22082024-LSTC-01.qxd 8/21/2024 11:23 PM Page 1 c m y b SOUNDTRACK OF LE MUSK OUT Renowned composer AR Rahman has unveiled the soundtrack of his immersive film Le Musk. It has 12 songs. Le Musk, an innovative cinematic experience, directed by AR Rahman himself, merges music, fragrance and visual storytelling. TRIBUNE Lens eye Life Actor-director Johnny Depp is set to showcase his latest directorial project at this year’s San Sebastian Film Festival. The film is about a 72-hour period in the life of bohemian artist Amedeo Modigliani. CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 22 AUGUST 2024 True-blue Punjabi Gurnaaz I F you ever get the chance to sit down with Ammy Virk, you’ll quickly sense that he’s not just another actor. There’s a rare blend of humility and ambition in him that sets him apart. During our chat, what struck me most was his unwavering focus on authenticity and collaboration, qualities that define his approach to both Punjabi and Bollywood cinema. Ammy Virk isn’t just riding the waves of the film industry; he’s shaping them with thoughtful precision. Whether he’s discussing his role in his latest outing Khel Khel Mein or reflecting upon the success of Bad Newz, Virk exudes a genuine enthusiasm for his craft. “The film, a remake of the Italian thriller The Perfect Stranger, has been shot with all of us sitting at a dining table and sofa, and 85 per cent is of one night, or we can say two days. It is very entertaining. While the idea has been taken from an Italian film, Khel Khel Mein is made to suit the Indian culture and ethos,” he says with much excitement. The film features an ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu and Fardeen Khan. Reflecting on his recent success, Ammy says, “The audience has loved Bad Newz immensely. It was my first film as a lead in Bollywood, and seeing it gross Rs 100 crore at the boxoffice was an incredible feeling. Working with co-stars Vicky Kaushal and Tripti Dimri was amazing.” Ammy is now set to resume shooting for Saunkan Saunkne 2 and Nikka Zaildar 4, and is excited about his next venture, Sarbala Ji, with Gippy Grewal. “It has been a great year so far, and I’m hopeful that next one will be even bigger,” he says. As we speak about his Punjabi films, the actor expresses his passion for the language and the industry. He acknowledges the industry’s progress, but also sees significant room for Actor Ammy Virk, who has made a mark with his latest Bollywood film Khel Khel Mein, believes the Punjabi film industry needs better organisation and higher budgets growth. “Punjabi films have made a mark. Slowly, the films are going for a higher budget,” he notes, talking about recent films like Carry on Jatta 3 and Jatt and Juliet 3 touching the Rs 100 crore mark. He hopes, “In the coming time, we’ll cross the Rs 200 and 250 crore threshold too.” When it comes to subjects that need to be explored, the actor adds, “We should make more action films and ones that depict our rich history.” However, Ammy is also candid about the challenges that the Punjabi film industry is facing. He highlights the need for better organisation and support within the industry. “There are no associations, even heroes and heroines are few,” he says. He believes both the industry and the audience need to contribute to the growth of new artistes and projects. Ammy quotes the example of the recently released film Rhode College, “It’s a film that deserves support of the audience just like any big budget film. There are a lot of new faces in it and I request everyone to appreciate fresh talent.” The actor says he is personally very happy when any Punjabi film does well. “When Jagjit’s Oye Bhole Oye did well, you won’t believe how much I danced at its success party. As such, I had no connection with the film, but I was just overjoyed by its success.” Ammy also emphasises the importance of preparation and planning in filmmaking. “When a new film is made, the writer and the director are most important,” he says. Another point of contention is the time at hand for the artistes to prepare for a film. “Everyone should get proper time to make a film. If we get the script just one day before the shoot, there are going to be problems on the sets. The thing about preparation is that you can save a lot of time, effort and money.” As he sums up his take on the Punjabi film industry, Ammy says, “We need more directors, more actors and writers in the industry.” Everyone should get proper time to make a film. If we get the script just one day before the shoot, there are going to be problems on the sets. The thing about preparation is that you can save a lot of time, effort and money. A STILL FROM KHEL KHEL MEIN The cast and crew of Punjabi film Alzheimer aims to generate awareness about the disease among the viewers We have all heard of Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys the memory. But what if a person starts showing symptoms of the disease during the early thirties? An upcoming Punjabi film titled Alzheimer deals with the subject, and the cast got candid during an interaction at the Press Club on Wednesday. Actor Bhinda Aujla, who is also debuting as director with this film , is hopeful that this message-oriented subject will ignite interest in the audience. The OTT film, which is releasing today on Chaupal, also stars actors, Harman Bhullar, Surbhi Mahendru and Puneet Kaur. Written by Sapinder Singh, Bhinda related to the subject because he had seen his grandparents suffering from memory loss. He said, “Almost 70 per cent of the film is shot in Canada and rest of the scenes are based in a village named Chankoian Kalan. We have done intense research on the topic and how lifestyle changes can help. Everyone knows it as a disease that one can be plagued by during old age, but there are rare cases of it affecting PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Real star! Farhan Akhtar to release his new single Reach For The Stars on August 29 Mind game youngsters as well. The character that I play also finds it hard to process that he has the disease. Another actress, Puneet, has been taking care of Alzehimer’s patients in Canada and had first-hand experience. She helped a lot during the shooting process.” Harman Bhullar, who is also a part of the film, said she first got a break as a model in a Punjabi song. “To get to play a small part in renowned singer Satinder Sartaaj’s song, Baari Khohl, was a huge moment for me. But it was MS Dhoni’s biopic that inspired me to follow what I love. That film really moved me to work towards what brings me happiness — acting.” On the other hand, Bhinda has always had interest in acting. However, he complains, “Not many big names from the industry come in support of a new actor or director.” A Punjabi who moved to Canada for higher studies, he has four more projects in the c m y b pipeline. Out of them, one is a web series titled Kasba Singhai Kheri and also a film Vadda Ghar. As to why he chose OTT for his debut as director, Bhinda says, “It’s because I have also made this film for the elderly people, who might not be able to go to the theatre. I wanted to reach out to as many people as I could. Moreover, it’s a film that should be watched with the family to understand the nuances of this disease and how it affects the family.” — TNS Filmmaker-actor-singer Farhan Akhtar is all set to release his upcoming single titled Reach For The Stars on August 29. Farhan took to Instagram and shared a glimpse of the cover, where he is seen singing with Reach For The Stars written in the background. He wrote: “Hey, excited to share that I’ve got a new single titled Reach For The Stars releasing on the 29th of August... Happy listening and happy sharing.” Recently, Farhan celebrated 23 years of his cult film Dil Chahta Hai, which also marked his debut. On Saturday, the actordirector took to Instagram and shared a video celebrating the 23rd anniversary of the film. He wrote in the caption, “Here’s to lifelong friendships. To the cast, crew and audience, your love has kept #DilChahtaHai alive for 23 years. #23YearsOfDilChahtaHai.” — IANS