19012023-LSTL-01.qxd 1/18/2023 11:02 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Up next Sara Ali Khan and Aditya Roy Kapur will be coming together for the first time in Anurag Basu directorial, Metro In Dino. And, the actress has started preparing for her character. TMS LUDHIANA | THURSDAY | 19 JANUARY 2023 Boycott boycott Mona Rashmika takes on trolls Pushpa 2 actress Rashmika Mandanna shares how deeply she is affected by the constant trolls. The actress is one of the softest targets and has been at the receiving end on social media. However Mandanna refuse to bow down. Her upcoming film Mission Majnu has been boycotted in the Kannada industry for she did not mention You can that Rishabh Shetty’s film was never want your her career’s headstart. She audience to think only was also labelled as arrogant positively or the way for not watching Kantara due you want them to work commitments. Rashmika said during a to think. recent interaction, “I have been RASHMIKA MANDANNA in the industry for five-six years, and the thing that I have realised is that there are going to be phases where people will talk, not talk, enjoy your films and not. You can never want your audience to think only positively or the way you want them to think. I think as people we sympathise with the world out there. I care, I care for everyone. That’s just how we are, and they cannot change that aspect of us. We are always going to be caring people.” — TMS I N the wake of ‘cancel culture’, the Hindi film industry has found support from a surprising corner. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked BJP workers to refrain from making ‘unnecessary’ comments about films while addressing the last day of National Executive meet at New Delhi. If pandemic impacted the industry; films in 2022, like Laal Singh Chaddha, Raksha Bandhan, Liger, Brahmastra, and recently Pathaan, suffered #BoycottBollywood on social media. Film industry has been feeling the heat and lately Suniel Shetty appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath to intervene and bring the footfall back to cinema halls, as also take their request to the PM. RAKSHA BANDHAN As PM Narendra Modi asks BJP workers to refrain from making ‘unnecessary’ comments about films, industry experts hail it as a progressive move SUNIEL, JACKIE AND RAHUL MITTRA LIGER PATHAAN LAAL SINGH CHADDHA POSITIVE IMPACT played a key role in inviting the film one entertained during testing Filmmaker Madhureeta Anand industry for an interaction with CM times. While I am thankful to the believes the recent move would have Adityanath Yogi, as part of the CM’s Prime Minister, I would also request a positive impact. “One hundred per Mumbai road show, says, “I wel- a few from our industry to refrain cent it will make a difference, as politi- come Prime Minister’s stern mes- from creating a divide within by cians have been categorically told not sage to his party cadre and people at politicising the issue.” to do so. I hope there is a follow-up large to abstain from unnecessary About the meeting with the UP after it as well. Now that even the comments on films. I thank him for CM, he says, “Suneil Shetty had Prime Minister of the counalso urged the CM to speak to supporting us, especially try has spoken about the Prime Minister on this at a crucial time it, and hopefully matter. This news had post-COVID, Chief Minister trended nationally and when audiof UP too would across the globe with ences are finalat some time as our audiences, and peoly getting back requested by the ple at large supported into theatres.” film fraternity, it’s our genuine request of Mittra, who RAHUL RAWAIL time for all of us to MADHUREETA ANAND sees the Indian PAWAN KUMAR SHARMA stop victimising the self-evaluate and see how film industry as the coun- film industry. I’ve always left they can respond in a good way to try’s biggest soft power, adds, “Our everything and supported issues slash out boycott Bollywood call,” says industry is leaving a footprints of national importance. Our great Anand, who is working on her next across the globe, but has been vic- country is the topmost priority film O Mere Piya! tim of ‘cancel culture’ and boycott and so the intervention of politiAward-winning filmmaker-actor Bollywood trend of late, but this cal leaders was the need of the Rahul Mittra, who had recently very film industry has kept every- hour. I’m glad that the country ’ s Global Stage Directed by Shujaat Saudagar, The Underbug stars Ali Fazal and Hussain Dalal in the lead roles. The film has been officially selected for the upcoming edition of Slamdance Film Festival, which is set to take place from January 20-26 in Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah, and virtually from January 23-29. Says Ali, “It’s unlike any other film I have ever done in my career so far. The film was shot right in the middle of the pandemic. The hardest part was to gain the weight that was required for this character. The script was a collaboration of sorts between the actors, the writers and our director. For that matter even our DOP whose , eyes and lenses were totally in sync with the story we all were trying to tell.”— TMS Happy times Once more KL Rahul, Athiya Shetty wedding festivities begin KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty are set to tie the knot soon. Ahead of their wedding, KL Rahul’s house in Mumbai has been decorated with beautiful lights. Suniel Shetty’s daughter Athiya Shetty and Indian cricketer KL Rahul have been dating for more than a couple of years and are now ready to get hitched. The preparations are in full swing. The couple will tie the knot at Suniel Shetty’s home, Jahaan, in Khandala from January 21 to January 23. While KL Rahul and Athiya Shetty have remained tight-lipped about everything, it is supposed to be an intimate affair. But many industry friends of the celebs will be seen at the wedding. — TMS Actor Channing Tatum is ready to get into pottery-making after stripping onstage for his next movie. The actor, who is set to reprise his role as the titular character in Magic Mike’s Last Dance, is keen on stepping into the shoes of the late Patrick Swayze in a Ghost remake. The 42-year-old hunk revealed that he was developing a reboot of the 1990 romantic film. “Now I know why they put this in ‘Ghost’. This whole process is very, very sexual,” he said. Ali Fazal’s The Underbug to premiere at Slamdance Film Festival ALI FAZAL CHANNING TATUM c m y b GOOD TIMES AHEAD Filmmaker Rahul Rawail, who has given films like Love Story, Betaab, Arjun, Anjaam, Arjun Pandit and Jo Bole So Nihaal, too hails the move. “It’s a welcome step by the Prime Minister, and is sure to help the film industry. The industry is on track. It’s all about content. Each one of us aims at making a film that people like; sometimes they don’t work, so what? Everyone can miss the mark some times.” Director Pawan Kumar Sharma, who has given films Brina, Karim Mohammed and Vanrakshak, too lauds PM’s call. As for way forward, he opines, “A policy should be made to promote meaningful cinema. Financial help and showcasing films at the global level should be a part of it.” A mother’s word Angela Bassett will support her children if they choose acting Channing Tatum to reprise Patrick Swayze’s role in Ghost remake While Tatum has opened up about his desire to play Gambit and star in Ghost, he had some resentment about his role in the G.I. Joe film franchise. He admitted that he was initially Prime Minister has addressed our concerns and request.” reluctant to star in the first film, G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra, and subsequently asked that his character be killed off in the sequel, G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013). — IANS Actress Angela Bassett won’t forbid her kids if they follow her into movies. The 64-year-old actress vows to always support her children irrespective of what they do in their careers “They want to follow the success, but whether it be acting, I don’t get any clues to that right now. It is a little music, a little sports. But whatever they want to do, I support them,” Angela said about her kids’ interests. Angela recently won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and the Hollywood star revealed that she celebrated her success with her kids. She said: “I went home and hugged my kids. They were really excited for mom to bring home a statue.” Meanwhile, Angela previously claimed that finding the ‘right’ person is the key to wedding bliss. The actress has been married to husband Courtney B. Vance since 1997 and she felt that couples in the spotlight need to be ‘looking in the same direction’. She explained: “Staying together so long, whether in the industry or not, I think the important thing is that you gotta marry the right person. Make sure you’re both looking in the same direction, basically.” Angela explained: “You’re not clones of each other, but you have similar or closest similar belief systems and, you know, pleasant personalities. Because we all have strengths and weaknesses, and we want to support one another. But I think also recognising that we are each individuals, we have our individual dreams and desires and hopes and ways of doing things.” — IANS