Deepika not doing 'Roy' starring Ranbir

Although there was a buzz that actress Deepika Padukone would feature opposite Ranbir Kapoor in producer Bhushan Kumar's tentatively titled film 'Roy', the actress has not signed the movie.

Deepika and Ranbir had teamed up for their latest film 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'. "If I am letting go of a movie, there might be other reasons. If I really like a script, the producer and I can always work around the dates. I have taken up only as much work as I can accommodate," Deepika said in a statement here today. The film directed by Vikram Singh stars Jacqueline Fernandez in a double role.

The actress says her family has been supportive. "I always said they are my strength. They know that I am extremely busy and have no time to spend with them. But they have never complained...They understand," she said.

Deepika says that due to her film commitments, she does not get time to spend with her family. Therefore, she now plans to take a break and enjoy the holidays with her father, well-known badminton player Prakash Padukone, mother Ujjala and sister Anisha.

Teaching and Curriculum Development Seminar at IUB

The School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) organized a seminar entitled 'NUS: From Indistinguishable Identity to Academic Excellence' on 6th June, 2013. 

Dr. Manzurul Mannan, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Science and Humanities, IUB, presented the seminar. Dr. Mannan shared his experiences of teaching at National University of Singapore, (NUS). He reflected his experiences on some aspects of NUS's culturally sensitive management of education, which not only combines concepts with pragmatism to transform both students and faculty into knowledge actors, but also makes it an excellent center for knowledge production by offering a global approach to education and research. 

Professor M. Omar Rahman, Vice-Chancellor, IUB inaugurated the seminar. Dr. Zakir Hossain Raju, Dean, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences delivered the welcome speech. Mr. Md. Shaiful Islam, Senior Lecturer, Department of English moderated the seminar and delivered the vote of thanks. 

The seminar concluded with a question-answer session. A good number of members of the faculty and management attended the seminar.

Priyanka's father passes away

National award-winning actress Priyanka Chopra's father, Dr Ashok Chopra, passed away today at a hospital in suburban Andheri here after a prolonged battle with cancer.

The actress' father died at the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital a short while ago, Priyanka's manager told PTI.

Dr Chopra, a physician in the Indian Army, was seriously ill for a long time. He had accompanied Priyanka to Vancouver for the TOIFA Awards earlier this year.

For over a fortnight, the actress had been by her father's side due his illness, keeping aside all her film assignments.

Jiah Khan's prayer meet

Bollywood celebrities on Saturday paid their respects to actress Jiah Khan who committed suicide on June 3.

Aamir Khan, Deepika Padukone, Randhir Kapoor, Prateik Babbar, Nagma, Sanjay Kapoor, Deepak Parashar, Anju Mahendru, Ruslaan Mumtaz and many others were present at the memorial service, held at Vile Parle Medical Club, Mumbai.

Salman to romance Jacqueline in Kick

After featuring in this year's box- office hit 'Race 2', actress Jacqueline Fernandez has more to cheer as she has been paired opposite Bollywood star Salman Khan in the upcoming film 'Kick'.

The former Sri Lankan beauty queen is having a good time professionally as two of her movies, 'Housefull 2' (2012) and 'Race 2' (January 2013), made it to the Rs.100-crore club and she has now landed a project with one of the most sought after actors in the Hindi film industry.

'Kick', directed by Sajid Nadiadwala, is an action film.

"It is true Jacqueline is doing the film," Nadiadwala, who is making his directorial debut with the film, told PTI. He did not divulge further details.

'Kick' is remake of a 2009 Telugu hit of the same name. It goes on the floors in July and is expected to hit the theatres in Eid next year.

Bollywood actress Jiah Khan buried in Mumbai

The funeral of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan, who killed herself at her home on Monday night, has taken place in the Indian city of Mumbai.

The body of the 25-year-old actress was buried in the Santa Cruz graveyard.

The actress made her debut in 2007 with Amitabh Bachchan in Nishabd. She also acted with Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar.

Khan, who was found hanging by her mother, did not leave a note, but police said a post-mortem had confirmed suicide.

On Wednesday, Khan's body was taken in a funeral procession from her home to the graveyard.

Earlier, Bollywood star Aamir Khan, Khan's co-star in her second film Ghajini, and actor Riteish Deshmukh, who worked with her in Housefull, visited her home to pay their respects.

Meanwhile, police have been talking to Jiah Khan's family and her friend Sooraj Pancholi, son of actor couple Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab, reports say.

Born Nafisa Khan in New York, the actress grew up in London before moving to Mumbai for a career in Bollywood.

She debuted in Nishabd with Bachchan and did the psychological thriller, Ghajini, with Aamir Khan.

Her last film role was in the 2010 comedy Housefull, in which she played a supporting role.

Khan's "official" website says she studied Shakespeare and method acting in New York from the age of 17.

She later featured in an advert for the animal rights group, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta).

Omar Abdullah upset with Dharma Productions

Even though the cinegoers are thronging to the theatres to watch the recently released Ranbir-Deepika starrer Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, there is one person who is not happy with the film. And that 'one person' is Omar Abdullah, the CM of Jammu and Kashmir. The reason? He is upset because the film portrayed Gulmarg as Manali. 

Omar, who took resort to micro blogging to vent his anger, tweeted, "It is irritating when we roll out the red carpet and facilitate the shoot only to have people believe its Manali." He also added that, "If anyone has seen the movie can you tell me whether they have at least mentioned the state in the credits (opening or closing) #YJHD." 

While on one hand, he wanted to know if there has been any credit mention in the film, on the other he also praised the ethereal beauty of Kashmir by tweeting "Those of you planning to visit Manali because of what you saw in #YJHD, except for the temple and Span resort, it's all Gulmarg." 

While on the other hand the makers of the film state that they have given due credit to the state as well as all representatives involved with the shoot in Kashmir. In fact the film features an opening slide that thanks the Chief Minister of J&K Omar Abdullah, the Minister of tourism G.A Mir and State Minister Sajad Ahmad Kichloo.