02092025-LSTC-01.qxd 9/2/2025 12:34 AM Page 1 c m y b POLICE STATION MEIN BHOOT Versatile actor Manoj Bajpayee has reunited with director Ram Gopal Varma after nearly three decades for the horror comedy Police Station Mein Bhoot. Bajpayee expressed his happiness at reuniting with director Ram Gopal Varma after Satya and called it a “full circle” moment in his life. TRIBUNE Ganpati offering Life Shreya Ghoshal has released her latest devotional track, Ganesha Pancharatnam. The composition, based on traditional Sanskrit verses, has been brought to life with a melodious blend of classical and contemporary sounds. CHANDIGARH | TUESDAY | 2 SEPTEMBER 2025 ‘No fear of repercussions’ Jude Law on playing Vladimir Putin J UDE Law starrer The Wizard of the Kremlin received a rousing 10-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. While Jude Law stepped in as Vladimir Putin, Paul Dano was seen as Vadim Baranov, the Russian president’s former right-hand man. Set in the early 90s during the final years of the Soviet Union, the film focuses on the fictional character of reality TV star Vadim Baranov, who unexpectedly became Putin’s spin doctor. The character is believed to be inspired by Vladislav Sourkov, a real-life fixer credited for shaping Putin’s persona and authoritarian leadership style. Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, and Jeffrey Wright further round up the cast. Speaking at the festival, Jude Law shared that he had no fear about portraying Putin. “I hope not naively, but I didn’t fear repercussions. I felt confident, in the hands of Olivier and the script, that this story was going to be told intelligently and with nuance and consideration. We weren’t looking for controversy for controversy’s sake. It’s a character in a broader story. We weren’t trying to define anything about anyone,” the actor told the media. When asked about his preparations for the character, Law shared how his director didn’t want him to hide behind prosthetics. “We worked with an amazing makeup and hair team and had reference JUDE LAW to that period in Putin’s life. We tried to find a familiarity with me. It’s amazing what a great wig can do,” he said. Co-written and directed by Olivier Assayas, The Wizard of the Kremlin is adapted from Giuliano da Empoli’s 2022 novel of the same name. “Beyond the passions of men navigating the dangerous fluxes of modern politics, we see the powerful cinematic sweep of history in the making. It’s drama; it’s action; it’s about trying to make sense of the chaos that is transforming our world in the strangest, most disturbing ways,” the director said while announcing the film. — ANI SAREE IN THE SPOTLIGHT DIVYA DUTTA TAKES INDIAN ELEGANCE TO VENICE National Award-winning actor Divya Dutta turned heads with her regal presence at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Divya walked in wearing a black-andgold saree, paired with a chic black blouse and statement earrings. The look struck the perfect balance between tradition and modernity, celebrating Indian craftsmanship on an international stage. With a career spanning acclaimed films like Veer-Zaara, Delhi-6, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Stanley Ka Dabba, Welcome to Sajjanpur, Sheer Qorma, Sharmaji Ki Beti, Chhaava, and her National Award-winning performance in Irada, Divya has consistently brought depth, authenticity, and brilliance to the screen. Speaking at Venice, Divya shared, “It is always an honour to represent Indian cinema at such a global platform. Wearing a saree here feels like carrying my culture with me, and I am humbled by the love and warmth it has received.” OLIVIER ASSAYAS Wake up, push-up, Suraj Pratap Singh, who plays the role of Prem in Sun Neo’s show Divya Prem: Pyaar Aur Rahasya Ki Kahani, shared his fitness goals and routine. Are you currently working towards a fitness goal? Yes, I always try to stay fit and improve my flexibility. Right now, I am focusing on increasing my stamina and strength. What are some of your favourite exercises and routines? and repeat high-energy dubstep and electro songs during workouts. The beats push me to do better. Is there a fitness app or gadget you swear by? Honestly, I believe my best fitness gadget is my own body; it tells me I love doing bodyweight exercises like push-ups, pull-ups, and core training. Dance rehearsals and stunt practices for Divya Prem also keep me active. I mix strength training with stretching to stay strong and flexible. when I’m pushing too hard or when I need more. I do use a smartwatch sometimes, but I mostly enjoy lifting, running, sweating it out without too much tech. What’s a fitness habit you’ve adopted that you didn’t expect to stick with, but now it’s non-negotiable for you? I never thought I’d enjoy waking up early for workouts, but now it is part of my routine. Starting the day with exercise makes me feel fresh and positive. What message would you like to share with young fans who may be struggling with body image issues? Your body is your friend, not your enemy. Don’t chase perfection you see on social media, it’s often not real. Focus on being healthy and happy. What’s the go-to workout playlist? I usually listen to shivanshi verma Filmmaker Keith Gomes is not just someone who loves cinema. He lives it. Keith is known for making short films on serious topics that are exciting, emotional and meaningful. He says that his love for storytelling also comes from his love for action movies, music and musicals. His Oscar dream came close Keith’s short film Shameless was considered for an Oscar nomination. A dream he had since childhood. “I have been writing the Oscar speech since I was 7,” he says. Even though the film didn’t make it to the final list, he feels proud. “To get so close to the Oscar is like you can sniff it but can’t touch it and it was a great feeling. The whole campaign was beautiful.” INSPIRED BY REAL LIFE Many of Keith’s films talk about serious topics. This comes from how closely he observes people and the world around him. “Serious yes, partly it’s because of my observations of human behaviour and human life. And if something bothers me, I turn it into a film,” he explains. Dear Men His latest short Dear Men is a powerful fictional film released on World Anti-Trafficking Day to spread awareness . He says, “Child trafficking is a global problem. The Keith the CRUSADER Keith Gomes writes with heart and shoots with purpose number of children getting trafficked every day is very alarming.” The idea came from real-life rescuer Dipesh Tank. “To inspire people through my stories is the intention, if one person changes it’s a victory.” Nikka Zaildar 4 delayed amid Punjab flood crisis The makers of Punjabi film Nikka Zaildar 4, starring Ammy Virk and Sonam Bajwa in the lead roles, have decided to postpone the release to October 2, following the “unforeseen severe flood situation in Punjab”. Punjab is witnessing massive floods, caused by the swollen Sutlej, Beas and Ravi SURAJ PRATAP SINGH c m y b rivers and seasonal rivulets due to heavy rain in their catchment areas in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Many places have been affected by the floods. The film was previously scheduled to hit the big screen on September 12. The note also mentioned the team of the film is planning to visit the affected areas to extend their support. The post read, “The entire team of Nikka Zaildar 4 has decided to postpone the release date of the film to 2nd October. Due to an unforeseen severe flood situa- tion in several areas of Punjab. We believe that it is our duty to stand by the people of Punjab during these tough times. Therefore, Nikka Zaildar team has decided to visit the affected areas themselves very soon and provide trucks full of ration and other necessary items to the affected people at the earliest. We stand with Punjab.” The 36-year-old added the caption, “The release of Nikka Zaildar 4 is now scheduled for 2nd October 2025. — PTI