Ditching the wedding of the year

Jay Z will be throwing Kanye a lavish bachelor party to make up for not being able to attend his wedding. PHOTO: FILE

LOS ANGELES: Rapper Jay Z may not attend his friend and rapper Kanye West’s wedding to socialite Kim Kardashian. The rap mogul told West that he and his wife Beyoncé Knowles, along with their two-year-old daughter Blue Ivy will miss the nuptials, expected to take place in Paris next month, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

The notoriously private couple is uneasy about the fact that the wedding will be filmed for Kim’s reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians. However, to make up things between him and West, Jay Z is planning on throwing a lavish bachelor party at his New York club 40/40 for the rapper, and is also planning to spend 100,000 pounds on the duo’s honeymoon as a wedding gift.

“Jay Z would be there if it wasn’t going to be such a public event. Instead he’s making it up to his mate by throwing him the most extravagant bachelor party known to man. It will cost a small fortune — and to top it all off, he’s chucked 100,000 pounds yacht rental in there as a wedding gift as well,” said a source.

It was previously said that Kim and West were so keen for Jay and Knowles to be at their wedding that they exempted the couple from their strict security arrangements. “There is no way Kanye would ever even dare to ask Jay or Beyoncé to sign a non-disclosure agreement, or take away their cell phones. He knows that neither one of them would betray his trust,” said a source. 

Did you know? : Hugh Jackman to appear in WWE

Jackman first appeared on Raw in 2011 to promote his robot boxing-centric film Real Steel.

Wolverine likes to wrestle! Actor Hugh Jackman, popularly known for his role in the X-Men franchise, seems to be moving towards a career in wrestling as it was announced that he will be appearing on an episode of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Raw next week.

This will be his second appearance on WWE’s flagship programme, where he will be promoting his upcoming film X-Men: Days of Future Past, reported the Daily Mail. Wrestling fans, who are otherwise unwelcoming towards outsiders, greeted the news with excitement.

Jackman first appeared on Raw in 2011 to promote his robot boxing-centric film Real Steel. During his appearance, he landed a blow on the then US Champion Dolph Ziggler, which led to underdog Zack Ryder’s surprising victory. Ziggler took to Twitter to compliment Jackman in an attempt to mend scarred ties with him. “Saw the new X-Men trailer with Hugh Jackman. Do you even lift, bro?” he joked. He went on to pose the reconciliatory question, “Should we bury the hatchet?”

With a physique like his, the 45-year-old Jackman could possibly give many wrestlers a run for their money.

“I’m the best there is at what I do, and what I do best isn’t very nice,” says Jackman as Wolverine in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Let’s see if he can earn his spurs in the wrestling ring.

Did you know? : Babra Sharif denies remarrying rumours

“There is no truth to any such news report or statement” she said.

Contrary to what has been reported by several blogs, websites and media corporations, Babra Sharif, the glamourous diva of the Pakistani film industry is not marrying again. She spoke to The Express Tribune, confirming that the claim was just a baseless rumour. 

“It’s a silly rumour that is being spread that I am getting married again,” Babra Sharif toldThe Express Tribune.

“There is no truth to any such news report or statement” she said.

As for her previous marriage, Sharif married veteran actor Shahid in 1977, but the couple got divorced a year later due to some personal reasons, which weren’t brought to the media’s attention. Sharif did not remarry after this split. However, when the rumours flew that she is marrying again, it inevitably became the talk of the town.

Sharif began modeling at the age of 12; she made her presence felt in a Jet washing powder commercial in 1973 and came to be known as Jet powder girl. Fair-haired, attractive and intelligent, she soon became a household name. The Nadaan Nadia star is known for her bold choices when it comes to being happy and she has inspired many Pakistani women to follow their heart. She has been a symbol of beauty and intelligence and has swayed generations with her style statements.  She may not be remarrying, but regardless, we wish her health, wealth and happiness. 

Illness prevails as Cyrus remains hospitalised

Miley Cyrus Tweeted a picture of herself at the hospital, playing with a stuffed animal. PHOTO: FILE

LOS ANGELES: There never is a good time to get sick, but getting sick while on tour is probably every singer’s worst nightmare. Miley Cyrus is one such singer, and has been in the hospital for one week now, following a severe reaction to antibiotics.

The singer was forced to cancel her concert in Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier this month, after being diagnosed with the flu, and was ordered by doctors to rest. She was back on the road in no time, but not for long. The singer is now suffering from sinus infection, and remains hospitalized.

Cyrus cancelled the first of four shows last week in Kansas City, Missouri, and the 21-year-old was placed on medical rest on doctors’ orders, the Sprint Center in Kansas City said in a statement. The singer posted a picture of herself in a hospital bed on Twitter with an apology to her Kansas fans, saying “I wanted so badly 2 b there 2night.”

She later cancelled a second show in St. Louis on Wednesday. “The hospital is sayin i wont b released today,” Cyrus said on Twitter on Wednesday. “therefore Im not going 2 make it 2 St Louis. Im so sorry but somethings are outta my control.”

The Wrecking Ball singer last week, had also been writing to her 17.8 million Twitter followers, informing them that she had been sick with a fever. She then also  called off upcoming shows in Nashville, Tennessee and Louisville, Kentucky.

Cyrus has come under great scrutiny since shedding her Disney star image following a number of highly publicised stunts at a number of awards shows, along with ending her engagement to Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth.

Cyrus is currently midway through her Bangerz tour in support of her recent album by the same name. The North American leg of Cyrus’ tour began in February and she was scheduled playing 60 shows across North America and Europe between February and June. The 22-concert European leg of the tour begins on May 2 in Amsterdam. 

Fakhri’s experience in Hollywood and Bollywood

The actor appreciates honest criticism, knows she is not the consummate Bollywood heroine and is working on it. PHOTO: FILE

MUMBAI: Actor Nargis Fakhri has returned from the US after shooting her first international film titled, Spy, directed by Paul Feig. The film will see Nargis in her first action role. Speaking about her role and the film Nargis said, “I don’t know why some sections of the Indian media have written that I’ve shot with Jude Law. Because I haven’t! He is in the film, but I haven’t shot with him yet.”

“There are also Jason Statham and Melissa MacCarthy in Spy with me. I can’t reveal what I am playing until the producers make their announcement. But I can tell you they’re planning a global campaign with actors from various parts of the world. I’d be representing this part of the world,” added the actor.

Nargis loved working with Paul Feig:  “He’s directed Bridesmaids and Heat. He was amazing to work with. I’ve to go back for about a week’s work. All I’ll tell you about my role is it’s action-packed.”

Nargis says Bollywood and Hollywood are completely different experiences. “I am not saying one is better than the other. I enjoy both. But Hollywood is far more organised than Bollywood.”

Nargis returned from Hollywood to the heartening news that her film Main Tera Hero is a hit. However, she is cautious in her enthusiasm. “I’m a little weird that way. I don’t really know how to express my happiness. I am happy people liked the film, but I’m happier for Varun. It’s his film from first frame to last,” said Nargis.

“I got a nice feedback on Twitter, but I got mixed signals about my performance. Some critics have been very harsh. That’s okay. I like honest criticism. I know I’m not the consummate Bollywood heroine. I’m working hard on it,” she added.

Nargis feels it’s very important to not take one self seriously: “It’s important to be able to laugh at oneself. I don’t think too many do that around here. I am still taken aback by how much people comment on others. And though I may say I don’t care there’s always that tiny percentage of self-doubt within me created by people’s perception of me. At the end of the day I do care about what people think of me. I am human.” 

Florida welcomes Bollywood with open arms

Both Bollywood and Hollywood A-Listers will be attending the extravaganza. PHOTOS: FILE

TAMPA BAY: The 15th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards, an annual celebration of the multi-million dollar Hindi film industry, will be making a US debut this year. The event will be lending Bollywood’s colour, glamour and splendour to the city starting Wednesday.

The gala will be ‘bigger and better’ than ever before, said its organiser. With names like Madhuri Dixit, Shatrughan Sinha, Shahid Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Sonakshi Sinha, Hrithik Roshan, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar slated to attend the gala, along with Hollywood celebrities like John Travolta, Kevin Spacey and reportedly Ang Lee, chances are the conjecture may just turn out to be true.

Sabbas Joseph, director, Wizcraft International Entertainment, the event’s organiser said: “For a very long time we had the US in mind, but we were waiting for the right time.”

“We were very clear that only when we are completely ready will we go to the US. This time, we are absolutely ready! So I can assure you that the 15th IIFA will be the largest event and it will be bigger and better. We’ll be celebrating the event on a very large scale,” Joseph said.

The main awards night, to be hosted by Shahid  Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar on Saturday, will be staged at the spacious Raymond James Stadium, and tickets for it will cost fans anything between $75 and $3,000 per person. Joseph says the ticket sales have been phenomenal.

“Tickets were being sold in advance and the records have been phenomenal this year. Whichever region IIFA has been held in earlier, there has been an increase of 30 to 50 per cent in profit every year. This year, it’s only going to get better,” he added.

Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha will be honoured with the award for outstanding contribution to Indian cinema. “Shatrughan Sinha’s contribution toward Hindi cinema is huge. His role in the industry is outstanding,” Joseph said of the actor-politician, who is known for films like Kalicharan, Blackmail, Dostana and Shaan in his over four-decade-long acting career.

Actor Hrithik Roshan will also be performing. “He will be performing in the US after a decade, so it’s going to be very exciting for everyone. I can’t reveal what songs he will be performing, but it will certainly be great,” Joseph said.

As far as awards are concerned, film-maker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s National award-winning film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, a biopic on former athlete Milkha Singh, is leading the nominations race with a presence in 10 categories.

The four-day extravaganza has been heavily promoted across the country since the past few months, giving the event a much needed impetus in its first time in the US.

So, with the stage now set, let the celebrations begin!

Salman Khan takes Warsaw by storm

Salman Khan surrounded by fans as he arrives on the set of Kick in the city. PHOTO: FILE

WARSAW: From evoking a frenzied response from fans to getting wide media coverage, the filming of Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez starrer Kick has garnered massive attention in the Polish capital.

Director Sajid Nadiadwala, who is shooting the film’s climax here, had no idea that people would react the way they did when he parked himself in the city for the film. Wherever he goes to shoot, a mixed crowd of Indian and Polish fans of Bollywood films follow him. They also chant “Salman, Salman” whenever the superstar comes on the set.

Shooting has been in full swing since the past 10 days and Gazeta Wyborcza, the largest newspaper here, has been giving wide coverage to it.

Private Polish TV channel TVN has also been giving almost daily coverage to the Kick unit, which is expected to wrap up the shooting by the end of the month.

“The day is not far when Warsaw will be known as ‘Warsaliwood’ for Bollywood producers. The locales and natural scenic beauty would prompt Bollywood to select Poland for their outdoor shootings,” writes Michael Wojytczuk in Gazeta Wyborcza.

Interestingly, Pawel, a Polish journalist, in his tongue-in-cheek style, has offered a screenplay à la Bollywood. He wants to use the same cast as Nadiadwala has in Kick.

In his proposed story, Salman will act as a chef in an Indian restaurant, situated in the centre of Warsaw and he will bail out a Sri Lankan illegal migrant Jacqueline from the clutches of a terrorist, Randeep Hooda.

So far, neither Salman nor Nadiadwala have shown any interest. It seems they already have enough on their plate as they want to release the film by the end of July.