Bollywood hit Devdas will be India's entry for 2003's foreign film Oscar, officials have announced.

India's most expensive movie ever - with a budget of 500 million rupees (�6.6m) - was chosen by a jury of representatives of various film organisation, Arvind Trivedi, the head of the country's Censor Board said.

Devdas is based in a 1917 Indian novel which hgs inspired seven films in four languages as well as a silent version.

It stars Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai.

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Redford 'for Candidate sequel'

Robert Redford may reprise his role as California politician Bill McKay in a sequel to 1972's The Candidate.

Redford and screenwriter Larry Gelbart - best known for his work on the TV series M*A*S*H - are developing a script, according to newspaper Variety.

The report says Redford is also likely to produce and direct the sequel.

Redford, 65, won a best director Oscar for 1980's Ordinary People. His acting credits include The Great Gatsby and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

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Coltrane puts Potter first

Actor Robbie Coltrane has told how he missed out on a part in one of the biggest shows in the US to appear in the forthcoming Harry Potter movie.

The Scot revealed he turned down the chance to appear in Emmy Award-winning political drama The West Wing in order to reprise the role of the Hagrid.

"There was a very nice little part in The West Wing I couldn't do," the 52-year-old told the Scottish Sunday Mail.

"I'm not complaining. As jobs go, there's worse than playing Hagrid."

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McCartney cancels Melbourne show

Sir Paul McCartney has cancelled a concert in Melbourne next month in what he described as a gesture of respect to Australian victims of the Bali bombing.

"This is not the appropriate time for a rock show," the ex-Beatle said. "I have been shocked and saddened by the recent terrible events in Bali."

Sir Paul was due to perform at the city's Docklands Stadium on 23 November, marking the end of his world tour.

He said he was unsure whether the concert could be rescheduled.

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Hill tops US album chart

American country pop diva Faith Hill has knocked Elvis Presley from the number one spot in the US album charts with her new release Cry.

The album sold 472,000 copies in its first week, nearly double the number of Hill's record-breaking 1999 number one debut album Breathe.

Elvis Presley had held on to number one for three weeks with his compilation of 30 number ones, released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his death.

A spokeswoman from Hill's record company, Warners, said of her success and that of fellow country pop stars: "These guys are crossing over in a big way. They're really not country records."