27022025-LSTL-01.qxd 2/26/2025 7:25 PM Page 1 c m y b NEXT UP FOR SANJAY DUTT Sanjay Dutt will next appear in the horror comedy The Bhootnii, which will be released in theatres on April 18. The makers have announced the project by releasing a teaser of the film. The film’s cast includes Mouni Roy, Palak Tiwari, Sunny Singh and Aasif Khan. TRIBUNE His loss Life Hollywood star Dwayne Johnson has become ‘numb over the loss’ of his dog, but assured fans that his furry friend, a French bulldog, ‘didn’t suffer’ for long. LUDHIANA | THURSDAY | 27 FEBRUARY 2025 I’ve broken my own boundaries and done things differently, says singer-actor Parmish Verma, whose debut OTT series Kanneda is set for a March release Music, mafia & mayhem P Gurnaaz UNJABI singer-actor Parmish Verma is on a journey that resonates with passion, hard work and growth. Today, he’s carving a new path as an actor, producer, director and someone who is deeply committed to expanding his horizons. All set to debut on OTT with Kanneda, Parmish can’t contain his excitement about the project. Releasing on March 11 on Jio Hotstar, this one is particularly special for him, and he explains why, “This new chapter in my career also symbolises a fresh start. I’ve broken my own boundaries and done things differently. It had been three-four years since my last project and when I started shooting Kanneda, I told myself I will change my work ethics.” LET’S EXPERIMENT Parmish not only changed all the intangible aspects, but also played with his looks. Possessive of his beard, when director Chandan Arora asked him to shave it off, it wasn’t just a first but was met with much resistance. “It took some convincing because, until then, I had never sported a clean-shaven look. When the team explained that the idea was to construct a character through acting, not appearance, I agreed.” This change in appearance also Wedding bells brought a shift in his performance. Parmish asserts, “It was a huge step that reflected in my performance as well. My laughter, anger and overall presentation—when you watch the trailer, you’ll notice the difference.” who is ‘writing his own destiny’ in a faraway land. The eight-episode series packs mafia, music and mayhem. The five songs in it, Parmish says, “Are a musical summary of the show.” HINDI DEBUT FROM BIG SCREEN TO OTT To debut in a Hindi web series meant leaving behind the antics of a Punjabi star. “We are used to a certain style of filming. While shooting a Punjabi film, I would tell the cinematographer to focus on a particular angle or profile, telling them when not to take a close up, etc. These things are not considered in Bollywood. I didn’t even watch my performance before it went to the editing table.” If in the past, his presence on screen has often been accompanied by high-octane action, this time he has incorporated deep emotions and new flavour of music too. A criminal, an innocent, Parmish plays a desi From his digital debut as an actor, he made his debut as a producer with Tabaah, which recently landed on OTT too. Tabaah holds a special place for Parmish. While the film had a theatrical release, Parmish knew all along that the audience would appreciate it more in digital space. The decision to release it first in theatres was to also see how it fares at the box-office. Yet, Parmish’s confidence in its OTT potential never wavered. “Two years ago, when I first heard the story, I knew people would appreciate it more on an OTT platform,” he adds. Though the film’s box-office performance was modest, Parmish is far from disappointed. “For the same amount of money, I could have made a romantic comedy,” he reflects. “But I wanted to expand my range and reach new audiences.” It’s clear that for Parmish, the risk was worth it. Breaking out of the mould of action hero and taking on more nuanced, emotional roles has always been his goal. “As an actor, I wanted to prove that I could do more than just action or romance,” he admits. And with Tabaah, he did just that. FUTURE PROJECTS Parmish is excited about his next project, a fresh, action-packed venture that he’s been working on. “The script is ready and we’ve While shooting a Punjabi film, I would tell the cinematographer to focus on a particular angle. These things are not considered in Bollywood. finalised almost everything,” he shares. His next film marks a departure from the past, focusing on raw, intense action sequences— a genre he hasn’t fully explored since Rocky Mental. This time, Parmish is eager to put his full attention on acting, leaving behind the pressures of producing and directing, which often divides one’s focus. “After Tabaah, I realised that juggling acting, directing and producing is a load that can take a toll,” he explains. “For my next project, I’m going to totally focus on my performance.” Sikhlens: Sikh Arts & Film Festival, India chapter, marked its 25th year with a day-long movie screening programme Celebrating heritage VinyaSingh Social media personality and actress Prajakta Koli has tied the knot with her long-time boyfriend Vrishank Khanal. Koli, 31 and Khanal 35, dated for several years before getting engaged in 2023. The couple got married during an intimate wedding on Tuesday. As the winter sun cast a golden hue over the Tagore Theatre courtyard in Chandigarh recently, laughter and conversations filled the air. Against the backdrop of cultural performances and symphonies, including Zafarnama, Gatka, Giddha, and nostalgia-filled exhibitions, Sikhlens: Sikh Arts & Film Festival’s India chapter began celebrations of its 25th year. The full-day movie screenings featured the world premiere of animation film, Saka Sirhind—The Martyrdom Of Younger Sahibzadey, Raah-E-Nanak and Resilience of Faith, and international short, animation and documentary films, totalling 13, screened across three film sessions. Films, including Guru Nanak Matth, The Patka Box, Reviving Roots, Guru Da Kender, Rising Above: The Kamal Singh Story, Resilience of Faith, Sparks of Change, Connecting the Dots, Hola Mohalla, Eternal Musicians and The Journey of United Sikh Mission, based on Sikh culture, heritage and ethos, were produced in over six countries and presented in Punjabi, English, Hindi, Urdu and Nepali. The event also included Sikhlens 2025 Calendar launch, based on the Anglo Sikh Virtual Museum in Leicester by festival directorate Actress and content creator Prajakta Koli marries Vrishank Khanal in an intimate ceremony in New Delhi The Mismatched star shared a series of pictures from the wedding ceremony on her Instagram handle. “25.2.25,” she wrote in the caption. Koli opted for a custom-designed golden lehenga adorned with floral embroidery from designer Anita Dongre. Khanal wore a white kurta from the same designer. Koli was most recently seen in the third season of the Netflix series Mismatched 3, co-starring Rohit Saraf. She has also featured in movies such as Jugjugg Jeeyo and Neeyat. — PTI c m y b ROSE GILL and British Deputy High Commissioner, Chandigarh. DIRECTORIAL DEBUT The highlight of the event was the launch of Rose Gill’s directorial debut with documentary film RaahE-Nanak: A Journey Through Everyday Sufiyat, which explores timeless teachings of Guru Nanak ji. A labour of love, Gill feels inspired by her brother, a philanthropist and follower of Nanak’s teaching. Gill says “If you look closely, you will find Nanak everywhere, there’s a shot at the end of the film, an infant’s expression; it was written by someone else centuries ago.” Beyond the screening, the festival offered interactive sessions about the themes of the films. The event also featured exhibitions of relics like coins from Nanak Shahi and Gobind Shahi periods, arms and armours dating back centuries, handwritten manuscripts in Gurmukhi, stamps and covers, instruments played in religious music, and much more.