Anthony Hopkins wins best actor Oscar for 'The Father'
Los Angeles: Veteran Hollywood star Anthony Hopkins won the best actor award at the 93rd Academy Awards for his role in "The Father".
It was a surprise win for the actor as many expected the Academy to honour late star Chadwick Boseman for his performance in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom". In the last few weeks actor Riz Ahmed had also emerged as a challenger for his performance in "Sound of Metal".
Boseman died in 2020 after a secret four-year battle with colon cancer.
Other nominees in the category were Gary Oldman and Steven Yeun.
It is the second Academy award for the 83-year-old actor after his widely loved turn as serial killer Hannibal Lector in 1991 movie "The Silence of the Lambs".
Hopkins had earned nominations in the past for his roles in "The Remains of the Day" and Nixon" and as a best supporting actor for The Two Popes and Amistad .
Directed and co-written by Florian Zeller, The Father", is adapted from his own critically acclaimed play 'Le Pere' ('The Father'), which takes a raw and unflinching look at dementia, examining how the lines between reality and delusion blur as the disease takes over.
It revolves around an ageing man, Anthony (Hopkins) who battles his own diminishing mind. When his caring daughter (Olivia Colman) is forced to choose between the ailing parent and moving to Paris with her new found love, the duo's bond is put to the ultimate test.
The film also features actors Mark Gatiss and Imogen Poots. The veteran star has already won British Academy Film Awards for The Father .
Hopkins will next be seen in indie feature film Where Are You , alongside his Westworld co-star Angela Sarafyan as well as actors Camille Rowe, Madeline Brewer, Mickey Sumner and Ray Nicholson.
Valentina De Amicis and Riccardo Spinotti will co-direct the film from a screenplay they wrote with Matt Handy.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Mamata alleges BJP disrupted her Bhabanipur rally, Suvendu claims 'she's nervous'
Kolkata (PTI): Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cut short her speech at a rally in her Bhabanipur constituency, alleging that the BJP was deliberately playing loud music from a nearby public meeting.
A peeved Banerjee said despite having the required permission of the Election Commission, her rally in Chakraberia was disrupted by the BJP, "who want to capture Bengal by intimidation and threat".
"It is not possible for me to go ahead with this meeting. If they can do such a thing in my constituency, imagine how undemocratic the BJP is. If they behave like this, I have to take legal action," she said.
"This is an insult, humiliation. BJP is stepping on our toes to instigate trouble. Not possible to address the gathering in this situation. I am leaving the stage. Please vote for me in your protest," she added.
Banerjee was then seen calling someone over and venting her grievances.
Before leaving the stage, she said, "I will hold a rally tomorrow at the same spot."
TMC supporters then rushed towards the BJP rally, which was later addressed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, but security personnel intervened and prevented the situation from escalating.
TMC workers later staged a demonstration outside the local police station and filed a complaint, alleging that the BJP violated the model code of conduct.
A senior TMC leader said another complaint will also be lodged with the Election Commission.
Asked about Banerjee's allegations, Adhikari told reporters after the rally he held nearby, "Her reaction shows she is nervous about the imminent loss."
"There was no violence, no obstruction in her meeting and her behaviour shows her nervousness. On May 4, people of Bhabanipur will celebrate the victory of the BJP," he claimed, alleging that the TMC also tried to disrupt his meeting by playing loud music.
South Kolkata's Bhabanipur, one of the battleground seats in the West Bengal elections, will vote in the second phase on April 29.
