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IANS News

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Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is a private Indian news agency. The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service. The IANS has its main offices located in Noida.

Articles Written By IANS News

COVID-19 effect: Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal postpone April wedding
2273 days ago
Bollywood

COVID-19 effect: Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal postpone April wedding

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Bollywood couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal have decided to postpone their wedding, which was scheduled to take place in April. ## "Given the current scenario and the unfortunate turn of events owing to the COVID-19 pandemic globally, Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha have decided to postpone their wedding functions to the later half of 2020 tentatively. They wish for everyone to be healthy and safe and at no cost would want their friends, families, and well-wishers to be affected," the couple's spokesperson confirmed. ## Richa and Ali, who worked together in the "Fukrey" films, have been dating for over four years. ## In February, they had even applied for marriage registration at a court in Mumbai. ## Richa, who was recently seen in "Panga", had two films lined up this year. She stars in the title role of the biopic "Shakeela", which accounts the life of the south Indian adult star Shakeela, and she also toplines Anubhav Sinha's next, "Abhi Toh Party Shuru Hui Hai". ## Ali Fazal has been gearing up for the release of "Death On The Nile", an English suspense drama directed by Kenneth Branagh and based on the late Agatha Christie's 1937 novel of the same name. Branagh returns as detective Hercule Poirot in the film, which also features Ali long with "Wonder Woman" star Gal Gadot, Letitia Wright, Armie Hammer, Annette Bening, Rose Leslie, Emma Mackey, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Bateman, Dawn French, Jennifer Saunders, and Russell Brand. ## With the coronavirus outbreak, both Richa and Ali's film assignments are bound to be pushed from their scheduled release dates. ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

COVID-19 effect: Salman Khan sketches and hums 'Kaho Na Pyaar Hai'
2273 days ago
Bollywood

COVID-19 effect: Salman Khan sketches and hums 'Kaho Na Pyaar Hai'

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) With shooting stopped owing to the coronavirus pandemic, Bollwood superstar Salman Khan has lots of time to pursue his passion of painting. ## The Bollywood superstar, who till a few days ago was shooting for his upcoming movie "Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai", has shared a video on Instagram where he can be seen sketching on paper. He captioned the video: "#sketching." ## The actor seems to be in a good mood because he can be heard humming the song "Kaho naa pyaar hai" as he paints two faces on a piece of paper with black pastel. ## Fans loved the sketch and flooded the superstar's post with comments like "multi-talented" and "all-rounder hero". ## Another fan tried to explain what the actor has sketched. She wrote: "Everyone will see it according to their perception. I'm seeing it as meditating Yogis. You are a real gem." ## Salman had often spoken about his love for painting in the past. The actor had revealed that he often stays up till late to paint while enjoying the silence of the night. ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

Sanjay Gupta to come up with 'Shootout 3'
2273 days ago
Bollywood

Sanjay Gupta to come up with 'Shootout 3'

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) After "Shootout at Lokhandwala" and "Shootout at Wadala", filmmaker Sanjay Gupta is all set to bring the third part of the popular action-packed franchise. ## He has already started writing the script of the film, which is titled "Shootout 3 - The Gang Wars Of Bombay". ## "Can you imagine spending your day between looking after six kids all under ten & trying to write your next biggie that involves a shitload of research? SHOOTOUT 3 - The Gang Wars Of Bombay. You better be worth it," Sanjay tweeted. ## He is also coming up with another gangster drama, "Mumbai Saga", which stars actors John Abraham and Emraan Hashmi. ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

Rajkummar: Always endeavoured to be part of inspiring cinema
2273 days ago
Bollywood

Rajkummar: Always endeavoured to be part of inspiring cinema

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) Acclaimed actor Rajkummar Rao, who has completed a decade in the Hindi film industry, says it has always been his endeavour to be part of inspiring cinema. ## Rajkummar made his Bollywood debut with filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee's "Love Sex Aur Dhokha". He was then seen in films like "Kai Po Che!", "Shahid", "Queen", "CityLights", "Aligarh" and "Trapped". The actor was last seen on screen in "Judgementall Hai Kya" ## About clocking ten years, Rajkummar said: "I am glad that in the course of my decade-long journey, I had the honour of working with some of the best minds in the Hindi film industry. It had always been my endeavour to be part of inspiring cinema." ## The 35-year-old star said that he is "very happy that for ten years filmmakers trusted me with their vision and placed their bets on my humble talents. I cannot thank them and the viewers enough." ## Now, Rajkummar has an exciting slate of work coming up. ## It includes "Ludo", "Roohi Afzana", the Netflix adaptation of "The White Tiger", "Chhalaang", "Badhaai Do" and "Chupke Chupke". ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

'Uri' fame child actress Riva Arora to feature in 'Little Princess'
2273 days ago
Bollywood

'Uri' fame child actress Riva Arora to feature in 'Little Princess'

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) Child artiste Riva Arora, who wooed the audience with her performance in the Vicky Kaushal-starrer "Uri: The Surgical Strike", will now feature in actor-producer Parass Saluja's film, which is tentatively titled "Little Princess and the Magic of Matunga". ## "It's interesting to do something for kids. Fantasy has always thrilled me and wanted to make something like this since a long time. And now with this film and Riva being the lead, we are absolutely excited and looking forward to this film," Parass said. ## The film is a magical drama and revolves around a group of children. It is written and directed by SP Mohit Kumar and produced under Fivelights entertainment and Squarelens Entertainment. ## Riva is also known for her role of late actress Sridevi's daughter in the film "Mom". ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

'GoT' star Indira Varma confirms she has COVID-19
2273 days ago
Hollywood

'GoT' star Indira Varma confirms she has COVID-19

Los Angeles, March 19 (IANS) "Game of Thrones" star Indira Varma appears to have confirmed she tested positive for COVID-19. ## The actress joined the series in season four and played Ellaria Sand from 2014-2017. At the moment she's starring in the stage production of "The Seagull" alongside fellow "Game of Thrones" alumni Emilia Clarke at the Playhouse Theatre in London, reports metro.co.uk. ## On Wednesday, she shared photos from the production, in which she's cosying up to her co-stars, as it was confirmed the play had been suspended. ## In the caption she mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic and said she was "sick in bed with it", while urging others to help one another out during the crisis. ## "So sad our and so many other shows around the world have gone dark affected by the COVID-19 pandemic," she wrote. ## "We hope to be back soon and urge you all (and the government) to support us when we do." ## Indira continued: "I'm in bed with it and it's not nice. Stay safe and healthy and be kind to your fellow people." ## Fans immediately rushed to the comments to share their well wishes, and for a speedy recovery. ## Varma's post comes just two days after fellow GOT star Kristofer Hivju revealed he tested positive for coronavirus, as the COVID-19 condition continued to spread around the world. ## For more and the latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned to us.

Radhika's experience of going from India to UK amid COVID-19
2274 days ago
Bollywood

Radhika's experience of going from India to UK amid COVID-19

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) Amidst strict border restrictions due to the outbreak of coronavirus, Bollywood actress Radhika Apte made it back with her husband musician Benedict Taylor to London. ## Radhika took to Instagram, where she detailed her experience about her immigration from India to the UK, during the pandemic. ## She wrote: "For all the many messages I received from friends and colleagues with concern and curiosity... I'm back in London safely. There was no issue at immigration. It was rather empty and had a wonderful chat with them! The Heathrow express was literally empty and barely anyone at Paddington either." ## "That's all for now! Thank you for all msgs xx Ps. BA flight was full! ?? (though two days ago when I went to India from London it was empty.) More ps. The immigration officers had no information to share regarding UK closing borders yet. #obvs #sillyme #goodtiming #travelinthetimeofcorona," Radhika added. ## At least 181 people in India have so far tested positive for the novel coronavirus which has now affected over 2 lakh people globally. ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

Drake enters self-isolation after Kevin Durant tests COVID-19
2274 days ago
Hollywood

Drake enters self-isolation after Kevin Durant tests COVID-19

Los Angeles, March 19 (IANS) Drake has entered self-isolation after basketball superstar Kevin Durant was diagnosed with COVID-19 just days after partying with the rapper. ## Durant is one of four team members who tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday, a week after he was spotted hanging out with Drake at West Hollywood hotspot Nice Guy, reports aceshowbiz.com. ## The "Life Is Good" hitmaker has now placed himself under isolation as a precautionary measure, reports the New York Post's Page Six. ## Drake shared a photograph of the friends' night out on Instagram last week and ironically referenced death in the accompanying caption which read: "life is a race and the grim reaper catches up...till then glasses up". ## The Canadian star has yet to comment directly on his contact with Durant, but he recently hinted at his home alone status as he showed off video footage of his indoor basketball court at his Toronto mansion. ## "My life for the next however long," he shared in the Instagram Story. ## Following the news of his diagnosis, Durant, formerly of the Golden State Warriors, told The Atlantic he was feeling fine and had not experienced any of the flu-like symptoms of COVID-19, but urged fans and followers to stay safe amid the ongoing health crisis. ## "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this," Durant said. ## For more and the latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned to us.

Negative thoughts, bad sleep habits can depress teens: Study
2274 days ago
Lifestyle

Negative thoughts, bad sleep habits can depress teens: Study

Sydney, March 19 (IANS) Nagging negative thoughts - and striving for perfection - keep teenagers awake at night, raising their chance of becoming depressed and anxious, say researchers. ## An online study of almost 400 adolescents aged 14 to 20 years confirmed the link, leading researchers at Flinders University in Australia, to recommend alternative treatments for repetitive negative thinking and perfectionism in dealing with delayed sleep and mental health problems among teenagers. ## The study, published in the journal Sleep Health,confirmed a link between repeated negative thinking and delayed sleep. ## "Repetitive negative thinking is habit forming and it can significantly contribute to making sleep difficult and causing depressed mood in teenagers, who already like to stay up late at night," said study researcher Michael Gradisar, Professor at Flinders University in Australia. ## "This study supports the need to recognise repetitive negative thinking in preventing and treating sleep problems, along with individual differences in perfectionism and mood," Gradisar added. ## According to the researchers, the role of repetitive negative thinking and perfectionism in explaining the link between sleep onset problems and depressed mood has important clinical implications through providing possible treatment targets. ## International studies indicates depression affects between three per cent and eigh per cent of adolescents. It is often recurring and may continue to develop into more severe depressive disorders during adulthood. ## In teenagers, depression can cause poor concentration, a loss of interest in schoolwork, difficulties in peer relationships, and even suicide, the researchers said. ## The researchers stresses that sleep plays an important part in preventing and treating depression in teenagers. ## Parents and carers can implement better sleep health by encouraging regular bedtime routines during the school week and weekends, and encouraging mobile phones to be turned off earlier in the evening, according to the study. ## According to the researchers, busy lifestyles, stress and screen time makes self-help and accessible resources for better sleep increasingly important. ## For more and the latest news about Lifestyle, stay tuned to us.

Lana Condor chastises Trump after 'Chinese virus' backlash
2274 days ago
Hollywood

Lana Condor chastises Trump after 'Chinese virus' backlash

Los Angeles, March 19 (IANS) "To All The Boys I've Loved Before" star Lana Condor has blasted US President Donald Trump after he refused to back down from calling the COVID-19 pandemic the "Chinese virus" during a White House press conference. ## The President was challenged on his choice of words by media representatives, who pointed out many Asians have been attacked over the health crisis, but Trump insisted his phrase was correct as the virus began in China, reports aceshowbiz.com. ## The 22-year-old actress was livid and urged Trump to choose his words more carefully. ## "You have no idea the ramifications your racist words & actions have on the Asian- American community. You simply cannot even fathom the danger you are putting our community in. How dare you. You should be ashamed of yourself," she wrote on Instagram. ## "You call yourself a leader? You know what leaders do? They LEAD by setting good examples and ACTION. Something we've yet to see you do. You need to take notes on Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, who is ACTUALLY leading -- by donating tests and millions of masks to America, bc (because) you haven't. Please. Be better. So we aren't afraid to leave our house in fear someone will verbally or physically abuse us because of your xenophobia." ## Lana captioned the note she posted: "Be better. To wake up to your chaos is truly a nightmare. Please. Be better. To my followers -- be safe. I love you." ## For more and the latest news about Hollywood, stay tuned to us.

Big B clarifies 'Home Quarantined' stamped hand not his
2274 days ago
Bollywood

Big B clarifies 'Home Quarantined' stamped hand not his

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) The photograph of a hand stamped 'Home Quarantined', which Amitabh Bachchan had tweeted, is not his hand, the actor has now clarified. ## Big B had tweeted the photo early on Wednesday and captioned it: "Stamping started on hands with voter ink, in Mumbai .. keep safe , be cautious , remain isolated if detected ." ## Fans immediately speculated it to be his own hand. Media reports also claimed the same. ## The veteran actor took to his blog to clear the confusion about the photo and stated that the hand in the photograph is not his. ## He wrote in his blog: "So the ‘hand' of indelible ink, that found its way on my social media became Breaking news on the Tv channels the entire day .. and concerned friends called in to give me courage and hope and determined to send me the good health bulletins each hour." ## He added: "I am well .. the hand picture is of someone else .. I was merely trying to inform all that the technology is working to safe guard those quarantined to stay at home and if someone were to encounter any one with the ink mark, to tell them to isolate themselves .. it is not my hand neither is it a deliberate effort to bring malign .. its just that media needs fodder .. else it dies." ## Amitabh Bachchan has been actively trying to spread awareness about COVID-19 for the past few days. He has also written a poem on it. The Bollywood megastar on Sunday had tweeted requesting his fans not to gather outside his bungalow Jalsa for their weekly darshan due to the pandemic and suggested them to stay safe. ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.

Neeraj Pandey's special tribute to Bollywood
2274 days ago
Bollywood

Neeraj Pandey's special tribute to Bollywood

Mumbai, March 19 (IANS) Filmmaker Neeraj Pandey has given tribute to Bollywood by naming each episode of his web series "Special Ops" after his favourite movie. ## Neeraj has directed the series along with Shivam Nair. The eight-episode Hotstar Special spy action thriller series is based on the role of Indian intelligence in a series of real terror attacks that India has faced over the last 19 years, including the 26/11 attacks. ## "Shivam and I have directed parts of every episode but have shared credits between us -- where every alternate episode is credited," Neeraj said. ## "Every episode is like a mini-film and we have treated it with the same scale. Small trivia -- all the episodes are names of films I have grown up on and I deeply love," he added. ## Shivam has directed every odd-numbered episode (1,3,5 and 7) while Neeraj has directed every even-numbered episode (2,4,6 and 8). ## The first episode is titled "Kaagaz Ke Phool". The second is named "Guide", third "Mughal-e-Azam", fourth "Hum Kisise Kum Naheen", fifth "Chaudhvin Ka Chand", sixth "Qurbani", seventh "Shatranj ke Khiladi" and the final episode titled as "Sholay". ## The show features Saiyami Kher, Karan Tacker, Divya Dutta, Vinay Pathak, Muzammil Ibrahim, Vipul Gupta, Sajjad Delafrooz, Parmeet Sethi, Gautami Kapoor, Sana Khan, Sharad Kelkar, K.P. Mukherjee and many others. The show went live on March 17 in seven languages on Hotstar VIP. ## For more and the latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned to us.