13102025-LSTC-01.qxd 10/13/2025 12:47 AM Page 1 c m y b SRK’S HEARTFELT MOMENT “Saira ji thought I was worthy enough," said SRK as he accepted Cine Icon Award for Dilip Kumar at the 70th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2025. Saira Banu, the late actor's wife, could not attend the event, she made a special request for Shah Rukh Khan to accept the honour on her behalf. TRIBUNE Life Yathesht Pratiraj Phool HOT Ludhiana WHAT’S BREAKING THE MOULD, OR DOUBLING DOWN? eat FLAVOURS’ MEET D URING the ongoing Saras Mela at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), visitors are treated to a vibrant showcase of India’s cultural diversity — where shopping and savouring go hand in hand. From handcrafted treasures and traditional textiles to organic goods and home-grown innovations, artisans from across the country have brought the essence of their regions to Ludhiana. One can relish Bihar’s smoky litti chokha, Rajasthan’s hearty dal baati, Haryana’s indulgent jumbo jalebi, and Maharashtra’s spicy pav bhaji, among other regional delights. Food lovers can also relish Punjab’s chhole bature, West Bengal’s fish curry and mishti doi, South India’s crisp dosas and fluffy idlis, Gujarat’s dhokla and thepla, and Kashmir’s aromatic rogan josh. The mela offers a rare chance to experience India’s flavours and craftsmanship under one festive roof. The mela is on till October 15. Chandigarh shop LIGHTS, CELEBRATIONS S HOPPERS Stop, India’s leading destination for fashion, beauty, and gifting, marked the start of the festive season with the grand unveiling of its Diwali Collection at Elante Mall, Chandigarh. The launch was headlined by popular actress Himanshi Khurana, who engaged with fans during an exclusive meet and greet at the event. The newly launched collection features a wide array of offerings — festive apparel, jewellery, stylish accessories, footwear, handbags, perfumes and beauty products — positioning Shoppers Stop as a one-stop destination for festive shopping.Himanshi Khurana said, “Diwali is all about joy, togetherness, and gifting. Being at Shoppers Stop today felt like a real celebration. Their Gifts of Love collection is the perfect mix of tradition and modern style. From clothes, watches, and sunglasses to perfumes, beauty, handbags and footwear, everything has been beautifully curated for festive shoppers.”The event drew enthusiastic crowds as fans interacted with the actress while she explored the latest festive looks and shared her personal favourites. Jalandhar R ANVEER Singh has wrapped shooting for Dhurandhar — and if the film’s trailer was anything to go by, we’re not ready (or are we?) for what’s coming. Drenched in blood and defiance, he marched through that dusty battleground with a gaze that could melt steel. It wasn’t just a trailer — it felt like a declaration of testosterone. And maybe, just maybe, a throwback to something we’ve seen time and again in Indian cinema: the rise of the hyper-masculine hero. love PRE-DIWALI BASH V ARIOUS pre-Diwali parties are being planned to be organised Jalandhar. The residents here have a chance to enjoy a Diwali Sufi night at Zoka, which is a citybased restaurant, on October 15 at 6 pm. The event is open for all those that are looking to enjoy a soul-stirring music, festive vibes and togetherness. A Bollywood party too is set to be hosted at Glenmore Farms, Jalandhar, on October 17 at 9 pm onwards. The dress code for both the parties would be traditional wear. Baaghi 4 rolled out in September and Tiger Shroff’s back with the signature blend of muscle, grit and brooding glare. You know the drill — hair like it’s been through a war, fists ready before words. But this time, he’s not alone in the testosterone arena. Sanjay Dutt joins the fray, a titan of macho cinema, bringing that oldschool, unyielding swagger that fans crave. Gaga glams Lady Gaga has joined the cast of Disney’s sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, set to release in May 2026. The film sees the return of Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci. CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 13 OCTOBER 2025 Bollywood’s desi Rambo syndrome From spies to smugglers, Indian cinema’s obsession with the bulletproof heroes VIOLENCE MEETS FATHER ISSUES Let’s talk Animal. Ranbir Kapoor didn’t just play a character, he unleashed a tempest of raw, chaotic emotion that was both unsettling and mesmerizing. Ranvijay was no typical action hero; he wasn’t shooting for thrills. Every bullet he fired was a scream for connection, a plea to break through the cold walls of his emotionally distant father. The violence wasn’t gratuitous, it was a language of pain, a way to feel alive when everything else seemed numb. Animal struck a chord because it tore apart the usual macho facade, exposing the fragile, broken man beneath. This wasn’t just masculinity flexed through muscle — it was masculinity drenched in grief, rage tangled with love and vulnerability so fierce it demanded attention. TOXICITY ON A BIKE You either love him or want to scream into a pillow when he shows up on screen. Shahid Kapoor’s Kabir Singh is brilliant, possessive, fragile, violent and somehow, widely adored. He drinks too much, fights too often and loves like it’s war. And the troubling part? He’s never really punished for it. The film painted his breakdown as passion, his cruelty as heartbreak. It’s what kicked off a wider conversation: Are we glamourizing bad behaviour under the mask of masculinity? THE RISE OF THE STREETWISE ALPHA Now flip to Pushpa. Here’s a man who starts at the bottom and climbs the smuggling ladder with nothing but bravado, brains and a don’tmess-with-me attitude. Allu Arjun swaggered through the role like he was born to rule, making slouching look heroic. Pushpa’s masculinity is earthy and rooted. He doesn’t chase a moral compass. He is the compass. If Dhurandhar is India’s answer to Jason Bourne, Pushpa is the guy who’d rob Bourne blind and still walk off with the audience’s love. Different leagues, same core hunger: respect, recognition and survival. MYTH, MUSCLE & MESSIAH COMPLEX Rocky Bhai didn’t just fight — he conquered. Both KGF films turned a man with a pickaxe into a near-mythical figure. Every frame was drenched in swagger. He smoked slow, punched fast and delivered dialogue like sermons. Here, hyper-masculinity hit its mythic peak. Rocky wasn’t human. He was legend. And yet — underneath the power poses — was a boy raised in poverty, haunted by a dying mother’s last wish. Again, emotional trauma meets physical dominance. And it sells. WHEN SPIES HAVE TRUST ISSUES In 2019, War gave us Kabir — a spy so sculpted, silent and stylish, he made Bond look chatty. Hrithik Roshan didn’t just smirk through explosions; he owned every frame with a stillness. Here was a man trained to kill, but dying to trust. The bromance-turned-betrayal arc with Tiger Shroff’s Khalid added enough emotional tension to keep us hooked between stunts. Cut to War 2. Bigger canvas, more explosions — and a new rival in Jr. NTR’s Vikram, who enters the YRF spy-verse with his own brand of tightly coiled fury. The result? Two emotionally unavailable men trying to out-alpha each other across continents. It had the style. It had the swagger. But the soul? That’s where opinions split. War 2 brought the spectacle, but struggled to deepen the ache beneath the abs. Diljit Dosanjh’s AURA Singer-actor teams up with Manushi Chhillar for stylish new track Kufar Miss World Manushi Chhillar and Diljit Dosanjh are setting screens on fire with their latest collaboration, a music video like never before. And the newly released teaser is proof of the magic they create together. The visuals showcase undeniable chemistry, striking energy, and a pairing that feels both unexpected and instantly captivating. The teaser of Kufar from Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming album Aura, dropped Sunday morning. The collaboration also marks a new phase in Manushi’s creative journey, one that continues to evolve with each project. The song teaser offers a glimpse of Manushi in a completely new light. From sultry close-ups that capture her smouldering intensity to sequences featuring her in a shimmering orange crop top paired with denim, Manushi commands attention in every. She takes being glam to the next level with Kufar, exuding confidence and boldness as she matches Diljit’s swagger, step for step in a dimly lit, vintage bar setting complete with chandeliers and an undeniable old-school charm. The song releases on October 15. c m y b MAYBE IT’S TIME TO EVOLVE? Look — hyper-masculinity sells. But Dhurandhar might just signal a shift. With Aditya Dhar (Uri) directing and Ranveer stepping into this gritty role, there’s hope for nuance. Because we don’t just need heroes who can kill. We need heroes who feel. And if the teaser’s any clue, this spy has a few buried feelings he hasn’t told anyone about. Not yet. Want more like this? Keep an eye on Dhurandhar when it hits theatres this December. And maybe (just maybe) we’ll finally get the alpha male who knows how to say, “I’m not okay.” Even if he says it with a grenade in hand. Laapataa Ladies sweeps Filmfare The 70th edition of the Filmfare Awards lit up Saturday night at EKA Arena, Kankaria Lake, Ahmedabad, with Bollywood royalty Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar and Maniesh Paul taking centre stage as hosts. Among the night’s top honours, Abhishek Bachchan and Kartik Aaryan shared the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Male), for their performances in I Want To Talk and Chandu Champion, respectively. Alia Bhatt claimed the Best Actress award for her role in Jigra, while Nitanshi Goel was named Best Debut Actor (Female) for her performance in Laapataa Ladies. Lakshya was awarded Best Debut Actor (Male) for his role in Ba*Ds of Bollywood. The Best Debut Director award was jointly presented to Kunal Kemmu for Madgaon Express and Aditya Suhas Jambhale for Article 370. The event al wins Star power, debuts and du re night lmfa define a glittering 70th Fi celebrated a blend of seasoned talent and promising newcomers, cementing its legacy as one of Indian cinema’s most prestigious nights. — ANI