20122025-LSTL-01.qxd 12/19/2025 11:32 PM Page 1 c m y b NOW A FILM ON LABUBU TOYS Paul King, the director of Wonka and Paddington, is set to direct the live-action feature based on beloved toys Labubu. King’s most recent film, Wonka, starring Timothee Chalamet, was a major box office success, earning $ 635 million globally. TRIBUNE All set... Life Mrunal Thakur attended the teaser launch of her upcoming film, Dacoit-Ek Prem Katha in Mumbai. The highoctane bilingual action drama, also starring Adivi Sesh, is set for a theatrical release on March 19, 2026. LUDHIANA| SATURDAY | 20 DECEMBER 2025 Tracing the roots ani is short film N g r’s Mainak Dha ars of observin e shaped by y e in California and f immigrant li emotional imprints e revisiting th wn grandmother of his o Mona M AINAK DHAR’S short film Nani continues its remarkable international journey after a recent screening at the Yellowstone International Film Festival 2025. Dhar’s creative roots trace back to Mumbai’s vibrant cinema culture before he eventually moved to Los Angeles. Rooted in memory, diaspora identity and intergenerational bonds, Nani has resonated with audiences across continents, from SouthAsian to Latino communities in the US, who find in it echoes of their own family dynamics. Dhar’s film, shaped by years of observing immigrant life in California and revisiting the emotional imprints of his own grandmother. He reflects on the film’s festival journey, the intimate inspirations behind it and the evolving landscape of independent filmmaking in India and beyond. NANI IN MUMBAI Mumbai holds a special place in my heart because it’s really where my filmmaking journey began. I spent couple of years here working as an AD before moving to Los Angeles, and those early experiences shaped the way I think about storytelling. I also have many friends in the industry who are doing incredible work today, so coming back always feels like reconnecting with my creative roots. My first feature 417 Miles premiered at MAMI, so in many ways Mumbai has been part of every major milestone in my career. It’s my favourite city in India — no other city can match the energy of Mumbai. GLOBAL FESTIVAL JOURNEY What this festival journey has shown me is that Nani resonates with audiences from cultures where family is the emotional foundation of life. Because the film is centred on intergenerational bonds, especially the relationship with a grandmother, viewers who come from tight-knit, traditionrooted communities, respond almost instinctively to it. Living in California, I’ve noticed that aside from Bengali audiences, the most enthusiastic and vocal supporters of the film have been Latino viewers. Some of my favourite screenings so far have been in Texas and California, where Latino audiences laughed in the exact places I hoped they would, and got emotional at moments that were very personal to me. FROM INCEPTION TO COMPLETION The inspiration for Nani came from a very personal place. My grandmother passed away in 2019, and during the lockdown that followed, I found myself thinking about the people who shaped me. That period of isolation created space for reflection, and the idea for the film — centred on memory and family — began to take shape. With so much downtime, I finally had the mental room to start writing. The actual production journey took a few more turns. In 2023, during the writers’ strike in Hollywood, I suddenly had another unexpected break from work. That pause gave me the chance to properly begin pre-production and commit to making the film. We eventually shot Nani in the summer of 2024. HOME AWAY FROM HOME For immigrants like me, when you’re away from home, cultural identity becomes something you renegotiate constantly — what you hold on to, what you adapt, and what you quietly let go of. Those tensions naturally found their way into the film. Nani also comes from years of observing South Asian families in the US and how they navigate the intergenerational balance. Harrison Ford to be honoured Harrison Ford, known for his roles in Indiana Jones and Star Wars, will be honoured with the Life Achievement Award by the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) at the 31st Annual Actor Awards 2026. “I am deeply honoured to be chosen as this year’s recipient of the SAG-AFTRA Life Achievement Award. To be acknowledged by my fellow actors means a great deal to me. I’ve spent most of my life on film sets, working alongside incredible actors and crews, and I’ve always felt grateful to be part of this community,” added Ford. The award is given annually to an actor who exemplifies the “finest ideals of the acting profession,” including past recipients such as Mary Tyler Moore, Sidney Poitier, Betty White, Jane Fonda, Robert De Niro, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Earl Jones.“Harrison Ford is a singular presence in American life; an actor whose iconic characters have shaped world culture,” SAGAFTRA President Sean Astin said. In a career spanning over three decades, Ford’s work includes blockbusters like the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises, as well as hits such as Air Force One, The Fugitive and What Lies Beneath. Ford also starred in rom-coms like Working Girl and dramas such as The Mosquito Coast. — ANI Bangladeshi household in the US. That’s where our producer, Humaira, was absolutely invaluable. She not only advised me on the cultural nuances but also worked closely with our incredible production designer, Rohini, to transform my apartment into an authentic Bangladeshi home. FROM EDITOR TO DIRECTOR’S TABLE ROOTED YET UNIVERSALLY RELATABLE The biggest challenge we faced was actually the locations. We had three different options lined up for Nani’s family apartment, and all of them fell through for various reasons — availability, logistics, budget. At a certain point, instead of compromising on the look and feel of the film, I decided to turn my own apartment into the location. It was a huge pivot, but ultimately the right one. I was telling the story of a family living in Little Bangladesh in Los Angeles, but I myself grew up in India. So, while I understood the broader South-Asian sensibilities, I needed help capturing the specific details of a Muslim My background in editing, including From Beyond Bars, Nick News, shapes almost everything about how I direct. So, when I’m on set as a director, I’m already thinking several steps ahead — how will this cut together? What do I absolutely need for the scene to work? What can I let go of? Editing also makes you incredibly disciplined. You learn quickly what is essential and what is indulgent. STORIES OF THE WORLD Today, tools like iPhones, AI and social media have truly democratised the medium. My hope is that the next generation of filmmakers stays in cities like Chandigarh, tells the stories of their own communities, and shows the world the richness of the places they come from. I’m manifesting action films: Dino Morea Actor Dino Morea says he is happy to play romantic roles on the screen but he also hopes that directors imagine him in an out and out action avatar in movies and shows. Morea, who was most recently on shows like The Empire and The Royals and the movie Housefull 5, is the new entrant in the Prime Video show Four More Shots Please!. In the final season of the show, Morea will be seen as the love interest to Kirti Kulhari’s character. The series, about the friendship between four women, also stars Sayani Gupta, Bani J and Maanvi Gagroo. “I would like to think that I’m adding a lot of sexiness, hotness and coolness, and a lot more fun c m y b to the show,” the actor said. The 50-year-old model-actor said he is comfortable being seen in a romantic role and he will continue to play these roles in future as well. “Having said that, I’ve also done a lot of action in the course of my career, I think, I’ve the trappings for all. So, whatever works and whatever is telling a better story, I’d be a part of. I’m manifesting that (action films) and more romantic leads,” the actor, who made his debut with 1999 film Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi and later appeared in movies like Raaz, Gunaah, Aksar and Rana Naidu, said. Created by Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy, the final season brings back the lead quartet — Gupta, Bani and Kulhari, and Gagroo. The show is developed and written by Devika Bhagat, with dialogues by Ishita Moitra. It is streaming on Prime Video. — PTI ‘AI is very harmful...’ Bhagyashree reflects on AI-misuse against celebrities Bhagyashree has reflected on the growing trend of Artificial Intelligence, especially with its impact on the celebrity culture and social media. “There are some things that we don’t say, but AI can make that happen by bringing modulations to lip-syncs. It is fine as far as AI is being used for marketing and for the betterment, but this thing is very harmful. It is very difficult to differentiate between right and wrong,” Bhagyashree said. The actress highlighted how people are often misguided by the AI-generated content on the internet. “How can a common man detect it? We are in this field, and we are aware that such things are enhanced by AI or digitally. We are still not able to detect it,” she added. Bhagyashree has voiced her concerns at a time when a number of celebrities have been subjected to deepfake content and misuse of Artificial Intelligence. Actress Sreeleela also spoke out against the same, calling on social media users to act responsibly and not support AI-generated material that violates personal dignity. On Instagram, the actress shared a strong message raising awareness, “I put my hands together and request every social media user not to support AI-generated nonsense. There is a difference between using and abusing technology. Advancements in technology are meant to simplify life, not complicate it, in my opinion,” she wrote. Highlighting the broader impact of such misuse, Sreeleela emphasised the importance of respect and safety for women across professions. On the other hand, several celebrities have also come forward to seek legal protection to their personality rights, including the likes of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Nagarjuna and Karan Johar. —ANI