Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan. Delores Johnson / The National
Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan. Delores Johnson / The National

Bollywood watch: Dishoom star denies offending Sikh community



Dishoom star Varun Dhawan and producer Sajid Nadiadwala denied suggestions the film offended India's Sikh community.

This comes after the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee wrote to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and makers of Dishoom, objecting to the use of a kirpan (small dagger) in a dance number. Both Dhawan and Nadiadwala stated the object in question was not a kirpan but an Arabic dagger. Dhawan went on to state that both he and his brother Rohit, the film's director, are Punjabi and would never do anything to hurt the Sikh community.

Udta Punjab leak invesition contunes

Addressing another controversy, a team from India's Information & Broadcasting Ministry visited the CBFC's Mumbai headquarters last week to probe Udta Punjab's online leak two days before its release. It was rumoured someone from the board had leaked the copy given for certification in an attempt to sabotage the film's sales. The ministry maintains the probe was simply to gather facts and no formal inquiry against the CBFC has been launched.

No Priyanka Chopra for Don 3

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra will not be seen in Don 3 opposite Shah Rukh Khan, despite being part in previous instalments.

According to a report in Deccan Chronicle neither Chopra, nor producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani were keen on having her play the part of Roma, a tough cop for part three.

Instead, Katrina Kaif and Jacqueline Fernandez are being considered for Chopra's role. Sources close to Chopra have said the 33-year-old Quantico star is keen to focus on her Hollywood career.

artslife@thenational.ae

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
  1. Join parent networks
  2. Look beyond school fees
  3. Keep an open mind
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If you go

The flights
Emirates (www.emirates.com) and Etihad (www.etihad.com) both fly direct to Bengaluru, with return fares from Dh 1240. From Bengaluru airport, Coorg is a five-hour drive by car.

The hotels
The Tamara (www.thetamara.com) is located inside a working coffee plantation and offers individual villas with sprawling views of the hills (tariff from Dh1,300, including taxes and breakfast).

When to go
Coorg is an all-year destination, with the peak season for travel extending from the cooler months between October and March.

Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes. 
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com

Essentials

The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes. 
 

Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes. 


In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes. 
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.