Kevin Hart leads Hollywood Reporter’s top actors rankings

The ‘Hollywood Reporter’ has issued the top actors social media rankings according to which Kevin Hart has climbed to No. 1 on the chart for the first time.

The Top Actors chart is a ranking of the most popular actors on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Google Plus, with global data provided by social media analytics company MVPindex. The chart's methodology blends social engagement on the platforms along with weekly additions of followers/subscribers. The latest tracking week ended February 6.

Hart, who had previously ranked at No. 2 for multiple weeks (including the previous Feb. 7-dated tally), leads Will Smith, who climbs to a new peak of No. 2, followed by Dwayne Johnson, who falls 1-3.

Zendaya and Finn Wolfhard make major gains, leaping back into the top 10 at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, while Cara Delevingne and Shay Mitchell also re-enter the top 10 (Nos. 16 and 24) in a volatile week in which no actor in the top 10 remained in the same position from the previous week.

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Kamila Shamsie discusses ‘Home Fire’ at KLF

The second day of the ninth annual, Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) dawned with highly acclaimed Pakistani author Kamila Shamsie in discussion with moderator Rosinka Chaudhri. 

The talk was positioned around Shamsie’s latest novel titled ‘Home Fire’ that is a modern day revision of the Greek tragedian Sophocles’ ‘Antigone’.

Moderator Rosinka Chaudhri, a professor of Cultural Studies at Calcutta’s Center of Studies in Social Sciences, touched upon subjects of the book for the author without giving too much away. 

The book orbits the story of two sisters Isma and Aneeka, and their conflicting ways of dealing with the abrupt departure of their brother Pervaiz, who goes to work for the media arm of ISIS.

The discussion began with what ignited the idea behind the novel’s plot and also skimmed through topics of British politics in the existing world, the rise of Islamophobia and national adversities like Brexit, that lead citizens into yielding ownership of a country.

The talk also switched back and forth about   links  between the characters of the two stories, -such as Aneeqa as Antigone, Isma as Ismene, Haimon as Eamonn and Creon as Karamat. 

This identifies a correspondence between the two works that are standing ages apart.

“Never again will a single story be told as though it were the only one” said Kamila quoting John Berger as she explained the idea behind  her novel’s structure, which she said is manifest in literature from all over with authors invoking this line.

The discussion concluded with Kamila dispelling the notion that Karamat Lone, the British politician of Pakistani heritage in the novel is not a distortion of the British Muslim mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who she claimed is, unlike the character of Karamat, “very comfortable about being a Londoner and a Muslim. He observes Ramadan and can also be seen opening the gates to the Pride Parade.”

Kamila Shamsie’s Home Fire has been longlisted for The Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for the Costa Prize. The writer’s seventh novel has received accolades from all over the world, including positive reviews  from The Guardian, New York Times and Washington Post.

Veteran actor Qazi Wajid passes away

KARACHI: Veteran actor Qazi Wajid, 74, passed away in Karachi after brief illness, Geo News reported.

He was admitted to a private hospital on Saturday.

Qazi Wajid has worked in numerous TV dramas and was a household name. He joined Radio Pakistan in 1956 as a child artiste and have been associated with the medium ever since.

Born in 1944 in Gwalior, India, he migrated to Pakistan after partition with his family and settled in Karachi, where his father was allotted a quarter at Martin Road.

His performances in Khuda Ki Basti, Kiran Kahani, Angan Terha, Taleem-e-Balighan, Dhoop Kinaray, Tanhaiyan, Ankahi and Hawwa Ki Beti remained one of the most memorable ones in PTV history.

Wajid was very concerned with the declining standards of current TV dramas and this he expressed in a recent interview with Mag The Weekly.

 “The excess of drama has ruined the art. Previously, one used to eagerly wait for plays to hit the screens. Now, as soon as you switch on TV there is a drama serial on air on every other channel. Even though it has good content and cast, but its impact is not lasting enough, following the competition among channels,” he remarked.

New trailer of Rani-starrer ‘Hichki’ is out now

MUMBAI: After a hiatus of three years, Rani Mukherjee is all set to make a comeback on the silver screen with her new venture entitled ‘Hichki’ and its new trailer has recently been released.

Although Rani has worked opposite top heroes of the industry in the past, ‘Hichki’ features her in the lead solely.

The film is an adaptation of Hollywood film ‘Front of the Class’ (2008), which itself was based on the book, ‘Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had’ by Brad Cohen, of which Yash Raj Films acquired the rights. 

A women-centric film, ‘Hichki’ portrays Rani as an aspiring school teacher who suffers from Tourette syndrome due to which she produces involuntary movements or sounds “that occur intermittently and unpredictably out of a background of normal motor activity.”

However this does not deter Rani from fulfilling her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher. And seeing her determination a primary school management appoints her for the job.

Siddharth P. Malhotra’s directorial, ‘Hichki’ will release in cinemas worldwide on 23rd March.

Keri Russell gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

LOS ANGELES: Actress Keri Russell, best known for her role as a ruthless KGB operative in the long-running series "The Americans," was honored on Tuesday with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The 41-year-old actress told AFP she was awestruck to receive the 2,613th star on the famous sidewalk alongside other celebrities such as Judy Garland or Marlon Brando.

"It´s such an incredible, iconic moment," she said.

A native of California, Russell first garnered attention for her title role in the hit television series "Felicity," for which she won a Golden Globe Award in 1999.

She was again nominated last year -- but did not win -- for her role in FX´s critically-acclaimed "The Americans," which is set in the 1980s and follows a husband and wife team of undercover Soviet operatives in the United States.

The spy thriller, which wrapped its fifth season on Tuesday, has drawn parallels with the current frosty relations between the US and Russia, especially following allegations that Moscow tampered with last year´s presidential elections won by Donald Trump.

"It is very much in our world right now," Russell acknowledged. "Luckily our show is a period piece set in the 80s and the Cold War... the news now will not change the way the 80s ended.

"But it is interesting and fun it´s all back in the news again," she added. "It´s so relatable."

"Felicity" creator J.J. Abrams lauded Russell´s talent during the ceremony, describing her as someone who shied away from the limelight and one of the "sweetest" people he knows.

"What she does so beautifully is become other people. And she does it in a way that most actors would only dream of being able to do," Abrams said.

Russell´s co-star on "The Americans" and real-life love, Matthew Rhys, also attended the ceremony.

The couple welcomed their first child together last May. Russell also has two children with ex-husband Shane Deary.

Priyanka Chopra dresses down critics over meet with Modi

NEW DELHI: Bollywood superstar Priyanka Chopra hit back at critics Wednesday for trying to shame her over a dress she wore during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The actress was accused of "disrespecting" the prime minister by wearing a knee-length dress revealing her lower legs during an audience with Modi in Berlin.

Chopra was attacked on social media by critics who found the outfit unsuitable for the occasion, with many offended the 34-year-old star had not chosen to wear Indian attire.

But the star of the hit American spy thriller "Quantico" was unapologetic, hitting back with a photo showing her and her mother wearing short dresses with the caption "legs for days.... #itsthegenes".

The former Miss World describes herself as a "strong-willed feminist" who has campaigned to close the gender pay gap in Bollywood and change attitudes towards women in her home country.

"For so many years women were told to act a certain way, to dress a certain way, to think a certain way, even not to think at all," Chopra told AFP in an interview last year.

"People misconstrue the word feminism. It is not hating men, or making men small. It is just saying, ´We want our independence to make our own choices the way men have done for so long.´"

Chopra has been landing bigger roles in Hollywood since boosting her international profile through "Quantico". The actress has been cast as a villain in the newly-released "Baywatch" film.

Movie Review: Dear Maya

MUMBAI: Sunaina Bhatnagar’s coming-of-age drama doesn’t look too promising at first, but is one of those films that grow on you. Centred around two precocious teenagers in the picturesque town of Shimla, the film traces their lives and how they deal with the consequences of a seemingly harmless prank they played on the neighbourhood recluse.



Ira (Shreya Chaudhary) and Anna (Madiha Imam) are best friends and, as teenagers are wont to be, are oblivious to everyone else’s feelings but their own. They are curious about the Boo Radley-like figure in their town - the mysterious Maya (Manisha Koirala), who according to village lore has not stepped out of her crumbling mansion for several years after being permanently scarred by her family’s troubled past.



The girls decide to write anonymous love letters to Maya, hoping the amour in those letters will bring some zing into what they see as a dreary life. “We are sending a Shah Rukh Khan into a boring lady’s life”, says Ira, the more reckless of the two.

But as the charade continues, the lives of several people in the small town are irrevocably changed. Emboldened by the letters from the anonymous admirer, Maya decides to track him down to Delhi, unaware that the address was taken by Ira from her mother’s address book.



Bhatnagar tells her story with a lot of heart. And even though the narrative is rough around the edges – the events in Maya’s life and Anna’s sulking fiance are sore points that stand out in the screenplay – the film has enough charm to tide you over these bumps.

Imam does a good job of going from a carefree schoolgirl to a woman who is permamently affected by the havoc she caused. Koirala, who plays Maya, manages to light up the screen even though she does not have too much screen time or dialogue.v

Wonder Woman´ blasts to top of US box office

Los Angeles: Patty Jenkins´s "Wonder Woman" smashed the superhero glass ceiling in its opening weekend, earning $103 million at the North American box office, the biggest debut for a female director, industry figures showed Monday.

The Warner Bros. and DC Comics film starring Gal Gadot is the first female-led superhero movie directed by a woman.

The film had also fared well worldwide earning $120 million, the studio said.

Jenkins edged out the previous record held by "Fifty Shades of Grey" director Sam Taylor-Johnson, whose film had an $85.2 million opening.

"We´re incredibly proud of ´Wonder Woman´ and thrilled that it has resonated with critics and moviegoers everywhere," Sue Kroll, head of marketing and distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures, said in a statement.

Coming in second at the box office was another new release, "Captain Underpants," which took in $23.9 million, according to Exhibitor Relations.

The Fox film is based on a popular series of children´s books by Dav Pilkey that tells the story of two students who use hypnosis to persuade the school´s principal he is a superhero.

In third place was Disney´s "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales," the fifth installment in the popular franchise starring Johnny Depp. It took in $22.1 million.

In fourth was another Disney production, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," at $9.8 million. The lighthearted story of a band of misfit space adventurers -- played by Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel -- has taken in $355.6 million domestically since it opened on May 5.

"Baywatch," a Paramount production starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron in a story about deeply tanned and ridiculously fit California lifeguards who uncover a murky criminal plot, placed fifth at $8.7 million.

Rounding out the top 10 were:

"Alien: Covenant" ($4.1 million)

"Everything, Everything" ($3.3 million)

"Snatched" ($1.3 million)

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" ($1.3 million)

"King Arthur: Legend of the Sword" ($1.2 million)

Brief History of Persian Poet Abdullah Ansari

Abdullah Ansari hails from Herat (now in Afghanistan) and was conceived in the year 394 AH. His total name is Khawaja Abdullah Bin Muhammad Ansari. He was the kindred of King Alif Arslan Saljoqi, Khawaja Nizam Ul Mulk and Sheik Abu Al Khair and furthermore roused from them. Abdullah has a place with the tribe of Abu Ayub Ansari. He was well perused artist, researcher, and famous for his cordiality. Ansari was an awesome religious researcher and Mystic identity. He was extremely straightforward, social and kind to his kin. Ansari has a solid conviction on one God (Allah) which reflects from his verse. He was an incredible essayist and writer of his time. Abdullah is renowned for his remarkable exposition composing and Quatrains (Rubaiyat) verse. Ansari gave a heavenly message to the general population through his Quatrains verse.

Books of Ansari

He was in-familiar with Arabic and Persian dialects and composed numerous writing and verse in these dialects. The accompanying focuses depict the life of Ansari:-

Books of Abdullah Ansari

Composition Writing Methodology of Abdullah

Quatrains (Rubaiyat) of Ansari

Impression of Real Love in Quatrains Poetry of Ansari

Books of Abdullah Ansari. 

Abdullah Ansari composed colossal books in Persian and Arabic dialects. Zad-Ul-Arefeen and Kitab-e-Israr are the most famous and prominent books of Ansari. These books have been composed on religious matters and have lesson for everybody as a rule and youthful era specifically. He welcomed the general population towards Sufism through his books. Conviction and trust in one God is the fundamental subject of his articles. Ansari has clarified Sufism and its effects on our day by day life in his books. The dialect of the books is extremely straightforward, amazing and appealing which have profound fascination for perusers. He additionally composed a few magazines separated from these books.

Exposition Writing Methodology of Ansari. 

Abdullah Ansari was inspired from traditional Persian writer Sheik Saadi. He took after the composition technique and style of Sheik Saadi in his expositions. Ansari has utilized verse also aphorisms and adages in his writing for enthusiasm of perusers. He attempted to manage the general population through exposition and verse towards right way. Ansari is one of the main essayist of his time who utilized verse in writing. He delivered gigantic books in Persian dialects for direction of his kin. Ansari served Persian writing exceptionally well in term of one of a kind exposition and verse.

Quatrains (Rubaiyat) of Abdullah Ansari. 

The Quatrains verse of Ansari is well known for its recognized and one of a kind composition style. Ansari lectured the general population towards Islam and guided them through his verse. He composed consultative notes in his verse. The point and principle topic of his Quatrains is profound prepping of perusers. His verse is familiar, compelling, straightforward and straightforward.

Impression of Real Love in Quatrains of Ansari. 

Verse of Abdullah Ansari has inclination towards enchantment. Ansari confides in one God (Allah) and furthermore lecture the general population for it. The genuine love reflects in his Quatrains and in exposition. Ansari worried upon otherworldliness in his verse and exposition.

A concise research has been made on the life of Persian writer Abdullah Ansari. In addition, life, exercises, love with nation and productions of Persian researcher have likewise been clarified quickly. It is additionally accessible on http://www.persianpast.com. The article is absolutely natural and composed by Muhammad Ishaq.

Nawazuddin slams Bollywood functions for not honouring Om Puri

Mumbai: bollywood superstar nawazuddin siddiqui took to twitter to slam bollywood award functions for now not paying tribute to the past due om puri for his contribution to indian cinema, whilst in truth the grimy politics actor have been honoured on the current oscars 2017 ceremony.

Oscars 2017 had been pretty popular with india and not simply because of the u . S . A .'s personal capabilities dev patel and sunny pawar but because of the fact that legendary actor om puri become honoured by means of the academy of motion pics in the course of the 89th academy awards. The identical become now not executed at any bollywood award characteristic and this did now not relax well with raees actor nawazuddin siddiqui, who took to twitter to vent his frustration:-

It is easy to surely no longer assist but believe nawazuddin siddiqui. Om puri, an executed veteran actor from india, had the specific distinction of working for now not only hollywood and bollywood but also the pakistani movie enterprise. This is what the actor's own family informed indian media:-

"the only indian actor to have labored continually in hollywood and british cinema for the ultimate 25 years, without a fuss and letting his paintings talk for itself, these days the academy of motion pix recounted his contribution at its 89th awards. The first and best indian actor to be mentioned as a consequence. Thank you academy. Thanks anyone. We miss you om. We miss you plenty."

Puri exceeded away in january of this 12 months and turned into mourned by using artists from across the world. Throughout his remaining days, the actor had earned the ire of the indian loads and media for passing debatable comments about a soldier who were killed within the uri assault.

Rihanna delights at Harvard recognition

The big apple: rihanna by no means went to college however the r&b superstar voiced delight as she become offered an award by way of harvard university for her humanitarian work.

"so i made it to harvard! In no way thought i might be able to say that in my life, but it feels right," a beaming rihanna said to students´ cheers at the prestigious us university tuesday night.

Harvard named the 29-12 months-vintage singer its humanitarian of the year, pointing to her tasks that consist of a complicated middle to treat breast most cancers in her local barbados and aid for girls´ schooling around the developing global.

Rihanna said she had installation her first charity at age 18 and remarked: "human beings make it appear manner too difficult, man."

"you don´t want to be rich to assist a person, you don´t want to be famous, you don´t even want to be college-knowledgeable," she said, whilst joking that she needed she have been.

"i want to undertaking every of you to make a commitment to assist one person, one agency, one state of affairs that touches your coronary heart," she said.

"my grandmother constantly used to say, ´if you acquire a dollar, there´s lots to percentage.´"

Rihanna, who changed into observed with the aid of a track executive while nevertheless a youngster, has additionally set up a scholarship software named after her grandparents for caribbean college students in the united states of america.

'Viceroy's House' sends timely 'divide and rule' message

Gurinder chadha, whose grandparents lived through the violence that followed the delivery of pakistan in 1947, said it changed into vital for her to mark the milestone with a movie like "viceroy's residence".

"the film is a timely reminder of what happens whilst politicians and leaders begin using divide and rule," she instructed reuters in an interview. "sooner or later, it ends in violence and it leads to dying, and that doesn't serve all people."

The movie, which opens in united kingdom cinemas on friday, makes a speciality of the final pre-independence days in office of lord mountbatten, played by means of "downton abbey" superstar hugh bonneville.

It traces the turmoil that ensues as british and indian leaders grapple with the difficulty of independence and appears at its effect on the indian group of workers - each hindu and muslim - at the house of the film's identify.

More than 1 million humans died inside the political earthquake prompt when india and pakistan became  nations and won independence from britain. The neighbours have due to the fact fought 3 wars and relations among them stay irritating.

For chadha, whose other credits encompass "bend it like beckham" and "bhaji on the beach", the film offered the opportunity to redress what she views as the same old narrative blaming the violence on disputatious indians in place of britain's divisive imperial policies.

"i wanted to mission the historical narrative of partition and independence, the remaining days of the raj. I wanted to project the way i were taught it at college, based at the evidence that i had come across in my research," she stated.

Bonneville's co-big name as woman mountbatten is "x-documents" actress gillian anderson.

The primary protagonists among their staff are performed via award-triumphing indian actress huma qureshi and u.S. Actor manish dayal. The movie also presents a valedictory position for veteran indian actor om puri, who died in january.

For qureshi, like chadha, making the movie became as plenty a personal as a professional adventure.

"my grandfather's sister became married in pakistan and that they lost touch for lots, a few years," stated qureshi. "some years ago, a man just popped up at my dad's restaurant and he said, i assume i'm your cousin... And that they exchanged names and own family timber, and he became. And of course, it changed into so overwhelming and so emotional."

Bollywood director Mahesh Bhatt receives extortion calls, death threats

Mumbai: bollywood director and producer mahesh bhatt filed an fir in juhu police station of mumbai after receiving extortion calls and loss of existence threats from an unidentified individual.

In keeping with indian media, mahesh bhatt acquired a hazard name on february 26. A sequence of text messages and whatsapp messages found the decision through someone claiming to be a gang chief. The extortionist threatened that if bhatt didn't pay up, he would possibly kill his daughter alia bhatt and spouse soni razdan.

"a bolt from the blue inside the form of an extortion name & risk to my family turn out to be nipped in the bud by using the mh & up police in tandem. Gratitude! Every body is higher than one parents!!" bhatt tweeted on thursday.

The caller, sandeep sahu, who has been detained by way of uttar pradesh unique task force from lucknow, changed into disturbing a sum of for rs 50 lakhs.

Fearing for the safety of his own family, mahesh bhatt filed a case on wednesday underneath segment 387 (inflicting someone to worry loss of life or grievous harm, so as to dedicate extortion).