19012025-LSTL-01.qxd 1/18/2025 8:38 PM Page 1 c m y b TEASER RELEASED Starz has officially unveiled the first teaser of Outlander: Blood of My Blood, a highly anticipated prequel to the time-travel drama Outlander. Set to premiere in the summer, Blood of My Blood will explore the origins of key characters. TRIBUNE Action zone As Indian Police Force completes one year of its release, actress Shilpa Shetty recalled working in the series and said she enjoyed all the action. LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 19 JANUARY 2025 Hear it from the storyteller... Screenwriter-author Mushtaq Shiekh, in Amritsar to talk about his latest book, Secrets Within, pours his heart out Neha Saini T HE initial news reports on the attack on actor Saif Ali Khan rankled everyone, created a shock wave which was followed by lots of speculation and constant social media meme-fest. But Mushtaq Shiekh, screenwriter and author, who is close friends with Bollywood A-listers, including Shah Rukh Khan (whom he addresses as Shah), Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Tabu, Farah Khan, Ritesh and Genelia Deskhmukh, calls this incident unprecedented. “This was unprecedented, almost bordering on bizzare, that’s why people are shocked. It happened inside a house, safety of your families compromised. This shocks you. I feel now maybe we cannot hide the fact that this is going to be the new normal. There were boundaries, people are now crossing it and now we need to do some basic hygiene test (in terms of safety) that these things don’t happen.” Speaking at an event held for his latest book, Secrets Within, by Phulkari WOA and Majha House in Amritsar, Shiekh said the culture of excess in terms of movie stars Spilling secrets about stars SRK: “He has a strange habit of reading instruction manuals. Whether it’s a coffee machine or a phone, he is hooked to the reading manual.” Priyanka Chopra Jonas: “She is a big foodie. All her conversations centre around food and eating.” Salman Khan: “He can sketch anyone in under 10 minutes. Start to finish. He is that gifted.” has created challenges that have taken a turn for worse. “The rush to have more, documenting the lives of celebrities, film stars, the culture of excess is going to lead us to such situations, whether it’s on social media or the papparazi culture. We need to be ready for new challenges, rethink our safety norms.” He also shared an incident when personal space of some film actor was invaded in public, without any concern for the reaction. “The actor was eating out with the family and some fans approached for a picture. They were politely asked if it could wait and the reply from the fan was, ‘no, we are getting late’. I mean, it gets tedious for film stars as well after a while and when the lines between adoration and obsession blur, problem arises.” FRIENDS WITH KING KHAN Of course, being friends with the King of Bollywood and star of stars, Shah Rukh Khan, has made Mushtaq privy to this fan-obsession. “People are obsessed with him. They are in awe and he has that charm to demand your attention when he walks into a room. So, it’s natural,” he says. Sharing how there was a time when SRK’s interview got rejected by a leading magazine, Mushtaq recalled, “I first met him when he was still doing television and got an interview with him. He was so articulate. But my editor rejected the piece as Shah Rukh was not a star. I knew this interview had to be published and so I found 30 other Khans, who were struggling to make it big in films, and spoke to them, got the story together and got it published,” he shared. That was also the beginning of his journey as a writer. “I owe a major part of my writing career to SRK, as he forms As the lines between Bollywood and South Indian cinema continue to blur, a fresh wave of Bollywood actors is set to make their South Indian debut in 2025. From seasoned performers to rising stars, these actors are venturing into uncharted territory, collaborating with iconic South Indian filmmakers and actors. Here’s a closer look at their highly anticipated projects. be both ambitious and deeply rooted in values,” Barjatya said in a statement. “Palash has brought this vision alive with an extraordinary mix of old-school charm and fresh energy,” he added. Shiekh, who wrote scripts for RaOne, Om Shanti Om and Billu, has now come up with his first fiction novel, Secret Within, a crime thriller, which he confesses is his favourite genre. “Thriller is my first love, I consume so much thriller fictions that now anyone who knows me knows this. Unpredictability, how it stumps the reader, is what makes it work. The book is written in a series format, where three more books will follow—Secrets Buried, Secrets Forgotten and Secret Exposed. But each book stands out individually as well,” he says. As a screenwriter, Mushtaq says films are a collective process, where many people and their creatives are involved in completing the final product. “It is quite commerce driven, which books not necessarily are. But my storytelling also comes from films, as my mind works that way. The pace can be felt in the book. Today, most authors know that they need to sustain the readers’ attention because they are competing with social media, OTTs as competition.” Prime Video has announced the global streaming premiere of the Abhishek Bachchan-starrer I Want To Talk, directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Shoojit Sircar. The movie stars Abhishek Bachchan in the lead role, supported by an ensemble cast, including Ahilya Bamroo, Jayant Kriplani, Johny Lever, Pearle Dey and Kristin Goddard. I Want To Talk explores themes of resilience, human connection, and the emotional journey of a father striving to rebuild his fractured relationship with his daughter. The film follows the life of Arjun Sen, a talkative Bengali man who has lived the ‘American Dream’. Arjun’s life takes a dramatic turn when he learns he has just 100 days to live. This news forces him to confront his mortality, prompting a deep reflection on his life choices. His quest for reconciliation with his estranged seven-year-old daughter becomes the core of the story, marking an emotional and transformative journey filled with hope, redemption, and poignant father-daughter moments. In a statement director Shoojit Sircar shared, “I Want To Talk is a poignant reminder of the indomitable power of human connection and resilience. I’ve always been fascinated by the complexities of human relationships and how they can help one heal and transform. Through this film, I wanted to tell a story that would not only touch hearts but also spark meaningful conversations.” — ANI Vijay Varma has cemented his position as one of the most sought-after stars in Bollywood with his recent releases. During an interaction, the Darlings actor revealed that his success stems from people recognising his potential and using it well. Expressing his desire to continuously challenge himself with diverse roles, the actor was quoted saying, “I constantly feel like whatever I have achieved in my roles is because somebody saw something in me. It’s not me creating this character, but somebody saying ‘you can play this person also, you can play that person’. So, I want to be challenged that way. I desperately want to do a comedy, and I want to do a zombie movie, one of my favourite genres.” Vijay further revealed that last year turned out to be a hat-trick for him with successful OTT releases. The actor stated, “I think my last theatrical release was Barjatya’s Bada Naam Karengeto release on February 7 of traditional family values. “Bada Naam Karenge is a labour of love that celebrates family, dreams and respect for tradition in a modern world. It bridges generational gaps, proving that Gen Z can LOVE FOR THRILLERS Abhishek Bachchan’s I want to talkgets an OTT release ‘I want to be challenged’ Coming soon Bada Naam Karenge, the debut OTT series from filmmaker Sooraj R Barjatya’s banner Rajshri Productions, will premiere on Sony LIV from February 7, the streamer announced on Saturday. The show, which was officially announced last year, is directed by Palash Vasvani, who helmed Gullak, and stars Ritik Ghanshani of Dil Dosti Dilemma fame, and Ayesha Kaduskar, known for Agneepath and Candy. Bada Naam Karenge follows the story of Rishabh and Surbhi, a modern Gen Z couple navigating their dreams while embracing the warmth the subject of my earlier three books, including Still Reading Khan, his biography.” Digital route VIJAY VARMA Here are B-town actors who are set for a South Indian debut in 2025 Grandeur & action before the pandemic, and I’ve had around 15 releases since 2020. And they’ve all been streaming, mostly on Netflix and Amazon. There have been movies, and there have been series. And, fortunately, I’ve been part of some of the good films that came out, a good series that came out, including directors who made very big films.” He also mentioned the ongoing new wave of Bollywood with the OTT blockbuster IC814, “Me and Arvind sir were part of it. It’s one of the biggest shows that Netflix has made. And, it is talking about a story, which is a historical event. I think what it is giving me is basically a new version of Bollywood, which doesn’t subscribe to the idea of four songs and seven fight scenes and a start, middle, end, kind of those things. So, this is a new parallel that’s what I figured.” Up next, he has Ul Jalool Ishq and Matka King lined up for release. — IANS films and co-produced by Ekta Kapoor, Vrushabha is a high-budget TeluguMalayalam bilingual, directed by acclaimed filmmakers. UNDER WRAPS Kareena Kapoor Khan, Yet-untitled Bollywood’s queen GREAT GOING Ali Fazal, Thug Life Ali Fazal, celebrated for his versatility in films and web series like Mirzapur and Victoria & Abdul, is all set to make his South Indian debut in the pan-India film Thug Life. Sharing the screen with the legendary Kamal Haasan, Ali is stepping into a world of grandeur and action. Directed by a prominent South Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam, this multilanguage release is expected to captivate audiences nationwide. With an impressive lineup of Bollywood projects in 2025, Ali’s collaboration in Thug Life Kareena Kapoor Khan is ready to conquer the South Indian industry in 2025. While the details of her untitled project remain under wraps, Kareena has expressed her enthusiasm for this new venture, calling it a ‘big South film’. Fans eagerly await more updates, as this marks Kareena’s first foray into South Indian cinema. Known for her powerful performances and magnetic screen presence, her debut is bound to create ripples. NEGATIVE ZONE ALI FAZAL adds another feather to his cap, solidifying his position as one of the busiest and most versatile actors today. SCREEN PRESENCE Akshay Oberoi, Toxic Known for his intense performances in films like Fighter and Gurgaon, Akshay Oberoi is ready to leave a SHANAYA KAPOOR AKSHAY OBEROI SOHAIL KHAN SUNNY HINDUJA mark in the South Indian industry with Toxic. Sharing screen space with Yash, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara and Huma Qureshi, this muchhyped project promises a high-octane mix of action and drama. Akshay is thrilled about his big-screen presence alongside a stellar ensemble cast and is working hard to ensure his South Indian debut is unforgettable. horror film is an intriguing mix of scares and laughs, showcasing Sunny’s versatility as an actor. With a gripping script and unique concept, Hello Mummy is set to mark Sunny’s debut with a bang. ing her path in the South Indian industry with her debut project, Vrushabha. Sharing the screen with none other than Mohanlal, the film boasts a star-studded cast, including Roshan Meka, Garuda Ram, Simran and Srikanth. KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN Backed by Balaji Tele- INTRIGUING MIX Sunny Hinduja, Hello Mummy Sunny Hinduja, widely appreciated for his roles in The Railway Men and Aspirants, is taking his talent to the Malayalam industry with Hello Mummy. This comedy- c m y b FIRST TAKE Shanaya Kapoor, Vrushabha Shanaya Kapoor is chart- Sohail Khan, NKR21 Sohail Khan is all set for a Telugu film debut with the much-anticipated action thriller NKR21. Directed by Pradeep Chilukuri and starring Nandamuri Kalyan Ram in the lead role, Sohail takes on a significant negative role in the film. His character in the poster offers a glimpse of the intensity and menace he brings to the screen. NKR21 promises a thrilling mix of action-packed sequences and emotional depth.