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Potter star branded a prostitute for dating Hindu boy
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A Harry Potter actress was assaulted and branded a ''prostitute'' by her family after dating a young Hindu man, it has emerged.
22- years-old Afshan Azad played Padma Patil, a classmate of the teenage wizard, in the blockbuster Hollywood films based on the children's books by JK Rowling.
She was beaten, called a ''slag'' and threatened with death after dating a young Hindu man, a relationship which brought anger from her father, Abul Azad, 53, and brother, Ashraf, 28, Manchester Crown Court heard.
The frightened star later fled through her bedroom window after threats were made to kill her.
Both men were charged with making threats to kill her and her brother was also charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm on his sister.
'The incident took place on Saturday 21 of May at the home address of the family in Longsight, Manchester,' the Daily Mail quoted Richard Vardon QC, prosecuting, as telling the court.
'The prosecution allegation in essence is she was the victim of a wholly unnecessary and unpleasant assault by her brother.
'The reason for the assault, apparently her association with a Hindu young man, that apparently being disapproved of by her family who are Muslim.
'Specifically she spoke not only of assault but also threats to kill, made jointly by her father and brother,' Vardon added.
The prosecutor then gave details of the incident.
'The father, having been awoken from his slumbers, with his son shouting: "Sort out your daughter! She's a slag!'
'He continued to further assault her, in disputed Bengali, shouting, "Just kill her!'
'The assault continued. There was a discussion where she was being called a prostitute.'
The threats to kill her apparently continued, the witness told police in a statement.
Reading from the victim's statement, Vardon added: 'My father began saying he would do it, a reference to kill her, as he did not want his sons to have her blood on their hands and he would do time for it.
'Then she began to feel very scared.
'Having gone to the police in respect of these matters she made a statement to the police on 22nd of May.
'Part of her version of events was that he was going to force the complainant into a forced marriage of some sort.'
However, after going to police she "made it plain" to officers and lawyers that she did not want any action taken against her family, or the arrest of her father or brother otherwise it would put her in "genuine danger".
'She came to police for help and support, and the arrest of her family members would not be of assistance,' Vardon added.
Her brother pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on May 1 this year.
Her father agreed to be bound over to keep the peace for 12 months in the sum of 500 pounds.
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Country singer Shania Twain has got engaged to the man whose wife stole her husband of 14 years, legendary producer Mutt Lange.
Twain suffered a broken heart after her husband left her for her best friend in 2008 but she is now said to be ''happier than she's ever been'' -- after getting engaged, reports the Daily Mail.
Frederic Thiebaud was married to Shania's best friend and house manager Marie-Anne Thiebaud, who is now living with Lange.
When the country singer's marriage imploded two years ago with rumours of an affair between her husband and Marie-Anne, Shania turned to Thiebaud for comfort, who was also suffering from the devastating split from his wife.
By the summer of 2009, their friendship had turned into love.
And the lovebirds secretly engaged two months ago in Switzerland.
'Fred is a hopeless romantic, so it was done in a very special way,' a source told Us Weekly.
The couple stepped out together in New York last week, with Twain reportedly showing off an enormous engagement ring.
Shania's rep confirmed to Mail Online on Tuesday that the couple is officially set to tie the knot.
Why Reese won't watch her own films
Despite having an Oscar-winning career, Reese Witherspoon admits she hates watching herself in films.
The 34-year-old actress said seeing herself on screen fills her with 'self hate', so she doesn't do it.
'I won't watch them because if I did I would spiral into a state of self-hate but I sometimes catch the odd clip of something. I look at it and think, 'I have absolutely no memory of that'. It's really weird,' the Daily Express quoted her as saying.
Witherspoon also admitted that she doesn't remember the names of movies she had acted in.
'I have absolute amnesia about every movie I have ever made,' she said.