A top Bollywood actor who starred in a television campaign to promote India has complained of “rising intolerance” in his homeland, sparking a storm of criticism, including from the ruling Hindu nationalist party. Aamir Khan, who like many Bollywood actors is Muslim, said that a sense of “insecurity” and “fear” was gripping India and that his wife had even questioned whether the couple should leave the country. “As an individual, as a citizen, certainly I have also been alarmed, I can’t deny it, by a number of incidents,” he said at an awards ceremony in New Delhi. His comments prompted a backlash on social media in the Hindu-majority country, and a withering attack by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. “Don’t forget, India made you a star,” said the spokesman of Bharatiya Janata Party, Shahnawaz Hussain. – AFP
Obama honours Steven Spielberg
US president Barack Obama awarded the highest civilian honour on Tuesday to filmmaker Steven Spielberg, director of Hollywood hits including Jaws, ET, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, and the new movie Bridge of Spies, which will be released in the UAE today. “Steven’s films are marked most importantly by a faith in our common humanity,” Obama said as he awarded him the Medal of Freedom. “His stories have shaped America’s story, and his values have shaped our world.” Also honoured were music producer Emilio Estefan and pop star Gloria Estefan, a Cuban-American couple, considered trailblazers for Spanish-language stars, who successfully crossed over to the English-language market. – AP
The Force Awakens – biggest movie ever?
Riding galaxy-sized expectations, the new Star Wars movie is already setting records for pre-opening ticket sales, with still a month to go before its December 17 UAE release. But does that mean it is destined to be the biggest of all time? Several signs point in that direction, but the outcome isn't guaranteed. The movie is on track to have the biggest December opening weekend ever, topping The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey's US$85 million (312m) in the United States and Canada in 2012. US ticket seller Fandango says advance ticket sales for Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens – parts of which were filmed in Abu Dhabi – have topped every other movie, though it didn't provide figures. Imax has sold $18m of tickets domestically, double the previous record. However whether it bests the current record – Avatar's $2.8 billion worldwide – depends on both the international response, and whether fans love it enough to watch it multiple times. – AP
