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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

Randeep Hooda shares heartwarming moments from daughter Nyomica’s first rice ceremony

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Mumbai, July 19: Actor Randeep Hooda shared heartwarming glimpses of a special milestone in his daughter Nyomica’s life.

Taking to Instagram, he posted adorable moments from her first rice ceremony, also known as Chakumba. The ‘Jaat’ actor also expressed his emotions and gratitude towards everyone who blessed her on the occasion. Calling it a moment he wished he ‘could hold on to forever,’ Randeep shared his joy over celebrating Nyomica’s special milestone with loved ones. Sharing a series of images, he wrote, “There are moments you wish you could hold on to forever! Nyomica’s #Chakumba was one of them. Her first taste of rice and a heart full of gratitude for everyone who blessed her.”

The first image from the ceremony featured Randeep Hooda sitting alongside his wife Lin Laishram, who was seen holding their daughter in her lap. The ‘Murder 3’ actor also shared pictures with his parents and other family members. One candid moment captured Lin cradling their daughter while Randeep lovingly played with her. Another picture showed guests sitting on the floor and enjoying a traditional meal as part of the celebrations.

Randeep Hooda was dressed in a traditional white kurta and dhoti for the ceremony, while his wife Lin Laishram complemented him in an elegant pink saree paired with a matching shawl. The couple looked graceful in their traditional attire as they celebrated the special occasion with their family and loved ones.

For the unversed, Chakumba is a traditional rice-feeding ceremony observed in the Manipuri Meitei community. The ritual marks an important milestone in an infant’s life, celebrating the child’s first taste of solid food, particularly rice, and the beginning of the weaning journey.

Randeep and Lin embraced parenthood with the arrival of their first child, a baby girl named Nyomica, on March 10, 2026. In an Instagram post, the couple revealed that the name, suggested by the actor’s sister, carries a beautiful meaning—symbolizing “divine grace, freedom, and limitlessness as the sky.”

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Somy Ali on Aamir Khan’s wedding with Gauri: ‘It’s never too late to choose happiness’

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Mumbai, July 4: Former actress Somy Ali has reacted to Aamir Khan’s wedding with Gauri Spratt, scheduled to take place on July 5.

She shared a heartfelt message for the couple, saying it is “never too late to choose happiness.” Extending her best wishes, Ali expressed hope that they embark on a joyful and fulfilling new chapter together.

Taking to Instagram, Somy Ali shared their photo and wrote, “To Guari & Aamir, Love doesn’t follow a calendar. Finding someone to share your life with at any age is just as beautiful as finding them at 20. It’s never too late to choose happiness. A heart that’s open to love is something to celebrate, not criticize. Age is measured in years, but love is measured in moments.”

“Congratulations on finding yours. Some people spend a lifetime looking for the right person. If that journey leads to marriage at any age, that’s not late—that’s right on time. The courage to begin a new chapter is inspiring. Wishing you both a lifetime of joy, laughter, and companionship. The best love stories aren’t defined by when they begin, but by how deeply they’re lived.”

She went on to state, “May those who judge your age one day understand that happiness has no deadline. Growing older is inevitable; growing together is a gift. The greatest achievement isn’t marrying young—it’s finding someone worth growing old with. These sentiments celebrate love, companionship, and the freedom to pursue happiness at any stage of life.”

Recently, during the screening of ‘Pritam and Pedro,’ Aamir opened up about his wedding with Gauri. He revealed that it is going to be an intimate affair with only their close family members and friends in attendance.

Aamir shared, “Yes, we are getting married on the 5th. It’s a very small wedding; we are doing it at home. The 5th is a very special day for us. There will only be both the families, along with some close friends. We are getting married at home only. We only want everyone’s blessings that we remain happy.”

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Delhi HC adjourns Salman Khan’s plea against release of ‘Kala Hiran’ till July 1

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New Delhi, June 19: The Delhi High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing on Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s plea seeking to restrain the release of the proposed film “Kala Hiran”, without granting any interim relief at this stage.

A vacation Bench of Justice Madhu Jain directed that a complete copy of the plaint and accompanying documents be supplied to the respondent filmmaker and listed the matter for hearing on July 1.

During the hearing, Salman Khan’s counsel, advocate Nizam Pasha, submitted that the film is purportedly based on the actor’s life and has been produced without his consent.

While pressing for interim relief, Pasha also informed the high court that the poster and trailer of the film had already been released, though the release date of the movie is yet to be announced.

Opposing the plea for urgent relief, counsel appearing for the filmmakers submitted that they had not been served the complete set of documents in the case.

“On Wednesday, they served me only a copy of the application, not the plaint,” the counsel argued, adding that the filmmakers were receiving death threats over the project and that an FIR had already been lodged.

After hearing the parties, the Delhi High Court directed Salman Khan to furnish the complete set of documents, including the plaint, to the respondent and fixed the matter for arguments on July 1. Shortly thereafter, the actor’s counsel mentioned the matter again and contended that the filmmakers had already been served, seeking an earlier hearing date.

However, Justice Jain observed that the matter had already been listed in July and declined to advance the hearing.

The dispute reached the Delhi High Court days after Salman Khan’s legal team issued a notice to the makers of “Kala Hiran: The Battle for Legacy”, asking them to halt the release of the film and remove all promotional material, including posters and publicity content.

Directed by Bharat S. Shrinet and produced by Amit Jani, the film is inspired by the blackbuck poaching case involving Salman Khan and also portrays his alleged rivalry with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The makers have described it as a blend of courtroom drama and crime thriller mounted on an international scale.

The controversy surrounding the film has intensified in recent days, with producer Jani alleging that he has been receiving death threats ahead of the movie’s release. On June 18, Jani claimed that a Pakistani terrorist had threatened him with a drone and grenade attack over the film and said that he had informed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Rajasthan Police, and CRPF officials. Subsequently, Jani alleged that he received a second death threat within 24 hours.

In a complaint lodged with police in Jodhpur, he claimed that an unidentified caller, identifying himself as a Salman Khan fan, threatened to kill him within three days. The producer urged authorities to immediately register a case and arrest the accused.

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