'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' shines at box office in India

After breaking multiple records globally, Hollywood film 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' received good response in India, where it has minted Rs.4.58 crore till now.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Directed by J.J. Abrams, 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', which released in India on Friday, collected Rs.3.58 crore on its opening day. The film minted Rs.1 crore from paid previews, read a statement.

Released across 1,230 screens in India, according to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens', the seventh episode of the 'Star Wars' series, features Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver and Daisy Ridley.

“#StarWars enjoys great buzz among the movie-going audience and its business should escalate over the weekend. Strong word of mouth,” Adarsh posted on Twitter.

The film released to an estimated $238 million in North America, 14 percent ahead of "Jurassic World", which debuted at $208.8 million this summer.

'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' is only the third movie in history to open at over $200 million, besides its immediate rival 'Jurassic World' and 'The Avengers'.

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Robert Downey Jr pardoned for his drug offences on Christmas

This Christmas, Robert Downey Jr has received pardon for his drug offences by the Governer of California, effectively wiping clean his record. Jerry Brown pardoned the 50-year-old actor for his nearly 20-year-old felony of drug conviction that sent him to jail for nearly a year, reports a website.

Robert Downey Jr

Brown's office recently announced that Downey was among 91 people granted pardons for criminal convictions after demonstrating they had rehabilitated themselves.

While the pardon does not erase records of a conviction, it does restore voting rights and is a public proclamation that the person has remained out of trouble and demonstrated exemplary behavior. Downey Jr, who was once a courthouse mainstay for a series of drug-related arrests, has become perhaps Hollywood’s greatest success story for career and addiction rehabilitation.

The Avengers actor was busted on a highway in Los Angeles and convicted of felony drug possession after authorities found heroin, cocaine and a pistol in his vehicle in 1996. He spent nearly a year in prison in 1999 after violating his probation.

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Jennifer Lawrence visits Kosair Children's Hospital for Christmas

Jennifer Lawrence has kept up with her Christmas tradition since for the third consecutive year, she visited Kosair Children’s Hospital in her hometown, Louisville.

Jennifer Lawrence

The 25-year-old actress brought smiles to the little patients as she greeted fans and posed for photographs during her visit on December 23, reports a website.

The hospital posted several of the photos and wrote a special message to the Joy star for helping them.

The message read, “Jennifer Lawrence stopped by Kosair Children’s Hospital today! Thank you for bringing many smiles to the patients before the holidays.”

Not happening

Hollywood may be a go-to destination, but for Jennifer Lawrence, spending Christmas in Los Angeles is really 'unimaginable'.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 actress, who resides in the city for work, said that she always returns to her family in Kentucky for the festive season. She loves the fact that her father still dresses as Santa Claus every year and the whole family takes part in the same festive ritual.

The Oscar-winning star explained that she has a couple of nephews now and Christmas is much more fun when there are babies around. She gushed over her mom’s amazing dish of mashed potato, saying "she (mom) puts hot pepper into it and a thick layer of cheese and puts it into the oven and it’s so good. We have it every year with Christmas dinner."

Rihanna and beau Travis Scott cfaught in a club firing at LA nightclub

Night out turns nightmare for Rihanna and rumoured beau Travis Scott

Rihanna and her rumoured boyfriend Travis Scott were caught in a club firing. The singer was partying at Project Los Angeles nightclub on Wednesday night when a shooting took place outside.

Rihanna

As per reports, a group of men started arguing outside the club and one of them pulled out a gun. A shot was fired and chaos erupted. Police were called and they handcuffed five people, reports a website.

However, none was arrested or injured during the scuffle.

Rihanna was having a good time with hip-hop artiste Ty Dolla $ign inside before the incident. She was not involved in the altercation, but a video shows her exiting the club after the shooting.

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Justin Bieber could have died due to stress

Los Angeles: American talent manager Scooter Braun has revealed that singer Justin Bieber could have died due to stress and touring in 2013.

Justin Bieber. Pic/Santa Banta

The 'Baby' singer's reputation took a hit following a series of damaging stories shortly after he became a worldwide star.

Bieber's talent manager Braun shared how he refused to let the former perform in 2013 after he released his "Journals" album, reports mirror.co.uk.

"I was not going to let him work. He wanted to tour, and I honestly at that time felt, if he toured, he could die," New York Times quoted Braun as saying.

"The outsiders don't really know what was happening. It was far worse than people realize. and when he is ready, he will tell what he was going through. But it's a hard thing to watch someone you care and genuinely love go through that. I'm really, really happy that's over," he added.

Salman Khan on 50th birthday: It feels like I am turning 27

Salman Khan may be turning 50 today, but the Bollywood superstar says he still feels 27 is the perfect age for him.

Salman Khan

"I am turning 27. I think 27-year-old is the right age. I have always like that age. I am not scared about ageing. It is always going to be 27. So what is there to be scared off. It is a part of my journey," Salman told PTI in an interview.

Salman, the son of noted writer Salim Khan, made his debut with a supporting role in "Biwi Ho To Aisi". His next release "Maine Pyar Kiya" directed by Sooraj Barjatya, gave his Bollywood career a much needed push.

Over the years, he has gained a great fan base courtesy his films like "Hum Aapke Hain Koun", "Karan Arjun", "Biwi No.1", "Hum Saath Saath Hain", "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai", "Dabangg", "Bodyguard", "Ek Tha Tiger", "Kick", "Bajrangi Bhaijaan", "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo", etc.

The actor addressed as "Bhaijaan" of Bollywood is also involved in humanitarian work and tries to help the underprivileged through his charity organization "Being Human".

His life has been marred by many controversies and legal troubles over his tumultuous relationships, hunting of the endangered Chinkara deer, and the 2002 hit-and-run case.

However, 2015 was a great year for Salman, both personally and professionaly. His performance in Kabir Khan-directed film "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" and Sooraj Barjatya's "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo" were appreciated and both the films went on to became huge box office successes.

On the personal front Salman had a major relief in the face of Bombay High Court's verdict in the 2002 hit-and-run case acquitting him of all charges.

But the "Dabangg" star got caught in a controversy again after he posted series of tweets suggesting 1993 Mumbai serial blasts convict Yakub Memon was innocent and should not be hanged for the acts of his brother Tiger.

The actor later withdrew the tweets and apologized after criticism by his father Salim Khan.

Salman, whose love life has always made headlines is currently said to be dating Romanian girl Lulia Vantur, and is rumoured to be taking his relationship to next level by making it official sometime in 2016.

Lulia also featured in Salman's brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri's home production film "O Teri" in 2014.

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Salman Khan's 50th birthday bash - Cracker of a celebration

On Saturday evening, all roads led to Panvel as Bollywood's most desirable bachelor Salman Khan brought in his 50th birthday at his farmhouse there. Having wrapped up his work commitments early, the birthday boy parked himself at the party venue since afternoon. The entire place was elaborately illuminated, the grandeur enhanced by the steady stream of celebs, both from within and outside B-Town.

Photos: Celebs party with Salman Khan on his 50th birthday

The guest list had 400 names, but the turnout was a tad less than that. "Both Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan had confirmed their presence, but were nowhere to be seen at the party. In fact, Aamir's name was at the top of the list, but he could not make it since he is travelling with family for New Year celebrations. Shah Rukh also skipped the party because he was busy with some work. Katrina Kaif (Salman's ex flame) had also been invited, but she gave the celebrations a miss," says a source present at the bash.

Salman Khan with his three-tier birthday cake

In attendance were a host of Bollywood biggies including Anil Kapoor, Shatrughan Sinha, Rajkumar Hirani, Suniel Shetty, Farah Khan, Subhash Ghai, apart from several actresses and producers. Also seen was tennis champ Sania Mirza.

Salman Khan cutting the cake as his sisters Alvira and Arpita, mother Salma and brother Sohail Khan look on

Before cutting his birthday cake, Salman stepped out of the farmhouse to greet the surging crowd of mediapersons waiting to speak to him. During the interaction, the star spoke about the milestones in his career and what he feels about turning 50. He opened up about his personal setbacks, especially his 2002 hit-and-run case, saying a clean chit by the High Court was a burden off his parents' shoulders and that he would fight the case out in the Supreme Court too.

As the clock struck 12, confetti rained all around and the cake arrived. "It was a special, three-tier cake. On top, it bore pictures of Salman's beloved pet dogs MyJaan and MySon, who passed away a few years ago, and then there was a Being Human (the actor's charity foundation) tag and on the last tier, was a collage of his pictures. There were loud cheers and the Happy Birthday song rent the air as Salman cut the cake and fed it to his guests," adds the source.

Salman Khan posing a la Vin Diesel with Sania Mirza, Genelia and Riteish Deshmukh; posing for the media; and taking a selfie with a guest with Iulia Vantur in the background. Pics courtesy/Social media  

It was then time for the guests to hit the dance floor. Kangana Ranaut was among the first few celebs to shake a leg, grooving to the Banno tera swagger from her last hit, Tanu Weds Manu Returns. Young actor Sooraj Pancholi, whom Salman launched in his home production Hero a few months ago, performed on Badtameez dil from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013). Then, it was the turn of the birthday boy, who seemed jovial and glowed all night. Salman danced to quite a few of his songs amid wolf whistles and claps.

Kangana Ranaut arrives for Salman Khan's party. Pics/Yogen Shah

The star's rumoured girlfriend Iulia Vantur was also present, mostly by his side throughout the party that continued till the early hours of Sunday. The Romanian model photo-bombed some of the guests' pictures.

Sonakshi Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha

Tabu

Jacqueline Fernandez

Anil Kapoor 

Huma Qureshi

Raveena Tandon

Karisma Kapoor

Esha Gupta

Chitrangada Singh

Asin

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Priyanka Chopra chooses to stay mum on Kalpana Chawla biopic

Actress Priyanka Chopra chooses to stay mum on speculations that she has been approached for a proposed biopic on Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-American astronaut.

Priyanka Chopra

"There are bunch of films that have been offered to me, I can't commit which one I am doing. There are few really amazing scripts. I have lot of choices, but not much time," Priyanka said when asked if she would be part of the Kalpana Chawla biopic.

Kalpana first flew on space shuttle Columbia in 1997 as a mission specialist and primary robotic arm operator. In 2003, she was one of the seven crew members who died in the space shuttle disaster.

Priyanka has been part of biopic "Mary Kom", and the film had got good response from everyone.

"There are six films, I can do only two between India and America. I don't know what I will end up doing. It's difficult to decide," she said.

The 33-year-old actress reveals that due to the success of American TV show "Quantico", it has got extended and hence she can't do many films.

"The show 'Quantico' has got extended so I am caught up with it. We have dubbed 'Quantico' in 44 languages like Italian, Spanish, German, etc. We have got very good response for the show...so from 13 episodes to 22 episodes," she said.

"I did not expect this kind of response for the show.

I can only do two films and I am in a predicament of deciding what to do next," she said.

There is buzz that the "Barfi!" actress is likely to team up with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for a third film.

"We have been speaking for three-four films of which one to do first. He also has to make his mind which he wants to work on first. I am limited for time," she said.

Also, there were reports that Priyanka has been approached to be part of Salman Khan-starrer "Sultan", but she rubbished them.

"I have never been approached for 'Sultan'," she said.

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