The director and producer Karan Johar, who's currently busy with several production ventures including Gippi and Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, says he won't be able to direct a feature film until next year. "As a producer, there is so much on my plate. I will direct next year in February or March," said Johar. His most recent project was last October's romantic drama Student of the Year. Asked what type of film he's planning to make, he replied: "To strike a balance between what is real and what is mainstream is the order of the day. I would like to do just that." Johar is one of four filmmakers to have created a segment for Bombay Talkies, a compilation of short films produced as a tribute to the centenary of Indian cinema. Johar's segment stars Rani Mukerji, Saqib Saleem and Randeep Hooda. - IANS
Aditi Chengappa joins Rudhramadevi cast
The actress Aditi Chengappa is the latest to join the ensemble of the forthcoming 3-D period drama Rudhramadevi, which has already cast Anushka Shetty, Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj and Krishnam Raju. "Just signed director Gunasekhar's Rudhramadevi! Can't think of a better way to get back into Telugu films!" she posted on Twitter. The film tells the story of Rani Rudrama Devi, a prominent queen of India's Kakatiya dynasty. Chengappa is also gearing up for the release of her film Konjam Koffee Konjam Kaadhal. - IANS
Hashmi wants to choose better roles
The actor Emraan Hashmi says that for his forthcoming projects, he plans to choose roles more wisely. "I have always liked very clear characters. I don't like hero characters with no dimension, depth, background or logic behind them. Characters are flesh and blood, living people, who you can relate to," said the 34-year-old star. "I can't do the stuff that other people do. Some commercial people might do these roles with no dimension, which are OK for them, but they don't work for me." Hashmi headlines the horror thriller Ek Thi Daayan, currently playing in UAE cinemas. His next movie is Rajkumar Gupta's Ghanchakkar, co-starring Vidya Balan. The film is due for release in June. - IANS
Prithviraj to offer a script to Big B
The southern cinema superstar Prithviraj Sukumaran has bought the rights of his hit Malayalam film Ayalum Njanum Thammil. He plans to remake it in Hindi and approach Amitabh Bachchan for the lead role. Ayalum Njanum Thammil, directed by Lal Jose, came out in October last year. The medical drama co-starred Pratap Pothen, Samvrutha Sunil and Remya Nambeesan. "I have taken the first step and bought the film. Now, the rights of the film rest with me, so I can be assured that nobody else is going to do it. That's the first step to ensure that the project has somehow shaped up," said Sukumaran. "I have started showing the film to few people over here. Hopefully, I get a draft written in English that I will take to Mr Bachchan to read." - IANS
Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
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