10082024-LSTL-01.qxd 8/9/2024 10:17 PM Page 1 c m y b MOANA 2 TEASER RELEASED A new teaser of the animated film Moana 2 has been released, promising an exciting new chapter in the Disney series. The lead star Dwayne Johnson took to his Instagram account to share the promo, giving fans a peek into the storyline. TRIBUNE Star power Life Billie Eilish, among other celebs, is expected to perform at the closing ceremony of the Paris Olympics on Sunday. They will be seen from Los Angeles in a mix of pretaped and live performances. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 10 AUGUST 2024 WHEN 11 MEANS MYSTERY! Nonika Singh A FTER his killer dance moves, he has been killing it with his badass act in Kill. Dancer-actor Raghav Juyal, the ‘king of slow motion’, will now be seen in yet another Karan Johar-Guneet Monga production, Gyaarah Gyaarah. What other actors die for, he has achieved it twice over; Kill too was backed by these two bigwigs of the film industry! Yet another double association happens to be with Korea. If Kill had renowned SouthKorean action-director Sea-Young Oh on board, Gyaarah Gyaarah happens to be a remake of the Korean drama Signal. If there is a karmic connection between Korea and the Dehradun-born lad, he laughs, “Korea is closer to Uttarakhand perhaps.” Jokes apart, he is not exactly a fan of K-dramas as the rest of India is. But he is very much clued into world cinema, Korean films like Oscar-winning Parasite very much included. At a time when content around the world is just a click away, what is the relevance of remakes? “Adaptations are a universal phenomenon, even acclaimed directors like Vishal Bhardwaj have adapted Shakespeare with striking effect,” he reasons. According to Raghav, adaptations work provided these offer a fresh perspective and are Chahat Vig, seen in the crime series 36 Days, believes in the power of hard work and constant learning VikrantParmar She is a true-blue Punjabi at heart, who feels her growing up days in Pathankot were a blessing. Chahat Vig, seen in Sony LIV’s crime series 36 Days, says coming from a small town has made her dream big and aspire for higher goals. “Opportunities were definitely limited while growing up. But my parents made sure they went beyond their means to give me all that was needed to hone my skills. Growing up in Pathankot is a big part of my identity and I’m really proud of it,” she begins. Chahat, who made her acting debut with the film Gumraah and was last seen in the web series Rafuchakkar, has fond memories of shooting for 36 Days. “Being on the sets of 36 Days with such an amazing cast and crew was truly wonderful. I’ve made memories that I’ll cherish forever. Sia, my character, holds a special place in my heart because of her cathartic and inspiring journey. 36 Days is definitely one of the highlights of my career, filled with unforgettable moments and great learning experiences,” she says. Happy with her innings so far, Chahat vouches for the power of hard work and belief Actor Raghav Juyal¸ whose latest series Gyaarah Gyaarah is based on time travel, says it is a mind-boggling and riveting sequence of events BEST OF BOTH CULTURES Son of a Pahari-Garhwali father and a Punjabi mother, Raghav Juyal deems he has inherited the best of both cultures. His sense of humour sure is quintessentially Punjabi, and he picks up one trait typical of his Punjabi genes as fondness for Patiala peg! On a serious note, if progressive values and ambitious streak have been inherited from his mother, he has imbibed contentment from the paternal side of the family. rooted in the cultural milieu into which the original story is transposed. And Gyaarah Gyaarah, he insists, is that the series set in his home state, which brings out the culture of Utttarakhand. On the interesting title of the series, that reads 11.11 numerically, which many see as a magical moment in time that can grant their wish, he admits, “It is indeed an angelic number and the time when my character in the series make a connection with past.” Time travel? But hasn’t OTT already offered us the very best in this genre of sci-fi with shows like Dark and Bodies? So what new can Gyaarah Gyaarah tap into? Well, he quips, “Pehle istemaal karo phir vishwas karo.” Calling the series a mind-boggling and riveting sequence of events that make us question our existence too, he, however, will not offer any homilies to his fans as to why they should watch the series. He says, “Today audiences are very smart and can smell good content on their own; no promotions or interviews can influence their decision. Content is the king and that’s why films like 12th Fail, Laapataa Ladies and Kill work.” On his tryst with fame, he reminds, “When you are riding on the crest of success, no one realises that it has not come overnight.” Of course, this second runner-up of Dance India Dance 3 is not new to popularity. Only, he observes, “We live in a Kim Kardashian world where you are famous before you know why.” He would rather be known for his talent than numbers on social media. Raghav feels lucky to be living in times when auditions are the ‘done’ thing and actors like him with no godfather can get a break. If Kill (Streaming on Zee5 from August 9) wings dreams Days. To essay the character of Sia, I needed to understand her motivations, her struggles and her unique perspective, which required a lot of effort but I am happy at the end of it all. I live by the motto of no regrets.” It’s a competitive and cut-throat world out there, so Sia believes one must learn how to destress and maintain mental peace. “When I’m not on a project or shooting, I enjoy diving into other passions and creative pursuits. I also spend quality time with my loved ones. I even c m y b India is beaming with pride as Neeraj Chopra won a silver medal in the men’s javelin final at the Paris Olympics. From Instagram to X, netizens flooded social media platforms with congratulatory wishes for Neeraj. Members of the Indian film industry, too, sent best wishes to Chopra. On his Instagram Story, actor Vicky Kaushal wrote, “Season’s best performance. You always make us proud, brother Neeraj Chopra.” Actor R Madhavan not only congratulated Neeraj but also lauded Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who clinched the gold medal in the men’s javelin final. “What a wonderful match, congratulations on Olympic record Arshad Nadeem and the silver medal Neeraj Chopra, guys the sport won today,” he wrote on Instagram. Actress Rakul Preet Singh also penned a congratulatory message for Neeraj, “Congratulations on securing your second Olympic medal! India beams with pride,” Rakul wrote on Instagram. Taking to Instagram Stories, Kareena shared a picture of Neeraj, and wrote: “Champion,” followed by a rainbow and star emojis. Twinkle Khanna also took to Instagram and shared an article from her digital media company. The headline read, “Neeraj Chopra brings home India’s first silver at Olympic 2024.” Ayushmann Khurrana shared a picture of Neeraj holding the Indian flag, and said, “India’s shining star... shabaash Neeraj.” Nimrat Kaur wrote, “Champion. Legend. The pride of India!!” — Agencies came his way after the makers had auditioned hundreds of actors, he would only be too happy to audition for dear friend Aryan Khan’s directorial. Those who think he has already landed a plum part in the superstar SRK’s son’s debut series, his lips are sealed. But he has certainly bagged yet another big-ticket production house Excel Entertainment’s film Yudhra, co-starring Siddhant Chaturvedi. Born in a sleepy town of Dehradun, how did he dream so high? He smiles, “With nothing really happening in such towns when I was growing up, all we could do was daydream.” But dreaming alone cannot take you far. As they say ‘Dream big, work hard, make it happen’. He is not only making it happen, but happening too. Know her better On of in her own craft. “I believe nothing comes above hard work. For anyone pursuing acting, I always say — don’t say you’re aspiring to be an actor. You are an actor! I’m definitely hungry for more and excited to keep pushing myself further, but there’s also a deep sense of contentment in seeing how far I’ve come and the love I’ve received along the way,” she adds. Appreciation too is coming her way in ample measure, “I’m humbled by the fact that people have liked my character in 36 Celebs hail Neeraj’s feat My friends call me CV. One Punjabi habit I naturally switch to Punjabi when I’m in an argument. Next holiday destination Morocco. My husband and I are scheduled to go there soon. Skill check I also spend a lot of time doing pole sports and bouldering, which are both super fun. Social cause I associate with I’m deeply involved with NGOs that focus on enabling girl child education and eliminating child sexual abuse. enrolled in a university to pursue an academic degree in human psychology, which has been incredibly fulfilling. I love singing and songwriting. Plus, I keep practicing my acting skills, using what I learned in the film school to keep improving as a performer. Balancing these interests not only keeps me busy, but also helps me grow both personally and professionally,” she informs. Another aspect that she highlights is the need to stay fit in an industry that is quite demand- ing and can take a toll on one’s health, “Fitness is also a big part of my life. I make sure to stay active and maintain a regular workout routine, as it helps me stay grounded and energised.” Last but not the least, she shares her love for Chandigarh, “I also have a strong connection with Chandigarh, where I trained as a musician during my high school years. That city taught me how to live independently, gave me the creative freedom I needed, and blessed me with friends I cherish to this day.”