07032025-LSTL-01.qxd 3/6/2025 8:45 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE GET SET FOR TEST Life On April 4, Netflix will present Test, a film that weaves together the lives of three individuals, each grappling with life-changing choices against the backdrop of a cricket match. Don’t litter Actor Amit Sadh has raised awareness about environmental responsibility and urged people not to litter, warning that regret will follow later. LUDHIANA | FRIDAY | 7 MARCH 2025 PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Nonika Singh E NJOYING his moment under the sun, talented actor-singer Paresh Pahuja is hitting just the right notes. Be it on the musical scene, where his songs Dooron Dooron and Botalaan are striking a chord with gen next, or his ace part as Mahi, a no holds barred fusion musician in Bandish Bandits Season 2, the new star on the block sure is climbing the popularity charts. In Chandigarh to kick-start his nationwide tour, Paresh, however, is nowhere like the angst(y) Mahi. As gentle as his musical compositions, he has no hesitation in admitting that indeed Bandish Bandits 2, has given him the right push. And he is forever grateful to the director, Anand Tiwari, for the role, which has many shades and is so beautifully developed and equally ably etched by him. DONNING MANY HATS No, he doesn’t think Mahi has eclipsed his musical innings. Rather, since he plays a musician in the series, it made viewers not only notice him as an actor but also impelled them to discover his music. Any wonder Dooron…which he composed two years ago is suddenly a rage! Between acting and music, he would not choose one over the other. If the Indian film industry is known for actor-singers like Kishore Kumar and now Diljit Dosanjh and Ayushmann Khurrana, in Hollywood he reminds, “Right from a Meryl Streep to a Ryan Gosling sing and act.” He too has been acting for a while and made his debut in 2017 with Tiger Zinda Hai. If the big break in a dream production, no less than YRF (Yash Raj Films) was about being in the right place at the right time, it has also been a roller coaster, yet challenging, ride since then. If in Bandish Bandits 2 he mentors lead protagonist Radhe’s band, one person who has mentored him is the successful filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar. Seen in three of Zafar’s directorial ventures, including Tandav and Jogi, apart from Tiger Zinda Hai, in moments of doubt and uncertainty, Paresh always turns to him for advice. He avers, “If you are surrounded by the right kind of storytellers, the energy you receive is very vital.” Having rubbed shoulders with the likes of Pankaj Tripathi and Salman Khan, he has learnt another important lesson on ‘how not to hold, rather give back’. Music is all soul While Bandish Bandits 2 gave him the right push, actor-singer Paresh Pahuja, who kickstarted his nationwide tour from Chandigarh, says acting has not eclipsed his musical innings SPECIAL CONNECT WITH PUNJAB One of the reasons why he began his tour from Chandigarh is he found so much love and support from this part of the country. A Sindhi by birth, he has this special connect with Punjab and Punjabi, ‘a beautiful language with even more beautiful sound’, and also courtesy his friend and lyricist Shiv Tandan. If Paresh’s songs have a fair smattering of Punjabi words, they are infused with Sufi mystic Bulle Shah’s poetry too. And one Bulle Shah couplet he lives by is Zeher vekh ke peeta te ki peeta, Ishq soch ke keeta te ki keeta, Dil de ke dil lain di aas rakhi, Pyar eho jeha keeta te ki keeta. (If you drink poison with premeditation or love before thinking, it is of no use. If you give your heart with expectations of reciprocation, it’s no love at all.)” Interestingly, the name of his concert Voice Notes too stems from a love story of sorts; his love for voice, ‘which has a certain truth and authenticity that can’t be replicated and is as unique as your finger prints’. Besides, he is very much a ‘voice notes person’ and invariably communicates with his friends, family, music collaborators and more through them. If for him, ‘all love stories are personal and universal at the same time’, he also professes, ‘every art form must have that emotional truth’. In Bandish Bandits, he might have famously uttered the lines, ‘There is music for the Pushing boundaries Nora Fatehi to feature as a rapper in the film Be Happy SPECIAL JOURNEY Abhishek nominated for Best Actor at the 7th edition of the Critics’ Choice Awards Actor Abhishek Bachchan, who has been nominated for Best Actor for I Want To Talk at the 7th edition of the Critics’ Choice Awards, has described the film as an ‘incredibly special journey’. Abhishek shared, “I am truly honoured to be nominated for Best Actor for I Want To Talk by the Film Critics Guild. To have my performance recognised by such a respected panel of critics means a great deal to me. My gratitude to the Film Critics Guild for this recognition.” Konkona Sen Sharma, who has been nominated for Best Actress for Killer Soup, shared, “ It is always an honour and to be nominated.” Konkona — IANS Sen Sharma The makers of Be Happy on Thursday unveiled the first track of Sultana, sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and Mika Singh, along with a powerful rap by Nora Fatehi, who says it is the right move in her musical career. About rapping and performing in the music video, Nora said, “This song is pure fire! After the success of my international single Snake, it’s the right move in my musical career to feature as a rapper on the new track Sultana.” Nora loves pushing boundaries. “And getting to rap on this track was an incredibly exciting experience. It exudes fierce, confident energy — the kind that makes you want to be unapologetically you! The kind that makes you want to own your femininity while burning the dance floor. That’s exactly the vibe we brought to the music video as well.” “With my initiative #DanceWithNora, I’ve always encouraged people to be confident and express themselves through dance.” Sultana is composed by Harsh Upadhyay, with lyrics by Pranav Vatsa, Harsh Upadhyay and Sukriti Bhardwaj. Reflecting on the song, Sunidhi Chauhan shared that there are songs that make you tap your feet, and then there are songs that make you want to get up and dance like no one’s watching. “This one is definitely the latter! The moment I heard the track, I knew it had that perfect blend of attitude, groove and infectious energy. Recording it was an absolute blast,” she said. Mika Singh tagged the track as a total banger. “The beats hit hard, the vocals bring insane power, and the energy is simply contagious. It’s got that perfect mix of desi swag and groove—one that makes you want to dance the moment it starts playing.” Be Happy stars Abhishek Bachchan, Nora Fatehi and Inayat Verma, with Nassar, Johny Lever and Harleen Sethi in pivotal roles. Produced under the banner of Remo D’Souza Entertainment by Lizelle Remo D’Souza and directed by Remo D’Souza, Be Happy will stream on Prime Video on March 14. — IANS c m y b soul and there is music for the kitchen’, he believes, ‘Music is all soul’. CONFIDENT TAKE As the scene of independent music is right now thriving ‘thanks to digital distribution and collaborations across the world easily possible’ as well as teeming with more and more talent, competition does not bother him. “There are 8 billion people on this planet. If you make your music dil se, it will cut through and find its listeners,” he says. Ki main karaan ke main aavan nazar tenu (what should I do so you can see me)... right now the artiste in him is certainly more than visible to many art enthusiasts! CLASSICAL MUSIC MUST REACH MORE AUDIENCES As Mahi in Bandish Bandits Season 2, Paresh Pahuja utters many home truths on fusion music, gharanas, making classical music accessible and more. For someone not trained in classical parampara, he would not like to make any grand statements except that classical music must reach more and more audiences. Learning sitar especially for the part was no mean task. But for him, the beauty of every new part is the new learning that comes along. On her own terms Actress Kritika Kamra has opened up about the philosophy that has followed through her journey in the world of acting and said she has never sold her soul or compromised her ethics to make it big. “I have always believed that staying true to myself is the key to long-term success,” said Kritika. “I never sold my soul or compromised my ethics to make it big. For me, the journey has always been about being proud of the choices I make.” Never compromised on my ethics to make it big, says Kritika Kamra It’s not just about fame for Kritka. “It’s not just about the fame or the spotlight; it’s about being able to sleep peacefully at night knowing I haven’t betrayed my values. That’s what keeps me grounded, no matter how challenging or glamorous the industry might be. I don’t want to chase trends or conform to the pressures of the industry. I want my body of work to reflect my beliefs, my taste, and my growth. The roles I pick are an extension of who I am. For me, it’s about telling stories that resonate with people and leave a lasting impression,” she added. — IANS