18022021-LSTL-01.qxd 2/17/2021 11:26 PM Page 1 c m y b THE GIRL IS ALL SET TO GO Parineeti Chopra’s next film The Girl On The Train is just few days away from its premiere on Netflix and the actress says that there’s a well thought-out marketing strategy to build anticipation about the project. Salma Hayek on her Desperado co-star Antonio Banderas Hollywood diva Salma Hayek recalls how her Desperado co-star Antonio Banderas helped her when she started tearing up on the sets of the 1995 film, and says he is an absolute gentleman. “So, when we were going to start shooting, I started to sob (and said) ‘I don’t know that I can do it. I’m afraid’,” she recalled. “One of the things I was afraid of was Antonio - he was an absolute gentleman and so nice, and we’re still super close friends - but he was very free. I started crying, and he was like, ‘Oh my God. You’re making me feel terrible’. And I was so embarrassed that I was crying,” she said, according to a femalefirst.co.uk report. She also said that the film’s director Robert Rodriguez had never put pressure on her to do something she was uncomfortable with. Salma said that she found it difficult to get through the scenes without crying. “I was not letting go of the towel. They would try to make me laugh. I would take it off for two seconds and start crying again. But we got through it. We did the best with what we could do at the time,” Salma told Dax Shepard and Monica Padman during the Armchair Expert podcast. —IANS Shy one! Kim Kardashian shows off hourglass perfection in a new bikini post, and asserts she is a shy person. “I’m really shy,” Kim wrote as caption with the picture. IANS LUDHIANA | THURSDAY | 18 FEBRUARY 2021 Of valour & values ANTONIO BANDERAS ‘Absolute gentleman’ TRIBUNE Documentaries, short films, art display, book launch & poetry sessions—Sikhlens - Sikh Art & Film Festival 2021 is all set to regale the audience with stories from around the world A SALMA HAYEK day dedicated to Sikhismcentric art, films, performances and cultural exchange, the second edition of Sikhlens Sikh Art & Film Festival 2021India Chapter is all set to roll on February 21. This annual film festival will include documentaries, short films, 300 plus interesting art display, a book launch, poetry session and talks. While the California edition of the festival went virtual for year 2020, Bicky Singh, founder of SikhLens, is pleased to have a regular brick and mortar festival at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh. “The vision of the festival is to promote and bring out positive Sikh stories, heritage and culture and encourage our community to get into films,” he says. Filmmaker and festival head for India Chapter Ojaswwee Sharma says, “Despite the pandemic that stopped the world in its tracks, our festival is presenting 24 films, which is seven films up from the last edition.” A day of premieres The festival sees world premiere of three films. The first is Art Finds Its Way, which captures the journey of micropainter Aman Singh Gulati. Many of his notable almond pieces portray the essence of Sikhism. The second is Kites: Beyond Boundaries, which is about a retired forensic expert and an international kite maker Devinderpal Singh. The third is Silver Lining: The Journey of Rashpal Singh, an inspiring story of seva behind the free-of-cost eye camps for the people in need across rural Punjab. All these three films are directed by Ojaswwee Sharma. (Clockwise from left) Stills from Art Finds Its Way, Warrior Kaur, Kirat Karo Kaur & Silver Lining Music & games Traasdi Rooh is a documentary by Singapore-based Amardeep Singh on the remnants of Sikh legacy in Pakistan. Tiger Style is the story of music producers Raj and his brother Pops, based in Glasgow, who are promoting Sikh values through their music. Warrior Kaur is about martial arts champion Harleen Kaur in northern England, as she strengthens her connection with her Sikh faith that nurtures her athletic feats and vice versa. Something for children The festival also has a children’s section. For the last six-andhalf-years the Sikhlens Digital Voice Program and the Sri Hemkunt Foundation have trained Sikh children in the gurdwaras of California and around the world. These workshops have Ranvir Shorey tested Covid positive trained over 1,000 children, from the ages of six to 18, and have made over 125 shorts films. Four of these films will be screened at the festival. The chosen ones While the films are Sikh-centric, the theme varies – The Cheez That Binds is about Italian-speaking Punjabi farmers integrating into Italian society while teaching them about Sikhism; All Quiet on the Home Front is the story of Bhagat Singh Thind, a Sikh-American soldier, who fought for his ideals. The festival is being organised by Pinaka Media Works and Rolling Frames Entertainment and supported by Chandigarh Administration and Department of Culture Affairs UT. At Tagore Theatre on February 21 from 11 am.— TNS BICKY SINGH AND OJASWWEE SHARMA Ranvir Shorey has tested positive for Covid-19. On Wednesday morning, the actor took to his Twitter handle to share the news with his fans and followers. He has mentioned on his post that his symptoms are mild but he has still quarantined himself. Ranvir tweeted, “I have tested positive for #COVID19. Symptoms are mild. Am quarantining.” Soon after he shared the news on Twitter, several of his fans started pouring in comments on his post. Meanwhile, on work front, Ranvir will be seen in SS Rajamouli and Karan Johar’s upcoming film Mumbaikar and is currently shooting for the web series Sunflower directed by Vikas Bahl. ‘I want to be a good orator’ As an impulsive decision during the lockdown has led to the crowning moment, Miss Grand India Manika Sheokand looks forward to what life has to offer Sheetal ROSE LESLIE & KIT HARINGTON Jon Snow junior is here! Game of Thrones stars Kit Harington and his wife Rose Leslie have embraced parenthood and their first child is a baby boy! The good news of the baby’s birth was confirmed by Kit Harington’s publicist Marianna Shafran, who said on Tuesday that both Harington and Leslie are very happy. Rose and Kit worked together in GOT from 2012 to 2014. The costars got married in 2018. Talking about her pregnancy, Rose had said, “I can’t wait to meet the new member of our family.” Aim for the stars, they say! And that’s exactly what city girl Manika Sheokand did. Now that she has become the Miss Grand India, she says the feeling is more overwhelming than she perceived it to be. She says, “It was a random move to fill an online form, as there was excessive time in hand due to the pandemic, and as the beauty pageant was going to be predominately virtual. I have been modelling apart from doing a job as a chemical engineer at Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd. My sister, Kanika Sheokand pushed me as if she believed that I could swing it.” Ask her if she is starting to feel the weight of the crown with back-to-back media interactions and facilitation events at her school and university, and she rather calls it, “a meetha pressure which should be there when you are representing India at an international event. It will help me train for what’s coming. If this was a national event with limited people due to the pandemic, I am sure by the end of this year, when the international contest will happen, the pressure would be immense because not only the world will be watching your every move but there will be best contenders for each country.” The key to counter the pressure of a competition is just to enjoy the success, Manika believes. myself and work on those things and it all started during graduation years. Apart from working on fitness, health, beauty for the competition ahead of me, I think the focus would be to Talking point Though stepping on the stage makes her feel that she owns the stage now, it wasn’t the same in the beginning. The first time she felt confident on stage was at an annual fest which she hosted at the Institute of Chemical Engineering and Technology in Panjab University, Chandigarh. “I could never mustered the courage to speak on stage during the school time. The realisation made me push ❝ I AM SURE WHEN THE INTERNATIONAL CONTEST WOULD HAPPEN, THE PRESSURE WOULD BE IMMENSE. THE WORLD WOULD BE WATCHING EVERY MOVE. BUT I WOULD BE CARRYING THE CALMNESS THAT MY HOME CITY CHANDIGARH IS KNOWN FOR WITHIN ME. MANIKA SHEOKAND PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR c m y b become a good orator.” Before the preparation and grooming for Miss Grand International begins, Manika is savouring all her favourite desserts and just had a cheesecake minutes before her media interaction in Chandigarh as she was back home after her big win. Goal post If carbon footprint is what worries Manika as a climate activist, it is also her wish to complete the circle that former Miss World Manushi Chillar had initiated with Project Shakti to spread awareness about menstrual hygiene. “I just want to add to it that switching to biodegradable napkins, menstrual cup or tampons will help reduce the carbon footprints. Also, disposing off pads is a bigger issue at hand, which I talked about with the Chief Minister of Haryana and shared my ideas and vision for the same.” KANCHAN & SANDEEP NAHAR Acting on a video Abetment to suicide case filed against Sandeep Nahar’s wife Few hours before his alleged suicide, Sandeep Nahar had posted a video on his Facebook page in which he had revealed that he was undergoing marital problems. The actor was allegedly being harassed by his wife Kanchan Sharma and mother-in-law. After the video was posted, the Mumbai police sprang into action to trace him but by that time he had allegedly killed himself. Now, as per latest reports, an abetment to suicide case has been registered against Sandeep Nahar’s wife and his mother-in-law. So far, his wife, mother-in-law, father and her brother had recorded their statements with the police. Meanwhile, the late actor’s body was brought to Punjab on Tuesday to perform the last rites.