An inspiring moment awaits Bollywood ‘Queen’ Kangana Ranaut as she sets to share the stage with three American legends – former First Lady of the US Michelle Obama, American advocate Martin Luther King III and talk show host-actress philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey.

In August, she will fly to New Jersey, to be a part of Gandhi Going Global initiative, which aims to spread Gandhian philosophy through educational programs, and interactive activities. Representing India, Kangana will share the stage with the above mentioned dignitaries.

“For me, it’s always been about the impact you make on society and how you contribute to it. Sharing the stage with Michelle and Oprah will be inspiring. I’ve never been anybody’s fan but I admire and idolise women like Oprah. Once I get back to Mumbai, I will know exactly what I will be talking on and for how long, depending on which I will prepare my speech,” said Kangana.

Kangana will resume shooting for Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi on April 6. She will also start work on MENTAL HAI KYA, which stars Rajkummar Rao.

An inspiring moment awaits Bollywood ‘Queen’ Kangana Ranaut as she sets to share the stage with three American legends – former First Lady of the US Michelle Obama, American advocate Martin Luther King III and talk show host-actress philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey.

In August, she will fly to New Jersey, to be a part of Gandhi Going Global initiative, which aims to spread Gandhian philosophy through educational programs, and interactive activities. Representing India, Kangana will share the stage with the above mentioned dignitaries.

“For me, it’s always been about the impact you make on society and how you contribute to it. Sharing the stage with Michelle and Oprah will be inspiring. I’ve never been anybody’s fan but I admire and idolise women like Oprah. Once I get back to Mumbai, I will know exactly what I will be talking on and for how long, depending on which I will prepare my speech,” said Kangana.

Kangana will resume shooting for Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi on April 6. She will also start work on MENTAL HAI KYA, which stars Rajkummar Rao.

The controversial state funeral accorded to veteran Bollywood actress Sridevi last month, was under the instructions of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a RTI query has revealed on Friday.

RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought to know from the General Administration Department’s Protocol Department, which comes under Fadnavis, as to who had the power to authorize the state funeral for Sridevi and past recipients of it.

In its response, the department informed that the discretionary powers to grant a funeral with full state honours was vested with the Chief Minister and it was not related with the conferment of any national honours or Padma honours on the deceased personality, he said.

“With regards to the full state honours for the late Amma Yangar Ayyappan, known as the famed actress Sridevi, verbal ordered were received from the CMO on February 25, 2018 and conveyed to the Mumbai Suburban District Collector and Mumbai Police Commissioner the following day to do the needful,” Galgali said, quoting the RTI reply.

Asked the reasons for filing the RTI query, the activist said that it was to clear the confusion created on who is entitled to a state funeral and who is authorized to permit it.

Sridevi died in her room in Hotel Jemeirah Emirates Towers due to “accidental drowning” on February 24, and was later honoured by a state funeral on February 28, leading to massive debates on social media questioning the measure.

“Among the speculation was that state funeral can be accorded to a person who is conferred with a National award or a Padma honour, but now a new information has come to light that it actually falls within the CM’s discretion,” Galgali said.

Besides Sridevi, 40 other eminent personalities were given a funeral with full state honours between June 22, 2012-March 26, 2018, according to the RTI reply.

Prominent among them were former Chief Ministers and Union Ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and A.R. Antulay, Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Vipassana Guru Satyanarayan Goenka, Dawoodi Bohra spiritual head Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, former Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil, farmers leader and ex-MP Sharad Joshi, Marathi literatteur Mangesh Padgaonkar, former Union Minister Jaywantiben Mehta, senior journalist Muzaffar Hussain, and eminent cardiologist B. K. Goyal.

The controversial state funeral accorded to veteran Bollywood actress Sridevi last month, was under the instructions of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a RTI query has revealed on Friday.

RTI activist Anil Galgali had sought to know from the General Administration Department’s Protocol Department, which comes under Fadnavis, as to who had the power to authorize the state funeral for Sridevi and past recipients of it.

In its response, the department informed that the discretionary powers to grant a funeral with full state honours was vested with the Chief Minister and it was not related with the conferment of any national honours or Padma honours on the deceased personality, he said.

“With regards to the full state honours for the late Amma Yangar Ayyappan, known as the famed actress Sridevi, verbal ordered were received from the CMO on February 25, 2018 and conveyed to the Mumbai Suburban District Collector and Mumbai Police Commissioner the following day to do the needful,” Galgali said, quoting the RTI reply.

Asked the reasons for filing the RTI query, the activist said that it was to clear the confusion created on who is entitled to a state funeral and who is authorized to permit it.

Sridevi died in her room in Hotel Jemeirah Emirates Towers due to “accidental drowning” on February 24, and was later honoured by a state funeral on February 28, leading to massive debates on social media questioning the measure.

“Among the speculation was that state funeral can be accorded to a person who is conferred with a National award or a Padma honour, but now a new information has come to light that it actually falls within the CM’s discretion,” Galgali said.

Besides Sridevi, 40 other eminent personalities were given a funeral with full state honours between June 22, 2012-March 26, 2018, according to the RTI reply.

Prominent among them were former Chief Ministers and Union Ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and A.R. Antulay, Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Vipassana Guru Satyanarayan Goenka, Dawoodi Bohra spiritual head Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, former Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil, farmers leader and ex-MP Sharad Joshi, Marathi literatteur Mangesh Padgaonkar, former Union Minister Jaywantiben Mehta, senior journalist Muzaffar Hussain, and eminent cardiologist B. K. Goyal.

Actress Raima Sen, who is doing a balancing act between Bollywood, Tollywood and digital entertainment, says she will continue working in Bengali cinema.

She says working in Bengali cinema not only teaches her the craft but also gives her a chance to collaborate with great filmmakers.

“I will never stop working in Bengali films; because I have learnt a lot of things as an actor from the Bengali film industry. I am fortunate to work with some of the iconic film directors like late Rituparno Ghosh who taught me a lot,” Raima told IANS in an interview.

“I have worked with many young filmmakers in Bengal where the stories are very good, women-oriented films and very progressive interesting work…Bengali films have given me a lot,” she added.

As her new short film, MEHMAAN will soon be out on the OTT platform ZEE5, she gave a little insight into the character.

She said: “Since it is a short film, I won’t talk much about my character but I am playing a wife who is loved by her husband very much. He is ready to do anything to keep her happy. But is actually a bizarre…how the story unveils that.”

This is not the first time she acted in digital content as she mentioned, “there is a Bengali OTT platform called ‘Hoichoi’ where I acted in a web series. But, Zee is huge, it has the audience not only across India but overseas”.

“So, when they approached me, I was more than happy. I think the web is the next big thing where we can do all the interesting things, experiment with our creativity. Digital audience is more receptive to experimental content compared to television.”

Raima is one of those actresses who managed to get the best of both worlds regional cinema and Bollywood. Being the granddaughter of iconic star of Bengali cinema Suchitra Sen, Raima chose unconventional films to start her career with.

In 1999, Raima started her career as an actress with Shabana Azmi starrer Hindi film GODMOTHER. She went on to do films like PARINEETA, DUS, EKLAVYA: THE ROYAL GUARD, HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT.LTD, CHILDREN OF WAR among many others.

In between, she acted in some of the celebrated Bengali films like CHOKHER BALI, THE BONG CONNECTION, ANURANAN, KHELA, THE JAPANESE WIFE, MEMORIES IN MARCH, MAACH MISHTI & MORE to name a few.

“I think I am really lucky that I always get good film offers and I choose best out of them. I am not getting 100 of films but fortunate to be part of the good content. I keep working in films which travel to various festivals and from there I get not only a certain amount of visibility but also good film offers. I think now makers know my potential,” said Raima.

“I would say that I have worked with some of the best directors and that shaped up my craft, I think for an actress especially in cinema which is a director’s medium, working with good directors helps a lot,” she added.

Though she started her career in Bollywood, asked about what made her take a sabbatical of three years from Bollywood, Raima said: “See, I stay in Mumbai, I have my proper house, a dog everything here. But in between, I was getting a lot of offers from Bengal and as an actress, those roles were really lucrative. So I was just focusing a bit more on there.”

However, she is quite excited about her upcoming films.

“This year, already my film VODKA DIARIES released. Two more films are in pipeline- 3 DEV and VARANASI. In 3 DEV, the casting is very interesting, it is an ensemble cast of KK Menon, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Karan Singh Grover where I am paired opposite Kunaal. VARANASI is Om Puri ji’s last film. I am looking forward to both the films.”

Actress Raima Sen, who is doing a balancing act between Bollywood, Tollywood and digital entertainment, says she will continue working in Bengali cinema.

She says working in Bengali cinema not only teaches her the craft but also gives her a chance to collaborate with great filmmakers.

“I will never stop working in Bengali films; because I have learnt a lot of things as an actor from the Bengali film industry. I am fortunate to work with some of the iconic film directors like late Rituparno Ghosh who taught me a lot,” Raima told IANS in an interview.

“I have worked with many young filmmakers in Bengal where the stories are very good, women-oriented films and very progressive interesting work…Bengali films have given me a lot,” she added.

As her new short film, MEHMAAN will soon be out on the OTT platform ZEE5, she gave a little insight into the character.

She said: “Since it is a short film, I won’t talk much about my character but I am playing a wife who is loved by her husband very much. He is ready to do anything to keep her happy. But is actually a bizarre…how the story unveils that.”

This is not the first time she acted in digital content as she mentioned, “there is a Bengali OTT platform called ‘Hoichoi’ where I acted in a web series. But, Zee is huge, it has the audience not only across India but overseas”.

“So, when they approached me, I was more than happy. I think the web is the next big thing where we can do all the interesting things, experiment with our creativity. Digital audience is more receptive to experimental content compared to television.”

Raima is one of those actresses who managed to get the best of both worlds regional cinema and Bollywood. Being the granddaughter of iconic star of Bengali cinema Suchitra Sen, Raima chose unconventional films to start her career with.

In 1999, Raima started her career as an actress with Shabana Azmi starrer Hindi film GODMOTHER. She went on to do films like PARINEETA, DUS, EKLAVYA: THE ROYAL GUARD, HONEYMOON TRAVELS PVT.LTD, CHILDREN OF WAR among many others.

In between, she acted in some of the celebrated Bengali films like CHOKHER BALI, THE BONG CONNECTION, ANURANAN, KHELA, THE JAPANESE WIFE, MEMORIES IN MARCH, MAACH MISHTI & MORE to name a few.

“I think I am really lucky that I always get good film offers and I choose best out of them. I am not getting 100 of films but fortunate to be part of the good content. I keep working in films which travel to various festivals and from there I get not only a certain amount of visibility but also good film offers. I think now makers know my potential,” said Raima.

“I would say that I have worked with some of the best directors and that shaped up my craft, I think for an actress especially in cinema which is a director’s medium, working with good directors helps a lot,” she added.

Though she started her career in Bollywood, asked about what made her take a sabbatical of three years from Bollywood, Raima said: “See, I stay in Mumbai, I have my proper house, a dog everything here. But in between, I was getting a lot of offers from Bengal and as an actress, those roles were really lucrative. So I was just focusing a bit more on there.”

However, she is quite excited about her upcoming films.

“This year, already my film VODKA DIARIES released. Two more films are in pipeline- 3 DEV and VARANASI. In 3 DEV, the casting is very interesting, it is an ensemble cast of KK Menon, Kunaal Roy Kapur, Karan Singh Grover where I am paired opposite Kunaal. VARANASI is Om Puri ji’s last film. I am looking forward to both the films.”

Actress Kriti Sanon, who made her debut opposite Tiger Shroff in HEROPANTI, says she is proud of him and wants to work with him again.

HEROPANTI, which released in 2014, introduced Tiger as well as Kriti.

Asked whether she wishes to be part of BAAGHI 3, she said: “I am really not a person you should ask but I definitely want to work with Tiger again as it has been quite a long gap… There should be something made like HEROPANTI 2.”

The actress also praised Tiger for his latest project BAAGHI 2.

“We both made a debut together in a film, so somewhere there is a soft corner which will always be like that. I am really proud of him because he is just going next level with every film,” Kriti told the media at a special screening of BAAGHI 2 on Thursday here.

On the work front, Kriti will be working on HOUSEFUL 4.

She says she is excited to join the HOUSEFUL 4 team, including actors Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol and Riteish Deshmukh.

“It is a huge franchise and I love comedy films. I think it’s very difficult to make people laugh. I love being part of comedies because you make people laugh and at the same time, you also enjoy while doing it,” she said.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, HOUSEFUL 4 will also mark the return of Sajid Khan as the director for the franchise. It is set for a Diwali 2019 release.

Actress Kriti Sanon, who made her debut opposite Tiger Shroff in HEROPANTI, says she is proud of him and wants to work with him again.

HEROPANTI, which released in 2014, introduced Tiger as well as Kriti.

Asked whether she wishes to be part of BAAGHI 3, she said: “I am really not a person you should ask but I definitely want to work with Tiger again as it has been quite a long gap… There should be something made like HEROPANTI 2.”

The actress also praised Tiger for his latest project BAAGHI 2.

“We both made a debut together in a film, so somewhere there is a soft corner which will always be like that. I am really proud of him because he is just going next level with every film,” Kriti told the media at a special screening of BAAGHI 2 on Thursday here.

On the work front, Kriti will be working on HOUSEFUL 4.

She says she is excited to join the HOUSEFUL 4 team, including actors Akshay Kumar, Bobby Deol and Riteish Deshmukh.

“It is a huge franchise and I love comedy films. I think it’s very difficult to make people laugh. I love being part of comedies because you make people laugh and at the same time, you also enjoy while doing it,” she said.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, HOUSEFUL 4 will also mark the return of Sajid Khan as the director for the franchise. It is set for a Diwali 2019 release.

Kim Kardashian West has expressed her desire to come to India with her reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”. And designer Anaita Shroff Adajania wishes the global icon comes to the country soon.

Adajania styled Kim for the cover of Vogue India for its March 2018 issue. She says Kim is a down to earth and a lovely person.

Adajania talked about her experience of styling the star when she became part of the TV show “Vh1 Inside Access”, read a statement from the channel.

“Kim is just fantastic, she is such a down to earth and lovely person. She had no entourage and she even apologised for being 10 minutes late. She is such a team player,” Adajania said.

“I’m hoping she comes to India soon,” she added.

In the cover story of the magazine, the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star had also expressed her love for the ‘desi’ attire and Indian jewellery.

“The saris, the jewellery, the clothes — everything was so beautiful,” Kim said. “I told my show that we have to figure out how to get to India,” she added.

Kim Kardashian West has expressed her desire to come to India with her reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”. And designer Anaita Shroff Adajania wishes the global icon comes to the country soon.

Adajania styled Kim for the cover of Vogue India for its March 2018 issue. She says Kim is a down to earth and a lovely person.

Adajania talked about her experience of styling the star when she became part of the TV show “Vh1 Inside Access”, read a statement from the channel.

“Kim is just fantastic, she is such a down to earth and lovely person. She had no entourage and she even apologised for being 10 minutes late. She is such a team player,” Adajania said.

“I’m hoping she comes to India soon,” she added.

In the cover story of the magazine, the “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star had also expressed her love for the ‘desi’ attire and Indian jewellery.

“The saris, the jewellery, the clothes — everything was so beautiful,” Kim said. “I told my show that we have to figure out how to get to India,” she added.