09042024-LSTC-01.qxd 4/9/2024 12:19 AM Page 1 c m y b BIOPIC ON NAZIR AHMAD WANI A biopic inspired by the life of Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, the first Ashok Chakra recipient from Kashmir, has been announced. Baweja Studios, led by producer, writer and actor Harman Baweja, will make the film on his life titled Ikhwan. TRIBUNE The giver... Life During It’s All A Blur Tour last week, rapper Drake found a fan who needed help paying legal fees for a divorce. And, he decided to pay for it! CHANDIGARH | TUESDAY | 9 APRIL 2024 ‘I like flawed characters’ Sheetal “I cannot do goody goody roles in movies,” says Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is known for making lead roles look closer to reality. At the fourth edition of the Chandigarh Music and Film Festival, being held at the Chandigarh University, Gharuan, he says one doesn’t need muscles or good looks to be in the performing art business. No, not that he isn’t good looking, but the characters that he has portrayed on screen aren’t. Remembered more for roles of Faizal Khan (Gangs of Wasseypur), Liak (Badlapur), Ramanna (Raman Raghav 2.0) and Ganesh Gaitonde (Sacred Games), he accepts that since childhood it was ingrained in his psyche that he did not have the looks. He shares, “I remember in our village, original Fair & Lovely cream wasn’t available, but something similar was there. I used to apply it daily in order to become fair. Due to this complex or whatever you would like to call it, I was sure that I had to focus more on my craft.” In Chandigarh, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui busts the myth of being typecast, talks about the experience of playing Manto on screen; challenge of essaying a similar character differently, critics and more Madhur Bhandarkar STARS SHINE DOWN Binnu Dhillon PHOTOS: VICKY ALL ABOUT PERCEPTION The actor is not attracted to scripts that show the lead character in just good There’s light. He explains, no such thing as “Sahi galat acha aur bura sab pertypecast if you are ception hai versatile. By versatility I do not (what’s right or wrong, and mean doing different kind of good or bad is a genres or roles, but the ability perception). I to do same kind of roles can’t play a hero’s character differently each who does not have time. a single flaw. The best lead character I have played is that of Jatil Yadav in Raat Akeli Hai. I remember asking the director to highlight some character flaw or issue with him. In short, mujhe pasand er one. So, I have come to the hai shameless aur badnaam conclusion that there’s no kism ke characters.” such thing as typecast if you On being typecast in the are versatile. By versatility I industry, Nawaz has a differ- do not mean doing different ent viewpoint altogether. He kind of genres or roles, but the explains, “After Gangs of ability to do same kind of roles Wasseypur, when Anurag differently each time.” It simoffered me Gaitonde’s role ply reminds one of Nawaz’s in Sacred Games, I wasn’t portrayal of a cop in films, interested to play a gangster including Kahaani, Raees yet again. But he explained and Raat Akeli Hai, which how it was different and I left an impression each time. couldn’t refuse. While doing the series, I found out CHANGING TIMES for myself how different the Nawaz shares how the strugcharacter was from my earli- gle to become an actor Chandan Prabhakar changes every decade or so. “During our times, it was our job to find work, walking from one film studio to another, distributing portfolios or giving auditions. I recall how there was the same coat that every struggling actor would wear from a popular photo studio. Even filmmakers would know which studio those pictures were taken in,” he quips. Social media and internet have made things easier for actors, as talent can’t be hidden anymore. But I am sure they have their own share of struggles to make it through the journey.” FAVOURITE LIST Calling the character of Raman Raghav 2.0 his favourite, Nawaz shares, “People might find it horrible or violent, but I relate to his thought process — that if he is wrong, then so are those who kill in the name of religion, national security and what not.” The actor relates to this belief in real life as well and thinks that it’s the Kiran Juneja perception that makes one crime small or big in someone’s eyes. “Maybe that’s why today, when war is happening, it doesn’t awaken people’s conscience that it’s as wrong to kill 10 people as it is to kill 1,000 in revenge.” It immediately reminded him of his on screen portrayal of Manto in the biopic by the same name. “I read Manto and performed on his play during NSD days. But I feel lucky to portray his life on screen. His views are relevant till date and will remain Curfew lifts at six so for future generations. Interestingly, I was doing another biopic, Thackeray, around the same time, for which I was heavily criticised too. But it didn’t affect me at all; sometimes to play a character that seems challenging is important for you as an artiste.” As for the future, the actor expresses his wish to work with a Punjabi director someday, as he awaits the release of the film Section 108 and a biopic on Customs officer Costao Fernandezz. FireHouse musician CJ Snare is no more Hard rock band FireHouse frontman CJ Snare is no more. Snare passed away last week. He was 64. Snare’s daughter said her father died after a lengthy battle with cancer, with the official cause of death listed as cardiac arrest. The band also shared the news of Snare’s death in a statement on the official Firehouse Facebook page. “Today is a sad day for Rock N Roll. It is with great sorrow we are letting the world know we have lost our brother: CJ Snare, the rock and roll warrior, lead vocalist, and a founding member of Firehouse,” the statement read. FireHouse had seven singles chart on the Billboard Hot 100, most notably Love of a Lifetime, which reached No. 5 in 1991, and When I Look Into Your Eyes, which hit No. 8 in 1992. The group’s other chart hits include Don’t Treat Me Bad (#19), All She Wrote (58) Reach For The Sky (83), Sleeping With You (78) and I Live My Life For You (26). Snare was the founder of FireHouse in 1987, and stayed with the band for nearly 40 years until his death. He sang in all seven albums the group released, including its double platinum, self-titled debut album, which sold more than two million copies. — ANI Kartik, KJo share a warm hug On Sunday night, filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Kartik Aaryan were spotted together at the Mumbai airport. The duo attended an event in Bengaluru and returned to Mumbai last night. Paps captured them on their cameras as they were all smiles. Karan and Kartik also shared a warm goodbye hug before departing to their respective cars. They are also set to work ‘Jhukega nahi’ Elizabeth Hurley reveals a ‘mummy rule’ she follows Elizabeth Hurley shares that she still has a ‘very annoying mummy rule’, which she makes her 22-year-old son Damian stick to even now, and it is about television. The 58-year-old actress shares her son Damian with late former partner Steve Bing. “I’ve always had what you say is a very annoying mommy rule in the house. We’re never allowed to put the TV on until 6 pm. That included lockdown! We’ve always stuck to that. So, we try to work all day, but at 6, we’ll go into the TV room,” Hurley said. Despite having the TV rule, the pair has ‘had some amazing times On the second day of the festival, apart from Nawazuddin Siddiqui, actors Pardeep Singh Rawat, Govind Namdev, Vinay Patkar, Akarsh Alagh, Jayprakarsh Shaw, Binnu Dhillon, Chandan Prabhakar and Kiran Juneja, engaged with enthusiastic attendees. Rajesh Sharma, festival director, expressed that their goal has always been to offer a platform for emerging talent and established artistes to celebrate the art of filmmaking. Veteran actors Govind Namdev and Kiran Juneja talked about their respective journeys and the big change in how cinema is made as well as perceived by the audience. Excited to be back after oneand-a-half-year in Chandigarh for another film festival, director Madhur Bhandarkar says, “I have shot two films in Chandigarh — Fashion and Babli Bouncer. Both have been hit films. Although, it’s spring I like the city more in winter. Food here is really amazing.” The director also shares how his work should be called middle-of-the -road cinema. “It is true that people often approach me and suggest topics that could be the subject for my next outing. So, in a way it feels good that people appreciate your work and understanding what it leans towards.” RIP, Snare watching television together’. The actress said, “We really started over lockdown, and I wanted to show Damian the films that had been part of my growing up. So 80s and 90s films, and 70s too in some cases.” Despite bonding over old shows and movies, Elizabeth and Damian, who has directed his mother in her latest movie Strictly Confidential, which he also wrote, love nothing more than doing ‘work’ together. — IANS Birthday boy Allu Arjun shares stunning visuals from Pushpa 2: The Rule teaser c m y b The teaser of the upcoming sequel Pushpa 2: The Rule was unveiled on Monday on the occasion of Telugu superstar Allu Arjun's birthday. It features the Jaathara sequence from the film. Jaathara is a festival to honour the Hindu tribal goddesses, celebrated in the state of Telangana. Each year more than 10 million devotees visit this four-day festival. The teaser shows Allu dressed as a goddess at the Jaathara with heavy make-up on. There's one particular shot where Allu lifts the pallu of the saree with his foot and wraps it around himself. The teaser also has a fight sequence where Allu's character beats up the guys at the Jaathara, and walks away with the signature tilt of his character. Allu also took to his X and shared the teaser as he thanked his followers for their love. He wrote, "I thank each and everyone of you for the birthday wishes! My heart is full of gratitude. Please take this teaser as my way of saying thank you." The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Fasil in the lead roles. The music of the film is composed by Devi Sri Prasad. The background score in the teaser also stands out as it deploys unique sounds which are mainly software-generated. The highspeed shots add up to the anticipation for the film. Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and directed by Sukumar, Pushpa 2: The Rule is slated to release in theatres worldwide on August 15. — IANS together in a film. The untitled film will feature Kartik in the lead. It will be directed by Sandeep Modi and is slated for release on August 15, 2025. The film is backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions and Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms Ltd. Earlier, Kartik and Karan reportedly had a fallout in 2021, while working together on Dostana 2. — ANI High on energy Ayushmann Khurrana Ayushmann Khurrana, who is receiving praise for his recently released song Akh Da Taara, has shared what intrigued him to take up the song. On Monday, the actor took to Instagram and shared a BTS video from the making of the song. He says in the video: “Akh Da Taara’, this sound is so new to me because I’m used to singing love songs, mellow. But this is banging. This is high on energy.” — IANS