14012024-LSLB-01.qxd 1/13/2024 11:09 PM Page 1 c m y b FIGHTER TRAILER ON JAN 15 Makers of the upcoming action film Fighter on Saturday announced the trailer release date — January 15. Helmed by Siddharth Anand, the film stars Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi in the lead roles. TRIBUNE Life Dreaming big Gurnaaz Kaur E MBARKING on a cinematic journey is no small feat, and Gaurav Sareen has successfully made the transition from television to the big screen. But it wasn’t all that easy. He had to take a two-year-long break from TV and go through many auditions before he got his dream project, Dashmi, in which he stars as the lead. “We started shooting for Dashmi in October 2022 and that’s how I returned to the entertainment industry. The break was a conscious decision, as I hadjoined the industry to be a part of films in the first place.” It wasn’t alone his dream, even Gaurav’s grandmother wished to see him in movies, so when he got a call from casting director Vicky Sidana for a film, he was elated. “I got a call from Vicky asking me if I wanted to act in a film. The very next day I was in Mumbai.” Director Shantanu Anant Tambe’s interest in him was piqued by a YouTube clip from Krishna Chali London, which showcased Gaurav’s acting prowess. The subsequent meeting led to the narration of the film’s climax and an offer he couldn’t refuse. “The preparation for Dashmi involved intensive acting workshops in Goa, finalis- Amritsar lad Gaurav Sareen, who will soon be seen in the film Dashmi, says taking a break from television shows proved a boon for him ing costumes and setting the stage for a year-long shooting schedule in Lucknow, among other things, as part of pre-production.” GOOD GOING As Gaurav passionately shares details about his upcoming projects, he beams with joy that he has another film in his kitty. “My next film is with Sunil Kumar Reddy, where I play the lead alongside Arbaaz Khan, who essays my onscreen father.” This project also marks Reddy’s foray into Hindi cinema after an extensive portfolio in South Indian industry. Reflecting on the stark differences between TV and films, Gaurav, who has led three TV shows in the past, highlights the rigorous preparation involved in the latter. “From costume fittings to chemistry tests with coactors, the intricate process of filmmaking stands in contrast to the repetitive nature of television. It’s a long and evolving process. TV, on the other hand, can get monotonous as you play the same character for months and sometimes even a year or more.” Back to where it all began, it was an unpleasant experience while shooting for a show that made Gaurav think about a break. “I was hospitalised due to typhoid while shooting for Mahesh Pandey’s Lovepanti and was being pressurised to shoot even when they had a bank of 20 episodes! I didn’t get paid and the maker replaced me without even telling me. I was disappointed, so my family convinced me to go back to Amritsar for a while.” But all is well that ends well! Actress Shilpa Shetty wants more action-oriented roles for women ‘It’s a great time for us’ Unlike Hollywood, there is a dearth of female action films in Hindi cinema, says actor Shilpa Shetty who hopes the scenario will change in the coming future. Shetty, who is set to star as a cop in Rohit Shetty’s maiden OTT series Indian Police Force, said even the audiences are ready to see women actors in action avatars on the screen. “It is because of the budget that we don’t make female action films here, and, also, we are still in a male-dominated society. I would love to have a scenario where women in India can also portray such characters.” — PTI c m y b She’s back! Merely a day after singer-actress Selena Gomez had announced plans to take a break from social media ‘for a while’, she posted a video on Instagram! LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 14 JANUARY 2024 Four-day theatre festival kicks off in Chandigarh The Department of Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh, in collaboration with Tagore Theatre Society will host a four-day Theatre Festival with National School of Drama Repertory Company from January 14 to 17 at the Tagore Theatre, Sec- tor 18, Chandigarh. Each day, a different play will be performed, starting 6.30 pm. Entry is free for all. — TNS