29052025-LSTC-01.qxd 5/28/2025 7:49 PM Page 1 c m y b MARK THE DATE The makers of sociopolitical drama His Story of Itihaas have released the trailer of the film and announced the release date of the movie. Originally set to release on May 23, the film will make its theatrical debut now on May 30. The film marks the directorial debut of Manpreet Singh Dhami. TRIBUNE Lady in red Life Deepika Padukone made a striking appearance at the Cartier High Jewellery event in Stockholm. Padukone stole the spotlight as she attended the event in a stunning dress. LUDHIANA | THURSDAY | 29 MAY 2025 Bonding with Bugs... Mona T WENTY years back when Pune Highway was staged, theatre buffs lapped it up. The play, subsequently was staged in nine countries and every time the reaction of the audiences was the same — rounds of applause as the curtain went down. Now, the cinematic outing of the play is being equally loved. The ad-man, theatre veteran Rahul DaCunha debuted as a film director with Pune Highway. His friend and longtime associate Bugs Bhargava Krishna was only too happy to join him in the director’s seat. If Amul girl is what Rahul owes his fame to, the tagline Taste the Thunder is Bugs’ claim to fame. With 40 years of friendship behind them, the duo has collaborated extensively before. But how was it directing Pune Highway together? “When we first did the play, I thought that the story would be ideal for a cinematic adaptation. Many, including Anurag Kashyap, told Rahul to make it into a film. So, 20 years later, we finally made this film and the journey continues,” shares Bugs. A dead body is found 140 km away from Pune and the lives of three close friends get affected forever. Pune Highway, which essentially is a friendship story, also has the tone and tenor of a crime thriller. “It’s a buddy film on its own. It is not a very typical procedural or whodunit,” the duo says. With Jim Sarbh, Shishir Hacks renewed for Season 5 Max has renewed the Emmy-winning comedy series Hacks for a fifth season, just ahead of the season four finale. The series, starring Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder, has been a top performer on the streaming platform, ranking in the top five series in the US and top 10 globally. Hacks has garnered 48 Emmy nominations during its run, including a win for Outstanding Comedy Series in season three. The fourth season has been pacing as the series’ best season yet. The show’s creators, Paul W Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, are set to continue their work on the series. “We’re beyond thrilled to keep the laughter rolling with Jen, Paul, Lucia, our extraordinary cast and crew, and our partners at Max,” said Universal TV President Erin Underhill. The fourth season of Hacks featured an ensemble cast, including Downs, Megan Stalter, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, and Rose Abdoo among others. New additions to the cast in season four included Julianne Nicholson, Michaela Watkins, and Bresha Webb. —ANI From stage to silver screen, the journey of Pune Highway coincides with the journey of two friends — Rahul DaCunha and Bugs Bhargava Krishna — who have directed the film THE LIFELINE A year before Pune Highway, the play, happened, Bugs Bhargava Krishna was hospitalised and was given a few days to live. He recalls, “I survived that and a couple of months later Rahul (DaCunha) called me to act in his play. He knew that only acting on stage would keep me alive. Everybody advised me not to as I was too weak, but I went ahead and did it. That actually changed my life. I went from strength to strength. We went to nine countries with Pune Highway.” Sharma and Amit Sadh, the two directors put a stellar cast together. They share, “We both wrote the screenplay. All the characters were strong and only very good actors could have pulled it off.” Bugs Bhargava Krishna had earlier directed thrillers like Nail Polish and Borat House. Does the dark elements associated with this genre fascinate him? “I am fascinated by both light and darkness. You have to be fascinated by darkness to understand it,” says Bugs. The duo assures that they love comedy too, and that there’s a lot of funny stuff in their film! With two captains steering a ship, were there arguments or disagreements? “There were no arguments. Debates, yes. We were clever and mature enough to know what would be the best for the final outcome. So, the one who came up with a better idea took the lead,” shares Bugs. A friendship that lasted for four decades is commendable. “What keeps our friendship going is our shared passion for our profession,” shares Rahul. “It’s very rare that you find a partner who is passionate enough about so many things. We have three or four passions — advertising, theatre, now film… which is wonderful.” “And books. Theatre, advertising, films, and books as we both are writing books,” Bugs adds on. How is it possible to keep up with so many creative pursuits, we wonder. “We actually sit down and plan our creative life for the next 10 years, that is if we are lucky enough to stay alive and stay healthy,” shares Bugs. With the film Pune Highway behind them, the duo has one more wish. “While our friend Rajit Kapur visits Chandigarh often, we haven’t been there for a while. The city boasts of a very discerning audience, and we would like to stage a play there soon!” Col Jaspal Singh Chandaok exhibits driftwood artefacts Mehak kochhar Love that refuses to die B Praak, renowned for his soulstirring voice, returns with another romantic song, Duniya, the latest track from Jombieland — Punjab’s firstever zombie comedy. Composed by Avvy Sra with evocative lyrics by Kharaa, Duniya stands out as a tender love anthem set against the most unexpected of backdrops—a zombie apocalypse. The song captures the essence of romance amid chaos. Starring Binnu Dhillon and Kanika Mann, the music video depicts a love story that refuses to die — quite literally. B Praak’s vocals elevate the narrative, turning Duniya into a standout number. Written and directed by Thaparr, Jombieland blends horror, comedy and romance. The film also features Angira Dhar, Guri, Dhanveer Singh, Jassa Dhillon and marks the debut of G Khan. — TNS B Praak’s Duniyasets the tone for Punjab’s first zombie comedy, Jombieland Colonel Jaspal Singh Chandaok (retd) has transformed his home into a captivating mini museum. The exhibition, a deeply personal reflection of his lifelong passions, features hand-sculpted driftwood artefacts, portraits, photographs and cherished mementos collected over years of travel. A self-taught artist with no formal training, Col Chandaok’s creativity finds an expression through a variety of mediums, showcasing his interests in art, woodcraft, travel, music and portraiture. The first room displays 10 intricately crafted driftwood artefacts highlighting his vivid imagination. Among them, the most impressive is a large dinosaur sculpture, resting on four legs with a prominent jaw — his largest and most time-consuming creation. Several unique lamp pieces also adorn the space, designed to blend beauty with utility. Col. Chandaok developed a fascination with driftwood after discovering its hidden artistic potential. He personally selects and collects each piece of wood and accompanying materials. Other notable pieces include Alien, a conceptual work suggesting the future arrival of extra-terrestrial beings; Dancer, which delicately balances on two knees; Dragon and Scarecrow. A sculpture inspired by his love for golf captures the elegance and precision of a player’s mid-swing. c m y b Infusing life into wood In the living area, visitors are transported across the globe through over 250 souvenirs collected from his travels to 35 countries during 17 international visits. Each item is accompanied by photo albums complete with captions, offering a personal and narrative-rich chronicle of his journeys. His last overseas visit was to Uzbekistan in 2019. A strong believer in do-it-yourself art, Col. Chandaok created an artistic representation of Niagara Falls using recycled materials. Concludes today. NARGIS FAKHRI AND SONAM BAJWA PHOTOS: PTI Akshay & co. is back Housefull 5 trailer launch event was full of masti and bonhomie As the fifth part of Housefull is all set to be released in June, the makers on Tuesday kick-started the promotions with a grand trailer launch in Mumbai. The event saw the presence of the film’s ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Nana Patekar, Jackie Shroff, Ranjeet, Johny Lever and the leading ladies Nargis Fakhri, Sonam Bajwa and Soundarya Sharma. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Tarun Mansukhani also attended the launch. Sanjay Dutt, who plays a crucial role in the film, skipped the event. Interestingly, the makers brought a cardboard cut-out of Sanjay Dutt to the event. Akshay and Jackie Shroff playfully posed with it. The trailer started with a voiceover by Nana Patekar explaining the plot of the film. A billionaire is marking his 100th birthday on a luxurious yacht with a star-studded party and decides to give his inheritance to his ‘Jolly’. And then confusion starts as there are three Jollys who claim to be the real heir of the property — Jalabuddin (Riteish Deshmukh), Jalbhushan (Abhishek Bachchan) and Julius (Akshay Kumar). The trailer is loaded with peppy tracks, jokes and some iconic film references. At the end of the trailer, Jackie Shroff was spotted saying his son Tiger Shroff’s hit “Choti bachchi ho kya?” dialogue, leaving fans excited. Also, the music of Khalnayak played in the background when Jackie Shroff and Sanjay Dutt made their entry in the trailer of HouseAkshay full 5. The film, Kumar will hit the theatres on June 6. — ANI (Clockwise from left) Fardeen Khan, Chitrangada Singh, Shreyas Talpade, Jacqueline Fernandez, Abhishek Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh