11062025-LSTC-01.qxd 6/11/2025 12:36 AM Page 1 c m y b NICO TAKES ON TROLLS Nico Parker spoke about the social media reaction to her casting as Astrid in the liveaction remake of How to Train Your Dragon. “There are some people who really love the animated movies and really want to see an exact play-by-play of that film. But for the people that just hate inclusivity, hate change, I just don’t care.” TRIBUNE Starry night Life Christian Slater was honoured with the 2,815th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Heathers star reflected on his long career, calling the honour ‘a wonderful ending to a chapter.’ CHANDIGARH | WEDNESDAY | 11 JUNE 2025 Hooda picks up khukri Nonika Singh M ORE recently, while the film bigwigs rushed to register the title of Operation Sindoor, acclaimed actor Randeep Hooda and noted producer-actor Rahul Mittra went ahead and announced a film on the bestseller, Operation Khukri, written by Rajpal Punia and Damini Punia. NO STARRY TANTRUMS When a famous star (Randeep Hooda) is headlining the film and is a co-producer too, is there a likelihood of undue interference on his part dictating the tempo of the film? Rahul Mittra, who has worked with the likes of Amitabh Bachchan, Irrfan Khan, Saif Ali Khan and many more, dismisses such baseless aspersions. For, he has never faced any starry tantrums. Moreover, he adds, “Randeep with whom I have an association since the Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster days is a thorough professional. Both he and I are mature people and such trivialities are unlikely to hamper the creative process of our filmmaking.” Actor Randeep Hooda and producer-actor Rahul Mittra join hands for a film based on the bestseller, Operation Khukri ‘I support Deepika’ Neha Dhupia on fix working hours Neha Dhupia came in support of star Deepika Padukone after she reportedly exited Sandeep Vanga directorial Spirit due to certain demands, including a request for an eight-hour workday. Deepika’s recent exit from Spirit has created quite a buzz in the entertainment industry. Several celebrities have now directly and indirectly weighed in on the need for a structured shift in the industry after the Chennai Express actress allegedly demanded fixed working hours. Neha is the latest to join the fray. The actress posted on Instagram, “For work-life balance to go beyond conversations, new moms need practical support and consideration. Instead, we often get shamed or sidelined.” She said that as a ‘working mom’ herself, she supports Deepika Padukone’s request for ‘fair and considerate’ working hours in the film industry. “As a working mom, I support @deepikapadukone’s reasonable request for fair and considerate working hours,” wrote Neha. — ANI Mittra, however, is adamant that the timing of the announcement of the film has nothing to do with the current mood of the nation. Both he and Randeep are not trying to capitalise upon anything. As he puts it, “There is no strategy in place, except the fact that it is a compelling story, very significant part of military history.” Like most Indians, he is very proud of the latest military offensive against the neigbouring nation. And, he has no hesitation in echoing the prevalent patriotic sentiment Jai Bharat, Jai Jawan and ‘nation is supreme’ or underscore India’s decisive victory against Pakistan. In that sense, Operation Khukri too is an extraordinary story of valour of the Indian Army, which happened far away from home in Sierra Leone (West Africa). However, since it is set in 2000, a period when the current dispensation was not in power, there is no appeasing any particular political party. Published by Penguin Random House, the book which chronicles the tale of 233 soldiers of the Indian Army who were cordoned off for almost three months without food in the jungles of Africa, first caught the attention of Randeep. The two good friends and long-time collaborators decided to join hands for the first time as co-producers. Rahul shares,“Securing the rights of the book was a long process.” Having a book as source material is indeed a big advantage and the fact that the author and lead character of the film is alive and kicking can only be another big plus for any factual confusion or contradiction can easily be resolved. Nevertheless, adapting a book that too a war drama is easier said than done. Of course, with Randeep essaying the role of the Major General (retd) Rajpal Punia (then a young Company Commander of the 14th Mechanised Infantry), who navigated the stand-off and subsequently A HEROIC CHAPTER Operation Khukri was a successful multinational rescue mission involving India, Ghana, Britain and Nigeria with majority of the forces made up of Indian Army units. In July 2000, when India was part of the UN peace keeping mission in civil strife torn Sierra Leone, West Africa, the Revolutionary United Front rebels held 233 soldiers of the Indian Army hostage in the remote town of Kailahun. The crisis lasted for 75 days and finally after diplomatic efforts failed, a daring rescue operation led by the Indian Army was launched. In a multi-pronged assault the rebels were overpowered and all the soldiers held captive were saved. RAHUL MITTRA the rescue amid jungle warfare, one can only expect yet another standout performance. Rahul chuckles, “The fact that both MajorGeneral (retd) Punia and Randeep are Jats is a happy coincidence.” But he insists, “Randeep a very fine actor. Still he has a huge responsibility to shoulder and very big shoes to fill, literally too, for Major General (retd) Punia is a very tall man.” Indeed, when a hero tells his own story, there could be a danger of over-glorification. Rahul observes, “All the facts are well documented and we will be doing our own research too.” Kendrick Lamar wins the BET! Kendrick Lamar, Doechii and Mariah Carey PHOTOS: REUTERS The rapper lands the biggest wins at the BET Awards 2025 Kendrick Lamar was the top winner at the BET Awards on Monday, an awards ceremony honouring Black actors, singers and sports stars. The 30 For 30 rapper won the best male hip hop artist award, best album of the year as well as the video of the year award for Not Like Us. Lamar and filmmaker Dave Free also took home the video director of the year award at the event, which was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and broadcast on the BET cable channel. “BET has always made sure they’re representing the culture right and always put me in the midst of the cycle of what we represent,” Lamar said on stage when accepting his award. Host comedian c m y b Kevin Hart opened the ceremony by recognising the BET Awards’ 25th anniversary and all of the “history that has been made” on the stage. The ceremony traversed the evolution of Black music, starting with a performance by R&B artiste Ashanti that featured a compilation of songs, including her 2002 song Foolish. Additional performances included other 2000s songs Ballin’ by Mustard, 1 Thing by Amerie and Like You by Bow Wow. Hart led with jokes while also highlighting the BET Ultimate Icon Award winners of the night, including Kirk Franklin, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg. Presented by Stevie Wonder, Foxx accepted his award and reflected on his recovery journey after having a stroke in 2023. Another honor included the best female hip hop artist award for rising rapper Doechii. —Reuters Besides, Rahul promises that they will cut no corners and will take care of all painstaking details and stick to facts. Yet, he also reminds how at the end of the day it’s a film and not a documentary. Hence, it’s as much about human drama, unrelenting spirit of not just bravery but also brotherhood and endurance. Besides as a maker, he has always been keen on character arcs. After all, more than anything else it’s the character, which stay with us the longest. Interestingly, his favourite Indian war film is Border, which he thoroughly enjoyed in his formative years. Since its lilting song ‘Sandeshe aate hain…’ is imprinted on his mind, would their film too have its fair share of song and dance. “Well, modalities are being worked out and it’s too early to state anything, except that the journey has begun,” he avers. And they are optimistic that the film will not only resonate with Indians but audiences across the world. After all, ‘Bravery never goes out of fashion’. And though the movie will certainly be an ode to the exemplary courage of our soldiers, Rahul assures it will not be a reductionist retelling or empty sloganeering. Gavie creates world record Save Earth Mission in collaboration with the Vision for a Greener India set Guinness World Record by planting 5,08,603 plus saplings in just one hour this World Environment Day. Bollywood actor Gavie Chahal joined hands with Save Earth Mission for this remarkable feat. “It was on the call of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under the campaign Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, that India created a historic moment earning a place in the Guinness World Records!” It took meticulous planning, unmatched community mobilisation and real time geo-tagging to accomplish this feat. The plantation drive took place across thousands of location across cities, towns and villages in schools, colleges and institutions. “As many metro cities are going through heat waves, we decided to go for in-house plantation.” The drive ensured tech-enabled transparency. Each planted tree was digitally logged, geotagged and tracked. “The idea was to have real impact than symbolic gesture.” shared Gavie, who starred in Salman Khan-starrer Ek Tha Tiger and Tiger Zinda Hai. He will next be seen in three Hindi films and a web series.” —TNS