Hollywood
Aishwarya Rai and Freida Pinto bond in Cannes
MUMBAI: It was an afternoon of fashion, beauty and bonding for L’Oréal Paris ambassadors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Freida Pinto at a special shoot for L’Oréal Paris at Cannes. It is the first time that Aishwarya and Freida are working together. Freida Pinto was quite excited to be doing a shoot with Aishwarya and immediately got up to greet and hug her when she came into the L’Oréal Paris Glamour Room at The Martinez. Both immediately got chatting about the festival and in fact Aishwarya was also heard gushing about her daughter Araadhya to Frieda.
Aishwarya and Freida were both overheard discussing the unexpected delay in Aishwarya’s arrival at Cannes which resulted in her missing the first red carpet. Freida mentioned she was really happy to have gotten a chance to finally do a shoot with Aishwarya and couldn’t wait to see her L’Or Lumi?re inspired red carpet look.
Speaking about Freida, Aishwarya said, “I always look forward to meeting L’Oréal Paris spokespeople at Cannes every year. I have met Freida for the first time in person. All of us L’Oréal Paris spokespeople are so different, but each one of us is worth it.”
Both the ladies had quite the afternoon bonding over L’Oréal Paris and the Festival de Cannes. Freida Pinto attended the event on 17 and 18 May, while Aishwarya will walk the red carpet on 20 and 21 May.
Hollywood
Paramount eyes $24bn Gulf support to fund Warner Bros Discovery merger: Reports
Sovereign funds line up funding as media giants chase streaming scale
NEW YORK: Paramount Skydance is in talks to secure nearly $24 billion in equity commitments from Gulf sovereign wealth funds to support its planned takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, according to a WSJ report.
The funding push comes as Paramount Skydance advances its proposed $110 billion deal for Warner Bros. Discovery, which carries an equity valuation of $81 billion and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.
At the heart of the financing plan are three major Gulf investors. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to contribute roughly $10 billion, while the Qatar Investment Authority and Abu Dhabi-based L’imad Holding are likely to make up the remainder.
Crucially, the proposed investments are structured as non-voting stakes. This means the Gulf backers would not have direct control in the combined entity, a move designed to ease regulatory concerns in the United States. Paramount executives reportedly do not expect the deal to trigger scrutiny from bodies such as the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States or the Federal Communications Commission.
If completed, the merger would bring together a formidable portfolio of entertainment and news assets, including CNN and CBS. The combined entity aims to better compete in a fast-evolving media landscape where streaming platforms are steadily pulling audiences away from traditional television.
The deal reflects a broader shift in global media, where scale is increasingly seen as essential to survive the streaming wars. By pooling content libraries, technology and distribution, Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery are betting on size and synergy to drive future growth.
The involvement of deep-pocketed Gulf investors also underscores the growing role of sovereign wealth in shaping global media consolidation, particularly at a time when high-value deals demand equally large financial backing.
With shareholder votes and regulatory milestones still ahead, the proposed tie-up remains one of the most closely watched media deals of the year. If it clears the final hurdles, it could redraw the competitive map of the global entertainment industry.
