02032025-LSTL-01.qxd 3/1/2025 11:08 PM Page 1 c m y b SHREYA’S X ACCOUNT HACKED Shreya Ghoshal has alerted her fans that her X account has been hacked since February 13. The singer took to Instagram and wrote, “Hello fans and friends. My Twitter / X account is hacked since February 13th. I have tried every thing in my capacity to reach out to the X team. But there has been no response.” Gurnaaz F ROM Lucknow to Mumbai, London, and now Goa, Sanya Sagar has carved a path that blends the art of filmmaking, a deep love for theatre, and a fearless approach to acting. Whether it’s starring in the recently released Party Till I Die on Amazon MX Player or playing a passionate swimmer in Tairaki, her journey is one of exploring the untold corners of cinema. With a wealth of experience under her belt—from working on Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs to learning from heavyweights like Salma Hayek and Danny Huston—Sanya knows what it means to be at the centre of a truly collaborative process. TRIBUNE Don coming Life Farhan Akthar said he will start filming for his muchawaited directorial Don 3 later this year. The third part of the popular action franchise will see Ranveer Singh stepping into the iconic role of Don. LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 2 MARCH 2025 Partying shot ❝ THE BEST ROLES ARE THE ONES THAT HIDE SOMETHING DEEP INSIDE—A SECRET, A FLAW. The Party Till I Die actress Sanya Sagar says she loves playing diverse roles and her focus remains on the art, the story and the emotion that fuels it all EVERY ROLE, EVERY LOCATION, ADDS A NEW LAYER TO MY UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AND THE STORIES I’M PART OF. UNDERSTANDING HUMAN When it comes to roles, Sanya is drawn to characters that are far from one-dimensional. “I gravitate toward complexity. People are not black or white; we’re all filled with contradictions. That’s what makes us human, and that’s what moves stories forward,” she says, her passion evident in every word. “The best roles are the ones that hide something deep inside—a secret, a flaw. It’s that internal conflict that drives the narrative. It’s what makes the character interesting.” CULTURE & CINEMA In a chat with Sanya about her diverse roles, her global experiences, we draw out that her focus is the art, the story and the emotion that fuels it all. DIFFERENT STROKES Sanya’s latest projects couldn’t be more different, but both reflect the range and depth of her talent. “In Tairaki, I play Shipra, a National swimmer from a small town, who is driven by passion and dreams of Olympic glory. But life doesn’t always go as planned, and she finds herself mentoring a village boy who has what it takes to make it to the Indian Olympics,” she shares, her eyes lighting up as she talks about the character. “This film is about hidden talent and the way India’s sports infrastructure tends to ignore everything except cricket. It really spoke to me on a personal level, and my own background in sports made it a special experience.” Switching gears completely, she dives into her role as Sister Teresina in A Mosquito in the Ear, an international crossover project. “It was such a unique character—based on a real-life story, this nun works at an orphanage, and the film is deeply tied to the themes of adoption. It challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. I’ve never “Theatre is where you learn to live in the moment,” she explains. “In plays like Julius Caesar and Three Sisters, there’s no going back. The audience is there, watching your every move, and that instant feedback teaches you everything. You can’t fake it; you have to be real, every second.” played a mother figure before, so I had to dig deep, observe, and draw from the maternal feelings I didn’t have firsthand.” PLAYING LAIBA If you’ve seen Party Till I Die, you already know Sanya brings a raw, visceral intensity to the screen in her role as Laiba. “The role of Laiba was physically and emotionally demanding. Akhilesh, our director, really helped guide me through the process. He kept saying, ‘Trust me,’ and that became my mantra throughout the shoot. The toughest part was navigating trauma and violence—it’s one thing to act in those moments, but your mind and body react in ways you don’t expect, and that emotional weight stays with you after the scene ends.” She continues, “I had to be in the right headspace, and meditation became key for me before and after shooting each day. You have to mentally detox from that world so you don’t carry it with you. This series prepared me for the worst—it was tough, but I wouldn’t change a thing.” STAGE PRESENCE It’s clear that Sanya’s transition from filmmaker to theatre actress was not just a career move—it was the bedrock of her acting craft. With experience across both Indian and international film industries, Sanya has a broad perspective on how culture and cinema intersect. “Every country has its unique way of telling stories,” she reflects. “Working with Wes Anderson or Salma Hayek, I learned that every crew member, from the runner to the director, has an essential job. We’re all on the same level. You put your head down and do your work.” She adds, “Culturally, cinema varies from country to country. For instance, Indian films bring out the drama, while Iranian cinema is much more subtle. I’ve had the privilege of working in different systems, and it’s shaped the way I approach each character. Every role, every location, adds a new layer to my understanding of the world and the stories I’m part of.” As the entertainment industry shifts with the rise of social media and digital platforms, Sanya remains focused on the craft. “Today, cinema is more intelligent. Audiences are smarter, and that challenges us as actors to be more authentic,” she says. “But there’s a danger in chasing fame. I’m not here for influencer culture. I’m here for the craft of acting. The power of storytelling through believable performances— that’s what excites me.” Family timefor Manas ‘Obituaries written every day…’ Manas Shah, who has been a part of shows like Humari Devrani, Sankat Mochan Mahabali Hanumaan, Yeh Hai Chahatein and Tulsi—Hamari Badi Sayani, is disappointed that his last show went off air so soon, but he plans to utilise this time off with his family. Asked if he would be travelling during this time, he said, “I am not very fond of travelling. I am more of a homebody. I prefer staying in rather than constantly being on the move. For me, spending quality time with my loved ones is more important, whether at home or while travelling. So, I don’t mind where I am as long as I am with the people who matter.” “Over the past 6-8 months, I had switched to intermittent fasting, started sleeping early, and waking up early—it had become a proper routine. But due to my shooting schedule, everything got disturbed. Now, I really want to get things back on track and focus on my health again,” he said. Sriti Jha and Rajashree Thakur team up for a special shoot When Avani met Amruta Zee TV’s Kaise Mujhe Tum Mil Gaye and Bas Itna Sa Khwaab have captivated audiences with their compelling storytelling and dramatic appeal. The excitement continues with a special Mahasangam episode, bringing the cast of both shows together for an entertainment extravaganza. Sriti Jha said, “I am excited about the Mahasangam sequence. With the show building towards some major reveals, having the Bas Itna Sa Khwab team join us makes it even more special. I was thrilled that Rajashree as Avani could be part of this crucial moment in Amruta’s life. She is a talented artiste and it was a pleasure working with her. ” c m y b Shivangi Verma, who has worked in shows like Tera Ishq Mera Fitoor, Choti Sarrdaarni and recently released movie Badass Ravi Kumar, speaks about her career and life! Tell us about your character in Badass Ravi Kumar. I am paired opposite Prabhu Deva. It’s a small role, but I said yes to it because it was a Himesh Reshammiya project, and this was my second project with him. How do you feel about the audience’s response? Badass Ravi Kumar has finally hit the screens, and the audience response has been incredible. How was it working with Prabhu Deva and Himesh Reshammiya? The journey from Mumbai to Muscat for the shoot was incredibly smooth and effortless. From day one, everything felt familiar and comfortable. My first day was all about the costume trial, and to my delight, the team was the same as my first album with Himesh Reshammiya. Badass Ravi Kumar is a high-energy film. How was the atmosphere on set? Very, very comfortable. It’s very important for an actor to be in the comfort zone to perform and Himesh makes sure that things are on point and everything should be taken care of. I love his team, his production, people, and the way he directs his project. What was the most exciting part of shooting this movie? The most exciting part was doing a bike stunt. I was in a harness and I was made to jump from a bike. I’ve never performed something like this before, and when I saw myself on the screen, I had goose-bumps. If you had to describe Badass Ravi Kumar in three words, what would they be? John Abraham, who is all set for his next release The Diplomat, talks about his career trajectory Actor-producer John Abraham says he has often been written off in the industry in his over two-decade-long career but his audience has kept him going, something that he respects and wants to repay by telling good stories. The actor, whose next release The Diplomat is inspired by true incidents, said the film will, hopefully, resonate with viewers in the brightest way possible. “People have, in the past, said that Parmanu marked my 1.0 version because I’d disappeared for four years. These are obituaries that are written every day about me, and it’s fine, I don’t have a problem with it. My career has been built on criticism, I enjoy it,” Abraham said an interview. “The only thing that’s kept me going in this is my audience. People in the trade, producers, critics they all judge you by numbers and I get all that, and I respect that. That’s business. But the only people that have kept me going and have made me survive is my audience. And I made The Diplomat for that audience,” he added. The film industry had a terrible year in terms of box office and Abraham believes it is now important to focus on the basics that make any story click with the audience and that’s writing. “My vision as a producer and as an actor is just to create good stories and reach out to a wider audience. Do I want the numbers? I want the Rs 100 crore, 200, 300 and 400 crores. We all want that, but we want that with good stories. That’s the difference. “We as an audience and trade are putting An incredible journey Musical, action-packed and mass entertainer. What’s next for you? I’m already shooting for another film. This is opposite the veteran actor Govind Namdev sir and I am just about to finish my third schedule. too much stress into the bifurcation of how the money is being spent. We’ve to cut all this noise, go back to writing, go back to where we started from and why we wanted to make films.” Admitting that he also has been ‘guilty’ of prioritising box office, Abraham said he now recognises the significance of well-crafted stories. Citing the example of The Diplomat, the actor said it’s important that the movie, directed by Shivam Nair of Naam Shabana and Special Ops, attains commercial success as that will empower him and his team to continue making such films. Inspired by true events, the film features Abraham in the role of diplomat JP Singh, who steps in to rescue an Indian woman named Uzma (Sadia Khateeb of Raksha Bandhan fame) from Pakistan. The actor said he was captivated by the script of The Diplomat from the first reading. “I love geopolitics, so I thought this looks interesting, and I fell in love with what I read, credit to Ritesh Shah (writer). — PTI