04042024-LSTC-01.qxd 4/3/2024 8:08 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Best man Life Actress and new mother Ileana D’Cruz spoke about self-love and shared that she was working on it with her partner Michael Dolan, whom she tagged as the “best man ever.” LUDHIANA | THURSDAY | 4 APRIL 2024 Joker: Folie a Deux poster out Singing star Ayushmann Khurrana signs recording deal with leading global brand Actor-musician Ayushmann Khurrana has signed a global recording deal with entertainment company Warner Music India. The first release from the partnership is set to drop in May. Ayushmann, who has lent his voice to numbers such as Mitti Di Khushboo, Paani Da Rang and Mere Liye Tum Kaafi Ho, said, “I have always wanted to collaborate with like-minded people in my pursuit of creative excellence.” He said he wanted to take his music to the global audience. He added: “I’m confident that with Warner Music India by my side, I will make some significant strides in this realm. I cannot wait to unveil my next song. It will be a new sound that people haven’t heard from me before.” Jay Mehta, Managing Director of Warner Music India and SAARC, said, “Ayushmann has experienced unparalleled success with his films, and we’re excited to see him now scale new heights as a pop star. With his passion for music, we are thrilled to build an iconic roadmap for him on his music journey.” — IANS ‘Moved by incredible story’ Priyanka Chopra joins the documentary Born Hungry as a producer Actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas’production company Purple Pebble Pictures has announced her new film as a producer. It is in collaboration with the production team of Barry Avrich’s new feature documentary Born Hungry. Taking to Instagram, Priyanka treated fans with this exciting news by sharing an article with a note. The note said, “Aligning with stories and filmmakers that have the ability to move the audience by having a unique point of view is what we always look for at @purplepebblepictures. @barryavrich22’s new feature documentary, Born Hungry is exactly that. I was so moved by Sash’s incredible story of resilience and determination, and also that it is an amazing rendition of an extremely sensitive story, so it was a no-brainer for us to collaborate.” Born Hungry premiered at the Palm Springs International Film Festival 2024 and will screen at the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto on April 26. — ANI Kapil Sharma, Neetu Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor Sheetal I T’s a huge thing for standup comedian and actor Kapil Sharma to run a celeb talk show, titled The Great Indian Kapil Show, on OTT giant Netflix. In many ways it’s also symbolic, considering he started off in 2007 by winning a similar-sounding comedy reality show — The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 3. Notably, every Netflix show that has the word ‘India’ — Indian Matchmaking, Indian Predator (series), Bad Boys Billionaires: India, Crime Stories: India Detectives and even stand-up special Vir Das: For India— in the title has brought business to the platform! After 2022 Netflix special Kapil Sharma: I’m Not Done Yet, he is back but this time his team of comedians wouldn’t be joining in from the crowd, but be on the stage. The standup special was less funny and more personal, where he talked about the battle with mental health and his equation with fame. But the Netflix’s latest show, with Kapil Sharma hosting the Indian celebrities from all walks of life, comes across as ‘televisionisation’ of OTT. That’s not funny! Kapil Sharma’s The Great Indian Kapil Show lacks the zing despite the return of Sunil Grover. Even the presence of real Animal Ranbir Kapoor and reel Abrar Haque couldn’t save the launch episode CELEB SPEAK IT WILL TAKE TIME ❝ The audience for television and OTT platforms are different, and since we have the remote in hand there are options galore. Kapil is good at comedy, the freshness is surely retained but it will take time for TV audience to come to an OTT platform to watch a specific comedy show.❞ ANGAD HASIJA, ACTOR No lasting impression For the premiere episode, neither Kapil’s team of comedians and ‘laughing’ judge Archana Puran Singh, nor PROMISING START ❝ Kapil Sharma’s Netflix start was like reliving old memories. His laughter filled the screen, bringing back the joy we all love. Now, I’m excited to see how he keeps the magic alive in this new digital age. It’s a promising start to what looks like a fun season ahead.❞ VARSHA HEGDE, ACTRESS guests, Ranbir Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor and Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, made an impression. The return of Gutthi aka Sunil Grover was NEED DIVERSIFIED CONTENT ❝ Kapil Sharma’s transition to Netflix is interesting. His first episode is entertaining, but I wonder if it will cater to a wider audience beyond his usual fan base. I hope the content diversifies beyond the usual gags.❞ MRUNAL JAIN, ACTOR the only high point of the show, especially for the character’s history with celebguest Ranbir Kapoor. The banter between Kapil Shar- ma and Grover (Dafli), which crosses the boundary of reel, taunts and becomes too real, brought back the memories of the infamous ‘mid-air’ fight between the two in 2017. The choice of guests for the inaugural show didn’t give the comedians, Kiku Sharda, Krushna Abhishek and Grover, much space to work around. Had there been Alia from the Kapoor house, it would have been an interesting twist, especially as the couple never appeared together on any show. Krushna dressed as Animal character Abrar Haque, a la Bobby Deol, and Kiku mimicking Sunny Deol didn’t add to the fun element at all. Need to up his game Kapil is the only winner from The Great Indian Laughter Challenge who has made it big in the industry, but he needs to up his game in the coming episodes. After all, it is not easy to keep OTT audience hooked, especially with a sea of options available to them. However, celebrities from the television industry are all rooting for Kapil’s show and looking forward to the upcoming episodes. The trailer of the musical thriller sequel Joker: Folie a Deux, starring Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix, is all set to be released on April 9. Taking to her Instagram handle, singer and songwriter Lady Gaga shared an intriguing poster with the caption, revealing the release date of the trailer. She wrote, “The world is a stage. Joker: Folie a Deux trailer coming April 9.” The poster depicts Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) and Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) dancing beneath a beam of light streaming through a window. Joker can be seen wearing a black tuxedo and Quinn a white dress. Joaquin Phoenix will be seen playing the lead role in the film Joker: Folie a Deux. Lady Gaga will play the role of Harley Quinn, opposite Joaquin Phoenix. The cast of the film includes Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lotte. The movie has been written by Todd Phillips and Scott Silver. Todd Phillips will also direct. Music is being handled by Hildur Guonadottir. Joker: Folie a Deux is set to open in theatres on October 4. — ANI Sensational Sonakshi! Are you kidding... Michael Douglas on discovering he is related to Scarlett Johansson Manoj Bajpayee and Prachi Desai at the trailer launch of web series Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout, in Mumbai on Tuesday. ANI ‘Cinema mirrors our times’ Cinema alone can’t bring about a revolution, believes actor Manoj Bajpayee, who described the art form as a tool to kickstart movements. The actor reflected on the role of films in society at the trailer launch of his upcoming ZEE5 film Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout on Tuesday night. “Cinema can be a mirror of our time. Cinema can’t start movements. It can be part of the movement. Cinema can’t do anything alone. Every ruler has used cinema or art in their own way,” Bajpayee said. Citing the example of Amitabh Bachchan’s angry young man persona in the 1970s movies, the National Award-winner said it emerged at a time when the country’s youth was struggling with unemployment and hopelessness. “They saw themselves in Amitabh Bachchan and watching those films helped them vent out (their emotions)... Similarly, when the time of romanticism came, there were Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan,” he added. The event was also attended by cast members Prachi Desai, Parul Gulati, Sahil Vaid, Dinker Sharma, producer Kiran Deohans, director Aban Bharucha Deohans and ZEE5 busi- c m y b ness head Manish Kalra. Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout will see Bajpayee reprise his role of ACP Avinash Verma, alongside Desai, who is coming back as Inspector Sanjana. “Whenever you do the second installment, there are some basic elements that you have done so you should not leave that, as it is the crux of the character. I try to remind myself what I have done and what I should do now,” Bajpayee said, about starring in the follow-up of the 2021 film. Produced by Zee Studios and Candid Creations, Silence 2: The Night Owl Bar Shootout will premiere on April 16 on ZEE5. — PTI Veteran Hollywood actor Michael Douglas was shocked after discovering he was related to star Scarlett Johansson. The 79-year-old star appeared on a series Finding Your Roots to delve into his ancestry, and was stunned to find out that Johansson, who he appeared alongside in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, is a “DNA cousin” of his. When told the news on the show, Douglas said: “Are you kidding? Oh, that’s amazing. All right. This is cool. This is so cool.” ‘Finding Your Roots’ presenter Henry Louis Gates Jr shared the news with Douglas. — IANS The second song of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-anticipated web series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, titled Tilasmi Bahein, is now out. Composed by the director-creator himself, the song features Sonakshi Sinha in her most ethereal avatar yet. The song, composed by the maestro Bhansali himself and sung by the enchanting Sharmistha Chatterjee, promises to be a visual and auditory treat for fans. In the mesmerising music video, Sinha’s portrayal of the courtesan Fareedan is nothing short of captivating. Dressed in a resplendent beige sequin sari, Sinha exudes allure and charisma as she enchants viewers with her dance, filmed in one continuous take. The song offers a tantalising glimpse into the lavish and mysterious world of Heeramandi, leaving audiences eagerly anticipating more. — ANI
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