Hollywood: Talk of the town

What have celebs been up to this week?

KARACHI:

British born actor Naomi Watts has finally opened up about her relationship with deceased actor Heath Ledger, saying that Ledger was a ‘very special soul’ who ‘made a great impact on my life’, reports dailymail.co.uk. The 43-year-old beauty — who is recognised for her performance in King Kong — dated Ledger, the Australian star,  for almost two years. Their relationship ended in 2004 and Ledger passed away four years later at the age of 28 due to drug overdose. Although they were dating different people at the time of his death, Watts has fond memories of the Brokeback Mountain star. “We had a beautiful relationship, he was a man who was completely full of joy and there was a lot of laughing and affection.” Watts revealed to More magazine. “He was really a very special soul and made a great impact on my life,” added the actor, who is now a mother of two sons.

Speaking of love stories, one can’t help but wonder if Cupid is being generous to Kate Winslet. The “Mildred Pierce” actor is reportedly involved with Ned, multimillionaire’s Richard Branson’s nephew. According to dailymail.co.uk, Winslet had arrived at Branson’s house for a getaway with her on-off 35-year-old boyfriend model Louis Dowler, but rumour has it that Ned, who is separated from his wife Eliza, ‘hit it off’ with Winslet to such an extent that he accompanied her back to her residence in New York after the holiday ended.

In other news, a simple misstep saw Hollywood actor Halle Berry break her foot while relaxing on a day off on the island of Mallorca, Spain, where she was shooting for her upcoming film, Cloud Atlas. TMZ reported: “She heard a crack and then felt the pain. Halle went to the hospital, where doctors put her foot in a cast. She was taken out of the hospital in a wheelchair.” The accident has put her film bosses in a chaotic frenzy, with sources saying they plan to film around her injury by shooting her from the waist up and use a stunt double.

Across continents at the Bollywood front, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif have landed themselves in trouble. Their film Ek Tha Tiger is facing protests from locals in Ireland where it’s being shot. According to the Times of India website, 30 or more industry workers demonstrating over poor pay targeted the shooting. The workers “started to shout and stick their placards across the wall at the crew and cast,” said a source.

An Irish newspaper, Evening Herald reported that, “Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, described as the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie of India, were said to be ‘frightened and worried’.” Irish production company Fantastic Films told the Herald that, “The film is breathing life into the Irish film industry, creating jobs and generating revenue. It is disappointing that the actions of a small minority will jeopardise the reputation of Irish film-making internationally.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th,  2011.