04112024-LSTC-01.qxd 11/3/2024 7:45 PM Page 1 c m y b I’M NOT A PUPPET: CARDI B Rapper Cardi B has reacted to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s comment about her. Recently, he called her a “puppet” for the Kamala Harris campaign. To this Cardi B responded, “I’m not a puppet Elon.. I’m a daughter of two immigrant parents that had to work their ass off to provide for me! ...” GET PHYSICAL You can work it out TRIBUNE It’s a boy Life Barbie star Margot Robbie and her husband Tom Ackerley have become parents to a baby boy. Details like his name and birthdate, are yet to be revealed. CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 4 NOVEMBER 2024 In love with love stories Actor-producer Mishal Khan ensures that he spends at least one hour in the gym, even on hectic days. For him, fitness is a priority. How do you manage to stay fit despite your busy schedule? It is all about consistency. I plan my workouts, ensuring I spend at least one hour at the gym, even on hectic days. I also keep my meals balanced and stay wellhydrated throughout the day. Ultimately, it’s about finding what works for you. How does your fitness routine benefit your overall well-being? My fitness regime helps me stay alert, focused and productive throughout the day. Regular exercise boosts my mood and reduces stress levels. Clean entertainment is very difficult. It’s so easy to make people laugh through risqué and double- meaning humour. What kind of diet do you follow to stay on track with your fitness goals? I focus on wholesome foods with plenty of protein. I also stay hydrated. My meals are nutrient-dense, provide the vitamins and minerals my body needs to function at its best. How do you avoid making unhealthy food choices? I practise portion control and meal prep to avoid unhealthy choices. My diet isn’t about restriction; it’s about fuelling my body to stay strong and active. Balance is key, and I allow myself treats occasionally while keeping my overall nutrition in check. How do you motivate yourself on days when you don’t feel like working out? Nonika Singh I’ve realised that fitness is a journey, not a destination. Consistent efforts make the biggest difference. Reminding myself of that keeps me going. I’m also motivated by the progress I’ve made and the fear of losing that keeps me going. “In a world where conflict has become a norm, where the possibility of World War III is looming large, why should cinema be weaponised?” This is the sentiment of noted Punjabi director Rajiv Dhingra whose latest film Shahkot, a cross-border love story, came on the wings of love and harmony. Coming from the land of the Guru Granth Sahib, he observes, “Love conquers all. We need to seek forgiveness for our excesses as well as forget and forgive others.” Hence, whatever may be the political stance or reality, he would like to spread the message of love. Even though his next film happens to be on the complicated issue of the SYL canal, it will be more of a comment on the water crisis, which we are facing rather than a political imbroglio. Going into dark spaces isn’t his wont. If he dabbles into comedy as in Love Punjab, a social entertainer, his personal genre is to “make movies that either entertain or are inspirational. And ones which entire family can watch together.” Since he started his journey in the world of entertainment with Comedy Nights With Kapil, we wonder if he is envious of the dizzying heights of success of Kapil? He says, “Kapil and I have been friends since class nine and he is an inspiration.” But yes, he does rue that in India we don’t give enough credit to directors. “Especially, they often do not have copyright over their brainchild as was the case with Comedy Nights… which was an original show and not a remake of an international one. It has my name, on paper too, but the rights belong to the channel,” he laments. Those were the days when Kapil and he had just landed in Mumbai and were not so clued into the dynamics of business of filmmaking. Rajiv might be a little more astute now, but asserts, “In this industry only dhake shahi Do you feel pressured to look fit? I understand the pressure, but I prioritize fitness for my own health and happiness, not just appearance. It’s essential to promote realistic beauty standards and diversity in our industry. Inner health and well-being are just as crucial as looking fit. Can you share fitness tips? One of my top fitness tips is to focus on progress, not perfection. Every small step counts, and it’s important to acknowledge those little victories along the way. Consistency is the key. Another tip is to listen to your body— rest and recovery are just as important as exercise. Taking care of your mental health is crucial in maintaining overall well-being. Shahkot fame director Rajiv Dhingra, who believes that love conquers all, wants to make movies that either entertain or are inspirational A still from Shahkot works. Those who have an upper hand have the last word and the right to call the shots.” Thus, the only way forward for people like him is to turn a producer. Of course, while makers often talk about how the path to Bollywood is no cakewalk, golden opportunity literally landed in his lap when Pankaj Saraswat, director of The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, saw his play Mirch Masala in Amritsar. Expectedly, the city of Golden Temple where he grew up has Kartik Aaryan is happy that his mom is not getting tickets for Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 House full Kartik Aaryan recently shared a lighthearted moment about his mother, Mala Tiwari, struggling to secure tickets for his latest release Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. On Sunday, Kartik posted an adorable video of his mom trying to book tickets on BookMyShow, but she hadn’t managed to get a seat yet. Sharing the amusing clip, Kartik wrote in the caption, “Mummy ko bhi nahi mil rahi tickets. So happy to have this problem.” In the video, Kartik’s mom is seen sitting on a couch, telling him about her difficulty getting tickets. She humorously says, “I feel like posting ‘hey Bhagwan meri aankhein taras gayi hai yeh film dekhne ko.’” Kartik then playfully asks, “Ab tickets kaha se book kare?” Meanwhile, the Dhamaka actor has been sharing fun videos with his co-stars Madhuri Dixit and Vidya Balan on social media, adding to the buzz around the film. Directed by Anees Bazmee, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 was released in theatres on November 1. taught him much. “After all, it’s a city with a history of 100 years of theatre,” he adds. His alma mater, The Film and Training Institute of Patiala, too, was a learning ground. Yes, he did try to gain admission in the prestigious Film and Training Institute, Pune and also the National School of Drama. The failed attempts ignited a fire in his belly and deep desire not to follow the herd mentality. As Shahkot climaxed on a realistic note he reasons, “Post-Covid, thanks to the OTT boom, Security for Sikandar Salman Khan lands in Hyderabad to shoot a grand scene for his film, Sikandar The horror-comedy clashed with Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again at the box office. The horror-comedy has received mixed reactions from audiences. Film critic Taran Adarsh reported that Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 earned Rs 36.60 crore on its opening day, marking Kartik’s biggest opener to date. Adarsh tweeted, “Kartik Aaryan vs Kartik Aaryan: BB3 takes massive lead... Day 1 biz... 2024: #BhoolBhulaiyaa3 Rs 36.60 cr, 2022: #BhoolBhulaiyaa2 Rs 14.11 cr, 2020: #LoveAajKal Rs 12.40 cr, 2023: #SatyaPremKiKatha Rs 9.25 cr (Thursday), 2019: #PatiPatniAurWoh Rs 9.10 cr, 2019: #LukaChuppi Rs 8.01 cr, 2015: #PyaarKaPunchnama2 Rs 6.80 cr, 2023: #Shehzada Rs 6 cr, 2024: #ChanduChampion Rs 5.40 cr.” The film also stars Madhuri Dixit, Sanjay Mishra, Triptii Dimri, and Rajpal Yadav among others. — IANS c m y b audiences’ tastes have changed dramatically and for them reality truly bites.” Whether Punjabi cinema is keeping up with what the audience wants, he is more than upbeat about Pollywood’s future. He says, “The Punjabi film industry has suffered on two counts. After Partition, the industry shifted from Lahore and Amritsar to Bombay. Then the dark chapter of terrorism dealt a severe blow.” And what does he make of the recent migration of Punjabi stars to Canada? Does it bode well for the industry? Once again he turns to his roots. He recounts the story associated with Guru Nanak Dev’s travels, as to how he blessed good people to disseminate and bad ones to stay stuck in the same village, for the fragrance of goodness must spread. “Punjab’s youth,’ he notes, ‘has expanded the map of Punjab. Today, we may feel our children have become Duleep Singh, alienated from their mitti. But in times to come this will be a great boon.” As it is, Punjabi diaspora is providing a huge market to Punjabi cinema. He says, “Even star-driven Hindi movies find it difficult to earn Rs 50 crore. But many Punjabi films are doing business upward of the figure.” As for Shahkot, he shares, “Considering it was singer Guru Randhawa’s acting debut, it did not fare badly. It cut even, thanks to digital and other rights.” Shahkot 2 is in the making and so is a film starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Hindi. As audiences turn language agnostic, he sincerely believes that big-ticket producers and makers will soon make films in Punjabi. “After all, Punjabi is such a beautiful language, just say two words like kavaan kavaan and it becomes a song,” says the man who simply loves Punjabi poetry. And, on his wish list are many projects on literary giants of the state that has nurtured his sensibility and sensitivity. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, whose security has been beefed up in the light of death threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gangs, is currently in Hyderabad to shoot for his upcoming movie Sikandar. The film’s team will reportedly shoot a grand scene at Taj Falaknuma Palace. Notably, Salman Khan’s sister, Arpita Khan held her wedding at the opulent palace in 2014. Sikandar is directed by AR Murugadoss, who is known for films like Ghajini and Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty. The film is being produced by Sajid Nadiadwala of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. It marks the reunion of Salman with Sajid after Kick, which was released in 2014. The makers of the film have booked its release for Eid 2025. Of late, Salman has been maintaining a lowprofile, and is shooting amid tight security after the assassination of his friend and politician Baba Siddique. —IANS