Latest news with #FestivaldeCannes
Metro
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Kevin Spacey begs for Epstein files release and insists he ‘has nothing to fear'
After the US government declared there was no Epstein client list in a shock u-turn, Kevin Spacey has called for all the case files to be released. Speculation about who worked with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has persisted since his arrest and subsequent suicide in prison in 2019. President Donald Trump, who was rumoured to be among the clients listed, promised to release the information about Epstein once in office again. However, earlier this month, the FBI said there was no such list — after US Attorney General Pam Bondi had said it was 'sitting on her desk'. Spacey, 65, whose name appeared in the unsealed Epstein court documents, has now called for the files to be public knowledge. He was listed as an associate of the financier, alongside celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett, in the documents of the Virginia Giuffre lawsuit of 2024. 'Release the Epstein files. All of them,' Spacey wrote on X. 'For those of us with nothing to fear, the truth can't come soon enough.' None of the stars listed in the lawsuit were accused of facilitating Epstein's sex trafficking operation. He added: 'I hate to make this about me — but the media already has.' Attention has been on Spacey after he was accused of sexual assault or inappropriate behaviour by more than 30 men in 2017. In 2022, he was found not liable in a civil lawsuit in New York and was cleared of nine charges of sexual assault in 2023 in a criminal case in London. The Usual Suspects actor's career has stalled in the wake of the charges but he returned to Cannes Film Festival in May, giving a defiant speech after receiving an award from Better World Fund. He stated at the low-key event that it was surprising that inviting him would be considered 'brave' as he had been 'exonerated' of every crime he had been accused. Spacey spoke of 'blacklisting' in Hollywood before closing his lengthy speech by quoting his 'friend' Elton John: 'I'm still standing.' A statement from the event organisers distanced themselves from Spacey, adding to The Telegraph that he had 'no affiliation whatsoever to the festival' A statement added: 'The Festival de Cannes had no involvement in, and was not informed of, either the invitation extended to Mr Spacey or the award presented during this private event.' The release of the Epstein files was part of Trump's campaign promises, prompting rare criticism from his supporters now the government has declared they don't exist. More Trending This bombshell announcement came just weeks after a spat between the former US Apprentice host and X owner Elon Musk. In their public falling out, Musk, who had been working as head of DOGE, accused Trump of appearing on the infamous list. There has been a growing push for the files, with the Democrats recently blocked in their attempts to force the White House to release the full court details. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Miley Cyrus won't tour new album because of her mental health and sobreity MORE: Stevie Wonder clears up bizarre rumour that he's not really blind MORE: Trump warns Zelensky not to fire missiles on Moscow
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Cannes 101: Beyond the red carpet and standing ovations
When the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival rolled out this year, the chatter that caught most of the attention was who wore what on the red carpet – from Alia Bhatt's mermaid gown to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's sindoor statement and Janhvi Kapoor's corset-glam look. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But behind the flashlights of paparazzi and flowing gowns lies a world that even seasoned cinephiles don't always understand. One that often gets overshadowed by the glam and the glitz. Festival de Cannes – as the French call it – is a cinema lover's paradise. At this 10-day celebration, films from around the world are given a platform, standing ovations are tallied like Olympic scores, cinematic marvels are honoured, and entry is strictly limited to the film industry. Who gets to go to Cannes? Unlike many international film festivals, Cannes is an industry-only event. Screening tickets are not sold to the general public. Credentials are granted to directors, producers, actors, publicists, distributors, and journalists – all of whom must apply for a badge. If accepted, the badge must be carried for access to screenings. However, film lovers have one option. Some films are played on the beach next to the Palais des Festivals at 9pm during the festival. Cinephiles can queue up early to catch a beautiful piece of cinema under the stars (There are also some inventive ways, listed online, to 'crash' the festival). Cannes Film Festival 2025 concluded in May. How is Cannes pronounced? Many people pronounce it as 'cahn' or even 'cahns,' but that is incorrect. The correct pronunciation of Cannes is similar to can. Since it's a French word, the trailing 's' is silent. Don't call it con – that's French slang. How old is Cannes? It all began with a healthy rivalry. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Back in 1939, France decided it needed a cinematic showstopper to rival the glitzy Venice Film Festival. Jean Zay, then Minister for Education and Fine Arts, dreamed up an international cultural spectacle that would cement France's place at the heart of global cinema. The stage was set. Louis Lumière, one of the fathers of cinema, was roped in as honorary president. Cannes was ready to roll out the red carpet – but World War II broke out, and the grand opening was abruptly shelved. It wasn't until September 20, 1946 – more than a year after the war ended – that the French Riviera finally saw a beeline of stars. Award categories at Cannes The Official Selection at Cannes presents a diverse slate of films across several curated sections, each screened for the very first time before an audience of film professionals. Some sections culminate in awards, such as the Competition, Un Certain Regard, and La Cinef. In Competition Palme d'Or (French for 'The Golden Palm') Awarded for the first time in 1955 to the film Marty, directed by Delbert Mann, the Palme d'Or replaced the Grand Prix, which was awarded to the best film In Competition until then. Around 20 films compete each year in the In Competition section for the festival's top honour, judged by a nine-member jury that changes annually. This year, French actress Juliette Binoche headed the jury. The only Indian film to win the award remains Neecha Nagar (1946), directed by Chetan Anand. The only Indian film to win the award remains Neecha Nagar (1946). Grand Prix (Grand Prize) This is the second-most prestigious award at Cannes, also judged by the Palme jury. In 2024, India saw Payal Kapadia and the film's wonderful cast – including Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam – receive the Grand Prix for All We Imagine As Light. This year, Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value won the honour. All We Imagine As Light won Grand Prix award in 2024. Prix du Jury (the Jury Prize) According to American film critic Dave Kehr, the award is 'intended to recognise an original work that embodies the spirit of inquiry.' It is given to one of the films selected in the In Competition section. This year, the award was shared by Mascha Schilinski's Sound of Falling and Oliver Laxe's Sirat. In 1983, Mrinal Sen's Kharij, based on the novel by Ramapada Chowdhury, won the Jury Prize. Cannes also honours cinematic excellence with awards for Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay. Over the years, it has occasionally introduced special categories – like in 1954, Bimal Roy's Do Bigha Zamin won the International Prize, and in 1956, Satyajit Ray's Pather Panchali was awarded Best Human Document. Un Certain Regard (A Certain Glance) Introduced in 1978, Un Certain Regard is a part of the Official Selection, but it has its own separate jury, its own set of awards, and is meant to recognise young talent and 'encourage innovative and audacious works' by presenting one of the films with a grant to aid its distribution in France. The broader categories in the section include Jury Award, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor. However, the festival sometimes hands out awards to films in several other categories as well. India has had its share of glory here too – from Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan winning the Prix Avenir Prometteur (Promising Future) in 2015 to Anasuya Sengupta's recent Best Actress win. Neeraj Ghaywan's Masaan won the Prix Avenir Prometteur (Promising Future) in 2015. Camera d'Or This one's for the debut filmmakers. Every year, a dedicated six-member jury at Cannes hands out a special prize to the best first film across the entire festival – whether it's screened in the Official Selection or tucked away in a parallel section. What qualifies? The filmmaker must be making their first fiction feature that runs at least 60 minutes. The idea is simple, yet powerful: to spotlight fresh voices and motivate them for their next big project. In 1988, Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay won Camera d'Or. A poster of Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay. La Cinef Spotlight on student storytellers. La Cinef is where film schools from around the world send their brightest talent, with fiction and animation shorts (under 60 minutes) vying for a Cannes stamp of approval. A four-member jury picks the best, and the top three walk away with cash grants: €15,000 for the first prize, €11,000 for second, and €7,500 for third. For many filmmakers, this is their very first brush with international recognition. In 2024, FTII student Chidananda S Naik won the Best Short Film Award for Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know. In 2024, FTII student Chidananda S Naik won the Best Short Film Award for Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know. L'Oeil d'or (The Golden Eye) This is the pinnacle for documentaries at Cannes. They're screened under Cannes Classics. Only two documentaries have ever won Palme d'Or – Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004) and Jacques Cousteau's The Silent World (1956). More recently, in 2022, Indian filmmaker Shaunak Sen brought home the Golden Eye for his hauntingly poetic All That Breathes. Payal Kapadia's debut documentary, A Night of Knowing Nothing (2021), also won the honour. Other sections at Cannes Out of Competition Films not eligible for competition are screened here, under Special Screenings, Midnight Screenings, and Tributes. Cinéfondation This category showcases student films under 60 minutes to inspire the next generation of filmmakers. Cannes Classics This section screens restored heritage films and documentaries. It was launched in 2004. Cannes premieres It was introduced to accommodate films that the Festival wished to include In Competition but couldn't, due to the limited number of slots in the main lineup. Parallel sections While the Official Selection at Cannes may grab headlines, some of the festival's most exciting discoveries happen off the beaten track – in what are known as the Parallel Sections. Directors' Fortnight It is an independent, non-competitive sidebar at the Festival. It welcomes everything from short films to full-length features, across fiction, non-fiction, animation, and experimental works. The only condition: the director of the film should be present at the screening. Audience members need not be industry insiders, and post-screening Q&A sessions with the filmmakers are a norm. In 2012, Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur earned rave reactions here. In 2024, Radhika Apte's Sister Midnight made waves under the same banner. Critics' Week Organised by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics, the Critics' Week was created in 1962. The section is credited with discovering some of the biggest names in independent and arthouse cinema, many of whom have gone on to find success at the official festival. Some iconic Indian films have passed through here. Gitanjali Rao's animated short Printed Rainbow left a mark when it premiered in 2006. In 2013, The Lunchbox, starring Irrfan, was screened at Critics' Week and walked away with the Grand Rail d'Or (Viewers' Choice Award). In 2013, The Lunchbox, starring Irrfan, was screened at Critics' Week. What is Marche du Film (Cannes Film Market) You've probably heard a filmmaker say, 'My film was at Cannes!' Technically, they're not lying – but here's the catch: not every film is screened at the Cannes Film Festival. Some are part of its buzzing, parallel event – the Marché du Film, or the Cannes Film Market. India was named the first 'Country of Honour' at Marche du Film in 2022. It is the beating commercial heart of the festival. Thousands of film professionals gather just around the corner, making deals, pitching stories, chasing distributors, and hunting for the next big thing in cinema. There are panels, conferences, workshops, and keynote addresses from cinema's most revered names. For many, it's where dreams begin.
Globe and Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Globe and Mail
Koceila Chougar: The Franco-Algerian 'Man of the Century' Redefining Contemporary Luxury Art
Born in 1985 in Tizi-Ouzou, Algeria, Koceila Chougar stands as a beacon of contemporary art and cultural prestige, rightly crowned 'The Man of the Century.' This Franco-Algerian visionary seamlessly blends a rich North African heritage with cutting-edge expressionism, shaping an artistic identity that captivates the most discerning collectors and connoisseurs worldwide. Graduating from the elite HEC Paris and ENA, Chougar embodies intellectual rigor and creative genius, positioning himself not only as an artist but as a global cultural icon whose works are transcending traditional market boundaries. A Singular Artistic Universe: Abstract Expressionism Meets Mystical Symbolism Koceila Chougar's oeuvre is a striking fusion of African Abstract Expressionism, Lyrical Symbolism, Mystical Symbolism, and Religious Iconography. His canvases pulse with an emotional depth and spiritual intensity that invite viewers into transcendent visual narratives. This sophisticated interplay of abstraction and symbolism elevates his work beyond mere aesthetics to a realm where cultural memory and contemporary innovation coalesce, appealing to elite collectors who seek both intellectual depth and aesthetic mastery. A Global Sensation: From Basel to Cannes, Monaco and Beyond Chougar's art resonates powerfully on the world stage. His participation at Art Basel 2025 cemented his place among the world's foremost contemporary artists, while his presence on the Festival de Cannes 2025 red carpet — mingling with legends like Pedro Almodóvar, Penélope Cruz, Timothée Chalamet, and Léa Seydoux — demonstrates his unique intersection of art, cinema, and society. At the Grand Prix de Monaco 2025, Chougar was an honored guest at exclusive soirées, sharing moments with celebrities from the sports, luxury, and music worlds, including the globally renowned Black Eyed Peas. These appearances reinforce his stature as a nexus of influence within the most selective cultural circles. Furthermore, his role in ultra-private events across New York, Miami, Dubai, Monaco, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Los Angeles, and Africa positions him at the epicenter of luxury, innovation, and artistic excellence. Monaco ' s Leading Voice in Luxury, Art, Music and Culture Beyond his artistic mastery, Koceila Chougar is recognized as the most influential figure in Monaco's luxury, art, music, and cultural sectors. His unparalleled social presence and network place him at the very heart of Monaco's exclusive elite, shaping trends and fostering collaborations that define the principality's cultural landscape. His influence is not merely symbolic; it translates into real power across industries, from high-profile brand partnerships to the orchestration of exclusive cultural events attended by royalty, celebrities, and top collectors. The Market Phenomenon: An Investment Like No Other Koceila Chougar's market ascent is nothing short of meteoric. With prices reaching an unprecedented $120,000 per square meter, his artworks are among the most valuable and sought-after globally. Current offers approach $720,000 per piece, signaling a trajectory that is poised to shatter the million-dollar mark imminently. In the Footsteps of the Masters: A Staging Virtuoso in the Lineage of Dalí and Ramirez Following in the footsteps of artistic giants such as Salvador Dalí and Juan Ramirez, Koceila Chougar is not merely a painter — he is a true master of theatrical composition and conceptual mise-en-scène. His recent finalized sales surpassing the $500,000 threshold underscore an extraordinary rarity and a market undergoing sophisticated structuration. This ascension is propelled by a consortium of elite investors, top-tier financial advisors, and institutional experts spanning New York, Miami, Dubai, Monaco, and the influential African elite. The demand for his work far exceeds the limited supply, ensuring sustained and powerful value growth. Chougar's practice, deeply rooted in the tradition of symbolic surrealism and lyrical abstraction, resonates with a new generation of collectors seeking works that are both visionary and investment-grade. Towards Institutional Recognition and Long-Term Value Preservation Specialists and market analysts unanimously agree: The potential for a valuation exceeding $10 million per artwork by 2030 is tangible, driven by the gradual inclusion of Chougar's works in major museum collections across Europe, the Gulf region, and Africa. Several retrospective exhibitions are currently under negotiation for 2026 and 2027, which promise to solidify his international institutional recognition. These prospects are substantiated by reliable data from Artprice, the Deloitte Art & Finance Report, and on-the-ground observations within the art market ecosystem. An Unrivaled Presence at the World ' s Most Prestigious Events Beyond galleries and studios, Koceila Chougar inhabits the very heart of global cultural influence. His appearances at the Festival de Cannes and the Grand Prix de Monaco, often alongside luminaries such as Leonardo DiCaprio, the Black Eyed Peas, and Naomi Campbell, embody a unique bridge between contemporary art and show business. This high-profile visibility amplifies his aura, confirming his unparalleled positioning at the crossroads of artistic, economic, and cultural spheres. A Digital Powerhouse with Captivating Influence On social media, Chougar commands a formidable presence, boasting over 1.2 million Instagram followers (@koceilachougar) with an exceptionally high engagement rate that reflects a deeply invested global audience. This digital prowess not only amplifies his artistic message but also solidifies his stature within the contemporary luxury and cultural landscapes. Why Invest in Koceila Chougar? A Rare, Secure, and Distinctive Asset Exceptional Product: His works combine authenticity, innovation, and prestige, making them must-haves for the most discerning collectors. Structured and Growing Market: Powerful ecosystems in New York, Miami, Dubai, Monaco, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Los Angeles, and Africa ensure the market's security and expansion. Absolute Rarity: Limited supply meets skyrocketing demand, guaranteeing strong valuation growth. Prestigious Social Integration: Regular appearances at elite events and collaborations with celebrities boost his visibility and desirability. Cultural and Intellectual Depth: Rooted in African heritage and contemporary global discourse, Chougar offers both artistic and financial value. Conclusion: A Visionary Artist on the Brink of an Artistic and Financial Revolution Koceila Chougar represents a new generation of artists capable of transforming the global art scene by merging art, economy, identity, and spectacle. His career, market valuation, and international influence make him an essential figure at the heart of today's creative and financial dynamics. For more info, visit: or Follow Koceila Chougar on Instagram at Follow Koceila Chougar on LinkedIn at Listen to Koceila Chougar on Spotify at
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
The country that made smoking sexy is breaking up with cigarettes
PARIS -- PARIS (AP) — Brigitte Bardot lounged barefoot on a Saint-Tropez beach, drawing languorous puffs from her cigarette. Another actor, Jean-Paul Belmondo, swaggered down the Champs-Élysées with smoke curling from his defiant lips, capturing a generation's restless rebellion. In France, cigarettes were never just cigarettes — they were cinematic statements, flirtations and rebellions wrapped in rolling paper. Yet beginning July 1, if Bardot and Belmondo's iconic film scenes were repeated in real life, they would be subject to up to €135 ($153) in fines. After glamorizing tobacco for decades, France is preparing for its most sweeping smoking ban yet. The new restrictions, announced by Health Minister Catherine Vautrin, will outlaw smoking in virtually all outdoor public areas where children may gather, including beaches, parks, gardens, playgrounds, sports venues, school entrances and bus stops. 'Tobacco must disappear where there are children,' Vautrin told French media. The freedom to smoke 'stops where children's right to breathe clean air starts." France will ban smoking on all beaches, in public parks, forests and some other public areas as part of a national anti-tobacco plan presented by the health minister on Tuesday. Tobacco products cause 75,000 avoidable deaths a year in France, Minister of Health and Prevention Aurélien Rousseau said on BFM television. The government will introduce legislation at the start of next year to enlarge the scope of places where fines can be levied for smoking, he said. 'Beaches, parks, around schools -– lots of places had started these experiments and now, it's true, we're heading to a general rule to show our determination,' he said. Legislators also intend to outlaw single-use disposable e-cigarettes, with an initial vote on a draft law to ban them expected in the National Assembly next month. Stunt performer sues Kevin Costner over his direction of a rape scene in his film series 'Horizon' A stunt performer is suing Kevin Costner, saying she was compelled to perform in an unscripted rape scene in a film he was directing that broke Hollywood production rules and left her traumatized. AP News California track-and-field final enters spotlight for rule change after trans athlete's success The California high school track-and-field championship is set to begin Friday amid a controversy over the participation of a transgender female athlete. AP News Mensualités: Bonne nouvelle pour les propriétaires étouffés par les crédits Bons plans propriétaires Advertisement: L'arnaque du solaire : 90% des Français l'ignore, et vous ? France Éco Infos Advertisement: 11 pathologies vous donnant le droit à une cure thermale Chaine Thermale Advertisement: Qui était Mohammed Lakhdar-Hamina, décédé alors que le Festival de Cannes lui rendait hommage ? 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AP News Trouvez vos photos de classe parmi + de 250 000 photos! Advertisement: Pourquoi les amoureux des chats adorent cette lampe unique Sherum Advertisement: "Le patient voit quelque chose" : que ressent-on au moment de mourir ? Ces chercheurs pensent avoir trouvé la réponse Femme Actuelle Advertisement: Taylor Swift has regained control of her music, buys back first 6 albums Taylor Swift says she's has regained control over her entire body of work. In a lengthy note posted to her official website on Friday, Swift announced that all the music she's ever made now belongs to her. AP News Movie Review: Wes Anderson's 'Phoenician Scheme' is as Wes Anderson as a Wes Anderson film can be Wes Anderson has always been Wes Anderson, but with 'The Phoenician Scheme' he somehow seems more Wes Anderson than ever before. AP News 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Advertisement: Une fois la guerre en Ukraine apaisée, la Russie pourrait ouvrir un autre front en Europe GEO Advertisement: Virginie Efira, Jodie Foster, Scarlett Johansson... Pluie de stars à Cannes pour la montée des marches du film Vie Privée de Rebecca Zlotowski Tele-loisirs Advertisement: Most read Shira Perlmutter, Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office, testifies during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property oversight hearing of the United States Copyright Office, Nov. 13, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, file) Judge refuses to temporarily block the Trump administration from removing Copyright Office director White House acknowledges problems in RFK Jr.'s 'Make America Healthy Again' report Patriots say they will handle video of receiver Stefon Diggs internally Trump has long warned of a government 'deep state.' Now in power, he's under pressure to expose it Paul Maurice, Rod Brind'Amour skipped player handshakes after East final. It was for a good reason The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day. The Associated Press Careers Advertise with us Contact Us Accessibility Statement Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information Limit Use and Disclosure of Sensitive Personal Information CA Notice of Collection More From AP News About AP News Values and Principles AP's Role in Elections AP Leads AP Definitive Source Blog AP Images Spotlight Blog AP Stylebook Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. twitter instagram facebook notification icon">public health priorities, it also signals a deeper cultural shift. Smoking has defined identity, fashion and cinema here for so long that the new measure feels like a quiet French revolution in a country whose relationship with tobacco is famously complex. According to France's League Against Cancer, over 90 percent of French films from 2015 to 2019 featured smoking scenes — more than double the rate in Hollywood productions. Each French movie averaged nearly three minutes of on-screen smoking, effectively the same exposure as six 30-second television ads. Cinema has been particularly influential. Belmondo's rebellious smoker in Jean-Luc Godard 's 'Breathless' became shorthand for youthful defiance worldwide. Bardot's cigarette smoke wafted through 'And God Created Woman,' symbolizing unbridled sensuality. Yet this glamorization has consequences. According to France's public health authorities, around 75,000 people die from tobacco-related illnesses each year. Although smoking rates have dipped recently — fewer than 25% of French adults now smoke daily, a historic low — the habit remains stubbornly embedded, especially among young people and the urban chic. France's relationship with tobacco has long been fraught with contradiction. Air France did not ban smoking on all its flights until 2000, years after major U.S. carriers began phasing it out in the late 1980s and early '90s. The delay reflected a country slower to sever its cultural romance with cigarettes, even at 35,000 feet. Strolling through the stylish streets of Le Marais, the trendiest neighborhood in Paris, reactions to the smoking ban ranged from pragmatic acceptance to nostalgic defiance. 'It's about time. I don't want my kids growing up thinking smoke is romantic,' said Clémence Laurent, a 34-year-old fashion buyer, sipping espresso at a crowded café terrace. 'Sure, Bardot made cigarettes seem glamorous. But Bardot didn't worry about today's warnings on lung cancer.' At a nearby boutique, vintage dealer Luc Baudry, 53, saw the ban as an attack on something essentially French. 'Smoking has always been part of our culture. Take away cigarettes and what do we have left? Kale smoothies?' he scoffed. Across from him, 72-year-old Jeanne Lévy chuckled throatily, her voice deeply etched — she said — by decades of Gauloises. 'I smoked my first cigarette watching Jeanne Moreau,' she confessed, eyes twinkling behind vintage sunglasses. 'It was her voice — smoky, sexy, lived-in. Who didn't want that voice?' Indeed, Jeanne Moreau's gravelly, nicotine-scraped voice transformed tobacco into poetry itself, immortalized in classics such as François Truffaut's 'Jules et Jim.' Smoking acquired an existential glamour that made quitting unimaginable for generations of French smokers. France's new law mirrors broader European trends. Britain, Spain and Sweden have all implemented significant smoking bans in public spaces. Sweden outlawed smoking in outdoor restaurant terraces, bus stops and schoolyards back in 2019. Spain extended its bans to café terraces, spaces still exempt in France—at least for now. an electronic cigarette that is still exempt from the new ban and shrugged.
Pink Villa
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Om Raut BREAKS SILENCE on why Dhanush was best choice to play Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Dhanush will showcase the life and works of the Missile Man of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, in a biopic titled Kalam. The movie was recently announced at the Festival de Cannes 2025 and will be directed by Adipurush fame Om Raut. Om Raut reveals why Dhanush was picked to play the role In a recent interview, filmmaker Om Raut highlighted why he found Dhanush as the perfect choice to portray Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on-screen. He emphasized that for a biopic on such an exemplary leader, just showing his life and work is not enough, but his vision, spiritual journey and teachings also need equal representation. Om then added that Dhanush fit the bill perfectly for all the requirements since he can pull off that intellectual aura on-screen. In his words, 'I don't think there could have been a better choice than Dhanush to bring this spiritual and intellectual depth to life on screen. He is the perfect fit, and on behalf of my entire team, I thank him for choosing to be a part of this important project.' Om Raut reveals being deeply inspired by APJ Kalam Om Raut revealed that the seed of the idea to make such a project came to him naturally since he's always remained deeply inspired by the visionary leader. Om Raut faced backlash for attempting a biopic on Abdul Kalam Coming back to Om, the director had faced a lot of flak in his last project, Adipurush, which fell flat and was declared a box office dud. And now that he announced working on such a biopic, a lot of criticism came his way from audiences on social media. Netizens expressed how the attempt could go completely wrong, as he is helming the project. Dhanush's work front In other news, Dhanush has a pretty interesting lineup of films ahead. These include Sekhar Kammula's Kuberaa and his own directed film Idly Kadai. Additionally, he's already shooting for Aanand L. Rai's Tere Ishk Mein, co-starring Kriti Sanon.
