Deepika is feeling the strain of success

Rumour has it that Deepika, who is at the top of the heap these days, is being boycotted by her contemporaries. PHOTO: FILE

Deepika Padukone is hands down the current queen of Bollywood. Every director and filmmaker wants to work with this Ram-leela actor, but from the looks of it, seems like Deepika’s growing popularity and success hasn’t gone over too well with her contemporaries.

Last year, Deepika was outstandingly successful at the box office. The dusky beauty delivered four back-to-back blockbusters, all of which entered the Rs100 crore club. Her romantic comedy film Chennai Express co-starring Shahrukh Khan went on to breaking several box office records and raked in more than Rs2 billion, making it one of the biggest grossers of all time. Looking at her success rate in 2013, it would be safe to say that Deepika even managed to leave behind the ruling Khans of Bollywood in the rat race. Unsurprisingly Deepika has raked in all the awards this year. But it seems she is now paying the price for being at the top of the success ladder, according to bollywoodlife.com.

A couple of B-town actors have stooped low and decided not to share their designers with the Ram-Leela actor, according to bollywoodlife.com. While talking to a tabloid, a source said, “They don’t acknowledge her anymore. Some have even told their dress designers to stop designing for her.” Though Deepika said on Koffee with Karan that she is friends with her contemporaries Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif, her close friend Priyanka Chopra was there to rebut that and state otherwise.

It appears that Deepika’s success has not gone down well with many of her peers. If they have decided to boycott all of her fashion demands by strictly telling all their personal designers to boycott her, the girls seem to have ganged up on this reigning queen of B-Town. As long as our Cocktail babe has her acting skills in her kitty and those long legs to kick everyone out, she has nothing to worry about.

The 10 best moments from 86th Academy Awards

This biggest night in movies made history multiple times this year. Here are the moments you need to know about.

Ellen Degeneres took a break from her Oscar hosting duties to take a picture with the entire A-List of Hollywood. A picture which then turned into what is being described as the ‘best selfie ever’, according to Daily Mail. Celebrities stepped into the frame, and the picture soon expanded to include Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Lawrence and Kevin Spacey, and was taken by Bradley Cooper. Ellen tweeted the picture, where it broke the record for most retweets, with 1,076,971 in less than an hour. Social networking website Twitter crashed temporarily due to the influx of retweets. 2014 will forever be the year that Ellen actually broke Twitter.

Red carpet shenanigans

The Oscars are universally known to be a glamorous, and serious, event. Benedict Cumberbatch clearly didn’t get the message. In what can only be described as epicness of Cumberbatch proportions, the Sherlock actor took it upon himself to photobomb not just anyone, but photobomb U2. The result? See for yourself. We can’t stop laughing.

Jennifer Lawrence also treated audience to an encore performance of her Oscar fall.  Everyone was waiting for it, and it happened. She tripped, but on the red carpet this time, grabbing onto a woman standing infront of her in order to break her fall. Of course, in true Jennifer Lawrence fashion, the American Hustle star cracked up. We love her!

The directors who made history

British director Steve McQueen’s unflinching portrayal of pre-Civil War American slavery won the Academy Award for Best Picture, reports Reuters, making history as the first movie from an African-American director to win the film industry’s highest honour in 86 years of the Oscars. Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron won the Best Director statuette for his space thriller Gravity, also an Oscar first as the first win for a Latin-American director.

The biggest winner

Alfonso Cuaron’s Gravity took home the most Oscars, with seven in total. The movie won seven out of the 10 categories it was nominated for, including Best Director and Best Visual Effects. It was a great night for the cast and crew of the space thriller.

Emma Watson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Our new dream couple

The pair took the stage at the Oscars on Sunday to present the award for Best Visual Effects, and the internet has decided that they should become an on-screen couple, an off-screen couple, or even both, and we completely agree.

When Pharrell made the ladies happy to groove

The infectious hit Happy from Despicable Me 2 is one that will get anyone dancing, and Pharrell proved it at the Oscars. During his live performance of the song, he managed to shake a leg with not only Lupita Nyong’o and Amy Adams, but even the iconic Meryl Streep! It was a blast to watch, but we must say, Lupita’s got the best dance moves.

Everyone loves pizza

Ellen Degeneres is definitely a gracious host, and she ensured her guests at the Oscars didn’t go hungry by ordering pizza for the audience! Not only that, she got Brad Pitt to help her pass out paper plates. We now know what an A-list pizza party looks like, and we’re happy to see that the stars really are just regular people, who enjoy a good pizza, especially our girl J Law.

The acceptance speeches

Lupita Nyong’o had us in tears when giving her Oscar acceptance, and we weren’t the only ones. Her co-star Benedict Cumberbatch was moved to tears during her speech. Our favourite part? Nyong’o said, “When I look down at this golden statue, may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from, your dreams are valid. Thank you.”

Jared Leto did something nobody else did. He mentioned the dreamers, the fighters and the protestors.  “To all the dreamers out there around the world watching this tonight in places like the Ukraine and Venezuela, I want to say we are here and as you struggle to… to make your dreams happen, to live the impossible… We’re thinking of you tonight.” This part of Leto’s speech was in response to Venezuelans launched a campaign on Twitter urging Oscar participants to speak out in support of anti-government demonstrators at the ceremony. The Oscars weren’t broadcast in Venezuela, reports Fox News, as a result of Leto’s show of solidarity.

In memorium

Both Paul Walker and Philip Seymour Hoffman, who passed away in a car accident and due to a drug overdose respectively, were honoured by their peers at the Academy Awards this year. Former Glee star Cory Monteith however, was one of the celebrities not mentioned during the service.

Singing her speech!

Darlene Love received a standing ovation after her speech. Why though? Because she sang the whole thing! Love’s film 20 Feet From Stardom took the stage to accept the Academy Award for Best Documentary and she couldn’t help but sing her happiness!

Chinese airport enlarges storage capacity to accommodate Pakistani fruit

China’s KashgarInternationalAirport set to become the first and only designated entry point for fruit imports has enlarged its storage capacity to accommodate maximum quantity of Pakistani fresh fruits.

A local news agency reported that the airport received official approval for the designation from the country’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) on February 12. “As of now, there are over a dozen storages in the airport, with each holding a capacity for more than 100 cubic meter of fruits. This shows Kashgar airport’s considerable storage capacity,” Kashgar Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau Prepatory Office prefectural-level Director Kejian Wang was quoted as saying.

“From now on, Pakistani mango and citrus exporters can be assured of sufficient storage rooms after their products left Pakistan,” Wang told the publication.

Yimit Resuri, Deputy Director at the Xinjiang Entry-Exit Inspection And Quarantine Bureau told newspaper Xinjiang Daily that citrus and mangoes from Pakistan, and cherries from Tajikistan are currently allowed into China.

Wang added that transportation time for Pakistani fruits to China would also be significantly cut down.

“Before the establishment of the new entry point, imported fruits from Pakistan must be carried on ground transportation through the KhunjerabPass.

This long land route poses high risk of transportation damage to the fruits. In contrast, with the new air entry point, Pakistani fruits can quickly arrive in Kashgar after a 70-minute flight,” Wang was quoted as saying.

The Kashgar Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau is working closely with the Kashgar airport, Pakistani-based Rayyan Airlines and a variety of international trade firms on the promotion of the new import options.

Currently, there are two other fruit import entry points in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region the UrumqiInternationalAirport and the KhunjerabPass.

The provincial-level Xinjiang Entry-Exit Inspection And Quarantine Bureau after inspection released a statement announcing that it had passed the required approval tests for the storage.

Victory so sweet

Sahid Afridi reacts (R) and Junaid Khan (L) looks on after winning the sixth match of the Asia Cup one-day cricket tournament between India and Pakistan at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka on March 2, 2014. PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan beat India by one wicket in their Asia Cup clash on March 2, an encounter that created more hype than the event itself and is destined to be the main topic of discussion even more than the final of the tournament. After a stop-start innings, India compiled a 245-run total, a figure Pakistan were expected to make look even bigger with their reputation of being poor chasers. What transpired was a script that few imagined, with all-rounder Shahid Afridi finishing off the memorable chase for the team’s fourth win in 17 attempts at going past a total of 240 or more. Pakistan began in menacing fashion but, as usual, the run chase took a turn for the worse. The middle order faltered and, despite Mohammad Hafeez’s well-crafted innings, it all came down to Afridi. If Pakistan were to script a successful run-chase, it had to be a dramatic one. Afridi, who just cannot be ignored through his performance or lack of it, hit two successive sixes off the final over to hand India a rude awakening and revive memories of Javed Miandad’s last-ball six at Sharjah. The win put Pakistan firmly on track for the final, where they are likely to face Sri Lanka and revived hopes that the team still have what it takes to compete with India in multi-nation tournaments.

The real test for Pakistan starts now. While celebrating the team’s win, especially in the context of how well pressure was handled and the showman Afridi finally delivering in the tournament, it is crucial to remember that there is a bigger picture to it. A game against Bangladesh is left and the final is still to come. If Pakistan are to retain the Asia Cup, it is imperative that the team pull up its socks since the defeat against Sri Lanka, and even the two victories against India and Afghanistan, have raised eyebrows. Fielding lapses and batting collapses will prove much more costly as the tournament heads into its final act. Pakistan still need to do much better than they have done so far to retain the Asian champions tag.

Brazil to tighten security after protests

Brazil was caught out by the biggest protests in a generation last June during the Confederations Cup dress rehearsal event, which saw more than one million people take to the streets. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

RIO DE JANEIRO: Determined to rein in protests which have marred the build up and threaten to overshadow the event, Brazilian authorities have vowed to crack down hard on violence in a bid to ensure the World Cup goes off without a hitch, with just 100 days to go.

Brazil was caught out by the biggest protests in a generation last June during the Confederations Cup dress rehearsal event, which saw more than one million people take to the streets.

Some protest groups have vowed to keep on marching to protest the billions being spent on the Cup in a country whose public services need a massive overhaul.

Recent protests have been small, many Brazilians
staying away appalled at how radical anarchists known as Black Bloc have injected a violent edge into proceedings.

President Dilma Rousseff and her administration say violence is totally unacceptable and have vowed to clamp down, if necessary, by sending in the army and police trained in martial arts.

Last week, Brazil said it would deploy 150,000 police and soldiers and also bring in 20,000 private security officers across the 12 World Cup host venues to head off protesters whose slogan is ‘the Cup will not take place’.

“We will not accept this kind of thing; we must nip it in the bud,” insists Rousseff.

“Brazil is prepared to ensure the security of its citizens and visitors. If need be we shall send in the army.”

We are playing to win it: Scolari

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been unequivocal in his aim of delivering the Cup once again; a second home failure after the 1950 nightmare defeat in the tournament decider against Uruguay is simply unthinkable.

“I took on the national side to be champion,” he said in December — repeating the mantra ever since.

At a recent Fifa workshop in southern Brazil he again stated: “We are favourites, we are at home, and we are playing to win it.”

The hosts face South Africa in Johannesburg on Wednesday then Panama and Serbia in early June final warm-ups before embarking on their World Cup campaign, where a giant nation expects 11, if not 23, men to do their duty.

We can leave here reinforced: Ancelotti

“I think we can leave here reinforced, we have drawn a game in which we were losing,” said Ancelotti. PHOTO: AFP/FILE

MADRID: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his satisfaction after Cristiano Ronaldo equalised eight minutes from time to ensure that his team remains on top of La Liga thanks to a pulsating 2-2 draw against Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon.

Real remain three points clear of Atletico but Barcelona moved to within a point of the leaders as they beat Almeria 4-1 on Sunday.

Karim Benzema had fired Real into a third minute lead when he converted Angel di Maria’s cross.

However, despite being denied what appeared a penalty when Sergio Ramos seemed to trip Diego Costa, Atletico were in front by half-time thanks to fine strikes by Koke and Gabi.

Another turned down penalty appeal saw Atletico assistant boss Mono Burgos sent to the stands as he tried to confront the referee midway through the second-half.

And Atletico were left to feel hard done by when Ronaldo spun on the edge of the box to drill home a late equaliser.

“I think we can leave here reinforced, we have drawn a game in which we were losing,” said Ancelotti.

“The reaction of the players was good and in general we can be satisfied because Atletico Madrid are a very good team, especially at home.

“We are still three points ahead of them and we are leaders.”

Gabi rues missed chance to top table

Atletico captain Gabi was understandably left enraged as his side missed out on a possible return to the top of the table.

“I leave with a bad taste in my mouth,” he told Spanish TV channel Canal Plus.

“It was a very open game with chances for both teams but I am proud of Atletico.

“We wanted to offer this intensity and desire to the fans and I think that is what we did.

Reciprocation: Govt calls off surgical strikes

“Whatever action the government took was in retaliation to violent attacks,” says Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD / SWABI: 

The government on Sunday suspended air raids against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and its affiliates, reciprocating the ceasefire announced by the TTP to pave the way for the resumption of the fragile peace process.

“Following the Taliban’s positive announcement on Saturday, the government has decided to suspend air strikes,” said a statement issued by the interior ministry. However, the statement made it clear that the government and the military “reserve the right to respond to violent attacks”.

The decision to halt surgical strikes was taken after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan consulted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Raheel Sharif, officials toldThe Express Tribune.

The interior minister described the Taliban’s move to halt attacks as a ‘positive development.’ Since the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government took over in June last year, it did not carry out any military operation or other action without justification, he said.

“Whatever action the government took was in retaliation to violent attacks,” Nisar said, defending the surgical strikes carried out by the military following the slaying of 23 Frontier Corps troops by the TTP Mohmand chapter.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, meanwhile, said the government would keep the option of talks with the Taliban open for the sake of peace in the country. He added that the government would consult all parties and stakeholders before taking any ‘hard measures’ against those who disturb the peace process.

The latest development comes against the backdrop of media speculation that the government and military were contemplating a ground offensive in North Waziristan Agency.

But now the government and the TTP are set to resume the stalled peace talks.

“I think that the possibility of resumption of peace talks has now increased. A ceasefire was the demand of the government and the negotiations committee,” said Rahimullah Yusufzai, a member of the government’s negotiating team.

“But the ceasefire should be effective. If attacks continue, then the conducive environment we are searching for won’t materialise,” he added.

Rustam Shah Mohmand, another member of the government committee, was quoted by a news channel as saying that both sides must exchange prisoners as part of confidence-building measures. A representative of the Taliban committee, meanwhile, told The Express Tribune that they were expecting a meeting with the government negotiators on Tuesday.

“The surgical strikes have really put immense pressure on the TTP,” said a security official adding that the military’s strategy compelled militants to announce unconditional ceasefire.

However, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, cautioned that it was too early to draw any conclusions about the prospects of peace deal.

“The TTP announcement may be a ploy to buy more time and avoid a possible operation,” he said.

Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah also voiced his scepticism about TTP’s ceasefire.

The Taliban on Saturday announced a one-month ceasefire in a bid to resume peace talks, which were suspended by the government following the death of FC men in TTP’s custody.

Govt urged to avoid use of force

A member of the Taliban intermediary committee, Prof Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, has said that the unilateral ceasefire by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) shows that the group was serious in pursuing peace talks.

“The announcement of a ceasefire by the TTP is a positive step. The government should take this move seriously,” said Prof Ibrahim, who is also the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Khyber-Pakhtunkwa chapter, while addressing a ceremony at Kernal Sher Khan Kallay, Swabi, on Sunday. “The ceasefire could be fruitful only if both sides react positively,” he added.

Referring to ongoing surgical strikes, Prof Ibrahim said that the government should avoid the use of force as this could stoke further violence in the country.

He called upon the government to implement the decisions taken at an all-party conference in September, last year, for the restoration of peace in the country.