Hollywood
Hriday responds to Woody Allen’s decision on Blue Jasmine India release
MUMBAI: Woody Allen directed Blue Jasmine was set to be released in India two weeks ago but in the last moment was called off since the director did not want to comply with anti- smoking regulations of the country.
Now NGO Hriday (Health Related Information Dissemination Amongst Youth) has responded to Allen’s claim that smoking messages in the movie distracts people. In the letter addressed to Allen, they said that many big movies have complied with the norms and have done well at the box office including The Hobbit, Django Unchained as well as Bollywood production houses like UTV motion pictures and Karan Johar productions also started complying with the rules as soon as they came into effect.
They also said that a study conducted by them showed that youngsters exposed to smoking scenes in movies were twice as likely to try it. They also said that ‘several countries require censor of contents before screening films to confirm to their laws and cultural sensitivities globally’.
Blue Jasmine was to be released by PVR Pictures. The movie has been critically acclaimed regarding Kate Blanchett’s performance. Let’s see whether Allen responds to the mail and consents to release the movie so that Indians don’t have to miss a good one.
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.
