08062024-LSTL-01.qxd 6/7/2024 8:05 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE THE IRON CLAW ON OTT Life Zac Efron and Jeremy Allen White-starrer The Iron Claw is all set to make its OTT premiere in India. The biopic, based on the Von Erich family, is going to stream exclusively on Lionsgate Play from June 14. The Iron Claw has been directed by Sean Durkin. Donut love On World Donut Day, Bollywood diva Kajol expressed her love for doughnuts and said in an Instagram post,“Kya karun haye kuch kuch hota hai” LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 8 JUNE 2024 As one comes face to face with the fresh cast of the show Udaariyaan in tricity, actress Sargun Mehta, who has also penned it, is happy with the rise of the Punjabi industry, while actor Avinesh Rekhi is enjoying shooting in his hometown PHOTOS: PRADEEP TEWARI Pride jatt land I N a vibrant press conference held on Thursday at the shoot location of Colors’ show Udaariyaan, actress-producer Sargun Mehta introduced the new cast members. She roped-in the known face of television industry, talented actor Avinesh Rekhi to play Sarabjeet Singh. To support the love triangle of the story, actresses Aditi Bhagat and Shreya Jain would also be part of the fresh casting after the 15-year time leap. Set in the heart of Punjab and filmed near Gharuan village, Udaariyaan has captivated viewers with its rich storytelling and compelling characters. Sargun, who has written the show from a scratch, said, “When I stepped into production, it was indeed a big thing for us. But gladly I had the support of my creative team and my husband, Ravi Dubey. Even though Udaariyaan has ruled the TRP charts, it has had its share of ups and downs. But we have learnt from it.” TIME LEAP For the unversed, this is the fourth time leap in the show. While Sargun always brought new cast through time leaps, she said it was not intentional. “It’s purely a chance that it has happened, before but I always go by what the story demands. This time around while writing the script, I had Avinesh’s name in my mind because he had done a show titled Choti Sarrdaarni in the past, where he played a character of a Sardar,” she said. From producing a TV show, featuring in music videos and Punjabi films, her presence is felt in all mediums; even her character of a cop in the Hindi OTT debut film, Cuttputlli, was much appreciated, but the humble actress feels she rarely finds time to enjoy her success. “From years now it has been about what’s next because I am continuously working,” said Sargun, who is awaiting the release of her film Carry On Jattiye. As for her music video, Ve Haaniyaan, again released under her production, Dreamiyata Musiic, it is going from strength to strength. The fourmonth-old song has now gained up to 99 million views and features the real-life couple — Sargun and Ravi. HOMECOMING Avinesh Rekhi, who plays Sarab, shared his excitement, “Stepping into the shoes of Sarab in Udaariyaan feels like coming home to my roots. I started my journey with Colors and after the success of Choti Sarrdaarni, I’m thrilled to embark on this new chapter. Shooting in Punjab’s picturesque locations is quite a delight.” Avinesh, who has been brought up in Chandigarh, is glad to be back home. He added, “My parents are definitely happy and so am I. Growing up you would always dream of working in the city you spent half your life in, but, thankfully, it became true because of Sargun, who thought of me.” Avinesh said aspiring actors and directors are having more opportunities to showcase their talent these days, thanks to the multiple platforms. “It wasn’t the case back in our time,” he said. Sargun agreed, “Just in the past four years when I started shooting for Udaariyaan, there was nothing surrounding our location. But today we have coffee shops and hanging out places near our villages. So, Punjab and Punjabi cinema is taking rapid strides. (With inputs by Bhanuni Saini) SISTERS IN ARMS SHREYA JAIN ADITI BHAGAT Aditi Bhagat, who previously portrayed Aasmaa in Udaariyaan, expressed deep gratitude for the recent opportunity to contribute to the show’s legacy by playing the role of Haniya. Aditi said, “Aasmaa jitni confident thi, Haaniya utni hi underconfident hai.” Aditi further revealed she had a sister-like connection with her co-star Shreya Jain. Shreya, who portrays the character of Meher, is a recent addition to the Udaariyaan team. Shreya, who is shooting in Chandigarh for the first time, acknowledged the challenges, “Initially it was tough, but with time it all became easy and now I am enjoying every bit of it.” About her character, she said portraying someone slightly different from herself was fun. SINCE I STUDIED IN DAV COLLEGE-10, THAT SECTOR IS MY FAVOURITE. ALSO BECAUSE IT HAS THAT FAMOUS GERI ROUTE. OVERALL, THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF DRIVING AROUND MADHYA MARG IS INCOMPARABLE. — AVINESH REKHI, ACTOR Vishal Sharma aka Insane Comic presents his own brand of humour from Himachal Pradesh for audiences to savour Divij Sharma Today India is witnessing a hilarious revolution — the rise of regional stand-up comedy and its marriage with the ever-popular Instagram. Gone are the days of the one language laugh-track, and in come new batches of laughter therapists with jokes that hit close to home with their local communities. Their secret weapon? Their mother tongues. At the forefront of Himachali comedy is a man who rather modestly accredits ‘God’s plan’ for his fame — Vishal Sharma aka Insane Comic. The self-proclaimed trailblazer of ‘pahadi’ comedy rose to fame through the use of social media, particularly Instagram, and Cracking a pahadi joke! its easy-to- consume short punchy format. From hilarious sketches to witty observations on daily life in the heights of Himachal, Vishal has perfected bite-sized humour that fits such platforms. Musician King drops Still The Same song Singer King has released Still The Same song from his album Monopoly Moves. The rap track explores emotional detachment. It’s a contrast to King’s previous release and features a minimalist production by Abhijay Sharma. The lyrics of the song deal with the struggles of moving on from past relationships. King said in a statement, “Still the Same is a song with layers. There’s something new waiting to be discovered with every song. It’s an experience I can’t wait for fans to dive into. Working with Abhijay Sharma was thrilling, we poured our hearts into this song, and it sets the bar high for the rest of the album. Monopoly Moves (MM) is more than just music, it’s a movement.” Meanwhile, King recently walked the red carpet at the prestigious 77th Cannes Film Festival and won hearts with his style and looks. On attending Cannes Film Festival for the first time, King said, “Cannes. Wow. It wasn’t just about me, it was about representing all the talented Indian musicians out there. Cannes felt like a turning point, a chance to show the world what Indian music can do. I wanted to wear an Indian designer’s outfit and bring a part of my country along with me. The fabric and the work on my dress gives you a proud touch of our talented handloom industry.” King rose to fame after his superhit song Tu Aake Dekhle. He hails from Delhi. — ANI in Sheetal Kingsize! Not easy at all When asked why he decided to cater to the niche that is regional comedy, he said, “The main idea behind the use of ‘pahadi’ was to preserve our culture and language. Upcoming generations are losing their command over ‘pahadi’ because this language has lost popularity over the years.” However, Vishal readily admitted stand-up wasn’t easy. “People think it’s a breeze, but making someone laugh is tough,” he described the challenge of crafting humour that genuinely connects. Luckily, his family’s support has been unwavering. “They were a bit surprised at first, but once they saw the impact of my work, they were behind me all the way,” c m y b Vishal said. Inspiration for his comedic genius? It all started with his father. “A man with a joke for every occasion,” Vishal revealed. But his comedic influences extend beyond the family. He cites giants of the Indian stand-up scene like Kapil Sharma, Anubhav Singh Bassi, and Harsh Gujral as his idols. So what’s next for this rising star? “OTT platforms for sure. I already do some acting in my videos, so I hope to find good roles in the future.” Any message to his growing audience? “Just be real, honest to yourself and keep working hard.” With his infectious humour and dedication to roots, Vishal Sharma is a prime example of how regional comedy is taking India by storm.