Actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who is safe amid the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles, shared a heartbreaking post on Instagram after the tragic incident displaced families and devastated communities, that are now in the process of rebuilding. She also shared platforms to support the victims and thanked the first responders. Priyanka Chopra grateful to be safe from LA wildfires The former Miss World took to Instagram and wrote, “I❤️ you LA. My heart is so heavy. While I’m deeply grateful for my family’s safety, so many of our friends, colleagues, and fellow Angelenos have lost so much. These fires have displaced countless families and devastated entire communities, leaving an overwhelming need for rebuilding and support. To the firefighters, first responders, and volunteers risking everything—you are true heroes.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra) Reality television star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian also shared a similar post with the caption, “I♥️ LA. My heart breaks for my city. Continuing to pray for all of those affected and so grateful for those fighting hard to protect and save this city.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kim Kardashian (@kimkardashian) About the LA wildfires The fires have caused widespread devastation, with over 100,000 people displaced and neighborhoods leveled. Several major Hollywood events, such as the Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA Tea Party, and WGA and PGA nominations, were cancelled due to the devastating wildfires. The death toll from the ongoing wildfire has risen to 24. Many high-profile celebs, including Paris Hilton, Mel Gibson, Adam Brody, Leighton Meester, and Anthony Hopkins, have lost their homes in the wildfires. Priyanka Chopra’s work front Meanwhile, on the work front, Priyanka Chopra wrapped the shooting of her upcoming film 'The Bluff' which is directed by Frank E Flowers and also features actor Karl Urban. 'The Bluff' is set in the 19th-century Caribbean and follows the story of a former female pirate, played by Priyanka, who must protect her family when the sins of her past catch up to her. It was mostly filmed in Australia. Apart from 'The Bluff', Priyanka is also set to star in 'Heads of State' alongside John Cena and Idris Elba. Besides that, she also has the second season of ‘Citadel’. She will reprise her role as Nadia in the series helmed by the Russo Brothers.
16 January,2025 10:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan was attacked by a thief who broke into his home on Thursday around 2 am and stabbed him 6 times during a scuffle. The actor was hospitalised at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital where he underwent surgery. His son Taimur Ali Khan and his caretaker too were present at the hospital accompanying the injured actor when he was wheeled into the emergency room. But where was his wife Kareena Kapoor? Kareena was with friends when Saif was stabbed Going by Kareena Kapoor’s Instagram story, she was with her sister Karisma Kapoor and friends Sonam Kapoor and Rhea Kapoor when the horrifying incident took place at her home in Bandra's Satguru Sharan apartment on the 12th floor. Bebo re-shared Lolo’s picture of their girls' night featuring some cocktails. Check it out. What happened at Saif Ali Khan’s home An intruder entered Saif Ali Khan's house and first argued with the actor's house help. When Khan intervened, he was attacked with a sharp object looking like a knife. Saif sustained six stab wounds caused by a sharp-edged weapon, believed to be a knife. He sustained an injury to his neck, left wrist, and chest, and a small portion of the knife got stuck to his spinal cord hence a neurosurgical intervention was required. Family statement A statement issued by the actor's family said, "There was an attempted burglary at Mr Saif Ali Khan’s residence. He is currently in hospital undergoing surgery. We request the media and fans to be patient. It is a police matter. We will keep you updated on the situation." Saif Ali Khan's work projects Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan was last seen in 'Devara Part 1', which hit theatres on September 27 last year. The film, which stars Saif alongside Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor, was released in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. The film's ensemble cast also includes Prakash Raj, Srikanth Meka, Tom Shine Chacko, and Narain. Saif will next be seen in the heist thriller 'Jewel Thief - The Red Sun Chapter', directed by Robbie Grewal. The film also features Jaideep Ahlawat in a prominent role. This project marks Robbie Grewal's first collaboration with Saif Ali Khan. The storyline will reportedly centre around a gripping battle between Saif Ali Khan's and Jaideep Ahlawat's characters.
16 January,2025 09:58 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood star Saif Ali Khan was attacked by a thief who broke into his home around 2am on Thursday. The actor has been hospitalized at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital where he underwent a surgery. The incident occurred at Bandra's Satguru Sharan apartment on the 12th floor, when Saif was sleeping at home with his family. Thief attacks Saif Ali Khan with a sharp object The intruder entered Saif Ali Khan's house and first argued with the actor's house help. When Khan intervened, he was attacked with a sharp object. At the time of the incident, 4-5 people were present in the apartment. Khan was rushed to Lilavati Hospital for treatment and is reported to be out of danger. "An unidentified person intruded in the residence of Actor Saif Ali Khan. The actor and the intruder had a scuffle. The actor is injured and is being treated. An investigation is going on," DCP Dikshit Gedam said in a statement. Saif's wife Kareena Kapoor Khan issued a statement that read, "There was an attempted burglary in Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan’s residence last night. Saif had an injury on his arm for which he is in the hospital, undergoing a procedure. The rest of the family is doing fine. We request media and fans to be patient and not speculate any further as the Police is already doing their due investigations. Thank you all for your concern." Saif sustained 6 stab wounds Saif's son Taimur Ali Khan and his caretaker too were present at the hospital accompanying the injured actor when he was wheeled into the emergency room. Saif Ali Khan will be shifted to the deluxe suite on the VIP floor of the hospital once he is brought out of the operation theatre. The surgery went on for over two-and-a-half hours and he is now in the recovery room with the OT. According to highly placed doctors at the hospital, Saif sustained six stab wounds caused by a sharp-edged weapon, believed to be a knife. He sustained an injury to his neck, left wrist, and chest, and a small portion of the knife got stuck to his spinal cord hence a neurosurgical intervention was required. While most of the wounds sustained are incise wounds the injury to the spine is a bit deep wound, said the doctor. Dr Niraj Uttamani, too confirmed the findings and said both the cosmetic and neuro surgeon team did the surgery. Saif was conscious when brought to the hospital by the police team and informed the doctors about a scuffle with an intruder who had barged into his house and had sustained injuries during the scuffle. When asked about the loss of blood or his overall health condition, the doctor said his overall parameters were better and he would be shifted to the deluxe suite in the next few hours. Family statement A statement issued by the actor's family said, "There was an attempted burglary at Mr Saif Ali Khan’s residence. He is currently in hospital undergoing a surgery. We request the media and fans to be patient. It is a police matter. We will keep you updated on the situation." Saif Ali Khan's work projects Meanwhile, Saif Ali Khan was last seen in 'Devara Part 1', which hit theatres on September 27 last year. The film, which stars Saif alongside Jr NTR and Janhvi Kapoor, was released in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. The film's ensemble cast also includes Prakash Raj, Srikanth Meka, Tom Shine Chacko, and Narain. Saif will next be seen in the heist thriller 'Jewel Thief - The Red Sun Chapter', directed by Robbie Grewal. The film also features Jaideep Ahlawat in a prominent role. This project marks Robbie Grewal's first collaboration with Saif Ali Khan. The storyline will reportedly centre around a gripping battle between Saif Ali Khan's and Jaideep Ahlawat's characters.
16 January,2025 09:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan, Diwakar Sharma, Vinod Kumar MenonActor Kajol took a trip down memory lane as she celebrated four years of 'Tribhanga'. On Wednesday, the 'Do Patti' actor posted pictures of behind-the-scenes on Instagram and wrote a description of one of the clicks where Renuka and Kajol can be seen laughing with each other. "Can't remember what the joke was but I'm sure it was dirty," she captioned the post. In another picture, Kajol was posing with Renuka Shahane, Mithila Palkar and Kunaal Roy Kapur. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kajol Devgan (@kajol) 'Tribhanga' marked the directorial debut of Renuka Shahane. The movie also starred Kunaal Roy Kapur and Vaibhav Tatwawaadi in pivotal roles. The film revolves around the complex relationships between three generations of women in a family. It explores the themes of motherhood, forgiveness, acceptance, and the unconventional choices made by the characters. Kajol plays the role of Anuradha Apte, a renowned author and the story unfolds as her estranged mother, Nayantara (played by Tanvi Azmi), ends up in a coma, bringing the three women in the family together. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kajol is receiving praise for her performance in 'Do Patti'. The film is directed by debutant Shashanka Chaturvedi and written by Kanika Dhillon. The film is set in the fictional town of Devipur, Uttarakhand, where Kajol, who plays a fierce cop, is on a mission to uncover the truth in an attempted murder case. Kriti Sanon takes on a double role for the very first time, portraying twin sisters involved in the investigation, each hiding secrets that add to the unfolding drama. The film also stars Shaheer Sheikh, who plays Dhruv Sood, a character caught in a web of love and intrigue. It also marks Kajol's second collaboration with Kriti following their earlier film, Dilwale. 'Do Patti' is produced by Kanika Dhillon and Kriti Sanon and is currently streaming on Netflix. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 January,2025 07:44 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActor Neil Nitin Mukesh on Wednesday turned a year older. Marking his special day, his loved ones including family members, friends and fans penned sweet wishes on social media for him. His father and veteran singer Nitin Mukesh, too, posted a heartfelt post for him. Taking to Instagram, Nitin Mukesh wrote, ""Each year his mother and I raise our hands in gratitude to God. May every father and mother be blessed with a son like him . God wanted to be a part of our life ... So he came to us at 'brahm-mahurat'-- 4am --- on 15th january 1982 ... Happy birthday our 'shree ram' ...... U are the torchbearer of the mukesh legacy ... Our pride , our hope , our son-shine , as you enter another year to fulfil your ambitions and our dreams ,here's my prayer for you my darling son :may the path you tread on be kind to you , and never hurt your feet ,may the sun shine bright on you , but protect you from it's heat , may your name soar to newer heights, hard to match and impossible to beat , may God always put food on your platter , and followed by some thing sweet ..." He also shared a couple of adorable picture with his son. Check out View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nitin Mukesh (@nitinmukesh9) Reacting to the post, Neil Nitin Mukesh commented, "Oh my god Paa this is the sweetest note ever. Love you so so much. Thank you for just being the best father ever." Meanwhile, on the work front, Neil Nitin Mukesh, who is best known for films like 'New York', 'Wazir' and 'Johnny Gaddaar' among others, is currently gearing up for the release of his new project 'Hisaab Barabar'. It also stars R Madhavan and will release on January 24. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 January,2025 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIPriyadarshan's upcoming horror-comedy 'Bhooth Bangla' will be special for movie buffs, especially who are fans of 90s and early 2000s Hindi films. Firstly, 'Bhooth Bangla' marks the reunion of Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar after a long gap. The duo has earlier given blockbuster films such as 'Hera Pheri', 'Bhagam Bhag', 'Garam Masala', 'De Dana Dan' and 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa' among others. Secondly, the film will also see a reunion of Akshay and Tabu after 25 years. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Balaji Motion Pictures (@balajimotionpictures) Tabu recently joined the cast and now an adorable picture from the sets surfaced online that shows her exchanging a warm hug with Khiladi Kumar. The two were last seen together in 'Hera Pheri'. Bhooth Bangla is produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms and Akshay Kumar's production house, Cape of Good Films. The film is slated for a theatrical release on April 2, 2026. Paresh Rawal is also a part of the movie. On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, Akshay took to Instagram and shared a video from the sets of the film. In the video, we saw Akshay and Paresh Rawal flying a kite to mark Makar Sankranti celebrations. If reports are to be believed, Wamiqa Gabbi will also be seen sharing screen space with Akshay in 'Bhooth Bangla'a. More details regarding the film have been kept under wraps. The film is currently being filmed in Rajasthan. Meamwhile, Akshay is gearing up for the release of his film 'Sky Force', which also marks debut of Veer Pahariya. 'Sky Force', set for release on January 24, 2025, just before Republic Day, stars Akshay Kumar as an Air Force officer, who is on a revenge mission following the death of fellow soldiers.At the trailer launch earlier this month, Akshay shared his connection with the uniform, saying, "My father was in the army, so this feeling is inbuilt in me," Akshay explained, adding "When I wear a uniform, it automatically imbues me with strength. I've worn different uniforms before, but this is the first time I am donning the Indian Air Force uniform." The high-stakes thriller is directed by Sandeep Kewlani and Abhishek Kapur. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 January,2025 07:39 AM IST | Jaipur (Rajasthan) | ANIDid Rasha Thadani know early on that she wanted to be an actor? Absolutely. As someone in love with dance and music, Bollywood was a natural calling for the debutant whose maiden movie, Azaad, hits the screens tomorrow. But her actor-mother Raveena Tandon and distributor-father Anil Thadani made one thing clear to the star kid—education before movies. “Growing up, performing arts was my love. After school, I’d go for dance lessons and return home by 9 pm,” she recalls. “Once I came home with B grade in a test, and dad was like, ‘See, this is what happens [when you focus on other things].’ My parents were keen that I complete my studies.” If she grew up in a home where the emphasis was on studies, not on being groomed for the spotlight, Rasha has her star-mother to thank for it. “My mom always kept us away from her stardom. We saw her movies after we turned 13. She wanted us to live like anyone else,” she says. Rasha Thadani studying on the set of Azaad But a star kid will catch the public eye at some point. Rasha counts herself lucky that it happened later rather than sooner. “When I was growing up, pap culture wasn’t as intense as it is today. When I used to go to school, there were no paps. Now when I see star kids going to the same school, I feel bad because these kids don’t want to be bombarded [with lensmen capturing them],” she says. As she enters the industry, she knows she has big shoes to fill. “I take a lot of pride in the work mom has done,” she smiles. At the same time, Rasha will be scrutinised intensely amid the ongoing nepotism discourse. “The audience is king. No matter where you come from, if you don’t perform, you are out. There is no saving you from that. The biggest stars right now, whether it’s Ranbir Kapoor or Alia Bhatt, are talented.”
16 January,2025 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaWar is on Varun Dhawan’s mind these days. Last month, mid-day had reported that the actor would kick off the shoot of Border 2 in January (Soldiers gear up for battle, December 7). Sure enough, he commenced work on Anurag Singh’s directorial venture from January 10 at Babina Cantonment in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. While his co-stars Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty are yet to join the shoot, mid-day has learnt that a critical figure on the set is an Army officer, who has been brought in to ensure authenticity in the movie’s depiction of the Indian Armed Forces. Varun Dhawan celebrated Army Day yesterday Sources tell us that in the film’s early stages, Singh and producer-writer Nidhi Dutta requested the Indian Army’s support as they wanted it to be an authentic retelling of a chapter from the 1971 India-Pakistan war. A source from the creative team reveals, “At the pre-production stage, the Army appointed an officer to supervise and approve the uniforms being designed by Sheetal Sharma so that they are accurate in terms of the designation and the period. When the shoot began last week, another officer was deployed to guide Varun in his portrayal of a jawan. He ensured that the actor’s gait, manner of speaking and body language are in keeping with the disciplined approach of soldiers. He is also training the cast members in artillery use. Varun, Nidhi and Anurag met the Station Commander yesterday. The Army officers are enabling a smooth shoot.” In the sequel to JP Dutta’s blockbuster Border (1997), Dhawan plays an Army officer from Uttarakhand. “Varun has picked up the local dialect, in keeping with his character. While Diljit essays the role of an Air Force officer, Sunny is an Army Major and Ahan, a Navy commander,” adds the source. Sunny Deol and Diljit Dosanjh After a fortnight’s shoot in Babina Cantonment, the director will lead the unit to Gwalior for the second schedule. “Sunny, Diljit, and Ahan will join Varun in February. They will shoot the major war sequences during this leg, which will go on till March. The action is designed by Nick Powell, who worked on The Bourne Identity [2002] and Kalki 2898 AD [2024]. The characters’ back-stories will be filmed in another schedule.”
16 January,2025 07:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRFilms set in India at the BAFTAs Nomination season isn’t over yet for Payal Kapadia, whose film, All We Imagine as Light, which has been winning accolades the world over, has bagged a nod at the upcoming BAFTAs. Kapadia’s film will compete against Emilia Perez, I’m Still Here, Kneecap, and The Seed of the Sacred Fig for the Best Film Not In The English Language title. Dev Patel’s Monkey Man, and Sandhya Suri’s Santosh, set in rural north India, have also made the BAFTA cut. Patel earns a nomination for Outstanding Debut By A British Writer, Director Or Producer, a category in which Suri has also bagged a nomination. Recently, Kapadia headed to the Golden Globes, where her movie—featuring Kani Kusruti, and Divya Prabha—had bagged two nominations. Hindi, not a barrier A significant number of young actors struggle to establish their grasp on the Hindi language in their Bollywood debut movies, but that’s not a concern that bothers Ajay Devgn’s nephew Aaman, and Raveena Tandon’s daughter Rasha Thadani. Set to make their debut with Azaad, which releases tomorrow, the duo was asked about their fluency in Hindi. Rasha responded, stating, “My mother talks in Hindi only at home.” Aaman added, “The industry that we are trying to work in, its main language is Hindi. So, if we don’t know the language, it is not a good thing. We were unaware that we knew Hindi so well.” The Mahakumbh story Filmmaker-producer Subhash Ghai’s new documentary Kumbh—The Power Bank highlights the interplay of science and mythology in the Mahakumbh. Prayagraj is currently hosting the Mahakumbh as seers from across the globe visit the auspicious event. The documentary features Sadhguru, and is an exploration of one of Hinduism’s spiritual journeys. “Through this documentary, I wanted to highlight the fascinating interplay of science and mythology in the Mahakumbh, showcasing how this sacred event is not just a celebration of faith but also a reflection of our cultural and cosmic heritage”. For the good of cine workers Union body The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a meeting to highlight the grievances of “workers, technicians, junior artistes, and artistes” of the Hindi film industry. In the letter, sent on January 11, AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta shared, “These individuals form the foundation of India’s entertainment industry, which contributes significantly to the country’s economy and cultural influence. However, despite their contributions, they are subjected to exploitation, poor working conditions, and a lack of social and economic protections. We seek your intervention to address these challenges and propose structural reforms.” Celebrating his guru Oscar and Grammy-winning music composer AR Rahman is set to pay an ode to Padma Vibhushan Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan in the upcoming edition of the musical event, Haazri. The event will be held tomorrow at a cultural centre in Bandra Kurla Complex. It will witness a confluence of devotion, music, and legacy, bringing together luminaries to celebrate the timeless spirit of Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan on his fourth death anniversary. AR Rahman’s live performance includes soulful Sufi melodies, paying homage to his beloved Guru. Four decades of Mani Ratnam G5A’s Cinema House has unveiled a retrospective that honours Mani Ratnam’s four decades of storytelling. The three-day retrospective, which will be held from January 24 to 26, has been co-curated by filmmaker Bejoy Nambiar. It will offer an intimate glimpse into the master director’s visual storytelling through the distinctive vision of his cinematographers. This retrospective spans his remarkable journey across five languages and 28 films, featuring seven of his most influential works. Nambiar shares, “As a curator, bringing these masterpieces together is my humble way of honouring a visionary who taught us that cinema is not just about telling stories, but about touching hearts.” Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani is also presenting the retrospective.
16 January,2025 06:58 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamBollywood celebrities Sidharth Malhotra and Karan Johar added oomph on the runway with their walk at the fifth edition of the Ajio Luxe Wkend in Mumbai. Donning a satin blue color blazer that he paired with trousers, Sidharth looked super hot as he slayed the ramp. He elevated his look with Tyaani's signature uncut diamond pieces. Karan Johar and Sidharth Malhotra shine on the ramp Karan Johar was dressed in all white. He styled his white satin shirt and trousers with a blazer trench. His look was accentuated with diamond necklace and an emerald brooch. Themed "The Gilded Hour," the gala brought together the creme de la creme of fashion, art, and design. While Sidharth and Karan's respect and love for each other reflected during their walk on the ramp, it was Johar's massive weight loss that took center stage. At the end of their walk, Sidharth also took off Johar's coat and handed it over to their mutual friend Kajal Anand who was seated in the front row. Johar has been making heads turn for his drastic weight loss and his ramp walk on Friday evening once again highlighted the same. Take a look at the video: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viral Bhayani (@viralbhayani) Farah Khan walks the ramp A day after turning 60, filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan walked the ramp for Karan Johar's jewellery brand Tyaani. She was seen in a bright red suit and walked confidently and happily. She walked as the song 'Jumma Jumma De De' played in the background. The filmmaker also did the iconic step of the song on the ramp. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Farah Khan Kunder (@farahkhankunder) Day 1 also welcomed a stellar guest list, including leading designers, influencers, celebrities, and industry pioneers. Notable attendees included Malaika Arora, Kunal Rawal and Varun Sood among others. Malaika, who attended the show, also took to Instagram and shared pictures of Karan and Sidharth. Meanwhile, on the directorial front, Karan is expected to helm an untitled series for Netflix. The production is slated to begin soon. On the other hand, Sidharth will be seen with Janhvi Kapoor in Dinesh Vijan's upcoming film 'Param Sundari'.The film will be a cross-cultural love story set against the scenic backwaters of Kerala. Directed by Tushar Jalota, Param Sundari is set to release in theatres on July 25, 2025
15 January,2025 10:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWhen the Palisades Fire broke out in Los Angeles last Tuesday, Hollywood's awards season was in full swing. The Golden Globes had transpired less than 48 hours earlier and a series of splashy awards banquets followed in the days after. But the enormity of the destruction in Southern California has quickly snuffed out all festiveness in the movie industry's high season of celebration. At one point, the flames even encroached on the hillside above the Dolby Theatre, the home of the Academy Awards. The fires have struck at the very heart of a movie industry still trying to stabilize itself after years of pandemic, labour turmoil and technological upheaval. Not for the first time this decade, the Oscars are facing the question of: Should the show go on? And if it does, what do they mean now? "With ALL due respect during Hollywood's season of celebration, I hope any of the networks televising the upcoming awards will seriously consider NOT televising them and donating the revenue they would have gathered to victims of the fires and the firefighters," 'Hacks' star Jean Smart, a recent Globe winner, wrote on Instagram. The Oscars remain as scheduled, but it's certain that they will be transformed due to the wildfires, and that most of the red-carpet pomp that typically stretches between now and then will be curtailed if not altogether cancelled. With so many left without a home by the fires, there's scant appetite for the usual self-congratulatory parades of the season. Focus has turned, instead, to what the Oscars might symbolize for a traumatised Los Angeles. The Oscars have never meant less, but, at the same time, they might be more important than ever as a beacon of perseverance for the reeling movie capital. What the Academy said about reports of cancellation With reports of a delay or cancellation of the award ceremony doing the rounds, the Hollywood Reporter reached out to the Academy who outright refuted all such claims. The authorities told the publication that there is no such plan to delay the award ceremony which is scheduled to take place on March 2 in Dolby theatre in Los Angeles. Academy delays nomination date The film academy on Monday for the second time delayed its nominations announcement. Nominations will now be announced virtually on February 23. The academy also cancelled its annual nominees luncheon and said it's planning to honour frontline workers and to support relief efforts. "We will get through this together and bring a sense of healing to our global film community," vowed Bill Kramer, academy chief executive, and Janet Yang, academy president. A not dissimilar process happened during the 2021 Oscars, which were postponed to late April because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Oscars have been moved a few times throughout history, including in 1938, when the show was delayed a week due to historic flooding in Los Angeles. For the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the wildfires have been acutely personal. Four of the academy's 55-person board of governors lost their homes, according to The Hollywood Reporter, including producer Lynette Howell Taylor, visual effects governor Brooke Breton, sound branch governor Mark P. Stoeckinger and animation branch governor Jinko Gotoh. The Pacific Palisades, which was largely destroyed by the fires, was home to many stars and executives. For potential nominees, this would normally be when they'd be at their most active, campaigning in Q&As and other events tied to the all-important nominations voting period. All of that has ground to a halt. (with inputs from AP)
15 January,2025 09:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
