04122024-LSTL-01.qxd 12/3/2024 8:31 PM Page 1 c m y b IT’S A BOY AND A GIRL! Television actress Shraddha Arya, popularly known for her role as Preeta in the hit show Kundali Bhagya, has joyfully announced the birth of her twins — a boy and a girl. Shraddha marked the birth of her twins with an adorable video. TRIBUNE Legally single Britney Spears has entered her 43rd year of life with a milestone. On December 2, the pop icon was officially declared legally single, marking the end of her marriage to Sam Asghari. LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 4 DECEMBER 2024 As Sachin Pilgaonkar clocks over six decades of acting, he credits the tolerance level of audiences for his survival in the competitive industry Nonika Singh B ADE achhe lagte hain… perhaps there is only one Sachin, the famous cricketer that India loves more than this gifted actor. Cherubic child actor of 65 films, disarmingly charming hero of lilting love stories like Geet Gaata Chal, Balika Badhu as Sachin Pilgaonkar has clocked over six decades in the film industry, he lets us into his journey. On how he has survived in the competitive industry for so long, he smiles, “The credit goes to the tolerance of audiences.” In a free-wheeling interview his sense of humour and affable manners strike us as much as his performances onscreen. Back in time directors may have felt ‘he can only make audiences cry, ’ today his funny bone manifests not only in his directorial signatures but also crackling one-liners. Celebrating the success of his latest Marathi directorial Navra Maza Navsacha 2, sequel to his earlier superhit film of 2004, the actor-director producer shares sequels are no less no more challenging. But he adds, “Viewers are often ready to jump to conclusions and declare ‘oh the first one was better.” While Marathi cinema is hailed all over the country and in this time and age when big ticket movies are flopping left, right and centre, his movie doing a theatrical run of over 50 days is no mean feat. But Sachin won’t gloat or preach. Certainly, he has no piece of advice for Punjabi filmmakers, who he thinks are doing a very good job. You bet this Marathi has seen some Punjabi films. He listens to Bulle Shah and Baba Farid too and swears by the beauty of Punjabi ‘an inimitable language with unique flavour and expressions.’ The idiom of love, many may feel, has changed in Indian cinema. But the lead of emotive films like Ankhiyon Ke Jharokhon Se, brimming with pure and virtuous love, has a different take. He observes, “Love will always remain innocent. It is just the situation that changes. And, since filmmakers have to create something new each time, a new idea or story of looking at love crops up.” Indeed, he has also been a wit- IT’S A sixer! ❝ CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT. THERE IS NO POINT IN HARPING OVER WOH ZAMAANA AISA THA… LOVE WILL ALWAYS REMAIN INNOCENT. IT IS JUST THE SITUATION THAT CHANGES. AND, SINCE FILMMAKERS HAVE TO CREATE SOMETHING NEW EACH TIME, A NEW IDEA OR STORY OF LOOKING AT LOVE CROPS UP. ness to days when audiences would give a standing ovation and make cinema halls come alive with their overenthused responses. Today, much of the content is watched in the privacy of rooms, thanks to OTT. He believes, “Change is the only constant. There is no point in harping over woh zamaana aisa tha…” Thus he is willing to learn as much from his lovely daughter Shriya Pilgaonkar, an OTT star in her own right. With so many talented actors in the family, his wife Supriya Pilgaonkar too is a noted actress, we wonder if their house doubles up as an acting school. He replies, “No, more than acting we discuss food.” Ahem, looks like his love for Punjab translates into their foodie traits too. With food figuring high on his agenda, how has he managed to maintain himself? Well, for one it’s his genes which he has inherited from his mother. Besides, he plays badminton Leafy vegetables like methi andpalakare water guzzlers, while others like carrot and pea can do with very little water. Here are some do and don’ts... Last week I talked about watering plants according to their needs. Let me elaborate it a bit more. Water is the life, but it can take life too if we don’t know how much and when to water the plants. Many gardeners ask me which is the best time to water the plants is. Well, evening is the best time to water your plants. Watering late in the daytime, like in the noon, can adversely affect the roots. Do not water just for the sake of wetting the surface of the soil. By doing that, you will encourage the plant to sprout surface roots, which is not in harmony with the harsh summer nature of this region. We have talked about judicious use of water depending upon the species. But we need to stop watering some plants altogether. Because, some of our traditional green friends from the hills, like the peach, plum, pear, apple and almonds are much clever compared to the gullible evergreens like mango, chickoo, litchi etc. The hill species cleverly tide over adverse atmospheric conditions. As the winter sets in, these trees shed leaves and go to the ‘sleep’ mode because putting up new growth during this time can be dangerous. We may have tamed the hill trees to give fruit even in the harsh planes of Punjab and Haryana by introducing low chilling varieties, their decidu- The life force SPADEWORK SATISH NARULA ous trait is still intact. Watering for such plants should be stopped altogether. Saplings of such species should be provided shelter with an opening towards South-East. In severe winters, the terminal growth in such cases can get damaged. When it comes to winter vegetables, we normally grow these by allotting random beds available in the kitchen garden. Do not do that. Segregate those based on their water needs. Provide adjacent beds to those with identical nature. Leafy vegetables like methi, palak etc are good guzzlers, but peas and carrot do not like water. You can water them just twice or thrice during their entire lifecycle. Do you know now why your carrot keeps on growing above the ground rather than developing underground roots? Tomatoes too protest by rupturing when overwatered, more so when the gap between two water cycle is long and staggering. The plants too reflect the anomaly by putting forth yellow and spotted leaves. One thing more, every application of fertilizer, whether in fruit, vegetables, in pots or a lawn, should always be followed with watering. Otherwise too, as a general rule that is applicable to most of the garden plants is that apply water when the soil is dry and not powder dry. (The author is Chandigarhbased horticulturist) c m y b regularly and eats everything, but in moderation. In fact, it’s his evergreen looks which ensured his transition from a National Award winning child actor to a grown-up actor was seamless. Imagine his last film as a child actor in Bairag was in the same year as Balika Badhu. To those who think the otherwise heartwarming film was socially incorrect and glorified child marriage he maintains, “It was made in 1976 but was a period film set in 1930s when child brides were a norm.” Today he won’t advocate the regressive custom. Nor is he a votary of violence and abusive language with which web shows are currently heavily loaded. Sure he throws in a caveat, ‘unless script strongly demands so.’ Yes he has made an exception in City of Dreams where he turned a bad guy and in season three for the first time in his life abused in front of the camera. All praise for his director Nagesh Kukunoor for discovering this facet of his and that too sans any accoutrements, he admits to being ‘a director’s actor.’ The director in Sachin never interferes with other directors’ vision for many reasons but also, “Since I am only being paid for acting.” Of course, it’s not just his credo-line “the only way to be different is to be oneself” which makes him iconic but oodles of talent. Once an actor, always one, he has no intention of ever bidding adieu to arc-lights. Directing a Hindi entertainer is only one of his many dreams. “You can only quit if you have mastered it all…” six decades and still in learning mode. Now, you know the real secret behind the Sholay and Satte pe Satta actor’s long, long innings. ‘MY POST HAS BEEN misinterpreted’ Bollywood actor Vikrant Massey, who earlier announced his sabbatical from films, has now issued a fresh statement with regards to his announcement. The actor clarified that he is not retiring from films, as a major section of the media reported, and said that he is just going for a long break to focus on his health and his family. The actor said in his fresh statement, “Acting is all I can do. And it has given me everything I have. My physical and mental health have taken a hit. I just want to take some time off, I want to better my craft. I feel a sense of monotony at the moment”. He added, “My post has been misinterpreted that I am quitting or retiring from acting. I want to take some time off to focus on my family and health. I would be back when the time feels right (sic)”. Earlier, the actor had announced his “break” when he took to his social media, and shared a post. He wrote, “Hello, The last few years and beyond have been phenomenal. I thank each and every one of you for your indelible support.” —IANS It gets bigger & better After a successful debut, Cinevesture International Film Festival (CIFF) is back along with a market rebranded as CinéV-CHD, which will take place on March 20-23 in Chandigarh. Cinevesture is also thrilled to announce its partnership with the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA). The inaugural edition of CIFF garnered significant attention and hosted prominent Indian film personalities, including Karan Johar, Boman Irani, Sudhir Mishra, Shekhar Kapur, and Richa Chadha. Building on this momentum, the second edition aims to provide an enhanced platform for creative collaborations and networking. CinéV is a series of film markets that are designed to facilitate interactions between film professionals, investors, and distributors. These markets will serve as a hub for private investors and industry insiders to explore coproduction opportunities, secure funding, and forge strategic alliances. CinéV-CHD 2025 marks the first such market. Registrations for CinéV-CHD will open from January 14. Cinevesture has partnered with IFFLA, the leading South Asian film festival based in Los Angeles. The partnership, CinéVIFFLA, aligns the mission of both entities to support innovative storytelling and foster global collaborations. The festival will host a series of insightful conversations and panel discussions. Founder and CEO, Cinevesture, Nina Lath says, “Unlike other sectors, film production often presents a challenge for private investors due to its intangible nature and relatively short shelf life. Yet, the passion for cinematic storytelling and potential for substantial returns makes it an enticing opportunity. With CinéV, our mission is to bridge this gap by connecting pre-vetted projects with credible producers and investors, aiming for mutually beneficial outcomes for all involved.” —TNS TEAM CINEVESTURE Vikrant Massey issues fresh statement on his ‘break’