14092024-LSTL-01.qxd 9/13/2024 8:21 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE DILJIT, ALIA COLLABORATE AGAIN Diljit Dosanjh and Alia Bhatt are collaborating again in Jigra, eight years after their hit film Udta Punjab. Alia announced the news by sharing a post on Instagram on Friday, which featured both the actors sitting on chairs with their back to the camera. Milan calling Actress Rashmika Mandanna on Friday jetted off to Milan, Italy, where she is poised to make her mark once again on the global fashion stage at the Milan Fashion Week 2024. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 14 SEPTEMBER 2024 PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR The batata connection In Chandigarh, Shweta Tripathi, known for her role in Mirzapur 3, says as an actress, she wants to be as versatile as the aloo! Sheetal You may know her best from her role in Mirzapur as Gajgamini Gupta urf Golu, but actress Shweta Tripathi in real life relates best to batata wada when it comes to her personality and that’s why @battatawada is her Instagram handle too! In Chandigarh on Thursday evening for an Black & White’s event Table for Everyone, Shweta didn’t just host it but also played many ‘ice-breaking’ games with as many as 50 influencers of Chandigarh. As she talked to The Tribune ahead of her event, Shweta highlighted, “Batata is a word for aloo (potato) in Mumbai and I actually wish to be the aloo as an artiste. Just like batata, which is present in most dishes, be it veg, non-vegetarian or vegan food, gels with any dish, can be crisper, soggy, roasted or boiled…so I wish to be an actor who fits into any role.” She is yet to essay a Punjabi character in a film or series. Shweta exclaimed, “I cannot wait to play a Punjabi role. I really love the On Hindi Diwas, celebs talk about their favourite work of literature Lessons for life Mona Social inequality, principles of living life fully, fundamental aspects of human nature to power of empathy, there is hardly a teacher better than literature! On Hindi Diwas, we speak to actors and writers about one significant book that they recommend as a must read. humanity of everyday people is both touching and profound. His characters are deeply relatable. Godaan remains relevant today as it deals with themes of social justice, economic disparity, and the conflicts between tradition and modernity — issues that continue to resonate in contemporary society. HINDI DIWAS ANUPAMA SOLANKI, actress POWER OF EMPATHY DEEP INSIGHT Shekhar: Ek Jeevani, a novel by Ajneya, is what I recommend to anyone who wants to know philosophy or understand life. It was recommended to me during my college years in Delhi University by my friend, philosopher and guide, Vikas Divyakirti, who along with being an author and educator is also a huge social media influencer now. I have read the book many times over and each time it offers me a fresh perspective. It’s my Gita, Quran and Bible. — PANKAJ DUBEY, platform agnotic storyteller, host of podcast Small Towns Big Stories LEAF FROM HISTORY It’s difficult to choose just one must-read book, as there are so many great ones. However, I could recommend the one I’m currently revisiting — Yayaati, written by Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar and translated into Hindi. It is considered one of the classics of Marathi literature, retelling the story of King Yayaati from the Mahabharata. Through its various characters, the novel explores themes of selflessness, love and pride, with a particular focus on how greed and lust can drag a person into the depths of moral decay. — HARSH CHHAYA, actor UNIVERSAL TEACHINGS I don’t remember the last time I read a novel or a book, except a few months ago when I read the Bhagavad Gita in Hindi. I must say it took me quite some time to understand a few chapters. I guess I’ll have to read it again — maybe a few more times. We all know the Bhagavad Gita’s significance, but I believe everyone who values it should read it at least once. It’s relevant because its teachings are universal and offer guidance on how to live life. — KAPIL NIRMAL, actor TIMELESS MASTERPIECE One must-read book in Hindi literature is Godaan by Munshi Premchand. It is a timeless masterpiece that explores the struggles of the rural poor in preIndependence India. Premchand’s ability to depict the hardships, hopes and One must-read short story is Gillu by Mahadevi Verma. This touching story explores the emotional bond between a woman and a small squirrel, beautifully capturing themes of love, empathy, and loss. Gillu stands out because of its simplicity and emotional depth. It highlights the unspoken connection between humans and animals, resonating deeply with those who appreciate themes of compassion and caregiving. In today’s fast-paced world, Gillu reminds us of the power of empathy, care, and forming connections beyond ourselves — values that are timeless and much-needed. RAVIRAA BHARDWAJ, actress STILL RELEVANT Hindi literature is vast and has a lot of depth, so picking one book would be tough, but if given a choice Tamas by Bhishm Sahni has to be my favourite. Tamas tells how despite getting freedom, the mindset of the majority hasn’t changed; you can draw a lot of parallels with our current situations too. My heart aches when I see only a couple of English to Hindi translations on a few shelves in the biggest of bookstores in the country; rarely do I see Hindi books at the airport stores. ABHILSH THAPLIYAL, actor c m y b ❝ I CONSIDER ACTING AS A VERY SPIRITUAL PROCESS WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE PRESENT innocence and beauty of Punjabis. I think ‘being yourself’ is the key for Punjabis to steal anybody’s heart without an iota of fakeness. I hope to play a Punjabi kudi really soon.” Last seen in Mirzapur’s threequel, did she ever feel it was a challenge returning to a character after a gap? “On the contrary, I believe a good franchise series is like an investment or fixed deposit and its sequels are the guaranteed returns. I never felt reprising my character was a challenge because that’s what an actor’s job is — to be able to unlearn and learn, move backward or ahead in time, and live as many lives and stories in a lifetime as they can.” Shweta’s life motto is Kya Mast Hai Life, which is also the name of her first show, the big acting break on television. “I consider acting as a very spiritual process where you have to be in the now, in the present,” she added. For Shweta to play a character like Golu, whose life’s circumstances forced her to pick a gun instead of books, and then in the same year seen as Parul Chaturvedi (Kalkoot), an acid attack survivor who refuses to be pitied upon, maintaining the right balance must be tough. “It’s not intentional, but I have been selective about characters that I wished to portray. It’s a wrong perception that you cannot say no during the initial years in the industry. I always had a say.” The Masaan actress, who has switched from non-vegetarian to vegetarian food, is disturbed by the increasing rape cases in the country. “To issue a generic statement of society being the cause isn’t leading us to any immediate solution. There needs to be stronger deterrents in place.” A graduate from NIFT Delhi, Shweta loves to experiment in hair, make-up and fashion, especially when seen at non-film events like the one held in Chandigarh. On the other hand, social media she considers a boon. “With social media, it’s documenting everything good or bad that you have once said or done. But it’s important to treat artistes as human beings, who can also commit a mistake.” About Chandigarh she has only good memories to share, “We were here during our shoot of Ye Kaali Kaali Ankhein for a couple of days before heading to the actual location. The food is really great here, I have a childhood memory of coming to Chandigarh with my parents and having a sandwich, which was so yummy that I still remember the day. Lastly, City Beautiful is so planned and unique because I have never heard any other place to have manholes with a city’s map.” On Hindi Diwas, Shweta shared she wanted to incorporate Devnagri script in her morning reading ritual and just started with one of Amrita Pritam’s Hindi book. She is also reading The Secret of Nagas by Amish Tripathi from his Shiva Trilogy series and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel by Satoshi Yagisawa. Upcoming show Durga is all about a girl’s spirit that wants to soar despite all odds Vikrant Parmar An inspiring love saga about a tribal girl defying societal norms to pursue a career in the medical field, upcoming show on Colors, Durga, starring Pranali Rathod as Durga, Indira Krishnan as Paani Bai, and Aashay Mishra as Anurag, is all about facing opposition and emerging victorious. About essaying the titular role, Pranali Rathod says, “Durga is a force to reckon with, named after the fierce Goddess we all look up to. Her battle is for her identity, her place in a world determined to hold her back. Durga’s fight isn’t just about her.” Excited to essay the role of Paani Bai, Indira Krishnan adds, “My character is deeply rooted in tradition, committed to preserving the rajgharana’s honour. For my character, upholding the rules of the past is her way of maintaining control in a world that’s constantly shifting. She stands firm against Durga, who dares to believe they can rise above their birth and station.” Set in Jodhpur, the story follows Durga, a tribal girl with an audacious dream — to become a doctor. Driven by a deep-seated desire to heal not just bodies but the very fabric of society, she envisions herself in the transformative white coat. Ironically, fate brings unexpected love into Durga’s life — Anurag, a royal heir, who becomes the wind beneath her wings. On the other hand, Paani Bai, who shares Durga’s tribal roots, stands in her way as a staunch guardian of the status quo. Sharing his thoughts about portraying Anurag, Storyof resilience AASHAY MISHRA AND PRANALI RATHOD Aashay Mishra says, “Anurag is a man caught in the crossfire of two very different worlds — the weight of his royal lineage and the call of his heart. His love for Durga runs deep, and so does his commitment to supporting her dream of uplifting her community.” Durga also stars Karam Veer, Rishi Kaushik, Heera Mishra, Akshaan Sherawat, Jassjeet, Sachin Verma, Digvijay Purohit, Jaya Binju, Krishna Soni, Aditi Asija, Soumendra Bhattacharya, among others. (Durga premiers on September 16 and will air each day day at 7.40 pm on Colors)