16012026-LSTL-01.qxd 1/16/2026 12:33 AM Page 1 c m y b RYAN HURST IN GOD OF WAR Ryan Hurst tapped to play Kratos in Prime Video’s God of War. Hurst played Thor in PlayStation’s God of War Ragnarök, bringing established familiarity with the franchise to the role of Kratos. He was nominated for a BAFTA Award for his performance. S OME characters walk into a story, steal every scene they’re in, and leave audiences wanting more. Whether it’s their attitude, mystery, humour or sheer screen presence, these roles feel too good to be confined to a supporting arc. Here are six characters who absolutely deserve their own spin-off series. TRIBUNE Life Dr Gargi didn’t just show up — she made an impression. Akansha Ranjan Kapoor brought sharp intelligence, emotional restraint, and quiet authority to the role, making Dr Gargi one of those characters viewers instantly trusted and rooted for. A spin-off exploring her world, her past cases, and the personal cost of being constantly composed? Sign us up. Abhishek Banerjee as Jana — Stree Jana is chaos, comedy and heart rolled into one. Abhishek Banerjee turned what could’ve been a stock comic role into one of the most memorable characters in the Stree universe. A spinoff following Jana navigating supernatural threats, village gossip, and his own hilarious fears would be a genre-bending riot waiting to happen. Divyenndu Sharma as Munna Bhaiya — Mirzapur Munna Bhaiya remains one of the most unhinged, unpre- Leonardo DiCaprio calls cinema “our most definitive art form.” Speaking at the National Board of Review gala, DiCaprio recalled his childhood days when his father took him to the historic Vista cinema to watch the original King Kong. LUDHIANA | FRIDAY | 16 JANUARY 2026 Bring them AISHA AHMED back! right dose of charm. Akansha Ranjan Kapoor as Dr Gargi — Gram Chikitsalay Celebrating cinema From Abhishek Banerjee to Aisha Ahmad — actors whose characters deserve their own spin-off dictable characters in Indian OTT history. Divyenndu’s explosive performance gave the role cult status, and fans are still obsessed. A spin-off diving into Munna’s rise, inner demons, or even an alternate timeline? The appetite is clearly there. Karan Tacker as Farooq Ali — Special Ops Karan Tacker’s Farooq Ali brought swagger and sharp wit to Special Ops. A spinoff centred on Farooq’s missions, personal life, and offduty banter would be action-packed with just the SOBHITA DHULIPALA Sobhita Dhulipala as Tara Khanna — Made in Heaven Tara Khanna is complex, ambitious, flawed and fascinating. Sobhita Dhulipala infused her with vulnerability and steel, making Tara one of the most layered female characters on Indian streaming. A spinoff following Tara’s life post-Made in Heaven — professionally and emotionally — feels not just exciting, but inevitable. ABHISHEK BANERJEE KARAN TACKER Aisha Ahmed as Dr Shreya — Single Papa Aisha Ahmed’s Dr Shreya brings effortless girl-nextdoor energy — warm, relatable, and emotionally grounded in a way that instantly feels familiar. Her calm presence and quiet empathy add depth to Single Papa, making Dr Shreya true comfort character viewers naturally root for. A sliceof-life spin-off exploring her world, relationships, and personal journey would be soothing, heartfelt, and deeply watchable. AKANSHA RANJAN c m y b DIVYENNDU SHARMA Stars step out to cast their votes Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Gulzar, John Abraham, Nana Patekar, Divya Dutta and Vishal Dadlani were among several prominent film and music personalities who cast their votes on Thursday during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, using their presence to highlight If you don't vote, you have no right to complain — say B-town celebs who turned up at Mumbai polling booths to exercise their electoral rights the importance of civic participation. Gulzar arrived at a polling station in Mumbai to vote and appealed to citizens to actively take part in the democratic process. “We are rooted in our homeland, and your vote is to nurture those roots and to nurture democracy. So, be sure to fulfil this duty,” Gulzar said after casting his vote. Aamir Khan, after casting his vote, spoke about the importance of voting and praised the arrangements at the polling booth. — Agencies
The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan). It was started by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising four eminent persons as trustees.
The Tribune, the largest selling daily in North India, publishes news and views without any bias or prejudice of any kind. Restraint and moderation, rather than agitational language and partisanship, are the hallmarks of the paper. It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.
The English edition apart, the 133-year-old Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi).
