John Lennon’s hair goes up for auction

Ravindranath K / The National

AFP

AFP

AFP

AP

AP

Brendon Thorne / Getty Images

A lock of hair snipped from the head of John Lennon is expected to sell for US$10,000 (Dh36,730) at a Dallas auction later this month. The strands were obtained as the Beatle prepared for his role in How I Won the War. Heritage Auctions said that the four-inch lock was collected by a German hairdresser who trimmed Lennon's hair before he started shooting the 1967 black comedy. The auction will be held on February 20 and Heritage says it will include other rare items linked to The Beatles, such as a signed photograph of all four members. Memorabilia from other artists such as Elvis Presley and Led Zeppelin will also be auctioned. – AP

Anushka Sharma And Virat Kohli break-up

Actress Anushka Sharma's decision to turn down cricketer boyfriend Virat Kohli's marriage proposal and focus on work seems to have dealt the final blow to the couple's tense relationship. While Anushka, 27, has chosen to stay silent on the subject, Kohli all but made a public announcement about the break-up by unfollowing the Bollywood actress on Twitter and Instagram and uploading a photo of himself with the caption: "heart-broken". He later deleted and re-uploaded the photo with a different caption. According to a report in the Mumbai Mirror, the 27-year-old cricketer created quite a stir at a friend's party by telling guests, "I'm single, let's dance". The couple had been dating for the past two years. It was widely reported that Kohli wanted to get married in 2016. – Sonali Kokra

Bolly filmmaker launches online theatre

Bollywood filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma has announced plans to launch an online theatre called RGV Talkies. The first film will be an adult short called Single X, which Varma says will be dedicated to the Censor Board of India. While the release date has not yet been announced, Varma, 53, tweeted out the film's poster, saying that his interest in the digital space was that the medium freed him from the restrictions on content and runtime imposed by the censor board. He also tweeted that RGV Talkies would not feature movies on the subjects of God, sports or romance, and that he wanted to stick to gritty genres such as erotica, crime and horror. – Sonali Kokra

Hashmi reveals Azhar look for cricketer’s birthday

Emraan Hashmi revealed the first look of Azhar, a biopic on the life of former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin, on the latter's 53rd birthday on Monday, February 8. Hashmi, 36, who portrays the sportsman in the film, tweeted a photograph in which he is made up to resemble the cricketer during the early years of his career. According to the Hindustan Times, the image was a thank-you to Azharuddin for his help during the filming of the movie. Azhar is scheduled to be released on May 12 in the UAE. – Sonali Kokra

Abbas Kiarostami poetry and photos on show

Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami is already considered one of the leading lights of world cinema, but he is less well known for his work as a photographer and poet. That could change following his exhibition, Doors Without Keys, which runs at Toronto's Aga Khan Museum until March 27. The installation features Kiarostami's life-size photographs of doors taken in France, Italy, Iran and Morocco, and is presented in a labyrinthine space. The exhibition is accompanied by wall inscriptions of Kiarostami's poetry and soundscapes taken from his short films. – The National Staff

Lily James has a message for Jane Austen fans

Downton Abbey star Lily James has reassured fans that her latest movie, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, isn't as ridiculous as the name suggests. The film, based on a 2009 New York Times bestselling book, sees the Bennet sisters from the literary classic take up swords to fight the undead, in this wacky take on Austen's story of love and social class in 19th century England. "I don't think that Jane Austen fans will be offended or won't enjoy it because it's totally wild, it is a total reimagining of it," said James. Other cast members include Game of Thrones stars Charles Dance and Lena Headey and Boardwalk Empire actor Jack Huston. – Reuters

Rick Rubin to produce album of Star Wars tracks

Legendary producer Rick Rubin, the man behind the seminal hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings, has announced that his latest project is an album based around the audio tracks to the Star Wars series of films. The officially sanctioned album features 15 tracks of Star Wars-sampling electronica, with Rubin working alongside artists such as Röyksopp, Flying Lotus and GTA. Rubin and A-Trak also remix a tune by Shag Kava, who Star Wars fans may recognise as J J Abrams's musical side project alongside actor, composer and rapper Lin-Manuel Miranda. The album will be released worldwide on February 18. – The National Staff

Jackman has another cancerous growth removed

X-Men star Hugh Jackman revealed on Monday he had another skin cancer growth removed from his nose, and urged people to wear sunscreen. Jackman, 47, posted a photo on his Instagram account, showing a bandage across his nose. It was the Australian actor's fifth known basal cell carcinoma removal since 2013. "An example of what happens when you don't wear sunscreen. Basal Cell. The mildest form of cancer but serious, nonetheless. PLEASE USE SUNSCREEN and get regular check-ups," he posted. Jackman has, in the past, attributed his condition to not having used sunscreen while growing up in Australia. He now gets check-ups every three months, and has launched a range of sunscreens for children. – Reuters