07072025-LSTC-01.qxd 7/6/2025 8:19 PM Page 1 c m y b MARITAL BLISS Actress Julia Roberts and cinematographer Danny Moder marked 23 years of marriage with a camping retreat. The couple, met on the set of The Mexicanin 2001 and married the following year. TRIBUNE Not Friends Life Jennifer Aniston is grateful that she is still starring as journalist Alex Levy on The Morning Show season 4. “It is layered, it hits on a lot of topics and current events, so let's just say, it's not Friends.” she said talking about the show. CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 7 JULY 2025 Naseeruddin Shah’s vanished Facebook post sparks debate on art, freedom & censorship Naseer’s post that VANISHED YatheshtPratiraj Phool Gere celebrates Dalai Lama Hollywood actor and practising Buddhist Richard Gere on Sunday joined the 90th birthday celebrations of the 14th Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, calling the Tibetan spiritual leader a truly “selfless” human being. Addressing attendees at the event, Gere praised the Dalai Lama for his enduring teachings and profound wisdom. “We have never seen a human being like him who completely embodies selflessness, love, compassion and wisdom,” he said. “When I grew up as a Christian, we understood compassion from our teacher, Jesus Christ. But I don’t think we understood this combination of compassion and wisdom until we met His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” Hollywood star joins 90th birthday tribute, hails Tibetan leader as selfless, universal Reflecting on the Tibetan leader’s global stature, Gere said the Dalai Lama now belongs to the “world and universe”. Gere noted, “His Holiness exists beyond any concept of time and space.” Before taking the stage, Gere bowed down and kissed the Dalai Lama’s hand in a show of admiration and respect. The actor was seen seated just behind the Tibetan spiritual leader during the celebrations. The Dalai Lama, born Lhamo Dhondup on July 6, 1935 in Takster, a small farming village in northeastern Tibet, was recognised as the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama at the age of two. He was formally installed as Tibet’s spiritual and temporal leader on 22 February 1940 and given the name Tenzin Gyatso. The term “Dalai Lama” is Mongolian for “Ocean of Wisdom”. — ANI RANVEER RELOADED Y OU know how sometimes someone says something online that hits a nerve — not because it’s outrageous, but because it’s true? That’s exactly what happened when veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, never one to hold his tongue, posted a note supporting singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh. What followed wasn’t just a routine round of online drama. It became a fascinating case of digital censorship, national sensitivities and the tangled mess that is artistic freedom in the internet age. And just like that, a Facebook post became a firestarter. DOSANJH ROW Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaar Ji 3 sparked controversy for featuring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir amid postPahalgam terror tensions. Though filmed earlier, its release drew backlash from trade bodies demanding a ban and Dosanjh’s citizenship revocation. The film was released overseas only. Political leaders across parties defended Dosanjh, calling the outrage disproportionate and praising him as a global cultural ambassador. SO, WHAT DID HE SAY? Well, not a whole essay — but it packed a punch. Shah called out the backlash against Diljit for casting Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in his upcoming film. Without mincing words, he backed the artiste’s right to work with whoever he wants and subtly slammed the nationalistic outrage brigade. The post ended with a spicy sign-off: critics, if you’re that upset, “go to Kailasa.” Now, if you’re not plugged into India’s internet culture, that’s a cheeky reference to a fictional “country” created by a controversial self-proclaimed godman. It was part sarcasm, part eye-roll. Classic Shah. But here’s the twist: the post disappeared — soon after it went live. WAIT, HE DELETED IT? Actually… no. That’s where things got strange. The post was gone, sure — but Shah clarified later he didn’t delete it. Facebook did. Or, to be more precise, it was taken down. And he wasn’t exactly whispering about it either. His response? Pretty much a shrug followed by, “I haven’t deleted anything and I don’t care a fiddler’s fart about IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CARRY THE TORCH OF TRUTH THROUGH A CROWD WITHOUT SINGEING SOMEBODY’S BEARD... backlash.” So now we weren’t just talking about an actor backing another artist — we were staring at something bigger. A platform silently removing a post, public backlash flipping to assumptions and a veteran artist refusing to tone it down. SHAH’S SUBTLE COMEBACK Instead of reposting or ranting, Shah took a different route. He returned to Facebook with a single, cryptic quote: “It is almost impossible to carry the torch of truth through a crowd without singeing somebody’s beard.” It was quiet. But it landed with weight. That’s the thing about Shah — he doesn’t do theatrics for attention. He’s been around long enough to know when to make noise and when to speak softly. This time, he said plenty without naming names. Was it a response to the trolls? A nudge at Facebook? A note to younger artistes not to back down? Maybe all of the above. ONLINE OUTRAGE Predictably, the reactions flew in from all sides. Some accused him of being “anti-national” (a label that’s lost all meaning lately), while others claimed he “backed out” of the post. But anyone who’s followed Shah’s career knows that backing out isn’t exactly in his playbook. But this is what happens now, right? Someone speaks up, the internet misreads it, the platforms step in and suddenly, the platform becomes the story. It begs a bigger question — not about who’s right or wrong, but who gets to stay online. If a post doesn’t violate any real rules, why’s it pulled? Was it mass reported by bots? Flagged as political? Is there a moderation algorithm somewhere that chokes on sarcasm? We don’t know. And honestly, that’s the unsettling part. ART ISN’T A VISA OFFICE The heart of the problem is not just one Facebook post or one film. It’s the growing discomfort with cross-border artistic collaboration. Hania Aamir is Pakistani. Diljit is Indian. That’s it. And yet, the casting was enough to spark a social media meltdown. But art doesn’t carry a passport. It doesn’t go through immigration checks before casting a role. And if you ask Shah — and plenty of others quietly watching — that’s how it should stay. Still, in today’s climate, where national sentiment often bleeds into cinema, music and even food (remember the butter chicken debates?), these lines are more blurred than ever. It’s as if choosing to work with a Pakistani actor is some coded political statement. It’s not. It’s just storytelling. From debut in Band Baaja Baaraat to Dhurandhar, Ranveer Singh essays broad spectrum of roles a, Lootera, Gully Boy, Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, Padmaa (L-R) Simmb vat Yathesht Pratiraj Phool So, here’s something to brighten up Ranveer Singh’s 40th birthday — the first look of Dhurandhar dropped. Directed by Aditya Dhar (the guy behind Uri: The Surgical Strike), this action-thriller promises to be a rollercoaster of grit, mystery and pulse-pounding action. The 2minute-40-second teaser doesn’t just tease; it punches you right in the gut with raw visuals and an edgy soundtrack. Bittoo’s bold beginning Thinking back to 2010, Ranveer burst onto the scene as Bittoo Sharma in Band Baaja Baaraat. That scrappy, energetic wedding planner was the breath of fresh air Bollywood needed — especially in a landscape dominated by star kids and the usual crowd. Bittoo was cheeky, charming and full of that raw energy. Ranveer’s quiet storm Now, Lootera in 2013 — talk about a curveball. While the film may not have smashed box office records, it showed a different Ranveer. Here, he played Varun Shrivastav, an archaeologist wrapped in mystery and melancholy. It was like watching a painter swap their spray cans for oil brushes: subtle, deep and layered. From dark to dashing The same year, Ranveer flipped the script with Simmba, jumping into Rohit Shetty’s cop universe. Here, he played a corrupt, fun-loving police officer who suddenly finds his conscience (and a path to redemption). This movie was pure masala Bollywood — loud, vibrant and entertaining. When passion meets tragedy Also in 2013, Ranveer teamed up with Sanjay Leela Bhansali for Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. Pure fire. Ram and Leela’s love story — set against a backdrop of violent community rivalries — was like Romeo and Juliet with a Bollywood twist. Rap dreams realised 2019 brought Gully Boy, arguably one of Ranveer’s most iconic performances. Playing Murad, a young man from Mumbai’s slums chasing his dream of becoming a rapper, Ranveer gave us raw emotion and electric energy. The bad guy you can’t ignore By 2018, Ranveer was ready to blow minds as Sultan Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat. His portrayal was intense, obsessive and frankly, terrifying in the best way possible. It’s the kind of villain performance that sticks with you — like a haunting melody you can’t shake off. c m y b Charm, dance & everything in between Fast forward to 2023, and Ranveer dazzled again in Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani. Playing the flamboyant Rocky Singh Randhawa, his antics, dance moves and onscreen charisma were on full display. More than just roles You know, what’s truly remarkable about Ranveer is his fearlessness — from Ladies vs. Ricky Bahl and Gunday to Dil Dhadakne Do and Befikre, he’s tackled everything with gusto. He’s a rare actor who’ll go from a serious period drama to a commercial flick without missing a beat. And let’s be honest, his wild fashion choices have kept us equally entertained. What’s next for Bollywood’s dynamo? Turning 40, Ranveer Singh isn’t just another actor ticking off years — he’s evolving, surprising and thrilling us all over again with Dhurandhar. If the first look is any indication, we’re in for a cinematic treat. You know what? At a time when Bollywood often feels stuck in its ways, Ranveer is proof that reinvention isn’t just possible — it’s essential. And honestly, we can’t wait to see where his journey goes next. Happy birthday, Ranveer — here’s to more grit, glamour and fearless storytelling.