Trend Blazer

North waking up to regional films

Actress Taapsee Pannu says it was just a matter of time before people realised the capability of regional cinema. “I think it's only now that people (in north India) are waking up to the fact that regional cinema is quite capable of giving Hindi cinema a run for its money. But, honestly, having worked there for some years now, I will say that it (regional cinema) was always there,” Taapsee was also a part of thought-provoking films like Baby and Pink. “People in north India can now use different platforms to see southern cinema.They can now see them, which was not the case before; otherwise it was always there and it was just a matter of time”, Tapsee said.

‘My favourite hero who I have worked with is Kareena Kapoor. I am telling you, it is the easiest thing to work with other women. Unfortunately, our conditioning is such that people expect women to pull other women down and compete with each other. But if all girls come together, they can literally move the world’

— Sonam kapoor

Actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha says sexual favours are demanded and given in both the entertainment and the political world. “Neither Saroj Khan nor Renuka Chowdhary is wrong. It's an old and time-tested way of getting ahead in life. You please me and I'll please you. This has been happening since time immemorial. What is there to get so upset about,” Sinha said.

Honoured by award: Bradley

Hollywood star Bradley Cooper will be honoured with the 32nd American Cinematheque Award. The actor will receive it during a gala. The Hollywood organisation will honour Cooper for his achievements in film, which include three consecutive Oscar nominations for his roles in 2012's Silver Linings Playbook, 2013's American Hustle and 2014's American Sniper. American Cinematheque chairman Rick Nicita called Cooper “the modern-day equivalent of movie stars of Hollywood's Golden age, a leading man with the shapeshifting talents of a character actor.” The award established in 1986 goes to “an extraordinary filmmaker in the entertainment industry, who is fully engaged in his or her work and is committed to making a significant contribution to the art of the motion picture.”Last year's honouree was Amy Adams.