Entertainment: Kashmir World Film Festival starts in Srinagar 

The Kashmir world Film Festival began at Tagore Hall in Srinagar for the first time in the history of the Valley on 1st of July. The festival is organised by Actors Creative Theatre (ACT) with an aim to promote the film industry and provide a platform to the youth of Valley in film-making and acting.

The Actors Creative Theatre (ACT) is an organisation working in the field of Art Films and literature in collaboration with Media Education Research Centre, Kashmir University and Film and Television Institute of India.

According to the chairman of ACT, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, Bollywood shares a very old relationship with Kashmir. They cannot be separated. Kashmir is known as photographer’s paradise and in the past, both Bollywood and International film makers have shot their movies in Kashmir. This festival is being seen as artistic relief in the otherwise tense environment of Kashmir.

International fashion model and film actress, Alina Mughal, who was also present at the festival feels that “by such initiatives, the youth of Kashmir will get a platform to go out and work in this field.”

On this occasion, Lifetime Achievement Award was given to the Coordinator Media Education Research Centre, Kashmir University, Faruq Masudi, Indian Film Directors Ved Rahi, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat and Mohi ud Din Mirza. Some famous Kashmiri writers and filmmakers were also felicitated.

A five-day festival which was inaugurated by Dr Asghar Samoon, Secretary Higher Education, will continue till July 5.

Shabana’s outrage against mob lynching is not selective

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi said she has always raised her voice against hate crime and her outrage over mob lynching is not selective.

She took to Twitter to clarify her stance after she took part in the ‘Not In My Name’ protest on June 28.

Shabana responded to an open letter penned by a former senior journalist where he questioned her for remaining silent on other hate crimes in the name of the religion. Azmi slammed the article with a tweet.

The ‘Not in My Name’ drive gained traction after Saba Dewan, a documentary filmmaker, took to Facebook to organise a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. It soon became big social media campaign with people turning up in huge numbers in other cities such as Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Thiruvananthapuram.

Apart from Azmi, actresses Konkona Sensharma and Kalki Koechlin also participated in the protest held at Carter Road in suburban Bandra.

No Radhika Apte in Phobia 2, film to get a male lead

Bollywood film Phobia, starring Radhika Apte, received rave reviews for its intriguing plot and the makers have now decided to come up with the sequel to the film with a male lead.

“I am doing Phobia 2, but this time it's with a male lead. The script demanded a male lead. The film was critically acclaimed and it made to the list of top ten films of 2016. So, we want to get someone who can pull off that kind of performance,” said Viki Rajani of the production house Next Gen Films Pvt Ltd.

Viki further added that the sequel will have a known actor as the scale of the film is bigger this time.

Talking about the genre, Viki said, “There was no bloodshed or the paranormal angle in Phobia but it was the treatment and execution because of which people liked the film. It is not a horror film... It plays with your mind, and it will scare you. It’s a new age concept for a thriller.”

In Phobia 2, the makers plan to touch upon the fear of flying. The makers have completed the script, the sequel of the film will go on floors soon.

With inputs from PTI