The new Broadway musical starring the Tony Award-winner Idina Menzel may have gotten a box-office boost after John Travolta mangled the star’s name at the Oscars. According to The Broadway League, the show If/Then pulled in US$909,159 (Dh3.3 million) over its first seven previews, strong numbers indeed for an original show. Publicity from Travolta’s gaffe may have helped draw interest.
James Cameron invited to Kochadaiiyaan premiere
Soundarya Rajinikanth Ashwin, the director of the forthcoming Tamil-language drama Kochadaiiyaan, starring her father Rajinikanth and the Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, has sent an invitation to the Hollywood filmmaker James Cameron for a special screening of the film, the Hindustan Times reported. Last week, Ashwin sent Cameron a formal invite for the screening. A print of the film will be sent to him before the release date if he decides not to attend. – The National staff
Lindsay Lohan’s new TV series gets a lukewarm reception
Lindsay Lohan made her television comeback on Sunday with her new self-titled docu-series on the Oprah Winfrey Network, but the reality show's premiere had far fewer viewers compared with other networks. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the first episode of Lindsay only drew 693,000 viewers, although it does hold the record for the cable network's most-watched, unscripted TV series pilot this year. The eight-part series will show how the actress, who recently moved to New York from Los Angeles, is coping after rehab for substance abuse. The Emmy-nominated filmmaker Amy Rice is the director of the show. – The National staff
Aamir Khan is one of India’s new ‘national icons’
The Election Commission might appoint the Bollywood actor Aamir Khan as a "national icon" to encourage more people to vote in the general elections. Also on the list are the Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the boxer MC Mary Kom, the badminton player Saina Nehwal and the former president APJ Abdul Kalam, who will "reach out to people through programmes such as voter education and electoral participation". – IANS
Taylor Swift crowned Billboard’s highest-paid singer of 2014
The country-pop sensation Taylor Swift took the lead in Billboard's yearly list of Money Makers, according to Billboard's website – she has been crowned the highest-paid singer of 2014. Her 2012 album, Red, helped rake in more than $39m (Dh143m) this year, according to Billboard. Her songs got more than 10 million digital downloads this past year. Billboard Boxscore reported that Swift's Red Tour actually brought in the most revenue (approximately $30m; Dh 110m) to help the singer take the title. – The National staff
