28122025-LSTL-01.qxd 12/27/2025 11:18 PM Page 1 c m y b BHAI’S 60TH BIRTHDAY BASH TRIBUNE Life I 2025 Bollywood superstar Salman Khan celebrated his 60th birthday at his Panvel farmhouse with family, close friends, and Bollywood stars, including Sanjay Dutt and Aditya Roy Kapur. The star was joined by his parents, siblings, spouse and children, making it a star-studded, intimate milestone celebration. Bhairavi revealed Team of The RajaSaab unveiled Malavika Mohanan as Bhairavi, a stylish, powerful presence. Posters show her in a sheer black saree amid a supernatural corridor. LUDHIANA | SUNDAY | 28 DECEMBER 2025 From Bollywood film sets to courts, fame faced scrutiny like never before Celebrity storms of Yathesht Pratiraj Phool F 2025 proved anything, it’s this: celebrity life in India isn’t just about box-office numbers or Instagram followers anymore. It’s about optics, accountability, and how quickly public opinion can turn. Work-life balance hit sets Deepika Padukone didn’t expect a storm when she stepped away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, citing long hours and asking for an eight-hour workday. It sparked a bigger conversation about commitment, hierarchy and who gets to set boundaries. She was later dropped from Kalki 2898 AD, with the makers hinting that the project needed “higher commitment.” apologised quickly, stressing his admiration for Shetty. Films face courtroom The Taj Story drew criticism for alleged distortions and fears of communal disharmony. A PIL tried to block its release, but the Delhi High Court stepped back, reminding everyone that judges aren’t meant to be super-censors. Nostalgia shaken, then fixed Fans were rattled when Paresh Rawal exited Hera Pheri 3. Reports of Akshay Kumar suing him made things messier. Suniel Shetty’s public heartbreak added emotional weight. Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed, Rawal returned, and the trio’s chemistry survived. Courts, families, personal loss Not everyone’s laughing Then there was the comedy circuit facing serious pushback. Samay Raina’s India’s Got Latent ran into trouble after Ranveer Allahbadia’s remarks went viral for the wrong reasons. Allahbadia apologised, admitting the joke missed the mark. Away from spotlight, Karisma Kapoor entered a legal battle after Sunjay Kapur’s death. Allegations of asset control and omissions surfaced, with the Delhi HC reserving its decision. Around the same time, Saif Ali Khan survived a knife attack at his Bandra home, spending days in hospital. Mimicry, offence & the fine line Love paused Ranveer Singh found himself in hot water for mimicking Rishab Shetty’s Kantara character. What some saw as imitation, others called disrespect. A complaint followed, invoking the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Ranveer Elsewhere, composer Palaash Muchhal and cricketer Smriti Mandhana called off their wedding due to a family emergency. Diljit Dosanjh faced backlash for casting Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3, reigniting debates around art and geopolitics. c m y b Stories beyond labels Neha Saini Anuradha Marwah doesn’t believe in labels. The eminent author of four books, including the one that introduced the ‘campus genre’ of novels in English in India, has stayed true to her storytelling: realistic, relatable, witty and sharp in highlighting social impositions. As she notes, humour, empathy, anxiety over age or career, friendships and love do not come with gender-specific instructions. Her latest novel, Aunties of Vasant Kunj, has struck a chord with both men and women. “I am often approached by men who have read my work and told me how they could relate to the circumstances and characters of my stories. I feel the subjects I explore are universal, deeply human,” said Marwah, a professor of English at Delhi University, who is currently in the United States for academic work. Released in August, Aunties of Vasant Kunj traces the journey of three middleaged women from South Delhi’s ‘almost-there’ posh colony, each struggling to carve out her own identity and space. Marwah depicts these women with humour and poignancy, capturing the chaos of their lives. In her characters, Marwah shares glimpses of her own experiences and personal observations. “We all share so much with these women, the ‘aunties’. Often they are labelled homemakers, socialites, or judged for their opinions. But through my experiences, I know how women break through these constraints — resilient and strong,” she said. Writing for over three decades as a playwright, Marwah’s first novel, The Higher Education of Geetika Mehendiratta, has been republished by Rupa Publications. The story, in which a young woman leaves home for higher education — equating it to freedom, self-realisation and control — was praised for its progressive themes and portrayal of modern India.