08022025-LSTL-01.qxd 2/7/2025 8:49 PM Page 1 c m y b NEENA’S UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Neena Gupta visited the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela on Friday. She expressed her awe and admiration for the grand spiritual gathering. The Badhaai Ho actress called her visit to the Kumbh Mela a ‘unique experience’ and expressed how it had been on her wish-list for years. TRIBUNE Dear hubby Life Actress Sobhita Dhulipala has heaped praise on her husband Naga Chaitanya and his film Thandel, and said she will finally see his cleanshaven face! LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 8 FEBRUARY 2025 In tune with times... Gurnaaz F ROM humming along with his mother to becoming a viral sensation, Danny’s musical journey reflects the beauty of natural progression and the power of passion. His story is not one of instant fame, but rather showcases perseverance, self-learning and embracing opportunities that come one’s way. When asked about the origins of his musical journey, Danny recalls, “I don’t remember exactly when I started singing, but I recall that as a kid, when my mom used to cook, she would sing and I would croon along with her. That’s how it all began.” BIG BREAK WITH VE HAANIYAAN If that’s about his early memories of singing, his first professional break came unexpectedly, “Ve Haaniyaan is the first time I was approached to sing for such a platform.” It was a simple beginning, but it marked the start of something much larger, a journey that has now introduced him to audiences worldwide. When it comes to this viral hit, Danny reflects on the spontaneous nature of its creation. “If we look at it, there wasn’t really a defined process,” he says. The song’s journey began with a written piece by Sagar and when it was first created, it was meant for a soap opera. “It first reached Avi, who called me to record a dummy version because it was supposed to be telecast in a daily soap that evening. After two-three months, someone told me that my song was trending in a couple of places even before its official release. When it was finally released and became popular, it felt like a blessing to see my song flourishing like that.” The overwhelming response from listeners and celebrities alike was something Danny had never anticipated, but it became a defining moment in his career. This was followed by the title track for Medal and Mere Bina. STUFF DREAMS ARE MADE OF MUSICAL VERSATILITY Even before Ve Haaniyaan, Danny was popular, thanks to his live performances, which have been a crucial part of his musical journey. From his college days, where he performed in clubs and pubs for fun, to now, where he’s connecting with larger audiences, Danny believes that live performances offer a unique form of interaction. “Performing live allows you to talk about your songs, get realtime reactions and create a special connection with the audience. It’s a next-level experience when people appreciate your music, sing along and show their love.” The impact of social media on Danny’s career cannot be overstated. His song Ve Haaniyaan has been featured in over 9.2 million posts and reels on Instagram, showcasing the power of these platforms in shaping an artiste’s career. “Social media is amazing—I’ve seen and experienced its power firsthand. I went to bed with my dreams and when I woke up the next day, I had taken a step towards success. It was an incredible experience,” Danny reflects. With years of live performances under his belt, Danny is no stranger to the energy exchange that happens between an artiste and the crowd. This energy, he says, is an essential part of his performance, fuelling him to give his best every time he steps on stage. About the difference between composing for a film and a personal project, Danny explains, “When it comes to singles, the process is often directionless and unorganised. We create freely and see in the end whether it sounds good or not. However, for a movie or a specific situation, you have to tune your mind to what kind of lyrics, composition, progression and chords would fit the context. The entire process becomes specific and follows certain restrictions. In contrast, making singles allows for a freer, more creative approach.” This balance between structure and freedom in his creative process allows Danny to explore his musical versatility, whether in a film or a more personal project. Danny’s foray into lyric-writing and composing was an unexpected yet rewarding turn in his career. “Over time, I realised that I could write lyrics and even compose music,” he shares. What started as a necessity, when he couldn’t find a writer for a project, turned into a passion. There’s a lot that has been crafted with care and will be out this year. I hope people love it.” Collaboration has been another vital aspect of Danny’s growth as an artiste. His recent single Teri Akhiyan, created with the label DM, has been well received. “Collaboration is an amazing opportunity for an artiste because it allows you to add new elements to your style and broaden your creative vision,” he shares. Looking ahead, Danny is excited about the projects lined up, including his contribution to Ravi Dubey and Sargun Mehta’s YouTube venture, Dreamiyata. With a song set to release soon, he’s focused on expanding his artistic range and sharing his work with the world. From singing along with his mother as she cooked to becoming an internet sensation, singer Danny has marched along in his musical journey ‘Cinema has its own language’ Actor Swapnil Joshi and producer Anand Pandit feel a well-told story in any language has the potential to be a pan-Indian success SHAH RUKH KHAN AND AAMIR KHAN Moments to cherish Vikrant Parmar JUHI CHAWLA Juhi Chawla walks down the memory lane with SRK and Aamir Khan Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan are two of the biggest names in Bollywood. Both of them have shared the screen with the evergreen beauty Juhi Chawla at some point. However, the recently held screening of Junaid Khan and Khushi Kapoor’s Loveyapa brought together Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla under one roof. Juhi recently took to Instagram and shared a montage of some precious moments from the eventful night. “So happy to meet Shah Rukh and Aamir together. It is a rare and precious moment ... the two heroes whom I worked with extensively, laughed and cried with on so many sets, so many super fun films, so many crazy memories...,” the nostalgic Darr actress penned. Praising Junaid Khan, Juhi Chawla shared, “And then to be coming to Junaid’s film screening, I had first seen him as a baby! How the years have flown...” —IANS SALMAN KHAN RHEA CHAKRABORTY AND YO YO HONEY SINGH Playing a cop on screen is a dream come true for any artiste and when a chance knocked on actor Swapnil Joshi’s door, he opened it with elan! Playing an encounter specialist in the recently released Anand Pandit production, Marathi film Jilabi, Swapnil says it was a whole new experience for him. “I play Vijay Karmarkar, an undercover encounter cop in the film, who has many more dimensions than he reveals in the beginning. This character’s trajectory intrigued me and his take on life really drew me into his inner world. It is a crime thriller, but also a very compelling human story packed with powerful performances. It will remind you of the gritty world of cult hits like Satya and Company,” shares Swapnil. Swapnil, who first appeared in the Ramanand Sagar show Uttar Ramayan as a nineyear-old, has been part of television shows such as Krishna, Eka Lagnachi Dusri Goshta, as well as films like Duniyadari and MumbaiPune-Mumbai. Swapnil believes the lines between regional and mainstream cinema are fast blurring with the advent of pan-Indian films. “Regional languages are the heartbeat of India’s cul- c m y b SWAPNIL JOSHI tural and artistic diversity. It’s not just about entertainment, but about preserving and celebrating every language. Subtitles and also dubbing expand the reach of such stories, and blur the lines between regional and pan-Indian cinema,” he says. He also holds the opinion that each industry has its unique strengths and comparing them isn’t always fair because the scale, resources and audience bases are vastly different. “The South Indian film industry is known for its larger-than-life storytelling, incredible technical finesse, and deeply rooted cultural pride. Marathi cinema has smaller budgets, but has a very unique resonance that makes it very distinctive. Cinema has its own language and if a theme attracts me, I go for it.” KEEN EYE FOR TALENT Anand Pandit, who is a wellknown name in the world of production with projects like Total Dhamaal (2019), Miss- ANAND PANDIT ing (2018), Sarkar 3 (2018), and Great Grand Masti (2016), to his credit, says it was the compelling storyline that initially drew him to Jilabi. “It aligned perfectly with my vision of creating an edge-of-the-seat Marathi thriller. As a producer, I am always looking for some- thing fresh and new, and this script struck the right balance by blending mystery, drama and relatability. The screenplay is not jaded or conventional; it will break new ground,” he shares. Anand, who has produced movies in multiple regional languages alongside Hindi films, too believes regional and pan-Indian cinema are gradually merging. “Some of the biggest hits in recent times, including franchises like Baahubali, Pushpa and KGF, have set new benchmarks of success. Malayalam cinema too is breaking new ground with its brave themes and artistic heft. A well-told story in any language has the potential to be a pan-Indian success and this trend is only going to grow. The future of regional cinema is highly promising.” So, how can the reach of regional films be expanded globally? “There is an audience today not just for lavishly mounted blockbusters, but also for related, rooted, human stories. The success of my Gujarati films Fakt Mahilao Maate, Tron Ekka and Fakt Purusho Maate speaks for itself. As a producer, I will continue to do my best to identify fresh talent across industries and back promising stories, so that they can reach a wider audience.”