23062025-LSTC-01.qxd 6/23/2025 12:43 AM Page 1 c m y b WIZARD WATCH JK Rowling has endorsed HBO’s upcoming Harry Potter series, despite backlash over her anti-transgender stance. She confirmed her involvement as executive producer, though not as scriptwriter. HBO has defended its collaboration while over 400 signatories have criticised Rowling’s views. TRIBUNE Stage dreams Life Actress Jennifer Aniston says she hopes to perform on Broadway, calling it a long-standing dream. Known for her role as Rachel in Friends, she said she is waiting for the right time and material. CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 23 JUNE 2025 As HYPERREAL takes flight, The Royals gains ground, Kavya Trehan charts her own creative orbit Aanandita Guptaa S INGER, actor, designer, performer — and above all, an intuitive creator — Kavya Trehan has long resisted the idea of choosing just one path. Whether lighting up screens in The Royals or crafting ambient sonic worlds in her latest musical venture, she charts a course that’s all her own. Now, with the lead single Stolen Games out and her producer debut EP HYPERREAL beginning to unfold, Kavya is ready to reveal a soundscape that’s both soul-stirring and deeply personal. But her real magic lies in how she does it — not chasing virality or succumbing to the breakneck pace of the industry. “I’ve never subscribed to viral culture or the pressure of fastpaced success,” she says. “My journey is rooted in depth, not speed.” The first seed Every artist has an anchor. For Kavya, it’s her mother, Sangeeta Trehan — a respected academic with an MSc in Zoology and a gold medallist BEd graduate in Natural Sciences from Kerala. Beyond the accolades and years of teaching, it was Sangeeta’s unwavering belief in Kavya’s creative spirit that became the foundation for everything to come. “When she encouraged me to follow my curiosity, that support lit the path ahead,” Kavya reflects. One dream at a time Roots in psychology, wings in theatre Truth be told Johnny Depp calls himself ‘crash test dummy for MeToo’ Johnny Depp has opened up about the impact of the highly publicised legal battle with his ex-wife Amber Heard, describing himself as a “crash test dummy” for the #MeToo movement. In an interview, the 62-year-old actor, who won a defamation lawsuit against Heard in 2022, reflected on the personal and professional fallout from the trial, including the people he felt turned their backs on him. Depp’s legal battle with Heard stemmed from an oped she wrote in 2018, where she spoke out about domestic abuse, though she did not directly name Depp. After a trial in Virginia, Depp was awarded USD 10 million in damages and Heard received USD 2 million on one of her counterclaims. The public scrutiny from the trial, combined with the media’s focus on the allegations, left Depp questioning the loyalty of those around him. Depp admitted certain individuals in his inner circle had “done him dirty,” particularly those who had previously celebrated his success but remained silent when the allegations against him surfaced. Depp called out an unnamed agent he had worked with for three decades, who spoke negatively about him in court during the trial. “That’s death by confetti,” he said, referring to the “fake” people who “celebrate you” to your face while speaking ill behind your back. Depp also shared his thoughts on the #MeToo movement, which gained widespread attention in 2017 after multiple allegations of sexual assault and harassment were levelled against Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. Depp said, “I was pre-MeToo. I was like a crash test dummy for MeToo.” He said at the time of his legal battle, the movement was still in its early stages and people in the industry were hesitant to stand up for him out of fear of backlash. Depp said he “sponged it all in” during the difficult period and noted that the situation created an environment where people were “playing it safe” in order to avoid being labelled or criticised. “Better go woke!” he added sarcastically, implying that many in Hollywood were more concerned with maintaining their public image than standing by him. Despite the years of legal and personal turmoil, Depp seemed to find solace in the knowledge that his case was a turning point. “The jury gave me my life back,” he said after the verdict. For Depp, the case was about more than legal justice; it was also a matter of personal truth. Throughout the interview, Depp also addressed his so-called “comeback” in Hollywood and discussed how his career has evolved since the trial. Despite media reports suggesting that his professional life had been on hold, Depp was quick to assert, “Honestly? I didn’t go anywhere.” He pointed out his recent projects, such as the films Minamata and Jeanne du Barry and his commercials for Dior. Depp also hinted at an exciting upcoming project, Day Drinker, signalling that he has remained active in the industry. However, Depp made it clear that he doesn’t view his return as a “comeback.” “If I actually had the chance to split, I would never come back,” he said, implying that his love for acting and his personal drive are what keep him engaged in the industry despite the challenges he has faced. — ANI Long before the spotlight, Kavya was already navigating the human condition — academically and artistically. While studying psychology, she also immersed herself in theatre, finding inspiration in the corridors of the National School of Drama. “Studying the human mind while simultaneously losing myself in characters on stage gave me a deeper emotional vocabulary,” she shares. That early duality — intellect and art — continues to shape every note, word and movement in her work today. Many paths, one soul Kavya believes creativity needn’t be confined. “To anyone standing at a crossroads today: you don’t have to choose just one path — it’s entirely possible to honour both,” she says. Her ability to live and work authentically — without filters — has been her greatest strength. Trehan — a confidante who keeps her anchored. “Having someone who truly gets me, but also reminds me to rest, has been everything,” Kavya adds. Fuelled by curiosity, grounded by chaos “Honestly, I get bored easily,” she admits with a laugh. “So I constantly need to feed my curiosity.” One day she’s on stage; the next, sketching jewellery designs or diving into a script. “There’s just one of me and many ambitions,” she says. “That’s why I’ve built a strong, reliable team — people who step in when I feel stretched.” At the centre of that support system is her older sister, Khyati Magic meets method Creative freedom, she says, needs a backbone. “Creativity needs a framework to flourish.” Her process — which she calls The Creative Way — includes to-do lists, regular check-ins and development reports. “It helps me stay grounded and inspired,” she shares. “Even wild dreams need calm, consistent roots.” HYPERREAL: Her truth in sound HYPERREAL, her debut EP as a producer, is more than a collection of tracks — it’s a visceral, layered journey through overstimulated, hyper-connected emotional states. “It’s called HYPERREAL because that’s how life feels sometimes — too much and too true, all at once.” The recently released single, Stolen Games, sets the tone: avant-garde, instinctive and emotionally rich. Each track peels back a layer of her inner world. Creative quest As an extension of the EP’s aesthetic, Kavya also launched a handcrafted jewellery line — wearable pieces that reflect the tactile spirit of her music. “It’s been so fulfilling to create something people can hold,” she says. And when she needs grounding, she turns to sound — especially James Blake. “I Never Learnt to Share is a song I return to often. It reminds me to hold space for all my selves.” In love with the process Though scripts and secret projects hover on the horizon, Kavya remains rooted in the now — in the act of making. “Staying immersed in the work is what keeps me sane,” she says with a smile. Her journey is not one of overnight fame, but of quiet conviction, fearless curiosity and creative honesty. A reminder that you don’t have to fit in to shine — you just have to stay curious, stay grounded and stay in love with the process. When Kalam inspired Salman! David Corenswet’s super challenge David Corenswet, who will play Superman in James Gunn’s upcoming film, shared the challenges of wearing the superhero’s suit. In an interview, he revealed the costume lacks a single zipper for bathroom access, calling it unexpectedly complex. Despite several zippers, the team opted not to alter the design due to cost. Corenswet credited his dresser, Scotty, for helping him navigate the suit quickly for breaks. His first fitting was “underwhelming,” as the suit was still in pieces. To embody the role, Corenswet gained 40 pounds of muscle, making the final fit even more restrictive. He admitted feeling claus- c m y b trophobic when first donning the suit, citing intense pressure in multiple areas. Corenswet also praised costar Rachel Brosnahan, who plays Lois Lane, and highlighted their work on building a compelling relationship central to the film’s emotional arc. Superman is set to release on 11 July. — ANI Two decades after its release, Tere Naam remains one of Salman Khan’s most iconic films — largely due to his memorable hairstyle. In the first episode of The Great Indian Kapil Sharma Show, the 59-year-old revealed the look was inspired by former Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. “My Tere Naam look was inspired by Abdul Kalam Saab,” Salman told host Kapil Sharma, adding while Rahul Roy had a similar look earlier, he envisioned a small-town hero with long hair. Directed by the late Satish Kaushik, Tere Naam (2003) was a remake of the Tamil film Sethu. Salman also recounted a recent incident in which a woman fan managed to enter his home claiming, “Salman called me.” She was escorted out after being spotted by his household staff. —ANI Priyanka’s favourite scar What do you expect when the President of the United States, Prime Minister of the UK and a fearless MI6 agent walks into a global crisis? Action, Stunts, Explosions, Espionage and little eyebrow drama- literally. While speaking to Jimmy Fallon Priyanka Chopra Jonas unveiled how she lost a chunk of her eyebrow. She said, “The camera has a matte box and I was supposed to roll on the floor and fall and it was raining. And the camera was supposed to come in close to me. So the camera operator came in a little bit closer – I came in a little bit closer and it took out a chunk of my eyebrow. Could have been my eye, so I was very grateful that it wasn’t. .” — TNS