30092025-LSTC-01.qxd 9/30/2025 12:52 AM Page 1 c m y b AWARAPAN 2 GETS ROLLING Filming has begun for Emraan Hashmistarrer Awarapan 2. The team, led by director Nitin Kakkar and writer Bilal Siddiqui, has started its first shooting schedule in Bangkok. A picture of the film’s clapper board was posted on an Instagram handle. “Mahurat Shot” could be seen written on it. The film is produced by Vishesh Bhatt. TRIBUNE It’s sorted Life Emma Watson spoke about her relationship with JK Rowling, following her stance on transgender issues. The star says she separates her relationship with the author from their differing perspectives. CHANDIGARH | TUESDAY | 30 SEPTEMBER 2025 Nishil Sheth’s web series 13th is inspired by popular educator Mohit Tyagi, who is known for his free online coaching for competitive exams Nonika Singh OF NUMBER 13 Y ET another series set in the world of JEE aspirants and comparisons with Kota Factory and Super 30 are but obvious. However, award-winning writer-director Nishil Sheth says his upcoming web series 13th, though at the surface level about the same ecosystem of competitive exams, is markedly different. Interestingly, 13th is an informal name given to students who take a drop year after Class XII and take the JEE exams. Hence, his series is more about second chances as well as about startup systems. In fact 13th, inspired by real-life character Mohit Tyagi, popular Indian educator known for his free online coaching for competitive exams on YouTube, moves between two timelines. Quintessentially about mentor-mentee relationship, it is not a faithful true event story but embodies the spirit of factual truths. As acclaimed actor Gagan Dev Riar steps into the shoes of Tyagi, we wonder what kind of magic can we expect from the Scam 2003 actor. Nishil shares, “His inspirational yet down-toearth character in 13th is a huge departure from Scam 2003, where he played a scamster. It’s a sheer joy to work with Gagan for what you see on the screen is what happens on the sets too. An exceptionally focused actor, he possesses child-like enthusiasm. Despite being such an accomplished theatre actor he is not complacent at all, rather breaks down every moment.” Nishil is equally effusive about his other lead Paresh Pahuja. “It was only after his selection through rigorous acting audition process that I realised he is a singer too, which is like a cherry on the top of this very talented artiste,” he says. As OTT too is being sucked into star system, Nishil doesn’t blame anyone for opting for such projects, “It’s the nature of the beast. There is more retention when stars are involved. Actually pre-Covid OTT platforms were a greater levelling field. But as theatres closed during Covid times, star-vehicles moved to streaming platforms. But ultimately good stories rise to the top.” An independent filmmaker, he is & SECOND CHANCE ❞ immensely grateful to OTT platforms. His award-winning indie film Bhasmasur too found a place on Netflix. Today, as his Kannada movie Don’t Tell Mother, which he co-produced, opened at Busan Film Festival, he says, “Awards/ laurels don’t hurt anyone, but don’t change anything. You feel on the top of the world in that moment. But next day, you are back to the drawing board and start from scratch.” CHAT UP MADHUBANTI BAGCHI STRIKES Turn up the volume, because the Uyi Amma singer, Madhubanti Bagchi, strikes again and this time she’s bringing the feels with her new song Tum Mere Na Huye from Thamma. Featuring Ayushman Khuranna and Rashmika Mandana, the track is all soul. And this song isn’t arriving in isolation. Her Coke Studio release Meetha Khara with Aditya Gadhvi has been the soundtrack of Navratri this year. As several new ideas are brewing in his mind minefield, he divulges, “In the world of arc light, it’s not about what you are thinking or writing, but what gets greenlit.” Indeed, getting a green signal for a web-series isn’t easy. He avers, “It is a highly competitive field and there is already enough qualitative content vying for attention.” Between longer format of storytelling and indie films, he doesn’t have any favourites. The defining difference according to him is, “Cinema is plot-oriented where you want to offer an immersive experience. Web series, more like a relay race, is character-driven where the emphasis is on how to get your viewers back for the next episode. Either way, your engagement level as a maker is no less in either medium.” Trained at Whistling Woods International, he doesn’t think, “One is a born actor or director. At the same time, one need not always be trained at an institute. One could acquire hands-on training on the sets while assisting other makers.” Yet, since an assisting role eluded him, he along with his batchmates decided to make Bhasmasur on their own. Thus his advice to all aspirants is, “Be at it, practice will make you better and better.” To viewers, his entreaty for watching 13th is, “You will find it relatable. We all have had a mentor in life.” Check out how life changes with that beacon in our lives as 13th streams on SonyLiv on October 1. BIRTHDAY WISH FROM RAHA Ranbir Kapoor turned 43 on Sunday, and wife Alia Bhatt made sure the day felt nothing short of magical. Alia took to Instagram to give fans a glimpse of their love, family and simple joys. Raha gifted her dad a handmade card with the words “Happy Birthday, Best Papa in the World” scribbled across it. Tribute to ARMANI Italian fashion house Giorgio Armani unveiled on Sunday the last collection personally worked on by its late designer and founder at Brera art museum in the heart of Milan. Armani, known in the fashion world as King Giorgio, passed away earlier this month at the age of 91. The show, conceived to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the fashion house, turned into a tribute to the late designer. The event drew a host of celebrities, including actors Richard Gere and Cate Blanchett and was held in the cloister of the Brera art museum. Models walked under the porticoes in fluid, lightweight out- fits, accompanied by live piano music performed by Italian composer Ludovico Einaudi. The collection, featuring a colour palette that ranged from grey to deep blue to dark green, was titled Pantelleria, Milan, referencing two places dear to the designer. “This collection, the last Giorgio Armani worked on personally, is in some ways a testament to style and the close of a cycle, so that new ones may begin,” the brand said in the press notes. The show concluded with a solo walk by Agnese Zogla, one of the designer’s favourite models, who wore an elegant blue gown. “Apart from being an incredible designer, he was a humanitarian. He was an incredible philanthropist,” said Blanchett. — Reuters c m y b One is a born actor or director. At the same time, one need not always be trained at an institute. One could acquire hands-on training on the sets while assisting other makers.