11012025-LSTL-01.qxd 1/10/2025 8:24 PM Page 1 c m y b CILLIAN NOT ON BOARD After fans speculated the return of Cillian Murphy in the sequel of the film 28 Days Later following the release of its teaser, the film’s producer Andrew Macdonald clarified that the Oscar-winning actor will not be appearing in the movie. TRIBUNE Injury scare Life Actress Rashmika Mandanna recently met with an unfortunate injury in the gym that has caused a temporary pause in the shooting schedules of her highly anticipated upcoming project. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 11 JANUARY 2025 Jhakass girl! Gurnaaz A NURITTA K JHA’s story has a bit of everything. There is resilience, glamour, hard work and a strong commitment to taking on roles that are as varied as they are impactful. From her breakthrough in Rocketry: The Nambi Effect to her portrayal of a sadhvi in Aashram, Anuritta has evolved with each new character. She refuses to be typecast and wants to be a part of meaningful storytelling. As her web series Mithya 2 hits new milestones, she sheds light on both her craft and her philosophy. WORKING WITH MADHAVAN Lighting it up! Payal Kapadia bags best international film award by the New York Film Critics Circle Anuritta says her experience of working with R Madhavan in the National Awardwinning film Rocketry was a defining moment in her career. “Madhavan sir is a focused director and knew exactly what he wanted,” she shares. “He took a re-audition for me...it went on for good 10 to 12 minutes when he kept on giving me voice commands and I kept on changing my emotion; it was intense.” The result, of course, was a deeply impactful film that Anuritta is proud to be a part of. IMPORTANCE OF MEANINGFUL ROLES Having worked across genres, from critically acclaimed films like Mithila Makhana to popular web series such as Aashram and Asur 2, Anuritta’s approach to choosing roles is both deliberate and thoughtful. “I am very clear about the roles I want to do. Firstly, if the director is good, then I am absolutely in for the role. Then I look at the story, and after that I evaluate my character’s graph,” she says. She admits that in the past there were roles she wasn’t proud of, but the experience helped her identify her true path. “I have done a couple of films that Hollywood star Jodie Foster has seen All We Imagine As Light twice, says filmmaker Payal Kapadia about her critically acclaimed movie that continues to garner recognition in award circles. Kapadia on Wednesday evening received the best international film award by the New York Film Critics Circle (NYFCC). In her acceptance speech, she thanked the film’s distributor in the US for helping her connect with many people in Hollywood. “ We Imagine As All Light has been on a winning streak at international platforms since it scripted history by becoming the first film from India to win the Grand Prix trophy at the Cannes Film Festival last year. Starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha and Chhaya Kadam, the film explores love, longing and loneliness in the bustling city of Mumbai through three women, two Malayali nurses—Prabha and Anu—and their friend Parvati, a cook. Though the film failed to convert its two nods at the Golden Globes into wins, it continues to amass nominations across various awards. The movie won the Best International Film at the Gotham Awards recently. It claimed the top spot at the Sight and Sound magazine’s annual list of 50 best movies of the year. It is also expected to earn nominations at the BAFTAs. — PTI Rocketry, Gangs of Wasseypur, Aashram and more, Anuritta K Jha, who has made a mark with each role she has essayed, has now ventured into writing I am not very happy about. But ever since I gained a better understanding of the kind of roles I wanted to do, things have changed.” SHINING IN GANGS OF WASSEYPUR Anuritta’s acting career took a monumental leap with Gangs of Wasseypur, where she played Shama Parveen, a role that remains iconic even a decade later. “To this day, people come up to me and praise that role. It is absolutely unbelievable,” she says. Her first day on set was filled with nervousness and excitement. “I was filming the suhaag raat scene with Vineet, and everybody played a prank on me, saying that I really had to kiss him on screen! I had tears in my eyes,” she recalls with a laugh. ADDRESSING SOCIAL ISSUES Anuritta’s choices are not just driven by her love for acting, but also her passion for addressing social issues. Roles in films like Unaccused and Pari & Pinocchio explore themes of marital rape and societal pres- sures, and Anuritta took these challenges head on. “As an actor, being given the opportunity to address a social cause is a privilege—something I am very grateful for,” she says. Playing a model suffering from bulimia in Pari & Pinocchio, she found the role deeply personal. “Unaccused was the project where I truly pushed myself. It was extremely exhausting—by the third or fourth day of the shoot, both my co-actor and I had bruises on our bodies due to the physicality involved,” she explains. But the appreciation and feedback she received made it all worthwhile. IN THE SPOTLIGHT When Anuritta won the Channel V Get Gorgeous contest, she was just out of her 12th grade in Patna. “I was very, very young—just out of my 12th grade. I was quite naive and unprepared for the glamour industry,” she admits. It was an unexpected step into a world of beauty, fashion and fame, far removed from her simple life back in Bihar. Yet, this exposure opened doors to some of the most prestigious fashion events in the country—from Wills Fashion Week to Lifestyle Fashion Week—where she walked the ramp for top designers like Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Manish Malhotra. TAKING UP WRITING Anuritta has also ventured into writing and producing with her short film Holikadahen. “Writing has been a part of my life ever since I was a child,” she says, explaining that her family’s literary background influenced her creative journey. Although producing was not quite as fulfilling as she had hoped, she found joy in writing. “Writing is something that I’ve started expressing recently and I will continue doing that,” she affirms. ‘I don’t like attention’ Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan has said although he doesn’t like attention, the upcoming Netflix documentary The Roshans is not about him but his family. “When I saw this documentary, I was absolutely amazed. It’s been directed so beautifully,” Hrithik, who turned 51 on Friday, said during a press conference in Mumbai. He revealed that he had never met his grandfather. “I wonder if I magically get a chance to have a conversation with him... After seeing the documentary, I would actually like to ask him about his childhood, about what he went through. I wonder what he would ask me! I RAKESH AND RAJESH ROSHAN think he may ask ‘if I am happy’,” he added. “When my father said he wanted to make this documentary, I felt embarrassed. I don’t like attention and then I realised this was not about me. It is the histoHrithik recalls that he was stunned when Hrithik turned 51 on ry about my ancestors, my parents, my grandfahis father said he would be making Kaho Friday. His former ther…,” he shared. The upcoming series Hrithik revealed that when Naa. Pyaar Hai with him, as he believed brother-in-law Zayed chronicles the trials and triumphs of Bolhe was 12-years-old, he it was being written for top stars like Khan shared a picture lywood’s iconic Roshan family — would at times choose tunes Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and from the celebrations, musician for his music composer Aamir Khan. The 2000 blockbuster which included his exchacha Rajesh Roshan and Roshan Lal marked Hrithik’s sensational debut 25 wife Sussanne Khan, that sometimes he would years ago. Now, in celebration of his and his ladylove Nagrath, Rajesh, see them on the silver jubilee in the film industry, the film Saba Azaad, among Rakesh and screens. is being re-released in theatres. many others. Hrithik. — IANS 25 YRS OF KAHO NAA PYAAR HAI 51ST B’DAY TUNED IN Aside from a good story and music, what made movies of yore special were their charismatic female leads. Now, ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ fans will get a chance to see some of these former actresses, including Zeenat Aman and Meenakshi Seshadri, on the silver screen once again. Here’s a quick check! PROJECTION Will she, won’t she? TRUE DIVA: Zeenat Aman Zeenat Aman charmed the audiences with her acting in films such as Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Don. After staying away from the limelight for a long time, the diva recently became active on social media. Zeenat will be returning to films with Bun Tikki. From Zeenat Aman to Meenakshi Seshadri, here are some veteran actresses who RETURN MODE: Meenakshi Seshadri Meenakshi Seshadri took a break are likely to make a from work following her marriage to investment banker Harish Mysore in comeback in 1995. She was last seen in the 1994 drama Duet. Now, the diva has returned to the 2025 country from the US and wishes to come Mamta Kulkarni Meenakshi Seshadri back into the entertainment industry. THINKING CAP: Mamta Kulkarni Another actress who left the film industry without a notice was Mamta Kulkarni. Known for her roles in Krantiveer, Karan Arjun, Sabse Bada Khiladi, Andolan, Baazi and China Gate, when asked about her B-town return, Mamta revealed that she had received offers for a few web series. c m y b Mumtaz Sangeeta Bijlani HEART’S CALL: Mumtaz Mumtaz left a mark on Indian cinema back. Ever since the she started attending reality shows, movie buffs have been wondering about her comeback. She revealed, “I am not sure if I will get the kind of role that really touches my heart...” ON WAY: Sonam Khan Actress Sonam Khan last graced the silver Sonam Khan screen back in 1992 with Vishwatma. The actress has openly expressed her desire to come back in the industry. OTT ROUTE: Sangeeta Bijlani Who among us does not know Sangeeta Bijlani? Even at the age of 64, she can give the young actresses a run for their money. Last seen in the 1996 drama Jagannath, she wants to make a comeback through OTT. — IANS