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Ready to kill over Brando's will  (Go To Top)

         New York: There may be wrangling over Marlon Brando's estate and a source has said that apart from the eight children that Brando acknowledged there may be more "people coming out of the woodwork." According to the New York Daily News, though there is no public memorial to the actor there will most probably be a public battle among his survivors for his estate. "I wouldn't be surprised if he left five wills, made out by five lawyers, in five different countries," his biographer Peter Manso was quoted as saying. The legend's third wife, Tarita Teriipia, is reportedly very keen to get the Tahitian islands which are worth about two billion dollars to real-estate developers. "I don't know what she wants to do with it. But the people of Tahiti want her to get it," a source was quoted as saying. The actor's children have also shown interest in getting into the Mulholland estate mansion to collect "keepsakes". "There is additional security at the house, but that's to keep strangers from coming in. My understanding is that the children have all been acting completely appropriately. They've been grieving", a source was quoted as saying.

Brando wanted kids to get his money, says executor (Go To Top)

         New York: In a bid to make sure that his children benefited from his estate, the late Hollywood legend, Marlon Brando, changed the executor of his will a fortnight before his death. The multi-Oscar winner asked his former studio head Mike Medavoy to replace his old friend Alice Marshak as the executor of his will, while he was on his deathbed, reports The New York Post. According to Medavoy, Brando wanted his children to get his money and was of the view that anyone else contesting the decision was doing so solely out of greed. However, Marshak claimed that she was surprised by the decision. "There's no greed motive whatsoever. About five years ago, when Marlon was having some cash-flow problems, I sold my house and gave him the proceeds," the report quoted her as saying.

Herbal cigarettes that boost your health (Go To Top)

          Coimbatore: Smoke your way to better health, but only with herbal cigarettes. If practitioners of Ayurveda are to be believed, the periodic inhalation of herbal cigarettes enhances your memory power, your IQ and can prevent onset of respiratory tract-related diseases, specifically those connected with the nose, the sinuses and your eyesight. "As we are all aware, smoking is highly injurious to health because of the presence of nicotine. But herbal cigarettes are absolutely nicotine free. They contain ingredients like basil, cloves, cinnamon, liquorice and herbs like turmeric that have anti-effective properties. These type of cigarettes also increases appetite and is good in reducing bronchitis and sinusitis," said Uma, an Ayurvedic doctor. According to WHO estimates, over 500,000 people die annually due to tobacco consumption, and given the current trend, the number will rise to 10 million in 2030. Indians accounted for one-fifth of the four million people who die every year owing to tobacco- related diseases. Those who have shifted to smoking herbal cigarettes say they are feeling much better now. "I have been smoking for the past 10 years. To avoid using cigarettes, I consulted a doctor. He advised me to use herbal cigarettes. Now, for the past five months I am using herbal cigarettes only," claimed Ramachandra, a chain smoker. "Now, I can find good results and am confident about quitting the habit," he added.

J Lo orders 10,000 hangers for her closet (Go To Top)

          London: Talking of wardrobes, it seems no one can give J Lo competition. For the `Maid in Manhattan' star apparently has a wardrobe as big as a shopping mall or so! According to The Mirror, she has placed an order for 10,000 "highest-quality clothes hangers" from the Great American Hanger Company to be delivered to her mansions in LA and Miami. "We often get big orders from departments stores, but this is the largest we've ever had from one person. Jennifer must have one hell of a large wardrobe to need that many," a company insider was quoted as saying.

Liz Hurley Paris Fashion Week blast (Go To Top)

          London: Actress Liz Hurley has been enjoying the shows at Paris Fashion Week with boyfriend Arun Nayar. According to The Mirror, the "Bedazzled" star occupied the front row seat for the Chanel Haute Couture Fall and Winter Show, and was reportedly quite enthusiastic to see the models walking down the ramp. She was quoted as also saying that she had particularly enjoyed the Valentino catwalk collection that was held prior to Chanel- sponsored show.

Batman voted best movie adaptation of a comic book (Go To Top)

          London: Tim Burton's 1989 movie "Batman," which is widely believed to have heralded the trend of making movie versions of comic books, has been voted as the best movie adaptation of a comic book. According to The Sun, the "Spiderman" series starring Tobey Maguire piped "Superman: The Movie," to make it to the second place in the survey, conducted by Choices Video.

Harry Potter makes J K Rowling's day (Go To Top)

          London: Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has reportedly been looking better than ever before, and she credits this feel good factor to writing her new book "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince". According to The Sun, Rowling, 38, had fans gushing over her new, younger look as she recently collected her honorary degree from Edinburgh University. "She was looking really hot," said an onlooker. "I'm really happy because the book's going well," the report quoted Rowling as saying. "She has always looked good, don't you think? She's just happy and busy writing," her spokeswoman, Nicky Stonehill, added.

Britney Spears passes Kevin's parents' muster (Go To Top)

          London: Pop diva Britney Spears reportedly had a tough time with her fiance Kevin Federline's parents, who were apprehensive about their son marrying the star. The "Toxic" star had to face serious enquiry from Kevin's step mom Colletet, who wanted to know what Britney's intentions were. "Kevin waited a long time to introduce Britney to Collette and his dad Michael, because he knew she would have a hard time winning them over. Britney's not really their type of girl," a source close to the couple was quoted as by The Mirror as saying. "Collette asked her why she's chosen Kevin when she can have any man she wants. She also wanted to know whether she's just after any old guy to drag down the aisle after her 55-hour sham wedding to Jason Alexander in January," the source added. But the undeterred star held on her own, and managed to pass muster.

Shyamalan doesn't want his deep dark secret exposed (Go To Top)

          New York: Famed Hollywood director Manoj Night Shyamalan is fiercely protective of his privacy and has been trying to stop the Sci Fi Channel from airing a three-hour documentary titled "The Buried Secret of M. Night Shyamalan," According to The New York Post, the documentary depicts a drowning that occurred when Shyamalan was 11-years-old in 1981. The identity of the drowning victim and his relation with Shyamalan is unknown, but the director's lawyers have accused the cable channel of "defamation of character, invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress" over the show. However, the channel lawyers have given the green signal for the program, and it is set to air on July 18.

Cancer expert warns Prince Charles (Go To Top)

          London: Michael Baum, a leading breast cancer expert, has warned Prince Charles in this week's British Medical Journal (BMJ) that he may have overstepped the mark with his public support for alternative medicine. "Over the past 20 years I have treated thousands of patients with cancer. The power of my authority comes with a knowledge built on 40 years of study and 25 years of active involvement in cancer research," wrote Michael Baum, professor emeritus of surgery at University College London. "Your power and authority rest on an accident of birth. I don't begrudge you that authority, but I do beg you to exercise your power with extreme caution when advising patients with life threatening diseases to embrace unproven therapies.

           I have much time for complementary therapy that offers improvements in quality of life or spiritual solace, providing that it is truly integrated with modern medicine. But I have no time at all for "alternative" therapy that places itself above the laws of evidence and practices in a metaphysical domain that harks back to the dark days of Galen. With respect your Highness, you've got it wrong," added Baum.

Bill Clinton has world's largest Presley memorabilia collection (Go To Top)

          New York: Former US President Bill Clinton is a diehard fan of Elvis Presley. According to The New York Daily News, Clinton has the largest collection of Presley memorabilia, including a scarf that the undisputed king of rock 'n' Roll wore in the 1970s.

Joyce's sexually charged letter sold for over 240,000 pounds (Go To Top)

          London: A sexually explicit letter written by author James Joyce to his wife Nora Barnacle fetched 240,800 pounds, at an auction at Sotheby's. According to a Sotheby spokesman, the letter got the highest price ever reached for a 20th Century autographed letter at the famous auction house. The letter seems to be remarkable because it dispels the myth that Joyce was a prude, who hated any form of vulgarity. The letter was written in the winter of 1909 after Joyce's return to Dublin without Nora for the first time since the couple's elopement from Dublin to Italy five years earlier, according to the BBC. "The sale was extraordinarily well attended by all the major collectors," Peter Selley, Sotheby's English literature specialist, was quoted as saying.

`Spiderman' to rival `Cats' on Broadway (Go To Top)

          Washington: After the runaway success of the movie, Marvel Comics is reportedly in talks with producer Tony Adams to have "Spiderman" singing and spinning his web on Broadway. According to E Online, Marvel hopes to rope in "Lion King" director Julie Taymor to direct the musical and "U2" front man Bono is being approached to write the songs. Although, Marvel and Adams hope that the musical will go on to rival hit musicals like "Cats" and "Rent," critics are skeptical, as movies usually do not do too well on stage. "It's common for hit movie properties to be touted as hit musical properties. And then a year passes, and then suddenly you never heard about it again," the report quoted Robert Simonson, editor of the Broadway news site Playbill.com, as saying.

The 'Godfather' had homosexual experiences (Go To Top)

          New York: A photograph of actor Marlon Brando which shows him "gratifying" another man may soon find its way to the Internet. According to The New York Daily News, the "Godfather" had acknowledged his homosexual experiences in Gary Carey's biography titled, "Marlon Brando: The Only Contender." "I, too, have had homosexual experiences and am not ashamed. Deep down I feel ambiguous," the book quoted the actor as saying. The actor's biographer, Peter Manso, has said that the picture was probably taken in the 1950s. "There's no question it's Marlon. My sense is that it was posed, that he did it for the shock value." Manso was quoted as saying. According to British critic Michael Thornton, Brando's most likely companion was the late actor, Christian Marquand. Thornton had interviewed the two actors at the Savoy hotel in 1966 where they were "in various state of undress, with alcohol [and] marijuana ... being liberally consumed.

Falling ticket sales forces closure of Di's shrine (Go To Top)

          London: Lord Spencer has decided to close down the exhibition dedicated to his sister, Diana, the late Princess of Wales, due to a fall in ticket sales. The number of visitors to the shrine at the princess' family home reduced to 80,000 last year from 140,000 visitors in 2000. According to The Sun, Lord Charles Spencer consulted his nephews, William and Henry who will receive most of the items on display. "Lord Spencer has not taken the decision lightly, but he realises things have moved on. It is seven years since Diana's death. There is not the level of interest there once was. He deliberately called it an exhibition and not a memorial as it was never meant to be permanent." a royal source was quoted as saying. The decision was announced just days after the Queen opened the first permanent memorial to the late princess in Hyde Park. "The number of visitors has been declining. Now, we have the memorial fountain even fewer tourists are likely to travel to Northamptonshire. The fountain will become a focus." a royal source was quoted as saying. The exhibition had sections dedicated to Lady Diana's childhood, marriage to Prince Charles, her charity work and her influence on world fashion. It displays her school uniform, letters, jewellery and clothes. One of the highlights of the exhibition was her wedding dress as well as film footage of her humanitarian work and childhood.