02082025-LSTL-01.qxd 8/1/2025 8:25 PM Page 1 c m y b ALI FAZAL MEETS PEDRO PASCAL Ali Fazal on Friday left fans into a frenzy with his latest picture on social media as it features him posing with none other than the international star Pedro Pascal. In the image, the two can be seen seated together on a flight, with Ali captioning it cryptically. “Shhhhhh,” he wrote, sparking widespread speculation. TRIBUNE High praise Life Vijay Deverakonda’s film Kingdom received a heartfelt shoutout from Rashmika Mandanna. “I know how much this means to you and all those who love you @thedeverakonda!,” she wrote. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 2 AUGUST 2025 Ashutosh Rana speaks on Humare Ram & Ravan’s complex character Ravan isn’t merely a villain Mona Veteran actor Ashutosh Rana, known for his intense screen presence and versatile acting, opens up about Humare Ram, a theatrical project that he brings to the tricity on Sunday. “The Ramayan is not just a story — it’s a vilakshan katha (a magnificent tale),” says Rana who plays Ravan in Humare Ram. “Ravan is the only character that goes through transformation, which makes him interesting and engaging to play,” says Rana. Humare Ram is not just a performance for him but a deep mental, emotional, physical and spiritual journey. In fact, his book Ramrajya, is also a bestseller. “For me it’s been a rather long journey that started with chin- tan (contemplation), lekhan (writing) and then the stage.” The play puts forth new perspectives by showcasing how every character touched by Ram is elevated — whether it is Hanuman or even his adversaries. “Ram represents knowledge (gyan), Lakshman stands for detachment (vairagya), and Bharat symbolises love (prem) and Shatrughan stands for courage (sahas),” he said, emphasizing that Ayodhya is not just a place, it is an inner state where there is no conflict. Role call Known for iconic roles in films like Dushman, Sangharsh, Mulk and Haasil, Rana has made a mark with performances brimmed with intensity and depth. His early career was shaped by challenging roles. “I was fortunate as an actor to get challenging roles right in the beginning of my career,” he says. As for training, he shares, “Some like me train and then join the profession, others train on the job. Both are okay, its the training that’s important.” Shahane. “She is not just a brilliant actor, writer and director, but also a supportive partner and a devoted daughter, wife and mother. Her companionship has accelerated my journey because not just she understands me as a person but also my passion and profession!” Diverse projects Year 2025 is shaping up to be another amazing one for Rana with an eclectic slate of films — Loveyapa, Chhaava, Kaushaljis vs Kaushal, War 2 and Heer Express. From war dramas to social commentaries, historicals to familyoriented films, Rana is stepping into differnet genres. “For an actor, it’s golden to be able to explore all genres and I am grateful that I continue to do that.” Humare Ram, will be staged at Indershanush Auditorium in Panchkula on August 3. Tickets for the show, which features Ashutosh Rana as Ravan and Rahull R Bhuchar as Ram, are available on BookMyShow. Life companionship Rana is all praise for his wife, Renuka Decoding the Such euphoria was last seen for Kaho Naa Pyaar Ha: Film Analyst Komal Nahta chord with the first teaser of the film, which was fuelled by the periodic release of songs. The film expert believes that a huge opening of Saiyaara was inevitable. “I think they had hit the nail on the head right from the first teaser. The first teaser came out and took the nation by storm, swept the youngsters off their feet because the hero and the heroine both looked so wonderful and so compatible. And then, they started releasing one song after another. Each song was a musical delight. And the picturisation was extraordinary. So, people actually started making up their minds that we have to watch this film. Come what may, we have to watch this film. And then, the trailer of the film came out. I think that sealed everything. That was the final proof that this film was going to get a fantastic opening; it was done and decided.” However, that was just the halfway point for the film to reach the zenith of success at the Indian box office. What mattered was for the film to live up to the expectations of the viewers, which it undoubtedly did, as per the Rs 400 crore box office collection of the movie. “Then of course, when the film was released, I think it more than lived up to the expectations. The expectations had reached sky high because of fantastic music, fantastic song picturisations, wonderful boy and girl, and lovely chemistry.” Saiyaara has been creating a buzz in the industry not only for its giant box office collection but also because of the reactions of viewers in the theatres after watching the film. Videos on various social media platforms shared by fans showed people inconsolably weeping after watching the film in theatres. Nahta said everything in the film is organic and admitted he too sobbed after watching the film in theatres. — ANI c m y b SRK BAGS HIS FIRST NATIONAL AWARD Superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Friday won his first National Film Award for best actor for the 2023 blockbuster Jawan, an honour that he shared with 12th Fail star Vikrant Massey. Actor Rani Mukerji was named the best actress for her performance in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway. 12th Fail, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, was adjudged the best feature film, while the best director honour went to Sudipto Sen for The Kerala Story. Filmmaker Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani bagged the award for best popular film for wholesome entertainment, while Meghna Gulzar’s Sam Bahadur was named best feature film promoting national, social and environmental values. Sam Bahadur was also recognised for costume and make-up honours. The National Film Awards for the year 2023 was announced by jury head and filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker. —PTI Welcome to Tehran Saiyaara craze Film trade Analyst Komal Nahta is all praise for the recently released romantic film, Saiyaara. The romantic flick, directed by Aashiqui 2 fame director Mohit Suri and produced under the banner of Yash Raj Films, stars debutant Aneet Padda and Ahaan Panday, the cousin of Ananya Panday. Initially expected to be a semi-hit, this romantic film led by debutants exceeded the expectations of cinemagoers and film trade experts when it surpassed an estimated Rs 400 crore at the worldwide box office. Nahta compared the popularity of the film with Hrithik Roshan’s debut super-hit movie Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai, which took the box office by storm in 2000. In an interview, Nahta said, “It (Saiyaara) is one of the finest films to have come out of Bollywood in recent times. In the last, probably, 20-25 years, I can say that I have not seen a similar kind of craze as it is for Saiyaara. The last time we witnessed this type of euphoria was at the release of Kaho Naa...Pyaar Hai, which was Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel’s launch pad.” Nahta further shared the reasoning for the immense popularity. He believes that the makers struck the right Shah Rukh Khan, Vikrant share best actor honour; 12th Fail is best feature film ALIVE & kicking Comedian Samay Raina is all set to return to the live stage with a new stand-up tour titled Samay Raina Is Alive And Unfiltered. This marks his first India tour after facing backlash over his YouTube show India’s Got Latent. The comedian made the announcement on Instagram, revealing that the tour will begin on August 15 in Bengaluru, where he will perform until August 17. He will then travel to Hyderabad on August 23 and 24, Mumbai on August 30, and Kolkata on September 6 and 7. His next stops include Chennai on September 19 and 20 and Pune from September 26 to 28. The tour will conclude in Delhi with shows on October 3, 4 and 5. Earlier this year, Samay, along with Apoorva Mukhija, Ashish Chanchlani, and Ranveer Allahbadia, was named in an FIR for allegedly promoting obscene content on their show India’s Got Latent. — ANI John Abraham’s long-delayed film Tehran confirms release on OTT John Abraham’s much-awaited film, Tehran, is headed for an OTT release. Having faced delays for several years, the film will premiere on ZEE5 during the Independence Week 2025. The streaming giant confirmed the news on Thursday and wrote, “Dilli mein ek blast ne sirf ek embassy nahi, ek soye hue junoon ko jaga diya. #Tehran coming this Independence Week, on #ZEE5.” Along with the release date, the streamer also dropped a new poster of the film, marking a first in three years. John Abraham could be seen in a bloodied, rugged look as he stood against the cityscape of Tehran. The poster included a tagline that read, Hunted By Iran, Abandoned By Israel, Deserted By India. The first official trailer for Tehran will be released on August 1. — ANI