Bollywood
Shadow of new Covid variant on Oscar celebrations
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Organisers are taking precautions to prevent the 2022 Academy Awards from being a super-spreader, as other awards shows and film festivals have proven to be in the pandemic era.
Attendees will have to show two negative PCR tests and be fully vaccinated in order to attend the festivities. On Friday, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences updated its COVID protocols and rules, announcing that people “..who tested positive for Covid and are within a zero to five-day window from the date of their first positive test, are not permitted to attend under any circumstances.”
There’s a reason that the rules are so stringent, reports ‘Variety’.
This year’s Academy Awards kicks off as Covid infections are once again on the rise.
On Thursday, public health officials announced that cases of BA.2, the new and highly contagious sub-variant of omicron, climbed 130 per cent in a week, though cases remain low. Adding to the unease is the fact that the BAFTA Awards on March 13 appears to have been a variable Petri dish with studios privately reporting that dozens of executives contracted Covid at the event — stars such as Kenneth Branagh and Ciaran Hinds and ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines’ producers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, who appeared at the show, also came down with the virus, reports ‘Variety’.
Add to that the spread of Covid at recent industry events such as, where ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ star Michelle Yeoh tested positive for coronavirus after the film premiered at the Texas festival. Some nominees are concerned that their recent bouts with Covid will prevent them from making the trip to the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars are handed out.
Jamie Dornan recently told Variety at the Oscar Wilde Awards on Thursday that he’s hoping his ‘Belfast’ compatriots will be on hand.
“I can’t even imagine going on Sunday night without those guys,” Dornan said.
Don’t be surprised if Oscar co-hosts Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall deliver some Covid quips as a way of acknowledging the pandemic elephant in the room.
But the Oscars are but one stop on a long and boozy jaunt around Los Angeles on Sunday.
Winners, nominees, power brokers and press hop from the Governor’s Ball to the Vanity Fair party to soirees hosted by the likes of Apple, Neon and Warner Bros
That kind of marathon socialising could lead to more exposures. Several party and event planners tell Variety that they’re sticking to their protocols for now — most are requiring guests to show that they are full vaccinated (with booster, that is) and provide proof of negative test within 48 hours of the event.
However, none of the events have a mask mandate and the Oscars are only recommending that guests wear masks.
“People in Hollywood are willing to go to parties and possibly contract Covid because they don’t think it’s a big deal,” one party planner said.
“They see their friends and family getting it now and it’s seen more as an inconvenience than anything else.”
This source also opined, “It really is a brash display of privilege because probably most haven’t lost many people to the disease because they have money and access to health care when it was needed most during the worst part of the pandemic.”
Last night’s W magazine party was held outdoors at hotspot Gigi’s. A consistent question heard throughout the night was, “Are we all getting COVID now?” Guests nervously joked that Oscar weekend could be a “super spreader.” Mask-wearing at W’s party and a Vanity Fair party earlier in the evening at Mother Wolf was a rare sighting.
Denis Villeneuve was one of the few prominent people seen wearing a mask as his team hopped from a reception for Canadian filmmakers and Canada-based productions to the W party. It was also notable because the event was held largely outside, a sign that Villeneuve isn’t taking any chances about contracting Covid before Sunday’s ceremony where his sci-fi epic “Dune” is up for 10 awards.
Most event attendees seem unfazed, with much of Hollywood returning to hugging, handshaking and enthusiastic candle-blowing out in the case of Quentin Tarantino’s surprise birthday cake at W.
Since COVID upended life in 2020, the movie business has been through several peaks and valleys. Outbreaks on sets have become a staple of production, as have COVID bubbles, masks and frequent testing.
The entertainment industry has grown hopeful that the virus is fading at various points, only to have Delta and Omicron emerge as painful reminders that the credits have yet to roll on the highly contagious disease. A month ago, cases seemed to be falling and the business appeared poised to celebrate a return to normalcy. Now, that festive spirit is tinged with those old feelings of anxiety and unease that have been so pervasive over the last two years.
“It’s not over,” one Oscar attendee told Variety.
“We may wish COVID was finished, but it’s not done with us yet.”
Bollywood
Nargis Fakhri Marriage: Who Is Tony Beig? Here’s All You Need To Know About Housefull 5 Actress’ Husband
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Nargis Fakhri has always guarded her personal life, and has never spoken about her relationships. Many years ago, she was in the news for dating Uday Chopra, but both the actors never confirmed their relationship. Later, Nargis made it to the headlines for being in a relationship with businessman Tony Beig, but once again, the actress never spoke about it.
Now, recently, there have been reports of Nargis and Tony getting married, and a few inside pictures of their wedding made it to the social media. However, in those pictures apart from the venue and a cake, we don’t get to see anything else.
A report in TOI confirmed that the two got married last week in California and the wedding was a low-key affair. Reportedly, the couple are currently on their honeymoon in Switzerland.
While Nargis’ fans wait to see their favourite actress’ wedding pictures, let us give you a brief about who Tony Beig is. The 41-year-old businessman hails from Kashmir, but he is now settled in the US. He is the founder of Dioz Group which was launched in 2006. Many brands like Alanic, Oasis, 8Health, 8EV and 1 Energy come under Dioz Group.
Beig did his MBA from Victoria University of Technology in Melbourne, and while his company has its headquarters in Los Angeles, they have multiple offices in different parts of the world like London, Dubai, Riyadh, Sydney, Dhaka, Shanghai, and Kolkata.
Tony’s brother Johnny Beig is a film producer, and his father Shakeel Ahmad Beig is a politician. Shakeel Ahmad Beig earlier was the Deputy Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir.
Nargis hails from the US, and reportedly, the two have been in a relationship from the past three years. While Nargis and Tony have not yet officially announced their wedding, the latter recently shared a picture with the actress on his Instagram story.
Meanwhile, the actress, who has been away from the big screens for quite sometime, is all set to make her comeback with Housefull 5.
Bollywood
Yo Yo Honey Singh Millionaire Mumbai Tour: Check Out Dates, Venue, How To Book Tickets Online & More
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Mumbai: Rapper Honey Singh is set to start the ‘Millionaire India Tour,’ which begins in Mumbai. The concert is set for Saturday, February 22, in Nesco Pvt Ltd, Mumbai.
Honey Singh Who has given hit songs and albums like Brown Rang, Love Dose, etc, has always been a choice of the Gen Z generation. The rapper shared with India today that, “Tomorrow, we are performing for the first time not the first time, but the first show of the Millionaire India Tour, and we are excited. Let’s do it!”
The artist, known for his energetic performances, shared with the media that he’s “rehearsing for the show” for the first time, marking a new era in his performances. He explained that the “Stage Aajtak” show is “meticulously directed and choreographed,” featuring a six-piece live band, new visuals, and a fresh sound.
Singh said, “I have been performing for more than 15 years now, but this time, it’s a wholly directed and choreographed show.” He added, “For the first time in my life, I have to rehearse before the show.” As the ‘Millionaire India Tour’ begins, fans can expect “something very new and very different.”
About Concert Tickets and Venue
The concert will be held at Nesco Pvt Ltd in Mumbai, and tickets start at around ₹3,500. As part of his much-awaited tour, Honey Singh will be playing in ten Indian cities.
How to Book Tickets
From the given link of District by Zomato, fans can book tickets. His ‘Millionaire India Tour’ trip starts in Mumbai on February 22 and continues to Lucknow on February 28, Delhi on March 1, Indore on March 8, Pune on March 14, Ahmedabad on March 15, Bengaluru on March 22, Chandigarh on March 23, Jaipur on March 29, and Kolkata on April 5.
Bollywood
Ali Fazal to don a never-before-seen avatar in Prosit Roy’s magnum opus thriller
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Mumbai, Feb 21: Actor Ali Fazal is all set to don a never-seen-before avatar in Prosit Roy’s upcoming magnum opus action thriller.
Fazal has teamed up with ‘Paatal Lok’ director Prosit Roy for the action thriller before beginning work on ‘Mirzapur: The Film.’ The yet-to-be-titled project is scheduled to commence production in mid-2025 after he wraps up his current commitments with Raj & DK’s period fantasy drama series, Rakht Brahmand.
Speaking about the collaboration, a source close to the production shared, “This series is designed to be a thrilling, large-scale action spectacle, unlike anything Ali has done before. Prosit Roy’s unique vision and storytelling prowess make him the perfect director to helm this project. With Ali’s dedication to his craft and Sonali Bendre’s strong screen presence, we are looking at a film that will push boundaries in both narrative depth and action sequences. The team is gearing up for something truly special.”
The insider added that the ‘Fukrey’ actor is likely to be seen in an avatar like never before. In addition to the new series, Ali Fazal is gearing up for the highly anticipated “Mirzapur: The Film,” along with the releases of “Metro In Dino.”. The actor also has other exciting projects, including “Lahore 1947,” the pan-India film “Thug Life,” his Hollywood venture “Rule Breakers,” and “Rakht Brahmand.”
Ali had earlier spoken about his incredible slate of projects. He mentioned, “2025 feels like the culmination of years of hard work and passion for storytelling. I’m incredibly excited about the diverse range of projects I’m a part of this year. From exploring the intricate stories of Metro… In Dino and stepping into the world of Mirzapur again, but this time on the big screen, to working with Mani Ratnam sir in Thug Life, it has been a creatively enriching journey. Collaborating with Raj and DK on a period drama like Rakhtbrahmand has been a thrilling experience, as they continue to redefine the OTT space in India.”
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