15112025-LSTC-01.qxd 11/15/2025 12:06 AM Page 1 c m y b MAMMOOTTY IN CINEMAS SOON Mammootty’s fans are in for a treat as the trailer of their favourite actor’s upcoming film Kalamkaval is finally out. The film is slated to release in theatres on November 27. Starring Vinayakan and Mammootty in the lead roles, the movie is directed by Jithin K Jose. TRIBUNE Trailer out Life The makers of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi- starrer Wuthering Heights have released the trailer of the film on Thursday. The movie is directed by Emerald Fennell. CHANDIGARH | SATURDAY | 15 NOVEMBER 2025 PRIYAMANI,MANOJ BAJPAYEE, NIMRAT KAUR & JAIDEEP AHLAWAT Decoding DESIRES Mona W HAT comes to your mind when you hear Agra? The eternal monument of love or the pagalkhana? Definitely the latter for filmmaker Kanu Behl, whose film Agra, after a successful international run at prestigious film festivals, has finally hit the theatres. site sex.” This reflection became the seed for Agra, a story that delves into how unspoken desires and societal silence shape individuals. “We hear so much about sexual violence in India,” Behl explained. “But few try to understand why it happens. The real issue lies within the repressed emotional worlds of men — something we rarely explore empathetically, howsoever difficult that is.” What’s in the name? Kanu Behl, whose film Agra addresses repressed sexual desires, says he didn’t make the film through a titillating lens The film’s title, Behl revealed, carries layered meaning. “Everyone knows Agra for the Taj Mahal outside India, but in India, we also associate it with the mental asylum — Agra ka pagalkhana,” he said. “The film’s house felt like a madhouse — every character is lost in their own world. The protagonist might seem crazy, but perhaps he’s the sanest one among them.” Creators Raj & DK get candid about The Family Man Season 3 T HE moment millions of fans have been waiting for is almost here! Srikant Tiwari is officially back in action. Prime Video’s globally celebrated series, The Family Man, returns with its third season, bringing a new chapter that boasts higher stakes, deeper emotions, and the ultimate test for everyone’s favourite spy. This return marks another milestone for its creators, Raj & DK, the phenomenal duo behind hits like Farzi and Citadel Honey Bunny. The new season promises to be the biggest and most challenging yet, not just professionally for Srikant but also in terms of the show’s setting. This time, Srikant’s mission moves eastward, into unfamiliar terrain and dangerous new territory. Speaking about the meticulous planning and the long-anticipated arc, Krishna DK shared, “It’s been building up for a while, and we’ve put Casting Rahul Roy and a newcomer “Rahul Roy cast himself in the role,” says Behl. “He joined the acting workshops without ego, worked tirelessly, and one evening told me, ‘Kanu, I’ll only do this character — no one else will,’” Behl shared. “That sincerity sealed it for me.” Newcomer Mohit Agarwal, who plays the central character, was discovered after extensive auditions. “He had to be someone who could do disturbing things on screen yet evoke empathy,” he said. Agra’s festival run The film, a bold and unsettling exploration of desire, repression and social taboos, marks the return of Aashiqui star Rahul Roy to the big screen alongside newcomer Mohit Agarwal (Guru) and Priyanka Bose (Priti). Agra premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, followed by an award-winning festival run across the globe. “The festival journey helped the film gain visibility — it was crucial because we don’t have star power or a big marketing budget,” Behl said. After exploring streaming options, the team chose to release the film theatrically. “Happy we circled back to this.” he affirmed. From Punjab to Mumbai A film not about sex but desire “I grew up surrounded by theatre and fiction,” Behl said. His mother, a professor at Punjabi University’s Department of Theatre and Television, and his father, an NSD-trained actor, introduced him to the world of performing art early in life. “By 11 or 12, I was already assisting them on Doordarshan telefilms,” he recalled. After studying at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute and working on projects like Titli, Behl found his cinematic voice — one grounded in realism and psychological depth. “I’ve had a good journey,” he said with a smile. “Three feature films and a short in 10 years — pretty good for an outsider with no connections in Bollywood.” Addressing the explicit nature of the film, Behl clarified, “It’s easy to misread Agra as a film about sex. But it’s really about desire — human desire and transactionality. We all navigate relationships that fall somewhere between these two poles.” He added, “We’ve not made this film through a titillating lens. It’s truthful, not exploitative. If someone chooses to see it as sleazy, that’s their interpretation — but that’s not the film’s truth.” The genesis of Agra Behl began writing Agra drawing inspiration from his own formative years in Delhi. “Growing up, I sensed a certain sexual repression — my inability to express oneself,” he said. “I realised many boys around me were going through the same thing, especially those living in cramped spaces, with no room or vocabulary to interact with the oppo- Interpreting the film “It’s not a film about mental health,” Behl said firmly. “Labelling the protagonist ‘mad’ lets the audiences distance themselves from him. The harder thing is to empathise — to ask, ‘If I were him, what would I feel?’” “The ending isn’t happy,” he hinted. “There’s deep irony in how the same people who once condemned him come together for material gain.” For audiences ready to confront the raw, unsettling truths of desire, repression, and family dynamics, Agra hit cinemas across India on November 14. c m y b It’s getting deadlier! our hearts into it. We had already announced at the end of Season 2 that the NorthEast is where we want to go with the next season. So, we were clear about that. The location, the people, and the culture are all part of the DNA of the show, whichever season you pick. Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, and all these places in season three, you need that energy from the place.” The shifting geographical focus ensures that the series maintains its signature blend of national-level threats rooted in authentic Indian locales, guaranteeing a fresh and visceral viewing experience. The core of the excitement, however, lies in the intense rivallry that the creators have cooked up for Srikant this time around. Season 3 brings a monumental clash of talent, featuring a high-octane faceoff that is already sending fan anticipation soaring. Sharing his enthusiasm for the clash between Manoj Bajpayee’s Srikant and Jaideep Ahlawat’s Rukma in the new season, and confirming the central conflict, Raj expressed, “Manoj and Jaideep are coming together, two stalwarts of Indian cinema. Really top actors.” Jaideep’s character Rukma is designed as a dark reflection of our beloved TASC agent. His character presents a threat that is deeply personal and ideologically opposite to Srikant, pushing him to his absolute limit. Raj said, “Rukma became the main character, the main antagonist, where he is almost the opposite of Srikant; he also has a girlfriend and a kid, a sort of a ‘non-family’ family.” With Raj & DK’s unmatched talent for blending highoctane action with the comedic, relatable chaos of a middle-class life, The Family Man 3 is more than just another chapter in this spy thriller. It’s a cultural event. The combination of a highstakes mission in the NorthEast, the return of fanfavourite actors like Sharib Hashmi (JK), Priyamani (Suchitra). The Family Man Season 3 streams globally on Prime Video from November 21. — TNS