28112020-LSTL-01.qxd 11/27/2020 11:57 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Safe & sound Arjun Kapoor is shooting for his next film, Bhoot Police, in Dharamshala and is thrilled that the team is functioning so smoothly despite the pandemic. PRIYANSHU MARRIES VANDANA Priyanshu Painyuli, who was recently seen in Mirzapur 2, got married to actor Vandana Joshi on Thursday. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 28 NOVEMBER 2020 ‘It’s only about performing well’ W A doting mother, a loving daughter and a caring sister, actress Soha Ali Khan comes across as someone who is a complete family person E all know Soha Ali Khan is a doting mother, thanks to the many posts we get to see on Instagram. The times may be difficult, but their bond is ever-somuch fun. For a three-year-old, Inaaya Naumi Kemmu is great company, vouches Soha. “The older they get, the easier it becomes. She has turned three and we have full-on conversations. She is becoming independent; now we can sit anywhere and talk.” Motherhood has brought Soha closer to her own mother, veteran actress Sharmila Tagore. “I am now more in awe of the fact that she had three children and brought us up so well. She was at the peak of her career when my brother was born, but what is praiseworthy is that she managed to multi-task in an environment that was not so supportive of mothers in the way it is today.” BACK TO WORK Inaaya’s growing up has also given Soha the confidence to get back to work. In fact, she has already signed up for a project, the shoot of which took her to Rajasthan for a couple of months. First step “The official announcements are for the producers to make, but I have completed shooting and that was great fun because I hadn’t really played a character for a while. I am not concerned about whether it has a theatrical release or goes straight to viewers’ home, as for me it’s only about performing well.” Having said that, she agrees going to the theatre for movies has its own charm, especially for some content, “Like a comedy, which you want to watch it in a group; eat something, clap together.” Gurnaaz Kaur South star Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas to make B-Town debut Popular Telugu film industry star Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas is ready for his Bollywood debut. In fact, he has chosen a grand vehicle and is ready to step into Baahubali fame Prabhas’ shoes and will star in a remake of SS Rajamouli directed, Prabhas-starrer mega-hit Chatrapathi. Pen Studios, helmed by Dr Jayantilal Gada, is bankrolling this project for Bollywood and has signed Bellamkonda already. Chatrapthi that originally starred Prabhas is a story of a young man, Shivaji, and his family. Bellamkonda says, “This is a perfect project for my big debut in Bollywood. It’s a great opportunity to collaborate with Dr Gada and Pen Studios, and to be reunited with my first ever director VV Vinayak sir.” The title row ends... Karan Johar issues apology to Madhur Bhandarkar Madhur Bhandarkar had recently accused Karan Johar of using his title for an upcoming Netflix series. Reacting to this, on Thursday, Karan wrote an open letter on Twitter and apologised to Madhur for causing “any grievance during the course of the last few weeks”. KJo, who had made a cameo in Madhur’s Fashion, wrote, “Through all these years I have been an ardent admirer of your work and I have always wished the best for you. I want to inform you that we have been promoting our series with the hashtag ‘Fabulous Lives’ on all social media platforms, which is the franchise KARAN JOHAR title we tend to go ahead with.” and it operMadhur Bhandarkar ates on mutual replied to Karan’s open letter trust and respect… The fact and said that he has accepted that you went ahead and his apology. Madhur tweeted, used the title anyway despite “Dear @KaranJohar. Thank our conversation and despite you for your response. This is it also having been rejected indeed a close-knit industry by the trade associations is DEAR BROTHER SOHA WITH KUNAL AND DAUGHTER INAAYA NAUMI KEMMU LOCKDOWN LEARNING I am writing again and enjoying it. But in terms of skills that I have acquired, I’ve become very good at editing videos, especially for school submissions and, of course, for social media because now we have to set up cameras and edit the videos ourselves. I’ve also become quite good at doing my own make-up.” KAREENA’S SECOND PREGNANCY Saif and Kareena are expecting their second child and everyone is very excited. But to be pregnant and become a mother in these times is also tough. “They are doing remarkably well and taking the necessary precautions, but also getting on with things. I am just hoping that everything goes on without a hitch. It is very important to be safe during these times.” what had upset me deeply. This is not how I believe real relationships work. But let’s move forward. I accept your apology and would like to leave things here. I too wish you well in your future endeavours.” Sustainable & sensible Richa Chadha wins PETA’s Best Vegan Style Icon award Days after being bestowed with Dr Ambedkar Bharat Ratna honour for her contribution to cinema, Richa Chadha has another award to her name. The actress has won Peta’s Best Vegan Style Icon. With the pandemic, awareness of animal abuse and suffering has come under sharp focus. Richa has always worked towards demanding sustainability of the environment and bringing in the need for cruelty- free clothing. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India this year hosted the virtual edition of their awards and announced the winners of the Vegan Fashion Awards 2020. In a statement, Richa said, “I am delighted to be named a style icon. I stopped wearing silk and leather a few years ago. I am very pleased with this recognition. Thank you PETA.” Flying high Working on Tenet finally made me believe in myself, says Dimple Kapadia Veteran Bollywood actress Dimple Kapadia was initially hesitant to take up Christopher Nolan’s big film, Tenet. However, being a part of the big-budget Hollywood film has instilled a new sense of confidence and belief in her. “My process of working is fear and nervousness. I don’t know how the process unfolds after that,” Dimple said. She added that she then relies on her “instinct and the director completely”. “My takeaway (after working in the film) is a hell of a lot. It has completely changed my mental make-up. It has made me more confident, wanting to do better roles, work more and made me more positive. It has made me believe in myself finally — Nolan ke saath kaam kiya hai (have worked with Nolan)! It is a beautiful dream that has come true,” she said. Dubbed as “an action epic evolving from the world of international espionage”, Nolan’s new film takes one on a thrilling time-bending mission with two secret agents, essayed by Robert Pattinson and John David Washington. ROLE WISE MADHUR BHANDARKAR On the work front, Soha has done a lot of ads with her brother Saif Ali Khan; she says, “Bhai and I get along well; we have a similar sense of humour and we enjoy each other’s company, so it is always nice to work with him.” Being Saif’s co-worker is one thing, but being a sister to him means being loved by a good human being. “He has a great sense of humour and is very irreverent at it; talks a lot, adds a fresh perspective — sometimes cheeky and sometimes very wise — but he is great fun to listen to. Anyone who knows him well will agree that he is kind, emotional and takes values seriously. I feel lucky that I am in that circle of few people who are loved by him and that’s the best thing about being his sister.” In the film, Dimple is seen as Priya, who is crucial to the narrative. Her character emerges as deadly person, splashed with various shades of grey. Talking about Nolan, the 63-yearold star said: “I was hesitating to do the film because I was not comfortable with myself and my capabilities but after doing a Nolan film, I didn’t have to worry because he takes care of everything.” The film is scheduled to release in India on December 4. — IANS c m y b NEW RELEASES Another zombie ride Johnson Thomas It has been four years since Train to Busan, and Yeon Sang-ho comes up with yet another signature zombie outing. We see a totally devastated South Korea with a few survivors running helter-skelter to save themselves from the overrunning zombie attacks. The country looks shattered with its once-ultra-modern cities reduced to ruins. In this edition, Incheon is the city being destroyed. The port city is now an urban graveyard of destroyed bridges, buildings and modes of transport. The challenge here is to survive the infestation of zombies and eventually have enough brawn to overcome the greedy batches of antagonists looking to loot, pillage and fashion cheap thrills. Four Korean refugees in Hong Kong are entrusted with the task of retrieving a truck load of dollars, but a task that seems easy under the guise of darkness (because zombies can’t see at night) becomes fraught with unheralded risks, Thrilling in parts, this one cannot match up to the magic of Train to Busan Film: Peninsula Director: Yeon Sang-ho Cast: Kang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Re, Kwon Hae-hyo, Kim Minjae, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Do-yoon, Lee Ye-won Rating:  including the menace of a rogue outfit of mercenaries known as Unit 361. The zombies here are not as much of a threat as the desperado mercenaries spearheading a Mad Max like base with unarmed humans as prey for their ‘Hunter Games’. A large part of the narrative is devoted to chase sequences in fortified abandoned vehicles. The heavy use of CGI creates a whole lot of visual thrills but it’s not enough to give this regurgitated spinoff, which borrows its many ideas from a range of end of the world scenarios, a fresh new appeal. While the thrills here don’t have the power and overwhelming appeal of those experienced in Train to Busan, they nevertheless fulfill the role of delivering an adrenaline rush just when the momentum appears to be sliding off. Hollywood influences are clearly visible here and that in fact takes a lot away from the genuine artistry of the Korean original. While the opening sequence sets-up well for an intriguing karma-slanted endplay, the middle section appears rather flaccid and directionless. This one is certainly not as tense an experience as Train to Busan, yet it’s not without its fair share of virtues.