Electro house musician and record producer Steve Aoki says men need to make room for women in the disc jockeying field.

The Electronic Dance Music icon commented on the issue in the wake of the backlash that the Grammys' president Neil Portnow has faced after saying women need to "step up" their game if they want to be nominated for one of the prestigious ceremony's accolades, reports billboard.com.

The "Night call" hitmaker says there needs to be more support for women in the industry so they can get to be on festival line-ups and taken notice of.

In an interview with Channel 4 News, he said: "I think that one thing male DJs have to do is step aside to make room for women DJs and women producers on festivals, on shows and also be an ally and supporter and invite them to play with them."

Portnow made his comments following the criticism that male winners dominated the Grammys ceremony on January 28.

Electro house musician and record producer Steve Aoki says men need to make room for women in the disc jockeying field.

The Electronic Dance Music icon commented on the issue in the wake of the backlash that the Grammys' president Neil Portnow has faced after saying women need to "step up" their game if they want to be nominated for one of the prestigious ceremony's accolades, reports billboard.com.

The "Night call" hitmaker says there needs to be more support for women in the industry so they can get to be on festival line-ups and taken notice of.

In an interview with Channel 4 News, he said: "I think that one thing male DJs have to do is step aside to make room for women DJs and women producers on festivals, on shows and also be an ally and supporter and invite them to play with them."

Portnow made his comments following the criticism that male winners dominated the Grammys ceremony on January 28.

Trailer of celebrated Iranian auteur Majid Majidi’s BEYOND THE CLOUDS was launched yesterday in Mumbai. At the launch event Majidi was asked about what inspired him to choose India to make his maiden feature film based in foreign country and the director very calmly replied, “I have learned a lot about India based on the works of remarkable Indian director Satyajit Ray so it was my dream to make a film in his land. His view point is very valuable to me and I love whatever he has done, so one of the main reasons behind making this film is my admiration for Satyajit Ray and his work.

Film’s lead actor Ishaan Khatter sharing about how he was shortlisted for this project shared, “He (Mr. Majidi) has a very interesting process of auditioning. He sent me and few others with phones on an assignment to shoot at various places and we were told to collect footage and briefed about what kind scenes were needed to be shot. We took it up as a project and gave him our respective footage, on the basis of that he chose me in this film.”

The young actor gushed about how his elder brother is like a father figure to him and when asked that now both of them are actors so does he see him as a competition to which he immediately replied, “Shahid is like a teacher, and he is a paternal figure in my life. I have learned so much by watching him so there’s no question of considering him as a competition in fact I would say we are a team.”

When asked about the pressure behind collaborating with foreign filmmakers film’s music composer A.R Rahman said, “My first experience of working with a foreign filmmaker was with Deepa Mehta and then I worked with Chinese filmmaker He Ping, so I am used to working with translators. The language of Cinema is universal and I always want things to influence me or take me away from the monotony of doing the same thing. So I always look forward to something which is exciting and make me push myself into the fire.”

The acclaimed filmmaker Majidi was even questioned about the importance of artists talking against the establishment and replied, “With regard to the social and political issues actually I always pay attention and highlight the human beings and the human values. Also it’s important to understand the situation. See Cinema is completely different from newspapers and other forms of media, It may happen that when you make a film and highlight a social subject or political issue but the next day scenarios can change and things will be different and not as important as before so this is the reason why I emphasize to focus on the human values more as these films can always be previewed and communicated with the audience. As an example I would like to mention CHILDREN OF HEAVEN I made it 20 years ago but it still can communicate with young generation so it’s the matter of communication.”

Majidi has cast fresh faces in his maiden Indian project and citing the reason behind that he said, “I have worked with professional actors in some of my films but because of the subject and also the storyline of this film it required new faces. I know that in Indian cinema industry it’s important to have famous faces and I would love to do that but when you are making a film it’s important that there should be a connection between the character and the person who is going to play it.”

After enthralling the audience with his performance as an obsessed lover in ‘Swaragini — Jodein Rishton Ke Sur’, television heartthrob Anuj Sachdeva will be next seen in Amazon’s upcoming web series ‘Breathe’.

In an exclusive chat with Glamsham the actor talks about his role in the web show, his experience of working with R Madhavan and also why he thinks that digital media has the potential to go beyond the 70 mm experience.

Excerpts:

You are playing a painter in Breathe. So did you actually learn painting for that?
It was not needed because there was no scene which required me to paint, though I had to behave sensitive towards things the way most painters do.

How did you bag this role?
I auditioned for this while I was in London. I had sent the self-tape twice to make sure it was the way they wanted to see. Thanks to the casting team who considered this self-tape regardless of me being out of country.

Is working in web series any different to that working in a television series or a film?
Definitely, working in web series is more like working in a film.

Tell us about the experience of working with two power-house performers R Madhavan and Amit Sadh?
Well, they are brilliant performers and I know Amit Sadh as we used to work out in the same gym. I believe it’s important to be a good human as to be a good actor. And luckily, they both have that charm on screen too.

What are your views regarding digital media? Do you think it has power to overtake television and 70mm screens?
I think digital media is still unexplored in India. It has tremendous potential since it gives freedom to anyone who has good content to showcase regardless what his or her job profile and experience is!The way digital media has reached to everyone’s phone is incredible. Its limitless network and reach makes it priceless today. And yes without a doubt digital media has the potential to go beyond the 70 mm experience, since home theatres and home projectors are so impactful and easily available in the market, it is a game changer.

The trailer of Breathe was released recently, but you were nowhere to be seen in it. Was it done to keep the details of your character under wraps?
Well, that’s entirely the call taken by the Amazon team and I prefer not to tweak or interfere in the marketing aspect of such huge platform. All I know is that I trust them and rest is my performance on screen which can’t be shadowed.

Do you think content on our television is regressive?
I think television has their own audience and mostly the ones from tier 2 states which makes it run their content in the same parameters keeping that category of audience in mind. But overall there is a dip in the GRP of all the channels which proves the fact that people are switching to digital platforms with time.

Give us two reasons why one should watch Breathe?
Well the reasons would be 1- You have never seen Maddy sir in this shade ever before and 2- Because I am there in the show. (Winks!)

What’s next in pipeline?
I am working in a Hindi feature film with very well-known actors and it will be releasing this year and you will know the details as and when we start the promotions.