17042024-LSTC-01.qxd 4/17/2024 12:21 AM Page 1 c m y b KEANU LENDS HIS VOICE After breaking bones and stabbing people with just a pencil in the John Wick franchise, Hollywood star Keanu Reeves will now voice the character of Shadow in Sonic the Hedgehog 3. He joins the cast that includes Ben Schwartz as Sonic, as well as Jim Carrey as the villainous Dr Robotnik. TRIBUNE Fatherhood Life Henry Cavill and girlfriend Natalie Viscuso are set to welcome their first child. Cavill shared the news at the New York City premiere of his upcoming film The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 17 APRIL 2024 Celebs come out in support of Zeenat Aman’s statement on live-in relationships before marriage Knot so fast! Z EENAT AMAN recently made a statement in which she said couples should go for a live-in relationship before they tie the knot. She feels that will give them a better picture of how compatible they are and whether they will be able to spend their lives together. She even shared that she gave the same advice to her sons. We asked celebrities about their opinion on the same, and here’s what they have to say. For a healthy married life Shivangi Verma Absolutely, I completely agree. Knowing your partner, even just a bit, before getting married is important for a long and healthy married life. It’s important to understand your partner’s strengths and weaknesses. I totally agree with live-in concept. It’s unfortunate that our society tends to be quite judgmental about couples living together. I don’t see why it’s such a taboo. In fact, I believe it could actually reduce the chances of divorces because it allows couples to learn and understand each other better before getting married. It’s a way for them to strengthen and build a healthier relationship. Totally agree Namita Lal I am a huge fan of Zeenat Aman. Her recent post on couples living together resonates with me. I totally agree with her. I believe that marriage is a commitment and should be entered into when both parties are completely sure, with clear reasons for doing so. Living together provides an opportunity to assess how the other person likes to live. With more and more women becoming financially independent, live-in is now accepted in metros and even in small towns. Legal frameworks around it exist in most countries now. I totally subscribe to that, and kudos to Zeenat Aman for expressing her opinion. I am in total agreement with her. Change with time Charrul Malik Times have changed, and there are more divorces and separations happening now. I don’t have a problem with what Zeenat ji said. She’s known for her strong statements, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Separation and divorce come with problems like depression, police complaints, court battles and even suicides. This is a way to avoid those issues. Although many people might say it goes against Indian culture, we need to change with times. Even in the court of justice, living together grants you equal rights. I don’t see any problem with it; in fact, it’s a solution to many problems people face later on. Zeenat ji made a good point, and I agree with it. Figure it out Ankit Bathla After a couple of failed relationships, I feel it’s not a bad idea to move in together, figure out, and understand each other better. I believe that no amount of time is ever enough to know somebody, but, yes, I think living together is a good option to figure out if people are actually compatible, rather than spending a life together in a toxic relationship or always feeling that you could have saved yourself from the toxicity. So, this is a better option for me. From Arjuna to Achilles Vinay Kumar He-Rose, a theatrical performance which connects the Bhagavad Gita to the Iliad, will be staged at the Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh. The Cultural French Network in India and the National School of Drama are presenting He-Rose show, which premiered in Lyon, France a few months ago. Written by Nimmy Raphel and directed by Vinay Kumar of Adishakti and assisted by Amaud Guennad of ENSATT, HeRose depicts the tragic saga of two mythological Indo-French play He-Rose challenges conventional notions of heroism heroes, Arjuna from Veda Vyasa’s Bhagavad Gita and Achilles from Homer’s Iliad. After a three-week residency that took place last August at Auroville in Pondicherry, eight students from French school ENSATT were invited to train and work on the stag- ing of the play with Adishakti professionals, under the mentorship of director Nimmy Raphel. At the heart of He-Rose lies a profound inquiry into the nature of heroism. Drawing parallels between iconic figures such as Arjuna from the Mahabharata and Achilles from the Iliad, the production challenges conventional notions of heroism, inviting audiences to contemplate the interplay between vulnerability and courage. (Today at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh at 7.30 pm) The team He-Rose c m y b I completely agree with what she says, as it’s important to know the person’s routine, lifestyle, and nature before you decide to get together. What if he snores (laughs)! Many times, you realise that your choice wasn’t right, and you end up getting divorced. So, to save yourself from that extreme situation, one must know the person and accept all the bad along with the good. Before you commit Megha Sharma She is absolutely right. Living together before marriage is a great idea because it helps you understand whether you can adjust with your partner’s habits and preferences or not. Small differences can lead to conflicts in a relationship. Nowadays, divorce rate is increasing, and it’s essential to know your partner well before committing for a lifetime. It’s important to prioritise our mental peace over societal norms, as, ultimately, our happiness matters the most. Families might have their opinions, but the decision to marry or live together should be solely ours. Know your partner Simple Kaul Of course, that’s what everyone should do. I advocate that. You only get to know a person when you start living with him or her. You know what you are getting into once you share your space with that person. Entering a new world Wicked-fame actor Jonathan Bailey in talks to lead new Jurassic World movie The Wicked star Jonathan Bailey is in talks to join Universal’s new Jurassic World movie. Scarlett Johansson has already been cast in the film, which will be directed by Gareth Edwards. It is written by Jurassic Park’s David Koepp. Johansson played Black Widow in several Marvel Studios films, including the Avengers films, but unlike some of her superhero co-stars, she has found it easy to break into other projects. She has received two Oscar nominations, for Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit. Bailey plays prince Fiyero in Wicked. — ANI ‘In footsteps of a legend’ Cannes via Taiwan Taiwanese film Demon Hunters, featuring Arjun Bajwa, heads to Cannes The Taiwanese film Demon Hunters, which stars Indian actor Arjan Bajwa, is heading to Cannes Film Festival. The film is an action-comedy, and its first look will be unveiled at the French Riviera next month. The film is headlined by Arjan Bajwa and JC Lin. It has been directed by Mei-Juin Chen, who is known for her work on The Gangster’s Daughter. With a stellar international cast and crew, including Regina Lei and seasoned actor Jack Kao and Harry Chang, the film is set to captivate audiences worldwide. Arjan Bajwa said, “Being a part of Demon Hunters has been an incredible experience. The opportunity to collaborate with such talented individuals from across the globe has been truly rewarding. I can’t wait for audiences to join us on this wild adventure.” Demon Hunters is set to premiere globally in the later part of 2024. — IANS PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Save yourself in time Sara Khan Richa Chadha, who is gearing up for the release of her upcoming streaming series Heeramandi — The Diamond Bazaar, has revealed that she referred to the iconic performance of legendary actress Meena Kumari to craft her character in the series. In the series, Richa essays the role of Lajjo, a courtesan with a captivating persona. She shared that she found inspiration in Meena Kumari’s portrayal of Shahibjaan in the timeless classic Pakeezah. She studied Meena Kumari’s character, drawing parallels between Sahibjaan and Lajjo. Talking about her preparations for the character, Richa said, “Carefully observing, learning from and taking lessons from Meena Kumari ji’s charac- ter in Pakeezah was a truly enriching and deeply transforming experience for me ahead of shooting for Heeramandi. In Paakezah, Meena Kumari’s character has a certain tragic depth and complexity that resonated with Lajjo, the character that I play in the show. I worked on the voice and diction, while studying Meena ji’s work, to the point of imitation sometimes.” “I felt like I was walking in the footsteps of a cinematic legend, and it was an honour to pay tribute to Meena Kumari ji through my portrayal of Lajjo,” she added. Heeramandi — The Diamond Bazaar marks the webseries debut of auteur Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and delves into the world of courtesans. The series will Drop on Netflix on May 1. — IANS Richa Chadha drew inspiration from Meena Kumari’s Pakeezah for her role in Heeramandi