PUNJAB SITUATION STALLS FILM SHOOT

Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushalstarrer Raazi was being shot in Patiala, says director Meghna

Self-confessed godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is now behind bars, but ever since his conviction a few days back — for raping two of his women disciples in 2002 — the situation has been tense in Punjab. Owing to riots and an eventual curfew, Alia Bhatt (left) and Vicky Kaushal (inset, left) got stuck in Patiala. The actors are there to shoot for Meghna Gulzaar’s (below) directorial, Raazi, but had to restrict themselves to their hotel.

“The city is under curfew, so we obviously cannot shoot,” confirmed Meghna.

Talking about their film’s shooting getting stalled and the production suffering losses, the filmmaker — who has directed films such as Just Married (2007), Dus Kahaniyan (2007) and Talvar (2015) — said she wasn’t very worried. “Hopefully, we will make it up. We are positive. We have a great team and everyone is cooperative and understanding. They know the situation, so we will work around it,” said Meghna.

Following the tension in Punjab, parts of Delhi-NCR were also put on High Alert. Gurmeet was convicted of rape on Friday, after which 32 deaths were reported due to riots in Panchkula district and six in Sirsa, where the sect’s headquarter is based.

TV actor Vivian Dsena (above), who has starred in shows such as Pyaar Kii Yeh Ek Kahaani and Madhubala, is the latest celeb who has spoken up on the alarming rise of the Blue Whale challenge in India.

The number of emotionally distraught youngsters engaging in the online game, which encourages players to complete 50 dangerous tasks and commit suicide by the end of the challenge, is increasing, and Vivian is saddened by it.

“The most important thing I want to tell such disturbed young people, who take the extreme step of committing suicide, is that you don’t have the right to finish the life that you were given by someone else,” says the 29-year-old.

While some resort to such adversities for the thrill, failed relationships has also been one of the primary reasons. Here’s a piece of advice from Vivian.

“If ending one’s life was a solution for life’s problems, then the whole world would be standing on the highway! If you can’t fight, you’re challenging your family’s upbringing, because of all the things, your parents would never have taught you that this is how you deal with problems,” he says.

The actor adds that not losing hope is what matters the most. “Things might seem bleak now, but there’s always a ray of light which you can see only after the darkness,” adds Vivian.