09062022-LSTC-01.qxd 6/8/2022 10:20 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Covid-positive Life Pyaar Ka Punchnamafame Sonnalli Seygall has announced on social media that she has tested Covid-positive. She wrote, “Finally, after two years I have contracted the virus. I am isolating and recovering.” TMS CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 9 JUNE 2022 Lure of desi tadka PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM @VARANASI No love lost Amber Heard reacts to Depp’s TikTok debut Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s defamation trial ended last week where both actors were found liable in the lawsuits and Heard was ordered to pay USD 15 million in damages. Following the trial, Johnny surprised his fans as he joined TikTok and also shared his first post on the social platform. In his debut post, the actor thanked fans for their support and emphasised his desire to put the trial behind him. Johnny said, “We’ve been everywhere together, we have seen everything together. We have walked the same road together. We did the right thing together, all because you cared. And now, we will all move forward together.” This message was called out by Amber in a statement she released via her spokesperson. The statement read, “As Johnny Depp says he’s ‘moving forward,’ women’s rights are moving backward. The verdict’s message to victims of domestic violence is…Be afraid to stand up and speak out.” — TMS Seasoned act Huma wraps up shoot of Tarla Dalal biopic Huma Qureshi will soon be seen essaying the role of India’s first-ever home chef Tarla Dalal. The actress had been shooting for 37 continuous days in Mumbai and has finally wrapped up the film. The last day of filming was a wedding sequence and Huma put her soul into the act. Even before the film went on the floors, the actress would wear dentures for long hours and practice speaking with them. As part of her preparations, Huma also saw hours of footage, picking up on Dalal’s accent, pitch and mannerisms. Says Huma, “Every character you play as an actor leaves an impression on your soul and Tarla Dalal’s journey has definitely left an impression on my soul. It truly holds a special place in my heart. As I wrap the film, I cannot help but think of the quiet strength, love, humour and empathy she had.” Apart from the Tarla Dalal biopic, Huma will be seen in Double XL, Monica O My Darling and Maharani Season 2. Call it celebration or relief or love for our cuisine, Johnny Depp paid a $62,000 bill at an Indian restaurant in Birmingham. Here is a look at some other celebs who have relished Indian food KNOW THE PLACE, VARANASI Varanasi Restaurant, Birmingham, which was all over Instagram earlier this week, is a spot frequented by celebs. Indian actors, sports stars visiting Birmingham to American and British celebrities visiting UK often dine at this Indian restaurant. Right from actor Bipasha Basu, singers Sharry Mann and Harbhajan Mann, cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal have been here lately. The chain has two restaurants, one functional at Birmingham while another is currently being built in Leicester. The restaurant owner, Mohammed Hussain, is of Bangladeshi origin and has 20 years of experience behind him. “He has travelled the world extensively and envisioned a super restaurant, which he created. It has become a celebrity spot and is very popular for Indian cuisine. He has developed 14 restaurants in his young career and continues to excel in the industry. He has a creative mind and flair for Indian food; he designs and builds all his restaurants,” reverted team Varanasi after a query by The Tribune. Mona I NDIAN cuisine sure has its takers in the Western world, but how much would you pay for a sumptuous treat of butter chicken, chicken tikka, lamb karahi, paneer tikka masala, shish kebabs and tandoori king prawns? Well, trust Captain Jack Sparrow to go overboard. Reportedly, Johnny Depp incurred a bill of a whopping $62,000 (around Rs 48.22 lakh) at Varanasi, an Indian restaurant in Birmingham, UK. The lavish dinner was soon after Depp’s $15 million win in the defamation case with his exwife Amber Heard. Joined by musician Jeff Beck and other friends, the company of about 20 enjoyed Indian delicacies and drinks at the restaurant over the weekend. Depp has been accompanying Beck on his tour in the UK. He even appeared on stage at several of the guitarist’s shows, including the one at London’s Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall. Depp and his entourage arrived at the popular Indian eatery by 7 pm and posed for photos with the staff as well as their families. Depp not only won the staff over, but also broke the internet with his hefty bill. “The most talked about person on the planet right now joined us for dinner last night! We had the greatest of pleasure to be in the presence of Johnny Depp @johnnydepp and Jeff Becks @jeffbeckofficial! What an amazing and humble experience. Only at Varanasi Restaurant,” read the restaurant’s Instagram post with several pictures. Needless to say, Depp got a King’s welcome at ‘Birmingham’s largest Indian restaurant’. The 20,000-square-foot restaurant was closed for Depp and his friends to enjoy their meal. They left at around midnight. After gifting a car to director, Kamal now gifts bikes to assistant directors of Vikram Mark of respect Mandy Moore enjoys a Bihari dish, Litti Chokha Will Smith in India Pleasant shock Mohammed Hussain, operations director of Varanasi, and the owner, shared in an interview, “We had a call out of the blue on Sunday afternoon saying that Johnny Depp wanted to come to eat with a group of people. I was shocked and at first thought it might have been a joke. But then his security team arrived and checked out the restaurant, and we let them have the whole place because we were concerned that he might be bothered by other diners. The chefs prepared shish kebabs, chicken tikka, paneer tikka masala, lamb karahi and tandoori king prawns for Depp and his company. You would never have thought that he was such a big star. He had a lot of time for us all.” Our food is awesome Well, celebs love for desi food isn’t anything new, right from Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ aka Tom Cruise to Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Gilbert aka Julia Roberts have professed their love for Indian food, right from naans, tikkas to aloo gobi. Chicken tikka masala and five or six different kinds of naans is what Men in Black star Will Grand gesture Actor Kamal Haasan, who gifted a Lexus car to Lokesh Kanakaraj, the director of his just released action entertainer Vikram, has now gifted bikes to all the assistant directors of the film. The actor, who is overwhelmed by the phenomenal response to the film which has set cash registers ringing all over the world, has gifted Apache RTR 160 c m y b bikes to each of the film’s 13 assistant directors. Industry insiders claim that the film, which continues to do brisk business across the globe, has crossed the $2 million gross mark in the US, something very rare for a Tamil film. In the United Arab Emirates, Vikram has taken the second biggest opening for an Indian movie in 2022 after KGF 2. — IANS Arnold Schwarzenegger savours a naan in Delhi Smith vouches for. While promoting his film Bright, he opened up on a party with Akshay Kumar in India that made him fall in love with desi food. “Last year, Akshay hosted a party and it was the best food that I had ever had in my life. My favourite is chicken tikka masala,” Smith had said. Julia Roberts shot a part of Eat Pray Love in India and enjoyed aloo gobhi with roti. She expressed surprise at the variety that Indian cuisine had to offer. Material girl Madonna made a case for ‘soft, fluffy idlis’. “On my visit to India, I had learnt how idlis could help you in losing weight and also take care of your carb cravings,” she had shared. Terminator-fame Arnold Schwarzenegger also savoured desi food on his India visit back in time. “I loved the food. I’ve loved my first trip to India. Here I am with the biggest piece of naan in Delhi. Thank you all, especially @andyz136, for the recommendation to eat at Bhukara. It was fantastic,” he tweeted. Actress Priyanka Chopra might have moved base to the US, but her love for desi food makes her go for dosas at the weekends! Singer Mika Singh, who is set to embark on the journey of finding a bride through his upcoming reality show Swayamvar: Mika Di Vohti, has decided not to celebrate his birthday in the wake of shooting of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala and the demise of playback singer KK. Mika won’t celebrate his birthday due to KK and Moosewala’s deaths Mika’s birthday happens to be on June 10, but the singer, who is known for his flamboyant lifestyle and celebrations, revealed that this year there would not be any celebrations as a mark of respect for the departed singers. Mika said Moosewala’s murder was a blot on society and unjust to the world of music. — IANS