17092025-LSTL-01.qxd 9/16/2025 8:21 PM Page 1 c m y b LEONARDO VS TOM CRUISE Leonardo DiCaprio compared his character Bob in the upcoming film, One Battle After Another, to Tom Cruise’s role in Mission: Impossible. “It’s like the opposite of Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible. Bob does everything wrong. And he doesn’t land or stick any of his stunts,” said DiCaprio. TRIBUNE Up next Life American singer Demi Lovato has announced her ninth album, It’s Not That Deep, which will be released on October 24. It is produced by Zhone and will feature 11 tracks. LUDHIANA | WEDNESDAY | 17 SEPTEMBER 2025 ‘I’m not dancing but WE ARE TRYING TO HELP: SONU SOOD I’m glad’ Nonika Singh “Who doesn’t like happy endings? But I don’t know how to handle happiness. Pain is what drives me,” says Anuparna Roy, who right now has every reason to be on cloud nine. After all, she has earned a place in the cinematic history, becoming the first Indian to win the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees at the recently concluded Venice Film Festival. She is full of gratitude — ‘I am not dancing but I am glad’ that this surreal moment presented itself and bigwigs like the Chief Minister of West Bengal sent congratulatory messages.’ Interestingly, today her parents, who once resisted her dream to be a filmmaker, are probably happier than she is. “They are busy giving interviews on my behalf, sharing my childhood photographs and anecdotes from my life. All without my consent,” she says. Perhaps, deep down, she knew that the film stood a very good chance. Why else would she send the rough cut, sans sound and BGM to the Venice Film Festival? After her emphatic win, she thinks it’s important for women to tell women’s stories, for, “The kind of society we live in, we have to be vocal …says Anuparna Roy, the first Indian to win the Best Director award in the Orizzonti section for her film Songs of Forgotten Trees at Venice Film Festival about it. What we are experiencing as second sex, which is what we are constantly labelled, must reflect in our cinema.” Though she would not like to comment upon ‘ Beti bachao, Beti padhao’ slogan, she does feel that when the government gives money for marriages of Dalit girls and not for their education, “You do understand who is the culprit.” She asserts, “Filmmaking can’t Robert Redford passes away at 89 Legendary actor-director Robert Redford, best known for films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, All the President’s Men and Ordinary People, has passed away at the age of 89. Cindi Berger, the chief executive of the publicity firm Rogers & Cowan PMK, shared the news in a statement to the New York Times. As per Berger, Redford had died in his sleep early Tuesday morning at his home in Utah. Robert was last seen in Avengers: Endgame in which he reprised his role as Secretary Alexander Pierce and joined several other Marvel vets such as Michael Douglas and Tilda Swinton. Redford had starring roles in A Walk in the Woods, which became a breakout indie hit, while 2018’s The Old Man & the Gun drew positive reviews. He also served as executive producer on numerous television projects, most recently for Dark Winds. Starting in 1959, Redford traded his time between television, appearing in such shows as Perry Mason, Playhouse 90, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Twilight Zone, and acting on the New York stage, in such productions as Tall Story, his theatrical debut, and Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park (1963), reprising the latter role in the 1967 Hollywood version opposite Jane Fonda. He made his feature film debut in the 1962 drama War Hunt, appearing alongside another young actor, Sydney Pollack, who would go on to direct Redford in seven films, including The Electric Horseman and the Academy Awardwinning Out of Africa. In 1972, The Hot Rock and The Candidate both provided solid roles before a string of films that made him a superstar. — ANI be about male heroism alone. It’s time to depict the real situation of women, especially in tier 3 cities.” The film, she admits, is a tribute if not ode to her childhood friend whom she lost to child marriage. Thus in the metaphor of forgotten trees you can certainly read her memory of Jhuma. Personal is very much universal for her. “What I have not experienced I will not tell. Even my first short, Run To The River, was about my grandmother and my next is about her relationship with her stepdaughter,” she says. Since her acclaimed film Songs… also celebrates the same sex bond, she avers, “Love knows no form, gender or religion. Songs… is not so much about sexual intimacy as soul connection, accepting each other’s complexities.” Filmmaking for her, howev- er, isn’t a crusade, “We are not out to change the world.” Yet, on the Venice stage, she let even her saree bearing the colours of the Palestine flag speak. Expectedly both brickbats and bouquets followed. She stands by what she said on the global stage, but is a tad hurt by the censure and asserts, “My comments on Palestine do not make me any less Indian.” Of course, nothing would stop her from speaking out her mind through her cinema and outside of it. “My films,” as she puts it “are not lullabies… Hope is important but is not a constant.” Cinema might make viewers feel uncomfortable but that she says that happens only if the viewers resonate with it. Filmmakers too have to survive in discomfiting situations, a lesson she learnt from Anurag Kashyap, who happens to be one of the producers of her film. She observes, “He is not just my mentor but of the entire upcoming generation. I decided to become a filmmaker after watching his Gangs of Wasseypur. We all have been motivated by him.” As for those who are inspired by her moment of glory, all she would say is, “Dream big.” Indeed, for doesn’t she stand as living proof; dreams come true. India shines at NYFW The prestigious world of high fashion turn its attention to New York Fashion Week (NYFW), and representing India on this global stage was actress Sanjana Sanghi. She made a striking appearance at the opening show of celebrated American designer Michael Kors. The actress was dressed in a classic Bermuda shots and an oversized classic white jacket from Michael Kors’s collection. Sanjana stated, “I’ve always had a classic and simple style, and it’s an honor to have attended the opening show at NYFW dressed in head-to-toe Michael Kors couture.” Farhana Bodi, India-born and Dubai-based entrepreneur took her seat at the OFFWHITE show at NYFW. Dressed in a jaw-dropping Off-White outfit, featuring a full-sleeved black and white bodycon dress and a statement belt, she exuded elegance. “This isn’t fashion; it’s a power play,” Farhana said. “OFF-WHITE sets the tone for a new era, and I’m here to say that the future is fearless. It’s a privilege to witness a revolution, and even more of a privilege to be a part of it.” c m y b Actor Sonu Sood is actively contributing to relief efforts for the flood-affected regions of Punjab. Speaking to the media at Jaipur, Sood said, “The situation in Punjab is still bad. The water level is going down. But the real help will have to be given right now. People are in need right now. People’s houses have been demolished. We have made a big list of people whose houses have been demolished. We are trying to help them.” S SMAKER NEW CONCERNS OVER AI MISUSE Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor have opened up about the growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence. At the trailer launch event of their upcoming film, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, Varun called for the need for laws and regulations to protect actors and artistes. “We can reach a period when we would not need actors and instead just create them,” he said. TWO MUCH FUN WITH GOVINDA Kajol and Twinkle Khanna are all set to bring their signature wit and charm to the small screen with their show, Two Much with Kajol and Twinkle. On who was her favourite guest on the show, Kajol said, “To be honest, my favourite guest on the show was Govinda. He is so super entertaining. Not to say that everybody was not nice or good, but Govinda is Govinda.” All eyes on Shivangi & Shashank’s BRIDE Nazranaa, the leading Indian bridal wear brand in the US, made a dazzling debut at New York Fashion Week 2025 with its latest Spring-Summer 2026 collection — Samskriti. Designed by Shivangi Gupta Singh and Shashank Gupta, the collection draws from India’s rich cultural heritage — reimagined through the lens of contemporary couture. Drawing inspiration from works like Ramakrishna Vilomakavyam — a 15th16th-century palindromic Sanskrit poem, a bi-directional verse that when read from one side says story or Rama and from another that of Krishna; and ancient Indian sage Maharshi Valmiki who wrote Ramayana — each look is a tribute to India’s profound intellect and artistic brilliance. Presented at The Glasshouse NYC, the show was a visual journey through ancient Indian architecture, temple art, and Vedic literature. From embroidered motifs echoing the Sun Temple of Konark to silhouettes inspired by Sanskrit scriptures, Samskriti aims to place Indian culture on a global pedestal. Shivangi Gupta, founder and creative force behind Nazranaa, called the collection homage to her heritage, to the scriptures, the philosophers, the karigars, and the stories lost in time. “This collection is not about a company or a designer — it is about our scriptures, culture, and architecture, and the reverence they deserve,” said Shivani, known as the ‘uncrowned queen’ of Indian bridal wear in the US. Shivangi has built Nazranaa into a household name through signature couture.