New Delhi [India], February 26 (ANI): Reacting to the new rules for digital news organisations, social media portals, and OTT platforms announced on Thursday, Bollywood director Vivek Agnihotri said that he believes “guidelines should be there and this is a good move.”
As the Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Ravi Shankar Prasad addressed a press conference to finalise the new rules, there were some new changes included to enhance strict oversight mechanisms involving several ministries.
With regards to the new guidelines, Vivek Agnihotri said, “There has been a demand since a long time especially from teachers, parents, activist to have a control on the perversion on OTT platforms. And it is in a way good, to know that the new guidelines address it. And they also will be considering the women who are objectified or any kind of disrespect shown towards women, which is a very good move.”
He further said, “Secondly the most important one, is that they have also made sure that if anyone has an issue, they can sort it out within 15days after being registered within 24 hours, this also allows the public to be involved and feel heard. Now we would also have an idea who we will be talking to especially with regards to social media, which I think is a good thing! I believe guidelines should be there and this is a good move.”
The all-new code of ethics which was announced on Thursday mandated intermediaries to ensure and exercise “due caution and discretion” in relation to the general principles around online curated content.
The main goal of these new guidelines is that the all-new document by the government would definitely caution online content platforms, perhaps not to impact India’s sovereignty and integrity.
Content on OTT platforms had recently fuelled controversy, leading to public outcry and the booking of makers of some programs.
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Prakash Javadekar had on January 31 announced that the Ministry will soon release guidelines on OTT platforms as it had been receiving a lot of complaints against some serials available online. (ANI)

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 26 (ANI): Bollywood megastar Hrithik Roshan has been summoned to appear before the Mumbai crime branch at 11 am on Saturday to record his statement in a case he registered against actor Kangana Ranaut in 2016 involving an exchange of emails between the two.
In 2016, Roshan had filed a complaint alleging that someone impersonating him was emailing Ranaut from a bogus email id. Kangana had then claimed that the email id was provided to her by Roshan and they had been communicating through the same email id till 2014. The emails were allegedly sent in 2013 and 2014.
In 2016, Roshan had sent a legal notice to Ranaut after she had referred to him as a silly ex. Roshan had denied having any kind of relationship with Ranaut. The two actors had worked together in the films ‘Kites’ (2010) and ‘Krrish 3’ (2013). Roshan had then claimed that Ranaut had been sending him hundreds of absurd emails. In 2016, the Cyber Cell had also taken Roshan’s laptop and phone for investigation.
Roshan had accused Ranaut of harassing him by sending him hundreds of emails. Following an initial probe, police recorded Ranaut’s statement after concluding that the emails were allegedly sent from her id. However, Ranaut has denied sending emails to Roshan.
In December 2020, the case, which was earlier with the Cyber Cell of the Mumbai police, was transferred to Criminal Intelligence Unit (CIU) on a request made by Roshan’s lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani. (ANI)

Washington [US], February 25 (ANI): The American streaming service Paramount plus, on Wednesday (local time) announced the return of the 1993 American hit sitcom ‘Frasier’ with original series star Kelsey Grammer reprising his role as Dr Frasier Crane in the show.
According to People, Kelsey who has won four Emmy Awards, two Golden Globes, a Screen Actors Guild Award and ties the record for the longest-running television character for his role in ‘Frasier’ has been roped in by the makers of the show’s revival.
Excited about the project, Grammer said in a statement, “Having spent over 20 years of my creative life on the Paramount lot, both producing shows and performing in several, I’d like to congratulate Paramount+ on its entry into the streaming world.”
He added, “I gleefully anticipate sharing the next chapter in the continuing journey of Dr Frasier Crane.”
The 66-year-old star has played the character since 1984 when he was introduced on the 1982 American comedy show ‘Cheers’ as Diane Chambers’ love interest. He also made special appearances in the 1990 sitcom ‘Wings’, which was produced and created by Cheers veterans.
His career took a boost after he bagged the lead role in ‘Frasier’, which ran for 11 seasons, for which he whooped 37 Emmys under his belt.
Earlier in 2019, when the makers of the show didn’t reveal an official statement about snagging the project, Grammer himself spilt out the beans about the revival of his much-loved show to fans.
People reported that the star, in an interview on ‘In Depth with Graham Bensinger’, that airs on Fox channel told that, he had hatched the plan of making a prequel of the show. “We’re sort of on standby a little bit. Working out a couple of possible network deals that we’re circling. Frasier is sort of in a second position to that at this point. So there’s still stuff going on. But a revisit to Frasier, Frasier’s world is I think definitely going to come,” Grammer told host Graham Bensinger.
Not disclosing much about the upcoming reboot, he only told that the series will be shot in a new city and will be based on the lead character’s desire to find love. (ANI)