives" made the song a legendary anthem. Richie wrote the song with Jackson. ## "That line came about as Michael and I were sitting there talking. We said, you can either say, ‘I'm saving my life' or ‘We're saving our lives'. 'We are the world' is a statement we wanted to make. What do we do to save our own?," people.com quoted Richie as saying. ## Ten years ago, a version of "We are the world" was released to assist earthquake victims in Haiti. Now, 35 years after the song's release, Richie is contemplating the unity music can bring. ## "Two weeks ago, we said we didn't want to do too much (about the song) because this is not the time to sell an anniversary. But the message is so clear," he said. ## Richie says that since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, he has thought about writing a different song. ## "But every time I try and write another message, I write those same words," he mentioned. ## Richie is sheltering in place with his loved ones. "We are all hunkered down. Family is the key to this. It is the soother," he said. ## The singer is thinking about the state of the world, and demise of his friend and mentor Kenny Rogers. ## "I must admit, every once in a while, God has to do something to get us back on track," he said. ## For more and the latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned to us.

BY SACNILK

Los Angeles, March 23 (IANS) Actor Idris Elba has admitted that his time in quarantine with wife Sabrina Dhowre-Elba has tested their relationship. ## Earlier this week, the married couple revealed that they had both contracted the coronavirus. ## Now, the actor took to Instagram live on day 13 of quarantine, to answer questions from fans while Sabrina sat next to him on the couch, reports dailymail.co.uk. ## "So far I am feeling okay. It's about keeping my mental health. I am just trying to keep my mind clear. We have just been peaceful," he said. ## He continued: "Although we did have one fight yesterday. I had to go into another room. This is a definite test of your relationship and your humanity." ## Sabrina had not contracted the virus originally, but refused to not stay with her husband during his quarantine -- as a result contracting coronavirus. ## Talking about the virus, Elba said: "Corona was set up as an instadeath-threat -- everyone just thought 'oh my God I'm gonna die'. But it's helped me to understand that COVID-19 is just one strand of corona and that made me feel better. I am lucky that I am not really showing any symptoms. Part of it is a lot of people don't understand it. But I'm not discrediting that people are dying…" ## One fan changed the subject and questioned him about the possibility of him playing James Bond, to which he replied: "It's a rumour. I am not going to get it definitely. It is just the biggest rumour in the world!" ## Earlier during a conversation with Oprah Winfrey, Sabrina defended her decision not to isolate her husband. She said that she "wanted to be with him" and claimed she felt "the instinct of a wife" to take care of him. ## Elba is thought to have been exposed to the virus on March 4. The actor spent the next several days on set of the upcoming Netflix film "The Harder They Fall" in Sante Fe, New Mexico. ## For more and the latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned to us.

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan shared an opinion offering logic behind the Janata Curfew clapping at 5pm on Sunday, but netizens werent very impressed. On facing social media flak, Big B subsequently took down his post. ## In the post the superstar shared an opinion someone sent him, suggesting that vibration caused by mass clapping can reduce or destroy potency of the deadly coronavirus. ## "AN OPINION GIVEN : 5 pm ; 22nd Mar, 'amavasya', darkest day of month; virus, bacteria evil force at max potential & power ! Clapping shankh vibrations reduce/ destroy virus potency Moon passing to new 'nakshatra' Revati. ## cumulative vibration betters blood circulation," talking to Twitter Instagram on Monday afternoon, Big B shared. ## He added in Hindi: "Someone sent this to me. Don't know how much of this is true." ## However, after facing flak from netizens, the actor soon deleted the post. ## One user commented: "I demand an apology from @SrBachchan for spreading misinformation through his Twitter account putting millions of lives at stake. #AmitabhBachchan" ## Another user wrote: "Hollywood celebrities like Rihanna, Ryan Reynolds and Justin Timberlake donated millions to fight coronavirus. Meanwhile Amitabh Bachchan is sharing watsapp forward on how noise and Amavasya can kill viruses. What sham these Bollywood celebrities are." ## Sharing a screenshot of Amitabh Bachchan's tweet, another user wrote: "Next time anyone asks what is the difference between SRK and Amitabh Bachchan, show them this." ## Like the rest of India, the veteran actor also participated in the clapping ritual on Sunday evening along with his family. Big B shared a video on Instagram where he can be seen clapping his hands standing on the terrace while his daughter Shweta Bachchan Nanda, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and granddaughters Navya Naveli Nanda and Aaradhya Bachchan ring bells. ## Appreciating the unity shown by our nation, which participated together in encouraging the working staff like doctors, cleaning staff and delivery boys by clapping hands, ringing bells and banging utensils, Amitabh Bachchan wrote a poem on his blog. ## He wrote: "Questions in blue .. for it was true ..what we witnessed in prime .. was a nation divine .. united in one .. nothing undone ..historic in its conclusion .. never an ablution ..not a spectacle in sight .. national resolve and fight ..we worked for humanity .. with utmost clarity ..our differences apart .. coming together to start ..this historic revolution .. be same be one be one creation .. !" ## The megastar concluded with a message for his fans, saying, "Love .. be safe be cautious .. be in prevention." ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

BY SACNILK

Los Angeles, March 23 (IANS) Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas is currently not in India, but she also participated in PM Narendra Modi's Janata Curfew clapping initiative from her home in US.## Taking to her Instagram Story, Priyanka posted a video in which she is seen clapping for those who are working round the clock to save lives from coronavirus.## "People around the world have shown their appreciation for the doctors, nurses and all first responders battling by COVID-19 by clapping on their balconies. Although I couldn't be there in India today to join, I am there in spirit.#jantacurfewIndia," she wrote.## On the work front, Priyanka, who was last seen in "The Sky Is Pink", will be next seen in Netflix's "The White Tiger".## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.