28052025-LSTL-01.qxd 5/27/2025 8:06 PM Page 1 TOP GUN SEQUEL IN PROGRESS Christopher McQuarrie, the director of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning, in an interview, revealed that the sequel to Top Gun: Maverick is ‘already in the bag’ with a framework for the story already in place. McQuarrie credited co-writer Ehren Kruger with pitching the idea. TRIBUNE Life PHOTO: PRADEEP TEWARI Security breach! An unidentified woman allegedly tried to trespass into actor Aditya Roy Kapur’s Mumbai home on Tuesday. The Mumbai Police registered a case and launched an investigation into the matter. LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 28 MAY 2025 A superhero is born! Acclaimed screenplay writer and filmmaker Madhureeta Anand reimagines Krishna as a woman, the savior of Mother Earth, in her debut novel Krishna Circus. In Chandigarh to promote her book, she tells us how it all started Mona S OMETHING that started as a film’s screenplay 16 years back sees the light of the day as a novel. Activist, entrepreneur and filmmaker Madhureeta Anand’s debut novel Krishna Circus reimagines mythology within a superhero universe, weaving in the themes of gender and ecology. On a book signing spree in Chandigarh on Tuesday, Madhureeta, with a wise head on her dainty shoulders, spoke about her journey as a filmmaker, turning an author and her app Phree in a freewheeling chat! KRISHNA CALLING When shooting for my first film, Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye, one day I was standing in front of a lovely backdrop and I suddenly thought of a superhero who could save the Earth. A hero who could travel back in time to stop all the disasters from happening so that we could have a better planet to live on. It stuck in my head. I told my friends about this idea for a film, but I didn't get a positive response. However, I never gave up on the story. I kept telling it to my Nothing is make-or-break in life. Let your intuition guide you. Nothing should infringe on your dignity. Be aware of that because creativity and dignity are closely linked! daughter, who was about eight years old at that time. When years later, I sat to revisit the screenplay, there was a dissonance. A film has to have a ‘hero’. But my character was essentially a nurturer, a woman, as pointed out by a writer friend of mine. So, Krishna became a woman and everything fell into place. I did some research on quantum mechanics — work, space, energy — and I realised that I was actually writing a book. I reached out to Ajay Mago and OM Books International came on board! CHANDIGARH’S BEEN HOME I studied at the Lawrence School, Sanawar, and Chandigarh was our go-to place for eye and dental checkups, and fun. We loved Sector 17 and Hot Millions. In fact, my entire tech team for Phree is in Chandigarh. That the city still has all these bookstores is just remarkable. WOMEN THEN AND NOW In my grandparents’ generation, men and women were two separate spheres. Men took their role as a provider as their responsibility, not a bur- den. My mother's generation went through a difficult transition. Women went out to work with a little bit of guilt and the home burden was never shared. Women of my generation, the Gen X, made it all possible. We had to confront everything. And, we have come out with flying colours. But I think men have really dropped the ball. They're neither able to provide, and nor are they able to be partners. Instead of saying ‘let's redefine masculinity’ in consultation with the other gender, they have become the poor things. The young generation today has high anxieties, but the youth can change the world in their own way. Up next I am writing my next film called Yellow Line. It's the story of three characters, set in Delhi along the metro yellow line. My app Phree, a mobile tool to make public spaces safer by harnessing user safety ratings, is is growing very well. And I am writing the next part of Krishna Circus! Billie Eilish, Doechii, Eminem, Beyonce shine at 2025 AMAs; Janet Jackson honoured with Icon Award ROD STEWART & BENSON BOONE GLORIA ESTEFAN & SZA DEEPIKA PADUKONE & TRIPTII DIMRI On a winning spree The 2025 American Music Awards made a glittering return to television after a two-year hiatus with a grand celebration at the Fontainebleau Resort in Las Vegas. In a night filled with electrifying performances and emotional tributes, it was Billie Eilish who stole the show and won in every category she was nominated for, a stunning seven-for-seven sweep. Eilish, already a nine-time Grammy and two-time Academy Award winner, added multiple AMA titles to her name, including the coveted Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Hit Me Hard And Soft and Song of the Year for Birds of a Feather. She also secured wins for Favorite Female Pop Artist, Favorite Pop Album and Favorite Touring Artist among others. The AMAs, the largest fan-voted music awards in the world, also introduced new categories this year, including Song of the WINNERS LIST Year and Social Song of the Year, the latter claimed by Doechii for her viral track, Anxiety. Despite leading the pack with 10 nominations, rapper Kendrick Lamar walked away with just one win, Favorite HipHop Song for his breakout hit Not Like Us. The ceremony featured show-stopping sets from artistes, including Blake Shelton, Gloria Estefan, Gwen Stefani, Benson Boone, Lainey Wilson, and Renee Rapp. Music legend Janet Jackson was honoured with the Icon Award, for her enduring influence and career spanning decades. Rod Stewart received the Lifetime Achievement Award, delivering a high-energy finale to close out the evening. The night was hosted by Jennifer Lopez, who doubled as the opening performer. — ANI Janet Jackson (L-R) EMINEM, BEYONCE, JENNIFER LOPEZ , BECKY G & BILLIE EILISH c m y b Artist of the Year: Billie Eilish Album of the Year: Hit Me Hard And Soft — Billie Eilish Song of the Year: Birds of a Feather — Billie Eilish New Artist of the Year: Benson Boone Social Song of the Year: Anxiety — Doechii Favourite Female Pop Artist: Billie Eilish Favourite Pop Song: Birds of a Feather — Billie Eilish Favourite Male Hip-Hop Artist: Kendrick Lamar Favourite Hip-Hop Album: The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grace) — Eminem Favourite Country Album: Cowboy Carter — Beyonce —ANI Vanga’s Spirited post Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga has stirred speculation on social media with a fiery post that many believe targets an unnamed actress who was earlier part of his upcoming film, Spirit. Though he did not name anyone, many believe Vanga was referring to Deepika Padukone, who reportedly stepped away from the project. In a post shared on his X handle, Vanga voiced frustration over a broken “unsaid NDA” and alleged betrayal of trust, and wrote, “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100 per cent faith. There is an unsaid NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) between us. But by doing this, you’ve ‘disclosed’ the person that you are...” “Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for? As a filmmaker, I put years of hard work behind my craft & for me, filmmaking is everything. You didn’t get it. You won’t get it. You will never get it,” he continued. While the director did not confirm the identity of the actress in question, his reference to a female lead exiting Spirit, and being replaced by a “younger actor,” aligns with recent reports involving Deepika Padukone, who was initially cast opposite Prabhas in the film. Sandeep Reddy Vanga alleges ‘dirty PR games, breach of trust amid reports of Deepika Padukone’s exit from Spirit In March, rumours surfaced online alleging the plot of Spirit had been leaked, with some claiming similarities to the Tamil film Theri. However, the source of the leak remains unverified. Shortly after Deepika’s departure, the film’s makers confirmed that actress Triptii Dimri would now play the female lead in Spirit. Vanga wrote on Instagram, “The female lead for my film is now official” Triptii also took to social media and wrote, “Still sinking in... So grateful to be trusted with this journey. Thank you @sandeepreddy.vanga... Honoured to be a part of your vision.” —ANI