08052023-LSTC-01.qxd 5/7/2023 10:52 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE It’s a ‘no’ Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut has declined suggestion of buying Twitter followers as she does not want too many people to see her communications with her fans.—IANS CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 8 MAY 2023 ‘It is not a remake’ Samantha on Indian chapter of Citadel Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu has cleared the air saying that the Indian version of Citadel is not a remake of the Priyanka Chopra-starrer spy series. Samantha took to social media to share some pictures from her birthday celebrations. A user on the comments’ section enquired about the Indian adaptation, which also stars Varun Dhawan. The user wrote: “@samantharuthprabhuoffl I have one question is Priyanka’s Citadel and your Citadel the same story? Why I am asking is Priyanka dubbed in all Indian languages... so if you are doing the same story for Indian audiences then many would have already watched it. I am a bit confused... can you clarify if it’s same or different?? BTW (by the way) happy birthday dear... God bless you!!” Replying to the user, Samantha said, “It is not a Remake!!” Helmed by The Family Man creators Raj and DK, Citadel is the Indian counterpart of the larger international series of the same name which has been originally created by the director duo, Russo Brothers. The global version of the series stars Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden. —IANS PHOTO: PTI MOVIE REVIEW Holding mirror to society A fine commentary on current times, Mishra’s film makes the right sort of intervention but one wishes he hadn’t painted the world t bleak! Mona Writer-director Sudhir Mishra, known for his rooted, stark kind of cinema, makes another bold stride in Afwaah. His intervention on the current times, when a rumour can lead to mob lynching, tarnish reputation and work as an effective tool in political gimmickry, he sets his story in the fictional town of Sawalpur in the imagined state of Western Province. The story charts the journey of a young politician, Vicky Bana (Sumeet Vyas), and his fiancée Nivi (Bhumi Pednekar). Aiming big in political circuits, Bana’s rally takes the communal hue and conscientious Nivi would have none of it. Daughter of a mighty politician, she wants the goon punished and as Bana struggles to choose between his ambitions and saving his strongarmer, Nivi takes off. The feisty runaway girl gets support in a passerby, Rahab Film: Afwaah Director: Sudhir Mishra Cast: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bhumi Pednekar, Sumeet Vyas, Sharib Hashmi, TJ Bhanu Rating:  Ahmed (Nawazuddin Siddiqui). Incidentally, the videos from the rally and Nivi running with Rahab go viral and Bana, with the help of a social media expert Bobby (Appurv Gupta), weaves another plot. As a mode of damage control, the issue is projected as ‘love jihad’ and the video is made viral. Communal tension breaks out and the duo on the run mingle with other sub-plots leading to another afwaah! The film no doubt holds the mirror to society in which a large number believe the ‘doctored’ truth of viral videos. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who earlier collaborated with the director in Serious Men, is known for his craft. A saleable ad man to a coward who runs away instead of helping the victim of a racist attack to a man who pleads for mercy when under threat, he delivers a fine performance. He, however, wouldn’t leave Nivi’s side even when she’s shot. He gives his all to reach Nahargarh Fort where his wife Nandita (Esha Chopra) is launching her book and where he hopes to find protection. For this outing, Mishra finds his rebel heroin in Bhumi. Born in a political and patriarchal set up, this Nivi has her ideals in place and ready to fight it out even though her biggest strength is that she is ‘Gyan Singh ki beti’! Bhumi plays her part well. The film has some superb performances—TJ Bhanu as young cop Riya Rathod, Sumit Kaul as Inspector Sandeep Tomar, Sharib Hashmi as Chandan Singh and Appurv Gupta as maverick social media whizz- kid Bobby. Music is earthy and carries the flavour of the land well. DOP Mauricio Vidal captures Rajasthan well, specially the Nahargarh Fort sequence beautifully. The film, however, makes things too farcical at points. Like the one with the runway girl flailing and fighting at the city Ghantaghar as her fiancée’s goons request her with folded hands to return home. When on the run, why would she end up at the city’s centre point, one asks. And right from politicians to cops to so-called literary luminaries are all not just villainous but also stupid. Four times decorated cop Tomar gets the target wrong, twice. Agreed, Chandan is the poster boy of misogyny and even after twists and turns he would lick the feet of his master than reform, which doesn’t register well. All cops, all politicians and all authors and dignitaries at the literary fest believe the love jihad viral video than hear the plea of a man in distress. The audience breaking into applause as an injured man ends up the performance on stage gets ludicrous. The gadhas in the truck, however, sure derives the point home! We are a multi-faith society, no denying there are communal tensions but asking each time if ‘you would like to go to my friends house, his name is ‘Saif’ or would she ‘take a ride in a truck because the driver is ‘Bashir’ or wouldn’t sell a car to a ‘Muslim’ dealer seem far too stretched. Also, a mother asking her cop daughter, on occasions more than once, to keep sleeping with her superior so that he can afford her ‘expenses’ comes across as crass. Muslims shown as just victims who are being cut like gajar muli – Afwaah takes thing to an extreme. The second part is also stretched a bit even though the duration of the film is little over two hours. What works, however, is the end. The two girls take life in their hands and lord over the misled men. The poetic justice offers some solace to hopeful hearts who still believe things are tough but not out of hand! ‘Gave my blood, sweat & hair’ Rocking life Fingers crossed Karan Singh Chhabra has a prominent role to play in the upcoming film, Chatrapathi. He is portraying the role of a villain. He said that he has gone out of the way to deliver the role and had to go bald for a very important scene. Talking about the same, he said, “When I look back at the scenes we shot, I feel that all the blood, sweat, and hair that I gave were worth it.” KARAN SINGH CHHABRA Heeramandicould be a turning point in my career, says Manisha Koirala Manisha Koirala defines success as the “luxury to say no”, which the actress says she has attained over the years with films 1942: A Love Story, Bombay and Company proving to be turning points in her career. Now, almost after two decades, Koirala said she is hopeful that Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming series Heeramandi emerges as another milestone for her. “What I call success is the freedom to do what I want to do and at what time. I feel I am pretty successful today because I have the luxury to say no... The undying love for this profession keeps me going. I love the field of acting and cinema,” the actor said in an interview. Koirala said the idea of ‘Mujhe bhi sasti nahi bech rahe’ While Sanya Malhotra is creating a buzz on social media for her upcoming film Kathal, the actress recently made a post on her social media handle about another Sanya Malhotra upcoming film of hers. Jawan stars announces the Shah Rukh Khan and is set to release release date for on September 7. Currently, Sanya is promoting Kathal, Jawan in which she plays the role of a police officer. Apart from Jawan and Kathal, Sanya also has Mrs. as well as Sam Bahadur in the pipeline. Shah Rukh Khan on Aryan’s expensive clothing brand Love, once more being successful in the 1990s was having a busy schedule. “Earlier when I started my career it was about filling your date diary. I was told if the actors are busy for the next three years, they are happening and rocking actors, so my focus was that.” After 32 years in showbiz, her focus has shifted. “I would rather have a lot of free time, where I can travel, do gardening, trekking, write a book, binge watch, spend time with family... Do things that interest me rather than do mediocre projects,” she added. She reunites with her Khamoshi: The Musical director Bhansali for Netflix’s Heeramandi, which marks the filmmaker’s foray into digital medium.—PTI Amid dating rumours, the guitarist of The 1975, Matty Healy, has been spotted at Taylor Swift’s show in Tennessee. The two were rumoured to have dated in 2014, though Healy has previously denied that was the case. Swift and Healy have been friends for years and share a collaborator, Grammy-winning producer Jack Antonoff. The dating rumours come weeks after Swift’s breakup with actor Joe Alwyn after six years of dating. Reportedly, Swift and Alwyn broke up due to their Matty Healy at Taylor Swift’s concerts fuels dating rumours c m y b difference in personalities. Meanwhile, Healy previously dated artiste FKA Twigs for close to three years, splitting in early 2022, as well as model Gabriella Brooks from 2015-2019. His band wrapped the Australian and Asian leg of their tour in support of their latest album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language, in Manila. In January, Swift made a surprise appearance at The 1975’s first of two concerts at London’s O2 Arena. Swift shocked the crowd by walking onstage during a break in the set to perform the lead single from her Midnights album, as well as a cover of The 1975’s The City.—ANI Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan gave a hilarious reply to a fan, who was complaining about Aryan Khan’s expensive clothing brand. SRK took to Twitter, where he did a question and answer session with his fans. A user wrote: “Ye dyavol x ke jacket thoda sa 1000- 2000 wale bhi bana do...” Replying to it, Shah Rukh said he would do something about it but with a hilarious spin. He wrote, “Yeh D’Yavol X wale log mujhe bhi sasti nahi bech rahea. Kuch karta hoon!” —IANS