United News of Bangladesh

George Clooney and Emma Stone star in two films premiering at the Venice Film Festival Thursday. Clooney plays a famous actor on a soul-searching journey in Noah Baumbach’s “Jay Kelly,” while Stone appears as the CEO of a pharmaceutical company in Yorgos Lanthimos’s “Bugonia.” Both films are competing for the Golden Lion prize, which often leads to Oscar nominations. Lanthimos, who previously won the top prize for “Poor Things,” adapted “Bugonia” from a South Korean film about two conspiracy-minded men, one played by Jesse Plemons, who believe Stone’s character is an alien and kidnap her. “Jay Kelly” focuses on a man reflecting on his life and choices. The ensemble cast includes Adam Sandler, Greta Gerwig, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup and Riley Keough. Like “White Noise,” Baumbach’s earlier film, “Jay Kelly” is produced by Netflix, which returns to Venice this year with three major films, including Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein” and Kathryn Bigelow’s “A House of Dynamite.” The 82nd Venice Film Festival opened Wednesday on the Lido and will run through Sept. 6.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi with his family in Mumbai, taking part in the traditional aarti at his sister Arpita Khan’s residence. On Wednesday night, the actor shared a video of the celebrations on Instagram without a caption. In the clip, Salman’s mother Salma Khan is seen performing the aarti, followed by his father Salim Khan. Salman, dressed in a black shirt and beige trousers, then performed the ritual. With devotional music playing in the background, other family members including Arbaaz Khan, Alvira Khan, Atul Agnihotri, and Alizeh Agnihotri also joined in. Arpita Khan and Aayush Sharma performed the aarti with their children Ayat and Ahil. Close family friends Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D’Souza also attended the puja with their two sons. The video ended with a close-up of the Ganapati idol. On the work front, Salman was last seen in AR Murugadoss’ Sikandar. He is set to portray an Indian Army soldier in Battle of Galwan, directed by Apoorva Lakhia. Salman Khan Opens Up About Love on Bigg Boss 19 Premiere Meanwhile, he continues to host the reality show Bigg Boss 19, which streams on Jio Hotstar at 9 pm and airs on Colors TV at 10:30 pm. Speaking about the show, Salman said: “I have been a part of Bigg Boss for a very long time now and as we all know, Bigg Boss reinvents the game every year. This time, it is gharwalo ki sarkar. And when too many people start pulling the strings, it’s bound to get messy. That’s when the cracks show, and the house turns into a warzone. After all these years, I can honestly say I’m just as kicked as you are to see how it all plays out.” Source: NDTV

Katy Perry testified Tuesday that she is seeking “justice” in a long-running legal battle over a $15 million California mansion. Perry, giving remote testimony in a Los Angeles courtroom, avoided saying directly whether she stood to gain financially if she won the case but admitted, “I stand to lose money if it doesn’t work in my favor.” The pop star and former American Idol judge, along with then-partner Orlando Bloom, purchased the Montecito property in 2020. The seller, 85-year-old Carl Westcott, later claimed he was not mentally fit to make the deal and sued to void it. Perry’s side, represented by her business manager Bernie Gudvi, won the first trial in 2023. Gudvi then countersued for lost rental income and millions in maintenance costs, leading to the current retrial. During questioning, Perry described herself as Bloom’s “partner and adviser” in remodeling the home. She also emphasized that although the couple split in July, they remain “family for life” as parents to their daughter, who turned five on Tuesday. Perry’s lawyer repeatedly objected to questions from Westcott’s attorney, including those about Bloom and Westcott’s mental health, which the judge ruled irrelevant. Asked if she had enough cash to buy the property outright, Perry replied, “I could have, but I wanted to do a mortgage instead.” She also acknowledged previously saying she planned to live in the home, though renters like actor Chris Pratt’s family later used the property. At one point, a light moment arose when Perry clarified to the judge that she had said she was “pregnant” at the time of dealings with Westcott — not “private.” The trial, being heard without a jury, is expected to continue for two more days. It is not Perry’s first property dispute; she previously won a high-profile battle with an order of nuns over a Los Angeles convent.

A German court on Tuesday convicted a 16-year-old boy of supporting a foiled plot to attack Taylor Swift concerts in Austria last year. The Syrian national, identified only as Mohammad A. in accordance with German privacy regulations, was found guilty of preparing a serious act of violence and aiding a terrorist act abroad. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended. Judges said that when he was 14, the defendant endorsed the ideology of the Islamic State group and communicated via social media with a young man in Austria who planned an attack on a Swift concert in Vienna. The court found that Mohammad A. sent bomb-making instructions to his acquaintance and facilitated contact with an IS member. Three Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna scheduled for Aug. 7, 2024, were canceled after authorities uncovered the plot, leading to three arrests in Austria. According to the court, the defendant made a “comprehensive confession” during his trial, which was held behind closed doors due to his age. The verdict is subject to appeal.

The 82nd Venice Film Festival began Wednesday with the world premiere of Paolo Sorrentino’s latest work, La Grazia, marking the return of one of Italy’s most acclaimed filmmakers to the prestigious event. Held on the Lido, the glamorous festival will showcase Hollywood stars including George Clooney, Julia Roberts and Dwayne Johnson, as well as celebrated directors such as Guillermo del Toro and Kathryn Bigelow over the next 10 days. La Grazia stars Sorrentino’s longtime collaborator Toni Servillo, though details of the story have been kept secret. Festival director Alberto Barbera described the film as “a different Sorrentino from what we are used to — far less baroque and formalistic … It’s a very unexpected story.” Sorrentino, who won an Oscar for The Great Beauty, first premiered at Venice 24 years ago with One Man Up and later earned the Silver Lion in 2021 for The Hand of God. Many Venice debuts have gone on to receive Oscar recognition. World’s biggest live music event, Eurovision, set for Vienna next year Ahead of the premiere, anti-war activists announced plans to hold a news conference outside the red carpet to highlight the crisis in Gaza. La Grazia is one of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion, alongside del Toro’s Frankenstein, Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite, Yorgos Lanthimos’s Bugonia, Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, and Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab. The festival runs through September 6. Source: Agency 

Global pop icon Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce are officially engaged, the couple announced Tuesday through a joint Instagram post that sent fans worldwide into celebration. The five-photo post, captioned “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married” with a dynamite emoji, confirmed the engagement after nearly two years of a highly publicized romance that has captivated Swift’s loyal fanbase and NFL followers alike. Kelce, a Kansas City Chiefs tight end and three-time Super Bowl champion, was already a household name in football, but his relationship with Swift brought him to a new level of global attention. From Swift cheering at Chiefs games to Kelce supporting her during her Eras Tour, their love story has been closely followed since 2023. While some had speculated the relationship was a publicity stunt, their engagement silenced doubts, highlighted by a ring said to rival the size of Kelce’s Super Bowl jewelry. Details of the proposal have not yet been disclosed, and representatives for the couple did not immediately comment. The announcement comes just weeks after Swift revealed her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set for release on Oct. 3, with Kelce and his brother Jason helping her promote it on their podcast. News of the engagement quickly spread across sports and entertainment worlds. Chiefs teammate Mike Danna called it “a blessing” and promised a playful engagement gift, while Brittany Mahomes, wife of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, shared her excitement online. The NFL itself congratulated the couple on X, albeit after briefly tagging the wrong Swift account. Kelce’s parents also welcomed the news, with his father, Ed Kelce, telling reporters: “She’s very good for him. They truly deserve each other.” Swift and Kelce’s relationship has even been chronicled in ESPN’s new six-part documentary “The Kingdom,” underscoring the cultural and sporting impact of their romance.

Rapper Lil Nas X has been charged with four felonies after allegedly charging at police officers who confronted him for walking naked along a Los Angeles street last week. The 26-year-old musician, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, pleaded not guilty Monday to three counts of battery on a police officer causing injury and one count of resisting an executive officer, the district attorney’s office said. The charges are significantly more serious than initial reports suggesting a misdemeanor. If convicted, he could face more than 10 years in prison. Police said they found Hill walking naked on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City around 6 a.m. Friday. When approached, he allegedly rushed at officers before being subdued and arrested. Authorities suspected a possible overdose and took him to a hospital before transferring him to jail, where he was held for three days. He was later released on $75,000 bail under the condition that he attend drug treatment. A court complaint states that he “unlawfully used force and violence and inflicted an injury” on each of three officers he should have known were peace officers performing their duty. Defense attorney Christy O’Connor told the court that Hill’s actions were out of character. “Assuming the allegations are true, this is an absolute aberration in this person’s life,” she said, noting his “remarkable” achievements, including two Grammy wins. Lil Nas X is scheduled to return to court on September 15 for a pre-trial hearing. The Atlanta-born artist rose to fame with his 2018 breakout hit Old Town Road, which spent a record 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. His 2021 debut album Montero reached No. 2 on the Billboard chart and earned a Grammy nomination for album of the year.

Popular Bangladeshi actor Anisur Rahman Milon has recently been honored with the prestigious ‘Best Humanitarian Award 2025’ at a grand ceremony held in Los Angeles, USA. Milon confirmed the news via a post on his social media handle after receiving the award on Thursday (August 21). “I’m honored to receive this award from the Church of Scientology, recognizing my contributions to the Greater Los Angeles community and beyond. Grateful for the acknowledgment and inspired to continue the work!” Milon wrote. Widely known for his versatile performances in numerous television dramas and films, Milon has long been a familiar face in Bangladesh’s entertainment industry. In recent years, however, he has been residing permanently in the United States, stepping away from regular engagements in Dhaka’s showbiz scene. Earlier, Milon revealed that he had joined the Actors’ Union in the United States, which has opened doors for him in mainstream Hollywood. He is now preparing to take on projects in the international arena. He is also a member of the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), one of the most powerful unions representing actors in the U.S. Milon’s involvement in MR-9: Do or Die, a Bangladesh-US joint production, has already paved the way for his entry into Hollywood.  

Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) on Monday inaugurated a solo painting exhibition titled 'Ei Shooters pHawabibi' (Hawabibi In this City) by Dhaka-based visual artist Shaily Shrabonti at its La Galerie in Dhanmondi. Introducing Hawabibi as a mythical figure silently roaming the cityscape, the exhibition reflects on the cultural, social and symbolic forces shaping women’s lives. Shrabonti combines traditional Oriental art techniques with contemporary materials—including watercolor washes, acrylic, pen, clay and locally sourced elements—to depict how ancient and modern systems of control have historically confined women’s agency. Through this lens, the works explore the interplay of myth, memory and urban life in women’s experiences, highlighting subtle forms of resistance and the pursuit of freedom, identity and voice in patriarchal settings. ‘Shotoborshe Sultan’: Nasir Ali Mamun’s 65th solo photography exhibition begins Shrabonti, a Dhaka-based visual artist, completed her BFA and MFA in Oriental Art from the Faculty of Fine Art, Dhaka University. Her practice merges contemporary oriental techniques with mythological narratives, focusing on women’s resilience and transformation while reclaiming stories historically told for them. The exhibition, featuring 45–47 mixed-media works, will remain open to visitors till September 3. Visiting hours are from 3 pm to 9 pm, Monday through Saturday, at AFD’s gallery located at 26 Mirpur Road.

Avneet Kaur is preparing for the release of her upcoming film Love In Vietnam. During the trailer launch, she was asked about receiving support from prominent personalities on social media, a question prompted by the recent Virat Kohli incident. Responding, Avneet said, “May the love keep coming.” The controversy started on April 30 when Avneet posted photos on Instagram wearing a green crop top and printed wrap skirt. Fans quickly noticed that Virat Kohli had liked and then unliked the post, leading to a wave of comments such as, “Kohli saab what is this behaviour?” and “Akaay beta papa ko phone do.” As screenshots spread online, Virat clarified in an Instagram Story that the like was accidental while clearing his feed, urging people not to make assumptions. Amid the chatter, both Virat and Avneet were spotted at Wimbledon 2025, watching Novak Djokovic’s match against Alex de Minaur. Virat shared a post praising Djokovic’s performance, while Avneet also uploaded stories from the match. Virat and his wife Anushka Sharma, married since December 2017, are parents to daughter Vamika and son Akaay.