27102024-LSTL-01.qxd 10/26/2024 11:35 PM Page 1 c m y b 'AIM BEYOND ME' Pop star Rihanna had an inspiring exchange of words with a seven-year-old girl fan, who expressed her dream of becoming the ‘next Rihanna’. "Don't aim for me. Aim beyond me. You're going to be fantastic," she said, imparting a powerful message to the younger generation. TRIBUNE Hello Bunny Life Varun Dhawan is busy promoting Citadel: Honey Bunny. He was recently spotted at Mumbai’s iconic Gaiety Galaxy theatre to promote his series in a grand way. LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 27 OCTOBER 2024 Preeti Singh, who directed the film Aliya Basu Gayab Hai, is happy that gender now takes a backseat as producers take her more seriously Making a connect Gurnaaz The Aliya effect ❝ As an outsider, making my film was a victory. If you have a story, please go for it. Don’t think you won’t find support. Salim Diwan, who portrays a kidnapper in the film, calls it a complex character. To prep for a role in a narrative that combines suspense with societal issues, involved personal reflection, as he says, “I’d never thought about kidnapping someone,” he admits, explaining how he connected with his character, “I delved into his backstory to understand him better and become one with his motivations.” While initial hesitation was one thing, once he understood the charac- W ith the successful release of her feature film Aliya Basu Gayab Hai, which stars Vinay Pathak, Raima Sen and Salim Diwan, Preeti Singh celebrates a significant victory as a female director in a male-dominated industry. “As an outsider, making my film was a victory,” she shares, reflecting on her journey from directing ads and short films to tackling a full-length feature. In discussing the intricacies of directing a thriller, Preeti notes, “Curiosity is the key—there’s a fine line where you want the audience to guess.” She has received praise for her approach that balances predictability and surprise, ensuring an engaging experience for viewers. Despite her success, Preeti acknowledges the challenges faced by female directors in Bollywood. “Now, producers take me seriously. Gender takes a backseat,” she explains. She encourages aspiring filmmakers, saying, “If you have a story, please go for it. Don’t think you won’t find support.” Preeti is excited about writing for an international film with Michelle MacLaren and remains committed to nurturing fresh talent. “You’re not just making films; you’re creating a community,” she affirms. Salim Diwan Touch of reality Raima Sen, who took on the titular role in the film, approached her character with an emphasis on authenticity. She explains, “I decided to take it up as if I was getting kidnapped in real life. I wanted to portray how an ordinary woman might react in a traumatic situation like the one in the movie.” This mindset allowed her to react spontaneously, capturing the raw emotions of her character’s ordeal. “For the action sequences, I decided not to rehearse them because this is a regular girl who gets kidnapped, and her reactions don’t need to be perfectly choreographed. I wanted the action to feel impromptu, relying on my presence of mind and how I would genuinely respond in that situa- Diwali gets an exotic touch Shivani Bhakoo A female Russian dancer gyrating to catchy beats and a male dancer matching steps with her... It was a scintillating performance that evoked a mixed response from the audience. For, it was not a private party or just another commercial show. The event was organised by Rotary Club of Ludhiana Midtown to celebrate Diwali! Most members condemned the event as according to them the club is meant to raise awareness on important social topics, to provide service to others, promote integrity and peace. Bringing in a Russian dance troupe on the occasion of Diwali was certainly not in sync with the Rotary Club of Ludhiana Midtown gets Russian dancers for Diwali celebration ethos of the club, they said. According to them, a cultural evening would have been more befitting. A member, on the condition of anonymity, said that the troupe of Joy and Iasira had come from Delhi. “The club has always been a forerunner in helping the needy, serving the society. But this kind of entertainment came as a shock. People did enjoy clicking photographs but once the programme was over, they condemned the office bearers for organising such an event. If we need such ‘entertainment’, we can have a private party.” The president of the club, Ashwani Garg, said that it was Diwali event and the troupe was invited to entertain the members. Though he said he had no idea how much money was pumped into this event, he saw no issue with such a programme. He said, “Most members liked the event but you cannot make everyone happy. We organise many serious events. If this was held in a lighter vein, there should not be any major issue.” SPADE WORK SATISH NARULA Petal perfect In the plant kingdom, even the kings need help and relief. Yes, we are talking about rose, the King of Flowers. The symbol of love, it fails to bloom or the flowers open half and are of poor quality at times. Some problems are man-made while some come from nature. For the major debacle in rearing rose, it’s our own doing. I don’t know how and who started the practice of exposing the plant roots ‘to feed the plants and open the roots to sun and wind’. It causes major damage to the plant. In doing so, we damage the fibrous hair-like feeder roots that are very near to the surface of the soil. This tremendously shortens the plant life. Stop this practice at Considered to be the symbol of love, the rose plant photo-negative — they like to needs adequate care againstgo deep in the soil light. They do not need exposure to light. for the blooms to When it starts blooming, you want to have more. But shine the complaint is that the once. You can add fertiliser and manure in the bed only. Mix it well with the upper soil and give water. You do not need to spoon feed the plants in the roots. All the manure and fertiliser nutrients are water soluble and are available to the plants on their own. Secondly, the roots in case of roses are blooms at time do not appear and when they do so, they are substandard or are very less in number. Look at the developing buds, you may find some black or green, tiny devils sticking to the buds in hordes. These are aphids that suck the sap and devitalise the blooms. Get rid of these by spraying the plant with Rogor (Dimethoate), dissolved at one-and-a-half milliliter to a litre of water. Repeat the spray after a week. When you get good quality blooms and you want these aplenty, keep removing promptly the near dying or dead blooms. If you find dull coloration of twigs, and your plant looks ‘tired’, see for scales that attach to the stem and twigs. Scratch these and you will see healthy green twig beneath. These stick to the stems and devitalise the plants. Apply phorate granules (Thimet 10 G), at 10 gram per bush, thrice, at monthly interval. (Narula is Chandigarh-based horticulturist) c m y b Raima Sen tion,” she shares, wanting to convey genuine fear and instinctive response. Despite the physical challenges of filming, including being tied up and dealing with gag balls, Sen found humour and camaraderie on set, noting, “It was fun, but yes, everyone got injured at least once— except me! I managed to avoid injury and ended up being the one who unintentionally injured others.” The film delves deeper than just the kidnapping plot; Sen points out, “It’s about how each character goes through a catharsis.” Her character navigates complex situations, using her wit and charm strategically. Detailing her character, Ramia shares, “In the movie, she’s kidnapped by two men, and besides thinking about the ransom, she knows how to use her sexual power in those desperate moments to try and turn the situation around. So, it’s not just about the kidnapping and ransom; there’s more depth to it.” Raima also highlights the value of working under Preeti’s direction, noting, “It was very comfortable having her around, especially for scenes where they had to rip my clothes apart—messy scenes like that. But I was comfortable because she was on the set. She understood where I was uncomfortable and where I wasn’t. Although men directors are equally good, no doubt, there’s a bit of an edge that women directors have. You feel you can tell them all your problems, which you can’t always do with men.” ter, Salim says, “I could connect with him and from there it became much easier for me.” Reflecting on his career since Bollywood Diaries, Salim shares insights about the challenges of the industry. He acknowledges the importance of luck and timing, stating, “It’s tough, and you need luck on your side too.” After two decades in Mumbai, he views his journey as a learning experience, appreciating both the struggles and successes that shape his path in the competitive film landscape.