12102024-LSCB-01.qxd 10/12/2024 12:16 AM Page 1 c m y b LIFE—THREATENING SITUATION Janhvi Kapoor was in a life-threatening situation while shooting for the song Chuttamale from the Jr NTR-starrer Devara: Part 1. Janhvi took to Instagram, where she shared some throwback moments from her shoot schedule in Thailand. She shared that she shot for the popular track in jellyfish-filled water. TRIBUNE Future plans Bollywood star Alia Bhatt has revealed her future plans, which includes making more movies, having more babies and jet-setting to several places! LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 12 OCTOBER 2024 A girl from Mumbai slums, Maleesha Kharwa, is making a splash as India’s youngest supermodel, after being chosen as the face of a skincare brand Slums to STARDOM Anandita Gupta Imagine gracing the covers of India’s leading fashion magazines at the mere age of 15. Or, being the face of country’s leading beauty and skincare brand, while still being in school. And, well, accomplishing all this when you are living in a crude, rundown hut in a crowded slum area with no basic amenities. All this is nothing short of a Cinderella’s miracle-dream, which has come true for Mumbai’s slumdweller Maleesha Kharwa. Early struggles Maleesha had a very tough life, previously living in a kachchi jhompri (shanty) in Mumbai’s slums. It was a maze of narrow lanes, overflowing drains and makeshift homes piled one on top of the other, garbage and puddles of dirty, muddy water. “We had no access to electricity and had to walk miles to fill up water cans or even use the public washroom. The fear of eviction from municipal officials added to my family’s struggles,” remembers Maleesha. However, this little girl never gave up on her starry-eyed dreams. In fact, she wanted to be a model since she was six. “Every night, I would close my eyes and picture myself walking the ramp for famous designers or getting clicked by fashion photographers,” smiles the starryeyed dreamer. It was probably this manifesting her dream of being a model every single night that made it come true! Into the spotlight Maleesha’s big break came after a chance encounter with Hollywood actor Robert Hoffman. While stuck in Mumbai, during the Covid-19 lockdown, Hoffman met Maleesha while working on a music video with slum dwellers. Impressed by her buoyant spirit, photogenic looks and winning smile, he decided to cast her cousin in his music video (and not her) as he had found her a bit too pretty for that role. However, he decided to support Maleesha in pursuing her dream of becoming a model, while helping with her education, social media publicity and basic needs. Maleesha’s life took a 360-degree turn. Hoffman created an Instagram account for Maleesha and launched a GoFundMe campaign to support her education and fuel her dreams. Her videos that Hoffman posted on social media (in which she was seen giving the audiences a peek into her life) went viral. Adversity to acclaim Soon, Maleesha was flooded with modelling assignments and offers. Before she knew, she was made the face of India’s leading beauty and skincare brand Forest Essentials’ Yuvati collection in April 2023. This collection isn’t just about skincare; it’s a social initiative aimed at empowering young women. And Maleesha seems to fit the bill perfectly. “My life has changed so much. Before my big break, I had many financial problems and many difficulties. Now, things are much better,” grins Maleesha, who never forgets to thank God every single day. So what’s the most exciting part of her new-found success? “There are many blessings. But the one that makes me the happiest is that my father no longer has to skip his meals,” beams Maleesha. Inspiring lives Through her growing social media presence on Instagram, Maleesha now shares her journey, offering a window into her evolving world and inspiring countless others. Her name now shines on the covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan, marking a remarkable journey. “I love doing photoshoots because I meet many interesting and creative people, and I make new friends,” reveals Maleesha, whose biggest dream now is, “To buy a big house for my family.” At just 16, this Mumbai teenager, who once faced the harsh realities of life in the city’s slums, has ascended to the pinnacle of the fashion world. Dust to stardust “I want to be a supermodel but also study a lot. I’m not so fond of acting. I’m inspired by the confidence of Kylie Jenner and Sai Pallavi,” signs off Maleesha, who plans to start Maleesha People, a platform to support kids like her to live their dreams, irrespective of their socio-economic status and financial background. Maleesha Kharwa’s story is a striking modern fairy tale of transformation and hope. It is a testament to remind us of the profound impact of belief and support. Shabana Azmi to get Excellence in Cinema Award at MAMI Mumbai Film Festival One more award Veteran actress Shabana Azmi will be felicitated with Excellence in Cinema Award at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. A special screening of her film Arth will also be held at this year’s edition. The ceremony will be held on October 18. This will be followed by a master class on October 19 in conversation with National Award-winning actor Vidya Balan and will offer insights into Azmi’s journey and experiences over five decades in the industry. Shabana recently completed 50 years in the Indian film industry. At the IIFA Awards 2024, she got candid about her achievements and talked about her journey from her debut film till date. She shared, “I’m overwhelmed, because when my first film, Ankur, was released on September 24, 1974, you would knock me down with a feather if you had told me I’d still be working 50 years later. So I’m really grateful...” — ANI FATIMA SANA SHAIKH LAKME FASHION WEEK Stars rnohckmp crk roe ak o t Bhumi Pednekar on Friday after turn with her noon made heads ramp walk at designer Richa Khemka’s show on Day 3 of . Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI 2024 For her showstopper look, she wore a black gown that she paired with black heels. The plunging neckline with halter neck design of the outfit undoubtedly exuded oomph and style. Meanwhile, on the second day of the fashion gala, actresses She and walked the runway. fali Shah While Shefali walked for David Abraham, Rakesh Thakore, and Kevin Nigli, Fatima turned show stopper for NIF (New York Institute of Fashion) talented stuand Mali Chetan dents, Mahendra Choudhary. Reflecting on her experience, Fatima shared, “It was very endearing to see all the designers. It’s a great initiative. I love that it’s their first show; they were quite nervous, just like leaves shaking in the wind. It was lovely to walk for them. I think the future is bright; it is nice to see all the With a bit of chilli! MANU BHAKER When Javed Akhtar roasted standup comedians’ use of profanities in gigs young designers expressing their own voices.” When questioned about her offscreen fashion preferences, Fatima revealed, “Usually, I prefer to wear sarees but I don’t really follow any trends. Typically, by the time I hear about a trend, it has already passed,” she said. Lakme Fashion Week x FDCI 2024 will conclude on Sunday with Rohit Bal’s finale. Meanwhile, shooter Manu Bhaker also walked the ramp for Mark & Spencers. — ANI BHUMI PEDNEKAR c m y b Indian screenwriting legend and lyricist Javed Akhtar, who is known for his contributions to Hindi cinema, and has won five National Film Awards over his career, has a word of advice for all stand-up comedians who use the crutches of profanities to incite a laughter during their gigs. Recently, a video went viral in which the screenwriting legend spoke about the usage of inappropriate language in comedy. The video shows Akhtar being asked by a comedian, “So what is your perspective on whether it is appropriate to use abusive language in comedy or not?” Akhtar responded, “I will tell you one thing — in Orissa, Bihar and Mexico, anywhere in the world where there is poverty, people eat a lot of chilli because the food is bland. So just to get some taste, they eat chili, and abusive language is the chilli of language...” — IANS