06062024-LSTL-01.qxd 6/5/2024 7:52 PM Page 1 NOW, A PEAKY BLINDERS FILM Cillian Murphy is all set to reprise the iconic role of Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders film. Netflix has officially greenlit the project. “Tommy Shelby returns. A Peaky Blinders film starring Cillian Murphy is coming to Netflix,” a post read on the X handle of Netflix. TRIBUNE Action zone Saiyami Kher says playing an actionpacked role in the Telugu film Wild Dog came in handy for her role in the new season of Special Ops. LUDHIANA | THURSDAY | 6 JUNE 2024 An inspiring tale Nonika Singh E VER since Undekhi dropped in 2020, there was no way you could ‘unsee’ him. Surya Sharma, our dashing lad from Himachal Pradesh, like his reel avatar Rinku Paaji, is a bit smug, a lot honest and not in the least bit coy or bashful about his success. As Undekhi Season 3 streams on SonyLiv, the Rinku Paaji of the nail-biting thriller is once again basking in the limelight. In a candid unplugged interview, Surya talks about playing the bad guy audiences love so much, the process of getting into the headspace of a ‘gangster’ and being an outsider in Bollywood. Becoming the Rinku Atwal over three seasons, reprising the same part, comes with its own set of challenges. “Director Ashish R Shukla lets you be and gives the freedom to think out of the box,” he says. Only when the first season dropped, the world had no clue who Surya Sharma was. Second time over he was a tad nervous by the weight of expectations/appreciation. For Undekhi 3, he did a bit of introspection and felt he had gone overboard in the second season and tried to sublimate the rage of Rinku Atwal. He reasons, “When you are For most people, gaalis are akin to a helping verb, says Undekhi actor Surya Sharma, who has no compunction about the use of abusive language Spare a thought Get real, folks! Liberty to create Open to experiment Though Rinku’s character is closest to his heart, Surya is not averse to playing a range of characters, good guys very much included. Take his supportive husband act in Bhakshak. Indeed, the film belonged to Bhumi Pednekar, indeed the length of the role does matter to him. But so does what the film conveys, its subject and the director’s vision. He recalls how the unique part in the prestigious Red Chillies Netflix film fell into his kitty. “I got a call from the director Pulkit and since he told me he had seen Undekhi, I assumed it would be of some vile politician or something on the same lines.” Realising this was not ‘a world I belonged to’ he worked extra hard through workshops, mastering the Bihari diction and breaking the ice with lovely co-actor Bhumi. In future too, we will see him as a good cop, a part his mother in particular is looking forward to. Being an outsider in filmdom does mean you are easily replaceable. He FONDNESS FOR CHANDIGARH The Himachali actor Surya, who studied in Chandigarh, remembers the city with great fondness. While the City Beautiful remains his and his family’s shopping hub, Pal Ka Dhaba’s chicken savouries linger on his tastebuds. As for his home state and the fact that Undekhi was set in HP, expectedly he was very much at home while shooting for the series in Manali. the CEO of the company you don’t shout at your employees, similarly to appear menacing you have to be seething from within.” What he likes about his grey character is his fierce desire to save his family, especially the bond Rinku shares with his foster father Papaji. For those who can sense a similarity between this bonding and that in Animal, well, first things first, he loved the Ranbir Kapoor film. Of course Animal which came much after Undekhi, courted as much controversy as rustled up magic at the box-office. “Heavy-duty words like toxic and misogyny are best left to the dictionary. In the art of entertainment, makers have the liberty to create what they care to.” Thus he has no compunction about the use of abusive language, rampant in many series on OTT, including Undekhi. He observes, “We are okay with series from the West using profanities and nudity, but become squeamish when it comes to our own content. Look around, for most people gaalis are akin to a helping verb.” OPEN TO RECEIVING LOVE Married recently to his longtime best friend Manasi Moghe, Surya Sharma’s relationship advice to commitment-phobic young generation is simple — be open to receiving love. agrees with what Rajkummar Rao said recently about being replaced overnight by a star-kid and admits to having faced similar dilemmas. But Surya also adds, “That is the cycle of life. Today I am sure Rao is replacing other actors and who knows tomorrow I might replace another actor.” Happy space As an actor he is certainly not insecure, “What is in my destiny will come to me.” Inshaallah, and those who are wondering whether Undekhi 4 is in the offing, the game is certainly not over. Rinku Paaji is just cooling his heels and sharpening his fangs. Surya, meanwhile, is lapping up the waves of adulation coming his way. And while he has gained a number of fans with Undekhi he himself remains a diehard admirer of Shah Rukh Khan, the human being, not just the superstar we see on screen. Any wonder on top of Surya’s wish-list is to become a better person. Amen! National Award-winning actor Allu Arjun, who is awaiting the release of his upcoming film Pushpa: The Rule, has urged his fans and followers to do their bit for the planet. On World Environment Day on Wednesday, the actor took to Instagram and shared an image of planet Earth. He wrote on the picture, “Let’s all make our home a better place together.” Allu Arjun is deeply committed to the cause of environmental conservation. He is known to ensure that film shoots don’t cause any damage to the environment. The Telugu superstar is also the brand ambassador of the Telangana Forest Department, responsible for promoting and protecting the state’s biodiversity. — IANS Kartik Aaryan, who is gearing up for the release of his much-anticipated film Chandu Champion, has shared how he connected with his character in the movie and said that this was a story that inspired a lot of people to achieve their dreams in life. The film is based on the story of Murlikant Petkar, India’s Paralympic gold champion. “It is based on the story of Murlikant Petkar. It shows his entire life journey. This story is more than a sports film. It is a very inspiring tale and took a lot of hard work to do this,” the 33-year-old actor said, as he unveiled the trailer for the Kabir Khan directorial in his hometown, Gwalior. He added, “Launching the trailer of the film in Gwalior was a great experience. The kind of response I received from the audience was overwhelming. My father was also very emotional. It’s the story of all the dreamers. It was a different experience and we all liked it.” Going back in time, he said, “I had a red colour scooty in Gwalior. The place I loved to explore in the city on my scooty was the fort. But we couldn’t go up there because it was very steep. So we had to go down and park the vehicle. We had to then walk half the way. But the fort is an iconic place, from where you can see the whole city. And you feel like you’re on top of the world. I used to go there a lot when I was in Gwalior. And, yes, I used to have a lot of fun with my friends.” Helmed by Kabir Khan, Chandu Champion is based on the extraordinary real-life story of a sportsman. Kartik will portray the characKARTIK AARYAN ter of Chandu. — ANI Amit Sadh marks World Environment Day 2024 with his debut YouTube series Motorcycle Saved My Life On World Environment Day (June 5), versatile actor Amit Sadh was showered with blessings by fans and well-wishers as he celebrated his birthday. Being a true nature enthusiast, Amit launched his YouTube channel, where he would be sharing experiences of his month-long riding expedition to various parts of the country in the first three episodes, titled Motorcycle Saved My Life. During his journey, the actor travelled to various picturesque locales, including Balasinor, Ahmedabad, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Delhi, Chandigarh, Theog, Sangla, Kaza, Jispa, Prune, Padum and Leh. In the series, the actor sheds light on the importance of riding and how it played a pivotal role in transforming his life. “Riding is therapeutic for me and as the title of my series suggests, Motorcycle Saved My Life’, there was a time in my life where I needed some clarity and that’s when my riding journey began. Through my rides, I got to experience nature closely, which played a crucial role in helping me feel better. That’s why, today on this occasion of World Environment Day, I Bike diary request everyone to look after and protect our nature and environment. Through my series, I also aim to promote healthy riding experi- ences. I’m excited and happy to share this journey with everyone. There’s more to it, hopefully, more journeys and destinations. India is Celebs cycle for a APARSHAKTI KHURANA green cause On World Environment Day, actors Taha Shah Badussha, Aparshakti Khurana, Sunny Kaushal, Aditya Seal, and singer Stebin Ben participated in the ‘Green Ride Cyclothon’ at Carter Road Amphitheatre, Bandra, Mumbai, on Wednesday The event was organised by Asif Bhamla and Saher Bhamla of the Bhamla Foundation, and the videos show the celebrities riding a bicy- cle to promote sustainability and raise awareness about the importance of a greener and clean environment. In the visuals, one can see Taha, who recently won hearts with the portrayal of Tajdar in the web series Heeramandi, wearing a blue sleeveless tee and grey joggers. He rounded off his looks with black sunglasses and red shoes. Aparshakti wore a black c m y b half sleeves tee and matching joggers. Aditya, known for his work in Student of the Year 2 and Tum Bin 2, wore a black sleeveless t-shirt and matching shorts. His look was rounded off with a red cap, sunglasses and black sports shoes. The younger brother of actor Vicky Kaushal, Sunny wore a plain white half sleeves tee and green joggers. — IANS SUNNY KAUSHAL such a beautiful and diverse country, with places that are yet to be discovered by people and I hope they can see it through my eyes.” — TNS