15092023-LSTC-01.qxd 9/14/2023 10:57 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Actress Mrunal Thakur says she keeps trying things that excite her Kanye sued Well-known rapper Kanye West is being sued over alleged labour violations. These include having employees sleep in ‘makeshift conditions’ in an unfinished Malibu house. CHANDIGARH | FRIDAY | 15 SEPTEMBER 2023 ‘I make normal films’ am 100 per cent an insider. I make films about India with Indians.” Thus he fails to understand how lauding India’s achievement such as the indigenous Covid vaccine qualifies as pro-establishment? “If tomorrow someone makes a film on Chandrayaan, would that be pro-government. If so, that is as good as conceding that the government is doing a lot of commendable things.” Nonika Singh W High five! Actress Mrunal Thakur, who is known for films like Sita Ramam, Ghost Stories, Toofaan, Dhamaka, Jersey and others, has completed five years in the film industry. On the occasion, the actress shared how imperative it was for actors to constantly reinvent themselves and explore more in showbiz in order to stay relevant. Mrunal has always believed that the art of acting is a continuous journey, and she has been enthusiastic about embracing new challenges and opportunities. She shared: “I have so much more to explore. There are numerous languages of cinema to be a part of, and so many genres that excite me. I’m ready to experiment and immerse myself in the diversity that the world of films offers. As an actor, if you don’t have the appetite to accept new challenges and find ways to reinvent the wheel, and be open to different kinds of work, you will become irrelevant too far, too soon.” The actress is one of the rare talents to make a successful transition from television to cinema, joining the league of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Ronit Roy and the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. She added: “I have gone from doing television to films in three languages. I keep trying things that excite me. This hunger is what has helped me be where I’m today ” — IANS Honour board Actress Jessica Chastain will be honoured with the Zurich Film Festival’s Golden Icon Award. Chastain will present her latest film Memory at the festival, alongside director Michel Franco and co-star Peter Sarsgaard on October 1. Jessica Chastain to receive Golden Icon Award at Zurich Film Festival Memory follows Sylvia (Chastain), a social worker who leads a simple and structured life revolving around her daughter and her job. This is disrupted when Saul (Sarsgaard) follows her home from their high school reunion. Their encounter profoundly impacts both of them as they open the door to the past. Previous recipients of the Golden Icon Award include Glenn Close, Hugh Grant, Diane Keaton, Richard Gere, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sean Penn, Sharon Stone and Ben Kingsley. The Zurich Film Festival will run from September 28 to October 8. — ANI HETHER you like his films or not, whether you agree with his politics or not, National Awardwinning filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri refuses to fall for the bait. He has a ready and intelligent repartee for any query you throw his way. And even before you can utter the word ‘propaganda film’, which is how his detractors described his successful film The Kashmir Files, he reminds, “The film was about terrorism, not about Muslims.” The National Award for the film is no vindication. “It’s as important as any award should be. Of course, as far as awards go, National Award is the only award that matters.” As he is ready with his latest film, The Vaccine War, being touted as India’s first bioscience film, he takes affront at the question — how do you make a subject like this entertaining? He shoots off, “This is very Bollywood line of thinking that assumes cinema is only entertainment. If it were so what would be the difference between cinema and circus? This also assumes that audiences are dumb people, who only want to be entertained. I think audiences want to move into new MATTER OF CHOICE STILLS FROM THE VACCINE WAR Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri, whose upcoming venture The Vaccine War is being touted as India’s first bioscience film, says cinema is much more than just entertainment ADVOCATE OF FREE SPEECH Member of Central Board of Film Certification CBFC, Vivek Agnihotri does not believe in censorship and endorses free speech. Nadav Lapid, jury chief at IFFI Goa, who spoke against The Kashmir Files, too had the right to speak out his mind. “Only, he broke the protocol and the platform he chose was just not right. Besides, imagine speaking about a film that was not awarded, rather than the one which won the prize. That is unprecedented.” ❝ universes, new orbits.” Those who are prejudging the film I DON’T MAKE FILMS FOR as pro-establishment, he once again has befitting answers. “I am by CRITICS; THEY ARE GATEnature anti-establishment. Only I CRASHERS. IT DOESN’T MATTER stand up against the establishment WHAT THEY WRITE. THEY ARE (read Bollywood), which is immediPAID TO WRITE. ate to me, and from where I earn my bread and butter.” VIVEK AGNIHOTRI He does not consider himself an outsider in Bollywood. Rather he states vociferously, “Bollywood is an outsider in India. I She’s ready! Hollywood veteran Meryl Streep says if the makers of the Mamma Mia! approach her with an exciting idea, she would love to star in a potential third film in the series. Streep, as Donna, starred in 2008’s Mamma Mia!, based on the songs of pop group ABBA. Amanda Seyfried played Donna’s daughter Sophie, a young bride-to-be who invites three men (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard) to her upcoming wedding, with the possibility that any of them could be her father. BEING HONEST While he takes a dig at Karan Johar brand of cinema, he does not make much of his constant sparring with Anurag Kashyap. “I admire him as a filmmaker, I was the first one to congratulate him for Dev D.” As for Agnihotri kind of cinema, he does not think his films are any more forthright than real life is. “I make normal films. Since people have stopped making cinema which tells the truth, they call my films hard-hitting.” However, The Vaccine War, set for theatrical outing on September 28, he promises his viewers will instil them with a sense of deep pride. “After watching this film, I want children to say they want to be virologists.” See him as government’s favourite child or maker with a difference, he certainly makes films he believes in. And judging by the recent track record makes cine-goers, whom he considers ‘smarter than filmmakers’, believe in them too. Meryl Streep is open for Mamma Mia! 3 The 2018 sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Streep’s character Donna had died. Lily James portrayed a young Donna in the movie, in which Streep makes a cameo at the end. “I’m up for anything. I’ll have to schedule a knee scoping before we film, but if there’s an idea that excites me, I’m totally there,” Streep said when asked about her thoughts on a third Mamma Mia! film. “I dare you to show me one person who doesn’t want a third Mamma Mia’! said Seyfried. Dominic King Khan’s latest hit Jawan celebrates the strength of female characters Talking of The Vaccine War, the biggest challenge as a filmmaker was how to make the complex science of virology comprehensible. Interestingly, as he delved into the lives of these scientists, realisation dawned upon him. How there are more women in this field and how while any science where men go, grabs attention, women-centric fields are often relegated? Interestingly, his faith in women power is not cursory. He is all praise for his talented wife Pallavi Joshi, who apart from being a ‘fine producer’ is invariably the lead actor of his films. Been around for a while, does he think he found his voice with The Tashkent Files? “No I think it was the rebellious and revolutionary Buddha in a Traffic Jam. It took six years to make, at a budget of Rs 1 crore, and it went on to become a cult film.” Not ready to divulge much about his next, The Delhi Files, supposedly about anti-Sikh riots, answer to why he doesn’t make one on Gujarat riots is met with an assertive, “It’s my choice to make the kind of films I want.” Cinema for him ‘is connecting viewers with your inner self and inner emotions’. Cooper, who starred as Sophie’s fiance Sky in the franchise, said he often pesters producer Judy Craymer about a third movie in the franchise. “I text Judy every other day, ‘Number three when?’ I know we’re all dying to do it and Meryl was unhappy about not being in much of the second one!” Cooper said. While the first film was directed by Phyllida Lloyd, the follow-up was helmed by Ol Parker. The Mamma Mia! films also starred Christine Baranski and Julie Walters. — PTI Our daughters are our future: Shah Rukh Khan Shah Rukh Khan’s love and respect for women is well-known. Be it a little girl or an elderly woman, he has always been seen rooting for females. In fact, his latest film Jawan also celebrates the strength of female characters. From fighting the goons to ruling the screen with emotional scenes, the women of Shah Rukh’s Jawan undoubtedly acted as catalysts in making the film a blockbuster. The audience is quite impressed to see the terrific portrayal of women characters in Jawan. Recently, a fan took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a heartfelt painting created by their daughter, using pink to symbolise girl power in the movie. c m y b “After coming from our second Jawan show, my 11-year-old daughter went straight to her room and started painting. After couple of hours, she came up with this. She says she loved Vikram Rathore. What about pink? She says Jawan is about girl power. Anything to say senior @iamsrk,” the fan wrote. SRK, father to 23-year-old daughter Suhana, took notice of the tweet and lauded the efforts of the fan’s daughter. In response, he wrote, “She has got it right. Jawan is indeed about girl power. Vikram Rathore agrees too. Our daughters are our future. Give my love to her with a big hug!!!” — ANI RIP, Rio Chak De! India actor Rio Kapadia passes away at 66 Bollywood actor Rio Kapadia, who is remembered as the commentator in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Chak De! India, passed away at the age of 66 on Thursday. Kapadia breathed his last at 12.30 p.m. on Thursday. A close friend of Kapadia issued an official statement which read, "Dear friends, with great regret I wish to inform you guys that our dear friend Rio Kapadia passed away at 12:30 p.m. today." The cause of his death is currently unknown. — IANS