28032023-LSTC-01.qxd 3/27/2023 10:52 PM Page 1 c m y b RC 15 IS TITLED GAME CHANGER Ram Charan turned 38 on March 27. Celebrating his big day, the actor said that his film RC 15 has been titled Game Changer. Taking to Instagram Stories, Ram also shared a teaser. The video started with a roulette wheel and ended with a chess board. Ram captioned the post, “#GameChanger it is!” TRIBUNE Not true Life Brooke Shields opened up about her friendship with King of Pop Michael Jackson and said the star once lied that she was his girlfriend. IANS CHANDIGARH | TUESDAY | 28 MARCH 2023 More the merrier R Mona Gauri Khan turns author with My Life In Design RR, Brahmastra, Pathaan, Sooryavanshi, Total Dhamaal, Housefull 4, Dil Dhadakne Do... they all share a common factor apart from being hits. These films thrive on star power and have not just one or two, but many stars to power the narrative. Multi-starrers aren’t a new phenomenon in the film industry. But lately, one sees the trend going back to multi than solo star outings. Aiming at mid-2023 release, Om Rautdirectorial Adipurush will see Prabhas, Saif Ali Khan, Kriti Sanon, Amitabh Bachchan and Kajol come together on screen. Sandeep Reddy Vanga-helmed Animal, to be released on August 23, has Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Bobby Deol and Tripti Dimri. Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Emraan Hashmi are reportedly a part of Maneesh Sharma’s Tiger 3, which will release towards the end of 2023. Reportedly, Hrithik Roshan and Akshay Kumar will also have a cameo appearance in this espionage-action thriller. ADIPURUSH 3 Idiots Emotional outburst Will multi-starrers be able to put Bollywood back on track? Going by the success stories of Brahmastra, Pathaan & others, it seems possible Post-Covid, getting the audience back to cinemas is a task. Multi-starrer projects seem to be the best bet. Pathaan Entering a new world Interior designer Gauri Khan has become an author now. Wife of Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri took to Instagram to launch the cover of her debut design book, My Life In Design. The cover has the Khan family twinning in black. It has a perfect family portrait featuring herself, husband Shah Rukh Khan and their kids Suhana, Aryan and AbRam. On Sunday, while sharing the post Gauri wrote in the caption, “Family is what makes a home. Excited for the coffee table book… coming soon. #GauriKhanDesigns #MyLifeInDesign.” Playing the field Chandra Shekhar Prasad wants to make theatre sustainable Theatre director and Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva awardee Chandra Shekhar Prasad celebrated World Theatre Day doing what he likes the best, stage a play — Badal Sircar’s Teesvee Shatabdi — at Tagore Theatre. From Sitamarhi, Bihar, Prasad completed his graduation from Madhubani and joined the Department of Indian Theatre, Panjab University, Chandigarh, to pursue his passion. “I started theatre back in 1998, that makes it 25 years now,” he says enthusiastically. “I learnt the craft from Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry, Usha Ganguly, Sanjay Upadhyay and Prasanna. They are the pioneers. I started with the dream to carry their legacy forward.” Completing his PhD in Loknatya Nach Ka Samajik Sandharbh Mein Vishleshan, Prasad worked with CEVA Drama Repertory Company. Prasad has set up the Gumphan Theatre Group. “Theatre techniques and content have taken a leap over the years. While artistes are doing their bit, it’s time for the stakeholders to step up. I wish theatre gets its due importance in the times of hyper technology and capitalism.” Making theatre sustainable is what he has strived for long. “Activism doesn’t work for long, considering the significant part that theatre plays in life, we must work towards making it sustainable,” he signs off. —Mona Bade Miyan Chote Miyan gets a second outing with Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff teaming up for the first time in Ali Abbas Zafar’s directorial that also has Janhvi Kapoor, Alaya F and Sonakshi Sinha as the lead cast. Atlee is set to direct Shah Rukh Khan in Jawan that also has Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara, Sanya Malhotra and Priyamani as lead actors. The film, due for a June release, will see Deepika Padukone, Vijay and Sanjay Dutt in a cameo appearance. Many ambitious projects due in 2024 too are following the same formula. Nag Ashwin’s Project K is set to bring together Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani. Hera Pheri 3 brings a score of big names from its earlier outing and more and so does Akshay Kumar-led Soorarai Pottru’s Hindi remake that has an ensemble cast. Is it another way to bring Bollywood back on its feet? “Collective strength might work against the invasion of OTT, digital distractions and alternative entertainment like live performances and shows,” says director Suneel Darshan. He points out that Indian cinema has ‘Who will love me like you do’, Samantha tells netizen asking her to ‘date someone’ KOMAL NAHTA Actress Samantha Prabhu, who sizzled the screens with her performance with Oo Antava in Pushpa: The Rise, has talked about dating in her recent tweet. A fan on the micro-blogging website shared an edited picture of Samantha and asked “I know it’s not my place to say, but plz date someone @Samanthaprabhu2.” To which Samantha, who was married to actor Naga Chaitanya, replied: “Who will love me like you do.” It was in 2021 when Samantha and Chaitanya announced their separation. —IANS BADE MIYAN CHOTE MIYAN fallen in the corporate trap. “People, who have studied from American film institutes, do not have much knowledge about how Indian cinema works. Couple it with corporate compulsions, they are yet to crack the commercial code.” Darshan sees nothing wrong in multistar projects. “Back in the 70s and 80s, films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Sholay, Kranti and Naseeb introduced us to the larger-than-life cinema with mega stars powering the narrative,” he says. That aside, a film works primarily due to good content. He cites the example of Maine Pyar Kiya. “Maine Pyar Kiya worked because the filmmaker was the only star as did Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. No star or jodi can guarantee success if audiences don’t like the content. Aamir KhanKareena Kapoor Khan led 3 Idiots, which was a multi-starrer, worked. However, the same pair in Laal Singh Chaddha found no takers. Considering the current scenario, one can try putting stars together, who by the way are grossly overpriced and the structure they work in is over expensive. Pathaan and Selfie both had multi-star cast, one worked and the other didn’t!” Darshan adds. Though the 80s and 90s saw the success of multi-starrers, the trend eventually fizzled out. “Heroes didn’t want to share credit for success. They wanted to show that they could pull crowds to halls on their own,” points out film trade analyst Komal Nahta. “PostCovid, getting the audience out of their homes to cinemas is an uphill task. Multi-starrer projects seem to be the best bet at the moment,” he adds. “It feels great to act alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan and Tabu whose impressive journey on screen I have grown up watching,” says Kriti Sanon, who will be seen sharing screen space with the two leading ladies of Bollywood in The Crew. Jee Le Zaraa is another Bollywood film that will bring Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles. Looks like, star power is set to rule the silver screen in the times to come. ‘You were all heart’ Prithviraj, Dulquer mourn demise of Malayalam actor Innocent Veteran Malayalam actor and former Member of Parliament Innocent passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Sunday. After learning about the unfortunate event, several celebrities took to their social media handles and mourned the demise of the late actor. The actor, a cancer survivor, was reportedly not keeping well for some time and was admitted to the hospital on March 3 with respiratory problems. Saddened with the demise Prithviraj Sukumaran took to Twitter and wrote, “End of an iconic chapter in cinema history! Rest in peace Legend! #Innocent.” Dulquer Salmaan shared a couple of pictures of himself with the late actor and penned down an emotional note, “We lost the brightest shining star in our constellation. She’s moved on As love blossoms between Zayn Malik and Selena Gomez, former’s ex-girlfriend Gigi Hadid would have ‘no problem’ with Zayn dating Selena. Selena, 30, was reportedly seen enjoying a dinner date with Zayn, also 30, in New York City with fans of the pop stars keen to know if a new c m y b SELENA GOMEZ You made us laugh till we cried. You made us cry till our insides hurt. You were an actor of the highest calibre. One of those timeless all time greats. Beyond that you were all things wonderful. You were all heart.” The actor was last seen in 2022 film Kaduva, has done over 700 films in Malayalam in a career that spanned over five decades. — ANI Gigi would have ‘no problem’ with Zayn, Selena’s romance ZAYN MALIK romance is blossoming. Gigi, 27, is said to have “moved on” from Malik and is having GIGI HADID fun. She dated the former One Direction singer on and off for seven years.—IANS ‘I miss your energy around me’ Conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar has written a romantic letter for actress Jacqueline Fernandez from jail. Sukesh has been arrested for Rs 200 crore laundering case and actress Jacqueline’s name also came under scanner after the former was caught. It is alleged that the actress was also involved with the conman. The case is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. However, Sukesh has declared his love for Jacqueline in yet another letter that has recently been making the rounds in the media. Sukesh wrote in the letter, “My Bomma, I miss you a ton on this day of my birthday, I miss your energy around me, I have no words, but I know your love for me is never ending, is all over me. I know what is in your beautiful heart. I don’t need proof and that’s all that matters to me, baby. But I must admit, I am missing you, you know how much I love you my bottabomma.” He added, “You and your love is the bestest gift which is priceless in my life, you know I am here for you standing by you come what may. Love you my baby, thank you for giving me your heart. I also thank all my supporters and friends for all your wishes on my birthday. I have received hundreds of letters, greetings. I feel blessed, thank you.” Conman Sukesh pens love letter for Jacqueline Fernandez from jail