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Manisha Koirala: No qualms in playing Ranbir's mother in Dutt biopic

Actress Manisha Koirala says she has no qualms in playing Ranbir Kapoor's on-screen mother in the upcoming Sanjay Dutt biopic.

Manisha will essay the role of actress Nargis in the Rajkumar Hirani-directed biopic on Dutt.


"I am choosy about the films I want to do. I am happy they (makers) chose me for the film. I just looked at the role and the story. I was not really thinking about it being a mother's role. I like Ranbir as an actor and he is looking like him (Sanjay)," Manisha said.

The 46-year-old actress says she has already started preparing for the film and will begin shooting next month.

"I am seeing some documentaries and Raju ji (Rajkumar Hirani) has done a lot of research," she says.

Manisha says the director is trying to keep it as real as possible.

"I haven't started shooting yet so I don't know how it will be. But in terms of preparation for a biopic, there is a lot to do as we have to be as real as possible."

Besides this film, there were reports that Manisha will be seen in a Kannada and a Hindi film, but the actress remained tight-lipped about it.

Manisha, a cancer survivor, was here for the launch of social campaign 'My Hair for Cancer', organised by Nargis Dutt Foundation and hair care brand Richfeel.

She says the fear of death was more terrifying for her than the hair loss from chemotherapy.

"Chemo is the way to kill cancer cells, so I told myself it is OK if I lose my hair. So, for me, the bigger fear at that time was of death."

Sanjay's sister, former MP Priya Dutt, was also present at the event, called Manisha a source of inspiration.

"Not many people would want to talk about cancer. For her (Manisha) to be talking about it is very painful but for others, it is inspiring." Priya says.

Manisha also revealed that she is planning to adopt a child.

"I am thinking to adopt a girl. I would want to wait for sometime... maybe this year or next year," she says.

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UK calls for new pharmaceutical investment to strengthen life sciences

Highlights

  • UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
  • Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
  • Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.

Investment gap

Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.

Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.

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