Ex-Beatle star George Harrison dies at 58

The British Broadcasting Corporation on Friday said former Beatles star and music legend George Harrison has died after a long battle against cancer.

He was 58. An agency report quoting a longtime friend of the rock 'n' roll star Gavin De Becker, said Harrison died at 1:30 pm on Thursday at a friend's Los Angeles home.

"He died with one thought in mind -- love one another," the report quoted Becker as saying.

De Becker said Harrison's wife, Olivia Harrison, and son Dhani, 24, were with him when he died.

With Harrison's death, there remain two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.

John Lennon was shot to death by a deranged fan in 1980.

Postal stamp to honour Raj Kapoor

Pramod Mahajan, Minister of Information, announced recently that the Indian postal department would issue a special stamp to honour legendary actor and filmmaker, Raj Kapoor.

Imortalised for his performances in films like Barsaat, Awara and Mera Naam Joker, Kapoor was also associated with some of Hindi cinema's finest works -- Aan, Boot Polish, Dharam Karam, Kal Aaj Aur Kal, Bobby, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Prem Rog.

The stamp will commemorate this legendary figure in Indian cinema and hopefully will be released to coincide with the showman's birthday, December 14. Other eminent personalities on whom the stamps will be issued include noted the late Marathi author and filmmaker P L Deshpande, Sant Tukaram, Dadasaheb Gaikwad and Vithalrao Vikhe Patil.

Nagesh Kukunoor, Juhi Chawla and Three Walls

Bollywood Calling has Nagesh Kukunoor on a roll and the young director is ready to wield the megaphone, yet again.

The film -- Three Walls is based on the lives of jail inmates, their hopes and ambitions. Kukunoor has already signed on Juhi Chawla for his first attempt at serious cinema. She plays a documentary filmmaker who provides the insight to the lives of the three prisoners. With casting almost complete, Nagesh hopes to begin shooting from January 7 in Hyderabad.

Raveena and Tanuja team up

Raveena Tandon adds another feather to her hat. We hear that the actress has just signed on Tanuja Chandra’s next film.

Tanuja, the director of Dushman, Sangharsh and Yeh Zindagi Ka Safar – is currently shooting for her film titled Sur with singer-turned-actor Lucky Ali in the lead. Her next film, she says will focus on woman-oriented themes too with National Award winner Raveena Tandon.

Bhagmati -- Queen of Fortunes merges animation with real life action

It's a desi version of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and Space Jam. Bollywood's finally experimenting with live action and animation on screen. The story -- a love story between a 17th century king and a temple dancer. Titled Bhagmati -- Queen of Fortunes, the film stars Tabu and Milind Soman

The film will be made both in English and Hindi and will release next April.

Compiled by: Vivek Fernandes
Design: Imran Shaikh