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Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) Singer Nupur Sanon braved the COVID-19 pandemic on Monday to step out of her home because she urgently needed to buy groceries. And she gave her brief outing a filmy touch.## Nupur posted a video on Instagram Story in which she is seen sitting in her car, strictly following all safety precautions as she heads for her shopping trip in a mask.## "Grocery shopping me do pal duniya dekhli," she captioned the video, with the "Veer-Zaara" song "Do pal ruka" song playing in the background.## On the work front, Nupur made her acting debut opposite Akshay Kumar in the music video of B Praak's song "Filhall" last year. She recently came up with a cover version of the soulful track.## Stay tuned...

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Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan is a fitness icon for the youth, but it turns out his 70-year-old filmmaker dad Rakesh Roshan is no less a health freak.## On Monday, Hrithik took to Instagram to share a video of Roshan senior sweating it out all by himself in the gym.## Lauding the septuagenarian filmmaker's enthusiasm and commitment, Hrithik wrote: "Alone. But at it! @rakesh_roshan9 #70running17 #whydidinotgethisgenetics #militaryman #fitnessmotivation #whenigrowupiwannabelikehim #daddycool. This seriously is more inspiring to me than anything else. My daily dose . Give him a shout guys."## Meanwhile, Hrithik Roshan is providing 1.2 lakh nutritious cooked meals for the needy amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown. The Bollywood superstar is doing this in association with the NGO Akshaya Patra.## Stay tuned...

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Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) Singer-composer Shekhar Ravjiani has unveiled his version of "Maha Mrityunjaya" mantra, which he describes as a prayer from him to Lord Shiva to protect everyone at a time when people are hit by the coronavirus pandemic.## "I've been listening to Shankar Sahney's version of the 'Maha Mrityunjaya' mantra since many years and it is a prayer that I really love and recite regularly," said Shekhar.## "During this lockdown period, I've been praying for the well-being of humanity with the hope that this difficult time will pass. Here's my version of 'Maha Mrityunjaya' mantra -- a prayer from me to Lord Shiva to protect all of us," added the artiste, who had earlier come up with his own rendition of the Hanuman Chalisa and Gayatri Mantra.## Shekhar's version of "Maha Mrityunjaya" mantra has been released by Bhushan Kumar's T-Series.## "We have been in the devotional market space since the time my father (Gulshan Kumar) started the company. With the blessings of Lord Mahadev, we are excited to release this version of 'Maha Mrityunjaya' mantra in Shekhar's voice," said Bhushan.## "We hope the mantra will bring about positive change during this tough time of the coronavirus pandemic that humanity at large is grappling with," he added.## Stay tuned...

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Los Angeles, April 13 (IANS) Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson says he had auditioned for the part of the popular character Jack Reacher, which he lost out to actor Tom Cruise.## He made the revelation during a Q&A session on Instagram. Through a seven-minute video, Johnson said he really wanted the role in the 2012 action movie, adding that losing it opened another door for him, reports dailymail.co.uk.## "Business is business and I'm happy (Cruise) got it," he said.## The action star said he was confident about getting the part as he believed his physical attributes were perfect for the character, which has been created by author Lee Child.## "In Hollywood, actors are kind of like in-a-box. There are actors that can vie for a particular role because it allows them to have a certain look, skin color, size, etc. Fortunately, for me, there aren't a lot of guys at all who look like me. So, all of my roles, from the beginning of my career, I've been a lucky son of a b***h that they've been created and designed for me -- except Jack Reacher," he said.## At that time, Johnson said that Cruise was the "biggest movie star in the world".## "I got the call saying 'Hey, you didn't get the role'. Look, I didn't even know if I had a shot for it, but the people around me at that time made me think that I did. I felt like I did, I felt like 'Why not me?'" he said.## "I'm positive that the role of Jack Reacher, because it was an established character, an IP that was well known and beloved around the world, that I wouldn't have had the creative space to do what I wanted with the character. I look back in gratitude that I didn't get Jack Reacher," he added.## Later, Johnson got a chance to essay the role of Luke Hobbs in the fifth installment of the "Fast & Furious" franchise.## "The universe works in funny ways though, as when that door shut on me, another door opened with the opportunity to create a character from scratch that was of my DNA," he said.## Today, Johnson is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood and has iconic films, including "The Mummy Returns", "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island", "Hercules", "Snitch", "Moana", revamped "Jumanji" franchise and "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw", under his belt.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma has voiced concern over the stigma around COVID-19 and has urged people to not discriminate against patients suffering from coronavirus.## Anushka took to social media and voiced her concerns, she wrote: "Deeply disturbed reading some reports about how coronavirus patients and even some medical professionals, who are in the frontline taking care of such patients, are being discriminately treated," she said.## The actress wants all citizens to exercise sensitivity towards patients and medical professionals and called for India to stand shoulder to shoulder in times like this.## "At times like this, it is important that we care for each other and are extremely sensitive to the suffering of others. Let's not treat fellow citizens with disrespect and stigma. It's the time to stay united and stand united," she said.## On the work front, Anushka and her husband, cricketer superstar Virat Kohli, have pledged to support the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and Chief Minister's (Maharashtra) Relief Fund in the ongoing battle against the coronavirus pandemic.## A source in the industry told IANS that Virat and Anushka have jointly donated Rs. 3 crore towards the cause.## Stay tuned...

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Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) Veteran Gujarati actor Arvind Trivedi, who became a household name all over India playing Raavan in Ramanand Sagar's "Ramayan", got emotional while watching the re-run of the popular mythological serial.## In a video circulating on social media, Trivedi, who is in his eighties now, is seen watching the 'Sita Apaharan' (Kidnapping of Sita) episode with great attention. The video has gone viral on the internet.## In the video, Trivedi folds his hands in the end. The scene got him very emotional, as per a report by timesofindia.indiatimes.com.## Amid the ongoing 21-day nationwide lockdown, the popular mythological series is being re-telecast on Doordarshan.## "Ramayan" aired in 1987-1988, and is created, written, and directed by Ramanand Sagar. The show was a television adaptation of the Indian Hindu epic of the same name.## The show was a game-changer for Indian television, hooking the nation to the show. Sunday mornings were never the same for families in India after the first episode of "Ramayan" aired on television. The impact was such that the actors associated with the show, continue to live under the shadow of their characters, with people remembering them for the roles they played in the show, which narrated the life story of Lord Ram and Sita.## The role of Ram was played by Arun Govil, Sita played by Deepika Chikhalia, Lakshman was played by Sunil Lahiri, and Hanuman by late Dara Singh. It also featured Sanjay Jog, late Vijay Arora, Sameer Rajda, late Mulraj Rajda, and late Lalita Pawar.## Stay tuned...

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Los Angeles, April 13 (IANS) Filmmaker James Gunn says his anticipated films "Guardians of the Galaxy 3" and "The Suicide Squad" won't be delayed due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis all over the world.## Gunn opened about the status of the films while answering fans' questions on his Twitter account, reports variety.com.## He said the new "Suicide Squad" film, for Warner Bros. and DC Comics, is scheduled to release as planned on August 6, 2021.## "Right now there's no reason for ‘The Suicide Squad' release date to move. We are on or ahead of schedule. We were extremely fortunate to wrap shooting and set up editing from our homes (due to a post-production team and studio with foresight) before quarantine," Gunn said.## He gave a similar update for "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3", which does not have a release date yet.## "Right now the plans with ‘Vol. 3' are also exactly the same as they were before coronavirus," he said.## Gunn is excited about his version of "The Suicide Squad", which stars Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Taika Waititi, Peter Capaldi, Idris Elba, John Cena, Storm Reid, Pete Davidson, David Dastmalchian and Daniela Melchior.## "Guardians of the Galaxy" director Gunn wrote the second "Suicide Squad" installment, which tells the story of a group of super-villains forced by the government to work for good and save mankind. The first installment released in 2016, grossing $768 million worldwide despite dismal reviews.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) Actress Richa Chadha is utilizing her lockdown time as she has taken to scriptwriting. She says it all started with penning down a few thoughts and that just soon became an interesting idea.## "It all started with penning down a few thoughts and that just soon became an interesting idea. Soon enough, it started looking like a concept I would like to develop. It's a comedy, my favorite genre. The premise is hilarious," Richa said.## She added that she wants to write something and focus on why people should prioritize.## "The fact that all our lives have come to a screeching halt has made me contemplate the fragility of human existence. I want to write something that focuses on why people should prioritize what's necessary. Too often we are all so busy chasing things, that we forget to spare a thought for ourselves and what really matters to us," she said.## The lockdown has helped her explore her creative side.## "It has been bottled up within me for a long time and the entire lockdown phase has accelerated my creative side. I am just putting together the skeletal structure and will then start looking for a screenplay writer," she said.## Stay tuned...

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Los Angeles, April 13 (IANS) Singer Katy Perry addressed the future of her music-based show 'American Idol" while chatting with her fans online.## She spoke to her fans on Sunday, going live on Facebook minutes ahead of the new episode of "American Idol", reports etonline.com.## "What's going on with the show since we're all still in quarantine?" Perry said, reading a question from one viewer. "Well, I think that we're all gonna have to be very creative."## "I know that we're going to get really creative and you'll just have to be tuning into that creativity that we are probably going to create from our individual homes," Perry said, sounding somewhat unsure of how to answer. "We'll see how this goes."## When asked if she planned on performing on the show this season, Perry said: "I hope so! I'd love to."## Perry also spoke about how she has been doing staying at home and self-isolating amid the coronavirus outbreak. "It's up and down. I'm sure like everyone else," she said. "Just think of the things to be grateful for and that puts your mind in a good place."## "I love you. I miss you guys. It's a crazy time. This is a weird and wild time and I'm sure a lot of you are going through a lot of emotions," she added. "I'm in the same club I wish I had some answers."## After saying she has "hope for the near future," Perry told her fans, "I hope that we can all get our smile back again soon. You guys stay safe and stay healthy."## Perry ended just as Sunday's new episode of "American Idol" began. Though the show has suspended production, the new episode was a special one made up of already taped footage.## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Mumbai, April 13 (IANS) Actor Shashank Vyas is not a social media addict. He says he chose not to make his personal life public by posting pictures or tweeting private details.## "All this time I have been accused of not being on social media by my fans. I don't take social media seriously. It is a fun thing and I only use it to reach out to my fans, that too once in a month," said the young actor.## "One has a choice of being on it or not being on it. I choose not to make my personal life public by posting pictures or tweeting private details. It is an individual choice at the end of the day. Posting everything online and then complaining of invasion of privacy is a hypocritical thing to do," he added.## He feels that just like having a million followers won't affect his craft, similarly having fewer followers won't affect his "dream, my health, and my craft".## "Through social media, one only wants to seek social validation or adulation to feel good about themselves. In other words, it is all illusionary space. The key to happiness is in my pocket and not in someone else's hand," he said.## Meanwhile, Shashank said that he has always tried to concentrate on his work and agrees that there might not be too many great roles out there.## "Any seasoned actor who in the real sense is passionate about acting, will not pick up a role casually. There is a huge scarcity of good writers. Right now, only supernatural shows are getting made, which does not offer much to an actor in terms of creative satisfaction," he said.## "Many fantastic actors say no owing to the lack of good scripts. A script has to be so compelling that you hear it once and you know you would like to be a part of it. If the role is well-written on paper then an actor has to be physically and mentally present and everything will turn out good. The part where an actor is not convinced is the logic bit. The audience today is spoilt for choice with the vast amount of shows to choose from and they will not accept just about anything. The content has to be compelling," added the "Balika Vadhu" actor.## Stay tuned...

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Mumbai, April 12 (IANS) Actress Zoa Morani is out of hospital after recovering from a bout of COVID-19.## Zoa took to Instagram to share the news that she is out of the hospital. She posted a selfie in a surgical mask along with the announcement.## "Time to say goodbye to my warriors from space and keep them in my prayers forever! Goodbye, isolation ICU. Time for #homesweethome!" wrote Zoa in the caption.## Earlier on Saturday, while chatting up actor Varun Dhawan on Instagram Live, Zoa had sent out positive vibes about her health. "I really couldn't believe it because I was glued to the news and seeing all the stories. And then, to suddenly realize that you only have it, is a little scary. But I promise, once you go through it, you realize that it is completely manageable," the actress had informed Varun, according to hindustantimes.com.## Zoa, her sister Shaza and their father, producer Karim Morani, have been among the earliest reported COVID-19 cases in Bollywood. While Shaza has also been discharged from hospital and has returned home, Karim Morani is still receiving medical attention.## The news was made official by Zoa on Wednesday when she confirmed on Instagram, saying: "My father, sister and I have been tested COVID 19 positive. Papa and Shaza have no symptoms, I have a few...will be sharing the experience soon so that others get an idea and I can be of some help."## Stay tuned...

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London, April 12 (IANS) Comedian-actor Tim Brooke-Taylor has died after contracting coronavirus, his agent said. He was 79 years old.## Brooke-Taylor was a regular panelist on BBC Radio 4's "I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue" for over 40 years and became popular with "The Goodies" on TV in the 1970s.## Brooke-Taylor began his acting career at Cambridge University.## Brooke-Taylor was even part of the TV show "At Last The 1948 Show", where he starred alongside John Cleese and Graham Chapman.## "It has come as devastating news to hear that Tim has succumbed to this dreadful virus an" especially when we all thought he was recovering. Tim was a delightful man and never anything but great company," said comedian Jack Dee, who hosts "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue", reports thesun.co.uk.## "It has always been one of the great joys of my career to work with someone who was part of the comedy landscape of my childhood.## "I can't bear the thought of introducing 'I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue' without being able to say 'And on my right, Tim Brooke-Taylor'.## Tim brought a unique quality to Clue. He was a proper team player, very generous as a performer, never egotistical and always more than delighted to set himself up as the b**t of the joke.## "For me, his great comedy gift was playing the injured innocent and he did it with brilliance and a characteristic lightness of touch.## "It's always heartbreaking to lose a loved one, but these times have created the cruelest of circumstances for that to happen in and my thoughts are with his wife Christine and all his family," Dee said.## Comedy writer Simon Blackwell tweeted: "Heartbreaking news about Tim Brooke-Taylor. Filled so many people's childhoods with massive laughs, and then kept doing so for decades afterward. Condolences to his family and friends."## For more and latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned with us.