Actors didn't charge for Manto
Actors Rishi Kapoor, Gurdas Maan and Javed Akhtar didn't charge a penny for actress-filmmaker Nandita Das' forthcoming film Manto. She says there is more to life than money. Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who plays the late Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto in the film, offered to do it just for “Rs 1 largely for Manto and little bit” for Nandita. “This is the character that an actor would give an arm and leg for. But to not charge even a nominal fee is very gracious of Nawaz,” Nandita said.
Apart from him, there are many actors who agreed to do small parts purely to support the film. “Rishi and Gurdas said yes in our first meeting. I also reached out to many whom I knew well and have used up all my goodwill to get a stellar cast that truly does justice to the characters in the film,” she said. “While many have done cameo roles, they all bring their talent and credibility to the characters.”
The film is slated to release on September 21.
‘It's a human responsibility to come together during adverse times and everyone should do the best in their capacity to show compassion for those suffering. You could be anywhere but can always make a difference. I pledged to support the post-floods rescue.’
— Richa Chadha
Composer Anu Malik, also a host of Indian Idol, has roped in the reality show's former contestant Khuda Baksh to sing a song for an upcoming film Paltan. Baksh was one of the top three contestants of the ninth season of the show. “Khuda is our child. There are millions of people who love his voice that can be rightfully termed as ‘Naayab.’ We are very proud of him. What a brilliant guy,” said Malik.
Taylor honoured Aretha Franklin
Singer Taylor Swift honoured the late Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin recently.
“last week we lost an irreplaceable force. Aretha Franklin did so much for music, for women's rights, and for civil rights as well,” Swift wrote on social media. “She was one of those people where no matter what glowing positive thing you said about her, it would be an understatement. Words could never ever describe how many things she did in her lifetime that made our world a better place,” the pop star added.
On Tuesday, the day of her funeral, which was open to the public, hundreds of people, some of whom spent the night on the sidewalk to save their spots in line, showed up to pay respects at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.