Tusshar Kapoor, Neha Sharma, Sarah Jane Dias and Riteish Deshmukh promoting Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum. Yogen Shah / Getty Images
Tusshar Kapoor, Neha Sharma, Sarah Jane Dias and Riteish Deshmukh promoting Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum. Yogen Shah / Getty Images

Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum to get a sequel



After its success at the box office, the comedy Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum, released last week, is getting a sequel, announced its director Sachin Yardi. "Yes, we will be doing a sequel," he said. The movie's producer Ekta Kapoor said she was thrilled with the film's performance at the box office. "We had the best opening this season. I'm totally overwhelmed. It's a super hit," she said. Asked to comment on the barrage of negative reviews the film has received from the Indian press, Kapoor said: "Critics were so vocal about how much they hated the film and how the jokes in the movie offended some people. We will change it for the better next time. I want to say sorry to those who think they have been made fun of by the movie." Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum stars Tusshar Kapoor, Riteish Deshmukh and Neha Sharma. * IANS

Kirron Kher graces Lakmé Fashion Week ramp

The 57-year-old film and television actress Kirron Kher delighted audiences at Lakmé Fashion Week when she made a surprise appearance as the finale model for designer Gaurang Shah's latest collection, which presents a modern take on classic 1950s looks. Kher wore an embroidered ivory brocade sari paired with a traditional pink blouse. "This is the kind of sari I would wear for my son's wedding. I simply love Gaurang's collection," Kher told reporters. She strutted down the catwalk to the tune of Chalte Chalte, from the 2003 film of the same name. "You can take me out of the movies, but you can't take the movies out of me," she said. * IANS

Sushant Singh Rajput gearing up for film debut

The actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who shot to fame with the television programme Pavitra Rishta, will make his big-screen debut in Kai Po Che! He says that regardless of the medium he works in, the important thing is he delivers quality work. "I am an actor and it is good work that I want to do. I am really not bothered about the medium, be it television or films," said Rajput, 26. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, Kai Po Che! is an adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's novel The 3 Mistakes of My Life, chronicling the story of three friends, played by Rajput, Raj Kumar Yadav and Amit Sadh. The film comes out in January in India. * IANS

Shirish Kunder promises one film a year

The director Shrish Kunder, who took six years to release his second film, says he now wants to make one movie a year. Kunder's directorial debut, the musical hit Jaan-E-Mann starring Salman Khan and Preity Zinta, came out in 2006. His follow-up film, the fantasy adventure Joker starring Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha, is due out in India on August 31. "Six years for a second film? From now on, I will direct a film every year," said Kunder, 39. "I will torture you all more often." His next project is the comedy action film Kick, starring Khan and Angela Jonsson. It is currently in the preproduction stage, with shooting scheduled for later this year. * IANS

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

MATCH INFO

Newcastle United 3
Gayle (23'), Perez (59', 63')

Chelsea 0

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
RESULT

Los Angeles Galaxy 2 Manchester United 5

Galaxy: Dos Santos (79', 88')
United: Rashford (2', 20'), Fellaini (26'), Mkhitaryan (67'), Martial (72')

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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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