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HBO counter sues ‘Soprano’ lead Gandolfini for $100 mn
LOS ANGELES: The controversy between HBO and Soprano star James Gandolfini has just flared up. HBO is seeking to turn the tables on the star’s recently filed lawsuit by launching a suit of their own to the tune of $100 million. At the same time they are continuing to negotiate with him.
A Reuters report indicates that Gandolfini is looking to double his $400,000 per episode payout. HBO has dismissed the suit filed by Gandolfini as being frivolous. The HBO suit contends that Gandolfini’s representatives have been demanding increased compensation each year the contract was renewed. HBO has “given in” to such demands although the contract does not dictate so.
Last week Gandolfini sued the cable network and Sopranos Productions. He wanted his contract cancelled as the company failed to inform him that the series had been ordered for a fifth season.
Gandolfini’s contention is that as per the terms of the contract the show’s producers had a 10 day window to inform him after a deal was signed regarding his service requirement for the next season. He said that he learnt about the deal from the Wall Street Journal. HBO replied stating that the contract did not cover what was written in the WSJ.
HBO’s suit states that Gandolfini signed a contract with six optional years with the production company in 1997,
The Sopranos cast is due back in the studio to begin shooting its new episodes on 24 March, the day after the Oscar awards ceremony.
Movie Channels
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat Premieres 14 Feb on Zee
Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat world TV premiere 14 Feb at 8pm passion meets politics.
MUMBAI: Cupid’s arrow just got a plot twist and it’s heading straight for your TV screen. This Valentine’s Day, Zee Cinema is turning up the heat with the world television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, a raw, rule-breaking romantic drama that proves love doesn’t always come wrapped in roses.
Set to air on Saturday, 14 February at 8pm, the film stars Harshvardhan Rane and Sonam Bajwa, directed by Milap Zaveri. It dives headfirst into obsession, heartbreak, and the kind of unconditional love that leaves scorch marks. Rane plays Vikramaditya, a powerful politician whose all-consuming passion for actress Adaa spirals into chaos when his feelings go unreturned unleashing a storm of emotion, misunderstanding, and life-altering consequences.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. Audiences are clearly craving intense love stories over sugar-coated ones, and this film taps straight into that vein. Harshvardhan Rane already has a loyal fanbase from his cult hit Sanam Teri Kasam, which cemented his status as the go-to guy for heart-wrenching romance especially among younger viewers who keep the film on repeat.
Milap Zaveri captured the film’s beating heart, “This film is about love that doesn’t follow rules. With Valentine’s Day being a time when audiences gravitate towards romantic narratives, the television premiere of Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat on Zee Cinema felt like the perfect fit. The continued love for intense romances shows there is a strong emotional appetite for such stories.”
Rane himself called it a story rooted in messy, honest emotion, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat explores love in its most intense and vulnerable form where emotions are messy and deeply human. It’s a story that doesn’t shy away from passion or pain on Valentine’s Day making it even more special as it reflects the many shades of love people experience.”
Sonam Bajwa added her take, “Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat is not a conventional love story, it’s raw, intense and emotional. Valentine’s Day is usually associated with happy romance but this film explores love in its most vulnerable form.”
So if your Valentine’s plans include more than chocolates and clichés, tune in to Zee Cinema at 8pm on 14 February. Because sometimes the most unforgettable love stories aren’t the ones that end neatly, they’re the ones that leave you questioning just how far passion can push before everything changes.
