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Samantha Ruth Prabhu on Shaakuntalam: ‘Didn’t have confidence to play a princess on screen’

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu on Thursday said she had initially turned down the offer to headline the upcoming film “Shaakuntalam” as she didn’t have the confidence to pull off the mythological character often described as the “symbol of perfection”. The Telugu film, based on Kalidasa’s acclaimed Sanskrit play “Abhijnana Shakuntalam”, is set to release in theatres on April 14. Billed as a whimsical tale, “Shaakuntalam” revolves around the epic love story of Shakuntala (Samantha) and King Dushyant, played by Dev Mohan of “Sufiyum Sujatayum” fame. After playing a gritty role in the second season of “The Family Man”, Samantha said she was scared to step into the world of “Shaakuntalam”. “I had first said no because I was doing ‘The Family Man 2’, in which I had a real role. Since childhood, Disney has been my favourite genre. Irrespective of whether I am happy or sad, I would watch Disney films. So, I did not have confidence that I could play Shakuntala, a princess, a symbol of perfection. “I was scared. If you see, in the last three years, I have been taking on a lot of challenges.

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Dia Mirza joins Hollywood actor Edward Norton for UNEP documentary series

Actor Dia Mirza has teamed up with Hollywood star Edward Norton for a documentary series “Restore: Films From the Frontiers of Hope” for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The actor, who is the Goodwill Ambassador for UNEP, and the UN Secretary General’s Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals, has narrated “Big Ocean States” as part of the documentary. It is a story about how countries such as St. Lucia, Comoros, and Vanuatu teamed up to overturn severe environmental threats. Mirza, 41, said she is honoured to be associated with the series that talks about how marine life can be protected. “It was an absolute honour to be a part of this global project and tell the story of St. Lucia, Comoros, and Vanuatu that are showing by example how marine ecosystems can be protected for the benefit of all stakeholders and the creation of a blue economy,” the actor said in a statement.Mirza, who recently starred in “Bheed”, said citizens and younger generation need to come together to tackle climate crises. “What moved me most about this story is that the citizens took ownership of the dying mangroves and the dwindling marine life and came together to ensure that the future generation would have a sustainable, thriving environment,” she added.As per the press note, the project is an attempt to amplify stories from 10 places around the globe where people have made a positive impact on the environmental crisis.

Agency News : New Delhi

Retail borrowers and India Inc have heaved a sigh of relief after the RBI decided to keep its rates unchanged.The markets also cheered the move as rate-sensitive stocks rose and government bonds rallied with the decision on the status quo in rates. At the bond markets, yields (which move in the opposite direction to their prices) of the benchmark 10-year security fell to a day’s low of 7.1469 per cent, the lowest since September 15 after the RBI’s move. It stood at 7.28 per cent before the announcement. It ended at 7.21 per cent against the previous close of 7.27 per cent.

Analysts said government security prices will unlikely see major gains in the coming days given the heavy borrowing programme. According to Abheek Barua, chief economist, of HDFC Bank, yields on the 10-year security could see some pressure returning once the government commences borrowings. He expects the security to trade in a range of 7.20-7.30 per cent in the first quarter.`RBI unexpectedly triggered a pause button on rates after 250 basis points of repo rate increases. No change in stance means RBIs are prepared to act if the need arises.

The project is an attempt to amplify stories from 10 places around the globe where people have made a positive impact on the environmental crisis