United News of Bangladesh

Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna-starrer Ranabaali saw its box office earnings decline on Wednesday, October 21, collecting Rs 5.50 crore in net domestic revenue on its sixth day in theatres, according to Sacnilk. The collection was 22.5% lower than the Rs 7.10 crore earned on Tuesday. Despite the midweek slowdown, the period action drama has grossed Rs 59.65 crore worldwide. Its domestic net collection stands at Rs 42.05 crore, while its gross earnings in India have reached Rs 48.90 crore. The film has earned Rs 10.75 crore from overseas markets, including Rs 50 lakh on Wednesday. Ranabaali opened in theatres on October 16 with Rs 9.25 crore in net domestic earnings. It collected Rs 7.30 crore on Saturday and Rs 7.50 crore on Sunday. Earnings dropped to Rs 5.40 crore on Monday before recovering to Rs 7.10 crore on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the film earned Rs 5.50 crore from 2,232 shows across India, recording 453,848 admissions. Its total footfall since release has reached 3,312,504, according to Sacnilk. The Telugu version recorded an overall theatre occupancy of 40.44% on Wednesday. Morning shows registered 22.92% occupancy, while afternoon screenings recorded 48.38%. Evening and night shows reported occupancy rates of 48.08% and 41.92%, respectively. Directed by Rahul Sankrityan, Ranabaali is set in the Rayalaseema region during the Great Madras Famine of 1876-1878. The historical action drama follows a horseman who rises against British colonial rule. Vijay Deverakonda plays Singanamala Bobbili Ranabaali, while Rashmika Mandanna portrays Jayamma. Arnold Vosloo, known for The Mummy, appears as Sir Theodore Hector. Written by Rahul Sankrityan and Pramod Tammineni, the film was released in theatres on October 16, 2026.

Superstar Rajinikanth’s latest film Jailer 2 has grossed Rs 541 crore worldwide in its first six days in theatres, including Rs 287.80 crore in net collections from India. Released on October 15, the sequel to the 2023 blockbuster Jailer has maintained a strong run at the box office, with its Tamil version emerging as the biggest contributor to domestic earnings. According to trade tracker Sacnilk, the film collected Rs 45.55 crore net across 15,529 shows in India on its sixth day, taking its total domestic net collection to Rs 287.80 crore and gross collection to Rs 337 crore. The film earned Rs 31.20 crore from 7,828 shows in Tamil, followed by Rs 8.75 crore from 2,293 shows in Telugu on Day 6. The Hindi version collected Rs 5 crore from 5,230 shows, while the Kannada version added Rs 60 lakh from 178 shows. The Hindi release faced challenges after the PVR-Inox cinema chain in northern India did not give the film a wider theatrical release amid disputes over the film’s digital streaming window. Overseas, Jailer 2 has reportedly grossed Rs 204 crore, taking its worldwide gross collection to Rs 541 crore. The film has received largely positive reactions from critics and social media users, with many praising its entertainment value. In her review for NDTV, Latha Srinivasan described the sequel as a strong commercial entertainer, highlighting its humour, action, music and Rajinikanth’s screen presence. She noted, however, that the writing loses direction at times, particularly in the second half. Directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and produced by Kalanithi Maran under the Sun Pictures banner, Jailer 2 is the sequel to Rajinikanth’s 2023 hit. The film also features Ramya Krishnan, SJ Suryah, Mohanlal, Vidya Balan, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Mithun Chakraborty, among others. Anirudh Ravichander composed the music, Vijay Kartik Kannan handled cinematography, and R. Nirmal was responsible for editing. #From NDTV

Redoan Rony’s 2016 film ‘Ice Cream’, which marked the big-screen debuts of actors Sariful Razz, Nazifa Tushi and Kumar Uday, is set to premiere on streaming platform Chorki at midnight on Monday, ushering in a nostalgic return a decade after its theatrical release. The film, which hit cinemas on April 29, 2016, will be available exclusively on Chorki from October 20, allowing audiences to revisit a story that introduced three fresh faces to the big screen and featured songs that became closely associated with the film, including Arnob’s ‘Boka Chand’ and Minar Rahman’s ‘Poth’. For Razz, Tushi and Uday, ‘Ice Cream’ was the beginning of their film careers. The actors had described the project as being like their child, recalling the love, hard work and emotions that went into making it. Tushi, who entered the entertainment industry directly through the film without previously working in television dramas or advertisements, said she had little understanding of the industry when she took on the project. “I stepped into the canvas of cinema without understanding or knowing how big it was. I knew nothing about the industry then; I simply wanted to act,” she said. Recalling why she agreed to work on the film, Tushi said she believed ‘Ice Cream’ was a good film and Rony was a good director. “I understood many things after doing ‘Ice Cream’. It feels really good that audiences will be able to watch the film again. I said then that everyone should watch it, at least once, and I am saying the same thing now; but it is truly surprising to think about how I made the film and that 10 years have passed since then,” she said. Uday, who is currently busy with theatre productions, said the film's memories remained vivid and colourful for him. “The film has so many memories, and all of them are colourful. They are not just memories of the past; they remain colourful memories for me,” he said, recalling the bond that developed among the three actors before filming began. He also expressed surprise at how relevant the film remained after a decade, saying he believed it could become even more significant for the current generation. Uday recalled that during the first phase of shooting in Saint Martin’s Island, the entire unit jumped into the sea together, holding hands after wrapping up the shoot. He said the moment remained one of his most cherished memories of the production. Razz described ‘Ice Cream’ as more than just a film, calling it the foundation of his journey to where he is today. “Certainly, there are some differences between the Razz of 10 years ago and the Razz of today. But ‘Ice Cream’ is the foundation of my life that helped me reach where I am now,” he said. He recalled the rehearsals, his nervousness behind the camera, Rony’s guidance and the moments on set, adding that audiences would now be able to revisit the early days of his career through the film. Director Rony, who also wrote the story, screenplay and dialogues, said the film was created through the tireless efforts, fresh dreams and emotions of a group of young people. “Although the equations of life have changed over time, some feelings and realities never fade. As the film returns to the screen on Chorki after a decade, its subject matter still feels very relevant,” he said. Rony added that the release would allow people who missed the film in cinemas, including those living abroad, to watch it from anywhere. The film was produced by Shukla Banik, Redoan Rony and Salma Adil. Its soundtrack features vocals by Arnob, Armeen Musa, Sharmin Sultana Sumi and Minar Rahman. The cast also includes late ATM Shamsuzzaman, Diti, Omar Sani, Sayem Sadat and Nadia Khanam.  

As Hindus across Bangladesh celebrate Durga Puja, several celebrities from the country’s entertainment industry have shared glimpses of their festive moments, personal memories and wishes for the occasion on social media. Actress Bidya Sinha Saha Mim welcomed the festival with her husband, Sony Poddar, and other family members. On Maha Shashthi, the actress shared photographs on Instagram capturing joyful moments with her loved ones, accompanied by the caption “Shubho Shashthi.” The photographs offered fans a glimpse of Mim’s family celebrations as she joined in the festive spirit at the beginning of the five-day festival. Meanwhile, actress Puja Chery has been busy visiting different Puja mandaps, sharing photographs taken in front of Durga idols with her followers. On Maha Saptami, she posted a message highlighting the strength and resilience of women, writing, “The goddess is not only in the idol, but also in every woman’s courage, every protest and every story of rising again.” Wishing for a festive atmosphere filled with light and flowers, Puja also expressed hope that the blessings of the goddess would bring peace to every weary heart. For actress Apu Biswas, however, the festival carries a more subdued emotional note. Having lost her mother several years ago, the actress has found the celebrations less joyful than they once were. Speaking to the media recently, Apu said she would remain in Dhaka during the Puja holidays. Although she has no special plans for the occasion, she expressed hope that this year’s celebrations would bring happiness to everyone and preserve the festive spirit. Actor Manoj Pramanik, who has traditionally spent Durga Puja in his village, will also remain in Dhaka this year because of shooting commitments. Despite attending school, college and university before moving to Dhaka for work, Manoj said he had always returned to his village for the festival, making the rural celebrations an integral part of his childhood memories. He said many of his childhood Puja traditions remain unchanged, including spending time with relatives, visiting mandaps and enjoying festive food, particularly naru, a traditional sweet. Manoj, who grew up witnessing the inclusive nature of Durga Puja, recalled cultural programmes, jatra performances and community-organised celebrations that brought together people from different backgrounds. He extended his Sharadiya greetings to everyone. Actress Pori Moni, despite being a Muslim, has also drawn attention on social media with a special look inspired by Goddess Durga. On Sunday, she shared a video on her Facebook page featuring herself in a traditional white sari with a red border, an ornate crown and a lotus in her hand. The styling evoked the familiar imagery of the goddess and drew praise from social media users. Captioning the video, Pori Moni wrote, “May good triumph over evil.” Director Chayanika Chowdhury was among those who shared and praised Pori Moni’s festive look on Facebook. Extending her own wishes for the occasion, Chayanika wrote, “Shubho Maha Saptami… May everyone’s life be easy and beautiful.” From family gatherings and visits to Puja mandaps to nostalgic memories of celebrations in the countryside and creative tributes to the goddess, the stars’ posts have reflected different ways of embracing the spirit of Durga Puja.

Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff escaped unhurt in a shooting incident in Mumbai on Sunday evening, with police saying he did not sustain any gunshot wounds. The 36-year-old actor was inside a car leaving a football club in the Juhu suburb when gunmen opened fire, according to Indian police investigating the incident. Several news outlets have published video footage showing at least two gunmen firing multiple rounds at close range towards the front passenger seat of a slowly moving car as it passed a crowd. The shooting has raised fresh concerns over the safety of public figures in India, where several prominent personalities have been killed or injured in targeted attacks in recent years. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, whose state includes Mumbai, said such acts of intimidation would not be tolerated. "These attempts to intimidate people will not be tolerated, and we will put an end to this hooliganism," he said. Shinde visited Shroff on Sunday evening following the incident and said the actor and his mother had been left "shaken" by the attack. Local media reported that two people were injured in the shooting, including Shroff's driver. The incident is the latest in a series of attacks targeting prominent figures in India in recent years. In 2024, Indian police arrested two members of a criminal gang over a shooting targeting the residence of Bollywood actor Salman Khan. In the same year, influential politician Baba Siddique was shot dead in Mumbai. Shroff, the son of two actors, made his acting debut in 2014 with the romantic film Heropanti and has since appeared in several movies. He is also a football enthusiast and plays for professional football club Mumbai FC. #From BBC

Actor Selma Blair was arrested after she was accused of injuring two flight attendants on a trip from Los Angeles to New York. She was also accused of kicking a police officer taking her to the hospital and kicking a nurse once she got there. Blair, 54, was detained at John F. Kennedy International Airport around 11:00pm Sunday after a Delta Air Lines flight arrived, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said. According to court documents, she allegedly kicked a police officer repeatedly in the face, neck and chest while being secured to a stretcher, causing pain and swelling. She later allegedly kicked a nurse in the chest at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Blair was arraigned Monday night in Queens on two counts of second-degree assault. Her lawyer, Shawn Barnes, said her actions were unintentional, citing her multiple sclerosis, missed doses of medication, a heavy workload and a head injury during the flight. He said these factors and the altitude caused severe confusion and disorientation. The judge set bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond, with the next hearing scheduled for January. The FBI also issued Blair a notice charging her with assault over the incident aboard the aircraft. The federal case will be handled in Brooklyn, though no court date has been set. Delta said it had zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behaviour. The airline, police and FBI did not immediately disclose full details of the onboard incident. Blair previously apologised for an incident on a 2016 flight after mixing alcohol with medication. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, she has since advocated for disability rights and attended a White House event in 2023 marking the Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary. She is known for films including “Cruel Intentions,” “Legally Blonde” and “Hellboy.”

A new album by John Legend and the streaming debut of the live-action adaptation of “Moana” are among the latest films, television programmes, music releases and video games arriving on digital platforms. Other notable releases for the week, selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists, include “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4,” a limited series featuring “Vanderpump Rules” star Lisa Vanderpump and the second season of “The Terminal List.” New Movies to Stream From Oct. 19-25The live-action version of “Moana” will arrive on Disney+ on Wednesday. Dwayne Johnson returns as the demigod Maui, while Catherine Lagaʻaia plays Moana. In his review, AP Film Writer Jake Coyle described the film as a largely faithful remake of the original, with only small additions, suggesting that the transition from animation to live action often sacrifices some of the original's appeal. The animated version is also available on Disney+. “The Invite,” a sharp-witted comedy-drama starring Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz, Edward Norton and director Olivia Wilde, begins streaming on HBO Max on Friday, Oct. 23. Coyle praised its performances and clever approach to the traditional drawing-room comedy, despite occasionally noticeable plot mechanics. New Music to Stream From Oct. 19-25John Legend returns with “Muse,” his first album since 2024's “My Favorite Dream,” a children's record produced by Sufjan Stevens. The new album, produced by Pharrell Williams, focuses more on adult relationships and romance. The previously released song “Daylight” reflects that theme, while “Fireflies” delivers a message of hope and resilience. The album will be released on Friday. PBS' “Great Performances” will honour late country music star Tammy Wynette with a special recorded at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Performers include Wynonna Judd, Katie Pruitt, War & Treaty, Carter Faith, Tami Neilson, Valerie June, Brittney Spencer and Heart's Ann Wilson. “Great Performances — Tammy Wynette: Forever Yours” premieres Friday, Oct. 23, and will also be available on pbs.org/gperf and the PBS app. Country music fans can also watch a two-hour tribute to Dolly Parton on Wednesday. “CMA Presents I Will Always Love You: A Celebration of Dolly Parton” honours the singer, who died of cancer in August at the age of 80. Ashley McBryde, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Darius Rucker, Ella Langley, Kristen Bell, Kristin Chenoweth and Reba McEntire are among the performers and special guests. The programme will air live from Belmont University's Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville on ABC and Disney+, with streaming on Hulu beginning Thursday. Meanwhile, singer Anderson .Paak and rapper Cordae reunite for their collaborative album “Heavy Is the Crown,” which arrives Friday. Their previous joint tracks include “RNP,” “Two Tens” and “Summer Drop.” New Series to Stream From Oct. 19-25Sam Nivola and Connie Britton star in “Phony,” a half-hour mystery series. After a car accident leaves a high school student in hospital, he becomes convinced that the woman claiming to be his mother, who also runs his school, is an impostor. Two episodes debut Tuesday on Hulu, with subsequent episodes released weekly. Chris Pratt returns as Navy SEAL James Reece in the second season of “The Terminal List.” Based on Jack Carr's novel “True Believer,” the new instalment takes Reece to Mozambique and features an international cast, including Olga Kurylenko, Costa Ronin and Arnold Vosloo. All eight episodes will be released on Prime Video on Wednesday, four years after the first season. Lisa Vanderpump's efforts to open her namesake hotel on the Las Vegas Strip feature in “Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas,” a three-episode limited series. The first two episodes arrive on Peacock on Wednesday, followed by the finale on Thursday, Oct. 22. “ Nobody Wants This” returns to Netflix on Thursday, Oct. 22, with Kristen Bell's Joanne and Adam Brody's Noah moving in together. Joanne's decision to convert to Judaism remains a central storyline. All 10 episodes will be released simultaneously. Omar Sy reprises his role as gentleman thief Assane Diop in the fourth season of “Lupin.” The French-language series returns to Netflix on Friday, Oct. 23, after a three-year break. The new season consists of eight episodes and begins with Assane behind bars while his family remains in danger. New Video Games to Play From Oct. 19-25Activision's “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4” moves its conflict to the Korean Peninsula. The game's story begins with North Korea's new supreme leader launching an invasion of South Korea. Meanwhile, elite soldier John Price, who killed a US general in the previous instalment, has joined forces with a Mexican drug cartel. The game also introduces 12 new maps for six-versus-six multiplayer battles and extraction missions set in areas formerly part of the Demilitarized Zone. It launches Friday, Oct. 23, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC. Nintendo is also releasing “Nintendo Switch Sports Resort” for the Switch 2, offering 12 sporting activities. Players can enjoy returning favourites such as bowling, tennis and golf, alongside new options including skateboarding and thumb wrestling. Up to four people can compete locally, while selected events support online matches involving as many as eight players. Certain sports, including boxing, feature online professional leagues, while solo players can challenge the game's champions and legends. The game launches Thursday.

Hollywood veteran Al Pacino has been selected to receive the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award, the highest honour presented by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The 86-year-old actor, known for his roles in “The Godfather” trilogy, “Dog Day Afternoon” and “Scent of a Woman”, will become the 62nd recipient of the award. Pacino said on Thursday that working with scripts and fellow actors had brought him some of the greatest joys of his life. “It's an honor to be recognized by SAG-AFTRA in celebrating the journey,” he said in a statement. He will receive the award on Feb 28 at the 33rd annual Actor Awards ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The event will be streamed live on Netflix. The award also recognises humanitarian contributions. SAG-AFTRA praised Pacino for supporting disaster relief, efforts to fight hunger and poverty, and local theatre organisations, including the Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles. Born in New York, Pacino was primarily known for his stage performances when director Francis Ford Coppola cast him as Michael Corleone in the 1972 film “The Godfather”. The decision came despite opposition from the studio, which wanted an established star for the role. The performance earned Pacino an Academy Award nomination and helped establish him as one of the leading actors of his generation. He received Oscar nominations in each of the following three years for “Serpico”, “The Godfather Part II” and “Dog Day Afternoon”. He won the best actor Oscar in 1993 for “Scent of a Woman”, the same year he was also nominated for supporting actor for “Glengarry Glen Ross”. Pacino has received nine Academy Award nominations in total, with his most recent coming in 2020 for “The Irishman”. His other honours include two competitive SAG-AFTRA Actor Awards, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes and the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Golden Globes' lifetime achievement honour. SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin praised Pacino's acting ability, describing him as both a dedicated student of his craft and a master performer. He said Pacino's courage, intensity and emotional depth had set a high standard for acting, adding that his performances remained entertaining to watch. Established in 1962, the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award has previously honoured prominent performers, including Barbara Stanwyck, James Stewart, Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, James Cagney, Katharine Hepburn, Audrey Hepburn, Paul Newman, James Earl Jones, Jane Fonda and Harrison Ford.

Zimbabwean writer Simbarashe Kundizeza has denied using artificial intelligence (AI) to write his award-winning short story, which is under review following allegations of AI use. He said the story was inspired by his family's experiences and raised concerns that AI-detection tools could be biased. Kundizeza won this year's $10,000 Caine Prize for African Writing last week for his story The Blue Fighter. However, a report published in The Atlantic magazine said the AI-detection tool Pangram had identified almost the entire story as AI-generated, except for an excerpt from a poem by another author. Kundizeza rejected the allegation in a post on X late Tuesday. In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, he urged African writers and readers to challenge such accusations. " There is need to use technology responsibly so that it is not deployed to create a bias against natives who seek to write about their own experiences and cultures," he said. Although he acknowledged that he was not very familiar with the technology, he said AI systems were known to show bias against Africans and called for the issue to be examined. He added that such treatment would not stop. The Caine Prize organisers have not withdrawn the award but confirmed that the case was under review. They said they had a responsibility to examine allegations involving AI while ensuring that writers were treated fairly. "We aim to do this by taking a human-centered approach, ensuring that writers are supported and cared for during the process. We have initiated that process in this case," the organisers said this week. In his statement on X, Kundizeza maintained that The Blue Fighter, which explores family relationships and economic hardship, was entirely his own work and had gone through standard editorial processes. He said the story reflected his family's experiences during Zimbabwe's years of economic turmoil. Some of its characters and settings, he added, were based on events from his own life. He described it as "a deeply personal story about economic collapse and familial relationships." Kundizeza also challenged suggestions that differences between the winning story and his earlier writings raised questions about its authorship. He argued that writers could explore different styles and genres and improve their skills over time, adding that expecting an author to follow a single writing pattern misunderstood the creative process. The allegations have sparked a wider debate on social media, with some users questioning whether Black writers are being unfairly targeted by AI-related accusations. Radical Books Collective, an international group that organises online book clubs, literary events and podcasts on political literature and ideas, described the controversy as part of a wider pattern of allegations against Black authors. "The digital lynchings continue as Black authors are being targeted in AI/plagiarism scandals: Jamir Nazir, Jerry Falade, Thélyson Orélien and now Simbarashe Kundizeza," the group posted. Nhlandla Duba, a Zimbabwean linguist who researches English literature at the University of Pretoria, also defended the writer, saying the story appeared to be written by a human. "That story sounds human. Zimbabwean literature is alive!" Duba wrote on X.

Daisy Edgar-Jones had one important question after being cast as Elinor Dashwood in the new film adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Sense and Sensibility”: who would play her younger sister, Marianne? A longtime Austen fan, Edgar-Jones had read all the author’s novels and watched as many adaptations as possible. She now stars as the sensible elder sister in the new film, which opens in theatres Friday. Directed by Georgia Oakley, it is the first major film adaptation of “Sense and Sensibility” directed by a woman. For Edgar-Jones, however, finding the right actress to play Marianne was just as important as landing the role herself. The film also features George MacKay, Frank Dillane and Herbert Nordrum. “The film, as I saw it, would kind of live or die by the relationship between those two actors,” Oakley said, recalling the challenge of finding actresses who could convincingly portray sisters. The search led to Esmé Creed-Miles, who already had a history with Edgar-Jones. The two actresses had spent a summer in Yorkshire as teenagers while filming the independent movie “Pond Life” and watching the reality show “Love Island” together. Edgar-Jones said their shared experiences helped them quickly connect with their characters. Their chemistry became clear during an audition session in which they performed challenging scenes, including one where Elinor finally tells Marianne that she is also heartbroken over a man. Creed-Miles said Edgar-Jones felt like family to her, adding that they felt deeply connected to the characters. Their off-screen friendship also impressed Oakley. During the audition session, Creed-Miles even ate some of Edgar-Jones’ lunch while waiting for her turn. Oakley said their natural humour and playful exchanges immediately reminded her of the relationship between Elinor and Marianne. Creed-Miles, whose parents are actors Samantha Morton and Charlie Creed-Miles, began acting at the age of six in a Harmony Korine film. She later starred in the Amazon Prime series “Hanna” but has explored interests beyond acting. Her other pursuits include photography, music and filmmaking. Her photographs from the set have appeared in “Vogue”, while she is also a member of the alternative rock band Cusk and has directed a short film. She was particularly interested in working with Oakley, whose debut film “Blue Jean” follows a closeted gym teacher in England in the late 1980s. Oakley said she was drawn to Austen’s ability to explore complex and challenging themes without presenting her work as an explicit political statement. A more natural look at the Regency era The new film tells the story of the Dashwood family, four women who must rebuild their lives after losing their fortune. Caitríona Balfe plays their mother, while Bodhi Rae Breathnach portrays the youngest sister. Oakley wanted to move away from the polished appearance often associated with period dramas set during the Regency era. Instead, she aimed to present the characters as more natural and relatable. To develop the film’s visual style, she drew inspiration from Andrea Arnold’s “Wuthering Heights” and Kelly Reichardt’s “Meek’s Cutoff”. She also created playlists featuring violin music and referenced dresses marked with raspberry stains and soil. Oakley said she wanted audiences to feel close to the characters rather than view them from a distance. The family’s difficult circumstances, she explained, meant they would not always be concerned about their appearance or how others perceived them. Edgar-Jones welcomed the approach, saying she had not seen an Austen adaptation presented in this way before. Creed-Miles said the film was not intended to reject traditional Regency-era hairstyles or makeup. Instead, it sought to explore aspects of the women’s inner lives that had not been fully shown in earlier screen adaptations. Working on the film also deepened her appreciation of Austen’s work. Creed-Miles said the two actresses’ different levels of familiarity with the author could help make the film appealing to a wider audience, including people who had never read Austen’s novels. She hopes the adaptation will introduce a new generation of viewers to the author and her characters.