20082026-LSTL-01.qxd 8/19/2026 7:57 PM Page 1 c m y b “Na mein samjha, na mein jaana… Jo bhi tanne mere te kaha hai oh, Babita!” I F you told Farhan Akhtar back in 2011 that his suave Spanish anthem Senorita would one day be reimagined with an acoustic guitar and a Haryanvi twang, he might have laughed you out of the studio. Yet, here we are. Exhausted after multiple takes recording an acoustic live version of an upcoming original song, self-taught musician Bodh and his mixing engineer decided to take a breather. Sitting with a guitar in hand, he began jamming. Within minutes, the fiery flamenco rhythms of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’s iconic hit Senorita morphed into a witty, acoustic Haryanvi rendition featuring an unlikely heroine: Babita. “Actually, it was my friend’s idea,” Bodh chuckles, recalling the moment. “I didn’t even want to put it out because the Haryanvi translation wasn’t technically correct and the chords weren’t right. But he said, ‘Let’s just upload it as a fun clip, you can delete it after a few days.’ So I said okay. That’s it. That’s how Senorita became Babita.” He didn’t delete it. He couldn’t—because within hours, the Internet had Say Life Hola to Babita claimed it. The clip went on to explode across social media, amassing over 17 million views and racking up more than 1.1 million likes as fans couldn’t get enough of the hilarious, regional flip. The Bollywood stamp of approval Bag it! From forensics to full-time music Bodh’s path to viral fame is anything but conventional. Long before he was flipping Bollywood classics, he was on a track toward a career in forensic science. His relationship with music had been a quiet companion since childhood, starting with a toy keyboard as a kid, singing in school, and finally picking up the acoustic guitar in Class 11. But the real epiphany hit while working surrounded by lab equipment. “I was interning at a forensics lab, and that is when I decided… I need to work on my music, especially songwriting and create the music I Guddu Pandit gets meaner Ali Fazal is once again sending the internet into a frenzy as Guddu Pandit aka Guddu bhaiya. Following the launch of the muchawaited trailer of Mirzapur The Movie, fans have been going gaga over the actor’s dramatically bulked-up and beastly physique, with his larger-than-life appearance becoming one of the biggest talking points of the trailer. For his return as Guddu bhaiya, Ali underwent an intense physical transformation to achieve a much more muscular, chiselled and imposing physique. Since Guddu is established as a wrestler in the Mirzapur universe, the actor wanted his physicality to feel authentic to the character while also matching the larger scale of the film. Ali trained extensively under an experienced and expert in wrestling, combining strength and conditioning with combat training to develop the power, agility and physical intensity required for the role. The transformation was not limited to building muscle; the actor worked on his overall movement and fighting style to ensure that Guddu’s physical presence translated convincingly on the big screen. The result is a more rugged, powerful and intimidating Guddu Pandit, whose sheer physical presence has already caught the attention of fans following the trailer release. Speaking about the transformation and the response to his look, Ali said, “The reaction to the trailer and especially to Guddu’s physical transformation has honestly been overwhelming. I have seen some of the reactions from fans and it is incredible to see how invested people still are in this character. Guddu has been a very physical character from the beginning because he is a wrestler, but for the film I knew that I had to take that aspect much further. The scale of cinema is completely different, and I wanted his physicality to reflect that. I wanted him to look bigger, stronger and more intimidating, but at the same time, it had to feel like Guddu.” “Seeing fans go crazy over the look is incredibly gratifying because they have been part of Guddu’s journey from the very beginning. For me, this transformation wasn’t just a physical challenge; it was another way of getting under the skin of a character I have lived with for years,” he added. Ali Fazal reflects on his beastly transformation in Mirzapur The Movie LUDHIANA | THURSDAY | 20 AUGUST 2026 would love to listen to,” Bodh recalls. He spent the next few years balancing day jobs with late-night composing, honing his craft until 2024, when he finally took the leap of faith to pursue music full-time. For his family and friends, watching a casual studio jam go viral overnight was nothing short of surreal. “My family is actually more excited than I am!” he laughs. “It’s all settling down now, but yes, people around me have definitely started reacting a bit too respectful and kind lately.” Self-taught musician Bodh gives the 2011 hit Senorita a hilarious Haryanvi twist, and fans can’t get enough of his regional flip The major turning point came when Bollywood stars Farhan Akhtar—who sang the original 2011 track—and Randeep Hooda shared the reel on their social media pages. “That’s when I paused and realised, ‘Okay, things are blowing up,’” he admits. Kylie Jenner was spotted carrying Ahikoza by BRHAM’s signature Lilian bag at the Malibu nuptials of Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods. A distillation of Namrata Karad’s design language, the bag requires no logo. Looking beyond the viral cover The stage is set... While Babita put him on the national radar, Bodh views himself as an exploratory musician first. His musical palate spans everything from traditional nirgun folk to indie R&B, street busking and country rock. His upcoming single, titled Kaache Katt Rhe, is a tonguein-cheek Haryanvi satire wrapped in a country-rock soundscape. Ultimately, this cover is a reminder of how unpredictable success can be, turning a quiet studio moment into a breakout career milestone—and on that note, safe to say the vibe has officially shifted. Hasta la vista, Senorita—Babita is running the playlist now. The nominations for the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards have been announced, with pop icon Madonna leading with 11 nods. Madonna is Madonna leads 2026 VMAs nominations with 11 nods; Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande follow closely followed by the likes of Taylor Swift with nine nominations and Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nominations each. Others, who earned nominations are Bruno Mars and Zara Larsson. — ANI Guru Randhawa drops action-packed anthem Marzi, reviving the iconic Punjabi mantra— Mitran di marji WHAT’S HOT read LITERATURE FEST T HE Keekli Charitable Trust is bringing its Children Literature Festival-2026 to Shimla. The festival will continue till August 21 at the Gaiety Theatre. It will feature various competitions including declamation, poetry, Book to Script Competition, Vocabulary Competition along with several workshops including Art Workshop. shimla Ravleen Kaur TRIBUNE play Guru’s Singer-songwriter Guru Randhawa is set to shake up the charts yet again with his high-octane brand-new track Marzi, which released on Wednesday across all major streaming platforms. Randhawa has transformed a foundational cultural mantra into a high-octane musical statement. For generations, the phrase ‘mitran di marji’ (our wish, our way) has served as a defining ethos of Punjabi identity, an unwritten rule of absolute self-determination. With his latest release, the global hitmaker elevates this cultural cornerstone into a definitive modern anthem, matching its unapologetic attitude with a blockbuster visual spectacle. At the heart of the track lies a single, commanding these ‘where to sit, where to stand, which door to walk through mitran di marji’. More than just a hookline, it functions as a rallying cry for a generation that has stopped waiting for institutional permission, celebrating those who live loud, dress sharp, and back their own hustle. Musically and visually, Marzi marks a radical shift for the artiste. Trading glossy backdrops for high-stakes adrenaline, the track introduces a gritty action-star aesthetic from the Punjabi powerhouse. Moving effortlessly from intense push-ups to complex fight sequences, Randhawa fully adopts a fierce, grounded mass-hero persona, turning selfbelief into the ultimate power move. The accompanying music video leverages a grand visual scale to chart his trajectory, taking viewers on a cinematic journey from a vintage Maruti Suzuki Gypsy and heavyduty trucks to an ultra-premium fleet of blacked-out MercedesBenz G-Wagons, supersonic fighter jets, and a highsecurity police entourage. Yet, beneath this spectacle of luxury and power, the narrative presents a deeply grounded core: Randhawa remains unmoved by material success, acting as an unwavering, Robin Hood-style messiah for his community. Whether operating without resources at the start of his career or commanding streaming charts a decade later, his allegiance to his roots stays iron-clad. Lyrically, the track functions as an unapologetic thesis on the alpha winner mindset and the resilient spirit of Punjab, painting a vivid picture of a person who dictates his own destiny without being governed by critics, societal expectations, or industry trends. Randhawa states, “This song is about ownership—of your choices, your circle, your story. Punjab doesn’t ask for a seat at the table. We build our own table. This is for everyone who has forged their own path from the ground up, call their own shots and lives life entirely on their own terms.” Serving as both a sonic powerhouse and a massive digital culture statement, Marzi is available to stream worldwide today. — TNS Marzi! c m y b chandigarh Kim Kardashian is showing off her blossoming romance with Formula 1 superstar Lewis Hamilton, offering a glimpse into their beach getaway. She shared pictures and wrote, “Somewhere over the rainbow.” STORIES THAT HEAL K AHANIBAAZ by Ashish Vidyarthi is coming to Chandigarh on August 30, 6:50 pm at Punjab Kala Bhawan. It will be a live storytelling show that will take audiences on an emotional journey through stories drawn from life, experiences and human connections. love ARTISTIC TRIBUTE chandigarh KIM-LEWIS’ BEACH GETAWAY M ARKING the World Photography Day in Chandigarh, an artwork titled Colours of Faith & Bravery: The Spiritual Heritage of Punjab was unveiled before the bust of Dr MS Randhawa during an event held at Punjab Arts Council, Kala Bhawan, Sector 16. The artwork was created by Harpreet Sandhu, State Information Commissioner, Punjab.