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Pitbull releases new song, proceeds to go to COVID-19 relief

Rapper Pitbull has dropped his latest song, "I believe that we will win". Proceeds from the song will be donated to coronavirus relief efforts across the globe.

He has released the song along with a lyric video showcasing the song's inspiring message, reports etonline.com. "You know what spreads faster than any virus? Fear/And when it comes to fear, you can either forget everything and run, or you can face everything and rise," Pitbull raps in the track.

"Let me tell you what I believe/ I believe we will face everything and rise." Pitbull had asked healthcare workers, parents and more to be a part of his new music video, which is yet to drop, last week.

"We believe that we can overcome. We are calling all students, medical workers, first responders, parents, grandparents, everyone from all over the world to be a part of Pitbull's video anthem. Proceeds will be going to various charities around that world," read a notice asking fans to submit videos of themselves dancing to the song.

Pitbull has been encouraging fans to maintain hope amid the coronavirus outbreak. "Let's show the world, how powerful it is when we come together to fight for one cause - that's called life," he had posted on Instagram on March 28.

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Five TV characters you'll relate to if you are into cleaning this lockdown period!

For all the cleanliness freaks out there, this will just bring a twinkle in your eyes! As we all are under the lockdown period, to fight against the coronavirus outbreak, one is surely finding something or the other to keep themselves occupied. And why not? We cannot just sit at home and do nothing for days, and maybe, months!

If you remember Monica's midnight cleaning shenanigans, Sheldon spraying disinfectant while covering his nose with his t-shirt and Emma cleaning a sharpener for 45 straight minutes, you're a true fan. With the lockdown extending, the reasons to not clean out your room are fading away by the minute.

Quarantine or not, cleaning is never a fun task. Well, unless you are one of these characters from popular TV series, that is. Here are 5 characters who will probably inspire you, if not, totally entertain you.

Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory:

If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that Sheldon Cooper would not have contracted coronavirus ever. Even in case of regular cold, Sheldon likes to keep himself isolated from his roommate and asks everyone around the 'sick' person to use Purell if they have come in contact with the person. He is the epitome of 'Social Distancing' and we should all take a few tips from him. Tune in to Comedy Central and learn the art of social distancing directly from the artist.

Monica Geller in Friends:

There's one thing certain about Monica that everyone knows, and it is that she is a neat freak that needs everything to be very clean (she cleans her vacuum cleaner with a smaller hand-held vacuum cleaner) In fact, she freaks out if something's even slightly out of place. The entire gang knows that if anything is not in its 'place', Monica is going to be mad. In fact, while the COVID-19 outbreak ensues, Monica would have made sure to use the 'fancy' soap every time you wash your hands to help keep coronavirus at bay.

Emma Pillsbury in Glee:

She's the most credible OCD character according to fans with a traumatic incident to back her story. Emma has been bedeviled by mysophobia (fear of germs and dirt) since childhood, when her brother pushed her into a runoff lagoon at a dairy farm. If you think Monica is bad, wait till you watch Emma wipe every grape she eats with a tissue before eating it. You could probably borrow her gloves and disinfectant wipes to keep the germs away.

Claire Dunphy in The Modern Family:

Claire is a perfectionist who needs everything to be exactly how she thinks is perfect. She can't stop trying to make her house look perfect and even makes her assistant do all the dirty work when challenged not to do anything on a particular day. If cleaning and reorganizing is something you considered doing while you spend time at home, take notes on how she makes sure her home looks perfect.

Winston Schmidt in New Girl:

Schmidt is the cleanest person you know. His OCD tendencies might be just the thing you need in life. Let's face it, he knows how to scrub down. Not only does he love to look good, but that quality spills over into his home too which must look pic and pan. He is a neat freak and hates it when someone puts something where it doesn't belong or tries to do something in a way that isn't as efficient as he wants it to be.

Catch these characters on Comedy Central in their element to motivate yourself to clean and tidying up your surroundings as we stay safe at home.

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Eli, The Ritual: Horror movies you can watch on Netflix to stay occupied during the extended lockdown

For many, social distancing, self-isolation, and quarantine is the new horror. The prime minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi, has already asked people to stay indoors for some more time. As the lockdown has been extended until May 3, 2020, T&C applied, we are here to save you from some boredom and anxiety.

We are sure you must have already binged-watched every other show, but what we have for you right now is a list of horror films you can watch and get frightened instead of fearing the virus. The more you keep yourself occupied and busy, the less you'll feel anxious and worried due to the lockdown. So, let's take a look at the Netflix list right away!

Eli

Well, well, well! This one will test your patience, and the climax of the movie is worth it! Why, you ask? This obscure story shares a rare tale of a little boy named Eli, and his struggle to fight disease. As he and his parents decide to self-isolate (relatable much?) to fight against what has struck the kid, Eli unravels his truth, unknown and unwitnessed for so many years! 

The Ritual

Starring Rafe Spall, Arsher Ali, Robert James-Collier and others, this one will make your heart skip a beat. It has scares, hidden truths, an unknown religious rite that takes the four friends, who have been exploring the woods of Sweden, down. Fair warning, not for the faint-hearted!

Apostle

Just like the Ritual, Apostle also has a history connected to the characters. In 1905, Thomas Richardson travels to a remote Welsh island to rescue his sister, Jennifer, who has been kidnapped and held for ransom by a mysterious cult. His journey unravels many realities but leaves him with the sacrifice of his own life as the only option to save everyone. Interesting, huh?

I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House

This one got me for real! If you are alone at home, the suggestion would be to skip this one. If you are with your quarantine special, I Am The Pretty Thing That Lives In The House will make a good watch. A nurse, who must take care of the house and its owner, a writer, ends up witnessing the reality of the haunted house. End? Well, we will leave it up to you to figure out what happens to the one who lives with an infected house.

Satanic

Satan's followers are scary, and if this entire plot of people worshipping Satan sends chills down your spine, abort mission! Right away! This too isn't for the ones who think Conjuring and Annabelle are scary. If that's what you think horror is, Satanic is surely not your cup of tea.

Scared already? Wait until you watch them all in a day, and share your experience with us! Also, stay tuned for the hidden gems on OTT platforms.

P.S: Stay tuned for our list of shows you can binge on this quarantine season, and don't let the boredom hit you even for a second!

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Extraction | Chris Hemsworth shares his experience shooting in India

We're asked to first wait at the Breakout Room, before being led to the Vetting Room (have spelt that right). After quite a few minutes, finally, allowed in to the Interview Suite. Felt like going past check-in, through security, into immigration.

Except, this passage to the Hollywood home of Australian-born superstar Chris Hemsworth — globally, best-known as the superhero Thor — with various check-points in place, is happening over Zoom, the video-conferencing app. There's a posse of international press logging in at their designated time-slots, from respective homes, across the world. All of them, like Hemsworth at his place, it appears, are living under lockdown, due to COVID-19 spread/scare.

"If you think about it, what we're doing is unbelievable," says Sam Hargrave, referring to the unusual manner of this junket. This is before formal conversations begin, with a moderator rotating questions, as per a pre-decided order. Everyone but the specific questioner's microphone is on mute. No doubt, these are extraordinary times.


Chris Hemsworth and Sam Hargrave (encircled) during the interview  

Hargrave, placed in the window to my right, is the director of the Netflix film Extraction, starring Hemsworth, that drops on April 24. If it wasn't for the pandemic, they'd both have been in Mumbai promoting this film. Which is where I am. And where, along with Ahmedabad, mostly, Extraction was shot.

What was that like? Hemsworth offers the common adjectives — life, energy, people, positivity —that the uninitiated usually refer to mean an overwhelming experience, which India, without a national curfew, can certainly be. He recalls, "The [crowds] couldn't have been more accommodating, supportive — thousands of people standing in buildings and bridges, watching and applauding. The shoot felt like being in a coliseum, or live theatre!"

For Hargrave though, besides sanity, there was also the question of maintaining safety: "We were doing intricate action sequences, with cars flying over locked-up streets, at 50 miles per hour. [At any point in time], you'd have 300 people for security personnel alone, to make sure no one got hurt."


A working still of Extraction

Hargrave is one of Hollywood's top stunt-coordinators, with films from the Marvel Cinematic Universe under his belt, including the Avengers blockbusters directed-produced by (Anthony and Joe) Russo Brothers.

Extraction however is Hargrave's first film as director, and evidently furthest from his comfort zone, given its setting to start with: "Joe Russo, who wrote the script, actually set the film in Dhaka [Bangladesh] and India. Because western audiences haven't seen much of that side of the world. It offered lots of opportunities, visually."

Directing, as a job, is challenging enough. Double whammy for the debutant was, as he puts it, "Directing actors in two different languages — Hindi and Bengali. Neither of which I speak! We had an interpreter with us. But because of the prep we'd put in during rehearsals, while I couldn't understand what they were saying [in the dialogue], I could tell the intention.


Randeep Hooda

"I knew when we'd nailed a take. And if something was off, I knew if we'd missed a line. With cinema, you can tell the scenario. Especially with action — once you've set up the hero and the villain, and they're at odds — the film speaks for itself."

One of the major Indian actors Hargrave directed for Extraction was Randeep Hooda, who comes up rather often in this conversation, as Hemsworth specifically refers to the "major [fight scene], involving hand-to-hand combat. It was so exhausting for both [Randeep and I]. Yet, when you've got an actor who's putting in a 110 per cent, neither of you is willing to quit, it's the best."

Which gives you fair sense of the film's genre — sort of a pure, street-style actioner in the old-world, Western mould. Hemsworth elaborates, "[It's] everything they used to do in the '80s and prior, [without] relying on special effects and green screen, because you couldn't. It was refreshing and rewarding to shoot like that."

Hargrave recalls, "When Randeep and I met, we spoke about the characters, relating them to the classic Westerns — Once Upon a Time in the West, The Good the Bad the Ugly..." Randeep has come again — maybe we could go further on that route (him and I went to the same school).

Or talk more about other Indian actors Hemsworth was referring to hanging out a lot with, while he was here. Or, perhaps mildly pick his brains on his last huge release, Avengers: Endgame — hugest one in the history of films!

Oh, I'm on mute. Chatting on a screen through a moderator is at best interviewing an interpreter, with a dysfunctional hearing aid. Feels rather distant. Upside? Could casually roll out of bed in boxers in Bombay, find myself seated opposite Thor for a few minutes, and then back to bed again. Done. Hoping it's not the new 'normal' though.

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Hollywood stars are going all out to raise funds for COVID-19 pandemic relief

A chance to act with Leo and De Niro

Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro are giving fans the chance to appear in their upcoming film, Martin Scorsese’s adaptation of Killers of the Flower Moon. DiCaprio and De Niro are using the upcoming production to raise funds for the All-In Challenge, an online initiative that gives stars from all corners of the entertainment industry a chance to offer donation initiatives to benefit America’s Food Fund, as per reports. They explained that those who make a donation will have a chance to win a walk-on role in the production.

Ellie helps those in lockdown

Singer Ellie Goulding has helped source 400 mobile phones, which will be given to homeless people to help them through the lockdown. The distribution of the phones began on April 15. The phones will go towards people that the organisation, Crisis, supports, as well as those who are staying in hotels across London.

Tom Hardy to read bed-time stories

Tom Hardy will read night-time tales on the long-running series Bedtime Stories. The episodes of the BBC Children’s channel CBeebies will run from April 27 through May 1. The episodes were shot in Hardy’s garden, following social distancing guidelines. He will be joined by his French bulldog named Blue for some of the bedtime stories. The development, the channel alludes, is a step further in providing engaging content relevant to the situation. 

Ben, Matt play poker

Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and other stars raised $1.75mn through poker, for an online celebrity poker tournament, All In For America’s Charity. They raised $1.75 million for Feeding America, a non-profit organisation that distributes food to those in need amid  the outbreak, as per reports. Celebrities such as Tom Brady, Adam Sandler and Bryan Cranston bought in for $10,000 each at the food bank fundraiser.

Off screen superhero Krasinski to play one on screen?

Actor John Krasinski, who has been lifting spirits amid the pandemic with his series, Some Good News, has reportedly met with Marvel Studios for an unspecified project. Although details about the project are awaited, it is reported that Marvel has been holding “virtual meetings” with actors, directors and writers lately, and Krasinski was one of them. It also indicated that Krasinski might be in talks for a role in Young Avengers. Another possibility that the site mentioned is a Fantastic Four reboot. Neither Marvel nor Krasinski has confirmed the development.

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Jamie Dornan: I am not closed off to being in an action movie

"Fifty Shades of Grey" star Jamie Dornan says he aims to do a variety of cinema and does not want to restrict himself to a particular genre. In an interview with Variety, the 37-year-old actor said he wants to keep challenging himself as he goes ahead.

"I think I have a stronger sense of what's not right for me. And one thing with this job is to challenge myself and one thing is to keep a very large element of variety. I just wouldn't and I'm not trying to discredit anyone who's in this world but I just couldn't be an actor who does action film after action film or, indeed, who does comedy after comedy," Dornan.

The actor, who found global fame with "Fifty Shades" film series, said for him, acting is an opportunity to play different characters. He, however, maintained that he is not averse to an action film.

"I'm not closed off to being in an action movie. I just don't want to do four a year. If one comes along and speaks to me, then yes, sure. And I think I've been lucky in everything post-'Fifty Shades'. "There's a lot in the market of the USD 5 to USD 15 million budget movie. And I personally believe that's where the best scripts are. I've done things like 'Anthropoid' or 'A Private War' and some of these movies, I'm really proud of. I'm just lucky they came my way because of the box office success of 'Fifty Shades'," Dornan added.

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Rita Wilson says having COVID-19 at same time as Tom Hanks made it easier

Veteran singer-actor Rita Wilson has said that it was easier for her to cope with the coronavirus as she was accompanied by her husband, Hollywood star Tom Hanks. The couple were among the first Hollywood celebrities to be tested positive for COVID-19, which has claimed over 150,000 lives globally. Hanks and Wilson were in Australia when they were diagnosed with the coronavirus. They have now recovered from it.

Talking with The Guardian, Wilson, 63, said the ordeal was a lot easier since they both had symptoms at the same time. "I think that having the virus at the same time made it that little bit easier. We were taking care of each other instead of having the pressure of taking care of one person and no one taking care of you or understanding that the person at home needs a break. "We were fortunate we were in a place where we understood what the other was going through," she said. However, Wilson, who previously battled breast cancer, said suffering from the COVID-19 was extremely difficult. "We both had a high fever and were extremely achey. I lost my sense of taste and smell, had stomach issues and shivering like you wouldn't believe. Yeah, I was scared.

"Extreme nausea, vertigo, my muscles felt like wet noodles, so I couldn't really stand. We were just trying to get through it," she added. Wilson said that Hanks, 63, presented'milder symptoms¿ than she had. "He did not have as high a fever. He did not lose his sense of taste or smell. But it still took us the same amount of time to get through it," she added. In a separate interview with The National Defense Radio Show, Hanks agreed that Wilson had a much tougher time than he did. "Rita had a much tougher time than I did. She had a much higher fever. She had lost her sense of taste and sense of smell. I had some bad body aches and fatigue," he said. Hanks recalled when he was locked down in a hospital with Wilson, he baffled a doctor by trying to do an exercise that left him "wiped" after just ten minutes. "She looked at me through her glasses like she was talking to the dumbest human being, and she said, (sternly) 'You have COVID-19'," the actor said.

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Hollywood actor Sean Penn spotted getting tested for Coronavirus

Actor Sean Penn was spotted getting tested for coronavirus with a nasal swab here. The 59-year-old star was at the free Malibu testing site set up by his organisation CORE (Community Organised Relief Effort), reports www.dailymail.co.uk.

He kept his backpack on as he leaned back in an outdoor chair to be tested by a staff member in a mask, gloves, face shield, and hazmat suit.

CORE, which Penn founded in 2010 to help with earthquake relief in Haiti, is now collaborating with LA Mayor Eric Garcetti to combat the ongoing health crisis. The non-profit's goal is to establish free drive-in testing sites in Los Angeles, working with both the mayor and fire department, according to USA Today.

Penn's goal is to "save lives and alleviate the depletion of resources" with the program. He himself works at the testing site in Malibu where he lives.

"We have an infrastructure in place to respond, and so we decided that we would if we could be value-added. It's something that we can adapt to very quickly with the training of the Los Angeles Fire Department initially. And then we're able to take all those firemen and put them back in to serve the people in the way that we need them to," he said last week.

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Hugh Jackman not interested in reprising his Wolverine role

Hollywood star Hugh Jackman says he won't return as Wolverine in any of the future "X-Men" films. Jackman, who tasted international stardom as Wolverine in his first Hollywood movie, admitted he departed the franchise at the right time.

He added that he is looking forward to some other actor take up the character of the adamantium-clawed mutant in a potential new take. "It was the right time for me to leave the party ¿ not just for me, but for the character. Somebody else will pick it up and run with it. It's too good of a character not to," Jackman told The Daily Beast.

The actor played Wolverine in the X-Men film series from 2000 to 2018, for which he holds the Guinness World Record for "longest career as a live-action Marvel superhero". His last turn as the mutant was "Logan", the 2017 sequel to "The Wolverine". The 51-year-old star said though a comeback sounds good, he would rather not return.

"It's kind of like, you're on your way home and your friend rings you and goes, 'Oh, dude, a new DJ just came on and the music is awesome, are you going to come back?' "And you say, 'Sounds good but¿ no.' They're fine with someone else," he said.

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Meghan Markle makes first appearance on Good Morning America since royal exit

The Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle made her first TV appearance on Monday since stepping down as a senior member of the British Royal family alongside her husband Prince Harry. According to Us Weekly, Markle's appearance on 'Good Morning America' was pre-recorded. The clip was to promote 'Elephant' the Disneynature documentary the 38-year-old narrated for the Disney+ streaming service.

The 'Suits' actor said in the interview which was recorded in the summer of 2019, "I'm really grateful to have the opportunity of bringing the story of elephants to life."

"I've been very lucky to be able to have hands-on experience with elephants in their natural habitat. When you spend time connecting with them and the other wildlife, you really understand we have a role to play in their preservation and safety," she continued.

"I hope that when people see this film they realise how connected we all are, and if we had more of an awareness about the obstacles we're facing, I think we'd take care of each other, this planet and animals in a very different way," shared the Duchess of Sussex.

The 35-year-old couple Markle and Harry initially moved to Vancouver Island in Canada with their 11-month-old son Archie before relocating to her native Los Angeles.

The couple, back in January, announced they will take 'a step back' as senior members of the royal family and instead work independently, splitting their time between the United Kingdom and North America.

The Duke and the Duchess of Sussex said their decision came "after many months of reflection and internal discussions."

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Lockdown diaries: 'Friends' star Matthew Perry tries nude eating

Actor Matthew Perry, best known as Chandler Bing in the popular sitcom "Friends", has been spending some time in kitchen amid the coronavirus lockdown. Taking to social media, Matthew posted a picture of cookies that he baked himself. More than the tempting cookies, it's his caption that grabbed attention of his fans.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

I made these by the way. Also I’m not wearing any pants. #gettingreadyforsomeseriousnudeeating

A post shared by Matthew Perry (@mattyperry4) onApr 20, 2020 at 6:07pm PDT

Revealing a bit of the trademark Chandler Bing wry humour, Perry wrote: "I made these by the way. Also, I am not wearing any pants. Getting Ready for some serious nude eating," he wrote.

On the work front, Matthew and his other "Friends" co-stars -- Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc -- will be soon seen in a "Friends" reunion special.

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Chris Noth shocks fans by shaving his head amid quarantine

American actor Chris Noth has made a drastic change during his coronavirus quarantine. The 65-year-old actor, on Monday took to Instagram to showcase his new look.

The 'Cast Away' star shared a picture of himself and captioned the post as, "I decided dealing with hair was superfluous during these times of quarantine."

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

I decided dealing with hair was superfluous during these times of quarantine-

A post shared by Chris Noth (@chrisnothofficial) onApr 20, 2020 at 12:49pm PDT

The fans were quick to compliment North on this new look.

One fan wrote in the comments section, "Omg, But looking good.

Another one wrote," It suits you!"

"Go off king," another follower wrote.

However, there were a few fans who didn't seem to love his new look, and wrote things like, "Noooooo," and "you look very different" in the comments.

Earlier this month, the 'Elsa and Fred' star shared a video message on Instagram, encouraging his fans to maintain social distancing.

The former 'Sex and the City ' star said in the video, "On behalf of the NYPD, I'd like to ask you to remember, as New Yorkers, we have to social distance, we have to stay inside until all of this passes. We can do it. We're tough, we're resilient and we have the best darn police force in the country."

"I'm not a cop, but I played one on TV. Stay safe, stay healthy, see you on the other side," he added.




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Extraction: Tyler and Ovi's special bond is something you don't want to miss!

Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is a fearless black market mercenary with nothing left to lose when his skills are solicited to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord. But in the murky underworld of weapons dealers and drug traffickers, an already deadly mission approaches the impossible, forever altering the lives of Tyler Rake and the boy. An action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thriller directed by Sam Hargrave, Extraction is an AGBO Films and TGIM Films, Inc. production, produced by Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Mike Larocca, Chris Hemsworth, Eric Gitter, and Peter Schwerin.

Amidst the action, the fights, the chaos and gangster war, Ovi (played by Rudhraksh Jaiswal) develops a special bond with Tyler Rake. He becomes Ovi's hero for being a brave man in the way he rescues people and is the best at what he does. Ovi sees Tyler's emotional side, hidden behind an otherwise strong exterior, and touches the chords of his heart with his kind words. The two share a beautiful bond of trust and friendship which is showcased throughout the film.

The film also stars Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, Pankaj Tripathi, Priyanshu Painyuli and David Harbour, among others. Extraction releases exclusively on Netflix on April 24, 2020.

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Halle Berry recalls moment when Pierce Brosnan saved her from choking

Actor Halle Berry has revealed that former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan once saved her life when they were filming "Die Another Day". Berry portrayed Jinx opposite Brosnan in the 2002 movie, which had marked his last outing as the suave British spy.

Talking to Jimmy Fallon on his "Tonight" show, Berry, 53, said during a scene, she started choking but Brosnan quickly came to her aid. "I was supposed to be all sexy, trying to seduce him with a fig, and then I end up choking on it and he had to get up and do the Heimlich," she said.

"That was so not sexy... James Bond knows how to Heimlich! He was there for me, he will always be one of my favourite people in the whole world," she added. The Heimlich manoeuvre is a first aid procedure used to treat upper airway obstructions by foreign objects. During the procedure, a sudden strong pressure is applied on a person's abdomen, between the navel and the ribcage. On the work front, Berry will be next seen in "Bruised" which also marks her directorial debut.

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Lockdown diaries: Tom Holland is being 'a little bit productive'

Spider-Man" actor Tom Holland says his time during the COVID-19 lockdown has been "a little bit productive". Holland, who is in London, opened about how he is being productive when he appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" through video-chat, reports hollywoodreporter.com.

When Kimmel asked how Holland is getting along with his family amid lockdown, the actor joked that there has been a lot of "getting drunk", adding that actor Ryan Reynolds recently sent him a case of "spider-gin".

He then went on to say that he is lucky to be "doing fine" and living in a place that has a nice outdoor space.

Holland then shared that he has been "a little bit productive" and has been writing a screenplay with his brother Harry -- which they have already sent out to producers. He joked that sending the script to people has been nerve-wrecking because they might find out that he's "stupid" or "can't spell anything".

Talking about the disruption to his projects, Holland said that he was in Berlin filming "Unchartered" when the coronavirus pandemic hit. Now, the film will be rescheduled. He will also be shooting the next "Spider-Man" installment in the near future, but he is unsure when.

Amid the ongoing health crisis, Holland is working with The Brothers Trust, a charity set up by his family to raise funds for various causes.

He is also keeping up with his co-stars, and recently Facetimed "Ironman" star Robert Downey Jr.

"Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is aired in India on Star World.

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Birthday Special: Movies to binge watch on Renee Zellweger's birthday

It should come as no surprise, but Renée Zellweger is one of the most prestigious and prolific actresses of her generation. With two Oscars, four Golden Globes, and literally dozens of other awards to her name, the actress's popularity has skyrocketed, and she's been wowing critics and moviegoers alike for decades now. She made her debut in the early 1990s, but it doesn't look like Zellweger will be stopping her reign anytime soon. Renee Zellweger has reaffirmed herself as one of the most captivating performers of our time and as she celebrates her 51st birthday, let's take a look at the mesmerizing roles played by the actress.

1. Bridget Jones' Baby

This 2016 follow-up to the first two films is occasionally a cheese-fest but it remains true to the eccentric earnestness that first made audiences love Bridget Jones. Zellweger brings her adorable clumsiness to the role yet again, as Bridget becomes pregnant and attempts to discern the identity of her baby's father. Catch Bridget Jones' Baby only on Sony PIX.

2. Appaloosa

Appaloosa is a gripping film that mixes the elements of a western culture with the crime genre which features many unlikely players. Ed Harris leads the pack, but Zellweger's character of a vengeful widow, is one of the film's biggest highlights and surprise. Watch Appaloosa only on Sony PIX.

3. Judy

Upon seeing the trailer for Judy, the 2019 biopic about an emotionally and physically distressed Judy Garland, it was easy to tell that Renée Zellweger would be recognized at every award show. This heartbreaking and gut-wrenching tragedy about the final year in the life and one of Hollywood's saddest stories could not have been brought to the screen with anyone but Zellweger in the lead role. Almost unrecognizable in the makeup and scars of an emotionally spent woman, Zellweger brings Garland's persona to life one final time.

4. Chicago

Stepping into Judy Garland's shoes earned her an Oscar, but Zellweger proved her musical talent long ago as Roxie Hart in this 2002 caper. Adapted from Bob Fosse and Fred Ebb's stage musical, the plot follows Roxie and Velma as they compete for fame after being arrested for killing their significant others. The film's music and dialogue are packed full of irreverent wit, and Zellweger's cheeky portrayal of Roxie is captivating as she seeks the spotlight at all costs. Her rendition of 'Roxie' is an incredible combination of suave dance moves and vocal power, which Zellweger demonstrated again 17 years later in Judy.

5. Jerry Maguire

'You had me at hello'. Those five words took Renée Zellweger from a relatively unknown actress to an overnight star following her portrayal of single mom Dorothy Boyd in Cameron Crowe's 1996 Jerry Maguire. Her struggles as a parent in the Cameron Crowe film, as well as her earnest relationship opposite Tom Cruise, both still hit hard.

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'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' release delayed

As part of Hollywood studio's scheduling changes due to the coronavirus crisis, the release of 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' has been delayed. Marvel's sequel to the 2016 Benedict Cumberbatch film, has been pushed back from November 5, 2021, to March 25, 2022, cited The Hollywood Reporter. The Sam Raimi directed film is being delayed for the second time.

It had already been pushed once because of the crisis from May 2021, to the early November frame. This change in the release date makes the movie the latest one to move out of scheduled dates due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

Earlier, owing to the global coronavirus crisis, Sony Pictures has pushed back two of its untitled 'Spider-Man' sequels. Meanwhile, the theatrical release of the much anticipated two chapters in actor Tom Cruise's action franchise - 'Mission: Impossible 7' and 'Mission: Impossible 8' has been delayed by the Paramount pictures.

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Ben Affleck won't let face masks stop him from smoking

It seems like American actor Ben Affleck has become a real smoke show. According to Page Six, the 'The Way Back' star took yet another stroll with girlfriend Ana de Armas in Los Angeles on Thursday (local time) but didn't let his face mask get in the way of stopping for a cigarette break. Photos show the 47-year-old actor keeping the mask over his nose as he puffs away, seemingly defeating the purpose of the mask.

The couple, who met on the set of their forthcoming movie, 'Deep Water,' were seen last week taking de Armas' dog for a walk.

During that walk, they opted to go mask-free but the 31-year-old actress did show off her 2,600 USD Gucci tracksuit.

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Chris Hemsworth recalls meeting Brad Pitt at premiere of 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood'

Australian actor Chris Hemsworth shared the details on a very relatable first introduction. According to Fox News, the 36-year-old actor told People magazine about meeting actor Brad Pitt at the star's premiere for his 2019 film, 'Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood'.

As per the outlet, Hemsworth was a little starstruck by Pitt and that's when things got bit awkward. The 'Star Trek' actor shared: "He went to do a handshake and I went for the hug, he was fine with it," Hemsworth recalled, noting that he "didn't get attacked" by Pitt's "security team or anything."

Hemsworth said of the actor, "It was fantastic. He was as wonderful and pleasant as I'd hoped and imagined." In the Quentin Tarantino-directed film, Pitt co-starred alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and the film was sei in the final years of Hollywood's Golden age.

Although Hemsworth didn't appear in the movie, a lot of stars attended its Los Angeles premiere to be one of the first to view the movie, reported People magazine.

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Elizabeth Hurley shares picture in bikini top, denim shorts during quarantine: 'Spring has sprung'

It seems like English actor and businesswoman Elizabeth Hurley is taking some time to soak up the nice weather amid self-isolation. The 54-year-old British model took to Instagram on Friday to share a photo of herself. She was seen rocking a hot pink bikini top featuring gold chain detailing from her swimsuit line paired with denim shorts while she stood outside, raising her arms in the air.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Spring has sprung #stayhome 😘

A post shared by Elizabeth Hurley (@elizabethhurley1) onApr 24, 2020 at 12:11pm PDT

Hurley captioned the picture as, "Spring has sprung #stayhome," reminding her social media followers to continue to social distance amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

She has been quarantined in her Herefordshire country home alongside eight other family members, including her 18-year-old son Damian and widowed mother Angela.

Earlier this month, the star opened up about what it was like living with her relatives, comparing it to a '70s series 'The Waltons". It followed a family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression.

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Mark Ruffalo gets nostalgic as Avengers Endgame clocks one year

Sharing a throwback picture from the purple carpet premiere of 'Avengers Endgame,' actor Mark Ruffalo on Sunday said that he is feeling nostalgic as the film completed its first anniversary.

The actor took to Instagram to reminisce about the film and posted a picture of himself and a group picture of the cast of the film from the premiere.

Decked up in a black suit, Ruffalo is seen posing at the purple carpet event in the picture.

"Feeling nostalgic that it's been a year since #AvengersEndgame was in theaters. Thank you all for being a part of this wild journey with us #LoveYou3000," he captioned the picture.

The film 'Avengers Endgame' by Marvel comics was released on April 26 last year and became a blockbuster hit within few days of hitting the screens.

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Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger expecting their first child soon

Actor Chris Pratt and his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt are expecting their first baby together. The two had exchanged vows on June 8 last year and now they are gearing up for the next chapter in their lives, sources told people.com.

The baby on the way will be Katherine's first child while Pratt already has a son Jack, whom the actor shares with ex-wife Anna Faris.

This comes after Katherine, who is currently on a virtual book tour for her bestseller, The Gift Of Forgiveness, was spotted out walking her dog with her mother, Maria Shriver on Friday, sporting what looked to be a baby bump, reports dailymail.co.uk.

For the day outing, she chose a baggy, beige striped low-cut jumper, which looked to be a piece of maternity clothing.

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BLACKPINK member Lisa accused of copying choreography

Popular K-Pop band BLACKPINK member Lisa has been accused of plagiarising choreography of a black choreographer named Cierra Nichols.

Lisa posted a video of her performing a dance style to the number "Mushroom Chocolate" before Nichols accused her of stealing her choreography, reports aceshowbiz.com.

In the K-pop star's video, Lisa could be seen performing while lying on the floor, she later got back up and continued her routine, reports aceshowbiz.com.

In Cierra's video, which was uploaded a month before Lisa's, she mostly danced laying on the floor.

When Cierra got to know about Lisa's choreography, she took to Instagram to call her out saying: "In today's episode of 'Let's Steal from Black People' a Korean singer gets 7.8 million views in a day using most of your choreography. Love that for us."

Cierra then took to Twitter and wrote: "Convinced people can't read. I know to credit someone if I clearly pulled from it. I seen the inspiration the girl looks great."

"It's okay, though doesn't look s**t like when I did it anyway."

Cierra even responded to a social media user who watched her video after looking at Lisa's: "Because of Lisa and her choreographer using my moves."

In another post, she insisted: "It's not about the drama girl I could care less but it's clear where the beginning got its inspiration. It's clear there not doing anything like mine. That's why I'm fine."

Lisa has not replied to the accusations yet.

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Jessie J tells ex-boyfriend Channing Tatum: She's 'Grateful' they met in a heartfelt birthday message

English singer-songwriter Jessie J remembered her ex-boyfriend Channing Tatum on his 40th birthday on Sunday, telling him he's "truly one of a kind."

The 32-year-old singer took to Instagram and shared a throwback picture featuring the 'Magic Mike' actor standing in clear blue ocean water. She captioned a throwback photo on her Instagram Stories, "Happy 40th Birthday to this special man right here. You are truly one of a kind. I am so grateful you were born, and even more grateful we met."

Jessie also shared another black-and-white photo of the '22 Jump Street' star in motorcycle gear as he holds a helmet. And posted a video of Tatum taking a leap into the water. "Keep living your BEST life!" the 'Nobody's Perfect' singer wrote.

These sweet messages came by the songstress in less than a month after the pair called it quits on their on-again relationship. Jessie and Tatum had reconciled in January after splitting a month earlier.

At the time, an insider to the outlet told that the couple had worked hard to re-establish their relationship but realised that they were better off as friends.

In October 2018, the outlet broke that the 'Step Up' star and the 'Nobody's perfect' singer had been quietly dating for a couple of months.

The pair connected shortly after Tatum and Jenna Dewan announced their separation in April 2018 after nine years of marriage. The exes, whose divorce was finalised earlier this year, share daughter 6-year-old daughter Everly (Dewan has since moved on with Broadway star Steve Kazee. They got engaged in February 2020 and welcomed son Callum the following month.)

Jessie and Tatum were supportive of each other throughout their relationship, with the actor attending several of her concerts, while she cheered him on at the opening night of his 'Magic Mike' show in London in November 2018.

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Grammy-nominated gospel singer Troy Sneed dies from COVID-19

Grammy-nominated gospel singer Troy Sneed has died from complications with the coronavirus. He was 52. Sneed's publicist, Bill Carpenter, shared that the singer passed away on Monday at a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, reports usatoday.com.

Sneed earned a Grammy nomination for his work on the Youth For Christ's 1999 album, "Higher". The singer traveled throughout the US early in his career to sing the gospel with the Georgia Mass Choir. He arranged music on their albums and appeared with the choir in the 1996 film "The Preacher's Wife" starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington. He also served as a producer on Youth For Christ's "The Struggle Is Over", which was at No. 1 on Billboard's gospel songs chart in 2006.

As a solo artist, Sneed released seven albums and had several hit songs within the gospel realm including "Work it out" and "My heart says yes". He is also known for the upbeat "Hallelujah".

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Richa Chadha-Ali Fazal party with Mindy Kaling, on Instagram

As the world began bingeing on Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher's new creation, Never Have I Ever, British musician DJ Rekha and Poorna Jagannathan — who plays a pivotal role in the comedy — hosted a special Instagram party on Sunday to celebrate the series. A Bollywood-themed virtual bash seemed like the perfect way to tackle the lockdown ennui as several stars around the globe logged in to congratulate Kaling on her latest offering. Amongst the Bollywood stars to join the fanfare were Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal.


Mindy Kaling

A source reveals, "It was essentially a lockdown party with Mindy joining in from the US, and Richa and Ali logging online from Mumbai. Oscar-winner Mahershala Ali too attended the virtual do. Most of the stars had watched the show beforehand. While they loved how the slice-of-life series captured the joys and sorrows of a second-generation Indian teenager growing up in the US, the larger discussion was about how it beautifully highlighted the issues faced by people of different ethnicities through the protagonist and her diverse set of friends. DJ Rekha made sure that the party, though online, wasn't without its share of music as she belted out hits from her console."


Mahershala Ali

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Jimmy Fallon blushes as Kate Hudson jokes about his crush on her during 'Almost Famous'

American actor Kate Hudson recently appeared on a virtual chat on 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,' and she reminisced the 2000 film 'Almost Famous' and talked with her old pal about how "wild" it is to revisit that time.

According to E!News, the 41-year-old actor and Fallon both starred in the 2000 film 'Almost Famous' but even two decades later, there's a lot to know about what went down during that time. As the two talked about recently appearing on a podcast dedicated to the film, Hudson said, "There were so many things that I forgot... that I remembered while we were doing the interview. It was such a beautiful walk down that time in our lives. What a special experience for everybody that was."

Hudson then reminisced the 'Almost Famous' days and jokingly said, "And then there were relationships that came out of it, which by the way we need to discuss."

The 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,' host Fallon then shared the story of how he tried to woo the actor years ago but ended up introducing her to her now ex-husband Chris Robinson.

Hudson referred to an older episode from 2018 clip from 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,' when Fallon revealed to Margot Robbie that he had a crush on Hudson earlier. After which Fallon asked her, "Did you see it?"

She said, "Yes, are you kidding me? I had like 100 people send me that clip. Can I just tell you what happened to me as I was listening to this?"

The 'Raising Heaven' star went on, "I was like, Jimmy... I had no idea like there was no... like I wish people could have been in our body to watch you and I's relationship and friendship because... you gave me no indication."

Fallon answered even as he blushed, "Well, I gave a little indication, I thought we were good together."

She said, "Jimmy if you would have actually made a move, I would have totally gone there. I remember thinking to myself, why has Jimmy never made a move? And then I just kind of realized, 'Oh, he's not into me like that.' And so, then I met Chris."

But Fallon interjected, saying, "That's not the story at all!"

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Gigi Hadid, Zayn Malik are expecting their first child

Fashion model Gigi Hadid and her boyfriend Zayn Malik are expecting their first child together. The news of the 'Victoria's Secret' model's pregnancy was reported by TMZ.

"Gigi is 20 weeks along, and both their families are happy" the publication quoted the family sources for the couple as saying. The model who rang in her 25th birthday on April 23, took to social media to share multiple pictures from the celebration.

As reported by E! News, the couple who started dating in 2015, officially called it quits in 2018.

However, Gigi and former 'One Direction' member came back together just before the December break and the singer reached out to Gigi last month and she seemed to be giving him another chance.

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Angelina Jolie sends condolences to Irrfan Khan's family

Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie has expressed her condolences on the demise of Indian actor Irrfan Khan, in a message shared with IANS.

"I had the privilege of working with Irrfan Khan on the set of A Mighty Heart. He stood out for his generosity as an artist, which made it a pleasure to work in any scene with him. I remember the intensity of his commitment, and equally his smile. I send my condolences and my sympathy to his family, his friends, and all admirers of his work, in India and around the world," Jolie said in her message.

"A Mighty Heart", is a 2007 drama directed by Michael Winterbottom based on the 2003 memoir of the same name by Mariane Pearl. The film accounts the aftermath of the kidnapping of Marianne's journalist husband Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, and his subsequent beheading by the kidnappers.

Jolie played Marianne Pearl while Irrfan impressed Karachi police chief Zeeshan Kazmi, in a well-written role. Most of the Karachi sequences of the film were shot in Pune.

The critically-acclaimed film was screened out of competition at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, and is widely considered one of the earliest films to train the global spotlight on Irrfan Khan.

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Kids' Choice Awards: Avengers: Endgame, Stranger Things, Billie Eilish, BTS and more win at virtual show

After the decision to postpone the event due to the coronavirus crisis, the Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards on Saturday, rather, held a virtual telecast which was no short of slime and the awards.

On Saturday a virtual show was hosted by the 'Victorious' star Victoria Justice of the event, whic was originally scheduled to take place on March 22 in Los Angeles.

The star-studded awards show had specials appearances of 'The Avengers' cast including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, and Jeremy Renner.

The team's big hit superhero film 'Avengers: Endgame' won favourite movie, and 'Spider-Man' actor Tom Holland was voted favourite superhero.

Netflix's 'Stranger Things' grabbed the favourite TV show awards, meanwhile, the young star Millie Bobby Brown took home the favourite female TV actor award for her role as Eleven.

In the music category, artists including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Shawn Mendes, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, and BTS took home the glory.

Reported by Variety, the show also made USD 1 million donations to No Kid Hungry, a national campaign to help end childhood hunger and support people affected by coronavirus crisis.

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John Cena pays his respects to Irrfan Khan by sharing his picture on Instagram

After mourning the demise of the late veteran actor Rishi Kapoor, WWE champion and Hollywood actor John Cena has now taken to social media to pay homage to Irrfan Khan, who too passed away.

Remembering Irrfan, Cena posted a picture of the former from his famous movie Life of Pi. Reacting to the post, several users thanked Cena for paying tribute to Irrfan.

"You care for the Indian people ..love you Cena," a social media follower commented. Have a look right here:

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by John Cena (@johncena) onMay 2, 2020 at 4:40am PDT

Irrfan breathed his last on April 29 at the age of 54. He was admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital with a colon infection earlier this week. However, he succumbed to his ailment.

This is not the first time that Cena has posted a picture of an Indian celebrity. His account also includes pictures of the likes of the batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, actress Shilpa Shetty and Bigg Boss 13 contestant Asim Riaz.

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Lockdown diaries: Selena Gomez working on new music

Amid the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, pop star Selena Gomez has set up a small studio at her home, and is working on new music. The singer took to Instagram to share a picture of her home recording studio, reports dailymail.co.uk.

 
 
 
View this post on Instagram

Makeshift studio so I can work from home 🎧🎼🎤

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) onMay 2, 2020 at 12:53pm PDT

In the picture, the 27-year-old is seen sitting on the floor next to her furry slippers in front of a studio, with a professional microphone, mic stand, and insulated walls. She is wearing a grey tee with a pair of dark blue pants, she also has a book with a sketch on one side and another book with notes kept in front of her.

"Makeshift studio so I can work from home" she captioned the image. Recently, during a conversation with Apple Music's Zane Lowe, Gomez revealed her plan to build a home studio.

"Currently I'm actually building this little studio situation and I'm doing it with the people that have been in my house," she said.

"So I'm creating a little station where I'm going to be able to FaceTime with my engineer and some of my producer friends and we're going to try to make some music, which I'm so excited about," she added.

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Katherine Schwarzenegger shows off her growing baby bump during stroll in LA

American author Katherine Schwarzenegger showed off her growing baby bump while walking her dog Maverick in her Los Angeles neighbourhood on Saturday. According to People magazine, the pregnant 'The Gift of Forgiveness' author was spotted wearing simple black leggings and a black T-shirt paired with a hat and sunglasses.

Schwarzenegger is expecting her first child with husband and American actor Chris Pratt, the outlet confirmed last week. This will be the first child for Schwarzenegger Pratt and the second for Pratt, who shares seven and a half years son Jack with ex Anna Faris.

The couple were spotted riding their bikes in Brentwood, California, just after the exciting news came out. Pratt covered his face with an American flag bandana while his pregnant wife hid her bump in a white T-shirt.

The duo began dating in summer 2018, tied the knot about 10 months ago and have been ready to expand their family ever since.

Recently, a source to People said: "After they got married, they couldn't wait to grow their family. Jack will be a great big brother. Katherine always says that he is the sweetest, most caring boy."

"They can't wait for Jack to have a sibling," a friend added.

Pratt, on Thursday, discussed their new addition to the family with his mother-in-law, Maria Shriver.

Shriver, and Schwarzenegger Pratt's brother, Patrick Schwarzenegger, spoke with the 'Jurassic World 'star for a #HomeTogether Instagram Live chat.

During the chat, they discussed Pratt's recent 'Parks and Recreation' reunion special that raised funds for Feeding America.

After Pratt raved about his in-laws, Shriver also mentioned her daughter's baby on the way.

Pratt said: "I really love what you're doing. This is really fun, and being right here, right now, it's just uncanny, you guys are both just so beautiful. I'm so lucky to have married into such a gorgeous family."

Shriver said in return: "You're gonna have another beautiful family member."

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Celebrating Star Wars Day, The Big Bang Theory way

May the Fourth Be with You! Every year, the 4th of May is celebrated as Star Wars Day as a take on the pun around the catchphrase "May the force be with you". If you've ever watched The Big Bang Theory, you'd know that Sheldon, Lenard, Raj and Howard are some of the biggest Star Wars Fans and everything related to Star Wars gets them super excited.

Throughout the series, the four of them have constantly paid homage to Star Wars through catchphrase dialogues and special episodes. It's always more fun to celebrate something when you celebrate it with other fans especially loyal ones like our four physicists.

Here are 5 times 'The Big Bang Theory' paid homage to Star Wars that you must watch this Star Wars Day:

The Star Wars Gaming Marathon:

"Movies or Video Games? Or Board Games? Or trade-card games? Or Legos? Or dress-up? Or comic books? Or dramatic readings of novelizations? Yes, to All!" That's how excited Sheldon is in the episode "The Weekend Vortex" when he hears his friends want to have a 'Star Wars Marathon'. Showing their passion for Star Wars and the excitement for anything remotely related to it, the show intrigued all the fans of the series.

What to watch out for: Raj's diet plan when in a 48-hour lockdown

Force Awakens Audition

The episode features a special case scenario when Penny couldn't get her BIG Break and Lenard goes an extra mile to get her an ultimate Star Wars movie, which has him excited but makes Penny a little hesitant. Creating a joke around how Howard too applied for the role online, Lenard tries to make Penny feel better.

What to watch out for Howard's audition tape or more like embarrassment tape

James Earl Jones guest stars:

The episode features a special appearance by Mr. James Earl Jones who played the voice of the Darth Vader in Star Wars movies. Sheldon meets Mr. Earl Jones in a restaurant where he takes a liking to Sheldon and the two ends up embarking on a jam-packed night filled with ice cream, karaoke, and even a strip club. Don't we wish the same!

What to watch out for: Sheldon's wild ride on the giant wheel with James Earl Jones aka Mufasa

The opening night of the Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens:

With a special episode for the release of the new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, the show takes an important twist in the romantic life of Amy and Sheldon. Simultaneously, Lenard, Raj and Howard have an extra ticket to the opening night of one of the biggest sequels in pop culture history. The excitement and the loyalty for the movie is something that will want you to join in the fun too!

What to watch out for: Sheldon's birthday present for Amy

Leonard and Sheldon drop by Skywalker Ranch to meet George Lucas:

Lenard and Sheldon are on their way to give a lecture at UC Berkeley and decide to make a pit spot in Star Wars director George Lucas' headquarters. Upon arrival, the security guard won't let them in – but, because only Star Wars can throw Sheldon into an illogical frenzy, that doesn't stop him from attempting to run in. The sheer determination with which they want to meet George Lucas will win your hearts.

What to watch out for: Penny vs Amy vs Raj in Ping-Pong competition for Howard's collector's 'Doctor Who Tardis'

That's not all Folks! Watch "The Proton Transmogrification" where Sheldon has an in-dream counselling session with Arthur Jeffries (Bob Newhart) aka Prof. Proton. Also, do not miss out on "The Bow Tie Asymmetry" where Amy's dream wedding becomes Sheldon's dream wedding when Mark Hamill aka Luke Skywalker officiates their wedding.

Tune in to Comedy Central on the 4th of May from 4 pm to 7 pm to watch 7 back to back episodes of The Big Bang Theory and Celebrate Star Wars Day with your favourite Geniuses.

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Katy Perry: Not complaining, but I can't drink because I am pregnant

Singer Katy Perry, who is expecting a baby with fiance Orlando Bloom, says she misses drinking alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. The 35-year-old star made the comment while filming a Facebook Live video, reports dailymail.co.uk.

She told fans: "I'm not complaining, but I can't drink because I'm pregnant. Some of you already have a cocktail getting ready or you have your favourite IPA. Or your favourite rye whiskey or your favourite white wine or rosé or whatever your favourite drink is. I mean, honestly, just Bud Light with a little lime, I'm very excited for the future when that can happen. Which will be years, probably."

During the chat, she also admitted she probably wasn't going to be able to have a baby shower due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"I know not everyone does a babymoon or a baby shower. But I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to do any of that," she said.

She continued: "I'm just taking it one day at a time. But I'll be grateful. I mean, I'm grateful now, but there's a lot going on."

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Selena Gomez to headline new cooking show on HBO Max

Singer Selena Gomez will host and produce a new cooking series for the upcoming streaming platform HBO Max.

"I've always been very vocal about my love of food. I think I've been asked hundreds of times in interviews if I had another career, what would I do and I've answered that it would be fun to be a chef," The Hollywood Reporter quoted Gomez as saying.

"I definitely don't have the formal training though! Like many of us while being home I find myself cooking more and experimenting in the kitchen," the 27-year-old singer added.

The cooking show will be a 10-episode series, with each episode having Gomez joined remotely by a different master chef.

Each installment will also highlight a food-related charity and struggle of learning to cook.

The 'Wolves' singer will also executive produce via her July Moon Productions, along with Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman of Industrial Media's The Intellectual Property Corporation.

The upcoming subscription streaming service, HBO Max, from WarnerMedia Entertainment, will debut on May 27 in the US.

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Sylvester Stallone working on 'Demolition Man 2'

Hollywood heavyweight Sylvester Stallone has revealed that a sequel to his 1993 "Demolition Man" is on the way.

The 73-year-old actor-filmmaker said that he is in talks with Warner Bros Studio for a follow-up to the sci-fi action film. Asked if there would be another "Demo Man", Stallone said, "I think it is coming." In an Instagram Q&A, the actor said, "We're working on it right now with Warner Bros and it's looking fantastic, so that should come out. That's going to happen."

The original also starred Sandra Bullock, but there's no word on whether she will return. "Demolition Man" follows two men: an evil crime lord (Wesley Snipes) and a risk-taking police officer (Stallone). Cryogenically frozen in 1996, they are reanimated in 2032 to find mainstream society changed and all crime seemingly eliminated.

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Mindy Kaling: Growing up, no one looked like me on TV

For long, Mindy Kaling felt like an outsider in Hollywood due to constant reminders that she is different — thanks to the stereotypical attitude towards her ethnicity and gender. The actor, who has Indian roots, is glad that things are changing, and says right representation matters. "We talk about how representation matters in Hollywood, so much that it almost loses its meaning. But it's real," said Kaling while talking about how things have changed for women of colour in the West.

"Growing up, I realised that there was no one who looked like me on TV, so I often found myself drawing parallels to people who are like me on shows like the Cosby Family or characters on white sitcoms. You cannot imagine how excited I was when Bend it Like Beckham (2002) came out. The idea that I could actually see people from my community on screen blew my mind," added Kaling, who is basking in the appreciation coming her way for her latest Netflix show Never Have I Ever.

Kaling has been a torch-bearer for diversity and right representation. At 24, she was the only woman and person of colour when she joined the writing team of popular show, The Office, in which she also essayed role of Kelly Kapoor. She also became the first woman of colour to write, star in and create the primetime sitcom titled The Mindy Project in 2012, which not only got her wider attention but global fame as well.

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Julie Andrews on evading casting couch in Hollywood

Veteran Hollywood actress Julie Andrews says having children and being married to late filmmaker Blake Edwards protected her from the casting couch early in her career. "I was certainly aware of tales about the casting couch," theguardian.com quoted Andrews as saying.

"But I was so busy working and raising my kids and being married to Blake Edwards eventually, it was an extremely busy life, and to a certain extent that put a protective fence around me, I think," she added. It was in 1964 when she got her big break in Hollywood with the role of Mary Poppins. Andrews got married to Edwards in 1969. In the 1970s, the couple adopted two daughters -- Amy in 1974 and Joanna in 1975.

Andrews was born as Julia Wells in Surrey in 1935. Her father was a "gentle and adoring" man Ted Wells and mother Barbara Morris was erratic. When she was young, her parents split up. Andrews went on to live with her mother and step-father Ted Andrews -- who was not only an alcoholic but also tried to get into Andrews' bed two times, as mentioned in the piece.

Asked if her desire to adopt children stemmed from her turbulent childhood, Andrews said: "I think it had more to do with -- well, you know, I was just a working girl in my teens, travelling around England, singing my heart out, learning my craft. But once I got to Broadway and Hollywood, the films drew me into that particular work, and I found that it was what I wanted to embrace, because it was giving me so much pleasure."

"Those movies led me into this concern for kids, and I think probably subliminally I was trying to give them as good a feeling as I could. I have no idea if that comes from my own childhood. It was just the way I stumbled forward in the world. Does that make sense? I hope it does," added the actress, who was referring to iconic films "Mary Poppins" and "The Sound Of Music".

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Empire, Shark Tank, StartUp: These business shows that will bring alive the entrepreneur in you

If you are a budding entrepreneur and an avid watcher of TV shows, you must be certainly thinking of which product to launch post the lockdown and if there are any shows out there that can help you better assess the target audience, risks, financial aspect amongst other facts that are involved with launching your own business.

While business markets and sectors are certainly a tough place to be in with a humongous competition, here are a few shows that will give you a glimpse of the entrepreneurial world with a few lessons that will help you through your journey.

Silicon Valley

Created by Mike Judge, Silicon Valley is a critically-acclaimed sitcom that follows the struggle of a group of young software programmers and developers trying to succeed in Silicon Valley. The show features the challenges new entrepreneurs face to make an impact in the competitive environment of Silicon Valley, despite having a game-changing product. Silicon Valley recently completed its 6th season and can be viewed in the country on Disney+Hotstar

Shark Tank

Shark Tank, the critically acclaimed and multi-Emmy Award-winning reality show that has reinvigorated entrepreneurship around the world, recently returned with its dynamic eleventh season. The Sharks – tough, self-made, multi-millionaire and billionaire tycoons – continue their search to invest in the best businesses and products that America has to offer. Watching this show will give you an insight of all aspects of the business world as you will develop the insight of a venture capitalist mind. Season 11 of Shark Tank is exclusively streaming on Voot Select while its television premier on 18th May 2020 on Colors Infinity

Billions

Think of Billions as the high-finance counterpart to House of Cards and you will not be far off the mark. Damian Lewis and Paul Giamatti are superb as, respectively, the win-at-all-costs head of a massive hedge fund and the win-at-all-costs district attorney determined to put him behind bars, although both are thoroughly upstaged by the even better Maggie Siff as the woman who keeps both at the top of their game. This show emphasizes on the importance of being street smart and ahead of the game. The latest season of Billions is streaming in the country on Disney+Hotstar

Empire

Created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, Empire is a drama series that tells the story of Empire Entertainment, a fictional hip hop music and entertainment company, and the drama that unfolds among the members of the founders’ family as they fight for control of it. The show will familiarize you with the importance of always staying on top of your game, the show is streaming in the country on Disney+Hotstar

Startup

StartUp follows the emergence of GenCoin, a brilliant yet controversial tech idea centred on a digital currency — an idea that gets incubated on the wrong side of the tracks by three strangers who don’t necessarily fit the mould of 'tech entrepreneurs' and a crooked FBI agent who will go to any lengths to take them down. The series is available to watch in the country on Amazon Prime India.

Tune-in to these compelling entrepreneurial shows for all the inspiration you need to begin your journey towards your dreams.

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Pune: Sugar mill takes lead in making ethanol from cane juice

A cooperative sugar mill in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra has taken the lead in producing fuel-grade ethanol directly from sugarcane juice in the state, a senior official said on Thursday. The Centre had in July last year allowed sugar mills to manufacture ethanol directly from sugarcane juice or an intermediate product called B-molasses.

The decision was taken to help mills divert cane juice for ethanol manufacturing during surplus years. Maharashtra sugar commissionerate's joint director Sanjay Bhosale told PTI that Kolhapur's Tatyasaheb Kore Warana Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd is the only cooperative sugar mill in the state which has started making ethanol from sugarcane juice.

Traditionally, in India ethanol is made from 'C-Heavy' molasses, but in July last year, the government gave permission to make ethanol from sugarcane juice and 'B-Heavy' molasses or B-grade molasses, he said.

"A miller can do a minimum modification in the equipment to make ethanol from B-Heavy molasses. But in case of ethanol from sugarcane juice, the mill would have to go for changes in the machinery. That is why no sugar mill was ready to go into that direction, but Warana has shown the courage," Bhosale said.

The fuel grade ethanol that is produced directly from cane juice is fetching Rs 59 per litre. This is going to be beneficial for the sugar industry that is facing crisis of excess stock of sugar, Warana co-operative group chairman and former minister Vinay Kore said.

The Kolhapur-based sugar mill is producing 70,000 litres of ethanol per day, another factory official said. The government allowed fuel-grade ethanol production from sugarcane juice with an aim to increase the earnings of sugar mills and help them in making full and timely payments to farmers.

Cane-based ethanol can be produced in three different ways directly from cane juice, from B-grade and C-grade molasses. Molasses is a viscous product obtained from raw sugar during the refining process.

Maharashtra is one of the leading sugarcane producing states. Sugar mills in the country were incurring losses as prices fell below the production cost on account of record output as against the annual domestic demand.





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Maharashtra ticket collector suspended for raising pro Pakistan slogan

Pune:Pune Rural Police on Friday arrested and immediately suspended a Junior Ticket Collector, Kr Upendra Bahadur Singh, for allegedly raising pro-Pakistan slogans during an event organised to pay tribute to CRPF jawans who lost their lives in the Pulwama terror attack.

He has been booked under section 153(B) of the Indian Penal Code. Primary information revealed that he was frequently seen misbehaving even while duty. At least 45 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel have been killed in an explosion in Awantipora area of Kashmir on Thursday, in one of the deadliest terror attacks on security forces in the valley in over a decade, police sources said. The incident took place when some 2,547 CRPF personnel were coming in a convoy of 78 vehicles from the transit camp in Jammu and headed to Srinagar. The attack took place at around 3.15 pm when CRPF convoy was moving from Jammu to Srinagar, they said. The convoy comprised 70 buses in which around 2500 personnel were travelling, according to Home Ministry sources in Delhi. The toll is expected to go up, the sources said.

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Deaf-mute protesters fighting for basic rights lathi-charged by police

For the past five years more than 16 lakh speech and hearing-impaired people from across the state have been fighting for their basic rights, but the government seems to be completely oblivious of their concerns. So much so, that when thousands of them gathered outside the state social welfare department on Monday to get a response on their 16-point charter of demands, cops resorted to lathi-charge, which they claim was a 'mild' one.

Manoj Patwari, president of the State Level Association for the Deaf, which had organised the protest, said, "We have been demanding our rights for the past five years. There are schools only till Std VII for deaf and mute people, limiting the scope of education. They do not have designated colleges either. Even job opportunities are limited as compared to those for the visually impaired and other physically disabled people. The certificates given are also bogus."

Speaking through interpreter Atiya Hajee, some of the injured protesters said, "We arrived at the spot around 9 am, and had given time to the department till 2 pm to respond. The cops had barricaded us the way animals are kept in a zoo. When one of us tried to get up, he fell on a barricade and accidentally hurt a police officer. Without even understanding the situation, the cops started beating us with rods."

Senior Inspector M M Mujawar of Bund Garden police station said, "One of them had climbed onto a platform of the administration building and was trying to provoke the agitators through sign language. We were just hitting on the ground with lathis to scare them away. We didn't hurt anyone." He added, "One of the protesters asked the others to go towards the cops. Suddenly about 2,000 of them came forward. That is when we resorted to mild lathi-charge. To bring the situation under control, we had detained some of them, but they were later released." MNS Chief Raj Thackeray, who rushed to Pune, said, "I condemn the incident. The cops who provoked other officers and ordered such action should be punished. It's bad that no one from the government visited the spot."

Member of parliament and NCP leader Supriya Sule, who also visited the spot, said, "This is highly condemnable. The protesters should get their basic rights under the Constitution." Meanwhile, Minister of State for Social Justice Dilip Kamble spoke to the protesters over phone and asked them to withdraw the agitation. He asked five of them to go to Mumbai. However, the agitators have decided to continue with the protest till their demands are met.

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Toddler dies after being bitten by snake

A toddler, who was playing marbles with a friend on Sunday evening and who had put his hand into a hole that a marble had slipped into, died some hours later when doctors discovered he had been bitten by a snake.

Although he was bleeding from the hand when he went home, it was only when he started vomiting some six hours later that his parents rushed him to a hospital, where he died later. They were shocked to hear that he had been bitten by a snake.

The police have identified the child as Krishna Naik-Rathod, 4. The Pimpri police station has registered the case of accidental death and are probing the case. Senior inspector Ranganathan Under of Pimpri police station said, "Krishna was playing marbles with his friend on Sunday evening near an under-construction area.

As a marble fell into one of the many holes in the ground there, he put his hand in, attempting to bring it out. He suddenly felt something was not right and when he pulled out his hand, it was bleeding from a small wound. He came running to his parents. However, as the parents did not know exactly how he had sustained the wound, they applied some medicine and he rushed back out to play."

He added, "He started vomiting and was rushed to Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial hospital, where he was declared dead while undergoing treatment." Krishna's father Apurva said, "We cannot believe this has happened to us."

Also Read: Heavily drunk man survives after biting and killing poisonous snake in Madhya Pradesh

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Man attacks wife for ignoring him and watching 'Pakistani Drama'

A 40-year-old man allegedly attacked his wife with a chopper after he felt she was giving more importance to watching a show, 'Pakistani Drama', on her mobile phone than speaking to him, police said on Tuesday.

The accused, Asif Sattar Nayab, has a business of installing hoardings and stays with his family in the Salisbury Park area, they said. Nayab was arrested by the Swargate police and booked for attempt to murder after his wife registered a complaint against him on Monday evening, the police said. According to the police, the couple had a quarrel on Monday morning.

"The woman had sent her son to bring milk from a shop but when she found that the milk pouch was damaged and some milk had spilled over, she started scolding him. "Listening her voice, Asif intervened, which led to a heated argument between the couple," said a senior officer from the Swargate police station. The woman, in her complaint, said the quarrel escalated in the evening when Nayab came home and found she was not speaking to him, he said.

"When Asif came home from work, his wife went to the bedroom. When he went to the bedroom to speak to her, she kept watching a show named 'Pakistani Drama' on her mobile. "Asif felt she was ignoring him and giving more importance to the show on her mobile phone. Felt ignored, Asif attacked her with a chopper (a knife-like tool) in which her right hand's thumb broke," the officer said.

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Estranged lover slits transgender woman's throat

Pune police arrested an estranged lover on Tuesday in a murder case of a transgender woman at Mohammadwadi. The accused has been identified as Arbaz Ahmed Shaikh,20, and is a resident of Laxminagar, Yerawada.

As per the police, the accused and the victim were in a relationship. The accused allegedly decided to end the relationship because he wanted to marry another woman. The victim was enraged and threatened him to go public. In order to put an end to the threats, the accused killed her by slitting her throat. The victim, Nazab Abid Shaikh was a resident of Sadashivnagar.

Inspector (crime) Raosaheb Bhapkar of Wanowrie police station told Hindustan Times, “Arbaz killed Nazab as she threatened to spill the beans about their relationship” he said.

A case has been registered at Wanowrie police station under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.

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The article has been sourced from third-party source and Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. All information provided on this article is for informational purposes only.





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Two Sri-Lankan women flyers detained at Pune airport for smuggling gold

Two women Sri-Lankan nationals were detained by customs officers at Pune International Airport on March 15, 2019 for allegedly attempting to smuggle gold into the city. According to reports, the detained flyers who had boarded a flight from Singapore to Pune were carrying 24 carats of gold which is estimated to be worth Rs 30.31 lakh in the Indian market.

The customs officials at Pune International Airport intercepted the two women passengers at the departure area on Thursday and confiscated the gold. Duo has been booked under the Customs Act-1962 

Deputy Commissioner of Custom (Pune International Airport) Harshal Mete said, "Two women of Sri-Lankan nationality arrived in the city from Singapore by Jet Airways and walked through the green channel without declaring anything with the customs officials.

The lady passengers were carrying 24-carat gold in the form of chain, bangles and biscuits which is weighted 9.14 grams which are estimated as per Indian currency in tune of Rs 30,31,937. The gold has been seized under the reasonable belief that it was being smuggled into India with an intention and further investigation are in progress."

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84 youth throw colours, water balloons on women during Holi; arrested

During Holi 2019, certain people were forcefully throwing colours and water balloons in a public place in Pune's Pimpri Chinchwad area which prompted the police to detain 84 youth. A case was filed under the relevant section 68 under the Bombay Police Act.

This unruly behaviour which began at 7 am, ended at 2 pm. The entire police station was filled with these accused that the cops had to resort to locking some of them up in another police station.


Detained youth during Holi with Pune police

Senior Inspector Satish Mane of the Wakad police station said, "We set up nine teams along with two mini police vans. Each team consisted of seven policemen and a total of 75 police staff were working around the clock in public places as well as public utility areas such as buses, trains and other modes of transport.

Our prime focus was Rahatni and offices in order to safeguard people from such issues. The detained youth belonged to the age gap of 20-25. Some of the detained would throw water balloons and colour on women while others travelled on bikes hurling balloons at buses and other vehicles. They primarily targetted women."

He had added, "The youth have been detained and will remain in the police station till the evening. The accused were also given lessons in law and how to behave in public places."

Also Read: Mumbai: Holi celebration turns tragic as five drown at beach in Nalasopara

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Minister cheats trader of Rs 1.9 crore for issuing liquor permit

After repeated attempts to convince the Aurangabad police to register a case against Maharashtra Social Justice Minister Dilip Kamble for his alleged involvement in a cheating case of Rs 1.92 crore failed, a businessman approached the judicial magistrate first class court to get the work done. According to victim Vilas Dadarao Chavan, the minister cheated him of the amount on the pretext of issuing a liquor licence and permit.

According to sources, the incident came to light when Chavan approached the police to file a complaint. As the cops did not take his grievance seriously, he approached the court and registered a private case. On Tuesday, the Aurangabad court directed the police to register an FIR at CIDCO police station against Kamble and three others under sections 420, 406, 120B and 34 of IPC.

Chavan said, "A relative of Kamble had promised to help me get the licence for selling liquor in Aurangabad. The first time we met at a hotel in Pune, he introduced me to the minister and said that I would have to pay Rs 2.15 crore for transferring my Mumbai sale licence. I had given him Rs 1.92 lakh in advance." He further said, "Neither did I get the licence, nor my money back.

I had approached the Aurangabad police, but they did not take my case seriously. Then I approached the court." Aurangabad CP Chiranjeev Prasad said, "We have registered a case based on the court order. The matter is being investigated."

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Pune: Trekking rescuers called in to save cow in quarry

A Pune-based group that rescues trekkers or retrieves bodies of people who have died in trekking accidents, were in for a surprise when they were called to rescue a cow. On March 31, the NGO Shivdurg Mitra, Lonavala, received a call on its helpline, saying a cow had fallen into a 12-feet deep stone quarry near Vaksai chawl close to the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, near Lonavala. Its calf was roaming in the area calling for its mother.


The rescued cow with her calf

Also Read: Five stray cows die of cold in Uttar Pradesh

Speaking to mid-day, Sunil Gaikwad from Shivdurg Mitra, Lonavala, said, "Our team member, Ajay Shelar, received the call. We immediately rushed to the spot to rescue the cow."

The rescue team first checked if there were any injuries on the cow's body, but were happy to not find any. "Rescuing a small animal like a dog or cat is an easy job. But, a cow, which on average, weighs more than 500 kg, is not an easy task. Four of our volunteers, Pranay Ambure, Sagar Kumbhar, Vikas Mavkar and Anil Andre went into the quarry. They tied ropes around the cow, and the team stationed above pulled her out of the quarry while those inside helped push her out," added Gaikwad.

The members told mid-day that as soon as the cow was brought out, the calf that was desperately waiting for the mother, rushed towards her. The operation took around two hours. NGO members said the cow and calf walked away after the ordeal.

Also Read: Embrace the trekker in you while on a secret trail in the Sahyadris

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