09012025-LSTC-01.qxd 1/8/2025 11:59 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE PeeCee prays Life Priyanka Chopra has posted a heart-wrenching clip of the wildfire engulfing the Los Angeles neighbourhood on Instagram. For the caption, she wrote, “My thoughts are with everyone affected...” CHANDIGARH | THURSDAY | 9 JANUARY 2025 Life is exciting! VikrantParmar H Kangana’s latest on N-WORD The actress terms Indira Gandhi a product of nepotism Kangana Ranaut is currently busy promoting her much-awaited political drama Emergency. The film will see the diva essaying the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During an interaction, Kangana shared her views on the Gandhi family and nepotism. Throwing light on Indira Gandhi and her privileged background, Kangana stated, “Clearly, Indira Gandhi was a product of nepotism.But what happens is when I meet certain people, like in our film industry, who I don’t like or don’t want to be like, still I will play a character with utmost sensibility because being an artiste means not having any coloured perception.” The actress added, “I may come from a party that belongs to the people, as the name suggests, but I can still have a very sensitive approach to someone who comes from a privileged background. Indira Gandhi came from one. She was a three-time Prime Minister and daughter of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. She became the secretary and got all the best ministries, what more privilege can you ask for? Yes she is privileged, but that does not mean I cannot have a sensible portrayal of her.” Kangana Ranaut also talked about extending an invitation to Priyanka Gandhi for Emergency. She was quoted, “I actually met Priyanka Gandhi in the Parliament. And the first thing I told her was, ‘You should watch Emergency’. She was very gracious. She said, ‘Yeah may be’. So let’s see if they would want to watch the film. I think it’s a very sensitive and sensible portrayal of one episode and one personality also. And I have taken great care to portray Mrs Gandhi with great dignity.” Emergency is scheduled to be out in theatres on January 17. — IANS E has been in the industry for almost two decades, but 2024 was special for actor Shreyas Talpade—he was the Hindi voice of Allu Arjun in the second outing of the blockbuster Pushpa franchise! And, 2025 has also started on a bright note. Come January 17 and his film Emergency, headlined by Kangana Ranaut, will stream on Zee 5. “I play the late Prime Minsiter Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the film. Working with Kangana Ranaut and other cast members was amazing. I am hoping that audiences like me in that role,” he says. Well, while we leave it to time and critics to decide the fate of his upcoming project, we can’t let go of the topic of Pushpa as his powerful dubbing has once again resonated with audiences, earning him wide- spread praise for bringing the iconic character of Pushpa Raj to life in a new language. “It feels great as new records are being created. I am glad people like my work and happy that Pushpa is creating history,” he beams. When it all began with the first part, Shreyas had no clue that a film like Pushpa was being made. “After I saw Allu Arjun’s work in the film, I was really impressed. That’s how I became a part of the dubbing process.” There were many challenges, but Shreyas saw an opportunity in each of them. “I thought it was quite a difficult film to make and dub, but I took it on. The rest, the audience decides.” and Baaghi happened, Pushpa and Mufasa too. Emergency is due for a release soon. Hindi thriller Kartam Bhugtam and another Marathi film were also released in 2024. God has been kind and I am thankful.” Franchise funda Having been a part of popular franchises like Housefull and Welcome, are sequels and threequels the recipe for success nowadays? Shreyas says, “I think with a particular franchise, people somewhere know what to expect and if you are able to give them exactly that, then they are very happy. Golmaal, Housefull, Dhamaal and Welcome are therefore a hit. However, whether Packed schedule The year has been really good for Shreyas and he thanks the Almighty for all the projects that came his way in 2024. “I was already working on Welcome, when Housefull it is a franchise film or a new one, the pressure of performing well is always there.” There is a method that Shreyas follows as far choosing his characters is concerned. “It all depends on how excited I am about the role coming my way. If it does not excite me enough, I let it pass. Quality of my work matters more to me than quantity.” Precisely the reason he keeps selecting different genres. “Sometimes I play characters that might look very small in scale, but I find them interesting because they give me an opportunity to explore myself as an actor and try something that I haven’t done before.” Actor Shreyas Talpade is on a high. After becoming the voice of Allu Arjun in the Hindi version of Pushpa 2, he will now be seen in the role of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Kangana Ranaut’s controversial film Emergency ‘NOT A POLITICAL FILM’ PATIENCE IS THE KEY Actress-director Kangana Ranaut, who is set to essay the role of former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, in her upcoming directorial Emergency, has said that it’s not a political film and it won’t influence the choice of voters. The actress opened up about the film and its narrative structure. The film is based on the 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 when former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency across the country by citing internal and external threats. Kangana said, “Actually, this is not a political film. It’s a story. It has nothing to do with politics. You may find it very bizarre right now. Eventually, it is not about any party. You will come out feeling that, you just saw the film, you won’t come out feeling who you will vote for.” As for the most difficult part of being an actor, Shreyas says one word—patience. “You have to learn to wait, whether it is waiting for a great part to come your way or to develop a great part for yourself as a producer, director or actor. I think most of us really give up around the time when something is about to be done.” In 2025, there is much more on his platter and he is keen about the coming times. “All these projects that I am doing right now will probably release one after the other. I am also reading a couple of scripts and there are some interesting shows lined up.” Like he said, it all depends on how excited Shreyas is about the roles! Bollywood actors taking behind-the-scene roles in 2025 Patriotic fervour Sky Force song Maaye pays a tribute to soldiers ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ The much-awaited song Maaye from Akshay Kumar's upcoming historical action thriller Sky Force has been released. The song shows the heart of the movie—balancing the passion of risking lives for the country with the strong emotional ties of family. The film also stars Veer Pahariya, Sara Ali Khan and Nimrat Kaur. Maaye has been sung by B Praak, with music by Tanishk Bagchi and lyrics by Manoj Muntashir. Sky Force, set for a release on January 24, stars Akshay Kumar as an Air Force officer, who is on a revenge mission following the death of fellow soldiers. — ANI PROJECTION Bollywood actors are increasingly stepping into behindthe-scene roles, showcasing their versatility and broadening their creative horizons. These actors are making a mark in 2025 by shifting from in front of the camera to behind it. Here’s a look at some stars who are venturing into direction, production and more in 2025. FRIENDLY NOTE Ajay Devgn as director FIRST TAKE Vir Das as director TRILOGY TIME Shahid Kapoor as producer BLACK COMEDY Anshuman Jha as director COMIC ZONE Rajkummar Rao as producer Ajay Devgn is donning the director’s hat once again for an untitled project that will feature his longtime friend and co-star, Akshay Kumar. This collaboration is highly anticipated and fans are excited to see Ajay’s unique storytelling style behind the camera. After making a mark as an actor and stand-up comedian worldwide, Vir Das is set for his directorial debut with Happy Patel. The film, which stars Imran Khan in the lead role, is backed by Imran’s uncle, Aamir Khan. Vir and Imran’s previous collaboration, Delhi Belly, was a hit. Shahid Kapoor is embracing his entrepreneurial side in 2025 with a trilogy he is both starring in and producing. This marks his debut as a producer. The trilogy, inspired by Amish Tripathi’s novel, is a period mythological war saga. Shahid has partnered with Netflix for this. Lakadbaggha actor Anshuman Jha is stepping into the director’s chair for the first time with the black comedy thriller Lord Curzon Ki Haveli. The film, shot entirely in the UK, stars Arjun Mathur, Rasika Dugal and Paresh Pahuja, among others. . After the success of Stree 2 in 2024, Rajkummar Rao is making his debut as a producer with the crime comedy Toaster. Collaborating with Netflix, Rajkummar will also star alongside Sonakshi Sinha in this project. The film will be directed by Vivek Daschaudhary. c m y b