26052022-LSTL-01.qxd 5/25/2022 11:34 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Here’s why Shalini Pandey agreed to play a pregnant lady in her Bollywood debut High praise Urvashi Rautela says that she got emotional when Leonardo DiCaprio complimented her at Cannes. “He appreciated me as a talented actress. I was waking up pinching myself,” she said. IANS LUDHIANA | THURSDAY | 26 MAY 2022 ‘You get what you dream of’ ❝ Creating her destiny I HAVE JUST ONE GOAL! TO CHANGE LIFE! I AM PLANNING TO BUILD OLD-AGE HOMES, HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS IN TRIBAL AREAS. THERE ARE RURAL AREAS IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE HELP DOESN’T REACH. TO REACH OUT TO SUCH PEOPLE WHO ARE WAITING FOR CHANGE IS WHAT I DEEPLY CARE FOR! Shalini Pandey, who made her Bollywood debut with Jayeshbhai Jordaar, is aware that as an outsider she has to ‘make every opportunity count’ if she has to fulfil her desire to be ‘one of the best actors of the country’. The actress says, “A lot of people have called my big screen debut in Bollywood a bold choice because I’m pregnant in the film. It is true that I had to be a certain body type to look convincing as a pregnant woman. It is true that most would choose a glitzier debut and look their best. But I’m not one of them. I have always focused on doing roles that have somePEOPLE HAVE CALLED thing to say, something to do MY DEBUT IN BOLLYWOOD A or some impact to make. BOLD CHOICE BECAUSE I’M For me, the fact that my PORTRAYING A PREGNANT WOMAN character is pregnant was IN THE FILM. IT IS TRUE THAT I HAD not of any concern.” She adds, “It’s the charTO BE A CERTAIN BODY TYPE TO acter that matters for me LOOK CONVINCING. because she has something relevant and important to say. I am very proud of this part and I have given it my best. I’m here to make my destiny on my own terms and I’m aspiring to be one of the best actors of the country. So, for me, what matters the most is that people have loved my performance. They have found me formidable on screen and that too opposite someone like Ranveer Singh, who is truly a chameleon and probably the best actor of our country today.” ❝ ❝ It’s a galaxyout there! “You are my father, best friend & mentor…” Karan Johar turned 50 on Wednesday (May 25). Wishes poured in for him from friends, family, fans and followers on social media. Alia Bhatt also wished KJo and penned a special post for him. The actress shared unseen pictures from her wedding, and called Karan her ‘father, best friend and mentor’. Alia wrote, “To the most generous soul I know!... to the man who is my father ... my best friend .. and my mentor! Happy 50th Birthday K! I pray and wish for only love peace and joy in your life, you deserve it all and much much more for all the light and goodness you bring into people’s lives! I love you more than this Instagram post can ever handle…” Alia and Karan share a special bond.It was Karan who launched Alia with Student Of The Year. Alia Bhatt pens a special note on Karan Johar’s 50th birthday Lack of chemistry The president of DC Films testified Tuesday that the studio considered replacing actress Amber Heard for Aquaman 2 out of concern that she lacked chemistry with star Jason Momoa. Heard was ultimately cast in the sequel, but her lawyers have argued that she nearly lost the job and could not renegotiate for more money due to the backlash over her domestic abuse allegations against Johnny Depp. Heard is seeking $100 million in a defamation counterclaim against Depp. Walter Hamada, the head of Warner Bros.’ DC unit, was the first witness called by Depp’s side as they begin their rebuttal of Heard’s counterclaim in court.—IANS Mona The Cannes Film Festival celebrated its 75th anniversary with a group of no less than 120 stars and filmmakers from all over the world, including Jake Gyllenhaal, Paolo Sorrentino, Isabelle Huppert, Diane Kruger, Guillermo del Toro, Jacques Audiard, Melanie Laurent, Gael Garcia Bernal and Nicolas Winding Refn. Some of them, notably del Toro, took part in a symposium earlier Tuesday to discuss the new challenges that cinema is facing today. The roster of talents on the ground at the gala ceremony also included the bevy of stars and filmmakers presenting films at this year’s festival, including Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux, Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg (Crimes of the Future), among many others. Cannes general delegate Thierry Fremaux and president Pierre Lescure took turns calling each guest to join them on stage with a thunder of applause. The guests posed for a Cannes family portrait, and Garcia Bernal then took the microphone and sang “Ella” by Jose Alfredo Jimenez with del Toro. Fremaux opened the ceremony saying about the resilience of cinema and the importance of Cannes in promoting the moviegoing experience.—IANS A CTOR-PHILANTHROPIST Sonu Sood is stepping into the shoes of Chand Bardai, the court poet of King Prithviraj Chauhan in Chandraprakash Dwivedi’s film. As Akshay Kumar takes on the mantle of the film Prithviraj, due to release on June 3, the man from Moga opens up on playing this dream role, Roadies stint and life’s unrealised goals. “The experience of working in Prithviraj was phenomenal,” says Sonu. “It’s like you get what you dream of, and then to shoulder that responsibility is one special journey.” While Sonu had heard about Chand Bardai from his mother, who teaches English and history, after working in the film, he learnt a lot more about the creator of the epic poem Prithviraj Raso. “Sitting with our director Chandraprakash Dwivedi is like attending history classes, so vast is his knowledge regarding Indian history. His knowledge helped me to play the character.” Dwivedi has to his credit TV serials like Chanakya (1991), Pinjar (2003) and Mohalla Assi (2018). Says Sonu, “Historical films are not everyone’s cup of tea. In Chandraprakash Dwivedi’s hands, it was an exceptional experience.” If the pandemic changed each of us to some extent, Sonu Sood found his real purpose in life. “I had no clue before the pandemic what my true calling was. People only guided me to it,” says Sonu, who turned the messiah for countless immigrants and people in need. “I realised that there was no mission comparable to saving lives.” The mission that started through the first wave has still been carried on. Not just on social media. Now, people come from far ends of the country show As Sonu Sood dons the avatar of poet Chand Bardai for Prithviraj, it’s a dream-come-true moment for the actor-philanthropist up at his house. “It’s a different kind of experience. On Sundays there are hundreds of people come with hope, and not to let it die is our earnest effort.” Social media has emerged as a handy tool in Sonu’s philanthropic life, and he’s happy that it has moved beyond new clothes, new shoes. Sonu’s funny responses to outrageous demands from his fans also regale his followers. How much time does he spend on social media? “Whatever it takes, at time there are emergency calls at three in the morning as well.” His messiah avatar has changed the course of his film journey as well. If the offers for negative roles have nosedived; offers for positive, largerthan-life characters have soared. “I am totally enjoying the new innings of my career,” admits the Dabangg actor. Doing Roadies is another recent experience that Sonu thoroughly enjoyed. “It was amazing to travel with people in real life. I loved that!” Next is his home production Fateh that starts next month. “Last eight to ten months have been spent on detailing the project. It’s an action film.” Also, there are other offers for Hindi and South Indian films and also for OTT projects. “Have to take a decision cautiously on what to do next. Ab to har kadam phook phook kar rakha hai!” Any personal/professional goals that have evaded Sonu? “ Only one! Just to change life. I am planning to build oldage homes, hospitals and schools in tribal areas. There are rural areas in our country where help doesn’t reach. To reach out to such people who are waiting for change is what I deeply care for!” Cannes celebrates 75th anniversary with Kristen, Jake Gyllenhaal & others Guillermo del Toro, left, and Claude Lelouch appear on screen as they and other film industry professionals gather to celebrate the 75th anniversary ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival. PHOTO: PTI Deepika shines in orange Deepika Padukone has been the highlight of this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The actress is making heads turn with stunning looks at the red carpet of the festival. On May 24, she once again made her appearance at the red carpet and looked no less than a princess. Deepika donned a regal, dramatic one-sleeved gown by Ashi Studio. She clubbed the look with pristine, green-stone earrings and tied her hair in a high bun. The neutral makeup went well with the entire look. Deepika had joined her co-jury members for the 75th anniversary celebration screening of The Innocent at Palais des Festivals on Tuesday evening. She along with jury members attended the screening. c m y b ‘An epidemic we can control’ Hollywood star Matthew McConaughey has reacted to the mass shooting that took place in his hometown of Uvalde, Texas. The actor took to Twitter to address the carnage, which saw an 18-yearold gunman kill 19 children and injure some others at a primary school. Sharing a long note, he wrote, “As you are all aware, there was another mass shooting today, this time in my hometown of Uvalde, Texas.” The Oscar winner spent the first 12 years of his life in Uvalde, which is about 130 km west of San Antonio, near the border with Mexico, and where the shooting happened. McConaughey asked Americans to find common ground, to “renegotiate our wants from our needs”. He laid the blame at every American adult’s feet, regardless of party affiliation. “This is an epidemic we can control, and whichever side of the aisle we may stand on, we all know we can do better. We must do better. ” he wrote . — IANS Matthew on school carnage in his hometown