10112026-LSTL-01.qxd 11/9/2026 10:28 PM Page 1 c m y b TRIBUNE INSIDE MELANIA WORLD Hollywood calling Life Amazon Prime Video will release a two-part docuseries, Melania, The Series, on November 20, offering an intimate glimpse into US First Lady Melania Trump’s personal and professional life. Featuring neverbefore-told stories, it explores her family, priorities and transition into the White House. Hrithik Roshan made a notable appearance at Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s 15th Art + Film Gala, joining Hollywood stars including Andrew Garfield, Timothee Chalamet and Tom Hanks. LUDHIANA | TUESDAY | 10 NOVEMBER 2026 ‘Apne liye taali bajao’ Nonika Singh Sehaj Kaur Maini on writing, Gandhi and surviving Bollywood “W RITERS need to brand themselves,” opines the talented writer Sehaj Kaur Maini. With these words, the additional screenplay and dialogue writer of Amazon Prime Video film Don’t Be Shy, not only laments how writers often don’t get their due but also explains why they need to blow their own trumpet. She quips, “Apne liye taali bajao.” Like her lead character Shy, Sehaj doesn’t shy away from stating things as they are. Indeed, without hesitation she confesses there is a huge gap between what one has written and what finally appears on screen. She draws an interesting parallel and compares writing to being a surrogate with no control over how that child would be brought up. Furthermore, she says, “There are only two ways to deal with it, turn a director or develop a thick skin.” Indeed, with her good looks, she could easily have tried acting, but she laughs, “Itni mehnat nahi karni thi.” Married to an actor, Pranay Pachauri, she shares how acting which appears easy and glamorous on the surface comes with an endless share of rejections. Writers don’t have it easy either. But for someone who grew up surrounded by books, the world of imagination and words beckoned early. Today as she delves into chaos of growing up as in Don’t Be Shy and complexities of historical characters as in Hansal Mehta’s series Gandhi, she muses, “Writing is a creative job. I switch genres easily.” Since Gandhi Bhumi’s pollution concern Actor Bhumi Pednekar expressed concern over the health risks posed by rising pollution levels. On Monday morning, she put up an Instagram post that read, “Diwali is a festival of light, love, family and new beginnings. But every year, along with the celebrations, comes a familiar aftermath: polluted air, firecracker waste, noise and frightened animals. Firecrackers release fine particulate matter and other pollutants that add to an already challenging air-quality situation. And the impact isn’t experienced equally. Children, older people, those with respiratory conditions and animals are particularly vulnerable. This year, let’s make a choice that allows everyone including the ones who cannot speak for themselves to enjoy the festival.” Around three in the morning, she also posted a story saying, “Houses have caught fire, the AQI is hazardous, roads are full of waste, it’s 3 am and all I can hear are loud crackers. Our roads were full of people bursting crackers on them, out in the open, even when it’s not allowed. This is heartbreaking. @my bmc ®mumbaipolice.” chandigarh SALSA SOCIAL L ATIN beats, spontaneous moves and good company come together at Salsa Socials on Tuesday, November 10, 8 pm at Sector 7 Social, Chandigarh. Whether you’re a seasoned dancer or a beginner, this is your chance to hit the dance floor, find your rhythm and meet fellow dance lovers. chandigarh play T FESTIVE RESET AKE a break from the festive rush with an hour of deep relaxation on Wednesday, November 11, 5.30 pm at 1081, Sector 8C, Chandigarh. The sound bath experience combines gentle breathwork, chanting and soothing acoustic sounds to help ease physical tension and mental chatter. love chandigarh IITIAN FINDS LOVE G ET ready for an evening of laughter as comedian Vaibhav Karn brings his solo show, IITian Finds Love, to Chandigarh on Saturday, November 14. Expect an entertaining take on love and everyday life. Catch the performance at The Laugh Club, Sector 26, and enjoy a funfilled comedy night. brief was simple, “Stay true to the man and his principles. Don’t make him larger than life. Don’t whitewash anything. We are not mounting a hero or a villain, only reflecting his journey.” Dramatising the Father of the Nation’s life seemed unnecessary since his life was full of ups and downs. But she doesn’t think that we know enough about Gandhi, “only the major ld day I wou One ake a like to m tary on documenbi roots. my Punjaur Maini As a youngster Sehaj Kaur Maini believed that cinema could change the world and she would write such films. Now, no more wearing rose-tinted glasses, she feels, “At best movies can change one person’s trajectory, not the world at large.” So, she would rather hold a mirror than set about ushering in a utopian world. Sehaj Ka PHOTOS:ISTOCK WHAT’S HOT dance ❝ involves a team of writers, we wonder what does a Writers’ Room look like? “Brainstorming invariably leads to animated differences often quarrels too. But finally it’s like a family which writes together and stays together.” Creating a historical series like Gandhi was undeniably an onerous task. Director Hansal’s highlights and the series fills in those gaps.” Her own understanding of Gandhi deepened as she was struck by thedogged pursuit of his purpose over the years. Though she agrees human emotions are universal, she observes, “If you don’t understand your character, don’t write it. Even if the character is flawed as Shy in Don’t Be Shy, you need to understand the genesis, not justify their action.” Those who are calling Shy a red flag, she reasons, “They must realise Shy is a parentified child and has to parent her parents.” Fine with mixed reviews to her film, Sehaj is not easily disheartened. And nothing stops her from going gaga over a Kohrra or Lootera and she can’t help but wish she had written a film like Lootera. In an industry where insider-outsider debate often heats up she doesn’t refute the shadow of nepotism and has lost a few opportunities at its altar. But if she perceives each rejection like a blessing, she also looks at the upside of nepotism, “It has given us a lot of talent like Alia Bhatt.” She qualifies “I am not saying so because Alia is the producer of my film Don’t Be Shy, she is genuinely a great actress.” Yes, one day when fans stop following and obsessing over star-kids on social media, stop watching their films, maybe the industry could be totally talent-driven and shed all its biases. Till that happens she advises all to face the perils of nepotism with their chin up and not let the anxiety of rejection eat you up.’ To survive in this highly competitive industry, she advises, “You need to borrow from Gandhi’s quality of perseverance. “Lage raho Munna bhai… the indefatigable attitude also comes from her indomitable Punjabi genes. Farah Khan slams fake fire reports Filmmaker Farah Khan slammed online reports claiming her house caught fire. Khan shared a post which had “Farah Khan house catches fire” written over it on her Instagram handle on Monday and said the video featured an under-construction building. “Online portals BE RESPONSIBLE. This is an under-construction building,” she wrote. “Clickbait can’t be everything”, she added. Several videos surfaced online on Sunday, which featured fire breaking out in a building and claimed it to be Khan’s house. Khan, who is also among Bollywood’s most prominent choreographers, is currently focused on her YouTube vlogging channel, where she shares videos, which often feature her cook, Dilip. Her videos usually feature her visiting actors and digital creators with Dilip, cooking meals with them and having conversations about their work. Khan has over 3 million subscribers on YouTube. — PTI Stars share their Diwali moments Ranbir, Alia, Abhishek and Genelia share glimpses of family celebrations, festive fashion & fun-filled festivities This year's Diwali was extra special for power couple Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, as it marked their first Diwali celebration in their new bungalow since moving in. The couple celebrated the festival with great enthusiasm alongside their daughter Raha and mother Neetu Kapoor. For the occasion, the Kapoors were dressed in beautiful ethnic attire. Alia was seen in a stunning mint green lehenga. Ranbir opted for an elegant ivory-white traditional outfit. Little Raha was also dressed up in traditional attire. Sharing the pictures, Alia wrote, “The light of my life. Happy Diwali to you and yours... hope you’re surrounded by lots and lots of love.” Kareena’s royal heirloom Kareena Kapoor Khan knows the best how to make a style statement, and Diwali was no exception. The actor exuded royal elegance in her festive ensemble last night, adding a touch of heritage with a treasured Bhopal heirloom that lent her look a timeless charm. DietSabya, a popular anonymous online fashion critic, shared a video of Kareena Kapoor flaunting her Diwali look. She was seen wearing a kaftan by fashion designer Punit Balana, featuring intricate real silver work. She paired the outfit with a turban adorned with Saif’s kalgi (a traditional, jewelled brooch or plume pinned to the front of a turban) and statement jewellery. Abhishek’s fun bash Viral videos and pictures are proof enough that cricketer Abhishek Sharma’s Diwali celebrations with his family were nothing short of fun-filled, with traditional puja and plenty of dancing. His sister Komal gave followers a peek into the family’s festive fun. She shared a video featuring Abhishek, Komal, their parents, and friends and relatives, all grooving to Daler Mehndi’s chartbuster Bolo Ta Ra Ra. “Bolo tara ra ra #MandatoryRitual,” Komal captioned the post. Bonds that bloom Genelia Deshmukh has often offered a peek into her personal life, including sweet moments shared with her family and close ones. Diwali was no different. And this time, Genelia shared a glimpse with her mother-inlaw. Genelia Deshmukh and her mother-inlaw are seen spending some heartfelt time on a farm. The actress shared the picture with a caption, “Partners: Aai - Me..Always together..#organicdragonfruitfarming!” — ANI c m y b PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM Big B drops bulletproof shield Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan stepped out on Sunday for his weekly meeting with fans sans the bulletproof glass that became a topic of discussion during his previous outing. The mega star, who keeps his date with fans every Sunday for years now, was accompanied by son Abhishek Bachchan and tight security this week. The actor had appeared behind a bulletproof glass during his previous outing. The extra protection was ensured after an email was sent to Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde threatening bomb blasts at Bachchan’s residence and the venue of singer Diljit Dosanjh’s concert in October. On Sunday, which also coincided with the occasion of Diwali, the actor greeted fans from his residence without the bulletproof glass. He wore a multicolour jacket as he waved at his fans, who were eager to catch a glimpse of the actor. The 84year-old actor also extended Diwali wishes to fans on his personal blog. — PTI