Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey show debuts in India

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is all set to repeat her phenomenal success with a new show that will also take her to India and China.

"Oprah’s Next Chapter" will take Winfrey to India, China and other countries, according to the Oprah Winfrey Network, or OWN, the Los Angeles-based cable TV venture she formed with Discovery Communications Inc, The Telegraph reported.

A network spokesperson said scheduling and details for the new series have not been finalised, but it is likely to be aired two to three times a week. The show debuts in late 2011.

A range of people from celebrities to politicians to newsmakers will be interviewed by Winfrey.

Winfrey announced in November that she would end her popular daytime show which has been running for 25 years because it "feels right".

The show had gone on to become one of TV industry’s biggest money-makers and helped Winfrey turn into a billionaire.

Clash of the Titans the new rulers of the weekend Box Office

The gods of Mount Olympus are the new rulers of the weekend Box Office.

The ancient Greek action remake "Clash of the Titans" debuted at No. 1 with $61.4 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. Adding Thursday night preview screenings, the movie totaled $64.1 million.

Released by Warner Bros., "Clash of the Titans" features "Avatar" star Sam Worthington as demigod hero Perseus and Liam Neeson as his dad, Zeus, king of the Olympian deities.

Opening at No. 2 with $30.2 million was Lionsgate`s sequel "Tyler Perry`s Why Did I Get Married Too?", reuniting filmmaker Perry with Janet Jackson and other co-stars for another comic drama about eight friends and their relationships.

The previous weekend`s top movie, DreamWorks Animation`s Viking adventure "How to Train Your Dragon," ran a close third with $29.2 million, raising its 10-day total to $92.3 million.

Miley Cyrus` teen drama "The Last Song" premiered at No. 4 with $16.2 million. The Disney release raised its total to $25.6 million since opening Wednesday. Written by best-selling author Nicholas Sparks specifically for the "Hannah Montana" star, the movie casts Cyrus as a sullen teen spending the summer with her estranged father.

"Clash of the Titans" continued Hollywood`s hit run of 3-D movies, which has included "How to Train Your Dragon" and the blockbusters "Avatar" and "Alice in Wonderland."

With $8.3 million, Disney`s "Alice in Wonderland" came in at No. 5 for the weekend, raising its domestic total to $309.8 million and its worldwide haul to $722 million.

"If three out of the top five films doesn`t spell a mandate for 3-D, I don`t know what does," said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com.

Like "Alice in Wonderland," "Clash of the Titans" was shot in 2-D format and converted to 3-D afterward. Critics gripe that such conversions provide lower-quality 3-D images, but audiences do not seem to mind.

"You can`t tell the difference. A super-technician, somebody who does this for a living, if they look carefully enough, they can find some differences," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros. "I have to tell you, from my own personal experiences, I can`t tell."

"Clash of the Titans" played on about 6,500 screens at 3,777 theaters, with 1,810 of those screens - or 28 percent - showing it in 3-D. Yet the movie did 52 percent of its business in 3-D format, with fans paying a few dollars more than 2-D tickets cost.

"Why Did I Get Married Too" was Perry`s second-biggest debut, behind last year`s "Tyler Perry`s Madea Goes to Jail" with $41 million. Lionsgate, which has distributed all nine of Perry`s movies, had thought his latest might come in around $25 million for the weekend.

"Every time we do one of his movies, I wake up on Saturday and think, why do I always underestimate him?" said David Spitz, head of distribution for Lionsgate. "He`s unbelievable. He knows his audience."

Cyrus` "The Last Song" had modest results compared with the last Sparks love story, "Dear John," which opened with $30.5 million in early February, bumping "Avatar" down a notch after seven weekends at No. 1.

Chuck Viane, head of distribution for Disney, said "Dear John" opened in a less-crowded marketplace the weekend before Valentine`s Day, when women are more in the mood to see a love story.

"The Last Song" held its own among a flurry of other big releases, establishing Cyrus as a box-office draw without her "Hannah Montana" alter-ego, Viane said.

"It unquestionably proves that she can step outside the role and continue to wow them," Viane said. "She`s becoming a real actress. She`s going to be an important name in this business."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "Clash of the Titans," $61.4 million.

2. "Tyler Perry`s Why Did I Get Married Too?", $30.2 million.

3. "How to Train Your Dragon," $29.2 million.

4. "The Last Song," $16.2 million.

5. "Alice in Wonderland," $8.3 million.

6. "Hot Tub Time Machine," $8 million.

7. "The Bounty Hunter," $6.2 million.

8. "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," $5.5 million.

9. "She`s Out of My League," $1.463 million.

10. "Shutter Island," $1.462 million.

My documentary for the BBC network is coming out soon-Lindsay Lohan

Actress Lindsay Lohan has urged people to watch her documentary about child trafficking in India which she has filmed for the BBC.

"My documentary for the BBC network is coming out soon... It`s about child trafficking in India... I`d like to encourage everyone to watch it!" read a post on Lindsay`s twitter page.

"It`s a massive world issue, and it goes on every day. I just want people to recognize the more important things in the world-rather than gossip."

The "Mean Girls" actress claimed to have saved lots of lives in just one day while she was making the documentary last year, reports contactmusic.com.

"Over 40 children saved so far... Within one day`s work. This is what life is about... Doing THIS is a life worth living!!!"

"trafficking is a big issue here, I`m doing what I can and I will continue to do so as long as life when time permits it," she posted on her twitter page.

The 23-year-old actress travelled to India in December to shoot the documentary with the British broadcaster and has urged people to watch it Thursday when it airs in the UK.

the wake of protest over controversial video featuring singer Akon

Sri Lanka has denied visa to US hip-hop singer Akon in the wake of protest over his controversial video featuring scantily-clad women dancing around a statue of Lord Buddha.

Akon was to perform in Sri Lanka next month and a major tourism drive was also launched to attract fans from Asia and other regions for the concert.

The decision came after some Buddhist monks asked the government to cancel the concert, accusing the Senegalese-American lyric, singer and producer of degrading Buddhism in his video Sexy Chick. The video shows Akon dancing with a group of women around a Buddha statue at a pool party.

The visa was rejected after a deliberate discussion over the issue between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Tourism Minister Achala Jagoda Tuesday, tourism ministry sources told Daily Mirror online.

However, Lasantha Samarasinghe, Director of Platinum Entertainment, the organiser of the Akon’s concert, said that he has no information about the government decision.

"We will take this up with the relevant authorities tomorrow," Samarasinghe was quoted as saying.

Jeff Bridges walked away with the best actor at Oscar

In a glittering ceremony, Jeff Bridges walked away with the best actor Oscar for his performance as a washed-up country singer in ‘Crazy Heart’ and Sandra Bullock won the coveted award for her stellar performance in John Lee Hancock’s ‘The Blind Side’ at the 82nd Academy Awards here.

"I want to thank my wonderful director for his ability to instil self-confidence in his actors. Thank you my wonderful team that kept me together. I also want to thank my gorgeous wife (Susan Geston) with whom I have spent more than 33 years and also my three girls without whom I wouldn`t be where I am," Bridges said in his acceptance speech.

He was nominated along with George Clooney (Up In The Air"), Morgan Freeman ("Invictus"), Jeremy Renner ("The Hurt Locker") and Colin Firth ("A Single Man") in the best actor category.

“I have so many people to thank but not enough time. But I want to thank my family and my family of the film, everyone who showed kindness and also those who were mean. I want to thank my mom...," said Bullock, who broke into tears while giving her acceptance speech.

Bullock, who got the best and worst actress awards back to back, beats Helen Mirren (‘The Last Station’), Carrey Mulligan (‘An Education’), Gabourey Sidibe (‘Precious’) and Meryl Streep (‘Julie & Julia’).

Emma Watson is the highest paid female star in Hollywood in 2009

‘Harry Potter’ star Emma Watson was the highest paid female star in Hollywood in 2009.

The ‘Hollywood’s top 40’ earners list compiled by Vanity Fair magazine has the beauty, who earned 20 million pounds, at the top among the women.

According to the magazine, she was paid 10 million pounds each for the final two parts of series, `Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.’

The 19-year-old is also the also the youngest actress on the list, reports a news daily.

Meanwhile, Watson’s Harry Potter co-star Daniel Radcliffe was placed sixth in with an income of 25.6 million pounds.

‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ director Michael Bay earned the highest in Hollywood 125 million US dollars.

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Wes Craven`s Freddy Krueger is topped the ultimate horror villain

Wes Craven`s disfigured child killer Freddy Krueger is the ultimate horror villain, says a new poll.

The ‘A Nightmare On Elm Street’ baddie terrorised Johnny Depp in the original 1984 picture.

The bad guy topped a survey by SFX magazine, ahead of Pinhead from the ‘Hellraiser’ movie series and murderous Michael Myers in Halloween, reports The Daily Express.

Other movie villains to appear in the top 10 include Dracula, the Candyman and Hannibal Lecter from ‘The Silence Of The Lambs.’

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Simon Cowell’s annual pay packet makes him number one in rich list

Simon Cowell’s annual pay packet of 50 million pounds last year makes him number one in OK! magazine’s rich list.

Dailystar.co.uk reports that also living the high life are Irish rockers U2, who amassed wads of cash by touring, and Elton John, 62, who raked it in thanks to a five-year stint as a resident act at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

Telly stars Anthony McPartlin, 34, and Declan Donnelly, also 34, Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney, 67, and movie star Ewan McGregor, 38, are all in the top 10.

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Scarlett Johansson and Anne Hathaway in bollywood movie

The hunk dude is going to romance beauties from Hollywood.‘Alien Sahib’, as the title hints, is going to bring a new alien to the screen and apparently will be on par with international standards. Starring John Abraham , the film will be directed by Shirish Kunder, who will also handle the production along with wife Farah Khan and John.

According to latest update from this film front, ‘Alien Sahib’ will include Hollywood actresses and the director-producer is already in talks with Hollywood A-listers. Stars like Scarlett Johansson and Anne Hathaway are flying down to Los Angeles to finalise the deal, sources shared. It is said that Shirish and John are doing everything possible to ensure that the movie is as perfect as it was conceptualised. Rumours are heard about casting a Hollywood actor to do the negative character.

Stated Shirish, “The story has a tremendous international appeal. The female protagonist will be a foreigner or so we decided to cast a Hollywood actress for it. Today, actors abroad are aware of Indian cinema and are open to working in films here. We have the means and we are doing what’s best for the film.”

On choosing John for ‘Alien Sahib’, Shirish said that the actor is one of the few actors who can carry off a project like this and John has a huge fan following abroad. “I see him fitting perfectly in a venture like this,” quoted Shirish.

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James Cameron Avatar far superior to his previous film Titanic

‘Titanic’ filmmaker James Cameron has placed his forthcoming magnum opus ‘Avatar’ far superior to his previous film Titanic in terms of the visual effects.

Cameron boasts that his watery 1997 blockbuster starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet pales in comparison to his latest project, Avatar.

"It makes Titanic look like a picnic," Cameron has said recently during an interview from Los Angeles.

Even Cameron, finds it hard to describe the hugely ambitious Avatar, which is made in stereoscopic 3D and combines live action and computer animation. "It’s simultaneously the most vexing and the most rewarding type of production that I’ve done yet," Cameron says of the project, due in theaters Dec. 18, 2009.

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Talent star Susan Boyle has won the Top Scot award

Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle has won the Top Scot award at Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards.

Accepting Boyle’s award on her behalf, her older brother Gerry said: “It’s amazing that she’s won this. She still thinks she’s the little lady from Blackburn.

“It’s a tremendous achievement in what has been a tremendous year, and she is delighted and thrilled.”

He insisted that Susan would return to Scotland for Christmas with her family.

The panel of judges in the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards, organised with The Scotsman as media partner, picked nominees in eight areas: business; art; food; sport; music; screen; environment and writing and the winners were chosen through public vote.

“Congratulations to Susan Boyle and all the winners,” the Scotsman quoted editor John McLellan as saying.

“I’m sure she will look back on this year with a huge sense of satisfaction, but also of astonishment. If ever there was a story of the triumph of hope, this is it,” he added.

“Susan Boyle has had a fairytale year; her incredible talent has catapulted her to international fame and captured the hearts of people around the world,” said Elizabeth Lafferty, public relations manager for Glenfiddich in Scotland.

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