JUST ONE LOOK: Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in Holiday. JUST ONE LOOK: Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn in Holiday.Whether judged by hankies used, sighs heaved, or pulses quickened, a truly fine romantic movie can burn its way into generations of hearts. From the star-crossed (Casablanca, Roman Holiday, Brokeback Mountain) to the triumphant (It Happened One Night, Say Anything . . . , Working Girl), Laura Jacobs falls for the 25 greatest love stories the movies ever told.

Any list of the most romantic movies-this one narrowed to movies in the English language-is going to draw sighs and harrumphs over beloved films left off. Quite a few unforgettable love stories are in movies that don’t comfortably fit the category (Gone with the Wind, for instance), and the contemporary rom-com, while classifiably romantic, can seem as slight as the dandelion-a sunny flowering, a puffball dispersed on a breeze.

Movies that reach the romantic pantheon often have more at stake than a trip to the altar and don’t always end up happily. Some invoke the archetypes of myth and fairy tale, diving into the deeper imaginative realms of high Romanticism, a movement enamored of mystery and nature untamed. Others are modeled on the literary “romance,” a centuries-old genre of narrative fiction that combines adventure, idealism, and courtly love, as exemplified by King Arthur and his Round Table. These tales frequently take place on a journey where desire is set against duty, and where love alters destiny. The mortal dislocations of World War II-our “Good War”-are formidably represented in the realm of the romantic. Casablanca, for example, sees patriotism prevailing over the love of one person. The English Patient sees the reverse.

At the same time, high-flying ideals can become straitjackets or self-sabotage. Alfred Hitchcock’s Notorious keys into a dark vein of lyricism, a place where self-sacrifice becomes voluptuous and ill. One thinks of William Blake’s iconic line, which sounds the bass note of Romantic poetry, “O Rose thou art sick.” That said, it is lyricism in all its textures-dark, light, aural, visual-that lifts these films to higher ground. Rodgers and Hart, in their song “Isn’t It Romantic?,” describe the feeling as “music in the night, a dream that can be heard … moving shadows write the oldest magic word.” Those moving shadows are movies.

THE AGE OF INNOCENCE (1993)

Beautiful and grave from the first strains of Gounod’s Faust to the last ray of sun bouncing off a window, Martin Scorsese’s film version of Edith Wharton’s greatest novel gets richer with every viewing. This period drama was a departure for Scorsese, until then known primarily for street, gang, and Mafia movies. But were the fabled 400 of New York’s Gilded Age any less controlling than the Cosa Nostra? Newland Archer, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, hasn’t sold his soul to the devil but to a gilded ideal. His marriage to the angelic debutante May Welland (Winona Ryder) will fulfill every conventional wish. But in May’s unconventional, unhappily married cousin, the Countess Olenska (Michelle Pfeiffer), he awakens to another ideal-the romance of deep affinity. This new love is blocked at every turn. But by whom or what? New York society closing ranks? Newland’s own pride of place? Or a moral code that wills out? It’s unbearably poignant, this life suspended between ideals.

THE AMERICANIZATION OF EMILY (1964)

This movie works hard not to be on this list. It questions all the romantic clichés: self-sacrifice, heroism on the battlefield, loyalty in the bedroom. Directed by Arthur Hiller from a script by Paddy Chayefsky, The Americanization of Emily stars Julie Andrews, in her most crystalline period, and James Garner, everyone’s favorite good guy. Emily, having lost her father, brother, and husband to W.W. II, is sick of the cultural complicity that pushes men to be heroes. She believes a living coward is better than a wounded (or dead) warrior with a medal. Garner thinks similarly but opportunistically, without the moral dimension. Events twist and turn. Somehow he ends up as the “first man on Omaha Beach.” The movie is beguilingly intelligent, funny, and, in the last reel, romantic. Andrews and Garner have both said it’s their favorite of their films.

BEFORE SUNRISE / BEFORE SUNSET / BEFORE MIDNIGHT (1995, 2004, 2013)

Eros on location. The first movie in this trilogy is about two students who meet on a train, get off in Vienna, and pass the hours before a flight walking, talking, and falling in love. As Celine, Julie Delpy, of the honey-colored hair and full mouth, could be a pre-Raphaelite nymph, and Ethan Hawke’s Jesse, with his glittering eyes and cool-dude goatee, is Mallarmé’s Faun (“Did I love a dream?”). The following two movies, at nine-year intervals, catch up with the pair in Paris and then in Greece. Action consists of dialogue interwoven with desire: Vienna is reminiscent of late-night dorm discussions about life; Paris is more psychologically revealing and tinged with confusion; in Greece resentments flare and shadows lengthen. Directed by Richard Linklater, the trilogy dispenses with the usual climb toward happy endings, a story tied up with a bow, and instead finds romance in immediacy-the blue dart in the eternal flame.

BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945)

Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard play “ordinary people” Laura Jesson and Dr. Alec Harvey, and Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2-practically another character-plays the crashing, roiling wave of love that takes them both by surprise. “Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter,” as the movie is formally billed, was based on Coward’s one-act play Still Life. It explores the deepening relationship between two married people of high morals who meet by chance in a train station. David Lean directed, pulling performances of understated passion from Johnson and Howard. Robert Krasker’s black-and-white cinematography, justly admired for its shadows and fog, wears a darkness both sooty and soft. Renunciation can be beautiful, but it can also be bleak. The ending-Johnson’s luminous eyes, Howard’s Arthurian brow-is wrenching.

Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brokeback Mountain.BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN (2005)

It’s testament to our increasing enlightenment that this movie about the secret love affair between two cowboys ranks 12th among the highest-grossing romantic dramas of all time. It’s a heartbreaker. The late Heath Ledger, in the role of Ennis Del Mar, underplays stoicism-which takes some doing. No one can know him because he hardly knows himself, except for one thing: he knows that he loves Jack Twist. Jake Gyllenhaal as Jack is less frightened by their love. He wears his heart, well, not on his sleeve but close at hand. (Ennis won’t wear his heart anywhere.) And he has a vision of the life they could have together. But Ennis can’t go there. So close, so far. Their two shirts in the closet-one over the other on a single hanger-embody everything, profoundly.

CARMEN JONES (1954)

“You go for me and I’m taboo. But if you’re hard to get I go for you.” That’s the motto of Carmen Jones, a red rose inside a red flame. One of the most successful updates of an opera, this artful film, conceived and directed by Otto Preminger, is not a conventional musical but more a drama with music. The melodies are from Georges Bizet’s Carmen of 1875, the words are by Oscar Hammerstein II, the time and place is North Carolina during W.W. II, and the cast is black, with a bewitching Dorothy Dandridge as Jones and Harry Belafonte as the love-obsessed Joe. This is romance as danger, as doom, a fate writ large in Carmen’s delicious wardrobe (designed by Mary Ann Nyberg). That sinuous coral dress with the slashes over the heart says it all. Dandridge was nominated for the Academy Award for best actress, a first for an African-American woman.

CASABLANCA (1942)

Where to begin? There’s the great cast: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre. And the great moment: nervous, nervy locals silencing Nazi officers with a passionate rendition of “La Marseillaise.” And the great song: Dooley Wilson singing Herman Hupfeld’s “As Time Goes By.” There are the immortal lines: “Here’s looking at you, kid,” and “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world she walks into mine,” and “We’ll always have Paris.” And the swift, punch-the-studio-time-clock transcendence of director Michael Curtiz. And the shocks of North African sun, of searchlights and moonlight in the night, courtesy of cinematographer Arthur Edeson. And there’s the last scene, blanketed in gray-velvet fog, in which a skein of glances looms the most powerful triangle in cinematic history. Bogart-Bergman-Henreid. But more than that: love-war-duty.

THE ENGLISH PATIENT (1996)

World War II again. Zinc bars, cartography in Cairo, the glorious English, and love blossoming like a succulent in strange, dry places. The desert, the plane, the scarf, the cave, Ralph Fiennes in profile, and Kristin Scott Thomas stepping out of her bath-afternoon tea and the Wagnerian “Liebestod” of it all. Anthony Minghella’s movie, based on Michael Ondaatje’s stunningly voluptuous novel, works on the scale of grand opera. Little lives, historic upheaval, gargantuan passions. Tears, more tears, and we all die alone.

GHOST (1990)

Commerce between the living and the dead is the stuff of ghost stories, but when that commerce is love we move into the realm of Orpheus. This genre-the supernatural romantic fantasy-contains masterpieces: 1947′s dashing and dansant The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and the 1956 screen adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. Jerry Zucker’s Ghost is not a masterpiece, but it has an aching lyricism unique in contemporary film. Demi Moore, tremulous in a pixie cut, is at her loveliest. And the late Patrick Swayze is a concentrated presence, one of those actors the audience just feels for. He was perfectly cast in the kinetic coming-of-age romance Dirty Dancing, and he’s perfectly cast here, as the ardent ghost with unfinished business.

HOLIDAY (1938)

While The Philadelphia Story (1940) enjoys most-favored status, its slightly older cousin, Holiday, which also stars Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, is a deeper, more poignant study of human nature. Derived from a play by Philip Barry (again like The Philadelphia Story ), Holiday is The Age of Innocence in reverse. Grant is freethinking Johnny Case, a self-made success who wrestles with whether or not he should marry into stiff, snooty society. Doris Nolan’s Julia Seton is a strong temptation. But her older sister, Linda, more insecure and vulnerable-played with fire by Hepburn-is the soul match. She’d follow Johnny anywhere (as would we), but will he see that she’s the one. Source – yahoo.com

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Jennifer Aniston recently said it feels like she and fiance Justin Theroux are already married, so this must be the honeymoon.

On Tuesday, photographers snapped photos of the couple as they packed on the PDA in the pool at their resort in Cabo, where they are staying with Aniston's "The Switch" co-star Jason Bateman and his wife, Amanda Anka.

For months there have been rumors that the couple had postponed their wedding after reports that their relationship had fizzled, but these photos seem to suggest otherwise.

As for the 44-year-old actress, she looked fantastic as always in her red bikini, but we couldn't help getting a sense of déjà vu. We're pretty sure it's because she broke out the same tiny two piece the last time the couple hit up Cabo in December 2012. Source - huffingtonpost.com

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If there was ever any doubt in your mind, rest assured that Beyonce loves her chicken.

Queen Bey's receipt from Nando's went viral this weekend when she ordered $2,264 worth of chicken after performing at V Festival in the U.K. Granted, the 58 wing platters, 48 whole chickens, 12 veggie burgers and 24 coleslaw orders weren't all for her, but we love how her entourage gave the lady's real name to the hostess (note "Beyonce K" on top).

According to the BBC, the restaurant's manager confirmed a member of Beyonce's posse called in with the order.

According to E!, Beyonce is a big fan of the fast-food chain: She raked up a $1,144 bill at an Ireland Nando's branch last May. Source - huffingtonpost.com

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Models, Heidi Klum, Naked, Heidi Klum Naked Instagram, Heidi Klum Naked Photo, Nude, Heidi Klum Nude Photos, Heidi Klum Photos, Heidi Klum Bora Bora, Heidi Klum Instagram, Heidi Klum Topless, Instagram, Naked, Style News

Heidi Klum has no issues getting naked -- er, "splitternackt." The model posted a throwback photo from a 2009 Russell James shoot to Instagram this weekend with the caption, "Photo blast from the past: Splitternackt!" which in German basically means "totally nude."

Heidi's made a habit of posting nude photos to her social media accounts, including plenty of bikini pics that make us jealous of her seemingly endless vacation time. After posting a topless photo of herself in Bora Bora in July, Klum admitted that her mom had taken the pic. "You will be surprised when you hear that my mom takes most of the photos," she told "Access Hollywood." And her mom, she made sure to share, usually goes topless, too. Source - huffingtonpost.com

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The newly sober starlet was spotted in SoHo Aug. 20, baring her legs in nothing but a white button-down and some gold ankle booties. In some photos, a pair of teeny black briefs can be seen peeking out from under the top.

The 27-year-old was seen walking with a female friend and hotelier Vikram Chatwal, according to the photo agency that obtained the pics. Chatwal was arrested back in April after attempting to board a plane with cocaine, marijuana and prescription pills in Florida. Earlier this month, TMZ reported he was completing a court-ordered rehab stint, just like his "Canyons" star pal.

Lohan left rehab on July 30 after finishing her 90-day treatment. In a recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, the actress said she feels different this time around. She said she is prepared to "work really hard and stay focused and prove myself in the way that I did before in the past and I lost. I have to regain the trust of people in my career that have their doubts and I fully respect that on their behalf." Source - huffingtonpost.com

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Kelly Brook is reportedly looking stunning in her new Lynx campaign in which she is seen rubbing ice cubes on her bikini clad body before going topless.

The 33-year old English model is heading up the campaign which is set to send one lucky Lynx space academy lover into space via a global competition, the Daily Express reported.

'The Italian Job' starlet, who recently broke up with love-rat Danny Cipriani, is seen flaunting her famous curves in the video as she lies in bed, wearing a sultry camisole inside a space ship, before she heads over to the window and strips down to a gold bikini, then moves to another side of the space ship while untying her bikini top and leaving it to float beside her, before slipping into a tight silver playsuit.

The model-turned-actress eventually runs off with a mystery astronaut, representing the unknown winner of the competition.

Brook uploaded a number of pictures during her ad campaign filming to her social networking accounts.

The 'School for Seduction' actress has been in Istanbul to filming scenes for Lynx Apollo, the latest in a string of promotional campaigns she's fronted for the brand since signing a lucrative 1 million pound deal in 2007. Source- Times of India

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Hugh Jackman has dismissed reports that he was being courted for a $100 million deal for four more movies in the Wolverine franchise.

The latest outing by Jackman's clawed mutant is still running in theatres but the 44-year-old actor, who embarks on a strick diet and exercise regime to prepare for the role every time, said he would not go into that space without any good reason, reported Entertainment Weekly.

"No it's not true," Jackman said. The actor is currenly in Montreal shooting for next summer's highly anticipated X-Men: Days of Future Past.

"I would never do that. I've never done that mainly because, for the fans and for me, each time I've gone around there's been a really good reason to do it and I don't know what that reason is from here. I'm in the middle of making this and I just promoted the other and I'm really happy with the way The Wolverine came out," he added. Source- Hindustan Times

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Like every year on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, Salman Khan along with his brothers Sohail and Arbaaz, visited his sister Alvira Agnihotri at her Bandra house.

Alvira, whom Sallu fondly calls Baby, is the apple of his eyes and apparently the actor had presented her with a penthouse worth Rs 10 crore last year on Rakhi. However, this year, Alvira had to vie for Salman's attention, as another lady gave her stiff competition.

The young lady who hogged the limelight on Tuesday's do was none other than their pint-size niece. The toddler is the daughter of their cousin who lives abroad and had specially flown down to be with the Khan-daan on the occasion of Rakhi. Source –Times of India

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Sanjay Leela Bhansali's search for a dancing diva has finally ended with Priyanka Chopra. But what about Bhansali's blue-eyed girl Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who was reportedly in advanced talks to dance her way to a comeback with 'Ram Leela'.

With the Bachchan bahu confirming a meeting with the director, a bigger collaboration seems to be in the offing. "We did meet. Please wait for an official announcement which will be made soon," said Aishwarya. Meanwhile Bhansali is busy preparing for the elaborate number which will see Priyanka matching steps with the film's lead actor Ranveer Singh.

The shooting will take place next week in Film City and Anju Modi, who designed the outfits of the film's leading lady Deepika Padukone, has already fashioned costumes for Priyanka. A source close to Priyanka told TOI, "Bhansali met Priyanka two months ago to discuss the song in detail. Priyanka loved the idea but dates were a concern as she is also shooting for Gunday and Mary Kom simultaneously."

Speaking about Aishwarya's involvement in the scheme of things, the source added, "Bhansali likes to meet a lot of people before he finalises anyone. But it looks like he has something bigger planned for Aishwarya, may be a different film altogether. Source – Times of India

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World Luxury Expo, Abu Dhabi, the third edition of the World Luxury Expo series, will be hosted at the magnificent Emirates Palace from September 27th-29th 2013, and is set to become an annual fixture for the UAE capital city.

The World Luxury Expo series has been gaining momentum and traction among many of the world’s leading luxury brands.

World Luxury Group has recently concluded two successful World Luxury Expos, the inaugural event was held at Burj Al Arab, Dubai in January and the second in February at the palatial Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh earlier this year.

World Luxury Expo showcases a selection of the world’s leading luxury brands to an invitation-only three-day event to high-net worth private clientele from across the GCC region.

Abu Dhabi is fast becoming a city which is positioning itself as one of the luxury retail capitals of the world, and the luxury market in Abu Dhabi is one of the most strategically important, and indeed lucrative.

Most of the premium brand retailers are planning rapid expansion into Abu Dhabi, and this trend is set to continue with a multitude of luxury retail developments in the pipe-line and developments underway in the city.

According to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2013, the number of high net worth individuals in the UAE, having a fortune of US$30 million, is set rise by 53 per cent over the next decade.

World Luxury Expo will feature a broad selection of carefully selected categories including fine art, high-end jewellery and fashion, hand-crafted time pieces, designer furniture and exquisite table settings, automobiles, fine dining, private aviation, and luxury travel.

All participating exhibitors are leaders in their respective fields, executing superior design qualities and constantly striving for the ultimate in quality and perfection.

Following the Abu Dhabi edition, World Luxury Expo will continue to Doha from November 14th-16th 2013.

Then the Expo travels to Kuwait in December and returns to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2014, creating an annual signature series of events in the GCC region. Source - breakingtravelnews.com

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Between the trading routes of the Indian Ocean, lies the island-clustered country, Maldives — a destination, which with time has turned out to be one of the world’s finest for leisure and luxury. This spectacular archipelago offers something unique and impossible to replicate elsewhere.

The small Maldivian islands are surrounded by beautiful lights reflecting white sands fringed by coconut palms. The almost fluorescent whilst turquoise blue water of the shallow reef lagoons encircles the islands and slowly merges with the dark indigo blue of the Indian Ocean.

There are about 1190 islands, spread across 26 naturally formed coral atolls. Of these islands, about 200 are inhabited by Maldivians and the rest are either private resorts or just left to nature.

The key to enjoying Maldives is staying in a splurge island resort. Located on small coral islands, the resorts are absolute slices of paradise. Each resort has its own island. Three-course buffets, Kobe beef, corn-fed chicken and candlelight dinners are the aristocracies of pure five star luxuries being offered.

MaldivesFor the adventure lovers, there are trips such as Dolphin Discovery, Snorkeling on the Bay and also Deep Sea Diving. Nearly everything that is needed is just a call away. For those looking to stay connected to the world, there are high speed wi-fi networks present, which work even on the beach.

The resorts host quite a few different types of restaurants and bars. Every night there are shows and dances. A blend of numerous cultures defines Maldives since Maldivian genes were passed on by South and Southeast Asians, Africans and Arabs, preserving rituals from each.

One of the most famous of these traditions is ‘bodu-beruis’, a form of drum music. Bodu-berui music is often played in the night shows creating a very festive environment. A mix of dance and soft rock is also popularly played for the couples.

Maldives is one of the most ideal locations for a honeymoon. Every resort has facilities designed for couples to enjoy. From uniquely designed dining plans to breathtaking spa facilities, there are a lot for pairs to enjoy. Moreover, the islands are completely isolated and private with no distractions of the world present.

International visitors to Maldives land at the Malé International Airport, located on a separate island lying adjacent to Malé City which is the main island.

To get to the city, the easiest way is to use the local ferry, which costs just one dollar a person. The access to resorts is via speed-boats or sea-planes depending on the distance. Most resorts are less than thirty minutes away. The boat and sea-plane rides are quite entertaining with the view of the vast Indian Ocean all around.

A daylong stop-over in Malé City should not be missed. The city has shopping streets selling a variety of items like corals, pebbles and souvenirs. One such souvenir is shell money, an interesting pre-historic form of money.

Shell money is also sold in these shops for collectors from different parts of the world. The city also hosts the national museum of Maldives which hosts numerous items including three moon rocks and a Maldivian flag which went to the moon and back. The Maldivian palate too is diverse, with numerous cuisines available.

Located just a few flight hours away, the Maldivian islands are the place to be during summer. After all, Maldives is on the list of the very selective world’s exclusive places to be. Source- daily star

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This is a film actress who has been acting for just 6 years. She has already bagged 2 National Awards and acted opposite her dream on-screen partner, Tollywood heartthrob- Prosenjit. How did it all work out so well for her? Nipun shares her story.

‘Porichoy’ was a hit in Kolkata.

‘Porichoy’ was released in June, 2013 in Kolkata. It has received excellent reviews from the critics. The audience also loved it for the ensemble cast and storyline. I feel very lucky to have been a part of it. Especially working with Prosenjit was surreal.

Prosenjit was a sweetheart!

I was nervous at first. The first time I saw him on set was during the shooting of a song of ‘Porichoy’. He could sense my nervousness. He came up to me and said “Hi. I’m Prosenjit Chatterjee. I’ll be working with you.” I was constantly amazed by his cordiality. I rehearsed all day, but he seemed to need no rehearsal at all. He would finish difficult scenes in just one take. It was fascinating to see how at ease he was during filming.

Bed scene with PC!

There was a bed scene with Prosenjit. I was a bit jumpy. He told me, “I’ll lie down whichever way you are comfortable.” Ultimately, we were able to film that shot quite fast. Acting is a piece of cake to him. He always put his co-artists’ comfort before his. That was such an admirable quality.

Tollywood vs. Dhallywood

In Kolkata, the cast and crew are very professional and very well-trained. They are very punctual. There’s a lot of pre-planning. Everything is chalked out. Everyone’s job is well specified. There was no extra pressure on the artists. We didn’t have to worry about our costume, make-up or hair. We just focused on our acting.

Nipun2Girl power

A lot of girls work there behind the camera as co-producer, assistant director and what not. The work environment is friendlier towards female professionals there. You work from 8am to 8pm. The hours were reasonable as well.

Busy bee

I’m working on three films now. I’m playing Maya in Mayanogor. I am also in the film, Mayer Momota, opposite Imon. There I play Momota, which is my favourite character. Another film of mine was released recently, in May, 2013- Eito Bhalobasha with Imon and Nirob. It was a full-fledged comedy. The songs were very popular even before the release of the film. I’m also acting in Padma Parar Parboti by Rafiq Shikdar.

Dancing with the stars

I learned ‘Kathak’ dance when I was in Russia, doing my Bachelors in Computer Science. So, it was easier for me to pick up the routines of our Indian choreographer in ‘Star Dance’. But the hours were exhausting. We rehearsed from 12am to 4am and came back at 12 in the afternoon again for shooting. Still it was a lot of fun because I love to dance.

From Russia to LA to FDC

I used to live in LA with my husband and my daughter. I came to Dhaka in a vacation in 2006. Dipjol asked me to do a film with him. I told him that I’m leaving in 20 days; if you can pack up shooting within this little time, then I’ll do it. He agreed and surprisingly, the film was a big hit. I went back to LA and came to Bangladesh later for the film premier. Then I was offered the role of ‘Kushum’ in ‘Shajghor’(based on a Humayun Ahmed novel), won the National Award and realized that acting is my true calling.

BEST WORKS:

NipunFilms:

Pitar Ashon

Shajghor

Rickshawalar Prem

Praner Shami

Chander Moto Bou

Porichoy

TV:

Red Signal (daily soap by Masud Sezan)

Star Dance

You might recognize her from these

TVCS:

Pran Up

Tibet Snow

Walton Generator

Botanic Fairness Cream

Momtaj Mehendi

Celebrity Diet:

Here’s what Nipun went through to lose 12 kilos last year. She was under a strict prescribed diet. She only ate cereals, egg white, fruits, nuts, roti, vegetables, chicken, fish and tea without milk or sugar; those too in skimpy portions. These are the 5 simple rules that Nipun applied for losing weight.

* Keep 1/3 of your stomach empty

* Join a gym

* Do meditation/yoga

* No sugar

* Steer clear of rich food

PROFILE:

Birthday: 9th June

Height: 5’4”

Best feature: Nose

Acting: 2006- present

National Awards: Shajghor (Best Supporting Actress)

Chander Moto Bou (Best Supporting Actress)

FAVOURITIES:

Movie: All animated movies

Actor: Salman Shah, Anil Kapoor

Actress: Sri Devi

Music: All kinds of Bengali music

Writer: Humayun Ahmed, Sydney Sheldon

Director: Razzak, F I Manik

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Marriott International has announced the opening of the 155-unit The OCT Harbour, Shenzhen Marriott Executive Apartments.

This is Marriott International’s first extended stay property in South China, showing its continued growth and commitment to China.

Simon Cooper, president and managing director, Marriott International Asia Pacific, said: “We are delighted to be opening South China’s very first Marriott Executive Apartments and pleased that the popularity of the Marriott Executive Apartments brand in China continues to grow.

“Designed with extended stay travellers in mind, the apartments are located in an iconic location with the convenience of a five-star, full-service hotel.

“Offering space, ambience and privacy of residential living the Marriott Executive Apartments enables a comfortable stay while living away from home.”

The OCT Harbour, Shenzhen – Marriott Executive Apartments cover a total area of over 27,000sqm.

The property has accommodation of 155 units encompassing studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites.

Each spacious apartment allows guests to feel the authentic experience of living in the city.

With separated warm-coloured bedroom, contemporary living room and office area and a fully equipped, state-of-the-art kitchen – Marriott Executive Apartments are the perfect home-away-from-home with tranquil ambience and all the benefits of a hotel. Concierge desk, foreign exchange, limousine service, and even a grocery shopping service are only a phone call away.

The Resident Lounge, 24-hour gym, outdoor pool, kids’ pool, children’s playroom, and valet dry cleaning are among the services on offer. Source - breakingtravelnews.com Learn more »

The fifth in Abu Dhabi’s annual Tourism Youth Summer Camp series has got underway with over 60 Emirati students, all aged between 15 and 17, in the programme organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority in conjunction with the European International College.

Coming up over the next three weeks, the students, a mix of both boys and girls, will take part in workshops designed to boost their awareness of the tourism industry and its economic, social and environmental impacts; embark on field trips to better acquaint them with Abu Dhabi’s expanding tourism offering and participate in team building exercises to develop their interpersonal skills.

“You are the next generation of tourism ambassadors for Abu Dhabi,” the youngsters were told by TCA Abu Dhabi’s Fatima Al Mehli, industry awareness executive.

“During the coming weeks you’ll discover the breadth and outreach of the tourism industry and the future career paths open to you. Please make the most of this opportunity to learn and to also have fun in what should be an unforgettable and enriching summer.”

Among the field trips scheduled are fact-finding visits to Yas Island’s assets, tours of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the Zayed Centre, Abu Dhabi Pearl Journey, the St. Regis Saadiyat Island and the Manarat Al Saadiyat exhibition centre.

“A number of key stakeholders including Rotana, Etihad, Yas Island, the St. Regis, EIC and the Khalifa Fund are delivering the workshops while other stakeholders have weighed in with prizes for high performers,” explained Al Melhi. Source- breakingtravelnews.com

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British Airways prepares for Dreamliner launch DJ Lisa Showdon enjoys BA's 787

With just a week to go until British Airways’ first Boeing 787 Dreamliner heads on its inaugural long-haul flight to Toronto, DJ and model Lisa Snowdon has been testing out the comfort on board the near aircraft.

The 787 will leave Heathrow on its maiden long-haul flight, the BA093 on September 1st.

Snowdon, said: “As a breakfast DJ, I know the importance of a good night’s sleep - so when British Airways invited me to ‘road test’ its new Dreamliner aircraft, I couldn’t resist. Any aircraft that promises reduced jetlag, less dehydration and a smoother journey is a winner, especially as you arrive feeling refreshed and ready for action.

“I was really impressed with how spacious and airy it felt, with mood lighting and super comfortable seating to snuggle up in.”

Twenty-four 787s will join the British Airways fleet over the next four years as part of the airline’s £5bn investment in products and services for customers.

British Airways customers will also be able to enjoy flying on the world’s largest passenger aircraft from September when the first of twelve A380s the airline has ordered begins flights to Los Angeles.

The 787 offers huge benefits to British Airways customers – including a whisper-quiet cabin pressurised 2,000ft lower than other aircraft, allowing customers to arrive at their destination feeling more refreshed and less jet-lagged.

The aircraft’s smooth ride technology also provides extra comfort during any turbulence.

Bespoke mood lighting in every cabin can be set to reflect the time of day, helping to lull travellers to sleep at night and to wake them gently in the morning.

Customers can also enjoy the largest windows of any commercial aircraft, offering views of the horizon from every seat, or relax watching British Airways’ new in-flight entertainment system, which features more than 1,600 hours of programming. Source- breakingtravelnews.com Learn more »

Carley Watts, 24, is to marry Tunisian lifeguard Mohammed Salah, 25

Carley will move to Tunisia in October and convert to Islam

His parents will not be told about her career as they 'wouldn't understand'

Carley's two-year-old daughter Alanah will also move to Monastir

She used to spend her days posing in her underwear but now glamour model Carley Watts, 24, is to cover up after falling in love with Tunisian lifeguard, Mohammed Salah, 25.

The model, from Dearham in Norfolk, met Salah during a holiday in Tunisia in April and says she is so serious about the lifeguard she is set to Islam to become his wife.

From October, Carley and her daughter Alannah, two, will live close to his family in the city of Monastir, where she will spend six months learning about the faith - and planning their wedding.

Convert: Carley Watts will convert to Islam ahead of her marriage to Tunisian lifeguard Mohammed Salah

Husband to be: Carley met her fiance Mohammed during a holiday in the Tunisian city of Monastir

Carley told on Sunday that her friends think she is mad and that this is just a phase: 'They can’t get their heads round me going from being the last girl standing on every night out to wearing a veil and converting to Islam. Meeting Mohammed has made me really look at my life. I don’t want to be going wild, flashing my boobs and falling out of nightclubs any more. But we couldn’t be more different.

'As a glamour model I show off my boobs, dress up in kinky outfits and generally act outrageous. Mohammed is solely focused on family life. If I’m drunk I like to take my clothes off and recently I walked all the way home from a nightclub totally starkers. I love going to raves and staying up dancing all night in little tutus and bra tops. Now my life is set to change beyond belief. I don’t have any worries, though.'

The day job: Mohammed's parents won't be told about Carley's glamour modelling career

Although Mohammed does know what Carley does for a living, she told the Sun that his family aren't aware of her career and won't be told.

She explained that the fact she is a single mother was already enough of a shock for them.

She said: 'He explained that he loved me and wanted me to be his wife and they have come round to that. He accepts that [glamour modelling] is what I do and doesn’t try to change me. But he says once we are married my body is for his eyes only.'

Single mothers are almost unheard of in Tunisia, where sex outside of marriage is frowned upon and is punishable by law.

'Single mums don’t exist in his world and men who get unmarried women pregnant go to prison. It is all about family and he idolises his mother,' she added.

'These are the kind of values I love about their culture. Women are treated with respect and they also respect themselves and their bodies. They don’t do one-night stands or casual flings. When I’m with Mohammed I feel so content, calm and happy. I know he’s the kind, family man for me. Source- DailyMail. Learn more »

Katie Price has given birth to her new son, Jett Riviera, who was born 8-weeks premature.

After Price developed a potentially life-threatening infection, the baby boy, weighing just 5 lb 2 oz, was delivered by emergency C-section in a foreign hospital, the Mirror reported.

The 35-year-old reality TV star told the publication that she went through a nightmare, when the baby's heart rate fell dangerously low.

Price was forced to give birth without her hubby Kieran Hayler, as he was not allowed in the operating theatre.

Riviera, who was taken away to a special care unit after a quick kiss from his mother, is said to be "doing well" in the hospital. Source- Times of India Learn more »

Tom Cruise requires custom-made thongs for him to wear during the filming of stunt scenes, it has been revealed.

A source close to the 'Top Gun' actor has revealed that Cruise wears the G-strings, as they are "comfortable and flexible" and made from soft and stretchy material, the Daily Star reported.

The insider said that the 51-year-old actor felt unrestricted when performing stunts and action sequences, in those special thongs.

The source asserted that the actor has been performing stunts for years and it has taken a toll on his body and the thongs now help him improve the flexibility.

Wardrobe staff has been asked to keep as many as 50 thongs, so that Cruise can always have a fresh one available to him. Source- Times of India Learn more »

Mark Ruffalo spoke out on reproductive rights this weekend, penning a letter in support of a woman's right to choose. The 45-year-old actor's statements on abortion were read at a rally outside of Mississippi's last abortion clinic, Jackson Women's Health Organization.

Ruffalo opened up about his own mother's experience with having an abortion, saying that she was "forced to illegally have an abortion in her state where abortion was illegal," adding that the experience was "traumatizing" and "shameful and sleazy and demeaning."

"My mother’s illegal abortion marked a time in America that we have worked long and hard to leave behind," Ruffalo went on. "It was a time when women were seen as second rate citizens who were not smart enough, nor responsible enough, nor capable enough to make decisions about their lives. It was a time that deserved to be left behind, and leave it behind we did, or so it seemed."

Ruffalo isn't the only celebrity to speak out in favor of reproductive rights as of late. Earlier this year, famous faces including Whitney Cummings, Stanley Tucci, and Mehcad Brooks released a PSA in support of the cause.

Take a look at Ruffalo's full remarks below:

I am a man. I could say this has nothing to do with me. Except I have two daughters and I have a mother who was forced to illegally have an abortion in her state where abortion was illegal when she was a very young woman. It cost $600 cash. It was a traumatizing thing for her. It was shameful and sleazy and demeaning. When I heard the story I was aghast by the lowliness of a society that would make a woman do that. I could not understand its lack of humanity; today is no different.

What happened to my mother was a relic of an America that was not free nor equal nor very kind. My mother’s illegal abortion marked a time in America that we have worked long and hard to leave behind. It was a time when women were seen as second rate citizens who were not smart enough, nor responsible enough, nor capable enough to make decisions about their lives. It was a time that deserved to be left behind, and leave it behind we did, or so it seemed. We made abortion and a woman’s ability to be her own master a right. That right was codified into law. That law was the law of the land for decades.

My own mother fought to make herself more than a possession; she lived her life as a mother who chose when she would have children, and a wife who could earn a living if she so chose. I want my daughters to enjoy that same choice. I don’t want to turn back the hands of time to when women shuttled across state lines in the thick of night to resolve an unwanted pregnancy, in a cheap hotel room just south of the state line. Where a transaction of $600 cash becomes the worth of a young woman’s life.

So that is why I am lending my voice to you and your movement today. Because I actually trust the women I know. I trust them with their choices, I trust them with their bodies and I trust them with their children. I trust that they are decent enough and wise enough and worthy enough to carry the right of Abortion and not be forced to criminally exercise that Right at the risk of death or jail time.

There was no mistake in us making abortion legal and available on demand. That was what we call progress. Just like it was no mistake that we abolished institutional racism in this country around the same time. The easy thing to do is lay low, but then are we who we say we are? Do we actually stand for anything, if what we do stand for is under attack and we say nothing? There is nothing to be ashamed of here except to allow a radical and recessive group of people to bully and intimidate our mothers and sisters and daughters for exercising their right of choice. Or use terrorism and fanaticism to block their legal rights or take the lives of their caregivers. Or design legislation that would chip away at those rights disguised as reinforcing a woman’s health.

I invite you to find your voice and let it be known that you stand for abortion rights and the dignity of a woman to be the master of her own life and body. I invite you to search your soul and ask yourself if you actually stand for what you say you stand for. Thank you for being here today and thank you for standing up for the women in my life. Source - huffingtonpost.com Learn more »

Lady Gaga released the music video to her latest single "Applause" on Monday morning. The video made its debut on "Good Morning America" after a live appearance from Lady Gaga. The pop star sat down with the hosts of "GMA" to discuss her hip injury, her new music video, and her new look.

The visuals to "Applause" show Gaga in various levels of dress, from a full black hooded bodysuit, to almost entirely naked, with just seashells or a set of hands covering her breasts. While parts of the video are shot in stark black-and-white, others are done in striking color with Gaga sporting dramatic makeup and get-ups. Watch the music video for "Applause" above.

Originally hyped to hit airwaves on August 19, "Applause" saw a rushed release last week after the single was leaked. Lady Gaga took to Twitter last Monday to announce that "due to hackers" and "an abundance of low/high quality leaks" the single would make its debut early.

Lady Gaga is set to perform "Applause" live for the first time at this Sunday's Video Music Awards on MTV. Other artists scheduled to perform at the upcoming awards show include Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, Robin Thicke, and Kanye West.

"Applause" is the first single off of Gaga's upcoming album "ARTPOP." Due out on November 11, "ARTPOP" will serve as a follow-up to Gaga's sophomore album "Born This Way," released in 2011. Source- The Huffington Post Learn more »