05022025-LSTC-01.qxd 2/5/2025 12:38 AM Page 1 c m y b AKKA TEASER UNVEILED The first look of actresses Keerthy Suresh and Radhika Apte’s period thriller Akka was unveiled on Monday evening at a grand Netflix event in Mumbai. The first look showcased the two actresses in powerful, intense roles as ‘gangster queens’. The series is set in the 1980s. TRIBUNE Not again Life PHOTO: VICKY Benedict Cumberbatch has talked about a role that he ‘wouldn’t do’ now. In Ben Stiller’s 2016 comedy Zoolander 2, Cumberbatch played All, a character described as a non-binary fashion model. CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 5 FEBRUARY 2025 MostlySane’s insane leap! AnanditaGupta I T’s a sun-drenched, deliciously warm, winter morning. At around 12 pm, the buzz in the air thickens. As a petite Prajakta Koli (donning an ethereal Anita Dongre ensemble) tiptoes into the legendary Bahrisons BookStore in Sector 8, Chandigarh, an excited bunch of youngsters bursts out singing and clapping—instantly opening their arms and hearts to welcome their favourite influencer-turned-debutant author. Through her debut novel, star influencer Prajakta Koli wants to touch hearts and create memories that are quite like her book, Too Good To Be True The 350-strong crowd at the bookstore entrance is merrily crooning lines from Saanvare, the Hindi song featured in the soundtrack of Koli’s debut novel Too Good To Be True. The scene is, incidentally, a clear indication of the immense love and adulation, which Prajakta’s swooning, giggling army of 16 million social media fans have showered on her, ever since she started her YouTube Channel, MostlySane. No wonder, Prajakta Koli’s book event at this Chandigarh bookstore is a frenzy, with 600 plus fans flooding in, hearts full and voices loud, turning the meet-and-greet into a celebration. HUG IN A BOOK’S FORM Prajakta’s book feels like a fresh whiff of young romance. Catering majorly to Prajakta’s very young fan base (say from 11 to 21-yearolds), Too Good To Be True is witty, warm, and deeply relatable. “I only enjoy writing romances and am going to stick to this genre for now,” quips the storyteller, who read her first romance novel at the age of 28. IN HER BESTSELLER ERA And guess what, Too Good To Be True is not just a book—it’s already becoming a phenomenon of sorts. The book is still the Nielsen BookScan India’s No. 1 Fiction Bestseller for over two weeks running, having sold lakhs of copies in just a few weeks. It has surpassed expectations, proving the deep connection her fans feel with her storytelling. From making us laugh as MostlySane, to winning hearts on screen in Mismatched, JugJugg Jeeyo and Neeyat, Prajakta Koli has always been a storyteller at heart. Surprisingly though, Prajakta describes her creative process as chaotic. “I’m extremely hardworking, and a constant learner but a little messy and chaotic,” she candidly confesses. And her creativity truly lies in this chaos, we guess, “I don’t find linear journeys intriguing. I am actually very grateful for a messy arc when it comes to my work.” HOMELY GIRL Hailing from a loving, middle class home in Thane, Mumbai, 31-year-old Prajakta is still an endearingly homely girl at heart. “My parents have been the beginning and end of everything that I have built today!” What makes Prajakta’s journey magical is the connection she shares with people, “My parents, partner, friends, team and, of course, fans remain my real strength.” Any daily rituals that contribute to this multihyphenated star’s success? “I believe in positive affirmations and showing up daily for myself, besides working very hard,” quips the girl on a whirlwind of a book tour across cities. Her grit and hard work is clearly visible, knowing she is headed to a university in Chandigarh, a shoot in the fields and then to Amritsar, right after this bookstore event. TRUE CONNECT Jonita Gandhi to perform alongside Ed Sheeran in Chennai Playback singer Jonita Gandhi, who is known for songs like Gilehriyaan, What Jhumka and Dil Ka Telephone, is set to perform alongside English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran at his Mathematics tour in Chennai on February 5. Jonita has performed along with legends like AR Rahman, Sonu Nigam, Shankar Mahadevan, Anirudh Ravichander and Arijit Singh. About her upcoming gig, Jonita said, “I’ve been a huge fan of Ed for quite a while. In fact, I’ve also covered some of his music in the past. I absolutely love how versatile he is. He crosses over into different genres so seamlessly and in a way that feels so authentic, which is something I really admire”. She further mentioned, “I was really disappointed to miss his last performance in Mumbai as I was performing elsewhere that day, but I’m so excited to see him perform live and even more stoked to share a stage with him in Chennai. Really looking forward to it”. She recently shared the stage with Arijit Singh in Delhi. — IANS So, having dunked her fingers in so many delicious pies, which part of her career has been closest to her heart? “I think I’ll always be a creator because everything that I have today stemmed from my YouTube channel,” smiles the content creator. “But what touches me most deeply is when my young readers tell me this is the first book they’ve finished,” reveals Prajakta. Too Good to Be True, for Prajakta, isn’t just about writing a book. It’s about touching hearts and creating memories that are, quite like her book, too good to be true! North vs South cinema debate great for only clickbait, says Huma Qureshi ‘I am an overly raw person’ No petty divisions, please! Dismissing the ongoing North versus South cinema debate, actress Huma Qureshi has said rather than engaging in these ‘petty’ divisions, the Indian film industry should unite to create its own versions of hit global franchises like Avatar, Squid Game and Money Heist. According to Qureshi, there is one film industry in India and anyone who has an understanding of creativity or market economics would recognise that it’s advantageous for every artiste across the country. “It is such a silly debate; we are one country. A Drishyam is loved across the entire country. We need to find storytellers from all over the nation. Today with the way the world is growing, our focus should be on what local, specific Indian stories we want to take globally. Like, where is the Squid Game from India? Why can’t we make our version of Avatar? “These are the questions that should be asked. The A stage to cherish Singer-actress Lady Gaga says whenever she talks about her music, it makes her want to ‘cry’ and that she definitely is an overly raw person. Gaga specifically talked about her latest single, Abracadabra. For Gaga, music strikes a chord that is deep in her body. “And I think for some people, my music might do that for them too. Music brings us alive in a new way. My favourite thing about music is that a room can be feeling one way. And then you turn on a record and it’s just like magic, the mood changes.” Asked if she feels vulnerable due to not playing a character in Mayhem, like previous albums, she agreed, “So yeah, I definitely think this album is very vul- whole industry should come together to answer them, as opposed to being engaged in these petty, divided conversations about which industry is taking over. I feel it’s a rubbish debate—great for clickbait, but there’s no reality to it,” Huma said on the sidelines of the recently concluded Kerala Literature Festival. Having worked in South Indian films herself, including two Tamil movies— Rajinikanth’s Kaala (2018) and Ajith’s Valimai (2022) — as well as the Malayalam romantic drama White (2016) with Mammootty, Qureshi said cross-pollination of artistes from the North and South is not a new phenomenon. “I have been fortunate enough to have worked in the South and I hope to get more opportunities because you get to learn so much,” she added. The 38-year-old made her debut as an author last year with the fantasy fiction novel Zeba: An Accidental Superhero. — PTI LADY GAGA c m y b nerable. I’m not trying to play a character, the way that I did with Chromatica, with Joanne, with ARTPOP there were all these , characters. With Mayhem, they’re all in there, but I’m the composer and it’s for real.” Although she goes to a dark place at the start, the Die with a Smile hitmaker explained that the ending reflects the “hopefulness” she found with her fiancé Michael Polansky during the process. She added, “Overall, I would say that I have a special relationship with every single song on the record. Each one has its place on the album. And it really is an arc of a story that starts with something very unsettling.” — IANS