Hollywood
Visitors to Madame Tussauds in Sydney to get close to Amitabh Bachchan
NEW DELHI: As guests enter Madame Tussauds Sydney from October this year, they will be greeted by Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, and one of the top-notching stars of cinema internationally
A wax statue of the star is being placed from October to December in the gallery to enable visitors of Madame Tussauds in Darling Harbour Sydney to get a chance to get up close and personal with the indisputable ‘King’ of Indian Cinema in an interactive experience set to have everyone practicing their best Bollywood dance moves.
Madame Tussauds Sydney general manager Quinn Clarke said he was delighted to welcome Bachchan to Sydney and remarked, “With his lifetime of professional achievements, it is nothing but an honour for Madame Tussauds Sydney to serve as the temporary home for the wax figure of Amitabh Bachchan.”
Clarke continued, “Amitabh will add even more colour and interactivity to our attraction, and I have no doubt the amazingly lifelike wax figure will be extremely popular with our guests, particularly the local community. The Bollywood industry is one that is growing exponentially and we are certainly very proud to be able to offer our guests a taste of it right here in Sydney.”
Bachchan was, for the first time in the history of Madame Tussauds, nominated to be portrayed by fans in a world-wide internet poll. Amitabh undertook a sitting and is portrayed from the year 2000.
Madame Tussauds Sydney is located on Sydney’s renowned Darling Harbour and is the place to get on stage with the stars, rub shoulders with the most powerful politicians and challenge your favourite sports heroes. Amitabh will join the unique line-up of celebrities already featured at Madame Tussauds Sydney including Captain Cook, Sir Donald Bradman, Albert Einstein, Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Johnny Depp and Lady Gaga.
Hollywood
Disney chair confident CEO Josh D’Amaro will ‘rise to the occasion’ in Trump–Kimmel row
Board backs new chief as ABC controversy tests leadership early on
NEW YORK: The Walt Disney Company has placed the responsibility of handling the escalating dispute between Donald Trump and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel squarely on its new chief executive, Josh D’Amaro.
Speaking at a business conference in Oslo, Disney chair James Gorman said it would be up to the CEO and his team to determine the company’s response to the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel Live!. He noted that such challenges are not uncommon for large corporations and require careful handling at the leadership level.
The row intensified after both Donald Trump and Melania Trump publicly called for Kimmel’s dismissal following remarks made on his show. The comments, which referenced the First Lady, sparked backlash in the days leading up to a security incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Kimmel addressed the issue on-air, clarifying that his joke was intended as a reference to the couple’s age difference and not an incitement to violence. He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident and reiterated his stance against violent rhetoric.
Despite mounting pressure, Gorman refrained from offering specific guidance on the future of the show or the host. Instead, he voiced confidence in D’Amaro’s leadership, describing him as “world class” and capable of navigating the situation effectively.
The episode presents an early and high-profile test for D’Amaro, who stepped into the top role just last month. How Disney balances editorial independence, public sentiment and political pressure will likely shape not just the outcome of this controversy, but also the tone of its leadership in the months ahead.
