Double Oscar-winning composer A.R Rahman on Thursday revealed that he will perform at the 18th edition of the International Indian Film Academy(IIFA) Weekend, to be hosted in New York this July.

“It’s special IIFA New York for me. Celebrating 25 years. Come join me at IIFA Festival,” Rahman tweeted.

This year marks Rahman’s 25th anniversary in filmdom. In 1992, Rahman made his musical debut with Mani Ratnam’s “Roja”.

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This is the first time that the event will be held in New York “described as the city that never sleeps”. But the IIFA magic was first brought to Tampa Bay in the US in 2014, when stars like John Travolta and Kevin Spacey were in attendance.

The event, a”the biggest Bollywood celebration internationally”, will be held on July 14-15 at the iconic MetLife Stadium known for hosting National Football League games, major concerts and other entertainment events.

Apart from a plethora of Bollywood stars, southern film stars like Rajinikanth, Nagarjuna, Kamal Haasan, Allu Arjun and Jr. NTR are likely to attend too.

IANS

Hollywood has opened its doors to many Indian stars who are bagging noticeable roles in various projects. A case in point is Deepika Padukone. Priyanka Chopra, one of the most popular exports to Hollywood from India, says gone are the days when actors used to feel insecure with others’ success.

“That is such an age-old stereotype and definitely not in my DNA,” Priyanka told IANS when asked if actors today have become more open when it comes to appreciating the work of their colleagues, unlike the common perception that they have cat fights due to jealousy.

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“I’m very secure in who I am and the work I do. These are my friends and colleagues, and I like to share in their achievements and happiness. Good work should be applauded. I believe that there is enough work out there for everyone. We don’t live in the dark ages any more,” she added.

Priyanka’s journey in showbiz started at the age of 17 when she was crowned Miss World. It was followed by her Bollywood debut in 2003 with “The Hero: Love Story of a Spy”.

She later bagged the role of FBI agent Alex Parrish in “Quantico” for which she won the People’s Choice Award — the first South Asian actress to do so. The “Quantico” fame also got her a role in “Baywatch”, a movie alongside Hollywood A-listers Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.

The year 2016 also saw her becoming the presenter at Oscar Awards and Emmy Awards, followed by an invitation to the annual White House Correspondents Dinner.

She was conferred India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, the Padma Shri, and even featured in Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of the world.

And this has seen her winning her second People’s Choice Awards… and she just can’t wait for more.

“Yes, 2017 has begun well. To win a second People’s Choice Award, this time as a Favourite Dramatic TV Actress, is an awesome feeling. Winning an award from the people, the audience, is a vindication that both ‘Quantico’ and my character connected globally.

“Also, when I see the amazingly talented women I was nominated with, it feels like I must be doing something right. As for the rest of the year, I’m looking forward to it.”

The second season of “Quantico” and the shoot are on in full swing.

“‘Baywatch’ releases on May 26 and we will be promoting the film across the globe. As a producer with my production house Purple Pebble Pictures, I have a lot of exciting projects lined up across genres and languages. Many announcements are on the anvil on that front,” said the actress in an email interview.

It’s not just films, she is busy with brand endorsements too. Priyanka was announced the newest global brand ambassador of hair care brand Pantene, for which she launched a new product that promises to make hair thicker and stronger in 14 days.

Priyanka says she prefers to be careful about choosing the brands she endorses.

“I have to believe in a brand to endorse it. I look at products that I endorse as a consumer… Is it something I would use, do I like what it offers? If my name and brand are being used to advertise a product, then it’s something I believe in,” she said.

With so many things happening in her life and with so much success, is there something that this global star wants to achieve now?

“I just want to be the best version of myself as an entertainer and as an individual. I want to try new things, explore all aspects of my creative self and basically have an adventure every day. I have always believed that it’s never about the destination… The journey matters more,” she said.

IANS

Actor Vin Diesel believes with F. Gary Gray as the director, the eighth part of “Fast and Furious” movie will have a chance to win at an Oscar next year.

Gray’s “Straight Outta Compton” failed to win at this year’s 88th Academy Awards in the Best Original Screenplay category. However, Diesel feels the director will definitely win an Oscar in 2017.

“I think he went into making this movie with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, going ‘Oh, really? Okay. Now, I’m going to take the biggest saga in the world, and I’m about to throw Oscars at you. Wait till you see what he does’,” Diesel told etonline.com.

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“(‘Fast 8’) is different. It’s very dark,” said Diesel, who plays the role of Dominic Toretto in the franchise.

“My character is conflicted in a way that is really going to shock you. He’s coming off of a lot of emotion from ‘Furious 7′ and the loss that ‘Furious 7’ represents,” he added.

“Fast 8” is set to release on April 14, 2017 in the US.

IANS