28062025-LSTC-01.qxd 6/27/2025 7:46 PM Page 1 c m y b RASHMIKA EXCITED ABOUT MYSAA Rashmika Mandanna announced her new project, titled Mysaa, on Friday. The Chhaava actress surprised her fans with a fierce avatar after she released the first look poster of her character in the film. It is directed by Rawindra Pulle and is produced by Ajay and Anil Sayyapureddy. TRIBUNE Life Ravishing look Samantha Ruth Prabhu looked ethereal in a Krésha Bajaj ensemble at an award function. She was styled in a classic nude and black gown with a beautiful cutwork corset embellished with glass beads. CHANDIGARH | SATURDAY | 28 JUNE 2025 Anjali Sharma, who is now known as Yahhve Sharma, says her offbeat name sets off a conversation every time she meets someone Nonika Singh H ER name is not only unusual but also an ice- breaker. Yahhve Sharma is not her birth name. Anjali Sharma’s reasons to rename herself were reaffirmed when Nawazuddin Siddiqui, her costar of upcoming film Section 108, advised her so. The more she realised as to how her first name, Anajli, a rather commonplace one, did not grab any eyeballs, the more convinced she became that Yahhve, which means union of heaven and earth, could be the game-changer. She shares, “Every time I meet people they are intrigued and my offbeat name sets off a conversation.” The name change may not have made her an instant star but has brought her vis- Nepotism is part of the film industry. But I am actually grateful that I am not from a film background. Every opportunity that I get is a chance to prove myself and struggle of mine has shaped me as a person. Call me Yahhve... ibility and has been her lucky mascot too. Recently seen in Chall Kapat: The Deception in a key cameo, she shares, “There is no star system on OTT.” So, even though the show is headlined by Shriya Pilgaonkar, Yahhve observes, “The entire ensemble cast gets due credit.” Besides, these days she asserts audiences are not so starstruck and are looking for good content more than anything else. Indeed, the series did open to mixed reviews. And she is quite ok with it for, “We all have our own points of view and individual choices.” Working with Shriya, for Yahhve, was an eye-opener. She says, “Shriya is a thorough professional. She doesn’t look at her phone all through her shoot and pays so much attention to details and continuity.” If Shriya’s working style has taught her many lessons, Nawazuddin expectedly has been a masterclass in acting. She gushes, “He is down-toearth. He is a performer who doesn’t stick to lines, does a lot of improvisation. See the line between acting and good acting lies in whether you are just uttering your dialogues or internalising the script.” As she plays a grey character called Mallika, she can easily say that she has emerged a far better actor post Section 108. Interestingly, the murder thriller deals with an insurance fraud steeped in a legal clause, which deems when a person goes missing for seven years he or she is considered dead. Her character may have shades of an ambitious opportunist, in real life she is not hankering after name, fame or money. Bitten by acting bug in childhood, when she auditioned for Dance India Dance Little Masters, her love for dance transitioned into being charmed by the magic of acting. She has trained under actor Saurabh Sachdeva and also diction coach Ashish Pathode, who has guided her for her part in Section 108 too. Right now she is shooting in Punjab for a Punjabi romcom and will also be a part of a Punjabi web-series. Well, born in Nagpur, Maharashtra, brought up in New Delhi, she sure can speak Punjabi, but is also learning how to ace it better by constantly conversing in it. Ever since she made her acting foray in Operation Mayfair in 2023, she has been in the learning mode as ‘life itself has been my learning ground.’ Being an outsider in the film industry, rejection might be a way of life but she has no hesitation in saying, “I have been replaced many times.” But these temporary roadblocks have not dampened her enthusiasm ever. Since her father has served in the Air Force, she has naturally imbibed the never- say-die attitude. Though manzil abhi door hai…she intends to stay on track and is happy she is on the right one. c m y b