02052025-LSTC-01.qxd 5/1/2025 8:44 PM Page 1 c m y b ‘LOVE AND SUPPORT’ Veteran actor Robert De Niro showcased ‘love and support for his daughter Airyn De Niro, after she recently came out as a transgender. De Niro said, “I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter. I don’t know what the big deal is.” In Retro mode Life Fans of Tamil actor Suriya are in for a treat as their favourite actor’s new movie titled Retro has finally been released in theatres on Thursday. The film is directed by Karthik Subbaraj. The movie also stars Pooja Hegde in the lead role. CHANDIGARH | FRIDAY | 2 MAY 2025 IT’S NEVER TOO LATE PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Mona “My first film received immense love. I am starting my second innings as an actor with a film titled Ittar. I am hoping people will give me as much love as they did for Aashiqui,” opened up Deepak Tijori, who made a quick dash to Chandigarh on Wednesday. Deepak Tijori is back in action. This time not as a writer & director but as an actor for a film called Ittar, a mature love story that suits his looks and his mood Tijori was in city for the inauguration of Mandeep Hot Yoga Studio in Sector 17. A prominent actor in the 90s with hit films like Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Sadak, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and Baadshah, he turned to directing in 2003 with film Oops! Fareb, Tom, Dick and Harry, Rock’In Love, Do Lafzon Ki Kahani. The 2024 film Tipppsy was his last directorial venture. Most of the films that he directed are also written and produced by him. “Mahesh Bhatt saheb (director of his first film Aashiqui) told us that there would be a time in your life when there would be no time. You would be busy writing, directing and telling inspiring stories,” shared Tijori, who has written three of the seven films that he has directed. None, however, has surpassed the 90s magic. “Even today, youngsters reach up to me and talk of the songs from Aashiqui and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, which is so surprising and sweet at the same time.” After staying behind the camera for a while, Tijori is coming back as an actor for Ittar. “It’s a mature love story, like half of our population in their second innings of love,” says Tijori. Directed by National Award-winning director Veena Bakshi, it also has Rituparna Sengupta opposite him. Ask him on what he does in his free time, he answers, “I am very boring. I am a vegetarian, I don’t drink, don’t party much. I just keep to myself largely.” Among the friends in the industry, he counts Aashiqui lead Rahul Roy as one! “With the OTT boom, it’s a good time for actors and directors, and I am really looking forward to more films and shows,” he signs off. Hot & happening Accompanying him was Mandeep Kaur Sandhu, who opened her Hot Yoga Studio in 2009 in Mumbai. Sizzling at 40 degree, does Chandigarh really need Hot Yoga? Mandeep counters, “How much time do we really spend outside? With our cars, homes and offices all air conditioned, we barely feel the heat. Even our gyms are air conditioned!” Her specially designed studio with Melting Chambers is set at a precise 41 degree centigrade with 40 per cent humidity, carefully calibrated for optimal body response and safety. “Ours is an expertly crafted 25-posture programme rooted in Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa and Rhythmic yoga developed by certified instructors trained at Bikram Yoga College of India. The sequence is designed to engage every part of the body muscles, ligaments, veins and organs for peak functionality and holistic health,” offers Mandeep. Tijori is a hot yoga practitioner and he trained under Mandeep. His friend Raj Zutshi introduced him to Hot Yoga. “I find it very beneficial not just weight loss but also internal health. Now that I am going to face the camera, I have become pretty regular in it!” Creative den ‘I have done pretty well’ Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth, Aamir Khan, other Bollywood stars arrive at WAVES Summit 2025 Chiranjeevi, Aamir Khan, Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor, Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Hemal Malini, Deepika Padukone and others were spotted at the event. The event, taking place from May 1 to 4 at the Jio World Centre and other premier locations, including the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC), is a large-scale celebration of storytelling, creativity, and innovation. Featuring over 10,000 attendees, the summit unites more than 1,000 creators, 350 start-ups, 300 organisations, and global representatives from over 90 countries. The grand opening at the NMACC Grand Theatre was marked by a performance from a 50-piece orchestra under the direction of Oscarwinning composer MM Keeravaani, setting a majestic tone for the days to follow. —ANI ALIA BHATT & SS RAJAMOULI As someone who moved to Mumbai when she was just 18, Bollywood star Deepika Padukone says she has done quite well for herself by creating a space in the world of entertainment. She joined superstar Shah Rukh Khan for a session, titled The Journey: From Outsider To Ruler, at the inaugural WAVES Summit on Thursday. “Today when I look back at the journey... For an 18-year-old to move to a big city... It was a big decision to make. Those little things, having to navigate life with trial and error. Overall, when I look back I say not bad, well done. “I am actually going to tell myself I have done pretty well. You don’t really sit back and look at the journey. I don’t celebrate the moments too much. I look at things in a straightforward way,” said Deepika, who started out as a model before making her acting debut with 2007’s Om Shanti Om opposite Shah Rukh Khan. PTI Bollywood stars on Thursday arrived at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai to take part in the inaugural edition of World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025. c m y b MEDITATIVE STATE When he is not working, he is in a meditative state, superstar Shah Rukh Khan said. “I still believe the call of the day is a lot more theatres, small theatres in small towns, cheaper theatres so that we can show more films to people in every corner of the country,” Shah Rukh said. He expressed the hope that with the WAVES summit, shooting processes should become easier “not only for Indians but also for people coming from outside”. “I don’t indulge in overworking, overthinking. When I am not on the sets, I don’t do anything. I am in a meditative state,” the superstar said in a fireside chat with director friend Karan Johar and Deepika, his co-star on many movies. The actor, one of the biggest superstars in Hindi cinema, said when he was young, he was “brash” but also gutsy. “I believe I was brash, overconfident, reckless, and a lot more stupid. I’m happy I was like this otherwise I wouldn’t have chosen the path I did with such wonderful people. I was a little gutsy also. Thank you, young Shah Rukh Khan for being so cool,” he said. — PTI Hemsworth to headline Subversion Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth has found his next acting project: a submarine thriller movie. Titled Subversion, the film will be directed by German filmmaker Patrick Vollrath from a script penned by Andrew Ferguson. The project has been described as a ‘Die Hard on a submarine’ style thriller. It is backed by Lorenzo di Bonaventura of di Bonaventura Pictures banner. In the movie, Hemsworth will essay the role of a oncepromising Naval commander who is blackmailed by a cartel-like operation into piloting a dangerous submarine carrying illegal cargo. “Thrust into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, the man must outmaneuver blockades and navigate perilous threats both in and outside of the submarine,” the official logline read. Vollrath, who earlier directed short films such as Everything Will Be Okay and The Jacket, made his feature directorial debut with 7500, featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt as a pilot stuck in his cockpit while his plane is hijacked. Besides Subversion, Hemsworth is working on another project with Amazon MGM Studios. — PTI