Hollywood
Visitors to Madame Tussauds in Sydney to get close to Amitabh Bachchan
NEW DELHI: As guests enter Madame Tussauds Sydney from October this year, they will be greeted by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, and one of the top-notching stars of cinema internationally
A wax statue of the star is being placed from October to December in the gallery to enable visitors of Madame Tussauds in Darling Harbour Sydney to get a chance to get up close and personal with the indisputable ‘King’ of Indian Cinema in an interactive experience set to have everyone practicing their best Bollywood dance moves.
Madame Tussauds Sydney general manager Quinn Clarke said he was delighted to welcome Bachchan to Sydney and remarked, “With his lifetime of professional achievements, it is nothing but an honour for Madame Tussauds Sydney to serve as the temporary home for the wax figure of Amitabh Bachchan.”
Clarke continued, “Amitabh will add even more colour and interactivity to our attraction, and I have no doubt the amazingly lifelike wax figure will be extremely popular with our guests, particularly the local community. The Bollywood industry is one that is growing exponentially and we are certainly very proud to be able to offer our guests a taste of it right here in Sydney.”
Bachchan was, for the first time in the history of Madame Tussauds, nominated to be portrayed by fans in a world-wide internet poll. Amitabh undertook a sitting and is portrayed from the year 2000.
Madame Tussauds Sydney is located on Sydney’s renowned Darling Harbour and is the place to get on stage with the stars, rub shoulders with the most powerful politicians and challenge your favourite sports heroes. Amitabh will join the unique line-up of celebrities already featured at Madame Tussauds Sydney including Captain Cook, Sir Donald Bradman, Albert Einstein, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Depp and Lady Gaga.
Hollywood
David Zaslav could net up to $887m as Warner Bros Discovery sells up
Media mogul strikes gold as Paramount Skydance deal triggers massive windfall
NEW YORK: While the average office worker might hope for a nice clock and a round of applause upon leaving, David Zaslav is looking at a slightly more substantial parting gift. The chief executive officer of Warner Bros Discovery is positioned to receive a windfall of up to $887 million following the company’s blockbuster $110 billion sale to Paramount Skydance.
In a twist of corporate fate that feels scripted for the big screen, the deal marks the finale of a high-stakes bidding war. It comes after Netflix, once the frontrunner, decided to exit stage left and abandon its pursuit of the HBO Max parent company.
While most people receive a standard final paycheck, the filing released on Monday suggests Zaslav’s exit package is built a little differently. If the deal closes as expected in the third quarter of 2026, the numbers break down like this:
The cash out: A severance package of $34.2 million, covering his salary and bonuses.
The equity: $115.8 million in vested shares he already owns.
The future fortune: A massive $517.2 million in unvested share awards, essentially “future stock” that turns into real money the moment the ink dries on the merger.
Perhaps the most eye-catching figure is the $335 million earmarked for tax reimbursements. However, this particular pot of gold has an expiration date.
The company noted that these reimbursements are tied to specific tax-code rules that significantly decline as time passes. If the deal hits a snag and drags into 2027, that tax payout drops to zero. With hundreds of millions on the line, the chief executive officer likely has every incentive to ensure the closing process moves at double-speed.
