Hollywood
Five romantic films to watch before ‘Past Lives’
Mumbai: Being entangled in love is one of the most challenging experiences an individual can face as they search for connection within art and culture. While the feeling of uncertainty can be distressing, films about heartbreak provide solace and help us cope with the painful aftermath of separation. With the highly anticipated romantic drama “Past Lives” releasing in theaters today, including PVR and INOX cinemas, here are five films centered around love that will leave you yearning for closure from unrequited love.
The Notebook
“The Notebook” is a captivating tale set in 1940s South Carolina, following the love story of Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling), a working-class mill worker, and Allie (Rachel McAdams), a young woman from a wealthy background. Despite their deep love for each other, Allie’s parents strongly disapprove of their relationship. The onset of World War II separates the couple, seemingly bringing an end to their passionate affair. During Noah’s absence, Allie becomes involved with another man (James Marsden). However, when Noah returns to their small town years later, just as Allie is about to marry, it becomes evident that their romance is far from over.
Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind
The film depicts a painful breakup in which Clementine (Kate Winslet) undergoes a procedure to erase memories of her ex-boyfriend Joel (Jim Carrey) from her mind. When Joel learns about Clementine’s drastic measure to forget their relationship, he decides to undergo the same procedure, gradually losing his memories of the woman he deeply loves. Directed by Michel Gondry, a former music video director, this visually stunning film delves into the complexity of relationships and the anguish of loss.
500 Days of Summer
The movie follows Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a greeting-card writer and hopeless romantic caught completely off-guard when his girlfriend, Summer (Zooey Deschanel), suddenly dumps him. He reflects on their 500 days together to try to figure out where their love affair went sour, and in doing so, Tom rediscovers his true passions in life.
Raanjhanaa
Raanjhanaa tells the story of Kundan and his childhood love, Zoya, played by Dhanush and Sonam Kapoor, respectively. Kundan tries to move on from Zoya when he discovers she is interested in someone from her community. However, things take a different turn when Kundan discovers that Zoya has lied about her fiancé’s religion, deeply upsetting him.
Sanam Teri Kasam
Starring Harshvardhan Rane & Mawra Hocane, Sanam Teri Kasam is a story of Saraswati’s father throwing her out of the house. Inder stands with her against all odds, bringing them close to each other. However, destiny has its own plans to separate them.
Past Lives
Making her debut in direction, Celine Song has written Past Lives as well. The film revolves around Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends torn apart after Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea. Decades later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront destiny, love and the choices that make a life.
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.
