Entertainment
Roberto Benigni steals the show as Venice Film Festival begins
‘Life is Beautiful’ actor Roberto Benigni received the lifetime achievement award at the 78th Venice International Film Festival. The legendary Italian comedian gave a mile-a-minute ‘thank you’ speech to cap an emotional start to the film festival.
Bong Joon-ho was emotional and Jane Campion was touching but the evening belonged to actor-director Benigni.
The 78th Venice International Film Festival got off to an emotional start on Wednesday night with host and Italian actor Serena Rossi dedicating the opening night to Afghan mothers forced to be away from their children in an attempt to save them from the Taliban. “We want to say to them: you are not alone,” said Rossi.
Initially, the scene at the Sala Grande, Venice’s gala theater, seemed oddly sombre, a mood that wasn’t helped by images of a half-empty gallery — Covid-19 social distancing regulations meant the theatre had to operate at half capacity — and a sea of masked faces hiding the identities of the more famous members of the crowd, including Isabelle Huppert, Cynthia Erivo and Sarah Gadon.
With the face coverings, even the flamboyant Spanish director Pedro Almodovar and his muse Penelope Cruz — star of Almodovar’s ‘Parallel Mothers’, Venice’s opening night film — seemed more serious than sprightly, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
But it was clear everyone was very pleased to be back. Almodovar was here last year but few others were able to make the 2020 Venezia, which was held in-between coronavirus lockdowns in Italy. If the opening night crowd seemed quiet at first, it was likely because few really believed they were here in person at the Venice Film Festival.
Bong Joon-ho, whose film ‘Parasite’ won Venice in 2019, catapulting the movie to a historic best picture win at the 2020 Oscars, was visibly moved as he took the stage. Saying how grateful he was to be able to judge “the best new films in front of an audience” he noted that “Corona will be over soon but cinema will be with us forever.”
It was a start. Jane Campion, the first female director to win the Palme d’Or in Cannes, who returns to Venice this year with ‘The Power of the Dog’, her first feature film in 12 years.
Campion said Benigni’s irrepressible joy — which she compared to “an exploding bottle of Prosecco” was particularly needed “at this difficult time for filmmakers and for people all over the world.” Recalling his giddy response to winning the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film for ‘Life is Beautiful’ in 1999, when the Italian actor climbed over the backs of the seats in front of him in a clamour to get to the stage, she called the 68-year-old filmmaker “a comic genius with heart and sincerity.”
The 78th annual Venice International Film Festival began on September 1 and will continue till September 11 at Lido, Venice.
South Korean director Bong Joon-ho has been appointed as the President of the Jury, marking the first time a South Korean director has been picked as the Lido’s top juror. Serena Rossi will be hosting the opening and closing nights.
Bollywood
Rhiti Tiwari team reacts to ex-stepfather Ekam Bawa torture claims: Legal action initiated

Mumbai, Sep 28: The team of ‘Bigg Boss 20 ‘contestant Rhiti Tiwari reacted to the allegations by her ex-stepfather and Punjabi singer Ekam Bawa, claiming that Rhiti and her mother, Rani Tiwari, ‘tortured’ him while they were all living together.
On Monday, Rhiti’s team shared a statement on her official Instagram Stories. Calling the claims made by Ekam ‘false’, they urged the media to verify the facts before reporting anything.
They further shared that they have initiated the necessary legal action against Bawa.
The statement read, “We are disappointed to see false claims made by #EkamBawa against Rhiti Tiwari and her family being carried across various media platforms. Rhiti is currently inside the #BiggBoss20 house and can’t respond to these allegations herself (sic).”
“We request the media to please verify facts before amplifying such defamatory claims and give the family a fair chance to be heard. Necessary legal action has been initiated against #EkamBawa in relation to these allegations,” the statement concluded.
Ekam recently posted a video on his account, claiming that Rhiti and Rani used to ‘torture’ him during the time he was living with them.
Sharing an incident, Ekam said in the clip, “Bhai, Rhiti aayi mere room mein, mere almeera se hanger se jitne kapde the mere, isne pakad ke saare zameen pe phenk diye. (Rhiti came into my room, took all my clothes from the hangers in my cupboard, and threw them on the floor).”
He claimed that, after this, Rhiti told him, “Ekam Bawa, nikal. (Ekam Bawa, get out.)”
Ekam added that he was shocked that Rhiti addressed him by his name and questioned her about their relationship. He told Rhiti, “Kya rishta hai mera tumhara, tumhe pata hai? (Do you even know what relationship we have with each other?)”
Before this, Ekam said that Rhiti’s claims about receiving a monthly allowance of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 were absalutly false.
“You own handbags worth Rs 4 to 5 lakhs… and then there are the big cars you have. Just maintaining a Range Rover costs Rs 2.5 to 3 lakhs”, he shared.
Entertainment
Assam CM reviews preparations at Bharat Mandapam for Bhupen Hazarika centenary finale

Guwahati, Sep 27: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday visited Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi to review arrangements for the grand closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations of the legendary singer, composer and cultural icon Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika.
CM Sarma took stock of the facilities and preparations at the venue ahead of the concluding programme, which is being planned as a major tribute to Hazarika and his enduring contribution to Indian music and culture.
Sharing details of his visit on X, the Assam Chief Minister said the preparations were aimed at creating a memorable tribute befitting the legacy of the celebrated artiste, popularly known as ‘Sudhakantha’.
“Visited Bharat Mandapam today to review the facilities and preparations for the grand closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations of Bharat Ratna Dr. Bhupen Hazarika. We are curating an unforgettable tribute, one truly befitting the legacy of Sudhakantha,” CM Sarma posted.
The centenary celebrations have been organised to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of Hazarika, whose music and literary works have had a lasting influence not only in Assam and the Northeast but across India and beyond.
Hazarika, who was born on September 8, 1926, in Assam, was known for his distinctive musical style and compositions that drew extensively from the cultural traditions and social realities of the Northeast.
His songs often addressed themes of humanity, social harmony, equality and the lives of ordinary people. The artist was conferred the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, posthumously in 2019. He had earlier received several other major national honours, including the Padma Vibhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.
The concluding ceremony at Bharat Mandapam is expected to mark the culmination of a year-long series of programmes celebrating Hazarika’s life, music and cultural legacy.
The Assam government has been highlighting the centenary as an opportunity to showcase Hazarika’s contribution to Indian cultural heritage and to introduce his works to younger generations. The final event is expected to bring together cultural personalities, dignitaries and artistes for a large-scale tribute to the legendary musician and filmmaker.
Bollywood
Kareena Kapoor’s Sunday workout includes Pull Overs, Gun Slingers, Halos

Mumbai, Sep 27: Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor enjoyed her Sunday with an intense workout session.
Providing netizens a glimpse into her latest workout routine, Bebo shared a short clip of her ‘KKK Flow’ whiteboard.
Sharing her workout routine for the day, Kareena shared that she will be performing Bell Complex, Pull Overs, Gun Slingers, Halos, and Oblique Rotations as part one of the routine, while Zone 2 will have Db Lift Over Core.
Expressing her excitement, Kareena added the text “lets Go!!!”
However, this is not the first time that Bebo has shared such a motivational post regarding her workout.
On Friday, the ‘K3G’ actress uploaded a whiteboard titled ‘KKK Flow’. An amalgamation of strength training, conditioning and cardio exercises, Kareena divided her workout into two parts. Part A included 10 step-back kettlebell chops, 10 wide-stance kettlebell lift-to-row repetitions, and two laps of sled pushes, whereas Part B comprised 200 metres on the ski erg, 200 metres of rowing and a one-minute bear hold.
Kareena has been a constant motivation for fitness enthusiasts.
Her fitness journey made headlines when she transformed for her 2008 release ‘Tashan’ and made ‘size zero’ a nationwide phenomenon.
However, Bebo has repeatedly said that she did not starve herself to achieve ‘size zero’. Kareena claims that she enjoyed her favourite foods, including parathas while on her journey to achieving that physique.
On the professional front, Kareena recently graced the screen with Meghna Gulzar’s crime thriller ‘Daayra’.
Released in theatres on September 18, the movie marked Bebo’s first on-screen association with Malayalam star Prithviraj Sukumaran.
Their co-actor, Saksham Dayma, also shared his experience of working alongside Kareena and Prithviraj in the film.
He revealed that neither of them made him feel intimidated on set. Saksham recalled the atmosphere on the set as comfortable and collaborative, which allowed him to work with the two accomplished actors without feeling overwhelmed.
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