06072024-LSTL-01.qxd 7/5/2024 9:41 PM Page 1 c m y b MEET THE LADY SPIES Yash Raj Films has finally revealed the title of its first female-fronted film in the studio’s successful spy universe franchise. Titled Alpha, the film stars Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as super-agents. ‘Alpha’ is being directed by Shiv Rawail. Sheetal A FTER watching innumerable crime dramas and thrillers, it doesn’t take much brain to guess that there would be a good cop and a bad cop. Contrary to that, with Disney+Hotstar’s latest offering Bad Cop, director Aditya Datt has made his point clear — ‘there’s only bad policing and criminal activity involved’. After directing the Indian remake of German show Bad Cop, Aditya Datt of Commando 3 and Crackk fame is now eyeing a superhero film and a musical Datt has cast an unusual pair of actors, Anurag Kashyap and Gulshan Devaiah, who are at loggerheads on the screen. While director-actor Kashyap essays a gangster, Kazbe, Devaiah is seen in a double role. When creating identical twin characters, it’s important to draw stark personality differences through acting skills. In Datt’s opinion, “Apart from acting, an actor needs to have lots of patience. Gulshan has shot with me for Commando 3 before, so he knew my madness and method of shooting more than anyone else. He ticked all the boxes required for the twin roles. With advancements in technology, things have become easier while shooting but as far as presenting twin characters on screen is concerned, the process is tedious. On top of that, the series involved action sequences, so it can be a nightmare for the director and actor concerned.” CREATIVE ADAPTATION On how Datt ended up making the Indian remake of German show Bad Cop, he elab- Dr Abhilasha Rai, who completed the 84 km Hell Race from Manali to Rohtang Pass to Sissu Valley, started running at 43, but for her it’s not about the age; it’s just a mental thing VikrantParmar It is like going through hell, literally. No wonder it is aptly named the Hell Race. Imagine running from Manali to Rohtang Pass to end at the Sissu valley — just a matter of 84 km! Ordinarily, even in a vehicle it is a daunting task as mountain sickness besets most, but Chandigarh-based Dr Abhilasha Rai ran all the way. “It’s a mental game, the body listens once the mind is trained. It is all about conditioning and the rest is a cinch. The attitude matters; if you set your mind on anything you can surely achieve it. Running is a mental thing,” she says. Really? For a non-runner, sounds like a mountain to climb. In fact, she is the one who actually climbed it, rather ran from Manali and gained an elevation of 2,000 metres up to Rohtang pass, and then descended to Sissu in Lahaul Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, all in matter of 14 hours 20 minutes! “Well, the race began at 10 pm from Manali on June 15. The first major challenge was managing the night run amid all the traffic, with a headlight tied to the head, and growing chill with each kilometre of the ascent. We were 25 of us at the start, and by the time I crossed the 15 km mark I was all alone. Many of the known runners could not manage the altitude, the clime. From there, till the end it was me against me; my will against all the odds. Thankfully, I aced the challenge and was the first runner-up in the women’s category,” she beams. Notably, TRIBUNE Shoot begins Life Shruti Haasan, who is known for her roles in films like Gabbar Is Back, D-Day and Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, has begun shooting for her upcoming film Coolie, which also stars Tamil megastar Rajinikanth. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 6 JULY 2024 try ‘I have to it all’ GULSHAN DEVAIAH orates, “My first contact was Aradhna Bhola, managing director of Fermantle India, who simply narrated the idea to me. I think she caught my attention with the word ‘twins’. Then the head writer, Renzil D’Silva, and his team, which had been working on the script, met me. I have used my own creative voice while making this series suitable for an Indian setting.” According to Datt, the approach of a director does change with each project. “Especially when you know whether it’s long or short format, for theatre or OTT. For OTT film or series, you are less afraid of taking chances, be it the casting, which is not dictated by the box-office, or the content, which can be experimental, according to the director’s choice, and there are array ANURAG KASHYAP AND ADITYA DATT of other factors. Karenjit Kaur – The Untold Story of Sunny Leone (Sunny Leone biopic) was my first long format content, but this series is very different. Bad Cop as a switch from feature film was easier for me, as far as the narrative format was concerned. Every episode for me is a short film in itself with different subplots leading the narrative forward.” In times when social media marketing for any content is a must, Datt calls the trend a sad reality. “Social media is the only way to go in today’s world, the entire globe is on the phone. It’s sad in some way but it’s the truth. I try to be on social platforms too, but nowhere close to exploring and reaping its benefits as opposed to how many other people do.” FAMILY MAN Other than being a hardcore film buff, Datt is a family man. “Life for me other than movies is all about family, honestly. I like to spend time with my sons, my pet and my wife when taking a break. My wife will kill me for keeping her third in the order,” he chuckles. On his agenda as a director is to be known for his versatility. That’s why Datt wants to make a superhero film, a horror and romantic musical in the coming times. “I have to try it all,” he says. Datt doesn’t give away much on the plans to make a sequel of Bad Cop, but confirms he has the wits and means to revive it only on audiences’ demand. “You never know,” are Datt’s parting words. DIRECTING A DIRECTOR I had never met Kashyap (Anurag) to begin with. Before I approached him for the show, I have only been a big follower of his cinema and obviously seen him through media over a period of time. So, when we were more than half-way through writing, Kashyap’s face popped up in my mind as I imagined certain mannerisms of Kazbe. Directing a director is the easiest is what I feel now, as one director understands the creative process of another and also respects the creative decisions taken on or prior to shooting days. With Kashyap, the beauty was that he did not ask for a script. As he never gives one to his actors as a director. — Aditya Datt Ananya Panday Hell, she ran through it! Varun Dhawan Angad Bedi and Neha Dhupia Celebs shine at Kill premiere the race was won by Suneri from Hyderabad. Temperature varied from the very cold to the harsh sun. “It was extremely tough as the shoes and socks got wet; jackets had to be donned, then removed and tied to the waist as the temperature rose in the morning. The support staff was indeed excellent, as all safety measures and amenities required along the way were in place,” she shares. Hailing from an Army background, Abhilasha was always sporty, skating and swimming being her prime fitness routines, but she was not quite into running. Her first run was when she was 43! “It was in Pune where I took it up as a challenge to run but within the first 200 mt, I felt I was going through hell. Five kilometres seemed a long haul, but something inside me said let’s go for it. From then on running has been a way of life.” From thereon began a journey of sorts — 5 km became 10, then 20, then 42 and ultimately this ultramarathon, where she ran 84 km! Fitness indeed is a way of life for her, “I am a non-vegetarian and keep a balanced diet, although some party nights are cheat days. However, I go to the gym on a regular basis and divide each day of the week into different schedules. Sunday is meant for the long runs, where I go the distance and push my limits. I take it a bit easy on Mondays.” Remarkably, she has had no formal coaching in running, “Just a few tips from fellow runners and experts in the field.” She credits her husband, a doctor in the Army, and kids for her feat, “Without their support, all this would not have been possible.” Coming up next for her is the Khardung La Challenge, a 74 km run in Ladakh, beginning September 7. “This race was a build up for that; I wanted a feel of the distance and the altitude,” she says. Anyone stopping her? c m y b The premiere of Lakshya-starrer Kill was a star-studded affair with Karan Johar, Janhvi Kapoor, Raghav Juyal, Varun Dhawan, Vicky Kaushal, Sanjay Kapoor, Angad Bedi and Neha Dhupia, Ayan Mukerji, Sonam Bajwa, Ananya Panday, and others in attendance. The film is helmed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat and produced by Karan Johar. Recently, Lionsgate and 87Eleven Entertainment, the production companies behind the famous John Wick franchise, have announced plans to develop an English language remake of this action thriller. Kill, which had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Midnight Madness section and later featured at the Tribeca Film Festival, tells the gripping story of army commando Amrit (portrayed by Lakshya) racing against time and armed adversaries on a New Delhi-bound train to rescue his beloved Tulika (played by Tanya Maniktala). — ANI Janhvi Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal
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