08092024-LSTL-01.qxd 9/7/2024 11:51 PM Page 1 c m y b AKSHAY HINTS AT NEW PROJECT Akshay Kumar, who was recently seen in Khel Khel Mein, has got fans excited with his new social media post. On Saturday, the actor took to Instagram and wished his followers on Ganesh Chaturthi. He also wrote that he would share a big announcement with them on his birthday on September 9. TRIBUNE Billionaire! Life Singer-actress Selena Gomez has officially joined the ranks of one of the youngest billionaires! She has achieved this financial feat primarily through the success of her beauty brand, Rare Beauty. LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 8 SEPTEMBER 2024 ‘I go with my spontaneity’ Vikrant Parmar P ORTRAYING a real incident on reel is a tough enough task any day but when it is a hijacking being relived on screen, it gets all the more challenging. Little wonder then, actress Patralekha aptly claims that the experience of enacting an air-hostess in Netflix’s latest series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack was ‘intense’. Directed by the talented Anubhav Sinha, the series recreates the 1999 hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane on way from Nepal to India. “It is not everyday that one gets to recreate such emotions. It was difficult to enact the mental as well as emotional turmoil that the passengers and crew members must have gone through, but I took it up as a challenge and enjoyed the overall experience. The intensity of the role was telling,” says Patralekha, whose latest digital film Wild Wild Punjab made a mark too. Patralekha made her acting debut with Citylights in 2014, while her first web series was Bose: Dead/Alive (2017). She has also been a part of films, including Nanu Ki Jaanu (2018), and the web series Mai Hero Boll Raha Hu (2021) as well as Aar Ya Paar (2022). Regarding the preparations for her role in The Kandahar Hijack, or for that matter any other that she essays, Patralekha says, “I believe my intuition and feelings flow on the sets, so when I essay a particular character there is not much pre-thinking. Although there are reading sessions, but on the sets I go with my spontaneity. Natural flair is important for me and I trust my instinct.” Working with Sinha must have been a learning experience, right? “Of course, it was. In fact, it was a dream come true for me as he is a very gifted director. Although the script is the Bible, he lets his actors ‘be’ and perform in their own space. Also, as the topic was intense and not much fun happened on the sets, we really enjoyed the food that Patralekha, whose role as an air-hostess in the series IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack has been appreciated, says she lets her natural flair for acting take over on the sets Anubhav sir often got for us,” she recalls. If it was such a serious affair, challenges would have sure presented themselves? “Yes, there were many. Most of all, working in a tight space with so many people as well as junior artistes was quite a task. As I am a bit claustrophobic, it was not the happiest situation for me, but it is all worth the effort once the result is fruitful,” she shares. Hailing from Shillong, Patralekha has completed a decade in the industry along with her coactor Vijay Varma, with whom she has collaborated earlier in the series Cheers. “During the last decade, we have grown as actors and working together is always fun. But there is a long way to go yet.” Patralekhaa, whose ranking jumped from #180 to #30 on IMDb’s popularity list since the release of this series, credits the OTT for providing more opportunities to artistes, “It’s a good space to be in and the talent pool has become wider. The competition too has increased, but there is more work now. At least I definitely got more work since the advent of OTT and am thankful for that.” Ah, are we missing something? Personal front? Being the wife of the super-talented Rajkummar Rao, whose latest film Stree 2 was a huge hit, does work go home? “Yes, we often have discussions on our projects. I seek his advice on particular scenes and how to go about them. So does he. It’s wonderful to have a talented soul around as your life partner.” Well, two to tango! On Ganesh Chaturthi, while modaks are a huge hit, B-town celebrities welcome Lord Ganesha idols in their homes with piety ANESH CHATURTHI festivities are in full swing in B-town. The 10-day festival is celebrated throughout India, but it has all the more significance for Maharashtrian communities. Here’s a look at what celebs are doing to mark the occasion. G Bappa MODAK PARTY is back! Bollywood star Kartik Aaryan embraced the festive spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi with a visit to Mumbai’s Lalbaugcha Raja on Saturday morning. The actor was seen dressed in a blue shirt, paired with white pants, as he offered prayers to Lord Ganesha. Later, Aaryan posted a picture on Instagram with the caption, “He is back... and so am I for his blessings. Modak party begins!!! Ganpati Bappa Morya.” WELCOME HOME Bollywood diva Ananya Panday on Saturday welcomed Ganpati Bappa with love and devotion at her home. She took to Instagram and dropped a string of photos from the celebrations. Wearing a pastel green floral ethnic suit, with a halter neckline, she is seen joining her hands and standing next to a beautiful Ganpati idol at her home. The post is captioned as, “Welcome home Bappppa.” The snaps also fea- Arjun Bijlani years and to date we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi with the same enthusiasm.” IN THE HILLS Actor-comedian Sunil Grover is having a gala time in the mountains. On Saturday, Sunil took to Instagra, and shared a video of himself dining with the local people of what looks like Ladakh, given the dry and rocky terrain. He wrote in the caption, “Ganpati ji thank you for creating this beautiful world. Ganpati Bappa Morya.” ture her parents — father and actor Chunky Panday, and mother Bhavana. from my Aaji to my Aai and to me today! Grateful and thankful for this year.” VINTAGE STYLE ANNUAL AFFAIR Actress Sharvari shared a picture of herself wearing a 35-year-old saree passed down by her grandmother to her mother. To celebrate Ganesh Utsav, Sharvari channeled her Marathi mulgi, as she wore a bright purple Kanjeevaram saree. She shared the pictures on Instagram, where she is seen posing with her mother in the saree, playing with her dog and also holding a small idol of Lord Ganesha. “Ganpati Bappa Morya… The most magical time of the year…my favourite festival is here! My saree this year is a 35-year-old Kanjeevaram passed down Just like every year, this time too, actor Neil Nitin Mukesh and his family welcomed Lord Ganpati at his home, commencing the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. It has been over three decades since the Mukesh family started bringing Bappa home. Neil and his father Nitin Mukesh shared, “It’s an annual ritual. Every year we wait for Bappa to come to our house and shower us with his blessings. I consider Lord Ganesha my younger brother. I still remember when I was a kid, along with my sisters, I insisted that my father to bring Bappa home. It’s been 31 VISITING PANDALS Actor Arjun Bijlani has also welcomed Bappa with great enthusiasm. On Friday evening, Bijlani, accompanied by his wife Neha and their son Ayaan, visited pandals in Mumbai to select a Ganesh idol for their home. Bijlani shared his excitement about the occasion, stating, “As every year, I am very excited; whenever Bappa arrives, a unique positive vibration fills the atmosphere. Now, we will take him home, and he will stay with us for three days, during which we will serve him with devotion.” The festivities also saw other celebrities joining in. Comedian Bharti Singh and actress Ankita Lokhande were also spotted bringing Ganesh idols to their homes on Friday evening. Deepika, Ranveer seek blessings at Siddhivinayak Temple Kartik Aaryan Neil Nitin Mukesh with family c m y b The soon-to-be parents Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh on Friday visited Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai and sought blessings of Lord Ganesha. The visuals show mom-to-be Deepika wearing an ethnic green saree with golden brocade work on it. She has tied her hair in a bun. Her husband Ranveer looked dapper in a silk beige coloured kurta pyjama. His hair was tied in a bun too. The video also shows the presence of Deepika and Ranveer’s parents. — IANS