Film stars show disrespect for their fans when they arrive late at a venue, a reader says. Antonie Robertson / The National
Film stars show disrespect for their fans when they arrive late at a venue, a reader says. Antonie Robertson / The National

Superstars shouldn’t keep their fans waiting



I refer to your article, Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma wow 27,000 fans in Abu Dhabi (July 29). Why are performing artists so disrespectful of members of the public who are the very reason for their fame? All around the world, so-called stars keep people hanging around while they primp and preen themselves. Unless there's a very good reason for being late, don't be. It's as simple as that.

Dave Pryce, Dubai

Hollywood war epic wasn’t meant to cover so much ground

In reference to your article, Debate kicks off over lack of Indian faces in Hollywood war epic Dunkirk (July 29), this movie has its own point of view and wasn't made to explain the ins and outs of the battle, including why Hitler stopped the tanks when the troops where trapped on the beach. This movie also doesn't depict the essential role of the 40,000 French soldiers who were killed or taken prisoner by the Nazis while protecting troops. So speaking about how Indian troops are underrepresented is out of context in my opinion. This is another debate altogether, which has its merits, but why can't the Indian film industry, which is very powerful, make its own movie highlighting the role of Indian troops in the Second World War? This might be a great opportunity.

Frederic Beaugrand, Abu Dhabi

The film was very simplistic. It barely showed the Nazis or the French. It didn’t show much really. Just a lot of chatter and loud sound effects. So nothing should come as a surprise.

Saif Omar Al Suwaidi, Abu Dhabi

While we are at it, what about the 2016 Bollywood film Neerja, in which all of the flight attendants featured in the film were Indian? Despite the fact that there were cabin crew from other countries on board Pan Am flight 73, faces from these other countries were never shown in the movie, which was supposed to be based on a true story.

James Fildes, Dubai 

All that the ‘breatharian’ says may not be true

Regarding the story Dubai 'breatharian' says she survives on water and almost no food (July 26), this type of diet has been proven to be dangerous and people have died from malnutrition. The body cannot survive without food or water for weeks on end, never mind years, so the less limelight these people are given, the longer people will live.

Sam Clarke, Dubai

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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013