Singer Sonu Nigam reports gang threats

Plus: Kishore Kumar biopic delayed; director arrested for flying actor on fake passport; India’s film distributors want nine-day first week in cinemas.

The Indian singer Sonu Nigam has filed a complaint with Mumbai police saying he has been threatened by a mobster. Sujit Jaiswal / AFP
Powered by automated translation

Singer Sonu Nigam reports gang threats

Sonu Nigam has lodged a complaint with Mumbai police after he received threatening phone calls from the underworld, an Indian news channel reported. The Bollywood singer, who has been in the film industry for two decades, has reportedly been contacted by Chhota Shakeel, a member of a gang led by India's most-wanted man, Dawood Ibrahim. Recently, the producers Boney Kapoor and Karan Johar had filed complaints with the Mumbai police after receiving similar phone calls. – The National staff

Director arrested for flying actor to Canada on fake passport

The Bollywood filmmaker Partho Ghosh has been arrested for procuring a forged passport and a fake visa for an actor for a film shoot abroad. Mumbai police arrested Yamini Mistry, 32, after immigration officials informed them that Mistry had flown to Canada on a forged passport and fake visa in October 2012. The police gathered evidence against Ghosh, 63, for nearly two months before arresting him on September 27. The police are currently verifying if the 18 people mentioned by Mistry were also flown to Canada on fake documents. Ghosh was in court last week facing charges of cheating and forgery; he was given bail. Following police action against him, shooting for his film is believed to have stalled. – The National staff

Ranbir Kapoor says script for Kishore Kumar biopic is still being worked on

The actor Ranbir Kapoor, who is set to play the legendary singer Kishore Kumar in a biopic directed by Anurag Basu, said the project will be delayed due to script issues. "He is such a celebrated legend. We believe that unless the script completely celebrates his life in the best possible way, I think it would be wrong for us to touch upon it. So we have kept it aside for now," Kapoor told reporters. "We are working on the script. It will take a while to come to it," he added. Kapoor's new film Besharam, a comedy that also features his actor parents Neetu and Rishi Kapoor, is currently screening in UAE cinemas. See box for our review. – The National staff

India’s film distributors want figures for new releases to encompass nine days

With films now releasing midweek, Indian film distributors want exhibitors to consider a nine-day first week instead of the regular seven days, The Times of India reported. A source from a leading suburban multiplex said: "Distributors are now insisting that multiplexes should give them extra bonus if the film's business crosses the threshold mark of 40 crore rupees [Dh23.9 million] in a nine-day week." – The National staff

Follow us @LifeNationalUAE

Follow us on Facebook for discussions, entertainment, reviews, wellness and news.