01112023-LSTL-01.qxd 10/31/2023 11:48 PM Page 1 c m y b UORFI JAVED GETS DEATH THREAT Social media sensation Uorfi Javed, who is often in the news for her unique fashion style and also for controversies, has claimed she received a death threat for recreating the ‘Chhote Pandit’ character of Rajpal Yadav from the movie Bhool Bhulaiyaa for Halloween. TRIBUNE Life Jury head Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur will be the jury head for the international competition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2023 in Goa. LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 1 NOVEMBER 2023 Festivities are in the air and adding to the spirit is the North Indian ritual of Karwa Chauth. Here’s how celebs plan to celebrate the day, which marks the bond of love between a husband and wife Viola! Sheeba Akashdeep Abhishek Malik with Suhani Chaudhary Of bindi & bonding DAY TO REMEMBER Mona A day that begins right before the crack of dawn — with sargi, dolling up for the evening puja and completing it with the moon making its special appearance, leading to feasting — Karwa Chauth, the North Indian ritual made popular by Karan Johar on screen, is here again! A day to celebrate the marital bond, coupled with some mehendi, bangles and bindi, here are celebs sharing what they enjoy the most. BEAUTIFUL TRADITION Manit Joura with Andria Aditi Bhagat Karwa Chauth is a beautiful tradition. Every year, I get sargi from my mother-in-law. I put together a new outfit. Over the years, things have slightly changed, as now men also fast for their wives. This adaptability is the beauty of tradition. I get thirsty, more than hungry, over the day. Harbhajan keeps a close watch for the precious moon to make an appearance for me to complete the fast. It’s important to have a supportive spouse on the special day, and life. — Geeta Basra, actress Recently, I got married to my long-time girlfriend Andria, and I intend to keep a fast for her. I have asked for an early pack-up on Karwa Chauth. I will accompany my wife for sargi, which my mother has sent for her from Delhi. We both will get dressed in traditional attire, go to the terrace and perform the rituals when the moon comes out. I’m eagerly anticipating this Karwa Chauth to strengthen our bond and make it a day to remember. — Manit Joura, actor Will Smith recalls exact moment when he realised he wanted to be ‘on camera’ Hollywood actor Will Smith still remembers the precise moment he decided he wanted to pursue a career in acting. The 55-year-old musician Will Smith has delved into hip-hop history in his new podcast Class of ’88, covering everything from his own days performing as part of a hip-hop duo with DJ Jazzy Jeff before moving into acting. The Oscar winner talked candidly about realising early in his music career that he had a gift for ‘front of the camera’ in the podcast’s first episode, which came out on Friday. Smith explained that he got the acting bug on the sets of the music video for Parents Just Don’t Understand, the second single of their 1988 sophomore studio album He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper. Smith ‘desperately wanted to be respected as a rapper’, therefore he was first anxious about the cheerful song’s release as a single. — ANI EQUAL CONTRIBUTION Karwa Chauth has traditionally been portrayed as a festival where a woman prays for her husband’s long life, but, I believe, that a relationship is better when both the partners make equal contribution. So, if my wife is fasting for me, I will do the same for her. I belong to a Punjabi family, so sargi is an important part of the day. I will wake up early to help my wife with the rituals and follow the same. — Abhishek Malik, actor Geeta Basra REEL CELEBRATION LOVE AND DEVOTION Every year, my wife observes Karwa Chauth fast for my long life. I make sure to come home on time and spend time with her. It is a beautiful expression of love and devotion between partners. She is a stabilising force in my life. It’s an opportunity to cherish our bond, and I’m looking forward to making this day special for her. — Arjun Bijlani, actor COLOURFUL CELEBRATION Arjun Bijlan with Neha Swami Even though I have never witnessed Karwa Chauth at home, I am excited because we are going to shoot a Karwa Chauth scene for our show Udaariyaan. In this special reel-life celebration, I will be fasting for my onscreen husband. This festival holds a special significance in our culture, and I am excited that the audience, which has loved this show, will get to see this time-honoured tradition on television. — Aditi Bhagat, actress SPECIAL FEELING Usually on Karwa Chauth, I have a mehendi party with all my friends. It is a big deal for all of us — we make sure to dress up like brides. It’s fun and celebratory. It’s very colourful. Since I am shooting this year on Karwa Chauth, my husband will come to the sets to perform the rituals with me, so looking forward to it. — Sheeba Akashdeep, actress Karwa Chauth, a celebration of love and togetherness for married couples, has an extra-special place in my heart. My wife and I are fasting for each other. I plan to get home early to catch a sight of the moon in the evening sky. We will pray for each other’s well-being and wrap the day with a sumptuous dinner. — Rajveer Singh, actor Rajveer Singh ‘Heart of When Bobby storytelling’ Deol turned Director Imtiaz Ali prefers shooting at new locales Director Imtiaz Ali, who is known for his movies like Love Aaj Kal, Rockstar, Cocktail, Tamasha and Jab Harry Met Sejal, has said he always prefers shooting at newer locales. “After an initial recce by the team, I always personally do a location recce. Many a time, even during the recce we miss out on some parts of the location, which get covered when we eventually go to shoot,” he commented. “Locations are the heart of storytelling. I rely on them to create an evocative narrative that could captivate the viewer. These backdrops hold the power to convey emotion, history, and atmosphere, contributing to the depth of the story,” he said. — IANS alcoholic Actor Bobby Deol, who was on popular chat show Koffee With Karan Season 8, opened up about how he withdrew from the industry when his films didn’t work. Bobby was accompanied by his brother Sunny Deol on the show, hosted by filmmaker Karan Johar. He made one of the strongest comebacks with crime drama web series Aashram. About his low-phase of career, Bobby said: “I gave up, I started pitying myself. I just took to drinking a lot... I became negative about everything... One day I heard my son saying, ‘you know mom, papa sits at home and you go to work everyday’. Something snapped in me. I just said, no I can’t. It was a slow process, when I got out of it, it took me time to get into the right frame of mind...” — IANS ‘Bystander’ tried to save Perry Friends star Matthew Perry was found with his head underwater by a ‘bystander’ who desperately tried to get him oxygen. The Friends actor, who died aged 54 on Saturday, October 28, in a suspected drowning in a hot tub in the backyard of his ranch after years of battling drink and drug addiction, was found submerged in the jacuzzi by an onlooker before firefighters arrived at the scene. Despite the onlooker repositioning Matthew, he was already dead when the Los Angeles Fire Department arrived at his Pacific Palisades home. Captain Erik Scott from the Los Angeles Fire Department said, “Los Angeles City Firefighters responded and found an adult male unconscious in a stand-alone hot tub. A bystander had brought the man’s head above the water and gotten him to the edge, then firefighters removed him from the water upon their arrival. A rapid medical assessment, sadly, revealed the man was dead prior to first responder’s arrival.” — IANS c m y b Recipe for success Kirti Dhiman shines on MasterChef India The sizzle of pans and the aroma of spices fill the air as MasterChef India kicks off the heart-pounding competition to find the next culinary genius of the country. The stage is set with the top 12 contestants, who are showcasing their culinary prowess and challenging the normal standards to emerge as the ultimate MasterChef. The show is streaming from Monday to Friday at 8 pm only on Sony LIV. One of these talented individuals is Kriti Dhiman, from Gobindgarh, Punjab, who is a talented 23-yearold baker with big dreams. Her culinary journey began in the fifth grade when she was inspired by her father’s Sunday cooking sessions. Those special moments with her dad sparked her passion for cooking and set her on a path to explore the culinary arts. The lockdown provided a unique opportunity for Kriti to take her culinary experiments to the next level. She started experimenting in the kitchen, and it quickly became a family affair with friendly cooking competitions. Kriti aspires to follow in the footsteps of renowned chefs like Ranveer Brar. Her ultimate goal is to establish herself as a trusted culinary expert and make a name for herself in the world of food. MasterChef India on Sony LIV, with Chefs Vikas Khanna, Ranveer Brar and Pooja Dhingra at the helm, boasts of a gastronomical extravaganza like no other. — TNS