Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma India's leading power couple, says study

A study was done by Mumbai-based Indian Institute of Human Brands, promoted by adman Sandeep Goyal.

The husband-wife pair of cricketer Virat Kohli and actor Anushka Sharma has been ranked as the leading pair, according to a study by Mumbai-based Indian Institute of Human Brands, promoted by adman Sandeep Goyal.

The survey looked at popular 'power couples' in the country.

Virat and Anushka Sharma were followed by actors Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna.

These couples were ranked using a set of 24 brand attributes, Goyal said.

These attributes included what these couples represent to consumers and how they are perceived by young people.

Some of the other power couples, who were part of the study included actors Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Actors Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan were second on the stylist list of couples, followed by Akshay-Twinkle, said Goyal.

The most traditional couple were Deepika and Ranveer, followed by Abishek-Aishwarya and Akshay-Twinkle.

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Sajid Khan steps down as 'Housefull 4' director over #MeToo allegations

His departure comes following sexual harassment allegations made by actor Saloni Chopra and a journalist.

Director Sajid Khan Friday announced his departure from "Housefull 4" in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment against him by two women.

In a post on Twitter, Sajid said he was taking the "moral responsibility" to step down till he can allay the allegations.

"In the wake of the allegations against me and the pressure being put on my family, my producer and the stars of my film 'Housefull 4', I must take the moral responsibility of stepping down from my directorial post, till the time I can allay the allegations and prove the truth... Request my friends in the media to kindly not pass judgment till the truth is out," he said.

His departure comes following sexual harassment allegations made by actor Saloni Chopra and a journalist.

The film's lead star Akshay Kumar also announced that the film's shooting has been put on hold for now.( Business Standard )

"I've just landed back in the country last night and reading all the news has been very disturbing. I've requested the producers of Housefull 4 to cancel the shoot until further investigation," he wrote.

"This is something that requires stringent action. I will not work with any proven offenders and all those who have been subjugated to harassment should be heard and given the justice they deserve," the 51-year-old actor added.

Akshay's wife Twinkle was first to ask the film's cast to a "firm stand" on the allegations against the director.

"Appalled hearing multiple incidents of harassment and it is truly horrific to hear what these women have been through. Everyone involved in Housefull needs to take a firm stance on this issue. This cannot go on," she wrote on Twitter.

The film also stars Nana Patekar, who was the first celebrity to be accused of harassment by actor Tanushree Dutta a fortnight ago.

He has denied the allegation and the matter is sub judice.

Dutta's revelations have sparked what media is terming as India's #MeToo movement, where journalists, actors and professionals have taken to social media to talk about workplace harassment.

Akshay Kumar kick-starts government's road safety awareness campaign

The event was organized by the ministry for spreading awareness about road safety for which Kumar was roped in for promotion campaign in February this year.

Pressing on the often-repeated phrase on the roads “Sadak kya tere baap ki hain” filmstar and road safety brand ambassador Akshay Kumar kick-started his awareness campaign for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Kumar, who is known for his daredevil stunts, said the subject of road safety was close to his heart and therefore he was lending support to the cause as a citizen. “I am promoting this cause as Brand India and not Brand Akshay Kumar.”

The event was organized by the ministry for spreading awareness about road safety for which Kumar was roped in for promotion campaign in February this year.

Kumar, along with filmmaker R Balkhasve shot three videos with an underlying message on road safety, which is sent in a light-hearted way to the viewer.

“I feel that often such messages when sent through documentaries get lost as the viewers usually don’t absorb their essence. With these advertisements we have tried to spread awareness in a light-hearted yet impactful way,” Kumar said.

The subject of road safety is of supreme importance as Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari himself has admitted several times that a lot more needs to be done in that sphere.

As many as 1,46,000 people died in road accidents across the country in 2017 and majority of the road accidents involved two-wheelers, where the victims were not wearing helmets, Gadkari had said in Lok Sabha in February, this year.

However, the central government is yet to get the Road Safety Bill passed in the Rajya Sabha, which has provisions for stricter penalties for offenders.

“While we await the passage of the bill in Rajya Sabha, we are constantly working towards initiatives to spread the message of road safety,” a road ministry official said.

The government has constituted the national road safety council as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety. The ministry has requested all states and Union Territories to set up state road safety council and district road safety committee and to hold their meetings regularly.

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Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar among world's 100 highest-paid in showbiz: Forbes

Salman has earnings of $37.7 mn, while Akshay beats him at $40.5 mn.

Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan are among the world's 100 highest-paid entertainers, according to a Forbes list topped by American boxer Floyd Mayweather.

Akshay is ranked 76th on the Forbes list of the World's Highest Paid Celebrities 2018 while Salman is on the 82nd spot.

Forbes said the world's 100 top-earning entertainers pulled in a combined $6.3 billion pretax over the past 12 months, up 22 per cent from last year and 11 superstars crossed the $100 million thresholds, more than double the number from the last two years combined.

Akshay, 50, had earnings of $40.5 million. Forbes said "one of Bollywood's leading men has transitioned to socially-conscious roles," citing his films such as "Toilet: Ek Prem Katha" that focussed on government campaigns to improve sanitation, and "Padman", about a man hoping to provide inexpensive sanitary pads to rural communities. He also mints millions from profits and endorsing about 20 brands.

Salman, 52, had earnings of $37.7 million. Forbes said he remains one of India's top earners and the "Bollywood mainstay" continues to produce and star in hits such as "Tiger Zinda Hai," cashing in on backend profits.

The list has been topped by Mayweather with earnings of 285 million dollars. Among the other highest-paid entertainers are actor George Clooney (second), reality TV star and businessperson Kylie Jenner (third), soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo (10), pop star Katy Perry (19), tennis icon Roger Federer (23), singer Beyonce (35), author J K Rowling (42) and golfer Tiger Woods (66).

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