13112024-LSTL-01.qxd 11/12/2024 11:40 PM Page 1 c m y b KAL HO NAA HO... AGAIN Joining the trend of re-releases, Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta-starrer Kal Ho Naa Ho is all set to reignite the charm of early 2000s Bollywood soon. The romantic drama will hit the theatres again on November 15. TRIBUNE Up next Life Actress Gal Gadot will next be seen in the action thriller The Runner. Kevin Macdonald has come on board to direct the project, which is set in London. LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 13 NOVEMBER 2024 ‘Just started to write my story’ It’s only now that I have understood the privilege of being an actor, which is certainly not the razzmatazz or glamour people associate with the industry. Nonika Singh P RIYADARSHAN’ s Bhoot Bangla with Akshay Kumar, Raj & DK’s Netflix series Rakt Bramhand— The Bloody Kingdom, an action film Baby John opposite Varun Dhawan, Dinesh Vijan’s Bhul Chuk Maaf with gifted actor Rajkummar Rao. Sounds more like a wish-list than actual line-up of an actor, slowly and steadily climbing the ladder of success. If talented actress Wamiqa Gabbi’s sterling performances in Jubilee, Khufiya, Charlie Chopra & The Mystery of Solang Valley led us to believe that 2023 was her year, the future looks even more promising. No wonder her promise, ‘I have just started to write my story’, is backed by actuality and not illusion. Of course, as the light-eyed beauty, the sohni kudi from City Beautiful signs up one after another prestigious project, she is as wonderstruck as we are and can’t believe all this is true. She says, “Imagine a girl sitting in Mohali with no film background, no political backing, not big money either and no godfather, dreaming this impossible dream and living it ... all of this is so surreal for me.” Only instead of walking on cloud nine, she turns a tad philosophical. She says, “Once I stopped being desperate about work, things just fell into my kitty. I gave up all expectations and some invisible force began to guide me.” Undeniably, working with all these A-list directors and big stars has been more than a ‘pinch me’ moment for her. She says, “Butterflies in my stomach have never stopped buzzing.” All of these biggies have been her ideals. Of course, her all-time crush is Hrithik Roshan and she hugely admires Kangana Ranaut. Her reasons for signing a movie, however, Having made a mark with Jubilee, Khufiya and Charlie Chopra, Chandigarh girl Wamiqa Gabbi, who will soon be seen in Baby John, believes one needs to be good at one’s craft to avoid rejection are not whether it’s a big production house or superstar-driven project, but, “If the world they are creating is exciting and what am I doing in it.” Right now she is super-excited about Baby John, an actioner based on Atlee’s Theri, which releases in December. The action fantasy that Raj & DK are creating in Rakt Bramhand—The Bloody Kingdom is again something she is dying for people to discover. You bet the likes of Vishal Bhardwaj and Vikramaditya Motwane have spoilt her. “I would have been a different person had I not worked with them.” For someone who has not been a trained actor, how does she get into the skin of a character? She answers, “Simply by understanding that characters are people like you and me.” And to all her Punjabi brethren eager to step into her shoes, her advice is, “Be so good at your craft that no one can reject you.” If her success seems personal to her friends and family and if others too want a piece of her, she has no issues. “I can see the glow of my success in their eyes, in umpteen messages I receive from Punjab. It’s the same feeling which I had when Kapil Sharma made it, when Diljit Dosanjh creates waves. For I know how difficult it is to crack the code.” Her biggest takeaway ever since she stepped into the entertainment industry with a bit part in Imtiaz Ali’s Jab We Met in 2013, and lead in Punjabi film Sixteen in 2017, has been, ‘empathy and patience’. Recently seen in Parmish Verma’s Tabaah and soon to be seen in Kikli, Punjabi cinema will always be special for her. She chuckles, “For my grandmother mostly understands films in Punjabi.” And with writer-father Govardhan Gabbi, Punjabi is very much her mother/father-tongue. In fact, she might go ahead and produce a Punjabi film. What kind? Her eyes twinkle, “See the core of my heart is drama and entertainment; I will always make an entertainer, may be laced with a message.” In Priyadarshan’s horror.com entertainer Bhoot Bangla, is she romantically paired opposite superstar Akshay Kumar? Not at a liberty to divulge the details as yet, but yes she is okay with playing romantic interest to a hero much older to her, provided, ‘it does not look awkward or creep me out’. As for real life romance, we wonder if there is a mystery man lurking somewhere. She smiles, “I dare him to come out.” Only she insists she is single and more than happy with her furry companions and their unconditional love! “You asked for love so he made you stand alone so you can love yourself,” she muses. Like the many shades of her characters onscreen, clearly Wamiqa is at once sparkling and thoughtful. PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI World is his stage Samira Koser delights with her Kathak performance on the inaugural day of National Classical Dance Festival at Tagore Theatre Actor Ali Fazal will be seen starring alongside Hollywood star Phoebe Waller-Bridge in the upcoming film Rule Breakers. He called the actress a powerhouse of talent and that her addition has lifted the film to greater heights. Rule Breakers, directed by two-time Oscar winner Bill Guttentag, explores themes of resilience and defiance in Afghanistan. Known for his previous work in Victoria & Abdul and Furious 7, Ali’s collaboration with Waller-Bridge is highly anticipated. The film is set for a release in March 2025. “I am thrilled to be a part of Rule Breakers and to share the screen with such a talented actress as Phoebe WallerBridge. This project resonates with me deeply, and I believe it’s crucial to tell stories that highlight the strength and resilience of individuals in challenging circumstances. I look forward to bringing this narrative to life and reaching audiences globally,” said Ali. He feels thrilled to be able to support a film that ‘we think every parent should take their daughter to watch in the theatres’. “And the story being so inspiring, it was no surprise that Phoebe- Waller also stepped in. Of course she is a powerhouse of talent, so her addition I am sure has lifted the film to greater heights. We play key roles at different stages in Roya Mehboob’s life and journey along with the Afghani robotics team for girls.” — IANS Classical is the word The Department of Cultural Affairs, Chandigarh Administration, in association with Tagore Theatre Society has oganised a threeday mega festival of classical dances of India, National Classical Dance Festival at Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, which began on November 11. Eminent artistes from all over India are participating in this event. On the inaugural day, Kathak exponent Samira Koser (Kathak solo), and Priyadarshini Ghosh and Mohana Iyer and troupe (Mohiniyattam) presented remarkable performances. Samira opened the programme with a spiritual performance followed by traditional Kathak dance. Kaya Swaroopa was her next act, displaying her command over abhinaya aspect of Kathak. She captivated the audience with her inimitable style of presenting bhavas in nritya. Accomplished artistes Guru Brij Mohan Gangani on padant, Mehmood Khan on tabla and Ramesh Parihar on vocals embellished the performance. Later, leading exponents of Mohiniyattam, Priyadarshini Ghosh and Mohana Iyer, took to the stage. Their troupe included eight members, including Priyadarshini Ghosh, Mohana Iyer, Sampurna Mukherjee, Srijani Ghosh, Sreeradha Ghosh, Saheli Sengupta, Sanjana Ghosh and Debanjali Bandyopadhyay. On Day 2, while Ranjana Gauhar delighted with her Odissi dance, Sridhar Vasudevan mesmerised the audience with his Bharatnatyam performance. Ranjana pre- sented the dance ballet Khud Main Kabir–Kabir Main Hu. The production was a fusion of poems and bhajans through dance. Shridhar and his troupe presented Dashavidha Keshava, which was based on how Lord Krishna is worshipped in 10 forms through the captivating poetry of Kashi Jayadeva. They concluded with Mangalam, which was a group performance in the traditional Bharatnatyam style. Today will be the concluding day of the festival and will feature Kolkata-based Ashim Bandhu and troupe performing Moonstruck (a Kathak-based dance ballet), followed by a dance sequence based on mythology by Delhi-based Sangeeta Sharma. c m y b Ali to share screen space with Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Rule Breakers