25102026-LSTC-01.qxd 10/24/2026 7:05 PM Page 1 c m y b FAUZI TEASER OUT The makers of Prabhas-starrer Fauzi celebrated the actor’s 47th birthday as they released the film’s teaser that reveals the lead star as a fearless rebel soldier. It opens in Berlin featuring a tense historical conversation between Adolf Hitler and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose about British oppression in India. TRIBUNE Life Take a break Jenna Ortega plans to step away from television for a while after completing her work on Netflix’s hit series Wednesday, saying she wants to make room for new opportunities in her career. CHANDIGARH | SUNDAY | 25 OCTOBER 2026 ‘I have soul connection with Punjab’ At the Khushwant Singh Literary Festival in Kasauli, a conversation about stories, creativity and Punjab could wander in any direction — much like an Imtiaz Ali film NehaSaini T HERE is something delightfully simple yet deep about a conversation with Imtiaz Ali that centres around Punjab, wanders into the history of aviation, takes a detour through love and loneliness, and eventually arrives at the question of why some stories simply refuse to leave us alone. The filmmaker behind hugely successful films like Jab We Met, Rockstar, Tamasha and the recent Main Vaapas Aaunga, has made a career out of people, some in search of love, others purpose. His characters are flawed, vulnerable yet endearing. Perhaps that is what makes him such an interesting storyteller. Imtiaz finds himself at home with stories that come with a bit of wonderment for him. “I am a daydreamer. I spend a lot of time day dreaming, wondering about things that, at some point of time in life, happened to me. I used to daydream in my class, now I do it through my stories,” said Imtiaz. As a filmmaker, he said he is on a lucky ride. “I feel I am living a charmed life where I am doing exactly what I would have wanted to do.” It also means taking up stories that simply need to be told — with creativity, compassion and a little humanity. “Main Vaapas Aaunga was made because I met survivors of Partition, who did not have hate in their heart. Only memories of their ‘home, or a beloved’ that was left behind,” he explained to an audience looking to understand how a historically traumatic event could form the basis of this year’s most endearing love stories. Coming to love, Imtiaz doesn’t claim to understand it. And that is perhaps where the fun of talking to Imtiaz lies. One can ask him about love without expecting a conventional answer. “You think I would know about love or ishq because I made Laila Majnu, Jab We Met or Tamasha. Contrary, I would not have made these films if I had any understanding of ishq.” But Imtiaz confesses his love for Punjab and its stories. “I came across the famous lines from a Shabd composition that says, Main hoon param purakh ko dasa, dekhan aayo jagat tamasha (I am the servant of the Supreme Divine Being, and I have come down to this world to witness the play/drama of creation). And that made me work on Tamasha. I have some soul connection with Punjab. Also, I got to know that the first woman to fly a plane from Punjab was named Imtiaz,” he threw in a trivia to drive home the point. So, which story from Punjab now piques his interest? “The historical event of “Haa da nara” (Cry for Justice) and the unique heritage of Malerkotla is what interests me. Malerkotla is the town famous for remaining entirely peaceful during the bloody violence of c m y b Partition because of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s historic blessing,” he signed off, leaving with wonderment of turning a historic event into a film someday. What’s Haa Da Naara that fascinates Imtiaz Ali? Haa Da Naara refers to an historic event connecting the story of Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan of Malerkotla—who boldly stood up against the Mughal Governor Wazir Khan to protest the bricking alive of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s sons (the Sahibzadas). According to historical accounts, Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan was present at Wazir Khan’s court during this trial. Despite the fact that Malerkotla was at war with the Sikhs, he vehemently protested against the Governor’s decree to execute the Sahibzadas. This bold protest became immortalised in history as the Haa da Nara. To this day, it’s believed that the Guru blessed Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan and declared that the roots of Malerkotla would never be uprooted, and the town would always remain safe.