11072026-LSTL-01.qxd 7/10/2026 7:59 PM Page 1 c m y b FREE WILLY REBOOT IN WORKS Warner Bros is developing a reboot of the 90s family adventure movie Free Willy. The makers have Mary-Margaret Kunze and Jade Halley Bartlett onboard to write a screenplay for the new movie. Released in 1993, Free Willy, is about an orphaned boy who befriends a captive orca. TRIBUNE Wait is over Life Vijay’s final film Jana Nayagan has received CBFC clearance with an A certificate after seven months, following edits to political references, and is set for a worldwide release on July 24. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 11 JULY 2026 Here are five standout looks from Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2026–27, where fashion became a meeting point for art, science and innovation Mona F ROM ancient sculptural silhouettes and emotionally charged tributes to nature-inspired fantasies to futuristic dreamscapes, Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2026–27 proved once again that couture is as much about storytelling as it is about craftsmanship. This season’s ramps blurred the lines between fashion, art and architecture, with designers transforming fabric into sculptural masterpieces through intricate embroidery and innovative textiles. #1 Rahul Mishra’s ‘Devi’ collection turned the ramp into a temple of Indian artistry. As if the ancient Indian sculptures took a graceful walk in Paris. Inspired from centuries-old stone figures, the collection showcases embroidery techniques such as zardozi and dabka, alongside stones, beads and crystals that create the trompe-l’œil (French for ‘deceive the eye’) illusion that garments are carved from stone rather than stitched from fabric. Mishra’s guest Isha Ambani in the Devi collection, an exquisitely embroidered bodice resembling layered temple jewellery and fluid saree-inspired pleats mimicking the folds of weathered stone sculptures, celebrated India’s rich artisanal heritage . Amplifying art of couture the #2 Rahul Mishra wasn’t the only Indian designer making waves at Paris Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2026-27. For his haute couture collection at Christian Dior, creative director Jonathan Anderson drew, fresh from fame of designing Taylor Swift’s wedding dress, paid an ode to American sculptor Lynda Benglis. This striking look reflects that vision through a sharply tailored emerald jacquard jacket paired with pleated ivory skirt invoking fresh fern feel. #4 #3 Team Odyssey in Mumbai for premiere #3 Manish Malhotra made his Paris Haute Couture Week debut with Maa, a deeply personal collection dedicated to his mother, Sudarshan Malhotra, who passed away on March 19 at the age of 94. Conceived as a tribute to the “unconditional love of a mother,” the collection reflects emotion through masterful craftsmanship. This sculptural ivory drape reimagines the traditional silhouette as wearable art, adorned with classical-inspired sculpted figures of mother and child. #4 Elie Saab’s Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2026-27 collection, The Ball of Untamed Dreams, dissolved the boundaries between reality and fantasy. This show-stopping scarlet gown, with its voluminous feathered skirt and sculpted strapless bodice, embodied couture at its most theatrical. Rich in texture and movement, the look captured Saab’s signature celebration of femininity. #5 Iris van Herpen’s Sonic Starquakes brought a surreal, otherworldly vision to the runway in Paris. Against a mist-filled backdrop, the model wore an ethereal gown with sculptural embellishments and flowing metallic fabrics that seemed to move with every step. Blending art with science, the collection Sonic Starquakes captured van Herpen's fascination with futuristic craftsmanship. #2 #5 From air-fried pakoras and stuffed mushroom bites to oats tikki, give your favourite traditional recipes a lighter twist AnanyaVerma The first raindrop hits the window and the craving hits right after it, something crackling hot, glistening with oil, wrapped in a paper cone from the street corner. But this monsoon, the kitchen can beat the cart at its own game. Here are eight snacks that deliver the same crunch, the same warmth, the same steam rising into the wet air, without the oil slick. 1. Air-fried pakoras Slice onions, potatoes and spinach thin, dunk them into a besan batter spiked with ajwain, red chilli and a pinch of soda for that tell-tale crackle. Air fry at 180°C for twelve minutes, shaking the basket halfway, until they turn deep gold and impossibly crisp. Monsoon munching, minus the guilt 2. Bhutta chaat Char corn on an open flame until the kernels blister and smoke, scrape them off, then toss with lemon, chaat masala, chopped onion and coriander. Sweet, smoky, tangy, hot, all in one spoonful. It tastes like the rain itself decided to become food. THE DIPS THAT MAKE IT COMPLETE A snack is only as good as what it drowns in, and monsoon calls for chutneys rich enough to make the plate disappear fast. TOMATO AND GARLIC CHUTNEY: Deep, tangy, faintly smoky, good with everything. Hung curd with cucumber and mint: Cool, creamy, a relief against the spice. PEANUT AND CORIANDER CHUTNEY: Nutty and thick, made for scooping. GREEK YOGURT MINT DIP: Light, herby, quietly indulgent. BEETROOT HUMMUS: Earthy, vividly pink, velvety on the tongue. ROASTED BELL PEPPER AND WALNUT DIP: Smoky, rich, built for double-dipping. No frying pan on overdrive, no delivery app, no guilt after the last bite. The rain can keep pouring outside. What is on the plate stays warm, crisp and entirely worth it! 3. Moong dal chilla wrap Blend soaked moong dal with ginger, green chilli and cumin into a silky batter. Pour thin on a sizzling tawa, flip once, then fill with buttery paneer bhurji or glazed sautéed vegetables and roll tight. Protein-rich, and the first bite practically steams. 6. Stuffed mushroom bites Hollow out button mushrooms, pack them with melted cheese, garlic and herbs. Bake until bubbling. Pop one whole into your mouth and the cheese pulls in a warm, savoury string. Impossible to have just one. 4. Steamed dhokla Ferment a besan batter overnight, steam until pillow-soft, then pour over a sizzling tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves that hisses the moment it hits the plate. Tangy, spongy, and dangerously easy to keep eating. 5. Baked vegetable cutlets Mash boiled potatoes with peas, carrots and beans, shape into golden patties, coat lightly in breadcrumbs and bake at 200°C until the crust turns deep amber and audibly crisp. Break one open and the inside is soft, spiced, still warm. 7. Idli chaat Cube leftover idlis, pan-toast in a touch of ghee until the edges turn golden and crackly, then toss with sweet-tangy tamarind chutney, crunchy sev and raw onion. Soft, crisp, tangy, spicy, everything at once. c m y b 8. Oats tikki Mix ground oats with mashed potato and curd, shape into patties, pan-sear in a whisper of ghee till both sides turn brown and crackly. Best eaten hissing off the tawa. Rounding off the list, other worthy contenders for the rainy-day rotation include airfried falafel, lotus stem chips, multigrain nachos with salsa, and carrot or sweet potato fries, all proof that crunch does not need a deep fryer to happen. #1 Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan and Hollywood star Tom Holland arrived in Mumbai on Friday ahead of the India premiere of their upcoming film The Odyssey. Videos shared on social media showed Holland arriving at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace hotel. Nolan, who has been to India multiple times and shot his 2020 movie Tenet in Mumbai, was seen entering the hotel with his wife and producer Emma Thomas. Nolan, Thomas, Holland and Matt Damon arrived in Mumbai for the India premiere of The Odyssey that will be held at Phoenix Palladium in Mumbai on Saturday. — PTI