BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 12 (IANS) Indian actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas shared that she is helping to students in Los Angeles in adapting to virtual classrooms amid lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic.## Priyanka took to Instagram, where she shared a video of herself talking about helping students with the new concept.## She says in the video: "Hi everyone! In this crazy time right now, it is so important for people to come together as a community and help out where they can. Youth empowerment, success in education have been two cases that have been so close to my heart, always.## "I am working with my partners at JBL to provide headphones for children in Los Angeles who are currently adapting to the new virtual classrooms. We are all going to get through this together."## She captioned the clip: "Education and empowering youth is so important to me, so @JBLaudio and I teamed up to help Los Angeles kids adjust to their new classroom environment."## The clip currently has 1.4 million views on Instagram.## Priyanka last week pledged to donate $100,000 to women doing their bit in the health crisis.## Priyanka and her husband Nick Jonas have also donated to organizations like the PM-CARES Fund, Unicef, Feeding America, and Goonj.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 12 (IANS) Actress Adah Sharma gave a lesson how to make a mask at home amid lockdown due to coronavirus outbreak in the country.## Adah took to Instagram, where she shared a video of herself making a facemask under a minute with the help of a sock.## In the caption, she requested her fans to show what they made and added: "Again DO NOT go out of your house...but if you have to for emergencies then you must wear a mask. If you don't have a mask, now you do!"## Adah's DIY video currently has 221k likes on the photo-sharing website.## Recently the actress, shared a few racy photographs of herself, saying those were actual pictures taken during the break between "washing bartans (dishes) and doing jhaadu (sweeping)".## "What did you do today? These are actual pics of me just taking a break between washing bartans and doing jhaadu... Sacchi... Find @adah_ki_radha in the pics...only people with an IQ over 120 can see her... SWIPE to see what happens after all the Ghar ka kaam is done," she had captioned her two racy images Adah shared on Instagram.## Adah made her Bollywood debut in 2009 with the horror film "1920". She was then seen in films like "Hum Hai Raahi Car Ke", the "Commando" franchise, and "Bypass Road", and will next be seen in "Man To Man". The film revolves around actor Naveen Kasturia's character falling in love with and marrying Sharma's character, only to realize she was biologically a man who became a woman after surgery.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 12 (IANS) The official Twitter handle of Mumbai Police has shared a Bollywood reference again to create awareness about the coronavirus pandemic.## After using references from "Stree", the Mumbai Police account used a scene from the popular Hindi film "Main Hoon Na", where Shah Rukh as Ram Prasad Sharma makes a "Matrix" likes back dive to save himself from the spit splatter from Professor Rasai, played by veteran actor Satish Shah.## Mumbai Police captioned the video on Twitter: "@iamsrk wouldn't need to do such stunts any longer - Mask Hai Na!"## The Mumbai Police Twitter handle is known for its funny and quirky references on social matters.## Recently, they gave a quirky twist to the dialogue: "O Stree Kar Aana" from the film "Stree" to "O Corona kabhi mat aana (O corona never come)"## Recently, Bollywood stars took to social media to thank the Mumbai Police.## They expressed their gratitude to Mumbai Police for their extraordinary efforts to maintain law and order in the city amid the COVID-19 lockdown.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 12 (IANS) Actor Rohitashv Gour feels that watching comedy shows at this time of distress, is great.## "I agree that corona has taken a toll on the whole world, but if in this time we take too much stress and panic, then our lives will become a mess. So it would be better to keep a positive attitude and try to spread positivity around through the medium of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram," he said.## "Watching comedy shows at this time is very helpful because we get to laugh, which is a good thing. We become stress-free for some period of time and our minds get diverted," he added.## His comedy show "Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai" is being telecast now.## "This is a good thing as people who have missed the old episodes will catch up and we are getting very good responses on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. People are very happy," he said.## The actor has also been seeing some of the episodes. "After seeing myself in the show, I feel that I would have done a little better and will try to improvise in the coming episodes," he said.## On what he is watching now, he said: "I always try to watch comedy shows. I would recommend shows such as 'Lapataganj', 'Malgudi Days'. Movies such as 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' is a good option. In old shows, you can see 'Mr. Yogi', 'Wagle Ki Duniya' and 'Yeh Jo Hai Zindagi'."## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

New Delhi, April 12 (IANS) The COVID-19 pandemic might have virtually shut down the whole entertainment industry, but it sure has opened up opportunities for documentary filmmakers. With the global outbreak unleashing havoc, documentary makers have found a new subject to create an arresting mix of drama and information.## The pandemic has opened a pandora's box of questions, doubts and lots of fake news -- which in turn sets the stage to look for information from reliable sources. That is where documentaries find a strong ground.## At the same time, these information packages are crafted out of a viable business model, and the current surge in genre only means it is a win-win situation for all.## With an aim to give an in-depth look at the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across the globe, Discovery got together several scientists and experts in "Pandemic: COVID-19", a one-hour special.## Through the documentary, the experts will shed light on its treatment and transmission, which initially baffled doctors and scientists who first encountered early patients who fell ill. The special will also look at how within a matter of weeks, COVID-19 spread throughout China and beyond, alarming healthcare professionals and scientists. They will reveal why COVID-19 is unique, why the world was so unprepared for it and what could have been done differently to contain its spread. It will air on April 15 on Discovery and the recently-launched streaming service Discovery Plus.## Discovery has lined up one more documentary "COVID19 - Battling The Devil" -- through which they will take the viewers back in time to trace the origins of the virus. The aim is to find answers to the questions "What can China's learnings teach the world?". It will premiere in India on April 15.## There's another documentary film that attempts to uncover the story of the novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China.## Titled "Epicenter: 24 hours In Wuhan", the 50-minute feature highlights how people of the area, where the deadly COVID-19 virus first struck last December, fought against the outbreak. It shows how the people of the city banded together to fight the escalating crisis. The film is streaming on DocuBay.## With billions of people across the world facing a period of self-isolation to help contain the spread, docu-film "Coronavirus: How to Isolate Yourself" aims to equip people with the important and right information to fight the ongoing health crisis.## Presented by Dr. Xand Van Tulleken and psychologist Kimberley Wilson, the one-hour feature is a guide to everything one needs to know about this pandemic, including credible tips and advice. It will premiere on Sony BBC Earth on April 13.## To comprehend the situation, Van Tulleken visits leading experts who explain why self-isolation is most important in the fight against coronavirus, as well as finds out about people's real-world challenges of self-isolating. The docu-film also focuses on Wilson who offers insights into the psychological challenges of self-isolating, and charts out ways to manage anxiety and self-isolation.## "With 'Coronavirus: How to Isolate Yourself', it is our endeavor to bring to the viewers, in real-time, a need-of-the-hour documentary to help clarify the many questions around the most critical step in containing the virus - self-isolation," said Tushar Shah, Business Head, SPN English Custer.## National Geographic has also come up with a docu-film titled "Combating COVID-19". The film captures the nuances of pre-emptive measures taken by Singaporean authorities to ensure a coordinated, efficient response to try and keep its citizens safe. It will premiere on April 13.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 12 (IANS) Actress Tisca Chopra is using her lockdown time to hone her filmmaking skills. She has been taking online classes on how to direct feature films.## "It's tragic whatever is happening around the world and in India, but somewhere we all were craving for a much-needed break. So now when we have finally got it, we all should make the best use of it. I am spending time with my family... I have set up my exercise routine. And of course, I am watching a lot of movies. I am even working on a few scripts and taking a master class on how to direct feature films," Tisca told IANS.## She also shared how she has started giving value to the little things in her life.## "This phase has made me realize the importance of several things in my life. I am grateful to be surrounded by my family...I am grateful to have all basic necessities -- be it water or electricity facility. I have realized that we all have spent so much money on many useless things instead of paying heed to our medical infrastructure," she added.## On the work front, Tisca was last seen in the crime thriller, "Hostages", which will now be televised on Star Plus from April 13.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 11 (IANS) Actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has urged citizens to stay at home after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced that the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown would be extended in the state.## On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with state chief ministers via video conferencing. Although an official announcement is awaited at the time of publishing this story, it is being speculated that after today's meeting the lockdown will be extended across the nation by another couple of weeks.## Taking to Instagram on Saturday evening, Kareena wrote: "Now that the lockdown has been extended, the one thing we must do to help overcome this is STAY AT HOME. We need to be strong, now more than ever. We've come this far... let's not stop! Together with @unicefindia and @unileverdiariesindia, I urge you to #BreakTheChain #WeCanAndWeWill #VirusKiKadiTodo #StayHomeStaySafe #CoronaVirusIndia."## Her appeal came soon after the Maharashtra chief minister announced that lockdown in the state would continue till April 30.## At the time of publishing, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Telangana are the three states that have officially declared an extension of the lockdown.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 11 (IANS) Smartphones would have to be the invention of the times, feels Amitabh Bachchan.## "The 'wheel' has been dubbed as the greatest invention of all time.. in today's times I would say the 'smartphone'.." the actor opined on Twitter.## In a blog entry, Big B shared his reasons. "The smartphone would have to be the invention of the times.. it is running everything in the World today.. whatever would we have done without it," he wrote.## Traveling down memory lane Big B shared memories of landline phones and, how these were the primary means to communicate with before cellphones came along.## "The finger dialing within rounded hole numbers was the luxury of the times.. that and the Frig.. it was 'the' possession if you had that line land phone in the house.. difficult to afford for us at the time, and a privilege we never enjoyed for years.." he reminisced.## "When you never had it, it was manual communication.. a bicycle ride to tell or inform or get from the market... and in an emergency, a brisk run to the neighbors -- at times pretty distant, for, not all had the facility," he added.## The veteran actor also shared how their family used to wait for letters from his father Harivansh Rai Bachchan when he was pursuing his Ph.D. in Cambridge and the experience when they heard his voice after two years over the phone.## "When Babuji was in Cambridge for his Ph.D. the phone was unheard of.. it was the letters that commanded information and connect.. on the one occasion I remember when we were able to hear his voice after a gap of 2 years, he wrote a letter to say which day and time he would be able to afford a call from England.. letters took almost 7 to 10 days, if you were lucky, to get to their addressed destination.. and the call was to a friends phone, that lived a good half-hour bicycle ride away .. the anticipation of the wait.. the excitement of a phone call coming through.. the moment of its connect.. the nervous quivers.. the emotion.. and within a few minutes.. over," he wrote.## Drawing a comparison between landlines and smartphones, he wrote: "In the times of yesterday, when the phone rang the entire household would run from different parts of the house to pick up that receiver.. such as the importance and excitement of its ownership."## He added: "Now you control what comes in.. whether it should come in.. who will be permitted to come in.. and a zillion other factors that go along in the acquisition of the marvel.## However, times change and with the changing times, the new generation often fails to comprehend many things belonging to the bygone era, he contended. "This generation will never understand those times.. just as our generation was never able to understand the times before us," he commented.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 11 (IANS) What happens to hugs and kisses on the screen once the COVID-19 storm passes? Will actors be confident about intimate scenes, or cautious? Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar cannot help mulling over the matter, in the course of a weekend spent at home doing precious little, amid the ongoing lockdown that looks all set to be extended by two more weeks.## "How the cinema world conducts shooting intimate scenarios in the film to be seen and planned after all this is over. Especially the intimate kissing/hugging scenes. How close or how far.. or cheat storytelling in those intimate scenes for some time," the "Piku" director wrote on Instagram.## Actress Dia Mirza commented: "Guru, the entire process of making a film is intimate! So many people all coming together to create moment after moment in unity and synchronized effort. Aap intimate scene ki baath kar rahe ho, how will all that change? Will we be masked and gloved as a crew? Only time will tell."## A user had this witty quip: "Go back to the 60s/70s, show two flowers swaying."## Another pondered over the very future of film shoots, and not just intimate scenes. "How will the industry shoot at all, if they ban gatherings of 50 or more people?" the user wondered.## Another user suggested performing a health check-up for actors before shooting intimate scenes: "Probably all the actors involved would be asked to go through a medical test first."## "I think the time has come for virtual intimacy till we find the corona vaccine," opined another user.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 11 (IANS) Filmmaker Hansal Mehta has taken to social media to share the plight of migrants who have started walking from Mumbai, Pune and other big cities to their homes in other parts of Maharashtra as well as other states of the country amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.## Most of these migrants are daily wage laborers who are desperately attempting to get home during this period and have resorted to walking because lockdown does not permit traveling in vehicles and passenger trains are also closed.## The filmmaker tweeted informing about one such group which he spotted this morning at Malavli station, near Pune.## In a series of tweets posted on Saturday afternoon, he shared: "Was near the railway station buying medicines. The tracks are filled with migrants walking home towards Osmanabad, Aurangabad, Hyderabad and to so many villages in and outside Maharashtra. They begin walking at 5 am. They stay at platforms late evening hoping to find some food."## "They find drinking water on the way, go hungry all day unless somebody helps out with biscuits or if they're lucky, food. Many of them have left the city without being paid their wages by contractors/employers. This is the India story. The exploitation of the poor."## The director also shared that he is helping them with food, water, and other necessities for their journey.## "These people work hard to keep our cities running. They are the nameless, faceless other that we desperately need but give a f**k about when their usefulness has gone past its expiry date. We try to help her with food, water, and basic supplies for their onward journey."## "But it is very little help. And very late," regretted the filmmaker in a separate tweet.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 11 (IANS) Bhuvan Bam, Prajakta Koli, and Ashish Chanchlani are among a slew of Indian YouTube stars who feature in "The Lockdown Rap", a peppy track inspiring people to keep their morale high in the battle against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.## The rap song is sung by SSD (Shubham) and is inspired by the "Asli hip hop" number in Zoya Akhtar's 2019 film, Gully Boy", starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt.## "The melody of the song is already hit but the lyrics are completely new. I am glad to be a part of this video which is our little contribution towards spreading awareness in society. I am grateful for all the people who are putting their lives at risk for our country. I urge people to stay at home and practice social distancing," Bhuvan Bam said.## Internet sensations Be YouNick, Mumbiker Nikhil, Harsh Beniwal, Tanmay Bhatt, Beer Biceps, Technical Guruji, Anmol Sachar, Kunal Chhabhria, and Akash Dodeja are among many others who feature in the video, shot individually by each artist in their respective homes.## According to Ashish Chanchlani, it "is the best way to reach out to the masses and tell them how important it is to stay at home in a situation like this".## "When you listen to the lyrics it is relatable to our situation of lockdown. The music video gives out a very important message without being preachy and in the correct lingo like the line 'Saath Milkar Hatao Iss Haiwaan Ko'," Ashish said.## "The Lockdown Rap" is written by YouTubers Kunal Chhabhria and Anmol Sachar.## Stay tuned...

BY SACNILK

Mumbai, April 11 (IANS) After offering his Juhu hotel for frontline COVID-19 warriors, actor Sonu Sood has now started a food distribution drive to help the needy during the ongoing lockdown.## Under an initiative called Shakti Annadanam launched in the name of his late father Shakti Sagar Sood, Sonu aims to feed more than 45,000 people on a daily basis in Mumbai.## "Right now we are all together in these tough times against the coronavirus. Some of us are blessed to have food and shelter but there are many who have not eaten meals in days and it's really difficult for them. To help these people, I've started a special food and ration drive on my father's name, which is called Shakti Annadanam. I hope I am able to help as many people as possible," the actor said.## He is also making the best use of social media to spreading awareness about the novel coronavirus, advising people on how to workout at home and maintain fitness.## Stay tuned...