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.
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BJP chief Vijayendra hails ED probe in MUDA case
Kalaburagi (PTI): Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the MUDA case has vindicated his party's stand that this scam was not limited to the irregularities in 14 sites belonging to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's family.
He noted that the investigation by the ED in the preliminary stage has uncovered over Rs 700 crore worth of irregularities.
Vijayendra also raised doubts over the inquiry conducted by the Lokayukta police into the matter.
"We have been saying that thr MUDA scam is not restricted to the allotment of 14 sites to the Chief Minister's family... I had said earlier also that it's a scam worth hundreds of crores of rupees," he said in a press conference here in Kalaburagi.
He said his statement was not a mere accusation, but a charge now proved by the ED probe.
"The ED has carried out an impartial probe. Preliminary investigation has revealed that more than Rs 700 crore worth scam has taken place in MUDA site allotment."
He said the ED has found that irregularities have taken place in the allotment of 14 sites to CM's wife Parvathi B M.
The central agency, in a recent communication sent to the Karnataka Lokayukta department, also claimed that its probe has also found that MUDA had "illegally" allotted a total of 1,095 sites in benami and other such transactions.
The agency has also claimed to have found evidence that one of Siddaramaiah's personal assistants, S G Dinesh Kumar alias CT Kumar, wielded "undue influence" in the process.
