07022019-LSTL-01.qxd 2/6/2019 8:11 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Engaged! Actress Jennifer Lawrence has got engaged to boyfriend Cooke Maroney in New York. The pair sparked engagement rumours after Lawrence stepped out wearing a ring. IANS LUDHIANA | THURSDAY | 7 FEBRUARY 2019 Liam Neeson stuck in racism row STARRY EYES Singer Pink bags the 2.656th star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame in Hollywood, California. AFP A New York red carpet opening of Liam Neeson’s latest film has been cancelled amid a row over his comments that he once wanted to kill a random black man after a friend was raped. Reporters were told the event for Cold Pursuit was being pulled two hours before it was scheduled to happen. Organisers of the event said there would be no photographs or interviews at the New York City showing. The actor was speaking to promote the film, a revenge thriller, when he spoke of the alleged rape took that place a long time ago and he found out about The actor was speaking to promote the film, a revenge thriller, when he spoke of the alleged rape took that place a long time ago and he found out about it when he came back from a trip abroad. it when he came back from a trip abroad. He said: “She handled the situation of the rape in the most extraordinary way. But my immediate reaction was... I asked, did she know who it was? No. What colour were they? She said it was a black person. I went up and down areas with a cosh, hoping I’d be approached by somebody — I’m ashamed to say that - and I did it for maybe a week, hoping some (uses air quotes with fingers) ‘black bastard’ would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him.” Neeson has denied he is racist but the remarks sparked an outcry. Meanwhile, former England footballer and antiracism campaigner, John Barnes, has defended Neeson. “He was ashamed a week into it. He understood that he was wrong for thinking what he did. And we have to have this conversation,” Barnes said. —IANS The month of love, February, opens its arms for tricity folks. And the mood is set today, beginning with the Rose Day ISTOCK Mona A RUN UP TO V-DAY rose by any other name would smell as sweet, the ‘bard’ William Shakespeare sure did write in his much-loved play Romeo and Juliet; today, the name assumes significance for the very ‘Rose Day’ kickstarts a week full of love, culminating in the Valentine’s Day on February 14. 7, Thursday – Rose Day ■ February 8, Friday – Propose Day ■ February 9, Saturday – Chocolate Day ■ February 10, Sunday – Teddy Day ■ February 11, Monday – Promise Day ■ February 12, Tuesday – Hug Day ■ February 13, Wednesday – Kiss Day ■ February 14, Thursday – Valentine’s Day In the ROSY lanes TRICITY MOOD Call it the play of sentimental fools or a sheer marketing gimmick; February sure has cemented its place as the month of ‘love’! Tricity is gearing up for the festivities too, though it’s a slow start. “We got few deliveries scheduled for the day; hoping the number goes up,” says Mehtab, who is into the flower business for the ■ February last decade and more. Another florist, Surjit Singh, in sector 32, is hopping on to his scooter with a huge red rose bouquet, heading for a delivery. “Rather than regular Rs 20, a stem of rose would be sold for Rs 30 tomorrow and it would only go up till the Valentine’s Day, depending on wholesale supplier’s rates.” In the last few years, a stem of rose has touched Rs 100 or so, but then with each passing year business is not as lucrative, as online players capture a major chunk of market, rues Surjit, who has been ensuring a steady supply of flowers for the last decade from Bengaluru and Himachal Pradesh. PERFECT HUES We catch some giggly girls in sector 15 trying to find perfect roses. Apparently, it’s them playing Cupid this time around, “These flowers are for LOOKING FOR HER Anushka Sharma Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma has reacted to a message by her ‘doppelganger’, American singer Julia Michaels, who had shared about their striking resemblance with each other. Earlier this week, a photograph of Michaels went viral for their uncanny resemblance. On Monday, Micheals took to Twitter and shared a collage of their photographs and captioned it: “Hi Anushka Sharma, apparently we are twins.” The Ae Dil Hai Mushkil actress acknowledged the message and wrote: “OMG Yes! I have been looking for you and the remaining five of our doppelgangers all my life.” PERFECT MATCH Alia Bhatt Alia Bhatt has a doppel- WORDS MATTER with red roses and love quotes, takers are far less. PRIZE TIME my cousin on behalf of her boyfriend, who is in the Army and can’t send anything from his remote station,” Arushi, BSc Maths student reveals in a hush-hush tone. A quick glance at gift shops reveals more. Shiny Taneja from Archies Cards & Gift Gallery, explains, “Back during the 90s, cards were a rage, especially around Valentine’s Day. This is not the case anymore”. While the gift gallery is stacked with mugs and figurines dotted But then, a slight slump in business doesn’t translate into market mood not being upbeat. Tricity’s much-loved Elante mall would be seen twinkling in fairy lights to set the romantic mood. But the ‘Cup of Happyness’ — an activity that’s planned for the Valentine’s Day at the main atrium aims at celebrating love that goes beyond. One can participate in a game wherein a man can participate with mother, daughter, sister, teacher or any other woman to jump into the giant Cup of Happyness and hunt for as many heart-shaped love cushions in a minute! The winners stand to win many The four letters in ‘rose’ also spell ‘Eros’ when arranged differently, referring to the Greek God of love. It is said to be Greek Goddess Venus’ favourite flower too. Red rose begins the week of love! SECURE AT PU Panjab University is all geared up for the ‘love’ week. Hostels, entry gates would have more security. “While we are not restricting any expression on the part of students, we would not allow anyone to disturb the academic atmosphere,” says Professor Ashwani Koul, Chief of University Security. prizes. Chandigarh Baking Company at JW Marriott is set for a week-long Valentine’s Week Berry Festival. Are you ready for the week of love? mona@tribunemail.com Let’s face it WHAT A BEAUTY! Aishwarya Rai Bachchan video, Sanaya is seen lipsyncing to Alia‘s kickass dhoptungi dialogue from Gully Boy trailer. She’s perfect with Alia’s look from the film and matches the expressions too! ganger on Instagram by the name Sanaya Ashu. Sanaya looks just like Alia and her latest video on Instagram is a proof. In the Navpreet Banga, a Vancouver-based fitness blogger, broke the Internet with her uncanny resemblance to our desi girl Priyanka Chopra. If you see her YouTube videos, she even sounds c m y b Singer Madonna will be honoured at the 30th annual GLAAD Media Awards for accelerating acceptance of the LGBTQ community. The awards ceremony by GLAAD, a LGBTQ media advocacy organisation, will be held in New York on May 4. The singer will receive the Advocate for Change Award and become the ceremony’s second person and first woman to ever receive this honour. The award was previously given to former US President Bill Clinton in 2013 for his advocacy work to overturn the antiLGBTQ Defense of Marriage Act and advance marriage equality nationwide. “Madonna always has and always will be the LGBTQ community’s greatest ally and it is only fitting to honour and celebrate our biggest advocate at GLAAD’s biggest event ever,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “From the HIV crisis to international LGBTQ issues, she fearlessly pushes for a world where LGBTQ people are accepted. Her music and art have been life-saving outlets for LGBTQ people over the years and her affirming words and actions have changed countless hearts and minds,” Ellis added. The organisation credits the pop singer for continuously supporting the LGBTQ community, given that she has performed at AIDS benefit concerts and also speaking out against anti-LGBTQ laws, policies and practices. — IANS almost fooled her hahaha! Navpreet Banga, this is uncanny, but Mom knows best. Doppelganger.” Fans ape their favourite celebrities and try to look like them. But then, there are some who don’t even have to try! Here’s a look at a few people who broke the internet with their strong resemblance to a Bollywood star SAME-TO-SAME Priyanka Chopra Madonna to be honoured like PeeCee. As soon as Priyanka noticed her, she shared Navpreet’s picture on social media and wrote, “Showed this to mom and Pictures of a Persian model Mahlagha Jaberi have been doing the rounds for her deadly looks that resembled Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Like Aishwarya, Jaberi’s eye colour is also natural sea green and both have an identical jaw-line. Interestingly, even Jaberi has been voted as “the most beautiful woman in the world” in several online polls. LOOK WISE Karan Johar Karan Johar took to Twitter to share a laugh with his fans and followers. He re-tweeted one of the replies of a fan by the name Usman Khan in which he claimed that he looks like KJo. Usman even shared proofs in form of WhatsApp screenshots of people telling him that he looks like Karan. We agree too; he does resemble the director in his velvet plum jacket and big glasses.