22052025-LSTC-01.qxd 5/21/2025 8:26 PM Page 1 c m y b LADY GAGA WINS SPORTS EMMY Singer, actor Lady Gaga has won a Sports Emmy for her Super Bowl performance of Hold My Hand at the 59th National Football League in 2024. At the 46th Annual Sports Emmy Awards, the singer was nominated in the Outstanding Music Direction category. TRIBUNE On board Life Kiran Rao will join international Jury at the upcoming 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. The festival will take place from June 13 to June 22 in Shanghai, China. CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 22 MAY 2025 Lights, camera, connection Anandita Gupta W HEN you think of celebrity photography in India, one name flashes brighter than the rest— Dabboo Ratnani. With over 25 years of experience, he’s not just a photographer, but a cultural icon. His annual calendar, launched in 2000, has featured everyone from Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan to Priyanka Chopra and Alia Bhatt, and is now archived in the Oxford library. He’s been awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award, honoured by Giants International and seen judging shows like India’s Next Top Model and MTV Made in India. But ask Dabboo, and he’ll simply say, “I’m still that guy who just loves taking pictures.” A boy with big dreams Dabboo didn’t inherit a legacy—he built one. “I didn’t come from a film background. But I came with love— for cinema, for faces and for stories,” shares Dabboo. As a boy, he loved gadgets. His other love was flipping through magazines, mesmerised by cinematic stills. That fascination slowly bloomed into a curiosity when his father brought home a camera. “I knew I wanted to make people pause with a picture— to make them feel.” That curiosity turned into a calling when he began assisting photographers like Sumeet Chopra. Slowly, frame by frame, he built a dream of his own. From launching India’s most iconic calendar to capturing timeless portraits of superstars— Dabboo Ratnani is literally on a roll! ate something India hadn’t seen—portraits that had a soul. People thought I was crazy,” he recalls. “They asked, who would buy a calendar of Bollywood portraits?” But his gut said otherwise. With a single concept and a lot of courage, he shot his first celebrity calendar—and Bollywood never looked the same again. Today, his calendar has become a collector’s delight, and a moment stars wait for. “The calendar became a canvas,” he says. “I wasn’t just photographing people—I was telling stories.” It’s all about the vibe For Dabboo, photography is more about energy than equipment. “You can have the best camera, but if the vibe’s off, nothing works,” he explains. From Hrithik Roshan’s brooding charm to Kiara Advani’s freshness, Dabboo’s portraits bring out a side rarely seen. “I don’t want people to pose. I want them to feel free,” he says. “That’s when magic happens.” Behind the lens The calendar that became a tradition In the year 2000, when no one imagined a calendar could be more than a date-keeper, Dabboo redefined the idea. “I wanted to cre- What powers the man who powers Bollywood’s most iconic shots? Family. “Manisha, my wife, is the silent force behind everything. She’s my anchor,” he smiles. ‘Reminding us of Sridevi’ Still dreaming, still clicking Despite the global recognition, Dabboo remains refreshingly humble. “Even today, I get butterflies before a big shoot,” he says. “That’s how I know I still care.” In an industry that’s everchanging, Dabboo’s images stay timeless—because they carry heart. “I didn’t chase fame,” he reflects. “I just followed the light.” And that’s the legacy he’s still building— one frame, one feeling, one unforgettable moment at a time. ‘Pragmatic thing to do’ Kamal Haasan on theatrical & OTT release of Thug Life ..say fans as they hail Janhvi Kapoor’s Cannes debut look in Tarun Tahiliani outfit THE CAST AND CREW OF HOMEBOUND His children— Myrah, Kiara, and Shivaan—have grown up amidst lights, laughter and the scent of camera rolls. “Our calendar isn’t just a professional project; it’s our family’s tradition. We create it together, pouring our hearts into it. That makes it magic.” On Tuesday night, Janhvi Kapoor walked the iconic red carpet of the prestigious cannes Film Festival with the team of her film, Homebound. She left no stone unturned to steal attention with her outfit. Dressed in ace designer Tarun Tahiliani’s custom outfit, Janhvi looked like a vision in pink. She wore a long pleated skirt and corset crafted in tissue, specially woven in Benaras. Rhea Kapoor styled the ensemble. She elevated the attire with an integrated duppata-like drape that was attached to her sleek bun. The surface of the outfit was “brought to life with a hand-crushed technique that lent depth and texture, while a signature TT drape added a touch of sculptural fluidity.” Janhvi exuded princess vibes. Many fans even said that her look reminded them of her mother and late actress Sridevi. — ANI Superstar Kamal Haasan has decided to extend the gap between the theatrical and OTT release of his upcoming film Thug Life, saying it was a pragmatic thing to do. The gap between the theatrical run and OTT release of movies has been decreasing over the years with many opting for a four-week window over the usual eight-week delay between a film’s theatrical release and its arrival on streamers. At a promotional event for the Mani Ratnam-directed movie here, Haasan expressed hope that his initiative would inspire others in the industry to adopt a similar approach. “It is not even an experiment, it’s a pragmatic thing to do. I’m glad that the OTT (Netflix) agreed. It’s a plan that maybe others could follow. TRISHA KRISHNAN & KAMAL HAASAN c m y b MANI RATNAM “It will make the industry healthy and we are glad that we were the first to be there to avail of that opportunity,” Haasan told reporters here. The movie reunites the Tamil superstar with Ratnam after 35 years. The duo last collaborated on the 1987 critical hit Nayakan. In Thug Life, Haasan essays the role of Rangaraya Sakthivel Nayakar, a man caught between crime and justice. The event was also attended by actors Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Abhirami, Ashok Selvan and music composer A R Rahman. Aishwarya Lekshmi, Joju George, Nassar, Mahesh Manjrekar, Ali Fazal, Rohit Saraf, Rajshri Deshpande and Sanya Malhotra round out the cast of Thug Life. The film is scheduled to hit theatres around the globe on June 5. — PTI AR RAHMAN