19022023-LSTL-01.qxd 18-02-2023 23:26 Page 1 c m y b BOMAN BLESSES HIS SON Boman Irani’s son Kayoze is all set to venture into Bollywood as a director with his first feature film and the proud dad took to social media to share his good wishes. Taking to Instagram, Boman Irani wrote, “…Blessings son.” TMS Not true Life Hair her story! Zeenat Aman on embracing grey hair TRIBUNE Zeenat Aman who recently started using Instagram, has now opened up about her grey hair through a picture post, which was clicked by her son Zahaan Khan. She shared how she was advised to keep using hair dye to appear younger. The actress used to dye her hair on a regular basis, but now she has decided to embrace grey hair. Sharing a picture where she is seen in grey hair, Zeenat wrote on Instagram, “As women, we are told that our social worth lies in youth and physical beauty. If not explicitly, then in a thousand subliminal ways. This is especially true for the entertainment industry. In general, as we age, men are bequeathed gravitas but women are at best offered sympathy.” Zeenat shared how she was initially reluctant to stop dyeing her hair and was strongly advised against it. Some well-wishers even said it would negatively impact her work opportunities. “It was only once I contemplated upon my own hesitations that I realised I really did not care to buttress our society’s idolisation of youth. Being young is wonderful, but so is being old. It thrills me to see more and more silver-haired women (of all ages) challenge the status quo,” she added. — TMS There were rumours that actress Hansika Motwani took hormonal injections to look older. She has now dismissed those rumours. TMS LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 19 FEBRUARY 2023 Legend& legendary I Sheetal N the season of love arrives the documentary, The Romantics, which talks of the man who taught Bollywood romance like no other — late filmmaker Yash Raj Chopra. His sons Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra feature in the four-episode series, along with other gems of the industry who have had the opportunity to work with the ace director. But its Indian Matchmaking creator-producer Smriti Mundhra who has been instrumental in making it happen. DILWALE DULHANIA LE JAYENGE CHANDNI Smriti Mundhra, director of The Romantics, based on the life and times of renowned director Yash Raj Chopra, says it was a tough task getting Aditya Chopra to talk on camera No dream too big At a recent event, Deepika be Bat Woman … And when Padukone talked about the I say I, it means we.” South East Asian represenShe continued, “There’s tation in Hollywood. The no reason why I want us to actress not only confirmed be Barbie. I want us to be all that she had rejected of those things and many stereotypithere’s no reason Deepika cal roles being why we can’t be. offered to her, And so the Padukone but also clarichoice of or the wants to play fied what she decision to not superhero in do these movies wished for the future. is an intentional Hollywood Padukone said, “I decision to say think we have a long bring me, bring us way to go when it comes to something that is worth our South Asian representa- talent, worth our while and tion. So, I think that’s what worth our energy.” I am looking for. I am done Deepika will next be seen for all of us- on behalf of all in Fighter opposite Hrithik of us- being the Indian doc- Roshan. She also has Protor in a movie or the Indian ject K, alongside Prabhas taxi driver. I want to be a and Amitabh Bachchan, in Wonder Woman, I want to her kitty. — TMS Ask the director one unique thing about Yash Raj Chopra and she says, “It’s that he trusted his instinct and was not afraid of being wrong, which helped him take big risks. Thus, we know him for his works and on-screen experiments today.” It took Smriti three years to create four one-hour episodes. For the series, she talked to actors, scriptwriters and many stalwarts of the industry, but also had to leave out many. She elaborates, “I tried to cover the length and breadth of the Indian film industry associated with YRF from that era. But, it’s hard to do justice to everyone, as he had touched upon many lives. I think I had to let go of 35 people whom I had initially listed for interview.” PROUD LEGACY Bringing Aditya Chopra in front of the camera was a tough task, as he prefers remaining behind the scenes. On this, shares Mundhra, “The secret was to talk about DARR movies with Aditya. It definitely helped break through the tough aura he has maintained over the years. And it was not just films, but also about his father and the legacy he took forward with Yash Raj Films (YRF).” So there he was getting comfortable speaking in front of the camera while Mundhra was donning the director’s hat saying, ‘action’ and ‘cut’! For YRF, as producers, Mundhra was the perfect candidate, as her previous show, Indian Matchmaking, bagged an Emmy nomination in the category of unstructured reality programme. So, there is no doubt about the exceptional research that went into making of The Romantics, as it chronicles YRF’s journey from Yash Chopra to ‘Biggest project’ Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is known for his unique aesthetics and storytelling, will soon make a foray into the digital space with his upcoming streaming epic Heeramandi. While the long-format content is fulfilling for a creator or an artiste, the director feels that it is physically demanding given that the artistes have to surrender themselves to a project for a longer duration. The Gangubai Kathiwadi helmer was recently in conversation with the coCEO of streaming giant Netflix in Mumbai where he candidly shared his experience of working in the digital medium. When asked about his arrival on the digital platform from the world of big visually appealing spectacles, the director said: “I have made big films, but shifting to digital makes it even bigger for me.” He continued: “Heeramandi is my biggest project so far. For me, creating a piece of audio-visual art is c m y b PERSONAL NOTE While Mundhra’s husband is none other than Emmy-nominated screenwriter, Christian Magalhaes, her father Jag Mundhra was also a filmmaker. But it’s her mother whom she looks up to for honest review of her work. She wasn’t born when the legacy of Indian films was being written by Yash Chopra or her parents, who rented a single screen in Culver City, Los Angeles, becoming the first exhibitors of Bollywood films in the United States. She adds, “Although I wasn’t born then, yet the love for my culture, Indian cinema and filmmaking, was cultivated through my parents’ experiences and stories, which were always a part of our drawing room talks. To be unaware of Yash Chopra’s romantic films was never possible.” As Mundhra’s show Indian Matchmaking is renewed for a third season, we ask if she will direct a Bollywood romantic film now. “Never say never,” she quips. Life cut short Shahnawaz Pradhan, who is known for his work in films, television as well as OTT, passed away on Friday (February 17). He was 56. The actor reportedly suffered a heart attack. Actor Yashpal Sharma shared the sad news. He wrote, “Today attended this programme in Mumbai… Hundreds of artistes were present but shortly after receiving the award our beloved artist Shahnawaz had a heart attack…” Shahnawaz Pradhan had worked in films like Raees and Phantom. He was also a part of TV and web shows such as Mirzapur and 24 to his credit. — TMS Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who is making a digital debut with Heeramandi, says the medium allows to delve deeper to make it creative, immersive and emotionally appealing. Digital medium allows me to delve deeper.” Heeramandi is a historical epic and tells the story of three generations of courtesans in the eponymous pre-Independence era district. He further mentioned: “Of course, there’s another side to it about the grind, while making a two-three hour film is comparatively less draining, working on episodic arcs and the narrative comes with its own set of challenges and is physically demanding for any creator.” Heeramandi will soon be available to stream on Netflix. — IANS son Aditya Chopra, who has taken the legacy to another level. With The Romantics, YRF has gifted the industry Yash ji’s last interview with Shah Rukh Khan. The docu-series also spills the beans on the most-celebrated film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and how SRK was reluctant to play the romantic hero! Aditya shared the highs as also the lows, like the failure of his brother’s not-so-successful acting career. THE POSTER OF HEERAMANDI Mirzapur actor Shahnawaz Pradhan passes away