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Gandolfini row puts Sopranos’ 5th season in jeopardy
NEW YORK: Telly buffs watching the trials and tribulations of The Sorpano mob family may have to look elsewhere for satisfaction soon.
James Gandolfini, who won a Screen Actors Guild Award this morning for playing mob boss Tony Soprano on The Sopranos has filed a lawsuit against HBO seeking a release from his contract.
In India, the show airs on Zee English every Tuesday at 10:30 pm. Gandolfini’s grouse against the HBO network is related to salary. He believes that his salary is not quite on par with what his fellow actors receive. A Reuters report however indicates that Gandolfini is however hopeful of doing an encore if a favourable deal can be struck.
In his California suit, he accused HBO of violating a clause in his contract by not notifying him of a $20 million deal struck with David Chase, the brain behind the show.
Last year, The Sopranos broke records for a cable show by drawing in an audience of 13.4 million for its premiere.
After the first season, the star got around $400,000 an episode. In general terms this is not bad but it falls short of the $1 million the cast of the sitcom Friends receive. Shooting for the next season of The Sopranos was supposed to commence from next month. HBO has accused the star of indulging in arm twisting in a bid to extract more money.
Readers are no doubt aware that India is one of just two countries where HBO derives revenues from ads. In other places it relies solely on the subscription route. So it is difficult to arrive at a figure as to how much The Sopranos is worth.
Gandolfini’s fellow partners in crime on the show including Michael Imperioli and Tony Sirico recently renegotiated their contracts in recent months.
The Sopranos was the start of a successful run for HBO. In recent times the channel also had success with the black comedy Six Feet Under..
At this mornings SAG awards which aired on Zee English at 8:30 am Gandolfini was gracious in his acceptance speech. He thanked HBO for all the support received over the years. He encouraged struggling actors to keep working and auditioning. After all he reasoned it just takes one break to make it big. He however made an indirect reference to the suit by delivering this parting shot, “Enjoy what you can now, because things get pretty weird once it works.”
Telly buffs can catch a repeat of the SAG Awards this evening at 8:30 pm on the channel.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
