30062025-LSTC-01.qxd 6/29/2025 11:47 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Once more Life Actor-singer Selena Gomez will reprise her role of Alex Russo in the second season of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Created by Todd J Greenwald, the show is a spinoff of the 2007 sitcom. CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 30 JUNE 2025 Varun Dhawan slams media’s intrusive coverage of Shefali Jariwala’s funeral Actor Varun Dhawan has criticised sections of the media for their insensitive coverage of actress Shefali Jariwala’s funeral, urging photographers and news outlets to show “respect” and “sensitivity” during moments of personal grief. Taking to his Instagram Stories, Dhawan shared a message directed at the paparazzi, who circulated videos and images of Jariwala’s grieving family, including her husband, actor Parag Tyagi, following her sudden death. “Again, one more passing of a soul being insensitively covered by the media. I just don’t understand why you have to cover someone’s grief — everyone looks so uncomfortable with this. How is this benefitting any- ‘It’s super INTIMIDATING’ Charlize Theron talks about Nolan’s The Odyssey as she joins the team Charlize Theron opened up about her shoot schedule for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The actress will be the last one to join the ensemble cast on the sets. She said, “I leave in a couple of weeks. I don’t know I am just gonna talk to Chris (Christopher Nolan) about it and will see where it goes. It’s super intimidating. I will be the last one to show up. I will be the new kid on the block. Everybody will know what they are doing and not me.” The Odyssey follows the Greek champion Odysseus on his tumultuous journey home after the Trojan War. The story was first scribed by the ancient Greek poet Homer over 2,000 years ago and is one of the oldest stories still enjoyed by modern readers. Nolan penned the script and serves as director and producer. His wife, Emma Thomas, will also produce under the pair’s Syncopy banner. Matt Damon is set to play the lead role in the film. Damon appears alongside Tom Holland, Mia Goth, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal and John Leguizamo.—ANI one?” Dhawan wrote. He added, “My request to my friends in the media: this isn’t the way someone would want their final journey covered.” The actor’s comments followed the widespread circulation of footage from Jariwala’s funeral, where Tyagi and other family members were visibly distraught. Tyagi, deeply shaken, folded his hands before the cameras and made an emotional appeal to the media: “Meri pari ke liye pray kijiyega aap sab log, please” (“Please pray for my angel, all of you”). Jariwala, best known for her role in the 2004 film ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’ alongside Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, passed away late on Friday night. She was rushed to Bellevue Multispeciality Hospital in Mumbai, where doctors declared her brought dead on arrival. Shefali Jariwala rose to prominence with her breakout appearance in the music video ‘Kaanta Laga’, and later became a household name through popular reality television shows. She was a contestant on ‘Bigg Boss 13’ (2019) and appeared on ‘Nach Baliye’ (Seasons 5 and 7), the latter with her husband Parag Tyagi. Her untimely death has sparked a broader conversation about privacy, dignity and media conduct during moments of personal tragedy — one that actors like Varun Dhawan are now calling urgent and overdue. The crownless king The Mastermind of Roadies, Hartaaj Singh Gill, didn’t win the trophy but he won something bigger—India’s respect Hartaaj didn’t just participate—he transformed the narrative. “There was a Gurnaaz I T ’ S not every day that MTV Roadies crowns a new fan favourite. But in its latest season, it wasn’t the winner but the runner-up who truly stole the spotlight. Hartaajveer Singh Gill, the young man from Punjab with fierce determination and unmatched dignity, walked away not just with the title of runner-up—but with a nation’s heart. “I may not have won the trophy,” he says, “but I won hearts.” On social media, he’s been dubbed everything from Immunity King to Mastermind of Roadies. Even actor and gang leader Gautam Gulati dropped a comment on his reel calling him “the hero of Roadies.” Hartaaj’s journey on the show wasn’t marked by alliances or controversies—it was defined by loyalty, fairness, and a silent fire to prove his worth. From pulling off one of the most gruelling tasks in the show to standing up against personal attacks, point where I could have doublecrossed Priya to get ahead. But I didn’t. I gave her an equal chance. Because that’s who I am.” Now, with over 110K followers and casting calls pouring in, Hartaaj is finally tasting the fruits of a long, uphill battle. ❝ I’ve never tried to represent Punjab. Punjab is in me. The never-give-up attitude, the way we speak up for ourselves—that’s part of me. People may not always understand it, but they feel it. THE ROAD BEHIND THE ROADIE Hartaaj’s current fame stands on years of persistence, rejection, and quiet hustle. Born into a farming family, his early life followed a familiar script—study hard, get a job, stay safe. But something in him yearned for more. It all began in 2017 during college, when he entered the Mr Punjabi competition. “People said I had potential. But I didn’t believe it until actor Kuljinder Sidhu told me, ‘Hartaaj, I believe you’ll be a great actor ARE Will Smith raps on Oscars slap Academy Award-winning actor and rapper Will Smith has seemingly referenced his infamous slap of Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars in a recent freestyle session. During a visit to British DJ Charlie Sloth’s Fire in the Booth, Smith rapped, “If you talking crazy out your face up on the stage and disrespect me on the stage, expect me on the stage.” He continued, “Jokers dish it out, cry foul when it’s time to take it/City full of real ones, wasn’t raised to fake it.” The lyrics appear to reference the incident at the 94th Academy Awards, where Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s, shaved head. Rock had said, “Jada, I love ya. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see ya,” referring the film, GI Jane, in which Demi Moore’s character shaves her head. —ANI ‘Let grief breathe in peace’ BACK! Brussels goes blue as Rihanna leads the global premiere of The Smurfs Brussels, the birthplace of the Smurfs, transformed into a Smurf wonderland for the world premiere of The Smurfs Movie, which hits theatres in India on July 18. The film marks a vibrant return for the Smurfs, blending liveaction and animation in a heartwarming, hilarious story led by global superstar Rihanna, who not only voices Smurfette but also served as producer and contributed to the film’s soundtrack. “It’s hilarious! It’s fun. The whole movie has a great sense of c m y b humour. It’s very nostalgic for people who grew up on the Smurfs,” said Rihanna at the premiere. “Smurfs was such a huge part of my childhood and to know that my kids are going to have that moment too... that’s exciting,” said Rihanna at the premiere. In this bold new take, Smurfette sets out on a daring mission to rescue Papa Smurf, who disappears under mysterious circumstances. Joined by a new team of Smurfs, she uncovers long-lost secrets of their magical world while facing a powerful villain with dark intentions. Directed by Chris Miller (Shrek the Third, The Lego Movie), the film features a stellar voice cast, including James Corden, Dan Levy, Amy Sedaris and Nick Offerman. someday.’” Still, convincing his family was a challenge. “They told me acting wasn’t a career. But I couldn’t shake the feeling. I knew I had to try.” He briefly worked a 9-to-5 job, only to feel suffocated. “One day I just walked out of the office and said, ‘This is not for me.’” BREAKING INTO BOMBAY When he finally moved to Mumbai, things didn’t get easier. “People told me it would take five years to make contacts. I only had one year at hand as was the deal with my parents.” Rejections came quick and often. “Casting agents said I was too Punjabi, too broad, too raw. I lost out on roles because I didn’t have enough Instagram followers.” But his persistence paid off when he landed a 10-day role in Pandya Store—a role that stretched into five months. “That was my turning point. I realised this was not just a passion. I love acting.” He continued to grow, landing another storyline-focused role in Happu Ki Ultan Paltan and then training at Actor’s Truth under Saurabh Sachdeva. “He changed my entire approach. He taught us to understand the character before memorising lines. That’s when my auditions started getting shortlisted every single time.” THE REALITY SWITCH Though acting roles began trickling in, Hartaaj knew he needed visibility. “I decided to do a reality show to gain some fame. Roadies was always a dream.” He had cleared PI rounds back in 2018 but froze during the final interview. In 2024, he came back with a vengeance. Selected once again, he was warned: he’d be targeted from day one. “They told me, ‘You’re too good. You won’t survive.’ But I did. I brought my own immunities. I never played dirty. I just played strong.” His authenticity, vulnerability and refusal to play politics earned him admiration. “I proved I could stand alone and still shine,” he says. “I didn’t want to just survive Roadies. I wanted to stand for something.” AT THE CORE Despite the sudden influx of opportunities, Hartaaj remains grounded. “I’ve never tried to represent Punjab. Punjab is in me,” he says. “The nevergive-up attitude, the way we speak up for ourselves—that’s part of me. People may not always understand it, but they feel it.”