'King of Pop' Michael Jackson dies at 50

Michael Jackson, the child star turned King of Pop who set the world dancing but whose musical genius was overshadowed by a bizarre lifestyle and sex scandals, died on Thursday. He was 50.

Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 PM PDT (2126 GMT) after arriving at a Los Angeles hospital in full cardiac arrest, said Fred Corral of the Los Angeles County Coroner's office. The cause of death was not known and an autopsy would likely take place on Friday, he said.

Jackson was taken ill at home and his personal physician tried to resuscitate him but could not, his brother Jermaine told reporters. Jackson was taken by paramedics to the hospital, where doctors worked for more than an hour to try to revive him before pronouncing him dead, the brother said.

Known as the "King of Pop," for hits that included Thriller and Billie Jean, Jackson's dramatic, one-gloved stage presence and innovative dance moves were imitated by legions of fans around the world.

His lifetime record sales tally was believed to be around 750 million, and with his 13 Grammy Awards and boundary-breaking music ------ he was one of the most successful entertainers of all time.

But Jackson's belief that "I am Peter Pan in my heart," his preference for the company of children, his friendship with a chimp, his high-pitched voice and numerous plastic surgeries also earned him critics and the nickname "Wacko Jacko."

Jackson led a reclusive life after his acquittal in 2005 on charges of child molestation, the second time he had faced ultimately unproved allegations of abuse of young boys.

"For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him," Quincy Jones, who helped arrange the music on the album "Thriller" and produced the "Off the Wall" album, told MSNBC.

Sold-out shows

Jackson had been due to start a comeback series of concerts in London on July 13 running until March 2010, and had been rehearsing in the Los Angeles area for the past two months. The shows for the 50 London concerts sold out within minutes of going on sale in March.

Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery Homicide division searched Jackson's home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, saying they had been directed to do so by Chief William Bratton because of the media frenzy.

"The Los Angeles Police Department handles death investigations every day," said officer Gregg Strenk. "Robbery Homicide was assigned to this case due to the high profile nature of it. Don't read anything into it."

Tributes poured in.

He was a "true musical icon whose identifiable voice, innovative dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and sheer star power carried him from childhood to worldwide acclaim," said Neil Portnow, president and CEO of The Recording Academy in a statement.

Source: ibnlive.com

Slumdog Millionaire actor held for extortion

A 21-year-old actor who starred in Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire was arrested for allegedly extorting money and threatening to kill a casting director by posing as brother of underworld don Chhota Shakeel, police said on Monday.

The victim, who is also production-head of Ramanand Sagar production, was threatened by the accused over phone, seeking roles in his serials, they said.

The actor, identified as Ajit Pandey, had played a character called 'Javed Goon' in the Oscar winning movie. He has also acted in several serials.

Introducing himself as Irfan Husri, brother of Chhota Shakeel, he threatened the victim to give roles to his friend Ajit Pandey. However, police probe revealed that it was Pandey, who made threatening calls in the name of Husri.

"On May 24, Pandey phoned the victim introducing himself as Husri. He said that he is a brother of Chhota Shakeel and told the victim to provide good roles to actor Pandey, who is his close aide," Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Rakesh Maria said.

The officer said the accused told the victim that Pandey had once worked with Shakeel's gang but now he wanted live a normal life.

He was produced before a local court which remanded him to police custody till June 27.

"However, the victim did not pay heed to threatening calls following which Husri demanded Rs 20 lakh," Maria said, adding that the accused also threatened to kill the director if he failed to pay the money.

During the investigation, Maria said, police found that the SIM card, which the accused was using, had been purchased from Satna in Madhya Pradesh and subsequently it was revealed that Pandey was involved in the crime, he said.

A trap was laid and Pandey was arrested from suburban Bhayandar. He was later charged under Sections 384 (Extortion) and 506(2) (Criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, Maria said.

"The motive of the accused was to get more roles. He thought that if he takes Shakeel's name, the victim would give him good roles," he said.

The accused has acted in several serials, including Sarthi, O Darling Ye Hai India and Jai Hanuman.

Source: ibnlive.com

Fox thinks she scares away men

World’s Sexiest Woman Megan Fox thinks that she scares away men because they rarely try their luck with her.

The Transformers star, 23, said that she was not an easy catch for guys, and preferred to make that known.

"They're terrified of me. They're frightened,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying.

“I think it's the energy I give off. I'm not the dainty flower, I'm not the lily they can come and try and woo. That's not me.

“I am in control at all times and guys don't like that," she added.

Source:screenindia.com

Rihanna set to testify in Chris Brown’s assault case

Rihanna is finally all set to break four months of silence, and to testify about her alleged beating by boyfriend Chris Brown.
The ‘Umbrella’ hit-maker could face a deluge of questions about the choking, biting and "barrage of punches" she allegedly received during a violent pre-Grammy night lovers'' quarrel last February.

Prosecutors have subpoenaed the 21-year-old singer, so that they can have sufficient evidence to try Brown on felony charges of assault and making criminal threats.

However, R ‘n’ B star Brown, 20, has pleaded not guilty.

"(The subpoena) is not a guarantee they will call her as a witness, but I fully expect that they will. She will testify truthfully," the New York Daily News quoted Rihanna's lawyer Donald Etra as saying.

Source:screenindia.com

Hrithik-Barbara starrer Kites to release in Dec

The much-talked about Hrithik Roshan starrer Kites is scheduled for December release and producer Rakesh Roshan and director Anurag Basu have also agreed on how different the English and Hindi versions of the film would be.

The supposed steamy scenes between Hrithik and his co-star Barbara Mori would be the same in both versions.

"We can't cheat Hindi audiences. The so-called steamy scenes will be the same in both versions. The visuals will remain unchanged in both. There won't be anything radically different in the two versions because Hrithik and Barbara speak English-Hindi and Spanish, respectively in both English and Hindi," Basu said.

Also there would be voice-overs in Hindi and English, both done by Hrithik whose love story the film chronicles in a style that would recall David Lean's Brief Encounter and K Balachander's Ek Duuje Ke Liye.

About being designated the director of the decade at International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Macau, Rakesh Roshan said: "I'm flattered. There were other truly deserving directors in the reckoning. I must've done something right."

Source:ibnlive.com

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