16112024-LSTL-01.qxd 11/15/2024 9:08 PM Page 1 c m y b WAACK GIRLS ON WAY Prime Video has announced the premiere date of its Original drama series, Waack Girls — November 22. The series stars Mekhola Bose, Anasua Chowdhury, Rytasha Rathore, Chrisann Pereira, Priyam Saha, Ruby Sah, Achintya Bose, Barun Chanda, Lillete Dubey and the late Nitesh Pandey. Gurnaaz I N the heart of Mumbai, Chandigarh boy Manahar Kumar is actively navigating the vibrant film industry, with his sight set on both acting and direction. “Right now, I’m in talks with different production companies and casting directors for acting roles. I’m also writing a feature film and pitching it,” he shares. His acting credits include roles in films such as Jawan and the second season of Made in Heaven. “I was part of Nayanthara’s team in Jawan, working as one of her field officers. These projects have really helped me showcase my talent on a larger platform,” he says. Reflecting on how he got here, Manahar explains, “After moving to Mumbai threeand-a-half years ago, I was lucky to be mentored by directors like Shakun Batra and Abhishek Sharma. They’ve really guided me in this competitive industry.” He’s also been selected as a BAFTA newcomer — a four-year-long talent initiative as a director-performer — and a Futures Creative Fellow with Gold House, which has opened many doors for him. “These fellowships have connected me with filmmakers from around the world,” he notes. Tracing back to his recent achievements, Manahar’s academic journey was pivotal. He studied MFA at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he honed his skills in both acting and filmmaking. “I realised it was important for me to go behind the camera and learn the craft of filmmaking and writing,” he recalls. During his time at SCAD, he not only acted in various projects but also directed films that garnered accolades, including a Student Emmy Award for his performance in Distant. Manahar’s journey through film festivals continued with projects such as What Remains of Emily, which won Best Lead Actor at the Infinity Film Festival in the UK and Best Pilot at the Next Generation Indie Awards in Hollywood. His film Mabrook was showcased at festivals like the Atlanta Film Festival and Palm Springs International Film Festival. The Chandigarh connection to his success remains a highlight. “During my course, I used to come back home for breaks and TRIBUNE In talks Life Game of Thrones fame actress Sophie Turner is in negotiations to play Lara Croft in Prime Video’s forthcoming Tomb Raider series. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 16 NOVEMBER 2024 Writing his own script Manahar Kumar was involved in theatre during his school days in Chandigarh. As he blossoms into an actor and a director with many awards to his credit, he shares excerpts from his journey continued working on these films. Kya Dekh Raha Hai won me a Student Emmy for Best Short Documentary. I also worked on other films like Race, which won Best Indie Film at the New York Film Awards and Best Short Film at the Georgia Film Festival,” he shares. Another significant project was Stardust, his thesis film that he wrote, directed and crowdfunded. “We raised around $10,000, and the film led me to become a finalist for Best International Director at the Oregon Short Film Festival. It also played at several other South Asian Film Festivals in the US, such as Tasveer and Chicago South Asian Film Festival,” Manahar recounts with joy. His most recent achievement is a short film titled Hush Hush. “It won a Student Emmy Award and was also a winner at the Atlanta Web and Film International Film Festival.” Before moving to the United States, Manahar’s foundation was built in Chandigarh, where he was actively involved in theatre during his school days. “I participated in a lot of plays, like 12 Angry Men, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, and Ayn Rand’s Night of January 16 with Zubin Mehta’s Wings Theatre Academy,” he reminisces. His passion for performing arts only deepened during his undergraduate years in Manipal, where he embraced every opportunity to act and create. “We created an event for students to come on stage and overcome their fright,” he adds. Manahar’s journey to theatre began in high school, but it took a transformative turn when he initially enrolled in an engineering course. “After about a month, I realised this wasn’t something that would keep me motivated,” he states. With support from his family, he switched to mass communication, a decision that allowed him to pursue his true passion for acting. Today, as he continues to explore new opportunities, he knows the power of following one’s passion and the strength it gives. “I’m excited about what’s next, both in acting and direction. I feel like I’m just getting started,” he concludes. SPADE WORK NIMRAT KAUR DILJIT DOSANJH SATISH NARULA With the cold season knocking on the door, it’s time to take extra care of your plants Celebs extend Gurpurb wishes On the auspicious occasion of Gurpurb, several members of the Indian film industry extended heartfelt greetings to their fans. Actor Sunny Deol took to Instagram Story and wrote, “Waheguru ji da Khalsa...Waheguru ji di fateh...Aap sab nu Gurpurb di lakh lakh vadhaiyan howe. Waheguru sab pe meher kare. Happy Guru Nanak jayanti.” Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor Khan shared a picture of the Golden Temple and wished everyone a ‘Happy Guru Nanak Jayanti’. Singer Diljit Dosanjh shared a video of him offering prayers at a gurdwara and wrote, “Gurpurb dian sareyan nu vadhaiyan har saal di taran es vaar v Baba Ji be v baut kirpa kiti shukar tera hee noor Nanak.” Gurpurb, also known as Guru Nanak Prakash Utsav SUNNY DEOL or Guru Nanak Jayanti, celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. The auspicious occasion is observed on the full moon date of Kartik month or Kartik Purnima every year. The day is also celebrated as Parkash Utsav. Meanwhile, actress Nimrat Kaur recently shared a heartwarming video on social media, where she is seen making kada prasad on the auspicious occasion of Gurpurb. Taking to her Instagram handle, the Airlift actress posted a video showing herself making halwa. She captioned the post, “Ghar par banaa hal-waaah!!!! #Gurpurb diyan lakh lakh vadiyaan.” In the video, Nimrat reveals that she learned the art of making halwa from her mother. Nimrat also visited a gurdwara on Guru Nanak Jayanti. — Agencies KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN c m y b Winter-proof your greens Plants are raised like kids. They are also vulnerable to external changes. A gardener is like, in most of the cases, a single parent. Like a good mother, he or she can feel the change in the weather even if it is a small nip that can only be felt on the tip of the nose. And the nip in the air says winter is round the corner. Without any delay, start making arrangements to save your ‘kids’. Most of the plants that we grow here as indoor ornamental ones come from places like West Bengal, Andhra, Karnataka or Kerala. The climatic conditions of all these places do not match those of the North Indian plains, where the winter and summer are two extremes. Nature has its own mechanisms, but up to a limit these plants can put up a fight. Here comes the role of a gardener. Nature has given many a plant species a mechanism to shed leaves in adverse weather and go dormant. The new growth process is suspended, so there is no question of any injury. I once got a query from a gardener who said he had made the plant healthy by feeding it well during summer and now the well-fed leaves were getting lost with the onset of winter. I explained to him that there was no cause of concern as nature had already handled that! Before shedding leaves, the plants withdraw most of the nutrients from the leaves and store it. Even the shed leaves, with little nutrients, decompose and further add nutrient to soil and recycle continues. The plants that shed leaves during fall are mussaenda, ixoras; decidu- ous fruit plants like peach, plum, pear, grapes etc. The most vulnerable shade-loving indoor plants, or even outdoor ones, to cold include dieffenbachia, aglaonemas, marantas, calatheas, crotons and tulsi. As I explained earlier, the background from where these plants come, they like to be together. So plants in a group are safer. Those in soil, in a bed, are already safe and we have seen some good grown crotons sail through the winter with almost negligible injury. Do not keep vulnerable potted plants at a place where they face the cold wind. Prefer a place where these are under a porch. Even an hour or two of rising sun will make them happy. At times when you have just planted chicku, mango or litchi, these have to be saved. You can make a thatch cover around the plant, tying it near the head. Keep the South-East end open, so that they enjoy the sun. If your plants are exposed, you can cover them with net or poly cloth that can be removed in the morning. Did you ever think why the elders tied a red cloth around a tulsi plant? Traditional Hindu families arrange ‘tulsi wedding’ nowadays and tie a red drape or cloth on it. This, in fact, is providing safety to the plant in the changing weather! These will also be shifted under shelter. Left exposed to winter, tulsi sheds leaves and dies. What will you call it? Experience? Start believing elders, they have been around for many more years! (The author is a retired horticulturist from Punjab Agriculture University based in Chandigarh)