HINDUSTAN TIMES, NEW DELHI 08 htcity ENTERTAINMENT THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019 Women no longer need permission FILM FESTIVALS GET from men to travel, STAR POWER IN says DiaMirza an age where the entire Decision to elect actor Deepika entertainment business is going through reinvention. Padukone as a film festival When people have any film of their choice on their phones, then you’ve to body’s head is earning plaudits connect with them and say, this is why we need to have Anurag Singh Bohra Padukone’s appointment as a film festival (and not the new chairperson would watch films on their fter professional benefit the organisation in smartphones). So, it’s very commitments forced the long run. “In the past important to connect with filmmaker Kiran Rao few years, MAMI has done young people and get them to step down from some amazing work to come to film festivals. Aher position as chairperson towards the betterment of That’s what will keep the of Mumbai Academy of Hindi cinema,” says Rao. festival flourishing into the Moving Image (MAMI), “I have full faith that a next 20 years. MAMI has actor Deepika Padukone sensible actor and person completed its 20 years in was voted as her like Deepika will take 2018. I think Deepika’s successor in January. MAMI’s popularity to the connect with the youth will It’s the first time a next level,” he adds. definitely go a long way in mainstream Bollywood enabling the same.” actor has been chosen for MAINSTREAM heading a film festival ACTORS ATTRACT NO, SHE’S NOT body, and the industry is WIDER AUDIENCE GOING TO BE excited. Both experts and WORKING DAILY celebs see it as a welcome Actor Ronit Roy opines that change and feel that while it is usually seen that Given the fact that, Deepika’s appointment a film director or producer Padukone is going to be might pave the way for heads a film festival body, super busy with projects, more mainstream the appointment of there is a concern about her figures in influential Padukone, a young, commitment to the position positions. relevant mainstream star, of the chairperson of the will bridge the gap between film festival. A WELCOME industries and audiences However, Chopra says, MOVE FOR and make cinema “We don’t expect her to be BOLLYWOOD universal. sitting at the MAMI office “I’m sure under the every day, as that’s not the MAMI director and discerning eye of an award- role of a chairperson. She’s film critic Anupama winning actor like Deepika, not going to be hands-on Chopra says, the festival will reach out the day-to-day running of “Deepika graciously further and attract a wider the festival but she’s accepted it when the selection of world cinema,” always been extremely MAMI board put it to he says. supportive. We have her that we would like worked with her already her to be the NEED TO CONNECT for few years and it will be chairperson. So, WITH YOUNGSTERS more of the same.” Actors Gajraj Rao (above right) we’re all very happy Anupama Chopra feels that Asked about the work and Ronit Roy (right) are hopeful with her appointment. film festivals need to be tenure of Padukone, that Deepika Padukone will take Deepika has also been forward-looking and it is, Chopra says, “There’s no the MAMI film festival’s on our board of trustees therefore, important for term condition put in popularity to the next level for a few years.” them to connect with the Deepika’s appointment.” PHOTO: (ABOVE) VIRAL BHAYANI; (ABOVE Actor Gajraj Rao feels youth. She says, “We are in n [email protected] RIGHT) RAAJESSH KASHYAP; (RIGHT) AMAL KS Actor-producer Dia Mirza has been travelling alone since she Beyoncé and Jay-Z was 16 ctor-producer Dia Mirza, permission. I think that is who started travelling empowering.” to be honoured as A alone at the age of 18, has She adds, “That a girl observed a change in the cannot be on her own, comes patriarchal mindset regarding from a patriarchal mindset. It solo women travellers, and she comes from the mindset that a considers it empowering. Dia woman must be protected, LGBTQ+ allies took her first flight and went to they are weak when a girl Thailand along with one of her travels solo, and I mean inger Beyoncé and being recognised for speaking female friends after winning a travelling anywhere — going husband, rapper Jay-Z out about marriage equality beauty pageant in 2000. on a vacation, going to work or S are getting recognised for nationwide, for including “Even before that, I used to to study abroad or anything their achievements outside of members of the LBGTQ travel by bus when I was 16. I that they do.” the field of music — the power community in her music used to do modelling, and “But there’s a shift in social couple will be honoured at videos, and for dedicating a travelled from Hyderabad to conditioning that allows the GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian performance to the victims Bengaluru. I remember my women to follow their choice Alliance Against Defamation) and survivors of the 2016 parents used to drop me at the to travel alone, travel free,” Media Awards for shooting incident at a gay bus depot and told the fellow the Sanju (2018) actor explains, accelerating LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando. passenger just to keep an eye adding that solo travelling is acceptance. Jay-Z, who received the on me. I used to reach my not just liberating but also GLAAD announced GLAAD Special Recognition destination and call them to helps one understand how to Monday that the Carters will Award last year for his song say that I am safe,” the actor be comfortable in your own receive its Vanguard Award and video for Smile, which says. company and look after your at its 30th annual awards on featured his mother Gloria What changes has she own self. March 28. The award honours Carter, who is a lesbian, is seen in the society’s attitude “The sense of safety comes “allies who have made a being honoured “because of towards solo women from within. It is really of significant difference in his inclusion of LGBTQ travellers? Dia says, “A girl inner confidence. As an promoting acceptance of artists in his work, from does not have to seek individual, you have to know LGBTQ people”. Janet Mock to James The Carters — rap icon Jay-Z and singer Beyoncé will be honoured permission from a man, or that you can do this... It is Actor Amit Sarin, who was seen in TV shows Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi GLAAD said Beyonce, who Baldwin, and for his support with GLAAD’s Vanguard Award for promoting acceptance of from the society to go out inner voice really,” asserts Bahu Thi and Pavitra Rishta, has moved to the US for a shot at a has a large gay fanbase, is of marriage equality. AP LGBTQ+ as musicians and public figures PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/BEYONCE there to explore the world, she Dia. Hollywood career just needs her own IANS hor: Ragnarok (2017) director Taika Waititi is set Amit Sarin’s Hollywood T to helm the television No endgame yet for adaptation of Terry Gilliam’s Taika Waititi to helm 1981 fantasy flick Time Bandits, which is currently in development. dream is his wife’s too The original film told the Rishabh Suri whole process was not easy Tom and the Russos crazy, multidimensional story from my stand point. While I Time Bandits series of an English youngster, Kevin, ctor Amit Sarin, who was was doing acting on Indian ctor Tom Holland is in scripted by playwright and who discovers his wardrobe seen on television shows TV, my wife was pursuing this talks to star in yet another screenwriter Jessica contains a time hole. A group of A such as Kyunki Saas Bhi Hollywood dream. She has a A Russo brothers’ film — Goldberg, who has earlier six dwarves come through the Kabhi Bahu thi and Pavitra New York background, even their adaptation of Nico adapted the novel Exit West hole and proceed to lead Kevin Rishta, has shifted base to though she has been living in Walker’s novel Cherry. for the studio and was also the on a series of adventures across Los Angeles, United States, to India for the last 20 years. She Cherry tells the true creator and executive history, making stops in pursue his Hollywood dream. had once met actor Al life story of the author, producer of the series The Taika Waititi is ancient Greece, the Middle He is currently working on a Pacino. He was her idol, and a former Army medic Path. also directing Ages, Napoleonic times and the film that is being directed by she decided ‘this is what I who returned from Anthony and Joseph Russo space opera early 1900s, before confronting Dwight Little, the man behind have to do as a maker’. She Iraq with extreme will also produce along with series The Evil when they arrive at the the film Anaconda: The Hunt wanted to be a filmmaker undiagnosed PTSD the studio’s president of Mandalorian Fortress of Ultimate Darkness. for the Blood Orchid, and the and writer. I met him, too, and became addicted production, Mike Larocca. PHOTO: The film starred Gilliam’s TV show A.G.E.N.T.S. of that’s what gave us power to opioids. He then The makers acquired the SHUTTERSTOCK fellow Monty Python Shield.