19032025-LSTL-01.qxd 3/18/2025 7:57 PM Page 1 c m y b MEET THE BENGAL TIGER The hype around the upcoming Netflix series Khakee: The Bengal Chapter has increased multiple-fold after former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly collaborated with the makers for a promo ahead of its premiere on March 20. Netflix surprised fans by introducing him as a ‘Bengal Tiger’ in the promotional video. TRIBUNE No regrets Life Gurnaaz S TARTING off as a producer, taking a brief detour, and finally stepping in front of the camera, Karan Soni’s path to acting has been driven by a passion for storytelling and doing it authentically. While he began his journey in Punjabi film industry, he has now ventured into Hindi cinema. It may have taken years to transition, but Karan realises the importance of preparation, perseverance, and staying true to one’s passion. “I always wanted to be an actor. However, I got the opportunity to enter the industry as a producer when I met Binnu Dhillon ji. He advised me to start working in the industry in any capacity to understand it, so I began as a producer,” Karan says. This initial foray into the industry came in 2014, which led him to produce several successful projects under their banner, Naughty Men Productions. “We started with the movie What The Jatt, followed by Bailaras. Our film Kala Shah Kala was a project that did really well and will be bringing a sequel too. Later, our production house, along with A&A Films, then produced Vadhaiyaan Ji Vadhaiyaan,” he adds. Scott Eastwood became the latest addition to the upcoming movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s 2019 novel Regretting You. The film is written and directed by Josh Boone, known for The Fault in Our Stars. LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 19 MARCH 2025 Anything for a dream! Producer-turned-actor Karan Soni reveals that he had to take 25 hard slaps on his face while shooting for his debut film Pinkoo’s Podcast, but he’s not complaining Though he had achieved success as a producer, Karan’s heart was always set on acting. The transition from production to acting wasn’t instant; it took years of reflection and preparation. “During those six years, I was somewhat connected with Shivam Nair. I auditioned for him once or twice, but he told me, ‘You are not an actor yet.’ That made me think, “No problem, let me focus on production for now. I wanted to be fully prepared and not just do something average.” In 2019, Karan decided it was time to take his acting aspirations seriously. He joined Anupam Kher’s acting institute, Actor Prepares, and went on to train under veteran actor and teacher Abhijit Lahiri. “Their guidance emphasised the importance of practice. They always stressed self-observation—understanding how you behave in different situations and how you interact with others. It is fundamental to shaping your craft,” Karan A STILL FROM PINKOO’S PODCAST shares. His training didn’t stop there—he continued to refine his skills for over three years, preparing himself for his acting debut. Acting, Karan says, is a completely transformative experience. “Acting is a beautiful experience because you get to live another life in front of the camera, one that is not your own. That experience is amazing. You forget your personal worries and completely immerse yourself in the character.” His acting debut is in the horror thriller Pinkoo’s Podcast, where Karan plays the main protagonist, Pinkoo. “He is a charming podcaster who wants to gain popularity. There’s a lot of suspense surrounding his character, but I can’t reveal much yet—we have to keep the excitement intact!” Karan shares, highlighting the excitement surrounding his first major role. His involvement in this project, directed by Shivam Nair, aligns with his drive to explore the emerging trends in OTT content. Pinkoo may have given him the dream lead, but Karan admits it wasn’t easy. He acknowledges the challenges of his debut role. “It was incredibly challenging. To bring realism to the performance, I had to take 25 real, hard slaps on my face. I also had to slap my own shoul- Acting is a beautiful experience because you get to live another life in front of the camera. You forget your personal worries and completely immerse yourself in the character. KARAN SONI ders and ended up with scratches that lasted for four days. This role demanded a lot from me physically and emotionally,” he shares can- Gloryous moments Sikandar Naache enthrals sound & fury Salman Khan & Rashmika Light, Pulkit wraps up Punjab shoot for Glory Mandanna set the dance floor on fire in title track of Sikandar The much-awaited action drama Sikandar, which stars Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna, is set to release this Eid, and the makers are keeping fans hooked by dropping posters, BTS clips, and songs from the film. The latest release is the film’s title track, Sikandar Naache. Salman took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a video along with a caption that read, “#SikandarNaache Out Now. #SajidNadiadwala’s #Sikandar Directed by @a.r.murugadoss.” The track shows Salman and Rashmika dancing to the beats of the catchy song. The song is full of energy, with the Tiger Zinda Hai actor showcasing his signature dance moves. Rashmika adds charm and power to the performance with her graceful expressions. The song has been choreographed by Ahmed Khan. —ANI Singer Mariah Carey reacts to bad lighting at iHeart Radio Music Awards 2025 American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey received the Icon Award at the 2025 iHeart Radio Music Awards in a ceremony held in Los Angeles on Monday. The Vision of Love singer, known for her diva persona, hilariously reacted to the bad lighting at the event as she went on the stage to collect her award, giving fans a classical Mariah Carey moment. “Is the lighting OK, cause I don’t like bad lighting,” Carey asked, giving production time to get it together. She also asked her fans if they liked her ensemble and twirled for everyone in the theatre as they cheered for her. In her acceptance speech, the singer also expressed her love for radio and how it feels to listen to her songs through such broadcasting platforms. “As a kid, I used to listen to my favourite artistes on the radio and dream of being on the airwaves myself. Now, for those of you who may not know what airwaves are, think of it as the non-WiFi of streaming. Even now I get excited when I hear one of my songs playing on the radio. It never stops being magical.” said Mariah. At the event, the singer and actor Lady Gaga was also recognised with the Innovator Award. In her beautiful red dress, the singer thanked many people that made her the artiste that she is today, including her two ItalianAmerican grandmothers “They didn’t invent technology or art, they invented possibility, shaping the future with nothing more than their minds,” Gaga said, accepting her award. “Those women, my ancestors, they’re the greatest innovators that I’ve ever known.” said Lady Gag. She also expressed her solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in her acceptance speech. —ANI c m y b didly. Beyond acting, Karan is still heavily involved in production. His collaboration with Binnu Dhillon has led to a new venture that will focus on future projects. “Yes, I am producing films with Binnu paaji. We have formed a production company called Creative Cafe Productions,” he says. As Karan looks ahead, his journey is only just beginning. “I am in talks for three more projects, all Hindi films. I am totally focused on acting in Bollywood. When it comes to Pinkoo’s Podcast, we are expecting a release around April or May,” he says with anticipation. Lady Gaga Pulkit Samrat, who just wrapped up his shooting in Punjab for his upcoming film Glory, shared a sneak peek into his time on the sets. From intense training to enjoying local Punjabi food, the actor gave fans a look at both his hard work and fun moments behind the scenes. On Tuesday, the Fukrey actor took to Instagram to drop a compilation of pictures and videos. The first few images and videos showed the actor doing a rigorous training regimen, showcasing his dedication to getting into peak physical condition for the role. Other pictures captured him enjoying traditional Punjabi food at a roadside dhaba. He also shared a picture of himself posing outside his vanity van and another one with his co-stars Divyenndu and Suvinder Vicky. Last week, Pulkit announced that the Punjab schedule of Glory had wrapped up. Sharing his experience, he wrote a caption that read, “That’s a glorious schedule wrap on #Glory!! Memories made, jokes shared, and one incredible team that made it all happen!! #Punjab, you’ve been kind. I’ll miss my mornings here.” Producers Mohit Shah and Karan Anshuman of Atomic Films described the project as a deeply personal story, as per a press note. They said, “Glory is a story close to our hearts. At its core, it’s a gripping murder mystery intricately woven against the backdrop of the high-stakes world of sports, bringing together two electrifying genres.” — ANI