27072026-LSTC-01.qxd 7/27/2026 12:10 AM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE Singularly happy Life C ONTINUING its celebration of Indian craftsmanship, the second day of India Couture Week 2026 saw designers Masaba Gupta and JJ Valaya present their own, distinct visions of Indian couture. While both collections drew inspiration from traditional aesthetics, the designers stayed true to their signature design languages. Marking a significant milestone in her design journey, Masaba presented her firstever bridal couture col- RESPECT EXPERIENCE “Working in daily soaps is known to be extremely demanding, with long shooting hours. One change I would definitely like to see is that experienced actors should not have to go through auditions for every single role. If an actor has worked for many years, played a variety of characters, and has an established body of work, their experience should be respected. A meeting or look test, if required, is understandable, but I think the production team or the chanel should have the vision of understanding the potential of an actor. — Roma Navani lection - Chardi Kala, bringing her bold prints and unconventional sensibilities into the world of wedding fashion. “The journey begins in the sacred landscapes of India before drifting into the blue-green waters of Antigua and the vibrant tropics of the Caribbean. Bridal seamlessly transforms into resort bridal,” states the official description of Masaba’s bridal collection. For Masaba, models took to the ramp in an array of traditional ensembles, dressed in stunning fullflared lehengas, intricately embroidered dupattas, metallic zari work, shimmering sequins, and meticulous handcrafted embellishment. It was combined with modern couture touches like structured layering, different draping and styling. On the other hand, celebrated fashion designer JJ Valaya unveiled his Autumn/Winter 2026 col- EPISODE BANK Working in daily soaps is undeniably a test of endurance. The biggest change the television industry Call for change Masaba debuts bridal creations at India Couture Week; JJ Valaya unveils his SIDDI collection lection SIDDI, translating his vision into bridal couture, occasion wear, menswear, and more. Taking to the runway, the showcase featured the likes of intricately crafted lehengas, contemporary sarees, fluid anarkalis, regal sherwanis and impeccably tailored bandhgalas. They were adorned in a palette of antique gold, ivory, noir, champagne, deep jewel tones and rich earth hues. Speaking on his collection, Valaya, in a statement, shared, “SIDDI began with the idea of a journey, one that crossed oceans, geographies and centuries, eventually creating an identity entirely its own. I was fascinated by the Siddis of India and by this extraordinary confluence of African origins with the many cultural influences absorbed over generations on the Indian subcontinent.” The ongoing 19th edition of FDCI’s Hyundai India Couture Week 2026 is being held at the Taj Palace in New Delhi. —ANI DIVERSE STORIES Television is a beautiful medium, but it’s also one of the most demanding. I believe the industry should move towards healthier work schedules because everyone on set deserves enough time to recharge and spend with their families. Another change I’d welcome is more opportunities for fresh talent and NIHARIKA CHOUKSEY KANWAR DHILLON diverse stories. New faces and unique narratives keep the audience engaged and help the industry evolve with changing times. — Gaurav M Sharma PAY ON TIME One change I’d like to see is the payment structure. Most actors work on 90 to 120-day payment cycles, GAURAV M SHARMA LIMITED WORKING HOURS Better workings hours for everyone please. This seven-day telecast is really tiring for actors and spoils the quality also of the show because we have literally no time to shoot, so lot of things get compromised. — Niharika Chouksey MASABA GUPTA thebride! From better working hours and stronger writing to merit-based opportunities, actors share the changes that can make the TV industry a better place needs is maintaining a minimum of seven to 10 days’ worth of episode bank, as this would create a more relaxed working environment with controlled shift timings, reduce the stress of cut-to-cut telecasts, and give everyone some breathing room while resulting in better creative quality. Another change I strongly advocate is casting real talent and ignoring social media numbers, because when actors are pressured to constantly participate in the digital rat race just to stay employable, the art suffers. Not all artistes are content creators; some are simply brilliant actors, and it is unfair to their craft if they lose out on roles just because they have fewer followers.—Parakh Madan CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 27 JULY 2026 Here comes J J VALAYA Daily soaps are one of television’s most demanding formats, with long shooting hours and tight deadlines. While the industry continues to entertain millions, many believe there is scope for positive change. From healthier work schedules and better storytelling to merit-based casting and fresh opportunities, actors share the changes they feel could make television a better place to work while enhancing the quality of content. Singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson has shared rare insights into her personal life, saying she is happy being single and has no desire to rush back into dating. “It’s my two dogs, my two kids and me. It’s a lot,” she said. ROMA NAVANI which means they often don’t receive their earnings for the first few months. I believe it should function like any other profession, where invoices are cleared on a monthly basis, making life much easier for everyone. The second change would be reducing working hours. We don’t need 12-hour or longer shifts to deliver quality content. —Kanwar Dhillon PARAKH MADAN c m y b Yami roped in for Kahaani 3 D. Pharma | B. Pharma | M. Pharma | Pharm. D Approved by PCI & Affiliated to MRS-PTU & PSBTE & IT B.Tech | Law | Nursing | Paramedical | BPT | B.Ed The Kahaani franchise is set for a new instalment, with Yami Gautam stepping into the lead role and director Sujoy Ghosh returning to helm the project.