21042025-LSTC-01.qxd 4/20/2025 8:17 PM Page 1 c m y b ARIJIT’S HOLY VISIT Singer Arijit Singh on Sunday visited the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, where he participated in the sacred rituals along with his wife. The couple took part in the early morning Bhasma Aarti, one of the temple’s most revered ceremonies. HOT jalandhar WHAT’S eat ALL-WOMEN CAFE J ALANDHAR residents have a new go-to place — Clubhouse Cafe—where they can enjoy coffee, mocktails, breakfast items and Italian, North Indian and pan-European cuisines. Situated on the Mall Road, the most interesting part about the cafe is that it is managed by only women. Said Gurpuneet Kaur, a law graduate, “We are four partners. The kitchen is mainly handled by our partner, Chef Anandi, while the rest of us take care of the guests and manage other tasks”. play CREATIVE STREAK T chandigarh HE Chandigarh Lalit Lala academy has organised an art exhibition that will go on till April 25 from 11am to 7 pm at the Sector 17 underpass. The exhibition comprises paintings, music and live performances, which aimat celebrating World Art Day. There is an impressive collection of artwork from CLKA’s private collection, alongside installations created by students and teachers of the Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chitkara University, Panjab University, MDU, Rohtak, and Chandigarh University. There was a live performance where the issue of youth using excessive mobile phones was taken up. Visitors were also treated to live demonstrations of various art forms like ceramics, sketching and statue-making. TRIBUNE Piku again Life Gurnaaz GROWTH CURVE While Rizwann has evolved on screen, he’s also growing behind it. As both actor and producer, he balances craft with commerce. “As an actor, CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 21 APRIL 2025 ‘Face your fears’ R IZWANN SIKANDER doesn’t just play characters—he lives them, loves them and lets them breathe through him; one honest performance at a time. His latest transformation is Gullu Pandey in the film Sarkari Baccha, a character as endearing as he is chaotic. “When I first heard the name, I said, ‘What a funny name’. We tweaked it slightly to give it more flavour, and, suddenly, it felt like someone straight out of Mahoba,” Rizwann laughs. Gullu isn’t your typical leading man. He’s proud of his government job, a little greedy, a lot charming and hopelessly in love. “He’s intelligent, emotional, flawed and never gives up on the girl he loves,” says Rizwann. “That honesty in his pursuit is what made me fall for the character,” he adds. With barely any prep time —just a call, a script and a camera rolling — Rizwann immersed himself into Gullu’s world. “After the first day of shooting, I had a two-day break. I used that time to absorb the dialect, the body language, the rhythm of the town. I didn’t want to play him big and dramatic. I wanted him to feel like someone you might actually know.” And that authenticity scored. “People came up to me after screenings saying, ‘ You’re shining in this role.’ That kind of connection— that’s the real win.” But it’s not just the character that makes this film special. The people around him played a huge part too. “I had the honour of working with the late Jr. Mehmood sir. We’d talk late into the night at the hotel and once he told me, ‘ You remind me of Mehmood Sahib, the Khan Sahib of the industry.’ I didn’t know what to say. I still carry that moment with me.” Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone’s Piku is set to rerelease in theatres. While announcing it, her tribute to late actor Irrfan Khan warmed the hearts of the fans. Actor Rizwann Sikander, who was seen in the film Sarkari Baccha, loves to take on challenges—be it off the screen or on it When I’m low, I turn inward. I reflect. I watch interviews, I listen to other actors talk about their journeys. It reminds me that we’re all just navigating the same storm—just on different ships. your job ends when the camera does. But as a producer, you’re still in the game—solving problems, juggling expectations. It’s like walking into a dark cave. You never know what will hit you next.” His spiritual side keeps him grounded in a whirlwind industry. “When I’m low, I turn inward. I reflect. I watch interviews, I listen to other actors talk about their journeys. It reminds me that we’re all just navigating the same storm—just on different ships.” That duality—of performer and planner— runs deep in him. Raised in Makrana, Rajasthan, his roots are strong, but his gaze has always been outward. “My dad ran a video library. I grew up watching world cinema. That exposure planted the seed.” From modeling to Fear Factor India, where he once hoisted the national flag atop the Kuala Lumpur Tower, Rizwann’s path has been anything but ordinary. “Fear Factor gave me visibility. It made me fearless—not just in stunts but in life.” LESS IS MORE But transitioning from reality TV to acting came with its own struggles. “People saw me as just a reality star. My first serious role had barely any dialogue. But that’s where I learned—less is more. That performance changed how the industry saw me; Ekta Kapoor ma’am noticed me too,” he says with gratitude in his voice. His television days—from Kasauti Zindagi Kay to Kayamath—taught him discipline, but his heart beats for characters with depth. “I’m AFRAID OF FLYING! Jennifer Aniston says hypnosis and meditation help calm her nerves love MUSICAL NOTE Actress Jennifer Aniston recently revealed that she had extreme fear of flying, but found ways to manage her anxiety! In a recent interview, the 56-year-old actress, known for her roles in Friends and We’re the Millers, shared that she had been using hypnosis and meditation to calm her nerves. As part of the hypnosis process, she was required to remove her superstitions, which included tapping the outside of the plane with her right palm and stepping into it with her right foot. “But I have been doing some hypnosis lately and one of the requirements is to remove all of those superstitions. I have not been doing the right hand, right foot and now it’s shockingly good,” she said. Aniston also shared what helped her calm her anxiety while flying. “Plugging into good meditation can get you through,” she said. Additionally, she enjoyed getting out of her seat to walk around and stretch a bit. These small actions helped her feel more in control and relaxed during flights. Despite her fear of flying, Aniston’s love of travel keeps her motivated to explore new places. She admitted that her favourite type of vacation involved ‘a white sandy beach and clear, crystal-blue water’. — ANI T mumbai HE first single from Kuberaa, which stars actors Dhanush and Nagarjuna, titled Jaake Aana Yaara, is now out. Dhanush shared the track on his official X account on Sunday. The song marks the first release from the upcoming film, which is directed by Sekhar Kammula and features music by Devi Sri Prasad (DSP). The Hindi version is sung by Nakash Aziz, with lyrics by Raqueeb Alam. Dhanush has lent his voice to the Tamil and Telugu versions. The film, a socio-drama, is being shot in both Tamil and Telugu, and will be released on June 20. c m y b drawn to vulnerability. To love, loss, longing. Emotional truth is what I chase.” And he isn’t afraid to aim high. “I’d love to do something like Edward Scissorhands or Pirates of the Caribbean. Or something intense like My Left Foot. Even a Bond-style film—I’ve always wanted to play that kind of role.” Off the screen, Rizwann stays sharp with sports, fitness and parkour. “I incorporate my athletic side into my shoots—jumping from rooftops, climbing water tanks. It adds thrill and truth to the visuals.” But through it all—fame, fear, fatigue—it’s the inner fire that keeps him going. “It’s hard sometimes. But I believe in two things—the hunger inside and the light within. That light gets me through the darkness.” UP NEXT With two new films—one horror, one comedy—and a series in the pipeline, Rizwann’s momentum is just building. But he’s not in a hurry. “I take it one step at a time. I trust the process.” And if he could offer one piece of advice to his younger self, or to any actor starting out? “Face your fears. Embrace your flaws. Shiver through the scene if you have to, but don’t give up. Once you make peace with your challenges, they become your strength. That’s how you grow.” ‘Don’t live in the past’ Actor Emraan Hashmi believes the key to staying relevant in the world of cinema is to be openminded and learn from the younger generation, understanding how they think and work. Emraan Hashmi on how actors should stay relevant In the 2000s, Hashmi established himself as of the most talented actors in the industry with his performances in movies such as Gangster, The Dirty Picture, Shanghai and Tigers, and attained commercial success with his franchise like Raaz, Murder and Jannat. Hashmi said it was important to reinvent oneself and that could happen by collaborating with contemporary filmmakers. “Relevance is something I think is important when you cross a certain age, when the new breed of actors and filmmakers come in. It’s very important to kind of learn from them. When you tune into their minds and you reinvent yourself, and do a fresh take on characters and genres and films, and not live in the past...That’s where the whole game of relevance comes in,” the actor said. — PTI