An illegal under-construction seven-storey building collapsed in Bengaluru, killing five people and injuring several others. Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said the construction was illegal and promised strict action against those involved.
Bollywood star Nawazuddin Siddiqui finds himself in hot water after a recent ad sparked controversy. A Hindu organization has accused him of tarnishing the Maharashtra police’s image and is pushing for legal action against the actor.
As per a report in Free Press Journal, the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti has called on the Mumbai Police commissioner and Maharashtra’s police chief to take legal action against Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The group alleges that his portrayal of a police officer in an online gaming ad tarnishes the reputation of the Maharashtra Police.
Their Surajya Abhiyan campaign demands immediate action, accusing Siddiqui of defaming the police by promoting poker while dressed in a Maharashtra police uniform. The organization insists the ad is damaging and disrespectful to law enforcement.
Abhishek Murukate, the Maharashtra state coordinator of Surajya Abhiyan, penned a letter to the state’s DGP and Mumbai Police commissioner, urging them to take action against Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Ankur Singh, the owner of the online gaming app. The letter demands strict legal measures under the Maharashtra Civil Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1979, and the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, for allegedly defaming the police through the controversial advertisement.
The letter raised serious concerns about the situation, highlighting the irony that the same police department that arrests gamblers is now involved in this controversy. The Hindu Janjagruti Samiti’s Surajya Abhiyan condemned the advertisement for undermining the reputation of the Maharashtra Police, warning that overlooking this issue could lead to a rise in illegal and unethical advertisements that misuse police uniforms.
The letter read, “It tarnishes the image of Maharashtra Police. Ignoring this could lead to more illegal and unethical advertisements using police uniforms.” It also urged Maharashtra’s home minister, Devendra Fadnavis, to take note of the matter.
Murukate emphasized the hard work and training of the Maharashtra police, criticizing the advertisement for implying that online gambling enhances their skills. He expressed disappointment that no police officer has been prompted to act against the gaming application, noting it was unfortunate that complaints had to come from outside sources. He also expressed hope that Maharashtra’s home minister would take notice of the situation.
Meanwhile, on the professional front, Nawazuddin Siddiqui embarked on his Bollywood journey in 1999 with the film Sarfarosh, featuring Aamir Khan in the lead role. Their collaboration continued in Talaash: The Answer Lies Within and extended to Aamir’s co-production, Peepli Live in 2010.
He later teamed up with Shah Rukh Khan in the 2017 crime drama Raees and shared the screen with Salman Khan in blockbusters like Kick and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Siddiqui’s impressive filmography also includes critically acclaimed titles such as Gangs of Wasseypur, Badlapur, Thackeray, Photograph, Mom, Raman Raghav 2.0, and Serious Men, showcasing his versatility and talent in the industry.
ALSO READ: Nawazuddin Siddiqui admits representation of ‘typical hero’ in films is boring: ‘Kya kamata hai kya karta hai…’
Mimi Hines—legendary singer, comedian, television personality, and Broadway performer who famously replaced Barbra Streisand in the original cast of Funny Girl—passed away on Monday, October 21, at age 91 of natural causes. Mark Sendroff, Hines’ longtime attorney, confirmed her demise in a statement to various US media houses, noting she died peacefully at her home in Las Vegas.
Born in Vancouver, Canada, in 1933, Hines showed an interest in showbiz at a very young age. By 12, she was already performing in nightclubs. Who knew then that she would go on to make a name for herself in the industry as part of the duo Ford and Hines, alongside the late actor and comic Phil Ford?
The pair met in 1952 while working in different nightclubs in Alaska. They began working together when Ford’s female partner accidentally broke her ankle, and Hines, then 19, stepped in as a substitute. Love soon followed, and the pair married within two years of meeting in 1954.
ALSO READ: ‘Its Fun To Work…’: Harrison Ford Reveals What Drives Him To Act In Movies Even At 82
Ford and Hines grabbed national attention in 1958 after an appearance on The Tonight Show. There, Hines sang Till There Was You from Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man and, as the story goes, moved Jack Paar to tears.
Subsequently, the pair became regulars on a range of variety and talk programs like The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Joey Bishop Show, The David Frost Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Garry Moore Show, Pat Boone in Hollywood, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and more. Hines also became a go-to star for game show appearances.
A sitcom pilot titled Mimi was shot in 1964, featuring Hines and Ford as owners of a resort hotel, but it was never picked up.
After years of headlining top showrooms and nightclubs, Hines landed the role of a lifetime: Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. Barbra Streisand was originally set to continue the role but had to step down.
Hines made her Broadway debut with the role in December 1965 and remained in the production for 18 months, through July 1, 1967, with Ford playing opposite her as Eddie Ryan, a dancer and director who takes a chance on Fanny during vaudeville days.
I Do, I Do!, Prisoner of Second Avenue, Sugar Babies, Hello Sunshine, The Unsinkable Molly Brown, No, No, Nanette, and Sugar were some other productions she appeared in, some alongside Ford.
ALSO READ: Liam Payne Death: Fans Spot Clouds Resembling One Direction Star’s Iconic Arrow Tattoo In Wake Of His Tragic Passing
Hines, also a successful singer, recorded several albums, including Mimi Hines Sings and Mimi Hines Is A Happening.
Hines and Ford divorced in 1972, though they remained professionally linked, reuniting for joint appearances on several occasions. Ford died in 2005 at age 85. The two never had children, so no survivors remain except a “legion of fans,” per Sendroff.
The duo was recently awarded a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame. The scheduled ceremony will now serve as a celebration of Mimi’s life and career.
ALSO READ: Who Was Michael Newman? All About Baywatch Star As He Passes Away At 68 Nearly Two Decades After Parkinson’s Diagnosis